It's been quite a while since I've had the time to write. I'm hoping to catch a bus to the Florida Mall to meet up with my roomies, so I don't have much time to dig for typos. If you spot any, let me know. (The curse of being a fast typer).
Trying to compile all that's happened in the last few days could take weeks to write. I don't even know where to begin. So far, Disney has been both a magical and tragic journey wrapped into one. When I told people I was going to work at Disney World, they immediately smiled and said, "you'll have so much fun!" To a degree, I have, but working here is not all fun and games-- especially not when working in attractions. I'm responsible for the safety of the guests, which means I have to be on top of my game at all times... even at three in the morning after a twelve hour shift. Today is the first day off I've had since I started. All the days run together, and I've never felt more exhausted in my whole life. Sometimes those long days can make you a bit irritable, but you have to pretend to be completely content.
That being said, all the aching feet and almost shed tears are completely worth it when those rare moments of magic appear. It's in these moments that I can feel God, that I realize why He brought me here-- what I was created for. I was working the grouper position at Dumbo around 9 o'clock one night. Storybook Circus is relatively quite around that time, so the line was virtually empty aside from the few stragglers that came through. My job was to figure out how many Dumbos everyone needed. A family came through the door towards me for their ride-- two parents, and a little boy no more than four or five. He was wearing a first visit button. I was just doing my job-- I smiled and waved enthusiastically in greeting. All of a sudden, the little boy takes off running down the line towards me, and he throws his arms around me with a big grin. I was taken by surprise for a moment, and I couldn't help but smile.
"It's my first time!" he exclaimed enthusiastically.
I knelt down on his level so I could meet his eye and gave a genuine smile. "It's your first time, buddy! Well then, welcome home!"
He giggled and threw his arms around me again. I almost teared up at the sincere joy, and I got to be part of it. It had been a long, torturous day on my feet, but I didn't care. In that moment, I got to be part of something I would never experience anywhere else-- I created joy.
Each day here is filled with bad moments, cranky guests and situations that make me want to pull my hair out. But just one moment like the one with that little boy makes patiently wading through the fire worth every minute.
There are a lot of people who look at this as a job, but I see a chance to make a difference. I fully believe if you make a difference in the life of a child, you can change the world. Even in making a child smile, that innocence is infectiously spread to the parents. I do my best every day to not just wait for those moments-- I look for them. Whenever I see a child crying, I always approach them and try to make them smile again-- give them a sticker if I have one. The other day, I was working Play Monitor inside the Dumbo Tent playground. My heart burst in two as I was making my rounds. All these children were running about having a blast, and there was one kid stuck in a wheelchair off to the side. He wasn't even facing the playground-- he couldn't play like the other kids. I couldn't stand to see him treated differently, and I didn't want him to feel excluded. On my second round, I stopped by him and his mother. I knelt so we'd be equals. I smiled and asked what his name was.
"Joshua," he told me, smiling as looked to his mother. He seemed surprised that I came over just to talk to him.
I asked him about his day and if he was having fun. I spent a good three minutes talking with him and his mother, and when I left he was still smiling. I may never run into him again in this life, but I can live knowing that, for a brief moment, I made him smile-- I created happiness. Time will pass, and I'll eventually have to go back to school, but I'll never forget Joshua or the little boy who was so excited he threw his arms around me. God truly has blessed me in greatest way possible. I finally have a purpose, and my life has never felt so incandescent. I'm finally finding clarity.
I was a little skeptical of choosing Attractions at first, but now that a full week on the job has passed, I'm glad I did. My fellow circus workers are becoming like family-- we're just one big bunch of carnies all looking out for each other. I'm beginning to match names and faces. Last night was a lot of fun. After closing down the rides in circus, we have to collect Lost and Found and take them over to the Little Mermaid Cast Member. There were at least five strollers left in circus, and by rule we're only supposed to move one stroller at a time. So, each of us took a stroller and headed down to mermaid. By Disney rule, when we're in costume we aren't allowed to leave our area-- we don't want to ruin the show for anyone. Mermaid was supposed to be clear of guests. As we neared the Castle Courtyard part of Fantasyland where the carousel is, we were stopped by a coordinator because there were still guests ahead. We passed off the strollers and returned the way we'd come so as to avoid what we call "bad show." As we were walking back, a manager was walking with a guest to find their stroller. Since she'd told us to go that way, we didn't get in trouble. It was an adult as well, so we didn't feel too badly. He would understand why we were there. As we were passing the Little Mermaid, however, a security guard was walking a little girl and her dad around to find their stroller. We didn't want to ruin the magic for the little girl, so I shoved Alex and Chelsie towards the Vacation Club booth to hide. We pressed our backs to the wall, trying not to laugh. We didn't want to let the little girl see circus people in the Mermaid area-- no need to ruin the magic. As they passed by, the security guard called out, "You're not very good at hiding."
We laughed and tried to shush him. "Wrong costumes," Alex hissed out.
We inched around the other side, waiting until they'd passed before making a run back to the circus. We skulked along the wall, stopping to see if the coast was clear.
"Blackhawk down," Chelsie breathed, trying not to laugh.
We 007-ed our way back, laughing hysterically once we were safely in our zone. It's nice to have coworkers I get along with. I doubt I could do any better elsewhere. We all have the same mission here-- to make other people happy. It's not always an easy job, but it's the most rewarding. God knew what He was doing when He sent me here.
Friday, February 21, 2014
Saturday, February 15, 2014
Life as a Carnie
It's been a while since I've written a blog post. A lot has happened, so I'll try to skim over the important parts.
I'm officially done with training! I've only worked two days on my own, but it feels like it's been a lifetime. Yesterday was my first 13 hour shift. It was crazy! We only get a break every 2 hours for 15 minutes, and one 30 minute break to eat. With how far we have to walk, I'm pretty much moving all the time. I thought I was going to fall flat before my shift was over. I still managed to have fun as long as I was moving-- the standing around was what hurt.
I've had numerous moments that have touched my heart. I can scarcely keep track of them all. Just yesterday a little boy named Patrick got off on the wrong side of the Barnstormer and got separated from his mother. My coworker Mike asked me if I wouldn't mind helping him find his mom before we traded shifts. Of course I said yes. I walked with Patrick down the exit, talking to him the whole time so he wouldn't be scared. After a moment, he reached up and took my hand as if we'd known each other our whole lives. We walked through Storybook Circus until we found his mom. Later, when I took over as the grouper at Barnstormer (person who says which row you go to), Patrick came back through the line. I started asking him how old he was, and he began to answer when he realized who I was. He got all excited and jumped up and down, saying, "Hey, you know me! You just helped me find my mom!" It was the cutest thing ever.
Later on, there was a family playing in the playground at Dumbo. The little girl couldn't have been more than 4 or 5. She started crying for no reason, and I couldn't let her be unhappy. I got down on her level and said, "What's wrong princess? Come here, sweetie." I held my arms out and she ran into them and wrapped her arms around my neck. I hugged her and talked her down. She stopped crying immediately. I asked if she wanted to ride Dumbo, and she nodded. I stood back up and led her over to the line. Her mom smiled and thanked me sincerely. Moments like that make working 13 hours well worth it.
I didn't get off until 1:30 AM. Originally, me and my friend Tatiana were supposed to catch a ride with some coworkers, but they clocked out early and headed home. We were sitting at the bus stop with a bunch of other people. The bus was 20 minutes away, and there were so many people waiting for it, we knew we'd be standing for an hour. Suddenly, we both got tapped on the shoulder and turned to see our coworker Cody standing there. He asked where we both lived, and then said, "Come with me. I'll give you a ride."
It was the sweetest thing he could have done for us after being on our feet for 13 hours. We both gave him a big hug, which was probably awkward for him since he's French. I got home by 2:15 instead of 3:30 AM and got a great night sleep. If one thing can be said about working at Disney, it's tough as all get out, but your coworkers really do become like family. We all look out for each other on and off the clock. I don't think I'll ever find such a union anywhere else.
I'm officially done with training! I've only worked two days on my own, but it feels like it's been a lifetime. Yesterday was my first 13 hour shift. It was crazy! We only get a break every 2 hours for 15 minutes, and one 30 minute break to eat. With how far we have to walk, I'm pretty much moving all the time. I thought I was going to fall flat before my shift was over. I still managed to have fun as long as I was moving-- the standing around was what hurt.
I've had numerous moments that have touched my heart. I can scarcely keep track of them all. Just yesterday a little boy named Patrick got off on the wrong side of the Barnstormer and got separated from his mother. My coworker Mike asked me if I wouldn't mind helping him find his mom before we traded shifts. Of course I said yes. I walked with Patrick down the exit, talking to him the whole time so he wouldn't be scared. After a moment, he reached up and took my hand as if we'd known each other our whole lives. We walked through Storybook Circus until we found his mom. Later, when I took over as the grouper at Barnstormer (person who says which row you go to), Patrick came back through the line. I started asking him how old he was, and he began to answer when he realized who I was. He got all excited and jumped up and down, saying, "Hey, you know me! You just helped me find my mom!" It was the cutest thing ever.
Later on, there was a family playing in the playground at Dumbo. The little girl couldn't have been more than 4 or 5. She started crying for no reason, and I couldn't let her be unhappy. I got down on her level and said, "What's wrong princess? Come here, sweetie." I held my arms out and she ran into them and wrapped her arms around my neck. I hugged her and talked her down. She stopped crying immediately. I asked if she wanted to ride Dumbo, and she nodded. I stood back up and led her over to the line. Her mom smiled and thanked me sincerely. Moments like that make working 13 hours well worth it.
I didn't get off until 1:30 AM. Originally, me and my friend Tatiana were supposed to catch a ride with some coworkers, but they clocked out early and headed home. We were sitting at the bus stop with a bunch of other people. The bus was 20 minutes away, and there were so many people waiting for it, we knew we'd be standing for an hour. Suddenly, we both got tapped on the shoulder and turned to see our coworker Cody standing there. He asked where we both lived, and then said, "Come with me. I'll give you a ride."
It was the sweetest thing he could have done for us after being on our feet for 13 hours. We both gave him a big hug, which was probably awkward for him since he's French. I got home by 2:15 instead of 3:30 AM and got a great night sleep. If one thing can be said about working at Disney, it's tough as all get out, but your coworkers really do become like family. We all look out for each other on and off the clock. I don't think I'll ever find such a union anywhere else.
Saturday, February 8, 2014
Training, Training and.... More Training
The days are all beginning to run together. I can never remember what day of the week it is, and I'm always tired. Thankfully, yesterday was the last day I had to open. All closing shifts from now on. Everyone looks at me like I'm crazy for wanting to work closing, but I'll be more awake if I get better sleep, and I prefer to work after dark. The stars are beautiful, and it isn't as hot. Plus the lights in Storybook Circus are really cool.
The past few days have all been more training, and I didn't want to sound redundant in my posts-- not to mention, I've hardly been able to stay awake after my shifts. Writing isn't easy when you're beyond exhausted. I'll do my best to cover the important things.
Training is pretty simple, but also very tiring. We have to read and remember all the operating guides, and we have to practice all the procedures. My only concern that I'm operating machinery and looking out for guest safety. I have no doubt I can do it, but it's a lot of responsibility for a first job. I'm in a training group with a girl named Colleen. Our trainer, Adam, essentially decides what he wants to teach us that day. Instead of talking about it, he actually takes us to all the rides while the park is full. He'll pick up a position (such as FastPass+ or Main Panel), then he'll show us how it works three times. After that, we take turns working the position with him watching over our shoulders. Monkey see, monkey do. It's actually a very effective way of teaching. My brain is constantly going over all the safety procedures because they've been drummed into my brain so much. I even have nightmares about it.
I really like working the Dispatch Panel on Barnstormer. I get to wave at guests as they leave the station, and make sure everyone stays seated when the train is coming back in. When you work an attraction, you work in a rotation. So, I'd be working for 40 minutes in one place, and then I'd rotate to another. I have to know how to work every part of the ride, both Dumbo AND Barnstormer. I like that I'm trained on more than one thing, but some of the procedures are reversed for the two rides. Thankfully, I have two more days of training to get it memorized.
I may have an opportunity to work the new Snow White ride opening since I'm a Fantasyland CP. They'll need CPs to work night shift. I think I'm definitely going to try for it. It'd mean another five days of training, and I may not see really little kids as much. But I'd be part of the opening team for the first major attraction to open at Magic Kingdom since Splash Mountain. That's a big deal to me-- I'd be part of history. Plus, I would only have to work that one ride. It'll be more complicated than the two I run now, but I think it'll be worth it.
I'm determined more than ever to get better at my Spanish. I have at least five guests a day, if not more, ask me if I speak Spanish. Some of them I've been able to help, but others I can't understand enough. It feels great when I do get through to them. They look so relieved that someone can come to their level, even if it's only halfway. I intend to work harder on my Spanish and maybe test for the language tag on my pin. I was working Ringmaster at Dumbo-- you take the pagers and apply the number of the party to it. A family came through that spoke little English, so I switched to Spanish. The little girl was so excited a Cast Member was speaking her language. She jumped up and down and began rattling off about her day in rapid Spanish. I felt bad that I couldn't understand everything she was saying, so I explained to her mother my Spanish wasn't very good. She then explained to her daughter. It was precious. Even just speaking a little bit of her language made this little girl feel welcome. It's made me determined more than ever to become fluent.
Yesterday we were supposed to pick up Merge at Dumbo-- the Cast Member responsible for merging FastPass and Standby together. Adam had to take care of something, so Colleen and I were standing in the Ringmaster (pager) area. There was a malfunction and all the pagers called everyone back at once. Damon, the Cast Member working Ringmaster 2 (the one who takes the pagers back and verifies the number of guests) had a stack of twenty pagers and guests coming at him from all sides. He couldn't keep up with the influx, and I was just standing there, so I asked if he needed help. He breathed a sigh of relief and said please. I asked what he needed me to do. I took the numbers off the pagers while he counted parties and directed the guests safely to the next point. It made me feel so good to help another Cast Member in need. In doing so, we also made things more efficient in a complicated situation, and kept all the guests safe. I can't think of another job that would give me such satisfaction in so small a thing. I love that I can spread the fruits of the spirit as part of my job. I couldn't ask for more.
Tonight is my first night working the night shift (5pm-2am). I'm actually excited. The rides shouldn't be quite as crowded, and I absolutely love the Magic Kingdom at night.
The past few days have all been more training, and I didn't want to sound redundant in my posts-- not to mention, I've hardly been able to stay awake after my shifts. Writing isn't easy when you're beyond exhausted. I'll do my best to cover the important things.
Training is pretty simple, but also very tiring. We have to read and remember all the operating guides, and we have to practice all the procedures. My only concern that I'm operating machinery and looking out for guest safety. I have no doubt I can do it, but it's a lot of responsibility for a first job. I'm in a training group with a girl named Colleen. Our trainer, Adam, essentially decides what he wants to teach us that day. Instead of talking about it, he actually takes us to all the rides while the park is full. He'll pick up a position (such as FastPass+ or Main Panel), then he'll show us how it works three times. After that, we take turns working the position with him watching over our shoulders. Monkey see, monkey do. It's actually a very effective way of teaching. My brain is constantly going over all the safety procedures because they've been drummed into my brain so much. I even have nightmares about it.
I really like working the Dispatch Panel on Barnstormer. I get to wave at guests as they leave the station, and make sure everyone stays seated when the train is coming back in. When you work an attraction, you work in a rotation. So, I'd be working for 40 minutes in one place, and then I'd rotate to another. I have to know how to work every part of the ride, both Dumbo AND Barnstormer. I like that I'm trained on more than one thing, but some of the procedures are reversed for the two rides. Thankfully, I have two more days of training to get it memorized.
I may have an opportunity to work the new Snow White ride opening since I'm a Fantasyland CP. They'll need CPs to work night shift. I think I'm definitely going to try for it. It'd mean another five days of training, and I may not see really little kids as much. But I'd be part of the opening team for the first major attraction to open at Magic Kingdom since Splash Mountain. That's a big deal to me-- I'd be part of history. Plus, I would only have to work that one ride. It'll be more complicated than the two I run now, but I think it'll be worth it.
I'm determined more than ever to get better at my Spanish. I have at least five guests a day, if not more, ask me if I speak Spanish. Some of them I've been able to help, but others I can't understand enough. It feels great when I do get through to them. They look so relieved that someone can come to their level, even if it's only halfway. I intend to work harder on my Spanish and maybe test for the language tag on my pin. I was working Ringmaster at Dumbo-- you take the pagers and apply the number of the party to it. A family came through that spoke little English, so I switched to Spanish. The little girl was so excited a Cast Member was speaking her language. She jumped up and down and began rattling off about her day in rapid Spanish. I felt bad that I couldn't understand everything she was saying, so I explained to her mother my Spanish wasn't very good. She then explained to her daughter. It was precious. Even just speaking a little bit of her language made this little girl feel welcome. It's made me determined more than ever to become fluent.
Yesterday we were supposed to pick up Merge at Dumbo-- the Cast Member responsible for merging FastPass and Standby together. Adam had to take care of something, so Colleen and I were standing in the Ringmaster (pager) area. There was a malfunction and all the pagers called everyone back at once. Damon, the Cast Member working Ringmaster 2 (the one who takes the pagers back and verifies the number of guests) had a stack of twenty pagers and guests coming at him from all sides. He couldn't keep up with the influx, and I was just standing there, so I asked if he needed help. He breathed a sigh of relief and said please. I asked what he needed me to do. I took the numbers off the pagers while he counted parties and directed the guests safely to the next point. It made me feel so good to help another Cast Member in need. In doing so, we also made things more efficient in a complicated situation, and kept all the guests safe. I can't think of another job that would give me such satisfaction in so small a thing. I love that I can spread the fruits of the spirit as part of my job. I couldn't ask for more.
Tonight is my first night working the night shift (5pm-2am). I'm actually excited. The rides shouldn't be quite as crowded, and I absolutely love the Magic Kingdom at night.
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Exploring
Yesterday was my day off. I started it as I do every off morning-- cup of coffee in hand and a wee bit of writing. As I sat there contemplating my day, I realized it was more than ordinary off day-- I'm at Disney World! I decided I should get to know the Magic Kingdom a bit better, so I showered and dressed for 82 degree weather. Everyone else had gone into the parks the previous day or they were working. I made a promise to my friend Ashley that I wouldn't be a hermit, so I packed up my camera and went into the parks by myself. It was an adventure, let me tell you.
I went to the Chatham/Patterson bus stop to catch the next Transtar bus to Magic Kingdom. The schedule for both buses said "awaiting prediction." As far as I've gathered, this is usually code for "out of service." There happened to be an EPCOT bus pulling in. It's possible to catch a monorail from EPCOT to the Magic Kingdom. I thought, "Why not?"
I boarded the bus and showed my ID-- (We have to show a housing ID to get on the bus. The drivers are pretty good about that, so it's super safe.) The apartments interns live in are not on Disney property and we had to stop at Vista Way for a bit. I had no set time to be anywhere, so I chilled and listened to music while I waited. The EPCOT bus was interesting to ride because all the international students are heading to the World Showcase for work. It was fun trying to guess which country people were from, and which land they worked in. Eventually we did make it to the backlot of EPCOT. That in and of itself was an adventure. I had to ask at least 6 cast members where to go because I was lost. Made a friend on the bus with a girl named Chrystol. I believe she was working at Magic Kingdom as well. We exchanged numbers. (Always good to make friends in a new environment).
I made my way to the monorail just behind EPCOT's main entrance gates. Much to my surprise, I see a sign that says the resort monorail is out of service. Thankfully the monorail still ran to the Ticket and Transportation Center (TTC). I boarded the monorail and made room for other people to sit. A young girl from New York sat beside me, and being the sort of person I am, I immediately diffused the awkward tension usually accompanied with sitting by a stranger.
"I love your pins," I said with a smile.
She grinned sheepishly and said, "Thank you."
I went on to ask her about her trip, all the while doing my best not to mention that I'm a Cast Member-- no need to say unless I'm asked. One of the ways I try to preserve the magic. Besides, being a CM is a privilege. It doesn't mean I get bragging rights. The conversation did steer that way, however, when she asked me how long I'd be staying. I explained to her that I was here on the Disney College Program. She said she'd love to work here, so I told her all about it and said she could work here if she kept her grades up and picked a good college. Her mom finished her phone conversation by then, so she joined the conversation. I asked if they'd seen the ceremony for Park Opening at the Magic Kingdom. They didn't even know there was one, and the mom said they'd have to come back again just to see it. I'm astounded by how many people don't know about things like park opening. Then again, they can only fit so many people in front of the train station for the ceremony.
When I got to the TTC, the other monorail was out of service, so I had to take the Ferry Boat to the Magic Kingdom. It was peaceful, and the breeze felt great through the 80 degree haze. There was a little boy standing next to me marveling about how big the castle was. I smiled and said, "It's 189 feet tall." His eyes got big. And then I went on to say why it wasn't 190-- because then they'd have to put a beacon on the top so airplanes wouldn't hit it, but Disney wanted the castle to be magical. So, they made it 189 feet and didn't have to put the beacon on top. I then went on to ask him if he'd met Mickey yet. He said he hadn't met any of the characters, so I told him where all the cool places were he could meet them. I mentioned he might run into Peter Pan and Wendy if he goes to Fantasyland, and he got really excited.
I was already helpful as a guest to Disney parks, but now that I'm a Cast Member I can't help seeing people that need aid everywhere. I went into the park with the intention of moseying and taking pictures. Being in the parks alone gives you a lot of time to people watch-- good practice for work. It's our job to anticipate the guests needs, after all. One of the things on my To Do list was Tom Sawyer Island. I couldn't remember the last time I'd actually had time to go over there. It's this little island in the center of the water by Frontierland and Liberty Square. The Liberty Belle, an old paddle ship from the steamboat days, transports guests around Tom Sawyer Island. I got in line for the ferry to the island, and I happened to be next to another little girl, this one wearing pink Mickey ears. Naturally, I asked about her day and if she was having fun. I asked if she'd seen Wishes yet, the fireworks show over the castle. Her mother answered that they caught the end of it. As a frequent guest, and now a Cast Member, I couldn't let them miss one of the most spectacular fireworks shows in the history of fireworks. I told them Wishes starts at 9 p.m., but the parade is always just before. I then preceded to tell them there was a place to stand on the Tomorrowland bridge during the parade. Once the parade was over, the parade control will open the streets and let the guests flood in. If they're standing there, they'll be able to get a spot right in front of the castle. They smiled and thanked me for the tip.
I ventured around Tom Sawyer Island for about half an hour, taking pictures and exploring all the neat tunnels and caves. I felt like a kid again, and wished dearly that my sisters were there to goof off with. I was able to help another family find the Little Mermaid ride, habitually using the Disney Point-- I'm never going to be able to stop doing that when my program ends. Chelsey, my old CA (Community Advisor) from school happens to be doing the program too. We hadn't seen each other in over a year since I'm not living on campus anymore. She texted me and asked what I was doing, so I told her where I was. She drove over to the park and met me on Main Street. We moseyed around together. She got a Dole Whip in Adventureland, which I'm told is a must on a Disney vacation-- sadly, I'm allergic to pineapples. We walked slowly through Adventureland towards Pirates of the Caribbean. We weren't in any hurry. There was no, "Oh my gosh, we're running out of time!" We simply walked through the park with no intention of riding anything or doing anything-- it was amazing. I've always wanted to do that-- just walk through the parks for the sake of walking. We sat at a table in Tortuga Tavern to finish our treats-- I'd gotten a Root Beer Float. We took the time to chat and catch up. This squirrel kept acting like it was going to attack my foot. I realized it was trying to get a piece of popcorn near it, so I tossed the popcorn away for it.
Chelsey got really excited and asked if I liked the Laugh Floor, an interactive comedy show featuring Mike Wasowski from "Monsters Inc." I replied that I love it, so the two of us made our way to Tomorrowland. Part of the magic of the Laugh Floor is you can text in a joke. I've always wondered if they really use them, so I sent one in and I got a text back from Mike Wasowski saying, "Not bad...for a human! Kidding! We'll try to use it if we can!" I thought that was pretty cool. Chelsey and I got so excited when Marty, Mike's nephew, suddenly says, "And this one's from Arielle in Alabama!" It was so epic! I got to be part of the show!
As always, the show made me laugh. I love how it's different every time. When the show was over, I asked Chelsey if she'd done the People Mover or the Astro Blaster. She replied she hadn't, so we made our way to the "Tomorrowland Transit Authority"... AKA People Mover. I loved watching her grin as we went inside Space Mountain and Buzz Lightyear. The People Mover is a seriously underrated ride. It's a great chance to get off your feet and enjoy watching people down below. While we were riding around, we noticed the wait for Space Mountain was only 25 minutes, so we quickly headed over. It was a great way to end the night.
We parted ways after said adventure-- she had to pick up some friends in EPCOT, and I was getting hungry. The only problem? I'd taken the bus to EPCOT to get to Magic Kingdom, so I had no idea where to pick up the bus when I'm in the parks as a guest. Of course I knew where to go when I'm working, but I wasn't sure what to do if I was a guest. I walked to Storybook Circus and asked the Cast Member working at the front of Dumbo. She was incredibly helpful. Since I had my Cast Member ID with me, they let me go backstage and catch the bus. It was nice to skip the hectic mayhem of Main Street at park closing. The only downside was Wishes-- it was going on as I walked backstage. Let me tell you... it looks great from Main Street, but being backstage? It's so loud you can feel the boom in your chest. And we're in a firework drop area, so little bits of the fireworks fall atop the bus stop. It was still pretty cool to see it from that perspective though. I caught the necessary two buses home, and Skyped for two hours with the lovely Ashley Cazer-- best friends are the greatest.
I went to the Chatham/Patterson bus stop to catch the next Transtar bus to Magic Kingdom. The schedule for both buses said "awaiting prediction." As far as I've gathered, this is usually code for "out of service." There happened to be an EPCOT bus pulling in. It's possible to catch a monorail from EPCOT to the Magic Kingdom. I thought, "Why not?"
I boarded the bus and showed my ID-- (We have to show a housing ID to get on the bus. The drivers are pretty good about that, so it's super safe.) The apartments interns live in are not on Disney property and we had to stop at Vista Way for a bit. I had no set time to be anywhere, so I chilled and listened to music while I waited. The EPCOT bus was interesting to ride because all the international students are heading to the World Showcase for work. It was fun trying to guess which country people were from, and which land they worked in. Eventually we did make it to the backlot of EPCOT. That in and of itself was an adventure. I had to ask at least 6 cast members where to go because I was lost. Made a friend on the bus with a girl named Chrystol. I believe she was working at Magic Kingdom as well. We exchanged numbers. (Always good to make friends in a new environment).
I made my way to the monorail just behind EPCOT's main entrance gates. Much to my surprise, I see a sign that says the resort monorail is out of service. Thankfully the monorail still ran to the Ticket and Transportation Center (TTC). I boarded the monorail and made room for other people to sit. A young girl from New York sat beside me, and being the sort of person I am, I immediately diffused the awkward tension usually accompanied with sitting by a stranger.
"I love your pins," I said with a smile.
She grinned sheepishly and said, "Thank you."
I went on to ask her about her trip, all the while doing my best not to mention that I'm a Cast Member-- no need to say unless I'm asked. One of the ways I try to preserve the magic. Besides, being a CM is a privilege. It doesn't mean I get bragging rights. The conversation did steer that way, however, when she asked me how long I'd be staying. I explained to her that I was here on the Disney College Program. She said she'd love to work here, so I told her all about it and said she could work here if she kept her grades up and picked a good college. Her mom finished her phone conversation by then, so she joined the conversation. I asked if they'd seen the ceremony for Park Opening at the Magic Kingdom. They didn't even know there was one, and the mom said they'd have to come back again just to see it. I'm astounded by how many people don't know about things like park opening. Then again, they can only fit so many people in front of the train station for the ceremony.
When I got to the TTC, the other monorail was out of service, so I had to take the Ferry Boat to the Magic Kingdom. It was peaceful, and the breeze felt great through the 80 degree haze. There was a little boy standing next to me marveling about how big the castle was. I smiled and said, "It's 189 feet tall." His eyes got big. And then I went on to say why it wasn't 190-- because then they'd have to put a beacon on the top so airplanes wouldn't hit it, but Disney wanted the castle to be magical. So, they made it 189 feet and didn't have to put the beacon on top. I then went on to ask him if he'd met Mickey yet. He said he hadn't met any of the characters, so I told him where all the cool places were he could meet them. I mentioned he might run into Peter Pan and Wendy if he goes to Fantasyland, and he got really excited.
I was already helpful as a guest to Disney parks, but now that I'm a Cast Member I can't help seeing people that need aid everywhere. I went into the park with the intention of moseying and taking pictures. Being in the parks alone gives you a lot of time to people watch-- good practice for work. It's our job to anticipate the guests needs, after all. One of the things on my To Do list was Tom Sawyer Island. I couldn't remember the last time I'd actually had time to go over there. It's this little island in the center of the water by Frontierland and Liberty Square. The Liberty Belle, an old paddle ship from the steamboat days, transports guests around Tom Sawyer Island. I got in line for the ferry to the island, and I happened to be next to another little girl, this one wearing pink Mickey ears. Naturally, I asked about her day and if she was having fun. I asked if she'd seen Wishes yet, the fireworks show over the castle. Her mother answered that they caught the end of it. As a frequent guest, and now a Cast Member, I couldn't let them miss one of the most spectacular fireworks shows in the history of fireworks. I told them Wishes starts at 9 p.m., but the parade is always just before. I then preceded to tell them there was a place to stand on the Tomorrowland bridge during the parade. Once the parade was over, the parade control will open the streets and let the guests flood in. If they're standing there, they'll be able to get a spot right in front of the castle. They smiled and thanked me for the tip.
I ventured around Tom Sawyer Island for about half an hour, taking pictures and exploring all the neat tunnels and caves. I felt like a kid again, and wished dearly that my sisters were there to goof off with. I was able to help another family find the Little Mermaid ride, habitually using the Disney Point-- I'm never going to be able to stop doing that when my program ends. Chelsey, my old CA (Community Advisor) from school happens to be doing the program too. We hadn't seen each other in over a year since I'm not living on campus anymore. She texted me and asked what I was doing, so I told her where I was. She drove over to the park and met me on Main Street. We moseyed around together. She got a Dole Whip in Adventureland, which I'm told is a must on a Disney vacation-- sadly, I'm allergic to pineapples. We walked slowly through Adventureland towards Pirates of the Caribbean. We weren't in any hurry. There was no, "Oh my gosh, we're running out of time!" We simply walked through the park with no intention of riding anything or doing anything-- it was amazing. I've always wanted to do that-- just walk through the parks for the sake of walking. We sat at a table in Tortuga Tavern to finish our treats-- I'd gotten a Root Beer Float. We took the time to chat and catch up. This squirrel kept acting like it was going to attack my foot. I realized it was trying to get a piece of popcorn near it, so I tossed the popcorn away for it.
Chelsey got really excited and asked if I liked the Laugh Floor, an interactive comedy show featuring Mike Wasowski from "Monsters Inc." I replied that I love it, so the two of us made our way to Tomorrowland. Part of the magic of the Laugh Floor is you can text in a joke. I've always wondered if they really use them, so I sent one in and I got a text back from Mike Wasowski saying, "Not bad...for a human! Kidding! We'll try to use it if we can!" I thought that was pretty cool. Chelsey and I got so excited when Marty, Mike's nephew, suddenly says, "And this one's from Arielle in Alabama!" It was so epic! I got to be part of the show!
As always, the show made me laugh. I love how it's different every time. When the show was over, I asked Chelsey if she'd done the People Mover or the Astro Blaster. She replied she hadn't, so we made our way to the "Tomorrowland Transit Authority"... AKA People Mover. I loved watching her grin as we went inside Space Mountain and Buzz Lightyear. The People Mover is a seriously underrated ride. It's a great chance to get off your feet and enjoy watching people down below. While we were riding around, we noticed the wait for Space Mountain was only 25 minutes, so we quickly headed over. It was a great way to end the night.
We parted ways after said adventure-- she had to pick up some friends in EPCOT, and I was getting hungry. The only problem? I'd taken the bus to EPCOT to get to Magic Kingdom, so I had no idea where to pick up the bus when I'm in the parks as a guest. Of course I knew where to go when I'm working, but I wasn't sure what to do if I was a guest. I walked to Storybook Circus and asked the Cast Member working at the front of Dumbo. She was incredibly helpful. Since I had my Cast Member ID with me, they let me go backstage and catch the bus. It was nice to skip the hectic mayhem of Main Street at park closing. The only downside was Wishes-- it was going on as I walked backstage. Let me tell you... it looks great from Main Street, but being backstage? It's so loud you can feel the boom in your chest. And we're in a firework drop area, so little bits of the fireworks fall atop the bus stop. It was still pretty cool to see it from that perspective though. I caught the necessary two buses home, and Skyped for two hours with the lovely Ashley Cazer-- best friends are the greatest.
Sunday, February 2, 2014
E-training and Making Magic on Peter Pan
Today started early, which is nothing new. Despite getting to the bus at 6:45, I was still almost late. The buses we have to take are beyond unreliable, and I swear one of these days the drivers are going to wreck. (Disclaimer: they are not Disney buses. Those are safe and always on time, I assure you). Thankfully there was a computer error with CP logins today, so I wasn't counted late.
Training today started with a walk backstage to Fantasyland. We walked through the park in the early morning fog. The streets were empty aside from the cast members setting up for the day. It's a special kind of magic only a select few get to see, and I love watching it happen. Because the park had yet to open, we were allowed to walk inside the Be Our Guest Restaurant. I kid you not, it's like walking right into the Beast's castle from "Beauty and the Beast." I almost cried, it was so beautiful. I swear we were in the movie-- Disney magic at its best. To tour the restaruant when it was empty was absolutely incredible.
By the time we left Be Our Guest, the park had opened and a few guests were roaming the park. We moseyed over to "Enchanted Tales with Belle" which is like a walk through show. The guests get to act with Belle. It was a great. It was pretty cool to watch, and I loved seeing the kid's faces light up. Later on, we had e-training. It was basically hours of courses on a computer-- things like on the job safety and disability policies. After this, we got to go into the park and work the fast pass plus line on Peter Pan for experience with guests. For those of you who know me, this was the coolest thing ever!
I got to wish guests Happy Birthday and make the kids feel special. It was the best hour of my life. One little girl was absolutely adorable. She was dressed like a princess, so I got down on her level and asked, "Are you Cinderella today?"
She nodded all shy and started telling me about her day. I asked if she was having fun, and she got all excited about getting on Peter Pan. I acted surprised and said, "You're going to Neverland? Tell Tinkerbell I said hi if you see her, and tell her Arielle said to give you an extra sprinkle of pixie dust."
She smiled wide which in turn made her parents smile. I love my new job.
Training today started with a walk backstage to Fantasyland. We walked through the park in the early morning fog. The streets were empty aside from the cast members setting up for the day. It's a special kind of magic only a select few get to see, and I love watching it happen. Because the park had yet to open, we were allowed to walk inside the Be Our Guest Restaurant. I kid you not, it's like walking right into the Beast's castle from "Beauty and the Beast." I almost cried, it was so beautiful. I swear we were in the movie-- Disney magic at its best. To tour the restaruant when it was empty was absolutely incredible.
By the time we left Be Our Guest, the park had opened and a few guests were roaming the park. We moseyed over to "Enchanted Tales with Belle" which is like a walk through show. The guests get to act with Belle. It was a great. It was pretty cool to watch, and I loved seeing the kid's faces light up. Later on, we had e-training. It was basically hours of courses on a computer-- things like on the job safety and disability policies. After this, we got to go into the park and work the fast pass plus line on Peter Pan for experience with guests. For those of you who know me, this was the coolest thing ever!
I got to wish guests Happy Birthday and make the kids feel special. It was the best hour of my life. One little girl was absolutely adorable. She was dressed like a princess, so I got down on her level and asked, "Are you Cinderella today?"
She nodded all shy and started telling me about her day. I asked if she was having fun, and she got all excited about getting on Peter Pan. I acted surprised and said, "You're going to Neverland? Tell Tinkerbell I said hi if you see her, and tell her Arielle said to give you an extra sprinkle of pixie dust."
She smiled wide which in turn made her parents smile. I love my new job.
Saturday, February 1, 2014
Fantasyland Excursions: Day 1
Today feels so much longer than any other day. I was sorely tempted not to write a blog post...but then I remembered people actually care about what I'm up too here :) .
Today was my first official day of work. I got up at five a.m., which is starting to feel pretty normal by now. I kind of like walking to the bus stop when it's still dark and seeing all the other cast members waiting in their costumes for the bus. It's foggy and often wet from the rain, but it's a picture of perfection to me.
The first item on the agenda was a course called "Once Upon a Time... is Now!" Basically, this was a sort of orientation. We clocked in and met in the mousecateria (cafeteria). After this we were all given whisper units-- these little earpieces and radios that transmit from the mic the trainer is talking into. We were split into groups and then shown around the Utilidor, which is basically a city of tunnels beneath the Magic Kingdom. Being in the park before it officially opened? Best feeling ever. The streets are mostly empty; cast members are setting up for the day. There was a general buzz of excitement as everyone prepared for opening. We toured the park, blending with the tourists for the most part since the cast members didn't have to shout to explain things to us. The highlight of the tour was when they started talking about the Haunted mansion, and then surprised us by actually taking us on it.
Once the tour of the park was done, we headed to a conference room and split up into our groups-- I'm working in Fantasyland attractions. We got lunch and then learned about what we'd be doing. We signed onto the hub and found out where we were working. I'm working Storybook Circus! My uncle helped build the new Dumbo ride before he past away, so I'm incredibly excited about this. The coolest part was entering casting and seeing all the costumes. I'm working in Storybook Circus (Dumbo and the Barnstormer), so I get to wear this cute little ringmaster outfit. The rest of the day I basically got paid to ride all the rides in Fantasyland and learn the area. It was great. I can't wait to officially start! :)
Today was my first official day of work. I got up at five a.m., which is starting to feel pretty normal by now. I kind of like walking to the bus stop when it's still dark and seeing all the other cast members waiting in their costumes for the bus. It's foggy and often wet from the rain, but it's a picture of perfection to me.
The first item on the agenda was a course called "Once Upon a Time... is Now!" Basically, this was a sort of orientation. We clocked in and met in the mousecateria (cafeteria). After this we were all given whisper units-- these little earpieces and radios that transmit from the mic the trainer is talking into. We were split into groups and then shown around the Utilidor, which is basically a city of tunnels beneath the Magic Kingdom. Being in the park before it officially opened? Best feeling ever. The streets are mostly empty; cast members are setting up for the day. There was a general buzz of excitement as everyone prepared for opening. We toured the park, blending with the tourists for the most part since the cast members didn't have to shout to explain things to us. The highlight of the tour was when they started talking about the Haunted mansion, and then surprised us by actually taking us on it.
Once the tour of the park was done, we headed to a conference room and split up into our groups-- I'm working in Fantasyland attractions. We got lunch and then learned about what we'd be doing. We signed onto the hub and found out where we were working. I'm working Storybook Circus! My uncle helped build the new Dumbo ride before he past away, so I'm incredibly excited about this. The coolest part was entering casting and seeing all the costumes. I'm working in Storybook Circus (Dumbo and the Barnstormer), so I get to wear this cute little ringmaster outfit. The rest of the day I basically got paid to ride all the rides in Fantasyland and learn the area. It was great. I can't wait to officially start! :)
Friday, January 31, 2014
Welcome Party and Disney Traditions
It's been an incredibly long day. I'm beyond tired, but I'll do my best to cover what I can for the curious parties.
Last night was the welcome party for the new CPs. Free food, dancing and, oh yes... photo ops.
Last night was the welcome party for the new CPs. Free food, dancing and, oh yes... photo ops.
We got to meet the characters.
And do photo booth pics!
All in all, it was a fun night full of memories. Lots of crazy dancing. The best part would have to be the DJ and one of the other guys doing the dance to "Bye Bye Bye" by N'Sync. It was phenomenal.
This morning, Hannah and I had traditions. It was early and we were tired, but once we got there, the Disney magic was enough to keep me going. Basically, traditions is orientation as only Disney can do it. After going over safety and the four keys to working at Disney, they took us on an impromptu trip to the Magic Kingdom! We got to go backstage and go in the tunnels. It was awesome!
I have to say though... the highlight of my day was when we got back to the classroom... and Mickey Mouse showed up himself to personally give us our nametags and welcome us into the family. I couldn't help crying. It was the best moment in my entire life. I'm now a Disney cast member!
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