"Where's the map??" "I think I ate it!"

Guess what?

It's official! I'm all trained and signed off to work Captain EO and the Astro Orbitors by myself! My final day of OJT was on Sunday, but first let me talk about training on Saturday.

I didn't start until 4pm that day, which means I got to sleep in. So lovely. We spent the day practicing what we had done before and learning the theatre. I felt great about spieling - the first time was a little rocky, but once I got that initial one over with I was practically a pro! Theatre is really simple - you introduce the show, and then sit and watch the movie while making sure everything is working right and everyone is behaving themselves. The only thing that was kind of lame about that day of training was that it went until 12:30am...and I am so not good late at night. Give me the mornings any day of the week!

Then came Sunday - the day of our performance assessment. I wasn't nervous at all. Scratch that - I was stoked! I knew that I had everything down perfectly, so I was excited to show off what an amazing cast member I am bound to be :)

That morning I saw Francesca and her Italian family outside the ride, and even tried to speak a little Italian to them! Then I saw Austin scurry past to get fastpasses for his grandma's 86th birthday. I had been wondering when I would run into someone I know while on the job and POW, first week I see 2!! It was a little awkward...like seeing a teacher at the mall or something. But it was fun and I felt proud to be representing the Walt Disney Company. I also had my first experience of someone calling me by my name and wondering if I knew them for a split second, then realizing that I was wearing a nametag. I was really excited for that to happen and it was just as fun as I thought it would be. :)

The PA went absolutely smashingly. We got a little overwhelmed at greeter but handled it very professionally. It was like we'd been doing it for years. Or at least months. Then I was able to do the welcome spiel which I totally ate up and milked for all it's worth. Give me a microphone and an audience and good luck getting me to shut up!

The PA only lasted like 30 minutes because we were so awesome, so then we got signed off, clocked out, and were ready to go! That afternoon I met up with Noelle, David, Missy, Samantha, Tyler, and their friend Ashley in the park after they finished their scavenger hunt. It was lovely seeing them and feeding off of their excitement! Then I went to Rock Harbor with Jason that evening for church. I loved it! The energy was intoxicating and the music was fantastic and the talk was very thought provoking. Plus I made a new friend which I'm always a fan of. Depending on my hours this Sunday, I'll definitely be going back.

Yesterday and today were my days off and they have been awesome. Yesterday I rode my bike over to the park to figure out timing and the best route. It only took about 20 minutes and the entire thing is pretty flat, so I'm feeling good about that for sure. Later that day Skyler came out to hang with me and my friends. We went to the beach then played cards and talked in my apartment. It was so much fun - I think my photobooth photos are proof of that.

Today has been spent chilling and cleaning and making sure I have everything together for this coming week. I'm going to be working 6 days in a row, but I have absolutely no clue what my hours will be. Since I wasn't signed off when they made the schedule, they couldn't give me specific shifts. Now I have to call in every day to see what shift they have available for me the next day. The positive thing is that I will definitely get some hours - I just have no idea how many or when they'll be.

So that's my life! I love it. I'm obsessed with my job and my roommates and my new friends...I couldn't be happier. Truly.

See you later, trash cans!

Today was a potential disaster.

So I check my alarm before falling asleep last night and it says 6am, on. Good to go, right?

Wrong.

I wake up this morning and look at my phone. 6:30. I'm sorry, what? I need to be clocked in at the tomorrowland break room in exactly 30 minutes! I literally fly out of bed, grab all of my stuff, and run to the car. I brush my teeth and put my shoes and socks on in the car, impatiently wait for the shuttle, and run to the office.

Luckily I managed to clock in with 2 minutes to spare. Disaster averted.

After that the day was relatively calm. I started to learn EO which was a lot of fun - the two greeter positions offer quite a bit of guest interaction and chances to smile and laugh. We took an adventure to the west side of the park which was fun to see something new, and I learned how to clean the 3D glasses which is a relaxing, assembly line type job. I fell asleep while reading the Operating Guide again, so I had to use my tools of jumping jacks and stretching to keep me awake.

Tomorrow we learn the theater (spiels here I come!) and how to close down the ride. Another long day learning everything Tomorrowland, but I am absolutely loving it so I can't wait.

For now it's nap/recuperating time (my knee is a hurting a bit so I want to stretch that out too) then tonight I believe I'm going to see Fantasmic with some friends. I'm excited because I haven't seen that in quite a while.

Until next time!

Attention Space Travelers!

Day 2 of OJT!

Today I got to learn the Astro Orbitors. Yes, I got to Disneyland at 5am. No, the sun wasn't up yet. Yes, it was empty and weird with the custodial staff cleaning everything...but guess what! When they made an announcement for the cast, it was the same announcer guy voice! My trainer then told me that apparently it's some dude in Michigan with a home studio and they send him whatever they want him to say. Crazy. But anyway.

So we learned how to open the ride and work all of the controls and everything. It's pretty basic, but it's really exciting holding peoples lives in your hands....muahahahaha. but seriously, you feel powerful. wearing that name tag gives you endless confidence.

Lacey and I learned the ride super quick, so then we had to go read the Operating Guide. All 122 pages of it. I had to keep slapping myself and doing jumping jacks so that I would stay awake! That was one of the hardest things I've ever done.

But then we went back to practice a bit, and then we had our Practical Assessment. I was a little stressed at first because the manager came down pretty much RIGHT when things were going a little crazy and I was frazzled, but I didn't forget anything and I kept my cool. Then when I got to work the tower and do the spiel over the mic I totally rocked it. Thanks speech training!

So yes, now I am signed off on the Astro Orbitors - fully able to operate the ride by myself! Tomorrow I start to learn EO (at 7am...not as early but still unpleasant) and I'm stoked!

You have saved our lives - we are eternally grateful

The last three days have been amazingly fun and challenging and wonderful. Just like the rest of the program.

I spent Monday and Tuesday at the park with new friend Beau and old friend Julie. I love them both and so it was absolutely fantastic. I got to see World of Color and ride some great rides and make new friends!

Today was the first day of OJT (On the Job Training). It was great! We started at 11:45, got our costumes, and then took a massive tour of backstage and onstage. We learned where the offices were, scheduling, costuming, eating...pretty much where everything was. I was trained in guest interaction today - so basically herding people during parades. I didn't think I was going to like it much, but SURPRISE - I loved it! It's a great opportunity to listen to fun music and interact with guests. Plus I can wear pins when I work that, so even better.

I also loved our trainer Cyle. He was fun, informative, and made me feel so comfortable with everything I was doing. I can't wait to get training on the rides the next few days - I'm sure he's going to teach me everything I need to know and make me feel like a star doing it!

But anyway, I have to be in at 5am tomorrow (puke) and am writing this as I wait for the Nyquil to kick in, so I must bid you all farewell. More later!

We are here to change the world!

Exciting news! I have now officially found out where I will be working the next few months. Drum roll please...

Astro Orbiters and Captain EO!

Frankly, I was happy with anything other than Autopia, but the fact that I get Captain EO right off the bat is pretty cool. Funny story about those pesky orbiters though...

Once upon a time, Dan, Rebecca and I decided it would be fun to try to go on every ride in Disneyland in ONE DAY. Crazy, I know. But come 11:58pm we only had one ride left to complete our quest! We rush to the Astro Orbiters and arrive with a minute to spare - but alas, the jerk off cast member closing the ride refuses to let us on. We plead with him and explain our plight...this was after all, our last ride in a near impossible day! But he refused to relent, and midnight passed without us getting on the ride. HOWEVER. We still claim we got through all the rides because if it weren't for the jerk on the Astro Orbiters, we totally could have done it! So we decided that ride doesn't exist. Therefore, I am now working on a ride that doesn't exist. :)

Anyway, training starts Wednesday and I'm very excited (even though I have a 5am shift on Thursday. Barf) Today was our "Welcome To" class which was probably the longest and most tedious thing I've done here- and it really wasn't that bad. A lot of sitting through lecture, but then we got to take another tour of the park and even ride Buzz Lightyear! (Where I whooped everyones BUTTS by the way)

So now two days off to play in the park, make friends and get my voice back! Then it's off to watch Michael Jackson change the world for 5 months :)

Traditions...traditions. TRADITIONS!

So pretty much every day here keeps getting better and better.

Yesterday we had Traditions which was long, but honestly I enjoyed every second of it. Even though we had to get there ungodly early, we learned so much and did it all while having fun. We played some games that related to Disney history, learned about the 4 keys to their customer service, and took a tour of the park. I was probably really annoying with all of my Disney trivia, but I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

The most magical part of Traditions was at the very end - but I won't say what happens because it's so much better if you don't know it's coming. But yes, I pretty much cried.

So now I have my ID and Nametag and I'm officially a cast member! I have a Park Ops class tomorrow morning and then On The Job (OTJ) training all next week. Today is my day off so I'm probably going to go grocery shopping and relax. I'm a bit sick (translation - I have a cold that has stolen my voice. I can't speak above a whisper) so I'm going to forgo going in to the park today.

The best part of this program so far is the people! I have met so many wonderful, friendly, excited people that are so happy to be here and love what they do! I've been playing cards, listening to great music in the car, and even went to a line dancing bar with 2 friends last night! The people here are seriously amazing - and we're just getting started!!!

Move in and Orientation!

Greetings loved ones! (Let's take a journey?)

So I am officially checked in and a member of the Disney College Program. Check in day went a little something like this:

Arrival - 7:30 am. The line is already huuuuuuuuge. I stood around for a while and talked to Kallie who was near me, and Natalie when she showed up. When I checked in they gave me some instructions and sent me upstairs (sans the parents) to take care of getting my room key, parking pass, i-9 paperwork, and commuter assistance. Based on a glance at my paperwork, it looks like I'm going to be placed in Tomorrowland, but I'll find out for sure tomorrow at the end of Traditions. Once I filled out all my paperwork (and moved my car) I climbed up 5 flights of stairs to my lovely top floor, corner room. It's a pretty big place (I'll post pictures soon) and I think we've made it pretty homey despite the fact that it's pretty much the farthest apartment from anywhere.

Moving in was....intense. Awful. Exhausting. And yet exciting at the same time. I brought waaaaaaaay too much stuff. I even consolidated and decided not to bring a lot, and it still took about 15 trips (me, mom AND dad) up either 5 flights of stairs or the crowded, hot, slow freight elevator. Not exactly my idea of fun. But I was able to get everything moved in and put away and even did some decorating - now I feel right at home. The only thing I'm NOT excited about is when I have to move out in 4 months. :-/

After all the packing (and a 1 hour housing orientation meeting) the parents and I ran to target for some errands, ate chinese food, set up the electronics in the apartment, and chatted with Lauren (roommate) and her dad. Once all the parents were gone, some of the girls and I went to get fro yo. There's one literally 2 minutes away...it's gonna be dangerous.

On our way back we noticed some boys playing cards in the window. Because everyone at Disney is friendly, we knocked on their door and invited ourselves in! Now we've got 2 great friends (Pat and Kirby!) and an unhealthy desire to play cards whenever possible.

Ok. Day 2. This day is a small orientation. You show up, get your ID picture taken, hear about class options and scheduling, CHOOSE your class and schedule (I'm doing Blended Learning Series and put full availability) and then get SNACK TIME. I feel like I'm in elementary school again, but I do love me some snack time. We then heard a bit about all the college program staff, played a getting to know you game, and did Disney trivia. I won a deck of cards (ironic?) by answering: "Who are the fab 5?" Do you know?

After orientation I joined the parents in the park for a bit, but then returned to Team Disney for the resource fair. This was basically an opportunity to get some free snacks and random stuff that no one needs. The evening consisted of dinner with our new friends, and inviting everyone we saw to our apartment to play cards. Despite being in the corner, we know how to throw a shindig :)

So that's the general info for days 1 and 2. Tomorrow is Traditions and I'm sure I'll have a lot to say about that. But the moral of the story here is that there's TONS of information SHOVED at you, and lovely people to experience it all with. Seriously, I'm living the dream.

Showing off for your muggle admirers, Potter?

So...I was pretty much right. This was the best vacation ever.

Let's start at the very beginning (a very good place to start?) The flights went well, got into Disney in the evening and had a delicious dinner at the T-Rex restaurant. Great food, great service, great night. The next morning Christina and I went to audition for American Idol Experience. We both got cast in a show and were so excited for later in the day! I performed at 1 and sang "Alone" by Heart (I was hoping I would get that song!) I won my show and went off to ride star tours (for the last time) and TOT before Christina's performance. She did an amazing job singing"Holding out for a Hero", but she had some bad luck and got placed in the same show as a hot guy singing "Circle of Life". And he sang it well. :( So he moved on instead of her. But I think she had a great time which is really the most important part. I just like competing because it's a chance to perform!

So I moved onto the finale show that evening and had some pretty stiff competition! A 15 year old girl put some serious soul into "Ain't No Mountain High Enough". Kristin Chenowith's distant cousin (named Krysten Chenowith...weird right?) totally rocked "Black Velvet", Christina's competition was like a boy band member singing the Lion King, and this Colombian guy brought the house down with "La Bamba!" I was pretty nervous, but when the host announced the winner he said my name! I was so surprised and pleased and sad at the same time, because I can't use my golden ticket this year! The last auditions for the season are in San Francisco on Thursday, when I will be down at Disney (and an employee of the company, so ineligible to use my ticket) I felt a little guilty taking it away from someone who may use it, but the experience was fantastic so I didn't feel THAT bad. :)

The next day we went through all of Animal Kingdom and Epcot before heading off to Universal Studios and checking into our hotel for the night. After a cheap but delicious dinner, we went to sleep, stoked for what was to come early the next morning. Because what was it? Oh none other than THE WIZARDING WORLD OF HARRY POTTER. As soon as I walked through that archway into Hogsmeade I became a 10 year old again. I couldn't stop smiling...and if I did it's because my jaw was practically dragging on the ground. It was so incredibly magical. There are no words to explain it! So we ran and got in line for Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey - the main attraction for the park. It's this fantastic mixture of videos and set pieces and the ride vehicle is so smooth. You really feel like you're flying!

So while waiting in line for the attraction (which by the way, the line is in the Hogwarts castle...ummm could there be a better place to stand around for 2 hours??) we started heckling one of the employees who was dressed like a Slytherin (and looked like Draco...which I will be calling him from now on). After a little bit of waiting, our new friend Draco came to find us, whereupon he took us out of the big line, and brought us up the back entrance - putting us right on the ride! We skipped the whole line! He even rode with us, and when the ride stalled for about a minute, he told us he would get us right back on. We ended up going on the ride 3 times that morning PLUS he gave us an unlimited express pass, which basically meant we didn't wait in line all weekend!

We spent the rest of that first day exploring Island of Adventure, buying too much candy from Honeydukes, eating in the Three Broomsticks, seeing Scott Pilgrim, and downing margaritas at Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville in CityWalk. The next day was slightly less enjoyable, but only because it would be hard to top the magical experience from the day before! We went to the Universal Studios theme park that day and had so much fun. My favorite ride there was probably the Men In Black ride. It's kind of like Buzz Lightyear because it's a shooting game, but you have no control over the vehicle and it throws you around a bunch. Plus I was TERRIBLE at it. So I texted our new friend Draco and asked for some tips - with his help I scored about 100,000 more points!!

Our last day at Universal Studios Orlando was absolutely perfect. We slept in, went on a few rides in the morning, and then headed over to Harry Potter where Draco not only got us on the ride with no wait again, but also gave us passes so we could come back without his assistance. By the end of the evening Christina and I had been on Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey 11 times in 2 days. I even have most of the dialogue memorized now! This trip seriously

wouldn't have been the same without that employee...it gave me a great example to follow as a Disney cast member. It is so easy to make someone's trip magical - simply engaging them in an enjoyable conversation or heckling match can make the day 10 times better. Then again, helping them skip lines is always great too. :)

So now I'm back in San Jose for the evening, and I head down south bright and early tomorrow morning. Most of the packing is done - I just have some toiletries and a few more bags to stick in the car. Tomorrow is gonna be a long day of driving, more packing (dumb storage unit), doctors appointments and waiting around. But come 8am Wednesday morning I will be checked into my new apartment and (hopefully) have some kind of idea where I will be working!

All in all, fabulous final week of summer, and I can't WAIT for what is to come.

Permane ser sentados, por favor

In 8 short days I will be on my way to Florida to visit 2 of the most magical places in the world. Stop #1: Disneyworld!

My dad, good friend Christina and I will be spending 2 days at the Saratoga Springs Resort. (a DVC resort that we have not yet visited...excited to see what it's like!) While we're there I'm sure we'll dine in Mexico at Epcot, (Christina and I are addicted to Mexican food) go on Mission: Space, ride Midway Mania/TOT/Rockin Roller Coaster, and participate in The American Idol Experience! That attraction always makes me feel like a star. I mean, check it:

epic, right?

After 2 leisurely days (in which I'm sure we'll chill by the pool because of horrific Florida humidity) we're heading back into Orlando for Stop #2: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter!

We'll get to walk through Hogsmede, have some butterbeer, ride Harry Potter's Forbidden Journey, and experience Hogwarts up close and personal! The 10 year old inside me is freaking out.

Heck, the 22 year old on the surface is freaking out! It's the closest thing to actually being a wizard I'll ever get.

Definitely gonna have to bring my wand.

Once I return from Florida, I'll have a day to pack everything up, and then I'll be departing for Anaheim bright and early the next morning! The roomies are all planning on getting together for dinner that first night before check in, but unfortunately there's no way my fam will get there in time. Luckily we'll have a few months to hang out. :)

Dan and I are also trying to work out a plan for housing once the program is over. He wants to come down and work at the park, and then the two of us will live together once January rolls around.

So pretty much, my life is awesome and God is good.

The end.