Today was one of the best days I've ever had working for Disney.

First of all, Disney always gives me the best trainers. Seriously. I've been so lucky with having some of the most encouraging, knowledgeable, supportive trainers in the world. Julie, you were great.

I spent the morning working on some land positions and having a ball joking with guests about the safari lasting 2 weeks. Then after lunch came the moment of truth - the first live safari.

That's right...this afternoon I took guests out on a real live safari. I drove, I spieled, I rocked.

Immediately after that, I gave my last safari.

That's right folks, today was my third and last day at Kilimanjaro Safaris. Turns out my anosmia (lack of smell) is a disability after all. See, out there on the reserve, we're completely alone in our trucks. Sure we have guests, but it would be irresponsible to rely on them for safety issues. Let's say my propane tank started leaking. Could I smell it? Nope.

Management had to call safety and because this has been an issue in the past, KSR can no longer allow me to be part of their attraction. To put it lightly, I am bummed.

But I'm staying positive. Silver lining, God closing a door and opening a window and all that.

Management at KSR is absolutely wonderful - they're about as upset as I am that I can't stay, and they're looking to put me somewhere close by where I can still spiel about animals to my heart's content. And hey, now I won't have to be as concerned with safety issues, right?

So to all who wanted to ride my safari, you're out of luck. Only about 40 people will ever get that privilege. But I will always remember my days as a Game Driver in the Harambe Wildlife Reserve.

Kwa Herini KSR

Life on the Reserve

I have now completed 2 days of training at Kilimanjaro Safaris, and I must say, I'm obsessed.

Day 1 was pretty much an overview of the attraction. We explored Africa, took a ride, reviewed animals, did some e-learning, and even drove the truck around the vehicle maintenance lot. No, I didn't make it onto the ride path that day, but driving that beast around the parking lot was more than enough for day 1 thank you!

Day 2 started out with learning the spiel. After around 2 hours of studying, I knocked everyone's socks off with my memorizing skills. So thanks mom and dad, that theatre training keeps managing to come in handy. :) We then took some time to learn a few of the land positions. It was fun to get back into a greeter role, and I feel right back into my old habits of encouraging people to "fill in allllllll the available space". I had actually missed it. I then learned the wonders of fastpass and how to deal with the crazy mishaps of some of the oldest fastpass machines known to man. I also got some practices subduing the masses while they wait for their fastpass time to start and laying down the law when it comes to one party at a time!

After lunch we took a truck out to the ride path. That's right, I drove a 36 passenger truck past lions, elephants, rhinos and crocodiles to name a few, in the rain, and over a tilting bridge. I'm slowly learning the art of the overwhelmingly wide turns and how to approach the dock at the exact right angle so you don't pop up on the curb. It's going to take quite a bit of practice, but even after my few hours driving around today I'm already feeling more comfortable. Driving my little honda civic at the end of the day was a bit of a jolt though. I have a feeling my driving is going to be a lot rougher once I start driving the safari all day!

My greatest accomplishment for the day was that I was able to spiel for an entire trip without any major mishaps. I know I still have a lot to work on, (and luckily 4 more days to practice!) but I have a really good feeling about my future on the Harambe Wildlife Reserve. These past 2 days have flown by. I love the work, I love the people, and I loooooove the animals. Today I saw elephants playing in the water, a baby mandrill in a tree, a newly hatched flamingo, and some of the rarest animals that exist in Africa today.

My only wish is that I could take pictures while I drive!

I'm sure I'll have plenty of wonderful stories to tell in the next few months. I'm really liking this new chapter of my life :)

Life at the Harambe Wildlife Reserve

Jambo everyone!

My internship is officially over. Basta. Finito. No longer am I a floating head in the Walt Disney Corporation - as of Sunday I am an official part time cast member. I have a seniority date and everything!

Starting now until who knows when, I will be a safari guide at the Kilimanjaro Safaris attraction in Disney's Animal Kingdom. I am so excited I might pee myself.

1. I love animals.

Giraffes, elephants, little Tommies and most of all, the elusive Okapi, who I relate to because of its antisocial ways. I get to watch these animals all day, every day, and I cannot wait.

2. I get to spiel!

Good grief have I missed spieling or what! I mean, I turned Captain EO and the Astro Orbitor into spieling attractions (be it my horrible Michael Jackson jokes or silly astro Christmas carols), so clearly talking in front of people is something I'm pretty passionate about. Each safari is about 20-25 minutes long, and seeing as the animals are real and not animatronic, each round is going to be completely different from the last. Time to get used to thinking on my feet again!

3. It's in a park!

While I really enjoyed the experiences working at Downtown Disney gave me, I realized that I just don't have a connection with Walt Disney World. Disneyland is and always will be my home. Even when things were difficult there, I felt connected to the place, and it was easier to get past the negatives. It's been more difficult to do that here because I don't love the resort in the same way. My hope for this role is that it will help me develop that bond with Orlando and everything we have to offer here so that it's easier to push past the difficulties I will inevitably face.

Things that are gonna be tough? Driving a massive truck...sitting in that heat! The fact that I'm part-time and need more hours to pay my rent...

But despite any apprehensions I'm feeling, I know that I am thoroughly going to enjoy this change. I think I'm addicted to it (change that is).

My social life these past few days has been bustling because I haven't had work, and while I've really enjoyed all the playing, I'm also ready to get back to work! I'm also participating in Encore! Cast Choir which is a musical revue that's performing at the end of July/beginning of August.

So it looks like I will indeed be staying in Florida for some time. I'm excited to see what she has to offer!

Lately

I am truly terrible at this whole updating thing

The Lenten fast has been going well. I haven't gone in Facebook in about a month now and honestly, it hasn't been hard. Sure there are times when I'm bored or curious about somebody...or most of all I make a new friend and can't add them until Easter, but for the most part I'm not really missing it. The main issue is that I can't show all the awesome photos I've been taking over the last month.

To remedy that, I posted a bunch on Flickr that you are more than welcome to check out http://www.flickr.com/photos/jilawesome/

I should be adding my photos from MegaCon soon so you can see all the incredible costumes I came across there.

The end of my program is coming up and it's time for me to start figuring out my future plans. As of right now, I have too many. Back to school? Stay in GR? Audition for entertainment? Work on a cruise ship? What to do???

I know God has something fantastic planned for me though, and I have full faith in Him. I suppose having too many options is better than none at all, right?

Jamaica, Bahamas, come on pretty mama

Hello friends! Since moving to Orlando I have been attending church at First Baptist Orlando, and God has been making huge waves in my life. He has been pushing me to do more work in His ministry and spread the gospel to everyone I meet. I joined a group of college students that witnesses to the Disney College Program students through bible studies, dinner nights, and handing out breakfast at the bus stop at 6am. I’m not sleeping much, but I have never felt so awake.

Most recently God has called me to join First Baptist’s college group Amp’d on a mission trip to Jamaica this July. We are going to be working with Won by One to Jamaica ministries and living in the small community of Harmons, assisting with physical labor, caring for the children, and witnessing to the people of Jamaica. I cannot wait to see what lessons God has to teach me through this experience, and I am thrilled for yet another opportunity to show His love to people who may have never seen it before.

Now a trip like this takes a lot of support, and that’s what I’m coming to you for. More than anything I need your encouragement and prayer, but should you feel compelled, a monetary donation towards my travel would be greatly appreciated. Each student has to raise $1,425 by July (not an easy feat), so every little bit counts. I would also greatly appreciate if you would share my situation with friends or family that may be willing to offer their support (spiritual or otherwise). Any spare funds I raise will be applied towards the other students accompanying me on this journey, so nothing will go to waste!

I hope all is well with you – if you need to ask any further questions or contact me, please do it by email (Lawson.jillian@gmail.com) or phone (408 460 8255). God bless!

Jillian

Lent

Good morning, friends! Happy Ash Wednesday! Would that be the proper terminology? Happy Ash Wednesday? Regardless, you're reading this right now because you are curious about why I'm saying goodbye to facebook. Well, for the next 46 days, I am going to be facebook free. (And TV free for that matter too)

I've been working on actively seeking Christ every moment of every day, and to be perfectly honest, facebook and television are a huge distraction. My goal for this next month and a half is that whenever I want to watch a TV show or surf facebook, instead I will do a Bible study, or read a book, or say a prayer, or have some worship time. The purpose of Lent is to turn our minds to God. To take these vices that we have made into idols and replace them with time with God.

It's definitely going to be difficult. Even now I find myself wanting to check and see if anyone posted comments on my new pictures, or update a status about my day. But what is that achieving really? I'm hoping that through this fast I will become a more complete person through the study of scripture and unlimited alone time with my Lord and Savior.

If you need to reach me I will still be readily accessible through email and my phone, and I also plan on updating this blog with what I'm learning and going through. So stay tuned!

And now I bid you adieu. Pray for me friends, and see you in 46 days.

May the Force be with you

Yesterday was one of the best days of my life. And I mean that in the least possible cliche way.

It started out at 8am signing in for the Star Wars Weekends auditions. I got measured at 70" on the nose (I guess no more faking that I'm 5'9") and then waited around until 10 o'clock before my group finally got called in. They stood us in 5 rows, turned on some music, and then stared us down, row by row. Now, I was nervous. I had been told that they usually only take a few people from each group, and what were the chances that I would be one of them? Good golly I wanted this though, so I stood tall and proud and tried to exude as many evil vibes as I could.

I guess it worked, because they pulled me and two other girls! First we were sent to the movement audition where they taught us poses and talked to us about our characters. My character was a sheer evil baby eater that wields a dual lightsaber (that can also split down the middle and become 2). I got to walk around like I owned the place, sneer, and act like I was having a lightsaber duel. Could life get any better? The casting directors seemed to like me a lot, so they also had me try some movement for a certain bounty hunter that could have been a jedi, but didn't have the control to master the force. Now she has it out for the Jedi and also serves as a mentor/caretaker of young Boba Fett. After I moved like her, they sent me to cosmetology and wardrobe to get better acquainted with her and the dark Jedi I had been portraying earlier.

I ended up staying until about 1:30 so I could show the casting directors both looks, and by george, I think I nailed both of those auditions! It was so much fun putting away my happy go lucky guest relations smile and pulling out the evil sneer. I didn't have to be nice to anyone - in fact, I was encouraged to be straight up mean! At the end of the audition, one of the directors told me that I make one "creepy broad". Definitely have to add that to my resume.

The final question they asked me was "does this sound like something that would be fun to you?"

Oh, if only they knew exactly HOW much fun it would be for me. I tried to explain as best I could (even mentioning my RD LEEDR license plate). At the end of the day though, I was just so happy to be so close to the Star Wars universe for a while. As I told some of my friends, it was like every little girl's dream to dress up like a princess coming true, only I was bald and super evil.

I never did like being normal :)

So now I wait to find out if I'm approved to be friends with either of those characters. If I am, I expect a mass exodus to Florida. Star Wars Weekends are happening the last two weekends in May and the first two in June. Come see me be friends with her:

or her: