It All Started With A Mouse

My Disney Internship Adventure has begun! =) 

The 1,040-ish miles / fifteen and a half hour drive from Johnstown to Orlando was not as bad as I anticipated. I listened (and sang) to the Disney Pandora station for most of my ride! I was meeting one of my roommates, Emma, at Pop Century Resort on Monday. Soon as we got there we went swimming because it was 83 degrees out! =P Then in the evening we met the rest of our roommates and some other CP's (college program) in Downtown Disney. We ate at 'Earl of Sandwich' which was absolutely delicious! Then explored and got Margaritas! =)

Check in really began at 9am, but people started lining up at 2 am!!! My roommates and I decided to go at 6am, there was still a decent size line at that point. After standing in line for a while, one of the first things we found out was where we were working! I am in MAGIC KINGDOM at an attraction in Tomorrowland!! =D We (my roommates and I) were so excited when we found out where we were working! Then we chose from one of the three apartment complexes. We didn't get our first choice but we are SO happy with our apartment! It is really nice- pics down below. Then, we took our housing ID, did some other things, and waited for our bus time to head to casting. At Casting we had our first backstage Disney experience =) Got fingerprinted and lots of other employment stuff. By then it was 2ish until we finally were able to head back to our apartment and move in! Later that night we all went to Wal-Mart together- It took forever because we did a few different transactions.
My roommates are absolutely awesome! =) We all have similar interests and get along so well, it feels like I have know them for so long! There is- Emma- from WI, Jenn- from CA, Valerie- from Purto Rico, Melissa- from WI, and Rosey- from CO.

On Wednesday, after enjoying the pool, we had a Welcome Session- just basic information about Disney and the housing complexes. But since it is Disney- they made it awesome of course! There was music and lights, and the presenters were hilarious. Then we spent the rest of the day hanging at the pool then went to a restaurant called 'Bahama Breeze'! It was awesome! =) That evening we had a Margarita and game night! It was a lot of fun- we played Cranium and paper telephone with some neighbors. It was hilarious- Everyone was always laughing like crazy! =)

 

On Thursday the 17th, we had the day off so we took it easy for the day did a Target trip and went to a CP welcome party! Mary Poppins, Bert, and a penqin were there! =D

Friday, we had our first day of training/class called 'Traditions'. Its is where you are welcomed into the Disney Family. =)You learn about the culture and heritage of the Disney organization. Disney Traditions helps you recognize and appreciate the connections you have to the Disney story, the daily impact you can have on the quality of the Disney Show, and the role you can play in our Company's growth and success. Most importantly- you get your Disney ID! =) Having a Disney ID gets you into the parks for free and plenty of discounts everywhere! During Traditions, they take you on a tour through the backstage, underground, and on stage areas of Magic Kingdom. After the tour we went back to Disney University annnnd... MICKEY himself came to deliver our name tags! It was awesome! I couldn't stop smiling! 
After Traditions, one of my roommates, Rosey, and I rushed back to Magic Kingdom to meet the rest of our roommates. We rode Ariel's new ride in Fantasyland and Haunted Mansion. On our way out we did some shopping with our discount =)

Rocking the new Couture ears!

I got these ones! and felt like Minne with my dress!

 
On Saturday, I had training that was called 'Once upon a time.. is now!'. It was for all the CPs that will work in the Magic Kingdom. We went on another tour and learned a bunch about the park =) and rode the Haunted Mansion again! Then, we broke into our separate roles and did another tour with them. It wasn't till then when I found out where I was working!!! ...I'm working the Buzz Complex- which is Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, Monsters Inc laugh floor, and the Carousel of Progress!!! A few people have asked what the Carousel of Progress is- its an attraction made up of a rotating stage that goes through the decades showing how technology has progressed. It is one of the oldest attractions in all of Disney World and Walt's favorite attraction- therefore it will always be there! =) Next, I got my costume for Tomorrowland! It is really boring =( I was all prepared to wear something ridiculous! We finally then ate lunch in the 'Mouseteria'- a backstage cafeteria for cast members =) 

Main street before all the guests arrive!!! =)

  
Sunday was my last day of group training, I will be training on my rides from now on, but today I just had to do safety tutorials on the computer. It was pretty boring. We were also trained how to work the two fastpass machines that are in Tomorrowland. As part of our training, they MADE US ride Space Mountain! =P It was awesome! It was my first time riding it because it was under renovation when I was here last!


And I'll leave you with a quote...there are quotes everywhere backstage from Walt. This is one of my new favorites and most suitable ;) .....