Valentine's Day Week

Time is simply flying by!
I had the 13th and 14th of February off so I spent the 13th with my friend Stephen shopping! We went to the Gap outlet where I got tons of cute stuff because it got really cold here and I had nothing. Then we went to Cast Connection. This is a store for Disney cast members where they sell merchandise that is being liquidated. Usually there's something wrong with it or they are simply no longer selling it. I got tons of stuff there for presents and myself plus really cheap groceries including really really really delicious oranges. We then proceeded to the grocery store to obtain ingredients for baking cookies! We made oatmeal mini chocolate chip cookies for a Valentine's Day Eve get together at our friend Christine's apartment. THE COOKIES WERE DELICIOUS. They were all gone by 11pm. I made us dinner at his place of my favorite dish to make when I'm on my own. Pasta with butter and parmesan cheese. Simple and divine! The party was fun with crazy antics but we all had places to be the next day so it was over by 12:30.
The next day was Valentine's Day which is a holiday like New Year's for me in that I don't particularly care for it. But this time I had a blast because I spent it with Christine and Stephen. First we headed over to Magic Kingdom to see if we could catch a glimpse of the Princes with the Princesses but no luck. Instead we went on Space Mountain where a guy walking by in the fast pass lane gave us fast passes! Then we walked around and ended up eating corn dug nuggets at Casey's Corner. They were so delicious, I love corn dogs. We watched Philharmagic to let the food settle and it was adorable. Somewhere in all our walking we spied Minnie Mouse as she was getting ready to go on stage for a performance in front of the castle and she waved at us! Then we got pictures with Mickey and Minnie! Next we headed over to Hollywood Studios and it was my first visit there. I think the first thing we did was Tower of Terror and I was definitely terrified. But I plan on going back ;) We next rode Rockin Roller Coaster where we also got to use the fastpass lane without having to obtain them because Stephen chatted up the cast member. That was SO much fun! I love roller coasters. We wandered around for a while. Met up with one of Christine's friends though he was working so we just visited for a few minutes. Visited Stephen's roommate at the ABC Comissary and then we departed for Epcot. We walked through to the Yacht & Beach club and ate at Beaches & Cream! The verdict was that it's cute and delicious and we got ice cream before heading back to Epcot to see the fireworks show. That was so gorgeous and amazing I couldn't believe it. It had been a long fulfilling day so we headed home and I went to bed because I had to go to work early the next day while they met up with some friends.
Work after that was difficult to pay attention to and this last week has been one mistake after another but this week is ending and another beginning so I'm going to leave that in the past and focus on being better. Because of President's Day and the long weekend there are tons of people here. The Yacht and Beach are at 100% occupancy! And of course everyone wants Beaches & Cream. Still happy though and still amazed I'm actually in Florida living my dream. Yesterday I went to Epcot around 2:30 and wandered through before going to work at 6:30pm. It was fun and I bought a few food things from Japan and Mexico. Mexico by the way is gorgeous inside! You have to check it out!
Well I work every day except next Wednesday and then I work nonstop until the following Friday and Saturday. Short 6 hour shifts for the most part but I have the feeling I'll be exhausted by the end.

Went to the Parks finally!

So yesterday (February 7th) I finally went to the parks! I went with my friend Stephen from school, and Christine and her roommate and coworker. Christine and Tim work at Expedition Everest so that was our first stop and we got plenty of fastpasses so we rode it twice in a row. That was my first ever roller coaster and I absolutely loved it! We had fun in the Animal Kingdom then made our way to the original, Magic Kingdom! We were starving so we got burgers in Tomorrowland then went to the Laugh Floor where they picked me and Stephen out for picking on. Next was Space Mountain which so exhilarating. I screamed so much but it was a ton of fun! Finally we went home since I had to go to work today at 10:45. I was supposed to leave at 6:15 but they asked me to stay so I did until 8:15 and I am thus extremely tired! But tomorrow I don't have to go to work until 2 so I think I will go to the Boardwalk then walk to Epcot then walk to work. Or something similar. Either way I really want to go to Epcot tomorrow so I can obtain some chocolate covered honeycomb candy bars! I took some pictures but currently cannot find my phone charger so there might not be more for a bit.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/leslieatdisney

Playing Catch-up

Today marks three weeks since I officially became a cast member and it's been a blast. Well except for my allergies going crazy and coughing all the time plus losing my voice. But that's mostly over now so I'm moving on!
So! Three weeks have passed and I have been derelict in writing about what's happened so I'll recap.
My first week I had Traditions which is an orientation for working at Walt Disney World, we went into Magic Kingdom and it was officially my first visit! But that only lasted about 45 minutes then it was back to class. The day after that I had Food and Beverage orientation that was mostly boring but I got my non-slip shoes (not even a payroll deduction) which made it a good day. Next was my Resort orientation (called Welcome Aboard!) at the Yacht and Beach Club Resorts, which also have the Beach Club Villas, so it's three resorts in one. I adore my resort! It's downright gorgeous with a theme of New England around the turn of the century so it's laid-back and beautiful. I work at Beaches & Cream which is a soda shop with a 50's diner theme. It's adorable, especially my costume! Pictures will come soon! Next was my first day of training that Saturday which was to follow members of the culinary and server team so I knew what they were doing but I don't actually do any of what they do. Which I didn't realize until I got home afterwards. Further days of training took place and I learned how to do what I was going to be responsible for. The positions I can be assigned are:
Greeter or seater at the podium, seating people in the restaurant or telling them there's a wait and issuing a pager.
In House. here I make all the ice cream concoctions for the restaurant including our famous Kitchen Sink.
Scoop or Cash, these positions are at the To-Go counter where we serve cups or cones of ice cream and even Hot fudge sundaes and banana splits to go but no food!
Runner/Stocker/Breaker, these are supplementary roles where you spend the majority of the time in the back taking dishes to the dishroom and getting clean ones then stocking the others with toppings or ice cream and such. Breaker is fun because you get to replace the other positions so they can go on break and you get to be in each role for a little bit.
My favorite of course is Scoop or In House because then I get to make ice cream sundaes which is so much fun! Although my wrist does hurt after a long night of scooping ice cream!
After a week or so of training I took my assessment ( a written test, I got a 99) and officially I could take the "Earning my Ears" ribbon off my nametag! I was on my own, and it was a bit scary. But my shifts afterward were two days of being greeter in a row which is soooooo easy! That brings me to last week when I worked four closing shifts in a row. I am rather tired on this, the first of my two days off but I ultimately had fun. Closing means staying until about 12:30 or 1 in the morning which means not getting home until 1:45 to 2 am. Which means I don't wake up until 11 to 12 in the morning. The rest of the day always flies by after that! Now I hope to get to Magic Kingdom tonight and Epcot tomorrow but I do have some cleaning and laundry to do so we'll see if I make it. I also need to go to Walmart.... and charge my camera and post the pictures I took yesterday. So much to do and not enough time to do it in! I can still hardly believe I'm actually here!

The Rest Day

Well after a whirlwind of the past weekend and my first day I finally have some time to sit and think. And also unpack, figure out the rest of my life here and settle in completely. But mostly the thinking part. Having flown in Saturday around 6pm my fantastic second cousins picked me up and we went to their beautiful home in Windermere, Florida. Which is miraculously close to Disney and my apartment. I wish we could have spent more time with them before now because they are just "good people" who were welcoming and so nice. My first day we left around 8am and arrived there quarter before nine but there were already plenty of people there! The next four hours were a maelstrom of standing in line, handing over paperwork, receiving other paperwork and basically becoming a Disney Cast member. So it's official! I work in Beaches & Cream at the Yacht and Beach Club and every time I would say where I worked the Disney officials would repeat the name with longing and happiness. A few of them also mentioned the "kitchen sink" which is apparently a huge bowl of ice cream with every kind of topping they offer. So, so far so good! Will check back later!

Exactly a week to go!

A week from now I'll be getting on a plane to Orlando Florida to fulfill my dream of working at Disney World! I'll be an intern in the Quick Service Food and Beverage area and I couldn't be more excited. Except that I'm also nervous! Really really nervous. Mostly about packing since I'm flying down there but I just hold onto the belief that everything is going to work out for the best and I don't need to worry. Thank you to everyone who has encouraged me, this is actually happening!