Wonderful Feeling, Wonderful Day

I'm more on the ball (about select things) than many people realize. I started another blog post minutes after the previous one.

Tuesday was both my Discover Day and the morning I left my phone in housing. Discovery Day is the day in which we learn all there is to know about Epcot - what it stands for, its history, how to get around, how to find bathrooms, what's being reimagined, what attractions remain and which pavilion is the best (self-proclaimed Canada). We took a walking tour of Future World and rode Spaceship Earth, and were threatened with a jog around World Showcase before we commandeered a FriendShip, Jack Sparrow-style, and took a boat tour instead, all before World Showcase was even open. Since we were finished at noon, I took the afternoon off for a designated Magic Kingdom day. I lunched at Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe, then noticed that half of Tomorrowland was temporarily closed, which meant all adjacent attractions had a longer wait time. The only solution was to abandon Tomorrowland and head towards shorter wait times in Liberty Square (oh hey, Haunted Mansion), Frontierland (getting soaked on Splash Mountain and drying off on Big Thunder Mountain and then chilling in Country Bear Jamboree). En route I ran into a character attendant I knew from my last program, who allowed me a quick visit with Ariel between my desired attractions.

Tip: Know all the right people. I know Stephen.

Ariel told me to keep an eye out for thingamabobs.

Wednesday was another Disney University Day. Not trusting myself to a)not get lost and b)not get anyone else lost, I drove to and arrived at Disney University insanely early but still behind a handful of my classmates. I did not get lost, although the chances were high. The small group of international merchies (there might be seven of us) gathered with new merchandise college program kids for a not-at-all updated class called Merchantainment. You may recall that's a Disney word for Merchandise + Entertainment. It was a long morning of sitting to learn more about the Four Keys and how they relate to both the Guest experience and loss preventation, as well as practice on a real/fake cash register with real/fake American currency (the small handful of us who were not raised in this country were given a convenient handout). After lunch and a shorter afternoon of e-learning (I know so much about safe food preparation in degrees Fahrenheit), I went back to Vista for an evening of tidying, organization and well-deserved foot rest (I clocked over 12, 000 steps yesterday, just so you know). Also another round of (couponed!) Steak & Shake with current and former/future CMs and friends Mike & Matt (Lindsay's roommates!).

Thursday was my second day onstage and in costume. The focus of the day was Guest interactions at the cash wrap (ie transactions). It's coming back slowly, but I have had to learn quite a few things since my last program. I still got to have some Guest interaction and some pin trading but mostly I practiced package pickups, returns, exchanges, cash and credit transactions, all the joy of merchandise.

Our first opening meeting (with the UK merch cast)!

After a long day of working, Sarah and I decided we hadn't been at Epcot long enough and, since we will be closing during the IllumiNations foreworks for the next few months, we thought it prudent to watch the fireworks so we wouldn't get distracted later. We went to Beaches and Cream on Disney's BoardWalk for dinner, and were ridiculously too full for the ice cream for which Beaches and Cream is known. Next time. As we were leaving, we found that the heavens had opened up in typical Florida fashion, so we resigned ourselves to spending the remainder of the evening in Disney Parks ponchos purchased with our holiday Cast discounts. We were able to squeeze in a ride on the Gran Fiesta Tour starring the Three Caballeros (it has been ever so slight reimagined) before finding an excellent spot in the Mexico pavilion to watch the fireworks. The poncho had a sauna-like effect and kept us very cozy.

Can you see us in the mirror of the Beaches and Cream counter?

Sarah is too cool to wear her poncho. I am not. 

Friday, we are both off and headed to Animal Kingdom (teaser for the next post!).

See you real soon!

Lindsey

Magical Moment: There was a Guest in the store today desperately searching for a Cast Member from her neck of the woods. She was from Smiths Falls and she found me.

Pixie Dust to: The UK merchie who suggested a group photo, and my leader who sent it to me.

For the First Time in Forever, There'll be Magic, There'll be Light

I feel like I have had a very packed few days, so prepare yourselves for a novel.

Saturday was TRADITIONS, the longest and most magical of any company orientations known to person-kind. The day started off a little rough when the Traditions bus from Vista Way was nowhere to be found, but a van was dispatched so we still arrived very promptly. And very early. The day involved a Disney look check, company history and orientation, introduction of the Four Keys (SAFETY COURTESY SHOW EFFICIENCY for anyone who hasn't heard me belt them out before) and of course, a spectacular but sadly brief trip to Magic Kingdom, both backstage in the Utilidors and onstage.
The point of the expedition was to find Cast Members displaying the Four Keys, as well creating magical memories for Guests. Myself and two new American friends and Cast Members, Drew and Sarah, decided this was an ideal time to skip over to Castle Couture and get our first round of pixie dust. Upon return to the classroom, each of us earned a critter (a figurine of one of the Fab Five characters [Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Pluto and Donald}) for sharing how our magical experience related to the Four Keys.

Sneaky pixie dust friends at Castle Couture

After receiving a schedule for the next few days, we were released into the world with brand new blue Cast IDs and sparkly new name tags delivered by the boss himself. I know I've done it before but it was still magical.

You have to participate a lot to win this many Critters.

My name tag says "Perth, Canada".

I jetted off to Hollywood Studios within 15 minutes of getting back to Vista Way. The Walker family (remember how I was a lab tech who lived in St Thomas with a fabulous lady named Danielle and two weens?) was having their Disney World weekend before their Disney Cruise and obviously, since they were on my turf, I needed to see them. I rode Star Tours while they waited for Rock'n Roller Coaster, and we joined up for a typically magical presentation of Fantasmic. The convenience of car ownership had me home by ten.

Mad Fantasmic selfie skills

Sunday was another round of orientation at Disney University. I recently learned that, with the small group of Cultural Representatives with whom I arrived, were over 2,000 Disney College Program participants. This fact is important because, when I was waiting for a bus (with a German merchie named Mari), the first bus to Disney University completely filled up and they sent another a few minutes later... and I remembered why I don't bus to places. The day started with a class called Welcome to Operations from 0730 (YEAH) to 1130, at which point we were given more schedule for the day and, after lunch, the merchandise cast members had an Introduction to Merchandise class.
We were done for the day at 1400, but Sarah (from the UK) and I had the idea to go to Magic Kingdom, since we were right behind it and we wanted to exercise our limited time holiday discount (never fear, it comes back in November). We bussed to the Ticket & Transportation Center and took a monorail until we gleefully disembarked at Magic Kingdom, dressed conspicuously in our business casual attire. We had come for a specific reason and to purchase a specific item, so we went to Uptown Jewelers. They have a relatively new pale pink room dedicated to Pandora. After a few minutes of indecision and a scary moment of my Cast ID almost not working, we both purchased a lovely bead representing Spaceship Earth and the monorail. As we were leaving the store, I was lamenting not running into anyone I knew (it happens all the time). Not five seconds later, I ran into people I knew. It's a small world after all.
We made a brief stop at Casey's Corner for one of my fave MK snacks (corndog nuggets) and perused the Emporium for a bit to satisfy the money burning a hole in Sarah's pocket. I was good and didn't purchase anything else... yet. We then took a brief round on the People Mover (so lovely) and skipped through Fantasyland for another round of pixie dust (twice in two days for me), and headed home. My business casual flats are fine but they are not made for marathons that are park days.

The People Mover in Tomorrowland is the best for sore feet.

New UK merchie Sarah is in heaven.

Monday was my first day onstage. I met my trainer, Micayla, in the Epcot Cast Services break room. Lindsay was kind enough to do a drive with me last night to both Epcot parking and Disney University. Karen, my slightly bizarre but recently totally updated GPS, remembered where Epcot parking was but I don't trust her 100%. Disney University is Unplottable* (*Harry Potter reference) and is hard to find if you don't know how to get there. There was a table of international participants (including a new American friend) waiting for our trainers to arrive, but mine was the winner. Naturally. We clocked in and reported to costuming, which has had a complete overhaul lately so I was totally lost. We were easily able to locate the plaid aisle, and after a few rounds in the change room and a few reject sizes, I was finally in my sweet sweet new lumberjack costume. I also forgot how weird tucking shirts in is. I had also been given the heads up to purchase solid black sneakers and shorts for underneath the full full plaid skirt. Nicole and I had spent a fair amount of time selecting white socks at Walmart a few days previous.

Why thank you, Welcome package.

I got a locker in which to store my business casual clothing, I received a brand new lanyard full of trading pins (SO EXCITED FOR PINS) and we went for early lunch, after which we reported to the Canada pavilion for official business. The first day of training is referred to a "Tier 1", and the last time I experienced it, I was teaching it. Tier 1 has definitely changed for the better. Today Micayla and I focused on pavilion orientation, the four keys onstage and backstage, and guest interaction. To be able to interact with Guests so early in training was just wonderful... because that's what I know how to do.

The new Canada costume, 100% girlier.

See you real soon!

Lindsey

Magical Moment: My first pin trade of my program was with a couple from California. It was their first trip to Disney World and their first pin trade.

Pixie Dust for: Disney Facilitators, who encourage and reward Disney keeners like me.

I've Climbed the Mountain, I've Crossed the River and I'm Almost There

I have been blog-slacking but that is not my jam. I have been either otherwise engaged or just not motivated. I'm not sure anyone wanted to read my thoughts as I was stuck in a hotel room in Virginia with nothing but American television, an adult colouring book and my probable weather-induced anxiety.

Let me start with Florida, since at this moment in time I'd rather not relive the stupendously boring and eternal travel to get there.

On Monday, after a seemingly never-ending haul, I finally did arrive at the Vista Way welcome centre, fairly disoriented and warm and generally disheveled, to be herded through a typically Disney efficient series of stations, and to my horror, my housing ID photo was taken. I was handed a pink ID stating my new home was VW - Vista Way. Not gonna lie, I was slightly stunned, but I made my way to my new building (27) and found a roommate already there, and I found I already knew her from Facebook! Nicole, from Calgary Alberta, helped me unpack my car and we did our epic first trip to Walmart, wherein we did two rounds of necessity shopping - household objects and then food.
When we got back, only one more roommate had moved into #2702 but by the end of the day, everyone had arrived, brining to total to six roommates including myself - Elise, Camille, Emilie and Ana from France, and myself and Nicole from Canada.

The gorgeous ladies of 2702, plus a barley bag

Tuesday, I woke up early with half my roommates to attend an immigration session (aka "how to not get kicked out of the country") at my old stomping grounds, the Commons. It was pretty much old hat but it's good to have it reinforced.
Afterwards I was reunited with my lovely and dear friend Lindsay Wilson (the lumberjack from my last program with whom I met John Stamos that one time) at her house at Plantation Park (sounds faaaaancy looks like housing for adults). Lindsay is halfway through her management internship program at Epcot. She will be one of my leaders once I start working,  so due to said conflict, her name may not be mentioned frequently. Sorry, Wilson. We hung with two of her roommates (one of whom will also be one of my leaders and the other completed his first merchandise program during my first program) before going to Sweet Tomatoes (my first time... I know).

John Stamos' favourite Canadians, together again

Wilson dropped me off at Commons for my second orientation session of the day, a Welcome to Housing session (aka how not to get kicked out of housing). To my delight and surprise, one of the two facilitators was a friend from my first program who has married her American boyfriend after the end of my program (that's totally what I want, btw). Again, old hat, but good to have reinforced. Trivia though. Both lightsabers and wands, considered "weapons" until recently, are both now permitted in housing as long as they are used for good.

Patricia is living the former CRP dream.

I came back to Vista and unpacked and organized and did a round of laundry (both washers and dryers are conveniently located on my floor [the ground floor NO STAIRS!]). While drying clothes, Nicole and I walked to a nearby Wendy's and meandered back when it looked like it was going to rain. It did not, and on the way back we found the Vista Way front desk, library and club room. And both pools.
Today was a day off until 1600, wherein Emilie, Nicole and I lined up with a sizeable amount of CRPs and Academic Exchange participants to, again, be herded efficiently from station to station until suddenly all our Disney paperwork was complete and we had paycards for when we start making some money.

Paperwork JOY

Afterwards Nicole and I adventured to what famously became my favourite restaurant of my last program, Steak N Shake (Karen remembered where it was and still pronounces it "Steak North Shake" by the way). We also went to Dollar Tree to browse the selection of glorious cheap American goods.

Milkshakes from Steak N Shake are the love of my life.

Which brings me to the present and brings me to being all caught up, and you to "This is what we've been waiting to read?"

See ya real soon!

Lindsey

Magical Moment: When Nicole and I were exploring the Clubhouse, a cast member let us pick the next movie for public showing (under several ratings provisions). We selected That Thing You Do.

Pixie Dust for: Everyone who contacted my during my three-day snow-in in Virginia. Thank you for helping me maintain my scarce sanity. Now let's never mention it again.