Day Two / Three - Meetings and Surprise Magic Kingdom Visit

Hey everyone,

I thought I would start off this blog by showing you where I live (the outside of the complex for now.) Disney Housing has four complexes. Vista Way, The Commons, Chatham Square, and Patterson Court. I am in Patterson, the newest of the complexes. Instead of moving in with all new people, in an empty apartment, I moved in as one new person among five Americans who have lived here since February. They are extremely nice, and fun to talk to! So here is Patterson Court:

Okay! So, yesterday we had housing meetings. We went through, had our visa checked, made sure all was in order, then gather in a huge room to watch a presentation on all our housing... the rules, amenities,events etc.

After our meeting I booked it home because a new friend had offered to MainGate me into Magic Kingdom! SAY WHAT?! (MainGate is what Cast Members get, free access to all parks... and they have a limited number of passes to bring guests in with them!) SO, I was getting to go to The Magic Kingdom for the first time ever, for free! (We do not get our MainGate pass until Thursday, on our Traditions class)

The Magic Kingdom is incredibly different then Disneyland. Yes there are similarities.. but this park is just HUGE. Spread out, and large. Disneyland is small and quaint. They are both different, but equally spectacular. I was able to ride in the 3 hours I was there: Space Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, Jungle Cruise, Big Thunder Mountain, Haunted Mansion, and The Little Mermaid. I was then able to finish the night off with "Wishes" the fireworks spectacular. It was an incredible night, with a new Canadian friend who has worked in the parks for about a year now! 

Enough with the words.

ON WITH THE PHOTOS! 

A very magical day.

Today was fairly simple... We had immigration meetings, filled out paperwork.. had paperwork processed.. but we found out officially our work place and position, as well as our traditions class time tomorrow (Traditions is your main orientation of the company, the Disney legacy, the history, and a tour of The Magic Kingdom from below and above.)

I will be working in Magic Kingdom, doing food stands in east side of park! Totally the park I wanted. As well, my Traditions class is at two tomorrow! I have more Training/Orientation Saturday and Sunday, then start on site training the next week! \

SO EXCITED

So that's about it. Heading to a place called B-Dubs tonight with the roomies and some Canadians, and then tomorrow the Disney Career begins!

Stay tuned for more! Have a magical day.

Day One - Canadians take over

So I arrived in to Orlando around 11:30 am EST. Got off the plane, made my way to baggage claim and came into a HUGE glorious lobby filled with advertising for all the theme parks! Universal, Disney, Sea World. The excitement was just building. I was here. It was gorgeous.

Coming off the plane it was so cute seeing all the kids with their Disney gear waiting to board a plane to go home... I couldn't help smiling knowing they had a trip they'll never forget.

I gathered my luggage and went off to Level 1 to take Mears transportation to Vista Way Apartments (our check in), waiting for the Bus I ran into several Canadians also headed to Vista for check in, so we were all off to a great start!!! Meeting each other, making friends.

We got to Vista and had papers checked, rooms assigned, a short video on Housing and the rules, some free food, and were sent off in a van to all our respective complexes. I am in Patterson Court, will get some photos later today to post. It's the newest complex. I have 5 other roomies, all Americans who have been here since February, so I get to be the random new roommate from Canada. Our driver to the complex was this incredible jolly woman with a southern twang, who loved to yell and get us all excited. Was so fun!

I got myself slightly unpacked, then made the bus trek to the HUGE Wal-Mart. Needed to buy sheets, some food, and other goods. The bus was FULL of Canadians, and Americans who all just started their Program. Wal-Mart was quite a site to see, all of us with our carts running around.. Specifically the Canadians trying to understand all the brands in the grocery aisles... so confusing and overwhelming. "I just want bread, what is this weird honey bread!! HELP"

We then filled another bus with all of our new goods, like literally full, people on top of Wal-Mart bags on top of people.

|I eventually got home, officially unpacked, chatted with my roomie (the one I share my actual room with), got a bit settled.. then set off on a bit of an International College Program Canadian Tradition.. The Polynesian Resort for the "Wishes" Fireworks Spectacular. Apparently every year on first night we all meet on beach and watch the fireworks. I was so excited, finally getting on to Disney property!!

We rode the bus, another bus of Canadians, crossed under the Disney World arch (freaking out of course) and got off at the Polynesian. Holy crap it is gorgeous! I've never really seen resorts in my life.. Wow! All Hawaiian inspired, tiki themed. Lit torches line the pathways, the pool has a Volcano waterslide. Gorgeous beach. A few of us ran off to go to the self serve Dole Whip machine..

WHATS A DOLE WHIP YOU ASK?

Well it has become a thing of Disney Fan Folk Lore, but it is essentially Pineapple Soft Serve.. it is AMAZING, so good! They are Disney famous. I had one in Disneyland in 2011, and couldnt wait to have another.. and Self Serve meaning.. AS BIG AS YOU WANT!

So we wolfed down our Dole Whips, then headed back to the beach for fireworks. We all decided to head to a dock where they play the shows soundtrack during the fireworks (as all the fireworks are choreographed and programmed to music)

This dock resides on the Seven Seas Lagoon, a Disney made lagoon that takes you to the Magic Kingdoms entrance by boat.

Well one of the ferries that takes you to the entrance pulled up, and the driver insisted we get on as the view is spectacular.. so we did.. and he was right! Had an incredible view of the fireworks as we approached the Magic Kingdom by boat.

After the show we took the Monorail back to the Polynesian and bused home.

It was an amazing, magical first day.. Although we have all been a bit confused with everything we need to do. Amazing new friends were made, and today we get to do it all again! I have a housing meeting at 1:50, then I am free rest of the day! I think I made a friend who's worked here for a while, and they are going to sign me into the Magic Kingdom tonight, meaning.. I'm getting into a park for free tonight!! (We don't get in free until our Traditions class when we get our class ID, which isn't until Thursday)

So I'll keep you all posted on today's adventure by tomorrow...

Until then, remain seated please, Permenecer Sentados por Favor!.

From 30,000 Feet.....

Hello world,

I decided whilst sitting on a plane 30,000 feet in the air that it may be a good idea to chronicle my Disney adventure. Or at the very most, give my friends and family something to read over the summer... so they know I am alive.

Yes, I am sitting on a plane right now... with Wi-Fi. Crazy right? The 21st century continues to amaze...


This blog will be a journal of sorts, somewhere to write down my experiences at Disney World. The adventure I'm having, and the places I am going to see. I land in an hour or two I believe (What time is it?!?!) where I will check in to my living quarters. I then must run off to Wal-Mart (OPEN 24 HOURS WTF!!!??) to buy sheets and such... because Disney is cheap and can't seem to provide any. Oh well. Hopefully a bunch of us Canadians will go to the Polynesian Resort (near Magic Kingdom) to watch Wishes (a fireworks show.) Then tomorrow it all begins. Orientations, training, the Disney life. I am so freaking excited, I cannot believe I will be landing in Florida shortly. I started this process in August 2012. Applying, phone interview, and an in person interview. Now I am here, and this is real.

So stay tuned, because this here is "the wildest ride in the wilderness."