Check-In, Day #1

On Monday I checked into my third Disney Culinary program and it was definitely a little different from even last year.

Check In happens at Vista Way. When you arrive to Vista whether you're driving or walking, at the security gate you explain that you are there for Check In. Security is well aware of the Check In dates, and usually your luggage is a giveaway! Once you get through the gate you will see all the signs leading you to the welcome center in the back. Once you get to the welcome pavilion you will be greeted by a CM who will hand you your program guide. You will then enter the little building and get in line to find out your housing complex, get your key, and have your ID made. Following the excitement of finding out where you live, you will proceed to the patio outside where you will get you itinerary for the next few days and you will get debriefed on Traditions and what to wear and where to be. The itinerary will disclose your schedule for casting, the housing meeting, and Traditions. You will receive all your other information at Traditions.

What is new with this year is that you go straight to Casting from Vista. In years past once you were done at Vista you grabbed your luggage from where it was stored during Check In, board the luggage bus to your complex and put your stuff down at your apartment before catching a scheduled bus to Casting. Now, you go on the scheduled bus that leaves right outside from the Check In building down to casting. Don't worry, they have fruits and bars out to help tide over the hunger!

Our bus back from Casting. You better believe there was Disney music and trivia!

Once you get to Casting, this is where all the fun paperwork starts, by fun we mean government specifics that aren't really fun. but there's Disney stuff on the walls so who cares! You need to be sure that you have a government issued photo ID, passport, or social security card. This will be used when completing the I9 documents. At Casting you will also be fingerprinted and be given information in regards to signing up for direct deposit and other payment options.

The good news is once you're done with Casting, you're done for the day! All you have left between you and Traditions is a simple housing meeting the next day that is at most a few minutes past an hour, and it's held right at the Commons.

So, you get here and don't have access to the parks, what do you do? Downtown Disney is an option of course!I actually went there first things first to get a new case for my new phone. In case y'all didn't get the memo, my favorite Disney character is Dopey. He doesn't get as much love as he deserves (all the Grumpy merch Disney? Seriously?) But, I love him. So obviously when I saw that you could make a custom phone case at the new D-Tech On Demand shop in the new Co-Op at Downtown Disney, I obviously got it

I mean look at it!

 

Two of my roommates are actually working in DTD so we went and toured their stores and got to know each other a little bit more. It was a fun night to unwind and still have some Disney fun. We grabbed a bite to eat at Earl of Sandwich and I was torn between like 4 sandwiches but was so happy with the vegetarian one that I went with! It had avocado, zucchini (my favorite!), cabbage, tomato, and pesto. SO good

 I've never labeled myself as fully vegetarian or vegan, but I do try to incorporate it when I can. and this was definitely a great choice!

The Sunshine State?

So, a bit of an update. I'm in Florida! I arrived on Sunday after a really emotionally draining day. I had said goodbye to my aunt and uncle and my grandma on Saturday and it takes a lot for me to cry in front of people, and I was bawling. and then I had to say goodbye to my dog, UGH.

 and then I had to get in the car and pull away. We dropped off my brother, and HE cried.

and then there was saying goodbye to my parents. It was different this time. I'm used to staying away from home, I've done the whole leaving thing but there is something so finite about knowing that the next time you come home is only to visit for days to a week at a time, not for months. and I can't even describe the guilt and selfishness that I felt knowing that I was the one making everyone cry, that the only reason we were upset was because I was leaving, it was all my doing and it made me feel horrible.

But, I boarded the plane. I slept through most of it but I landed in Florida safe and sound. and what was it doing? Raining. No, not raining, pouring.

 So things have definitely not changed in that aspect. My plane was a little delayed and we had quite a bit of turbulence but other than that it wasn't too bad. This is an example of why I stress arriving the day before check in. Flying in in the morning and hoping to get there in time is just too much of a hassle in my opinion. And with Mears, it's a shuttle so on the route for all the guests in the van that night, I was the last to get dropped off. At least there's no rush!

I took Mears Transportation over to my hotel, the Holiday Inn Resort Lake Buena Vista on State Road. I've preached before about this hotel because it is literally right across the street from Vista Way which is where your check in will take place. I was able to put my things down and cross the street to get dinner (there is an Applebee's in the hotel though if you want!) And I basically just came back and lounged in my big king bed all to myself!

As you can see, Tangled was playing so I instantly felt better. And a Jessie/Dog with a Blog marathon was on after and I have to say, not too bad!

In the morning, make sure you allow for ample time to get across the street. Walking by yourself is different than walking with 2 suitcases, a carry on, and a laptop bag. Keep that in mind when you're packing too. A friend I was with had 3 bags with wheels and it was hard to get them over. My carry on was able to go on top of my suitcase and then I lugged along my others duffel bag like suitcase. We were a few minutes past our check in time of 8 but the line was actually quite long so we were alright. More on actual Check In day in the next post!

So if you need any accommodations before the day of your program check in, be sure to look into Mears Transportation from the airport if you're flying (you can reserve it online or even at the airport) and staying at the Holiday Inn Resort.

Where Am I?

Where in the world is Meg?

Still New Jersey, but not for long! 3 weeks from right now I will be sprawled out in a big king size bed all to myself probably eating vending machine crap for dinner watching whatever is on the TV in the Holiday Inn across from Vista.

I hope these 3 weeks go by fast but I hope they drag on so slow all at the same time. I want to go back to my Epcot job but I don't want to punch out of my job up here for the last time. I want to go back to seeing the cast of characters but not leave the cast of characters I call my friends and family. I feel a little bit more torn up this time knowing that this is it, I'm buying a one way ticket not knowing when I'm coming back. I know I'm going to try and take a week off to come home in the beginning of next year but still, you just don't know.

Hercules was sad to leave his family, Rapunzel was reluctant to leave her tower, but man oh man, look at what they went on to.

Hopefully I end up like Rapunzel and find myself my own Flynn Rider...a girl can dream right?

Genie, I'm Gonna Miss You

As you all know, we lost a very profound star in not just the Disney family, but entertainment community as a whole. I have grown up watching Aladdin so many times over my life and laughed and was happy and tonight was the first time it actually made me sad.

Robin struggled with a disease the touches so many, including myself. I've been struggling the past 2 years and know what it is like to feel low and then to have a good streak and think you're getting better only to get crushed again. I know what it's like so stay in bed and not want to move, to be curled up in the corner of your room on the floor having a complete panic attack, to completely see yourself change. and it sucks.

I guess the point of this post is to show all of you that you are not alone in no matter what you face, that there is always someone you can reach out and talk to and if depression is what you're going through, you can talk to me. I know it seems weird to be happy and in Disney and still feel down but depression is just a part of your life, it's not the only thing. One of the greatest things I read in light of Robin's passing was a post saying that he was funny, he was caring, he was generous, and he was sad. You're never just sad.

So to Robin, someone who played such an important part of my childhood whether it was as Peter Pan, a charming nanny, a risk taker playing Jumanji, a mad scientist and his Flubber, a teacher, Teddy Roosevelt, thank you for granting so many wishes to smile and be happy.

Q&A: Pastry Interview

Random Roommates

A lot of people are getting ready to fill out their D.O.R.M.S applications for the upcoming Fall/Fall Advantage sessions and a big question floating around is to have random roommates or not?

In my 4 years of college and 2 internships, I have lived with 23 different roommates, that's quite a lot! In those 23, I have lived with random roommates and I went into living arrangements with friends. I have started off living with friends and learned some true colors and am no longer friends with them. I have lived with random roommates that I still keep in touch with.

For my 2 Disney Internships, I selected random each time. And I got a long with every single one of them. Our first night of my first internship we all went and saw the Lorax in DTD and blasted the Spice Girls on the way home. I spent my April Fools with my roommate Becky in Adventureland watching every single Pirates show because we thought Johnny Depp was going to be there. I've spent days off in the parks with them and gone to housing events with them. We've had many a laugh within the apartment walls. I would gladly live with any of them again.

Not to say that living with people you know is going to be a horrible experience. I ended up living with my college best friend twice and thank goodness because she was what got me through a lot these last two years. Some people just, click!

It's always important to talk it out with your roommates regardless of if they're random or not. I've known my 2 best friends for 10 years and even if we moved in together, we'd still have to talk some things out. This internship is very important and can be taken away in the blink of an eye if you don't follow the rules. Let your roommates know your stances on alcohol/partying or guests/significant others coming over. Communication is key to living with roommates smoothly. All my roommates that used to leave notes on the fridge to avoid confrontation? Yeah, we're not friends anymore. Just be open and honest and you'll be in for some nice friendships!

 I actually got my roommate Becky to meet the Princesses!

 A day at Animal Kingdom with the roommates

 We actually all went to the same school together but didn't know each other until the program

 Even got to spend my last night with Becky!

My 2 JWU roommates and I all had the same departure day so we were losing half the apartment. I had to be locked in my room until everyone was home from work. They had made us a Mickey cake and got us cards (my Aussie roommate even through in an Australian postcard!) and we spent the whole night laughing, reminiscing and having a big dance party in the living room!

And I actually got to keep in touch with Nicole since we both became Campus Reps and did another program!

Seize the Day!

Fun fact about me, I love musicals and I LOVE Newsies. Unfortunately though, their last show on Broadway is August 24.

But, I just graduated from college and had some graduation money and since I'm still a CM I had my discount on Disney Broadway and...

That happened! For $82 I got to sit so close to the stage thanks to my handy dandy discount (and of course I got a shirt too!) and it was SO amazing. To be honest, I had never heard of Newsies until I saw them dance at the Macy's Parade a few years ago and watched the film for the first time my sophomore year. I instantly became enthralled in both the movie and the musical production.

I spent my day in NYC seeing my most favorite actor ever James Franco in Of Mice and Men

and then spent my night with the Newsies! Such a magical experience and will definitely try with all my might to see it again when it comes on tour in Orlando in January! Thanks Disney!

Hi Disney, it's me Meg, are you there?

Hello Everyone!

So, it's back to more postings! I know I've said that before but I really need to get back into writing and since there's still so much information left to cover, what better time than now! Don't forget that you can help shape my blog by telling me what topics you want written about or questions you want answered in the comments! It can even still be on an old post since I get a notification linking me to the comments!

The topic of this small post is the email process. We all spent those days constantly checking our emails awaiting that decision. Now that you're in, there's more emails to come! But they might not be as frequent as you might think and that might make you nervous if you don't know the process!

Once you pay your deposit and accept your position, there's really not much else to do. You will be getting a lot of your information 10-14 days before your check-in date, this includes you D.O.R.M paperwork (roommate and housing preference paperwork) and new hire paperwork. But in between then,it's pretty quiet!

To give you an example of what to expect, here's how my email schedule went for this upcoming program:
-Congratulations! Email: 3/17
     *This email contains the links to accept your offer and pay the $300 deposit
-Payment Email: 3/19
     *Accepting your offer triggers this email to come out, it is just another reminder to pay your dues 
      if you have not already. Remember, BOTH must be completed within the 10 day window
-Payment Confirmation: 3/19
      *A digital and detailed receipt of your payment is emailed. You may choose to print this for your
       records but it isn't required..
-Welcome to the Team!: 3/19
     *This contains your program dates and check in time and your official welcome to the team. It
     links you to the Onboarding Website which contains information regarding: a pre-arrival checklist,
     the Disney look, housing, driving directions, medical and religious accommodation forms, and tips

And this is the big stretch! You may wonder, did they forget about me? Am I really going? Will this waiting game end!

 Yes, yes it will:
-Disney Look: 6/24
     *Information regarding the Disney look

And after that, you won't really get much until 2 weeks prior to your arrival date. So fear not, Disney has not forgotten about you! They are just busy getting everything ready for your arrival!

The Disney Look Part 1: When You Get There

We are often told that we only have one chance to make a first impression. When you arrive to your DCP Check-In, it is important to make sure you are presentable and meeting Disney Look guidelines.

Do they expect you to go through all of the lines in professional dress? No. But, they do expect you to already meet some basic guidelines. A lot of interns are sent back to the airport for not following basic Disney Look guidelines, please make sure you are not one of them! Read on after the jump!

Let's Go Bring Back Summer!

Hello everyone!

Clearly, it's been a while since I've made a post! I was in the middle of my last trimester so things were getting a bit hectic. But...I graduated from college!

I decorated my cap with Disney of course. For my non-Whovians, the 2 things in the middle are Sonic Screwdrivers. They help the Doctor do what he needs to do and get where he needs to go so what better way to illustrate my college journey! When I was in my seat I was texting my mom and dad to see where they were sitting and I knew I was in trouble when my mom texted me to look for Mickey. She said it was either a graduating Mickey balloon or flowers. Of course, they made the right choice!

So I'm home for the summer. I'm back baking for my bakery up here til the end of August and then fly down to Disney in September! I will be posting a lot more on here now that my days are mostly 7-3:30 and blogging will be easier.

I already have some topics picked but what do YOU guys want to read about? You can respond to the comments in this post or any post with your questions and I will try and answer them as best as I can!