Traditions!

Today was the day that I have been waiting for since I can remember. Today I officially became part of the Walt Disney Company family. Everything felt surreal this morning when I was getting ready because I knew today was the day I was getting my name tag. Nothing could happen soon enough for me.

Four of my five roommates also had Traditions in the morning, and then one had it in the afternoon so we were all up and trying to get ready at the same time. Getting four girls in and out of a bathroom at 6 am is not the easiest thing to do when we all had to be dressed professionally and have the "Disney Look".

We boarded the bus for Traditions at 6:45 and we were on our way to Disney University. Everything was "backstage" and we drove past where all of the costuming takes place, the Disney Transportation Maintenance Building and all of the other things that Disney hides from the Guests. I was trying to take everything in all at once, but it was still too much for me to process and I have been to the parks so many times.

We finally got to the Disney University Building, and all of the College Program Students were separated according to what section they were in for Traditions and finally got into the classrooms for the much anticipated class. I walked in and there were a bunch of different pamphlets and books about how to Disney conducts business and all of the different things that were going to be covered in the next four hours.

One of the first things that the program facilitators had us do was open up a box that was placed on each of our tables. We all had to stand up and open the box together. Inside there were Mickey Mouse Ears for everyone that was in the program. It was a very nice token and symbol that we were becoming apart of the company. We continued the class with how Disney conducts business and the four areas of how they achieve success for each Guest individually. It all just seemed to make sense for how Disney presents themselves to the public.

After we had covered how Cast Members are supposed to interact and treat the Guests, we were taken over to the Magic Kingdom and we went "under cover" to see it working in action. Everyone in the class wore headsets and we were able to communicate with our leader about what we were seeing and how the Disney experience was happening in front of us. I got to go in the tunnels that run underneath the Magic Kingdom which was something that I had never been able to experience before. I saw the trash system that I have heard so much about. The group walked underground until we reached the beginning of Main Street. That's when we went "on stage" and the Guests were able to see us. I was finally a Disney Cast Member. Once we had experienced some of the Magic Kingdom and watched the Cast Members interacting with the Guests we all went back to the classroom and debriefed about what we saw.

Then the most exciting part of the day happened. Mickey Mouse opened the door of the classroom holding a big gold box and came and welcomed us all into the Disney family. The box was opened and inside were all of our name tags. Every person in the room was called up individually and was presented their name tag. I had been thinking and dreaming about getting my Disney name tag since I decided that one day I was going to work for the company. And that day came. I put it on and I don't think I could have been any happier.

It may be just a piece of plastic for some people. But for me, I will always carry that name tag with pride. When I graduate from this program, it will be framed and it will be in every office that I have. I will never forget the feeling of finally earning something that I have pushed myself so hard to reach.

Meeting Day

I slept really well, probably because the past couple nights I haven’t been able to get much sleep because of all of the traveling. I woke up and looked at my phone thinking that I was going to be late for my Casting Meeting, but it turned out I had another hour to sleep.

The Casting Building is beautiful. Its right across from Downtown Disney and it looks like a castle when you walk up to it. The first room that I walked into was all pillars with gold characters on the top of them and it lead you to the main walk way. The entire hallway was covered in Disney paintings and there were bridges going above to the next level. It was all really neat to be able to see something that I had never seen before.

I checked in with the person that was going to be helping me fill out my paperwork and such and I found out that I’m going to be working at Epcot, which is the park that I most wanted to be at. I believe that I’ll be working over in the Seas area where Soarin’ is so I’ll be in the air conditioning. They also took my fingerprints there and talked more about the Disney Look. I guess that I’m not going to be allowed to wear my glasses because they don’t adhere to the Disney Look and I’m going to have to purchase all new glasses, which I’m not happy about…

I had a Housing Meeting today too, over in Commons, which went a lot longer than I anticipated, but I got a lot of the information that I was curious about. 

Check-in Day

I made it! It was an 18 hour drive and traffic wasn’t too bad at all. The only time that I had an issue was getting through Atlanta, which was my fault with timing, because I went right during rush hour. The second day was longer than I had anticipated, which made me check in late at my apartment complex, but things seemed to work out okay.

I walked into the “Clubhouse” and checked-in with the front desk, they gave me my room key and a Program Guide that has all the information that I would ever need in it. They also took my picture for my Vista Way ID and I registered my car to be able to park and drive on the property. I drove around a bit trying to find my apartment complex and I finally found it. The original key that they gave me didn’t work, so I had to have them go make me a new one and then I was finally able to make it into my new house for the next 7 months.

I have 5 other roommates, which is much more than I wanted, but I think I could get along with most of them. One none of us have met yet because she’s been avoiding the apartment since check-in. I guess her boyfriend is doing the program too and is living on the other side of Vista, so I don’t think we’ll see much of her. The complex that I got wasn’t my first choice, but it’ll be nice because I only have to pay $89 a week for living expenses. It seems like it’s the central area for most things, so it won’t be a lot of traveling to try and get things taken care of.

Once I was all moved in, I went to Wal-Mart to get a little bit of shopping done for things that I needed right away. Everything was going all fine and dandy until I locked my car keys in the truck of my car. I had to call State Farm and they sent someone to come and unlock it. It all turned out to be okay in the long run, but it wasn’t a good way to end a long day of travel or my adventure at Disney.

One Month....

Tomorrow marks one month until I depart on this adventure of mine. One month until I get in my car and drive 19 hours to my new home. I'll be all on my own in this big world. No family in the area, no friends to run to... I'll be alone for a couple of days. But I'll make friends, find people that can be family for seven months and I'll be making new relationships for the rest of my life.

It was just this school year that I actually started talking to people in my classes at school. It was the first time in three years that I did anything besides school or work. I found some people that I love and truly enjoy being around them. And now I'm leaving them. Not forever. Just for what seems like forever.

A lot of what I'll be doing there is still up in the air. I don't have a set apartment yet, I just know that I'll have somewhere to sleep at the end of the day. My classes are all set up and start up two weeks after I get down there, which will be helpful to keep me busy and allow this brain to have time to soak up all there is to learn. I don't know where I'll be working or the hours.... just that I'll be work a minimum of 35 hours a week.

I've thought about packing, but it's so overwhelming. I don't know what I need to live for seven months. I don't want to under-pack and have to buy things that I already have and forgot to bring, but I don't want to over pack and have too much stuff laying around and being in the way.

So here I sit, staring at the walls of my room of 18 years, thinking "shit son, you're dreams are coming true." But who would have thought those dreams would have been so terrifying.