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.