Earning My Ears!

So now that I have finished training and have my first week of work out of the way I figured it was time for an update.

For Training at Mouse Gear on Day 1 I got my costume, which isn't really that bad, that took a long time because the sizes on the clothes aren't the same as regualr clothing. But after trying on several sizes and lengths of pants I found some that sort of fit alright. Then the trainer showed me how to walk to our location and also explained how the Cast Bus works. At Epcot there are 2 buses, East and West. East goes to the front gate and the access to the tunnel, West goes all around the World Showcase. The tunnels at Epcot are not really like the ones at Magic Kingdom. It doesn't go all around the park it is pretty much a straight line under Future World. In the Tunnels is where my locker and breakroom is.

Mouse Gear is actually 3 floors. There is the tunnel level which is where most of our stock is kept and then the 2nd floor has a small stock room and the sales floor area. The 3rd floor is where the manager's office and the Money Room is. It is the 3rd largest store in WDW, and it can get pretty crazy in there.

The next training day was called "Discovery Day" and that was where we walked around the park and they showed us where things were. We also watched a video about how Walt's original plans for FL and Epcot were greatly different from how they are today. We did get to go on Spaceship Earth, and we rode on one of those boats around the World Showcase Lagoon and they talked about each of the pavilions.

The next training day I had to Re-take Merchantainment, which is Disney Speak for learning how to run the register. I was pretty bored since I had already done this class once and hadn't forgotten the information.

Day 3 of Training was where I actually got to use the register and do transactions. Pretty Easy. On Day 4 we learned how to do the Embroidery on the Mickey Ears hats. I actually liked doing it, and it was pretty easy. Then we took our assessment I got a 98 on the Hat Stitching and a 100 on the Merchandise test! The trainer said not very many people get 100 on it!

I had a day off and then I had to work 11 hour shifts on Friday Saturday and Sunday. Probably because it is Memorial Day weekend. I really don't like those really long shifts, since the store is pretty busy the day goes by fast, but by the end of the 3rd day I was really feeling run down. I'm scheduled mostly nights for the next two weeks with shifts ending at midnight or 2 am.

Arrival Day, Casting, Traditions

So now that I finally have internet access I can update. Arrival day went really smoothley on Monday. I met up with Christine, Katelyn and Kristyn at Waffle House at 7:30am to eat breakfast. I didn't want to really eat that much because I was nervous and didn't want to feel sick. I really wish I had eaten more though because later on I was starving.

So we checked in and got in line together since we wanted to live together. I took everyone's program guides and waited in line to see about our apartment while they waited off to the side. So I told the lady we wanted a 2 bedroom at Vista, and she said she didn't have any!! I asked her if there were any 2 bedrooms at the other complexes and she said she was looking. Then she said there was a 2 bedroom at Vista but it was a Non-Wellness (Meaning you can drink Alcohol in the apartment.) We needed Wellness because Kristyn is not 21 until June. She said she could switch it for me! So we got our 2 bedroom! The Apartment is really nice, I will post pictures of it later once we get everything put away.

Then we went to casting to fill out paperwork, be fingerprinted for the background check, get our payroll card and go over the Disney Look. I was sort of nervous that my hair would not be Disney Look. I have highlights but they lighter than they should be. I figured at Casting they would really scrutinize you more than at your location so I pulled my hair back and hoped they wouldn't notice. I was also worried that my fingernails were too long, but when we went in they barely even looked at us, and didn't ask to look at our nails. I guess they figured since we are alumni that we already know the drill.

On Tuesday we didn't have anything to do Katelyn and Kristyn and I went shopping at Target and Walmart. The car had so much stuff in it there was barely any room for Katelyn in the back seat. We ended up going back again because of all the stuff we forgot.

Yesterday, Christine and I were supposed to go to Traditions. Katelyn and Kristyn are Campus Reps and still actively employed by the company so they didn't need to go, so they got to go pick up their ID's and go play in the parks. So about an hour before we are going to leave Casting calls Christine and says that her background check didn't come back yet. She doesn't have anything against her but it is just taking forever. I heard that it happened to a few other people too. So I went to Traditions alone, and it was pretty much the same as it has always been. We were all alumni except for one girl! The people teaching Traditions kept really playing everything up for her.

Later on in the night we decided to go out to Buffalo Wild Wings, while we were leaving the complex we met the guys who just moved in for Fall Advantage directly below us. They were going to Buffalo Wild Wings too, and on the bus ride we met some guys who were going there too. We even sang Spice Girls for Karaoke and finished off the night with some Steak n Shake.

Tomorrow is my first day of Training at Epcot, which I think is weird because I don't have the park orientation until Sat?

I'm home

This song by Diddy - Dirty Money "Coming Home" really fits how I feel about returning to Disney.

"I’m coming home
I’m coming home
Tell the World I’m coming home
Let the rain wash away all the pain of yesterday
I know my kingdom awaits and they’ve forgiven my mistakes
I’m coming home, I’m coming home
Tell the World that I’m coming home"


This place was my home for 7 months and the experience had completely changed my life. When I went home I went through some really tough times, and this summer is a chance to start again. My Kingdom (The Magic Kingdom that is) has given me a chance to experience all of this again. I will leave this summer with no regrets.

I was nervous whether I was making the right choice to return, but as soon as I drove over the FL state line I knew that I made the right decision. This summer will hopefully be better than the last. I can't wait for this journey to begin again.

Time to leave!

It seems like it has been an eternity since I interviewed and accepted my offer, and tomorrow is the day I leave! I have everything all packed up in my car and I am ready to leave at around 5am tomorrow morning. I'm driving to my Nana's house in South Carolina and staying there until Saturday morning, then I will be driving to Florida and meeting up with my former roommate Layna. She still lives in Orlando so I will be crashing at her place and hanging out until my check in on Monday morning.

Someone had looked me up on the HUB and told me that I was going to be at World of Disney (the huge store at Downtown Disney) I was pretty excited since my roommate this time around, Katelyn, worked there and she told me all about it. But later on someone called me to talk to me about my medical accommodations and told me that I was going to be at MouseGears at Epcot.

I'm actually more excited for this location! It is the parks biggest store so it will be very busy, which will make shifts go by quickly. It is indoors, so I won't be out in the heat and the very best part is......CUTE FOREIGN BOYS! Epcot is where most of the international program kids work so "Hello, boys from around the world!"

Also I worked at a resort last time so it should be fun to work at one of the parks. Also if I remember correctly the costume isn't that bad either. I'm hoping to wear sneakers since last time I had to wear dress shoes, and my feet hurt from wearing flats everyday.

And now to finish off with a quote from one of my favorite Disney attractions, "The Carosaul of Progress" - 'There's a great big beautiful tomorrow, shining at the end of every day! There's a great big beautiful tomorrow, and tomorrow is just a dream away!"