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!"

Less than 2 months

In less than two months I will be back at Disney! I am excited and overwhelmed at the same time. I have been trying to find someone to sublet my apartment for the summer so I don't have to pay rent, but so far no luck. I might end up paying rent here as well.

I will be finished with finals on May 5th and then will be moving everything out of my apartment (since I'm living somewhere else next year) by May 8th. I need to work on May 9th and maybe the 10th.

I plan to leave on the 11th and drive to my Nana's house in South Carolina, Stay with her until the 14th and then drive the rest of the way to FL.

I have made plans to live with some pretty awesome girls. Katelyn, Kristyn and Christine. By the end of June we will all be 21, and we are all looking to just have an awesome summer. Christine was one of my roommates on my first program, but she ended up moving out because of issues in our apartment. But she is giving me a second chance (Not that I really caused the problems to begin with).

Anyways. I plan on making a list of things I want to do while I'm at Disney this time. One will be Drinking around the world at Epcot (Not all at once) and I want to go to Harry Potter World at Universal.

I'm going to Disney World! (Again)

After careful deliberation, I have accepted my offer for the 2011 Summer Alumni Program.

I'm very excited to go back as I truly loved my CP program in Spring 2010. I really hope this summer program is as much fun and that I get to meet even more awesome people.

One of the best parts is I can see some of my old friends! My former roommate Nicole will be doing Fall Advantage 2011 and she will be starting in May as well. And two of my other former roommates Layna and Amy live in FL, so I expect to see them as well!

All I know is this summer is going to be a blast!

Accepted!

I've been Accepted for the Summer Alumni Program for Merchandise! I thought I would be really excited because I really want to go back, but now I'm not really sure if I want to. I have a lot to think about when it comes to deciding if I want to go or not.

Cons:
I have a lease here (I could try to sublet)
I would make more an hour at home
I wouldn't have to buy groceries if I was at my parents
Experience might not be the same, I'm in a different line of business this time

Pros:
I loved my CP. I love Disney!
Even though I would make less per hour, there is more opportunity to work more hours and even overtime!
Living in beautiful Fl
Having free entry to Disney World!

I'm just not sure what to do. I have until March 3rd to make my decision.

New Beginnings!

My College Program has been long over, and I have returned to school. I miss so much about working for Disney. I think the best part of working there was making the magic for the guests. Lot's of people have asked me about the program and every time I find myself talking about giving out "first visit" buttons or making "pop buckets" for guests.

I'd like to do the Fall Program but I would need to wait until after I graduate, because I can't fit it in again with my major. So this I have applied to the Summer Alumni Program for this Summer!!

I had my phone interview last Sunday. You have to go through all the steps for Summer Alumni as the regular program. I viewed the E-Presentation and did the web interview. During the phone interview the interviewer was like "Oh you are a former Cast Member?" and then she asked what I liked about the program and why I wanted to come back.

There are only certain roles available for the alumni program. Merchandise, Attractions, Custodial, Housekeeping and Quick Service Food and Beverage. I only applied for Merchandise and Attractions. I should know within 3 to 4 weeks if I have been offered a spot. Until then, fingers crossed!

Behind the Scenes Tour of Test Track

So Sometimes you can sign up to take Behind the scenes tours of attractions. This time it was set up as a group outing for my work location. We went to Test track to see all the behind the scenes stuff. They showed us each of the positions they worked and we got to go into the tower where all the controls are. In the Tower they have a video camera on each part of the ride. Then they took us out on the track to the part where you go through the tunnel and the Truck blares its horn. It was fun to watch people's reactions as they went by.

While we were there the ride went down, and they had to evacuate people off of it. They explained how the ride works too. The entire ride is electrical, so if something doesn't circuit right or if a piece of the track somehow gets electronically disconnect the ride will stop. The stop is not a gradual one either. If there is a power failure it will be an immediate stop, whether you are going 5 mph or are outside going 60!

They also took us up to the GM employee lounge. Once upon a time this was used for GM Employees, they could come up to the lounge with their families and get some free soda and enjoy the view. But because of budget reasons it is only used as convention/conference space.


This is the view of Spaceship Earth from inside the lounge. Think of the building for Test Track, you know the big shiny glass part on top? Thats where the lounge is.



This is a view of the ride from inside the lounge. Believe it or not you are looking at 90% of the ride here.



And this was inside the elevator to go up to the lounge. Take a look at the buttons.