The Kitchen Sink.

Jessica and I @ graduation.

I had my Disney College Program graduation on December 13th. You get your graduation Mickey ears, you eat, take pictures. It sucks because it's like an ending to your program, but you still have to work for three more weeks. 


Now about Christmas. It was the best Christmas I have ever had. Yes, Maggie came to visit. But that's not all. Maggie and I went up to our hotel room when she got here and we were putting our stuff down and she said, "What's this?" She was pointing to the adjoining door to our room. She was like, "It's open!" and starting poking at it and opening it. I was like, "OH MY GOD Maggie don't open that! Another family is in there!" And then I saw it. Someone in the room standing there. And I thought to myself, oh my god. There is someone else in there and Maggie is so stupid for opening it. Well, then I noticed the person standing in the other room was my mom. And then my whole family popped out. I was so happy and so excited that I burst into tears. I had absolutely NO idea that my whole family was coming. It was the biggest and best surprise I have ever had in my life. It's going to take a whole lot to top that one. They are some good liars. Now I'm not going to believe anything they say for as long as I live!

Caroline, Maggie, me, and Sloane.

Mickey Christmas tree!

I did get an iphone for Christmas. Thank Jesus. When I will switch over to my iphone though, is anyones guess.

Christie, Lela, Benji, me, and Lashon.

A couple of us from Port Orleans went to Beaches and Cream and ate the Kitchen Sink today. It was me, Lashon, Benji, Christie, and Lela. It is 8 scoops of ice cream, a whole can of whipped cream, and every topping they have. Brownies, nuts, caramel, chocolate syrup, sprinkles, candy, cherries, peanut butter, angel food cake, bananas, pineapple, strawberries, etc. We all agreed it would have been better without the candy pieces (it was like gummy orange slices) and the cherries (because there were no joke about 50). And I think it would have been better without the peanut butter. It was like a peanut butter sauce, and once the ice cream started melting, everything tasted like peanut butter. Ew. We finished the whole thing, and I hate to admit that I was still hungry afterwards!

The kitchen sink. Conquered!

I have four more days of work left and five more days at Disney. I'm starting to get sad. I don't want to leave the most magical place on earth :(

Christmas

What? It's Christmas time? When did that happen?


I've been seeing Christmas stuff in Disney since October, so seeing Christmas stockings and T-shirts and ornaments is nothing new. But it's actually December? And the next holiday is Christmas? WHATTTTT?????!!!!


I'm kidding. Kind of. Does it make since when I say that time goes by so slow and so fast- at the same time? I guess I will try to explain. When I work six days in a row, time doesn't move. But then I will look at the date after that week and be like goodness, it's already December 9th?! Maybe the minutes and hours go by slow and the days go by fast. I don't think I'm making any sense.


Maggie called me a couple days ago and informed me that she is coming to Orlando to come spend Christmas with me. I can't tell you how excited I am. I don't know if I could do another holiday without my amazing family. I knew when I signed up for this program that I would be missing out on Thanksgiving and Christmas, but I thought I was a badass and could handle it. WRONG. I freaking miss my family and Thanksgiving sucked without them. So Maggie is my hero and coming to keep me company on Christmas. The only thing that sucks though is that my main entrance pass is blocked-out for Epcot and Magic Kingdom on the days she is coming. I really wanted to eat in Japan :( Stupid block-out dates.


I had off work the past two days so I did some hardcore Disney Christmas shopping. I don't know if it's just hard to buy for my family or if it is just hard to buy for them when I'm alone. Because I am having some serious complications. Phone calls and pix texts don't do any justice when you're trying to explain to someone what you are looking at. Just doesn't work.


I have a little over three weeks until I leave. Can you believe it? Seven months I've been here. My disney graduation is next week. Thats when I get my Mickey graduation ears!!!! That is really all I'm looking forward to. Graduation, Christmas with Mags, home.


Here are some pictures from when Kitzya and I had a couple of days off. We went to Ohana at the Polynesian Resort for breakfast and then went to Universal. The next day we went to Cocoa Beach.

Gingerbread house at the Grand Floridian Resort

Cocoa Beach

Breakfast at Ohana at the Polynesian Resort.. mmmm

The reason I want to stay here forever.

Two Months

Mom called. Asked me if I had updated my blog. No.

So I thought I should.

Yes, it's been a while since I've written, but only because I've been extremely busy. I work. And when I don't work, I'm sleeping. Or doing laundry to wash the nude underwear I have to wear under my white shorts for work.

Not too much has happened in the past month, but a couple of key moments occurred that I should write about. First, my family came to visit. It was just what I needed. I missed them so much. I needed my crazy sisters and my wonderful parents to hang out with me in the most ballin' place on earth. And since one family just isn't enough, the Kinchler fam was also in town! I can't tell you how happy I was to have ten people that I love so much down here with me. I wish Maggie could have been here :( Let's try to recap what we did while they were here: we went to Universal one day, ate at Les Chefs de France (didn't have a cute waiter though, *sigh*), watched a Sabres game in ESPN, ate pizza in the hotel rooms one night, ate around the world at the Food and Wine Festival and watched Billy Ocean... It was so great. I have the best family in the world.

Since it's the Food and Wine Festival at Epcot, every night they have an Eat to the Beat concert with someone who used to be is famous. One night I went with some people to see Boyz II Men. Not like I really give a crap about them but once I saw them grinding on stage it got a lot better. And then last week I went to go see Hanson. OMG I had the best time. I'm gonna sound like a freak, but I waited in line for about 2 hours to get my 4th row spot. And I only got 4th row because the two rows in front of me were blocked off so their families could sit there. So basically, I was ten feet away from Taylor Hanson, my crush when I was 7 years old. And the best part about the concert was that they were all three so fine. Even Isaac. (I know, right?!) 

Halloween. Uh, wasn't planning to do anything. I wanted to sit my butt at home and watch scary movies and dumb ghost stuff on TV. I had no intentions of buying a $50+ costume. I think that is so stupid to spend your money on something like that. But then my friend Jessica called me and asked me to go with her downtown. So, I did. She let me borrow her wings and tutu and fishnets. Then we went downtown and literally just walked up and down Church Street. I guess that is THE THING to do on Halloween because a ton of people were there. Or maybe it's because there were like, 30 bars on that street alone. Thats probably it.

I have 6 days left at Epcot and then I'm back to Port Orleans. I hope I remember everything cause I feel like I've been gone a long time. I didn't think I was going to like working at Epcot because at the start of it I didn't. But now everyone has bonded and we are all pretty close. I guess it's that whole "Disney family" thing that they talk about.

I miss Nigel and Emma so bad.

I miss cold, steady weather. Weather here is bipolar. I got a sunburn two days ago and then yesterday almost froze to death.

I miss having my own bathroom.

I miss Momma G's nachos and Lawler's BBQ.

I miss not being able to have my nails painted for more than two days.

Less than 2 months until I'm back at school. Wow.

New Zealand scallop from Food and Wine Festival

Daley/ Kincher boys

Daley/ Kinchler girls

Taylor Hanson lookin fine

Me and Kitzya

Jessica and I on Halloween

Food and Wine Festival

#1. Mom came to visit! I had four lovely days off that I got to spend with my mommy. We spent two nights at Bay Lake Tower at the Contemporary and then two days at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. We got to eat at Via Napoli and Les Chefs de France (and may I say that both restaurants had the HOTTEST guys working). It was so nice- we got to do what we wanted, when we wanted- just me and my mommy! I can't wait for the whole family, minus Maggie ): , to come visit in just 11 days!!


#2. I am currently not working at Port Orleans. For the time being, I am working at the Epcot Food and Wine Festival. It is so much different from my regular job, because this is in a park, it is outside, and I have to learn so many things in such a little amount of time. I am working in the "red zone", which includes these kiosks: Ireland, Canada, Greece, Australia, Hawaii, and a Desserts and Champagne booth. The festival just started yesterday, and so the only food I tried was in Irleland. Fisherman's pie and chocolate lava cake? YES PLEASE. I'm a little more than upset that I'm not 21 so I can't sample all of the alcohol, but you better bet your patootie that the DAY I turn 21 I will be back in Epcot drinking around the world!


#3. I can't stress to you enough how fun and how spectacular of a time I'm having here. Yes, I work a lot. Yes, I don't get to sleep as much as I'd like. But I have made some of the most amazing friends. I keep thinking about how much time has already gone by, and how I only have three months left. THREE MONTHS!!!! Even though I miss my friends and family back in Athens and in Auburn and I can't wait to be back at school (minus the studying and going to class), I am going to miss everyone from Disney 20x more. I hope my parents know that all of my birthday and Christmas presents from now on will consist of plane tickets to go see my friends that live around the world!

With my mom in Magic Kingdom

Mom and I in Canada @ Epcot

I tried escargot in Les Chefs de France

One of my Disney BFFs, Darryl

Jessica and I in our F&W costumes

Roommate adventures!

Where to start first...


I'm back to two days off a week. Thank goodness. The one day off a week thing wasn't working out so well. I like my "weekend". I get my two days back because we finally have new people at Port who are trained in the shops. But not trained on cash. So I'm still stuck on cash most of the time. But thats okay. TWO DAYS OFF A WEEK! WOO! But yeah, a lot of people left and a lot of people came in. I've never had to say so many goodbyes in my life. It is so sad to say goodbye to people you've become such good friends with in such a short amount of time. Especially the ones who live in England and I may not see them for a very long time. Gosh, I don't even wanna think about leaving the program. I will probably drown in tears I will cry so much.


One random morning, Kitzya, her boyfriend Kevin, and I all decided to go to Breakfast at the Whispering Canyon Cafe in the Wilderness Lodge. It was DELISH. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. All-you-can-eat eggs, bacon, sausage, waffles, potatoes, biscuits. Freaking yum.

Whispering Canyon breakfast

I also went on my day off last week with my friends Dario, Cedric, and Deanna to Animal Kingdom and Epcot. It was a nice, chill, relaxed day. My old roommate Erica was working that night and let us in special seating to watch Illuminations. Making magical moments!!!

Cedric, me, Deanna, and Dario

Today, Kitzya and I both had a day off so naturally we abused our Universal annual passes and went there for the day. It was so nice to just have roommate bonding time. My favorite ride at Universal has got to be the new Harry Potter ride. The one inside Hogwarts. I forgot the name of it.. The Forbidden Journey or something? Anyway, it rocks. We didn't have to wait long for any of the rides at all, it wasn't very crowded and it rained on and off all day- but not too much. After Universal we went over to Hollywood Studios and rode Tower of Terror. Kitzya was deathly afraid to ride it, and she conquered her fear and rode it with me! Then we had dinner at 50s Prime Time, which was too expensive because we didn't get to use our Disney discount for some odd reason. Overall, it was a really great day. I'm so glad I didn't waste my day off or sleep it away. But that is probably what I'll be doing on my day off tomorrow.


Here are pictures from today. Enjoy and I'll write next time something fun and exciting happens! 

Jurassic Park 

The penguins of Madagascar

Butterbeer. Yummy.

Sleep.

I have nothing to say, really. Except for that my sleep schedule is so messed up. Kitzya and I just took a grocery shopping trip to Wal Mart at 2:20am. At 5:30am, I am just now getting sleepy. I think this has something to do with the fact that I work so late and then sleep in so late in the day. But now it just keeps getting later and later.


Since I moved into the room with Kitzya at the front of the apartment, I have been sleeping like crap because I can hear every person outside of the apartment who puts laundry in the washer or walks by. I hate being a light sleeper. So tonight at Wal Mart we bought a fan to use as white noise so maybe I will sleep a little better. And also to keep it from getting hot as mess in this room. For some reason this room gets so freaking hot!!!


There is supposedly a hurricane on its way to Florida.
And I wasn't on the register on the first time in 8 days.
And I live in Disney World.

Universal!

So I'm busy. Really busy.


Right now, all of the old CPs are leaving and new ones are coming in. That means they have me on the cash register. Every day. I think I forgot to tell you that I even trained on cash. Oh well. Cash is my least favorite, just because there are so many things you can mess up on. Plus I am bad at math so counting is not my strong point. I am going to be on the register for the next FOREVER so I better get used to it. I am also going from working 5 days a week to working 6 days a week, so I better get used to that, too.


On one of my days off last week, me and my roommate Kitzya and my friend Jonathan went to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. Even though it felt like it was a million and one degrees outside, it was so much fun! We even got to go to the Harry Potter part of the theme park. When I walked in, literally felt like I was walking into the movie. And the ride inside of Hogwarts was by far the coolest ride EVEEERRRRR! I can't wait to go back in October with the fam. 


I can't even remember what I've done in the past couple of weeks. I went to Epcot one day (by myself again- can you say independent?) because I was craving Japanese food and everyone I knew was working. And another day I went to Hollywood Studios with my friends Dario and Cedric. But other than that I can't say I've done too much. If I'm not working, I am sleeping. 


I will write more when I have actually interesting things to write.

Me, Jonathan, and our butterbeer!

Hogwarts!

Kitzya and I

Cedric, Me, and Dario @ Hollywood Studios

Islands of Adventure

Deployed.

Stop yelling at me. I'm finally writing a post. There has been so much going on here that I kind of want to forget about it and move on, but instead I will post it on here so that I can read about it over and over again!

I can't remember what I wrote about in my last post, so I will start with deployment. Yes, I got deployed to the All-Star Movies Resort. I was only there for a week, but it was the longest week EVER. I was so lost the whole time I was there- I didn't know where anything was. Also, the AC was broken the whole week so I was sweating my butt off the entire time. However, the managers did give me an ER almost every day so I was happy about that. And Kristen, Lilly, and Lauren were visiting that week so I got to see them one night. 

Lilly, Lauren, Me, And Kristen in HS

When my schedule came out for that week, I had two days off, then two work days, then another two days off. I found people to take my shifts on the two days I worked, so I didn't work for six days (well, seven days, because I found someone to take my shift one day all All-Star too!) So for that week I flew back to Huntsville and spent time with the family. I didn't do much while I was home but it was nice to sit around and see the fam and the dogs.

All-Star Movies Costume

The week while I was deployed, Erica moved out of our apartment and into a new apartment at Chatham. The week I was at home, Monica and Brittany left the program. Now I have three new roommates, all from China. In the next couple of weeks, a lot of CPs are leaving the program and a lot are joining the program. It's so sad because almost everyone I work with is leaving :(

I have a day off on Tuesday. I really want to go to Universal, so hopefully that will work out!

Time flies...

In Downtown Disney

I've already been here for over a month. That is so crazy. I feel so at home here (duh, it's Disney World, of course I feel at home!) It makes me sad to even think about having to leave here in a couple months. I truly am having the best time of my life and this is definitely the best decision I could have ever made. I have met so many people from so many places: China, Japan, Colombia, Mexico, Brazil, Puerto Rico, England.... the list goes on. And everyone here is so friendly and eager to meet new people, so finding someone to hang out with is never hard. Except I did go to Epcot by myself the other day on my day off. Eh, I kind of needed some alone time anyway. Going to a park by yourself could be one of two things- really fun or really boring. It actually wasn't that bad. I didn't have to talk to anyone if I didn't want to, and I could do all of the things that I wanted to do. I explored all of the countries, and watched the movie in China and then the American Adventure show, both of which I had never seen before. After 5 hours of alone time, Monica came to eat with me in Japan. so expensive SO YUMMY. I haven't had too much free time to do anything else; I basically work and sleep except on my days off (when I go exploring). I finally have some pictures to document what I've been up to!

Erica and I with Rapunzel and Flynn Rider

Erica at work in Epcot

Disney Bucket List

So here it is. Erica and I spent lots of time thinking about this. Even though I have already done some of the things on this list, I want to do them again because I know it will be different as a cast member. We are going to be so broke by the end of this trip. 

Kate and Erica's Disney Bucket List 

·      Watch fireworks at every park from a good spot!

1. Illuminations @ Epcot
2. Wishes @ MK
3. Fantasmic @ Hollywood Studios

·      Ride every ride at every park!

1. Magic Kingdom
2. Animal Kingdom
3. Hollywood Studios
4. Epcot

·      See every show at every park!

1. Magic Kingdom
2. Hollywood Studios
3. Animal Kingdom
4. Epcot

·      Go to parades at every park.

1. Mickey’s Jingle Jungle Parade @ AK ( Starts November 8, 2011)
2. Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade @ MK
3. Main Street Electrical Parade @ MK
4. Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade @ MK (Christmas time)

·      Eat at Cinderella’s Royal Table in Magic Kingdom
·      Eat at Le Cellier in Canada in Epcot
·      Go to Mickey’s Retreat
·      Try the cokes of the world in Epcot

1. ALREADY DONE! on 7/5/2011

·      Behind the Seeds Tour in the Land at Epcot
·      Eat at Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater in Hollywood Studios
·      Spend a day at DisneyQuest
·      Watch Cirque du Soleil La Nouba
·      Ride the Characters in Flight at Downtown Disney
·      Eat at Chef Mickey’s in the Contemporary Resort (during MK fireworks?)
·      Eat at Victoria and Albert’s at the Grand Floridian Resort
·      Meet all the characters that have meet and greets
·      Explore all of the countries in Epcot
·      Take boat from Epcot/ Boardwalk/ Hollywood Studios
·      Visit every Disney resort!

1. Animal Kingdom Lodge
2. Beach Club
3. Boardwalk
4. Old Key West
5. Saratoga Springs
6. Contemporary
7. Wilderness Lodge
8. Grand Floridian
9. Polynesian
10. Yacht Club
11. Fort Wilderness
12. Caribbean Beach
13. Coronado Springs
14. Port Orleans French Quarter
15. Port Orleans Riverside
16. All-Star Movies
17. All-Star Music
18. All-Star Sports
19. Art of Animation
20. Pop Century
21. Dolphin
22. Swan

Happy 4th!

I hope everyone celebrates this wonderful 4th of July with fireworks, beer, hotdogs, etc. My day has consisted of sleeping until 1pm, doing laundry, making a Disney bucket list, and writing this. Don't be silly, of course I go to work from 4:30pm until 12:30am!


I haven't gone to the parks a lot lately. It is so freaking hot outside and I got really sunburned last week to the point where it hurts for anything to even touch my body. Plus, I work all the time and when I don't work, I sleep. I worked in the market last night, which is basically stocking drinks, mugs and chips. The whole night. By myself. It was great because I was alone and the stocking was really good for my OCD. It was absolutely FREEZING in the cooler though. Beats sweating your butt off in burger!!!

Last week we got a new roommate, who moved into Natalia's room (Erica moved into the room with me). Her name is Kitzya. She is from Puerto Rico and super sweet!


I'm going to wait to post the bucket list until I've had a little time to add to it, but it will be my next post. I miss everyone so much, especially you, Nigel and Emma.


P.S- I requested time off for the iron bowl and it got approved! (Okay, well 2 out of the 4 days got approved, but who cares! I can figure it out! I'M COMING BACK TO AUBURN IN NOVEMBER WOOOO! Daley family, make plans. Everyone else, get ready... 5 months!)

No more training!

I don't know why I complained about working in the pizza and pasta section. Burger was so much worse, even though it wasn't that bad. I look back and think that everywhere really isn't that bad, and that I was just frustrated because I didn't know what I was doing. Haha. After two days of working in burger, my hands were literally a different color than the rest of my body because they were burnt from keeping my hands under the burners for 8 hours each day. Working in burger is easy, but it is SO HOT. I was dripping sweat- it was nasty gross DISGUSTING. After burger I trained in the morning in the specialty section, which had parfaits and oatmeal for breakfast and then salads and sandwiches for lunch. Not being a morning person, I definitely didn't like waking up to get to my 7am shift. I guess I didn't like the burger and sandwich parts of the shops because you have to turn around and ask the culinary for the item you need. It takes too much time and can get confusing. I like the shops that I can just get what I need myself. Anyway, yesterday in specialty was the busiest day I've had at work so far. I made parfait after parfait for a group of Brazilian kids (they all wanted the same kind of parfait, so it wasn't too bad). But then at lunch, the salad line was basically across the room, and making a salad when the guest gets to choose their own toppings takes a little time! My hand started cramping up!! Tonight I get to work a night shift again so I'm happy about that. This is the first time going into work where I don't know what section of the food court I'll be working in, because I'm officially done with training! YAY! After my shift yesterday I had to sit down with one of the trainers and take my test so that I could officially be.. a normal cast member? Haha I don't know. I think I'm going to leave my "Earning My Ears" ribbon on my name tag for a couple more days. It's my security blanket!

Bakery and Pizza

I will admit I kind of forgot about this blog for a couple of days. I've just been SO BUSY. I go to work at night, sleep in, eat, then do it all over again. One of these days that I didn't write, I went to Animal Kingdom with some roomies. It was deathly hot. We got pictures with Goofy, Minnie, Mickey, and Pocahontas!


After training in the dining room, I trained in the bakery. It was so much fun and not too much work. There are two sides of the bakery: the baked goods side and the ice cream side. Basically the whole first day I stayed on the baked goods side, handing out cookies and cake. Easy!!! I also made a cappuccino, but all you do is press a button and it goes by itself. The second day I scooped ice cream and made milkshakes the whole time. At first I didn't like making milkshakes because it takes so long and you have you move it around on this machine that sounds like a dentist's drill. But now I'm pretty much the best milkshake maker in Disney. We had to make sundaes too, which was my favorite. I did, however, cut my finger on the side of an ice cream container. FAIL. A guest saw me because I made the ice cream that I was scooping hop to a different container. She laughed really hard. It wasn't funny. Thats the one thing I didn't like about scooping ice cream- the guests sit there and watch you. I'm short so basically my whole upper body is in the ice cream cooler scooping this stuff, on my tip toes, arm shaking because the chocolate ice cream is like a rock- and EVERYONE wants chocolate.


Two days in bakery and then I get moved to pizza and pasta. Maybe it's because my stomach hurt. Maybe it's because I just really didn't want to work. Maybe it's because I liked bakery so much. But I really didn't like pizza. At all. I started out in pasta, and it was easy once you got the hang of it. You had to write on a box what sauce they wanted, then what pasta they wanted, then chicken or shrimp, then their number, then put all of the mix-ins they wanted in the box. And each section I just mentioned had its own section on the box where I had to write it (that was the hard part- remembering where to write it). So.. thats pretty much it for pasta. Pizza- ahhhhhhhh. You have to put pizza in the oven. Take the pizza out of the oven. Cut the pizza. If someone orders a large pizza, you give them a pager and when its ready, you have to page them and give them plates. You have to remember how to cut kids, individual, and large pizzas. You have to remember what's on the dining plan, what comes as a snack, what comes with a breadstick, that kids meals get two sides. You have to remember that in the craziness of all the pizza to call out the pasta numbers and put cheese and a breadstick with it. You have to put in fresh breadsticks and baked ziti. Towards the end of the night, everyone wants their orders to go, so you have to put to-go lids on everyone's pizza and pasta, and if you don't snap the lid on JUST RIGHT it takes forever to get it to snap on. It was tough work. The hardest part is remembering where everything is stored. There are two huge coolers, one freezer, and a bunch of little coolers everywhere, so someone will be like "It's in the cooler over there!" Which one?


Really looking forward to my days off on Wednesday and Thursday!!!!

Work.

Maybe I should have had a job before this, because this is killing me. I need to start stretching before I come to work because it literally takes a toll on every single one of my muscles. Like, my arms are hurting so bad today that I can barely lift my computer off of the table. Gosh I'm a wimp.


So the past two days I trained in the dining room. I cleaned tables, took out the trash, gathered trays, cleaned the beverage island, cleaned more tables, scooped ice out of the coke machines, helped close down both sides of the beverage island (which takes FOREVER), swept food off of the floor, answered a lot of guests questions that I didn't know, stocked forks, knives, and spoons, and cleaned more tables. It wasn't all boring, though. We got to do this thing called Jr. Chef, where we get little kids to come decorate cookies. And then a couple hours later we gather more kids to have a parade around the dining room, do the hokey pokey, and give them free mickey straws.


I will admit, the first day of training was tough. I was really stressed out and thought to myself, if I have to do this everyday, I don't think I can do it. But yesterday was SO much better. I didn't have my trainer with me all the time and I could do what I thought needed to be done. And everyone who was out on dining room duty helped each other out, which was great. Like the guys did garbage and let me clean tables instead. Sunday we missed the 12:25am bus and had to wait for the 1:00am bus, and then it took and hour to get home. No way am I ever waiting for the bus again. I drove last night and I am now driving every day to work.


I have today and tomorrow off. I couldn't be happier. I haven't had a single day to just chill since I've been here. I have been doing something every day, whether it's been unpacking, grocery shopping, online classes, Traditions, training...  And since I have a late shift, I never get to see any of my roommates :( I'm hoping since I have a couple days off that I'll get to hang out with them a little bit. I didn't really have pictures to put up, so I found some pictures of the Riverside Mill for you.

6 days?

Seriously, it's only been six days since I arrived here? It feels like I have been here for months. I am so close with my roommates already (thank you JESUS for giving me normal people!!) I swear they are the five sweetest girls on the planet. I love them all so much already!


Work the past couple of days has mostly consisted of online classes and my resort orientation. Did you know that you only had to be 18 to sell and serve alcohol in Florida? I'm excited about that, maybe because in Alabama you have to be 21 to basically do ANYTHING. Anyway, I am working at Port Orleans Riverside, which is a lot bigger than Port Orleans French Quarter. All of my training shifts are at night, from either 4pm-12:30am or 6:30pm-12:30am. It sucks because my roommates all have early shifts and I won't get to go hang out with them. At least I get to sleep in, right? My first day off since we've been here will be on Tuesday, and I get another on Wednesday.


I will be working in a food court type area, which has a pizza section, a burger section, a BAKERY section, etc. I hope you all could tell that the bakery is my favorite part :) My first day of training in my costume is today- I'm kind of nervous!

What I get to wear. Everyday.

Roomies & Traditions

I don't even know how to start off this post. I feel like the past couple of days have all been smushed together. My brain is fried and work hasn't even started yet. I guess I'll just go from the verrrrry beginning of all of this.

Marianne, Erica, Me, Monica, Brittany, & Natalia

My check-in date was on Monday, June 6th, so Mom, Dad, Caroline, Sloane and I left Athens Friday morning and drove the 12 hours it took to get to Orlando. We stayed at Bay Lake Tower at the Contemporary and then moved to the Boardwalk. I wasn't very nervous until Sunday night. I couldn't sleep at all, which sucked because we had to get up at 6 or so to get ready for me to go check in. Check-in wasn't until 9am, so I thought I was doing a good thing by getting there somewhat early (I aimed for 8am- I got there at 8:45am. Typical.) WRONG. I guess they started doing all the stuff way early or something because the line was ridiculously long and they were letting us go through. We had to park wherever we could and then walk to the pavilion, and I walked there with the girl named Brittany. Brittany and I were then in line with this other girl Monica. We talked as we stood in line and filled out papers. An hour passes and we are finally up to where we can pick our apartments. We all three decide hey, we should be roomies! And now we're living together for the next seven months. I'm also living with Marianne (who I'm sharing a room with), Natalia, and Erica. So that makes six of us ladies in a three bedroom, two bathroom apartment.

After we got our apartment in Vista Way, we got our picture taken for our apartment ID (which was a HUGE close-up picture of just your face- gross), and then got I got sent to casting. Casting took two hours, which would have been okay if I wasn't starving and about to pee in my pants. There I found out where I was working, which is at Disney's Port Orleans Resort in the food court. I just thought it is funny that out of all of the places I've been in Disney, I have never been there. Oh well. We turned in paperwork, got fingerprinted, went over the Disney look, got our traditions and training schedules, etc. After that I went to my apartment and unpacked and then went to Wal-Mart with some of the roomies.

Goofy! My favorite character!

Tuesday we had to attend a housing meeting at the Commons, which is another apartment complex but for international students only. I'm totally going to hang out there. Mmm. But anyway, the meeting was pretty boring. Two hours of just learning rules that I already knew. We went to Target after that and then I met the fam at their hotel and went to Hollywood Studios. It was so much fun and a great idea.. until I got back to the apartment at 11pm and didn't get to sleep until 12am.. and had to wake up at 5am to catch the bus at 6:45am for the 8am Traditions class!

My heel after Traditions. Pretty disgusting.

So today. Traditions. You watch a lot of videos that make you want to cry because you are so happy to be there, actually working for Disney, your dream job (or at least MY dream job!!!) You get your shiny new name tag and my cast ID. We got to go to the Magic Kingdom and walk around in the utilidors, which are the underground tunnels Disney uses to "keep the magic." But let me tell you, wear shoes you've worn before or wear band-aids on your feet because if you wear new shoes, your feet will die. I didn't have the right kind of shoes so I bought some flats last night. I didn't even think that 1. they would bother me, 2. we would be walking as much as we did, and 3. that my heels could bleed like that. Because my heels were bloody, my shoes were bloody, and by the time we got back on the bus to go home my feet were numb.

Our first time in MK as cast members!

After Traditions was over, Erica, Natalia, Marianne and I went to Chick-fil-a. It is within walking distance of my apartment, thank god, because I was really going to miss not eating it from the student center everyday. Then we met our friend Darrian and headed over to the Magic Kingdom for a couple hours. And guess what? We get in- FOR FREE! Whenever we want. Gosh, I'm going to love this. It's Erica's first time to Disney World so we made sure we got her a 1st Visit button, and all of us got We're Celebrating buttons to celebrate our first day as cast members! I start my first day of training tomorrow. Wish me luck!