Arrival and Traditions

Hello! I am finally here in Orlando! I was picked up by my lovely roommates at the airport, stayed at my roommates house for a night, and then headed off to check-in at one of the housing complexes.  It took about 2 hours to stand in line and get our room assignments and keys, our pictures taken for our I.D's and submitting some paperwork to Disney.  After that I headed to Casting and got fingerprinted, submitted more forms, and met with an adviser who explained to me what the next few days would look like.

Living: I will be living with 7 other girls in a 4 bedroom apartment in Chatham Square! This is great because Chatham has a bus stop in front of it! My roommates are great!

My lovely roommates and I at the boardwalk

Working: I also found out I will be working in Magic Kingdom! This probably means longer hours since it's doors are opened the longest, but it is also the most popular, and therefore the bus to Magic Kingdom will be frequent!

Florida is nice, the weather is decent, and it had a 5 minute down pour of rain yesterday which was interesting.  There are a bunch of weird birds here.

Traditions:
Earlier today I had "Traditions", which is an experience that each cast member goes through and is considered their first day of work and first day on stage.  The class consisted of watching educational videos as well as traveling to Magic Kingdom--- though we didn't take the guest entrance, instead we took the tunnels.  We got to go under the castle and such which was exciting. We also observed cast members in Fantasyland.  We also got to meet Mickey Mouse!  During my traditions, I was presented with Mickey Mouse ears, my name tag, and my cast member I.D!

Tomorrow I start my orientation and training!

Surgery and Packing

As some of you know, I was admitted to the ER a little bit ago for intense pain of my side and upper back. \ I got an ultra-sound and they found gall stones in my gall bladder. I had been experiencing this pain off and on for three years and had never got it checked out (it was never too unbearable).  After some thought, I decided to get my gall bladder removed. So a week ago, I headed to Kaiser for surgery.  It went well, and every day I am getting better and not needing as many pain pills.  However, I am not able to walk or do extraneous activity for long periods, and I cannot lift more than 15 pounds, which leaves me to my challenge: packing.  

Packing for the DCP (for most girls) starts many weeks before we get there. Yes, I usually pack ahead of time, unless you count AmeriCorps, where I only found out I was going to Mississippi three days before I left.  Otherwise, I pack ahead. However, AmeriCorps taught me quite a few things about packing.  Once during AmeriCorps we got word that we would be leaving the next morning for Hurricane Sandy staging/deployment and I got packed in a flash.  I have seen other girls doing the Disney College Program post pictures on Facebook of them with 5 suitcases....This will not be me.  I understand this is some participants first time away from home, and I also understand that they are bringing valuable things to the apartments , like TV's and kitchen stuff, so thank you.  I fly Southwest, and will be participating in the 2 free checked bags policy.  I lived out of one bag in AmeriCorps: this will be a piece of cake.  AND I'm including all my bedding and a few other supplies I am bringing to the apartment, such as a huge blender and an iron. All of my wonderful roommates have contributed to the apartment and I'm so excited to meet all of them.  Yes, I will still manage to bring Settler of Catan, Cards Against Humanity, my karaoke machine, and all those fun games and activities.  I will not, however, have the best wardrobe of any of the girls there. I don't mind that.  The bare necessities of life my friends, remember that.  

My family, friends and future roommates have graciously offered their assistance in the first week when I need help lifting things by myself.  Thanks!  I appreciate it.   

I am so pumped to be a custodian at Disney World!!! I know, that may sound weird, but I really do believe it is the right place for me and the right role! I can't wait to get this adventure started.  

Heads up: I'll be posting next during my first week there.  Wish me safe travels, I leave Sunday morning!