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!

Accepted into the Disney College Program!

Yes folks, you read it correctly, Kristy Bouchard is headed to work, live, take classes, and do whatever else I can squeeze in 4 months in DISNEY WORLD.  Florida bound! I have had a lovely semester here at DVC but as many of you know I can't stay in one place for too long.  And Florida seemed like the place to be.  I just updated my AmeriCorps blog (the last entry I will write for it) so if you want to check that out it's belightfortheworld.blogspot.com 

To summarize what the Disney College Program or DCP is, it is basically a program designed for college students (or recent graduates) that live on Disney housing and work at Disney World throughout the week for their assigned role, and take classes offered there.  I am going to be a custodian! I am very happy with this role, it was one of my first choices!  I will be wearing a rad white costume and singing the sweep song from mary poppins all day. ha. perhaps not. But I will work hard.   The program length varies for most, but my program lasts from January 20th to May 16th, so I will be home well in time for the summer! 

Summary of what has happened since I got accepted: Found awesome roommates! (If everything goes according to plan I will be living in a suite with 7 other girls!) Started compiling things I need to bring AKA clothes that meet guidelines and documents and such.  Paid program fees, paid for plane ticket.  That's pretty much it. I am in the middle of finals right now...So wish me luck!  

Life in general: Finals are upon us...well me. And choir concerts! so many choir concerts..haha. After finals I am visting Seattle with friends, and hopefully getting my gall bladder removed before I leave for Florida so there are no complications there. ( I had to go to the ER because I hurt so bad and found out I need my gall bladder removed).

So....that's it for now! 

Have a magical day! :)