Welcome Aboard the World Famous Jungle Cruise!

That's right ladies and gents, I am now a Skipper on the World Famous Jungle Cruise! Well okay, I have been for the past month as well, but we all now how bad I am at keeping up with my blog. Having the opportunity to work one of the original attractions of Disneyland park has been amazing. It was one of the attractions that opened with the park in 1955 and I am lucky enough to be able to work it during the 60th Anniversary celebration this year!

On February 23, I celebrated 6 months with the Walt Disney Company and I have realized how much I have learned about myself. The past 6 (now 7 months) have been a whirlwind of personal development. There have been so many ups and downs, but the one constant has been my desire to continue working for this company. Everyday I go to work is one that I enjoy. It rarely feels like work and I cannot imagine having a job in which I actually have to "work" for a living. While I'm still unsure about what the future holds for me and where I see myself in 10 years, I know one thing for certain, I absolutely want to be a Cast Member for as long as I possibly can.

In not work related things, I've made some new friends with people who also participated in the College Program but I didn't have the opportunity to meet until now, and I am loving it. Adventures in the park with new friends and old ones still continue to happen and I can't believe how blessed I am to have this opportunity. My roommates and I are enjoying finding new things around our apartment and looking for fun things to do when we're not at Disneyland.

A night out with my roommate!

This past weekend, I drove down to Temecula and participated in a 5K Wine Run at one of the wineries with one of my best friends. It was about 90 degrees out and the run didn't start until 4:30pm. Because of this, we decided to walk rather than run. And it's a good thing we did! So much of the course was uphill and it was entirely on a dirt trail. While the views of the vineyards were very pretty, it was incredibly hot and the stations along the trail ran out of water before we could get there. But on the bright side, we did get a glass of wine upon finishing the race!

And in just a couple of weeks, I am flying home for 6 WHOLE DAYS!! I could not be any more excited. I have missed my family and friends and my hometown. As much as I absolutely love living down here in Southern California, I am happy to have a little break. Until next time, friends!

If you love what you do, you'll never work a day in your life.

Goodbye College Program

Well, it's been about 2 months since my last post, but I'm going to blame that on holiday time at Disneyland, the ending of my College Program, and moving into a new apartment. All exciting things, but all things that have made me very busy and very tired. Anyways, where do I even begin?





My parents finally visited. Not once, but TWICE! It was pretty wonderful. The first time was right after Thanksgiving and the second time, my crazy family decided that Disneyland on New Year's Eve was a brilliant idea. Fun, but insanely crowded. It was so much fun having them come visit for a few days, and just when I was really starting to get homesick over the holidays.

Last up on the list of "totally awesome tours I got to do through College Program," was Walt's Apartment above the firehouse on Main Street U.S.A. While the apartment itself is extremely small and only contains one room and a bedroom, it was an amazing experience to stand right where Walt Disney himself had stood and stayed during construction of the park. As our tour was coming to an end, the tour guide told us a story about the Walt's apartment guests on Disneyland's opening day. While everyone in the apartment was watching as the first Guests walked in, one looked over to find Walt crying at the magic of seeing his biggest dream come true right before his eyes. This story is one I will never forget because as I was standing in that same spot, all of my dreams were coming true as well. That tour was one of the quickest but most memorable tours I had the opportunity to take.

There was Thanksgiving. There was Christmas. There was rain. All of which I spent working. And then came the College Program Celebration/Graduation. While not an actual ceremony, we did receive Mickey ears with tassels on them! We all got dressed up and had dinner and dancing at one of the ballrooms in the Paradise Pier Hotel. It was an emotional night knowing that our College Program was coming to an end in just one short month after the Celebration. The people I have met through this program and the experiences I will take away are ones that I will never forget. This is just the first stepping stone in my journey with the Walt Disney Company; hopefully!

I EARNED MY EARS!!

My wonderful roommate Kaylie and I at Celebration!

On January 5th, we all said our goodbyes to Carnegie and each other, as we all headed in separate directions. Some of us will continue working at Disneyland while others have gone back to school. I will miss some of the incredible friends I have made but I am so thankful for the opportunity to continue working with this company. Next up, I begin training to be a Skipper on the World Famous Jungle Cruise!

Well, that's all for my College Program. It's been a blast and I've enjoyed sharing my experience with my friends and family (and any other people who have stumbled upon this blog). Check back for more updates. Hopefully I will continue to post about my experiences at Disneyland, but we saw how well that worked out the first time. 

"Who says we have to grow up?"

-Walt Disney

Time Flies When You're Having Fun!

As per usual, it's been about a month since my last blog post. Time really does fly when you're having the most incredible experience of your life! Where do I even begin...

How about at Mickey's Halloween Party which I attended as a guest with my cousins! We trick or treated through the park, took pictures with a giant pumpkin and some characters, and rode attractions with almost no lines! Having my cousins so close has been one of the best parts of this experience. I went from seeing them a few times a year to seeing them almost every week.

Next up, I had the incredible opportunity to tour Walt Disney's Dream Suite which is above Pirates of the Caribbean in New Orleans Square at Disneyland. Walt had this built in the 1960s when New Orleans Square was being constructed because he wanted a bigger space to entertain his guests and VIPs that came to the parks. His apartment above the firehouse on Main Street wasn't big enough to hold larger events. After he passed away, the plans were put on hold. From 1987 to 2007, it was home to the Disney Gallery until the Company announced the gallery would be closing and it would be turned into the Disneyland Dream Suite very similar to the one that Walt had originally designed. Guests are now able to stay there only by winning various giveaways or by being VIPs. The various bedrooms, bathrooms, and living areas are themed to different lands and each room has a magical touch for Guests to experience.

Now roommate days in the park are by far my favorite. Everything I've experienced throughout this program would not have been the same if I didn't have Paige and Kaylie by my side. They have without a doubt become two of my best friends and I am so thankful that this program brought us together. Most people hang out at home or run errands on their days off. Luckily for us, we get to go to Disneyland; and meet the lovely royal family of Arrendelle!

Holidays at the Happiest Place on Earth!

Now I'm sure many of you know this already, but Disney doesn't do anything halfway. This would explain why Halloween lasts for two months and so does Christmas. Personally, I have absolutely no problem with this. It allows for 3 Halloween costumes and countless times to experience the snow on Main Street U.S.A. (yes, snow in California; it's shocking I know). As the Christmas tree has just taken residence in Town Square, I have yet to get a picture, but don't you worry, there will be plenty of opportunities for that to happen in the near future!

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

"In this timeless land of enchantment, the age of chivalry, magic and make-believe are reborn and fairy tales come true." - Walt Disney

VountEARing, Golden Daysticks Award Show, and a Halloween Party Too!

On Monday, September 29th, I participated in a VountEARs event with the Disney College Program called KaBOOM! About 50 CPs and some of the Disneyland Resort executives traveled to La Habra to help build a playground for children. It was one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever done. We split up into groups to work on different parts of the playground. There were people putting together the various structures, mixing cement (this was my group and I'm now practically a professional cement mixer), shoveling and moving mulch, painting hopscotch on the sidewalk, making benches, and building garden beds.

The beginning of playground construction

6 hours and 200 volunteers later!

Halfway through the event, the kids came outside (the park was in-between two schools) during their break and yelled "Thank You" to all of us. This was probably the highlight of my day. The little kids were so excited that their park was being transformed into a fun, safe place for them to play. At the end of the day (6 hours later), the kids sat and watched as we rushed to put the final touches on the playground. It almost felt like an episode of Extreme Home Makeover and they were just waiting for us to move the bus. With the help of 200 volunteers, we completed an entire playground and park in just 6 hours!

In addition to the rewarding experience, I also made a few new friends in the program! And who doesn't like new friends?!

That same night, the leads and trainers of guest control for Tomorrowland, Fantasyland, Adventureland, and Frontierland hosted an awards show for the cast members who work the parades and fireworks (aka the people in the red vests). It was such a fun event with dinner, dessert, awards, and some entertaining music videos. As for the name of the show, "Golden Daysticks," it comes from the bright orange "directing" sticks that we use when guest controlling and the trophies they gave out were golden versions of these. Honestly, they kind of looked like churros, which made them even better! I had a great time getting to know some of the other cast members and it didn't hurt that the event was held inside Disneyland after park closing.

Adventureland & Frontierland Cast Members at Golden Daysticks.

And last but not least, on Tuesday night, I worked my very first Mickey's Halloween Party. It was a blast! I got to meet Cast Members from different lands and departments, pass out candy to adorable dressed up children (and adults, because everyone is a kid at heart), and watch the fireworks from my work location. Working for 8 hours doesn't really feel like work when you get to experience all of that! Oh, and I also got to wear a super cute costume (and no that's not sarcasm) with bats on it and it was topped off (literally) with a bat headband!

"In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun." - Mary Poppins

One Month Later...

I apologize for the delay of this blog post, but things here have been crazy! But crazy in the best way possible. Life at Disney is absolutely amazing and I am so thankful that I've ended up on this journey.

Left: Guest Control Costume || Right: Indy Costume

For those that don't already know, I was placed as a cast member on INDIANA JONES!! So basically, the greatest attraction in the park. Even though having to walk the track through all of my biggest fears (snakes, bugs, skeletons, the dark) is quite terrifying, it is so cool! Anyways, in addition to working at Indy, I also work guest control/interaction for the parades and firework shows. In short, MY JOB IS AWESOME!!

Roommate Update: They're wonderful and they have become some of my best friends. We also kick butt in our apartment inspections (which happen every other week) and have gotten a perfect score (for cleanliness) every time so far! Just this past week, we won a Wii for the week because our apartment stood out!








Do I go to the parks everyday? Absolutely! Well almost everyday at least. Even if it's just for a few hours, having the ability to go to my favorite place whenever I want to is great. And I'm still not sick of Disney yet either! I've also been able to check quite a few things off my Disneyland Bucket List, such as having a Dole Whip and finally getting Minnie ears!








Program Update: I have made so many incredible new friends. We've gone to an Angels game (only because they were playing the A's), the parks, a concert (Jesse McCartney), had breakfast at Goofy's Kitchen, and have already made memories that I know I will not forget anytime soon. We got to ride Space Mountain with the lights on, which is actually a lot scarier than you would think, and in a few weeks we're going on a backstage tour of Haunted Mansion Holiday! We're also getting a special tour of the Dream Suite that's located above Pirates of the Caribbean! And, the other night after working the parades, we were offered the chance to ride Star Tours and see backstage and how the vehicles operate; it was amazing!

Nicole and I at the Jesse McCartney concert at House of Blues

Goofy's Kitchen with just a few wonderful Cast Members!

I've met princesses, Aladdin, Minnie Mouse, the fairy godmother, Chip & Dale, Alice and the Mad Hatter, Pluto, and Donald. I've seen parades, fireworks, Fantasmic!, and World of Color. And I'm having the time of my life. The Halloween decorations have taken over Main Street and a few of the rides (Space Mountain and Haunted Mansion), and it looks amazing! Especially since I have never seen the Halloween decorations before! And best of all, the firework show, "Remember, Dreams Come True," has returned! (It's the show from the 50th anniversary, and my favorite fireworks show).

Halloween time at Disneyland!

"It's what happens when two holidays collide."

The first night of Remember, Dreams Come True

Last week, the fun had to "stop" for a quick second so that I could attend my first Disney College Program class. While some call this school, it was still pretty awesome and it was definitely the fastest 4 hour class I've ever taken. I'm taking Marketing You which is pretty much what it sounds like. We are learning how to make ourselves more marketable to be able to find a job after college; which for me, is in about 5 months from now. We will learn what job areas interest us, work on our resumes, and how to become professionals; just to name a few things. And we get to dress in business clothes, which some may dread, but I love it! Thank you sorority life for teaching me what it means to "dress to impress." 

And last but not least, this past weekend I had a little bit of home come to Disneyland. My best friend and her family came down to celebrate her birthday. After being here about a month, I'm definitely starting to miss home a little bit and it was really nice to have someone so close to me be here for a few days (even though I do have family only 30 minutes away). Showing them my life and where I work and getting to play in the parks with my best friend (for the first time ever) was so much fun! They even came to visit me while I was working at Indy. Just a few more months until my parents make the trip down and I just know the time is going to fly by!

 "It takes people to make the dream a reality."

-Walt Disney

You Call It Vacation, I Call It Home

I am now moved into my new apartment with my amazing roommates and I am having the most incredible experience of my life! And it's only been 2 days! This is going to be a fairly long post, but don't worry, there's pictures!

So, here's a little breakdown of how the first few days have gone.





MOVE-IN DAY: At the bright and early hour of 8:30am, I arrived at Carnegie Plaza to begin my Disney journey. After checking in and completing all of the necessary paperwork, I finally got the keys to my apartment and discovered that I got the roommates I had been hoping for! After months of talking with these girls, I couldn't wait to meet them all. When we had all finally arrived, it was like we had known each other forever. There was no awkward "hi, how are you?" just lots of hugging and excitement!

My roommates and I on move-in day!

Now the actual process of moving in was a bit more complicated. With about 200+ people moving in all on the same day (at different times, but still, that's a lot of people), you can imagine that the elevators were a bit overcrowded. Thank goodness I only live on the 2nd floor! I was so worried I had severely over packed but once I saw everyone's piles of boxes and suitcases, I definitely realized that I was not alone in the over packing. Unloading 5 people's girls' stuff into one apartment was chaotic! There was stuff EVERYWHERE! Thankfully by now, everything has found a home in our new place and I must say I kind of love my home away from home.

We have a kitchen, a living room, two bedrooms and two bathrooms. While I may be in the 3 person bedroom (bunk beds included), I also got lucky with the walk-in closet! Thank goodness, because I have no idea where we would have put 3 girls' clothes in this rather small place. Within the next few days I hope to make another post with a picture tour of the apartment.

My family and I in front of DCA

About 8 hours later, my family and I headed to Downtown Disney for a very late lunch/early dinner at ESPN Zone. After eating and shopping around for a few hours, we headed back to my apartment and they went back to my aunt's house about 30 minutes away. That night, my roommates and I headed over House of Blues for the first night out with our fellow CPers and had an amazing time! There was drinking and dancing and lots of picture taking! As we rode the tram into Downtown Disney, the fireworks inside the park started and it's very possible that I may have teared up while watching. It is still hard to believe that this is now my life.

Night out at House of Blues

DAY 2: The first morning our new place we all had the lovely opportunity of waking up early to attend Orientation and find out a little bit more about our program and the cast members who will be helping us along the way. This was short and sweet, which was good because we were all exhausted from moving the day before. After making a trip to Target for a few things and some groceries, I headed back to the apartment, finished unpacking, and took a much needed nap. Naps are going to become my best friend, I can already tell.

Later that evening, we had the DCP Welcome Party out in the courtyard. There was pizza, dancing, a DJ, a photobooth, and some prizes. At the Welcome Party, everyone wears their college gear and it's a fun way to find out if there's other people from your school or hometown.

My roommates and I at the welcome party.

After the welcome party, my roommates and I got dressed up and headed over to Rainforest Cafe for our first (of many) roommate dinners! When we came out of the restaurant, it was once again time for fireworks so of course we had to stop and watch them. Two nights in a row! Dreams really do come true! Anyways, from there we headed over to Trader Sam's Tiki Bar at the Disneyland Hotel and had some drinks with our fellow CPers.

Roommate dinner at Rainforest Cafe

As I sit here and write this, on probably the only morning I will sleep in for the next 5 months, I cannot stop thinking about how truly amazing this experience is. At our orientation yesterday, they told us that out of the 30,000 people who applied to this program, there are only about 260 of us who were accepted into the program at Disneyland Resort! I am so unbelievably excited to start working in the parks and to continue meeting new people.

Tomorrow I have Traditions, which is also my first paid day as a Disneyland Cast Member, and then tomorrow night my roommates and I will be making our first trip (of many, many, many more) together into the parks! And for Paige (my roommate from Georgia), it will be her first visit to Disneyland EVER and I am so excited to experience that with her!

"Here you leave today and enter the world of yesterday, tomorrow, and fantasy."

Packing 101

Alrighty folks, the time has finally come for the madness that is packing to begin. This also means that I will be leaving for Southern California in only 5 days. Yes, 5! I really can't even believe it myself!

Now, if you are anything like me, packing is the most awful task known to man. Whether it be for a weekend trip or 5 months of living and working at Disneyland, packing is something I absolutely dread. I own far too many clothes and shoes to decide what I should and shouldn't pack. Because of this issue, I have decided to create a somewhat extensive, but nowhere near complete, packing list to help future DCPers as well as my fellow cast members who have procrastinated as long as I have.

Clothes
-Tops/Blouses (try to bring ones that can be worn for both classes and going out)
-Gym T-shirts (I plan on going to the gym often so I have quite a few of these)
-T-Shirts & Tank Tops (for going to the parks & other activities)
-Long sleeves (probably only 2 or 3, but it does get a little cold at night during the Winter)
-Sports Bras
-Business Pants (neutral colors to follow the "Disney look")
-Jeans
-Yoga Pants or Sweatpants
-Workout Pants
-Shorts (I'm actually bringing a lot since it's Southern California and it will be warm majority of the time we are there)
-Comfy Shorts (Norts/Soffee - for hanging out at the apartment or working out in)
-Pencil Skirt
-Business Dresses
-Casual Dresses & Skirts
-Blazer
-Pea Coat (surprisingly, it does actually get cold in Anaheim)
-Cardigans
-Rain Jacket
-Sweatshirts
-Bathing Suits (Carnegie does not have a pool, but hello, BEACH!)
-Underwear & Bras
-Socks
-Scarves, Gloves, & Beanies
-Hats
-Belts

Shoes (disclaimer: I like shoes. A lot.)
-Flats (for classes and Traditions)
-Heels (nude & black)
-Wedges (cork & solid black)
-Tennis Shoes (Sperrys, Toms, Vans)
-Brown Riding Boots
-Cowboy Boots (there's a country bar in Fullerton with line dancing, just saying')
-Running Shoes
-Sandals
-Flip Flops


Bathroom Necessities
-Shampoo/Conditioner
-Toothbrush/Toothpaste
-Body Wash
-Face Wash
-Razor
-Deodorant
-Perfume
-Lotion
-Flat Iron/Curling Iron
-Hairbrush
-Hair Ties/Clips
-Feminine Products
-Anything else you use to get ready for the day :)

Misc.
-Makeup
-Book Bag or Backpack
-Laptop & Charger
-Speakers/Stereo
-Camera & Charger/Batteries
-Phone Charger
-Blankets
-Pillows
-Sheets & Comforter
-Bed Risers
-TV & DVD Player (talk with your roommates and coordinate who will bring these)
-Pens/Pencils (you will be going to school AND you'll have homework)
-Printer (again, talk with your roommates if you know who they'll be ahead of time)
-Brita Water Pitcher
-White Board
-Bathroom & Kitchen Hand Towels
-Long Mirror
-Lamps (I've heard there isn't a ton of light in the bedrooms)

The kitchens do come with dishes and pots and pans, but I'm also bringing some plates, cups, bowls, George Foreman grill, and a few other glasses and pans that I already own from living away from home for 4 years. If you don't have this stuff, don't go out and buy it until you're moved in and decide you need it.

But then again, there's always this option.

Well there you have it. My DCP packing list! I'm sure there are items that I have left off and will hopefully remember to pack, but I hope this helps anyone who has as many packing issues as I do. Worst case scenario, you over pack and ship a few things back home or you don't pack enough and have to take a few trips to Target and the mall, or the Disney Store. I have a strong feeling that I have packed too much, but hey, I'm a girl and I love clothes!

"So come with me, where dreams are born and time is never planned. Just think of happy things and your heart will fly on wings forever in never never land."