Non-stop fun :)

Gosh, so much has been happening, I literally haven't stopped, but I have been having the most amazing time! :) 

My last post ended with us about to head to Downtown Disney; where we had a browse of all the shops and saw endless amounts of things I want to buy (including some very sweet treats from Goofy's Candy Co)! We went for dinner at T-Rex which is a prehistoric adventure! 

On Friday we had our traditions class at Disney University where we officially became part of the Walt Disney Company! We had various training sessions, including it being drilled into us that 'SafeD begins with me' received our main gate passes so we now get to go into the theme parks for free! During Traditions we went into Magic Kingdom and I can honestly say I had the biggest smile on my face, seeing Cinderella's Castle again and immediately feeling the happiness of all the guests! We also got to meet the one & only Mickey Mouse as he came into our class to give us our namebadges! Traditions class really struck home how lucky I am to have this experience; working in the happiest place on earth, where dreams come true! After traditions we went into Magic Kingdom, took lots of photos, went for food in Tomorrowland (where I would be working) and watched the Main Street Electrical Parade, Celebrate the Magic and Wishes fireworks. I got emotional at the fireworks, I literally am just so happy and excited to be here!! :) I also bought my first bit of merchandise - an autograph book and Minnie Mouse pen!

On Saturday we went to Blizzard Beach water park which was so fun! Think I'm building up my tan! Even got to meet Goofy! Then in the evening we went to Hollywood Studios and went on our favourite rides; Tower of Terror and Rock 'n Roller coaster, met Buzz and Woody and watched Fantasmic! Amazing show!

Sunday was my first morning of work, we were shown around Magic Kingdom and taught lots of hidden secrets and details about the park; so much detail has gone into it, incredible. Then after this we all went to Animal Kingdom - was boiling hot and so sunny! Had a top highlight and met Doug and Russell from Up - literally could have cried with happiness!

Went on lots of rides and on the safari. I was so tired by the end though as I'd been up since 5am for training! Therefore, we went home and had dinner at Applebee's which is across the road from Vista!

Yesterday was my first full day of training; starting 9.30- 6. Was such a good day! Got my costume which isn't too bad in all honesty, in comparison to some....photos to follow! Got trained around all the different shops and outdoor carts I could be working on, did some e-learning and had a manager leadership meeting. Everyone was so friendly and Tomorrowland seems like a real fun place to work! My trainer couldn't believe I'd never had peanut butter (as obviously it's such a massive popular food over here; peanut butter and jelly sandwiches!) and she bought me a Reece's Peanut Butter Cup; it was AMAZING, tasted so nice! In the evening a big group of us from Vista went to an 'all you can eat' buffet. I was literally overwhelmed by the amount of food there was! I even had candyfloss!

Today was another day at Disney University and lots of e-learning and training, including being shown how to use the tills!

Another trip to Walmart, so I now no longer just had porridge and lettuce to eat! Bought my first American poptarts - cookie dough flavour, YUM!

I am having the best time in my Disney adventure! :) 

I'M IN AMERICA BABY!

So I'm officially here in America and posting from my apartment in Vista Way! Pretty exciting right! So much has happened and so much to update!!

The flight out was fine and honestly didn't feel that long, watching films and chatting makes the time pass quickly! When we landed we had to queue for 2 hours to get through immigration...it was SO long and such a slow queue. We then got a taxi to Vista Way where we found out where we were living. We were able to choose who we want to live with, so myself and three of the girls I'm travelling with afterwards are all going to be living together in Vista Way! Woohoooo!! :) Party central. We got to our apartment and it's dead cute :) We made the essential trip to Walmart to get bedding, towels and breakfast food. By the time we got to bed it was midnight, which is 5am English time! That's a long 22hour day!! Zzzz

The first official day in Florida!...We had meetings very early, so no time for jet lag! The meetings were about immigration and filling out paperwork and we had a lunch break so went to the nearby outlet mall - saw A LOT of stuff I wanted to buy. Roll on payday!! The afternoon talk was so overly Disney America happy cheesy, was amazing! Typically what you would think of about Disney employees! We had a special evening as it was one of the girl's 21st birthday. So we went to the Polynesian Resort for cocktails and nibbles, caught the Monorail to the Grand Floridan for some photo opportunities at this beautiful Disney hotel and then jumped back on the Monorail to go to the Contemporary resort. The Disney store we went into was amazing, I literally saw so many Disney goodies I wanted to buy!! Then we watched the Wishes fireworks over Cinderella Castle from the resort, was so amazing and emotional. Officially hit home that we were in Disney! I can't wait until we get our passes so we can go into the theme parks!!

The next day consisted of some more meetings and finding out where we were working!! *drumroll* I will be working in Tomorrowland in Magic Kingdom! So pleased :) I start training on Sunday and get my costume too! Excited to see what it is like. Another trip to Walmart followed to buy some sexy work shoes...don't you just LOVE them?!...although they are very comfy in all honesty!

We got caught in a massive rain downpour and got absolutely drenched...this was the start of Tropical Storm Andrea!

In the evening we went to the 'Where's Perry Welcome Party'; consisting of some typical 90s music, free pizza and getting to meet the our first Disney characters - Phineas and Ferb. It was lots of fun and a fun atmosphere :)

Today we woke up to horrendous tropical storms and rain - never made better knowing it's sunny at home! But we're heading off to Downtown Disney soon for a wander round the shops and for dinner! 

So that's my update for now. I'm loving it and loving all the Disney and American people. Everyone is so happy and friendly - they really cannot do enough for you. I just can't wait to start work and be a part of that.... 'Have a magical day!' 

The adventure has begun...

I can see airplanes, I can hear airplanes....I'm writing this blog post from my hotel room at the Premier Inn at Gatwick! I'm all checked into my room and ready and raring to go! My suitcase is all packed and luckily I managed to fit everything I wanted to take without being over the luggage allowance! I've also got a cabin sized suitcase to take which is empty so I can fill that with goodies and shopping sprees in America :) 
I can't believe it's come around so quickly and tomorrow I fly off to start my dream come true adventure in America. I don't think 'excited' even begins to cover it!
Saying bye to my family was sad, but knowing the next time I see them will be in a few weeks in Disneyworld itself is a happy thought. 
The photo is the first of my adventure, taken before we drove up to Gatwick. Sad to say bye to the beautiful Cornish countryside for 3 months!

I'm off for dinner with some of the girls now who are also staying in the hotel :) My next blogpost will probably be when IM IN AMERICA!! EXCITING!

Disney Leaving Party

Last weekend after I arrived home from my last weekend of uni life in Birmingham, I had a lovely celebratory afternoon and leaving party with my family.  My brother was home for the weekend, so it was a full family 'do!  We had a traditional yummy Sunday roast, complete with Disney balloons, table-cloth and napkin, of course, followed by a walk on the beach at Downderry.  Then later on my Nanny and Grandad came over for a party tea.  My Mum & Dad organised a Disney quiz and some Disney games to make sure my knowledge of Disney was up to scratch before my big adventure.  Did you know the last film Walt Disney played an active role in working on was the Jungle Book?!  Later on we had a Disney tea party with Minnie and Mickey Mouse cupcakes and a special Minnie Mouse cake!  Doesn't it all look delicious from the photos?

It was such a special afternoon and a lovely way to celebrate my Disney adventure with my family <3

FINAL DISNEY EMAIL!

This got me extremely excited.... 4 days and my adventure of a life time begins :) 

Tomorrow I will be getting my dollars and FINALLY getting round to packing...I hope it all fit.  Wish me luck!

Long overdue update

Gosh it has been a LONG time since I blogged, what with going on Tour with Uni to Spain, Easter Holidays and then final exams, life has been hectic! However, I received this email from YummyJobs today and realised I NEED to update my blog as it is so soon that I leave!  

Now as I write this post I have officially finished University.  My last exam was on the 29th April and I cannot express how much relief I felt when it was all over.  I know I have worked as hard as I could have and put in 100% effort so hopefully this will pay off when I get my final degree classification.  Although I have moved back home, I went back to Birmingham last weekend for Alumni Weekend and Sports Awards Ball, where I said some emotional, final goodbyes to BCU, my friends and University life....can't believe it's all over!

So in terms of Disney preparation  it has all been go-go-go!  I went to London after the Easter Holidays for my visa appointment at the US Embassy.  I was expecting to be questioned heavily and was worried as I didn't really have much proof to show why I would be coming back to the UK - no University studies and no job! However, they literally asked me what I would be doing in America and what I was planning to do when I get home. Simple!  

I have a to-do list which I am slowly getting through; I have bought my travel insurance, business attire dress for Traditions, sorted out my simcard for my phone in America and have done lots of holiday shopping (obviously a necessity)!  The girls and I have booked all our hotels for our travels too.  I am so excited to see all parts of America we are visiting and the girls are lovely and very similar to me, so I know we're going to have so much fun :)

I haven't attempted packing yet...truth be told, the thought of it makes me stressed.  How am I going to pack for 3 months and still have space for clothes which I want to buy in America?!  GOSH!

Flashback....

So as usual I was thinking about the summer and how excited I am, especially as now it is only 78 days and this got me thinking about my previous family holidays to Disneyworld...

The first time I ever visited Disneyworld Florida was with my family in 1996 when I was only 5 years old, so you can definitely say I have grown up with Disney!  We have some great memories from this very first trip and I thought I would share them with you...

So firstly a memory that sticks out was at the Waterpark 'Wet 'n' Wild'.  We went on a water slide where all 4 of us sat in a rubber ring and would slide down a fast twisting slide flume to the bottom!  We LOVED it and went on it repeatedly.  After consecutive rides on this attraction, the attendant said to us in a typical brilliant American accent and a friendly smile, "we do have other rides here you know guys"!  Although we did eventually test out some of the other slides, this one will always be our favourite :)

I loved Minnie Mouse completely and utterly and of course had to buy a cuddly Minnie Mouse when I was in Disneyworld.  This cuddly toy become my favourite and to this day, still comes with to University.  On the flight home in 1996, I was carrying my Minnie Mouse through to the security check point and was told she would have to go through the security scanners! The security staff could obviously tell I was attached to my new cuddly toy so let me watch the scanning machine screen as she went through!  Definitely a memory that sticks in my head!

A final vivid memory is that of one of our days in Magic Kingdom... Unfortunately, all of us were ill on this holiday as we drank the water from the water fountains in the theme parks which made us sick!  I remember waking up in the middle of the night in the hotel and being sick all over the bed sheets...but don't worry, this isn't the vivid memory I'm thinking of!  My brother was ill the night before this particular day we went to Magic Kingdom and my parents asked for a stroller for him as he was too weak to walk around in the heat and feeling ill.  One of the cast members (what staff at the park are called - ie. what I shall be called!) took pity on my brother and gave us a purple mickey mouse shaped balloon which we attached to the stroller.  After a while my Dad was getting very fed up of the balloon getting in the way whilst he was pushing the stroller and decided we would let the balloon go, but have a little competition to see who could guess correctly which direction the balloon would float off to. We all stood there and watched as the balloon floated off into the sky and then right on cue a cast member rushes over and says, “Oh guys you lost your balloon!  Let me get you another one!”  This story describes just how kind, thoughtful and friendly the staff are at Disneyworld and how they will go out of their way to make sure you have the most perfect experience at Disneyworld.  I cannot wait to be a part of this and ensure that guests at Disneyworld have the best possible holiday.