Florida Life

Living in a different country has been really hard, not having my family around, missing my mums cooking and not sleeping in a comfy bed has been difficult but my flatmates have definitely made it worthwhile, if it wasn’t for them I don’t think I would still be here working at Disney. Hannah, Maria, Dee and Christelle have been there for me when I’ve been down and they have been the ones that make me happy. I’ve never lived away from home before and if this is what its like I don’t mind it. The only thing that I would like to change is the food, everything is so heavy and greasy, I just want real, fresh food from home.

When I first arrived in Orlando me and Beth wanted to be a bit spontaneous and we though one day whilst lying my the pool that we should do a helicopter ride, I have to admit it’s the best decision I have ever made, we got to see Universal, Seaworld, Wet&Wild, all of international drive and lots more, I would definitely recommend it… it’s out of this world!!

Christmas was a down time for me, working a lot and having my friends around me helped but it just wasn’t the same as home, I definitely missed my families Christmas dinner, I except double the amount this year!!

Then 2 months after Christmas my family came out for a week, I went and met my mum, dad and sister at the airport, it was so emotional, I didn’t realise I would have missed them this much. We went to all the parks, shopping and we even managed to go to Wekiva Springs which was breathtaking.

In March, me and my friend Marcus went to Miami for 2 days, I expected it to be more up to date but instead it reminded me of a computer game, either way I’m not complaining, I’ve actually been to Miami.

Although South Beach, Miami is unreal, it didn’t compare to being at Cocoa Beach with my best friends that was an amazing day, I definitely recommend Sunday Funday!!

Throughout my time at Disney I have created lots of memories for me and for others, making magic is a big part of everyones day at Walt Disney World and to being a part of that I will never forget.

With still having time left on my program I hope to complete a lot more on my bucket list and create ever lasting memories and meet amazing people along the way.

Life as a Lifeguard at All Star

So my six months is over and its time to switch roles, I am now a Lifeguard at the All Star Resorts. I have now moved from a park that is always busy and on the go to watching a pool at one of the busiest and biggest resort in Walt Disney World. I thought that being a lifeguard would be easy but Disney knows all about safety and now so do I. I am constantly on guard, watching and scanning my water every second of my shift.

                The training that goes in to being a Lifeguard is very strict and is taken very seriously. I had to do three consecutive days of swim tests, CPR training, first aid and scenario tests. I felt like the training should have been over more days as it felt rushed as all shoved together. I literally learnt how to save a life in 3 days, crazy! The training that I received and the 2 2hour sessions I do a month I feel will help me in a situation and will hopefully be with me forever. Its true when you come out here and people say that Lifeguards still together, which makes for a good environment at work because even though you break by yourself, you still need to communicate to each other all the time and work as a team to complete the shift.

                Communication is a big thing between cast members and guests, as many don’t speak English so trying to enforce rules can be very difficult, once you get the hang of hand signals then it gets easier. Besides all of the serious stuff, being a Lifeguard is good as long as you like to watch water and either burn or freeze because of the weather because we all know that Florida weather is very unpredictable.

Below is the lifeguarding costume I need to wear at All Star Resorts

Life on Sunset in Hollywood Studios

Throughout my first role in Merchandise I met a lot of great people from all over the world. Disney is constantly training their cast members all the time so that everyone is up to date on the technology and information needed. Nearer the end of my time in Studios I got to see the introduction of the Magic Band, I am very privileged to be a part of this experience. Other training consisted of the four keys basics (which Disney thrives on), safety and health, safety in motion and lots of others. This made me feel like Disney cares a lot for their workers health and wants to have a safe environment. I also saw this first hand as I was on the safety committee for my area.

Whilst working at Hollywood studios I worked in all different stores. My locations where the Villains Store, Once Upon A Time, Sweet Spells, Ranch/Tots, Animation Gallery, Studio Store, In Character and Legends. My favourite store was Sweet Spells as I got to see how the candy production worked and then I was the cast member selling it.

I had the best time in Studios, constantly dealing with guests, learning how to communicate with someone who speaks a different language although this could be difficult I found someone or a way to help the guests needs and wants. I also got on well with the other cast members as we were all about the same age and had similar interests this helped the working environment. The working relationships with the managers weren’t as easy as some of them were nice, the others acted like they didn’t have the time of day for you. I felt like because I was an international student the managers thought I couldn’t do things as easy as the cast members from America.

However despite all of that I thoroughly loved my role here and I gained and improved many skills which I feel I can take forward into future job roles and will benefit my future.

Below are the 5 different costumes I used to wear for all the locations in Hollywood Studios.

July 2013 continued.....

The start of a busy week…

16^th July consisted of all the students studying with CMU to participate in a meet & greet so that we could meet other CP’s and our tutors for CMU. This was a nice welcome event as it was very casual and we got to bond over pizza.

17^th July we had to go and get our international documents signed and take part in the recruitment welcome at Vista Way, this is when I found out where I will be working for the next 6 months, I got merchandise in Hollywood Studios on Sunset/Animation. I was very nervous as no one else that I knew was in Hollywood Studios but I heard that it was a great location to work in.

18^th July so today was Traditions this is the day which everyone attends to learn all about Disney. Firstly everyone got checked to see if they had the correct Disney Look, then we all got split up into groups and got to go backstage at Magic Kingdom, it was amazing!!! We got to walk under the castle, see the princesses and walk around the park its self; it was our own private tour. It was a magical way to welcome us all to the company. The rest of traditions was full of presentations, talks and a personal welcome and greet with Mickey Mouse himself, pretty amazing if you ask me. The rest of the day was spent hanging out at Hollywood Studios with 17 other English CP’s, I got to look at where I will be working and I got eat at my all-time fave Pizza Planet, gotta love Toy Story.. right?!

Finally I get 3 days off to spend time with my friends and roommates.

21^st July was Welcome to Recreation at Disney University, this is when I got trained on the register and learnt more about the currency as I would be dealing with it every day.

22^nd July I had my first day at Hollywood Studios, I got to see and try on my costumes for the first time. It was definitely an experience, the only way to explain the costumes that I have to wear are unique.

July 2013 continued...

15^th July 2013 – Today is the day!!!

Its been one long day. Had to be on the airport for 8am where I met up with Beth, Abi and Hayley. Firstly the traffic was at deadlock and then saying bye to my family was the hardest thing I have done. Once we got through security and ate, it was our time to go to the gate, then we heard over the speaker “please can Abi, Emma, Beth and Hayley come to the boarding gate please” everything was going through our minds however we didn’t expect what was coming next “you’ve been upgrade and here are your new boarding passes” Oh my god I couldn’t believe it Abi had got us upgraded, upper class was amazing. It was a great way to start the experience of a life time.

                Once we arrived at Vista Way, we had to check in, we got our welcome packs with were we were going to be living for the next year and information on our busy schedule for the week ahead. This is when I found out all my friends were living in Vista Way and I got my last choice Patterson Court, I was already very emotional and I didn’t know what to do, I just wanted to get back on the flight home. After the welcome presentation I got taken in a bus to my new home this is when I started to fall in love even though it was raining Patterson looked like heaven compared to Vista Way. Once I had moved in I met all my roommates and instantly new we would get on so well. It was a big shock when I realised I was living with 5 other English girls as I thought Id live with people from all over the world.

But here goes to the start of a new year in AMERICAAAA!!!!

The first night I went with my roommate Hannah to Walmart and soon realised I had to hunt for everything as everyone had seemed to of been in there before us and taken everything. We managed to find bedding, toiletries and basic foods and just thought we’d come back another day, when leaving Walmart we realised we couldn’t get home so we jumped in a taxi who obviously knew that we were new to the area as we got a $15 ride which actually cost us $30, definitely learnt my lesson and will not be doing that again.

July 2013

Sooo this is the month I leave only 15 days to go!!!!

I received the email I have been waiting for, where do I want to live??? That was the biggest, most difficult question I have been asked. Knowing that my friends were going would have been good to live together but I wanted to meet new people, so I decided to pick the same housing complex just in a different apartment. Also as I’m 21 I thought it would be a good idea to be in the alcohol permitted apartment as Vista Way is known for all the parties and that seemed like my ideal place so my choices went Vista way as my first choice, with Chatham as second and Patterson third.

10 days before I leave I had to complete my first CMU assignment, studying at 2 universities in 2 different countries feels very diverse and I think it will help me in the future as I can use what I learn from both,  take the skills I’ve picked up and apply them in my future.

June 2013

Visa interview!! So it started with me and my sister travelling from Preston to London on a Megabus for 7 HOURS! Once we got there we had 2 hours to try and find the place and for me to have enough time in there. Trying to follow the small map from the U.S Embassy was unbelievable it was like we walked in circles 10 times, then we saw across the park a small version of the white house with an American flag stuck on top, so we assumed we had found it. It then took three hours in there, standing in endless queues and I felt like I was being interrogated but then I heard the words, YOU’VE BEEN ACCEPTED for your visa, I was so relieved then we had to do the seven hour bus journey back.

The month before my departure I had the exciting choice of picking my disney class. I really wanted to do the innovation and creativity class but because I am international student they said that the class wasn’t an option for me, which really annoyed me because that was the class that related more to my university course at home. I ended up going onto the education course registration and choosing exploring leadership which I thought would help me improve my leadership skills. 

May 2013

Can you believe that Walt Disney World themselves contacted ME!!! I received this welcome email containing my arrival and departure dates and my username and password to logon to the on boarding site. I actually feel part of the company already and I haven’t even started yet.

3 days later I got my visa pack in the post which explained what I needed to do and the fees that need paying. I thought I would have received this pack earlier as I now only have 2 months until I actually leave and I still have to go to London and send off for my J-1 visa. However the same day as getting the visa pack I booked my appointment in London, 6/6/2013 at 11am. This would give me 2 weeks to arrange transport, print copies of my documents and pay for the SEVIS document. I felt so overwhelmed and unorganised with the amount that needed doing in the little time I have left. I’ve now also completed the online nonimigration visa application (DS-160).

                It seems to be that May is the month for contact as I have got so many emails. I received another email from Disney International program giving me information on preparing for my arrival and informing me of the $100 program assessment fee that needs paying before I arrive. 

April 2013

Soo today I found out some great news. I am relieved to announce that my three roles have been switched to two roles. I am now doing six months in Merchandise and six months as a Lifeguard. No more Quick Service Food & Beverage, YEAHHHH!!!

March 2013

Today is 25^th March, MY BIRTHDAY!!! Alongside celebrating my 21^st birthday I received the next steps for my program, this included all the information needed to create my visa documents. Seeing all the fees that need paying has made me realise that I need to stop having a social life and work A LOT!! 

January 2013

Finally loan day was here, so I could book my flight!!

I had been researching flights ever since I found out the start date of my program. The cheapest direct flight I found was with STA travel flying with Virgin, I couldn’t wait I have never flown with Virgin before and I was so happy. As 3 of my friends from uni are also going to do the internship with Disney we thought we would fly together, so me, Abi, Beth and Hayley all went to book, It wouldn’t have been the same if I booked by myself as we all bounced off each other, we then all went to celebrate as we were one step closer to our dream.

December 2012

Two weeks after being accepted I got my first email from Yummy Jobs which consisted of a step by step guide of what I need to do and the information I need for my program. Now that I know what to do and have a check list it made me feel very organised and very panicky, I just wanted it all done now.

 My sister got me this little cutie for my travels, checking the countdown I was thrilled.

November 2012

I’m not going to lie I was feeling very apprehensive the morning of Wednesday 14^th November 2014 when I woke up for my final interview for Walt Disney World. Knowing that so much lies on this interview made me more nervous (more so than usual) although I couldn’t contain my excitement I knew that this was such a massive opportunity for my future.  So when I got to the interview at 9am I felt under pressure to give off a good impression however the people that held the interview gave an interesting presentation that put me at ease which confirmed how I felt about it and made me realise I wanted this internship.

I GOT ACCEPTED!!!!!!!!!!!

Today 21/11/2012 I got offered the place at Walt Disney World. I found out that around 50 people got accepted out of all the people that got interviewed; this made me feel flattered and excited.

I now can’t wait to get my information pack and book my flight so that this dream that I am in can become reality.

                Telling my family and friends was the best part, their reactions were unforgettable, everyone was so happy for me.

                I also found out the roles that I will be doing when there, Lifeguard, Quick Service Food & Beverage and Merchandise. Knowing this I was excited however I didn’t really want to do Quick Service as I’ve never worked in the food industry and it doesn’t really appeal to me. But being a lifeguard sounded great, I get to bask in the sun all day by a pool… sounds like heaven.

Im going to America

Hey Hey Hey!

Sooo…  I’m going to be moving to America to the sunshine state to work for the mouse.

I have just been accepted onto the college program at Disney World Florida for a one year internship, YEAHHHH!!

I’m that excited that I am already on countdown 236 days JJJJ

From the beginning it didn’t even cross my mind to work at Disney World but I got asked by my tutor to participate in the interview for some interview experience. I then got very interested and when I got invited to have a second interview, I jumped at the chance.

Yummy Jobs is a recruitment partner for Walt Disney World Resort and this is the company that interviewed me first, they kept me up to date on the process, which made me feel special. As Walt Disney World is known worldwide and has a phenomenal reputation, I felt privileged to be a part of this company. By knowing this I instantly knew that I would have a worthwhile internship that would improve my knowledge in a business environment and will benefit me in my future.