A Rose Is Still A Rose

Today felt so long. I woke up about 9 and went to Animal Kingdom with Megan from work. We caught the Lion King show and went on Everest before I had to leave for Epcot. What I love about Disney is all the random people you meet. I met a girl called Alissa in the line for Everest and all her dads ancestors were from Wales so they were excited to talk to me. Americans seem quite infactuated by a British accent. I can't complain though. It's nice to be interesting to other people haha.

I met some really cool kids today at work also. A brother/sister from the UK. They were probably 7 and 8 and they reminded me of the two kids from Mary Poppins. I gave them both a certificate with 'Coolest UK Kid' on it... that was my invented magical moment of the day and they were so excited by them so it was all good.

I also dealt with my first poncho rush. It poured it down today so suddenly everyone wanted to buy ponchos from me. When one lady tried to push in I thought a fight was going to break out haha. There was a line of about 20 people so it got kind of intense.

By 5 o clock I was feeling pretty ill though and feeling sorry for myself. But I probably asked for it by not letting myself have too much sleep all week. I went to 'Buffalo Wild Wings' last night and sang for the first time stateside at karaoke. It was good fun and nice to release some tension. I also ventured back to Walmart. I'm not as overwhelmed anymore. The first trip there practically made me want to cry it was so impossible to know what I wanted to buy haha. If you haven't ever been to a Walmart... think of an Asda supercentre times by three... and you're almost there haha.

I feel kind of broken today so I'm going to go sleep on it now and look forward to a new day tomorrow.

Settled Better

It's late but I know I didn't write anything for a while and felt I needed to. Things are going good for me. I got added to 'Art of Disney' at Epcot so I now work there in addition to pins and 'Club Cool' which is awesome because it's a really interesting store to work at.

I took my own advice of 'fufilment comes with taking risks' and I decided to move out of the apartment of six I was with. They were great guys but I never felt like I was going to connect too well with any of them... and that apartment was kind of mess to the extreme I never ate there. I lucked out and now live in a wicked apartment with three americans. They are really awesome people so big shout out to them!

I did finally get a room mate in the old apartment. He was a Brazilian guy called Danilo. I bonded pretty well with him but because he was on an older UCF programme he is actually leaving in April so he wouldn't have been my roomie for long anyway!

I've had a few down moments the past few days. Not because I'm especially sad about anything... just thinking about too much... over analyzing... which I often have the tendency to do. I guess part of me is already sad to know I'll be leaving a lot of great memories and people behind when I have to move on from Disney.

I had an early shift today so spent the afternoon and evening in Magic Kingdom. It was awesome. I got to ride Big Thunder Mountain and Splash Mountain a fair few times... we got soaked.

The Curse of the Caribbean 1 + 2

Adventure One

So on Thursday after a day at Animal Kingdom/Epcot me and Drew left Rahila and Chris to go to Downtown Disney. And so the adventure began...

We excited Epcot through the world showcase to come out at a resort so we could get a bus to Downtown. Drew was convinced Downtown was close so naturally we thought we could walk there... half hour later we were at some random Disney mini golf place and the lights Drew thought were Downtown were actually Hollywood Studios. Still... he was convinced we were close... so on we trek... first we pass two old men and one of them farts on us (rank right?!) and then we start our trek down some random highway. We get to a random swamp and I'm shitting myself because I think there is an aligator in there that is going to chase us down the highway. Then I'm hearing grasshoppers... and a frog jumps out on us. Then... the sidewalk ends and we're literally trekking through grass and I'm not liking the idea of a snake attacking me. Then... more swamps, a few random honks from drivers... and we think we're gonna get shot. After about an hour we get to Caribbean Beach Resort. Drew dubs us lost so we take the safe option of going into the resort and getting a bus to Downtown. We finally arrive at Downtown!

Adventure Two

Me and Kim miss the bus home from Downtown so we think we should get a shuttle to the Caribbean hotel to get a bus there back to Vista. We get off at the resort and discover the hotel is more like a community (huuuuuuuge!). It is the size of my village back home I swear. Some random chinese guy tells us the check in is 'far far far'. So we go over a long bridge and we wander for what feels like five hours (through 'Barbados' and 'Africa') before eventually finding the front desk. Kim who had decided to roll down the hill then discovered she had dropped her phone so after some more endless wandering we find it and go back to front desk. They tell us where the bus is and a kind bus driver drives us to cast service which ironically was near where we started walking from. It's midnight by this point and I have to get up early. Then back at Vista, naturally I don't go to bed - I go to visit Drew and Rich instead and we play guitar and sing random songs. Save Tonight! I got five hours sleep if that. Today is a long day... and I'm apparently getting a room mate today. Exciting times. Even though I'm planning on moving appartments in a week I'm still nervous about them. I've been told they are Brazilian.

Conclusion... when things go wrong... the Caribbean Beach Resort is probably close by

The End

The Work Begins...

So I'm working at Epcot in 'Future World'. I am at 'Club Cool' (the place where you get to try all the different coca cola products from around the world) and 'Pin Central'. I was a bit disappointed at first at not being put somewhere more *Disney* but I've come to realise I've got it quite good. There are a lot worse places to be... at least I get to rotate a few things. Plus when I voiced my concern I was told it was a possibility for me to be added to 'Art of Disney' aswell which is very cool.

After going to Animal Kingdom for the first time yesterday I've come to realise every park here has it's own unique atmosphere. Epcot feels quite 'triumphant' and because it has that cultural element I'm finding guests love talking to me and finding out all about where I've come from.

I went to Animal Kingdom with a UK friend (Rahila) and a new friend Chris who said he would be happy to take Rahila around Epcot/Animal Kingdom. I tagged along and we had the best day! I really enjoyed Test Track at Epcot and then Mount Everest at Animal Kingdom won't be forgotten in a hurry. I didn't know what to expect so I was slightly scared. Get off the ride and you can imagine the photograph... sat next to me is a 7 year old with his hands in the air. Then there's me with my mouth wide open looking like I'm crying. Haha.

The UCF experience has been very good so far. It looks like the food could get quite repetitive (pizza or hamburger?) but at least it's included which is good. Some of my housemates decided to bring loads of people back to the appartment at 3am last night though so I didn't get too much sleep. In my Event class I was almost falling asleep. Today though we got into groups to start planning our 'Event Project'. We will work on that on the upcoming weeks and present it to the class in the final weeks. Wine class was hilarious as always. I'm so glad I took that. The beer and wine lab they have there is the best thing you'll ever see at a university I swear!

I finished off the day by going to the premium outlet mall near Commons. It was wicked! I got some proper bargains from Tommy Hillfiger, Gap and Skechers (even though mum warned me from buying stuff... I have enough apparently haha). I also tried Taco Bell which I really enjoyed. Didn't feel like it was clogging up my insides anyway like it does when you eat McDonalds haha. And most importantly... we found a Starbucks! Me and Rahila were quite pleased about that... and it's quite close so I'm going to be hanging out there a lot I think haha.

I don't want to write too much more because this is already getting too long but I just watched new Lost... woo hoo. I attach some photos from a few park visits I did already.

Homesickness

So far I have found it hard adjusting to the Disney life. The flight seemed like hell and we had to wait around ages. I was sat around a lot of British girls on the programme though and we all bonded on the flight over which was nice. It was also real nice to meet some of the other people I've been talking to on facebook when I got here. Shout outs to Drew, Richard and Amy who I can safely say are just as awesome in real life.

I have been put at the 'Vista Way' complex sharing with four others. I have the privilege of having no room mate right now but that is likely to change. I'm one of those people that really needs to have their sleep and when the uncomfortable bed gave me hell it really got to me... and then of course you start thinking about how nice your bed at home is and how much of a good nights sleep you would be getting if you were there... haha. I called my mum on Tuesday to talk and ended up in tears which is quite unusual for me... that's how much of a shock to the system it has been.

Shout out to my american friend Kim though who tried so hard to make me feel better about being here. She drove me to get groceries and an american cell and stuff and just really tried to take my mind off things. I really appreciated it.

When I did 'Traditions' training I started feeling better about things then. It reminded me why I came to work for Disney and what a great opportunity it is I've been given. I have been placed at the Epcot park but I'm not entirely sure what it is I will be doing yet. My educated guess is that I am going to be in charge of one of the 'Pin Trading' wagons in Future World. I was gutted at first because I wanted another park but now I've come to grips with what it is I will be doing I am happier. I actually went to Epcot last night and saw the firework display. It was just fantastic!

Yesterday I saw the UCF campus for Rosen College and is a truly beautiful campus. I start classes later today and I'm looking forward to it. I didn't get much sleep last night but hopefully I'll sleep easier tonight for my first day of merchandise training at the Disney university.

I miss the UK a lot but I'm hanging in here. Ben can be tough. Haha.

Goodbye

So today is my last day in the UK. I meant to write a while ago to tell you all about the US Embassy experience. I had to go to London obviously and it was quite a hilarious day. I met a few of the people going on the programme from the UK which was wicked and they seemed like a great bunch of people. I'd talked to a few of them for a few months so it was really good to meet them. I'm probably talking mostly about Alex here (who is much taller than she looks in her photos haha). We had a hilarious day though watching people trip over Tesco bags and the tourist who just *stopped* oblivious to an angry walker. Haha. I can tell there will be many legendary adventures to come though!

So to sum up the embassy... basically a mixture of a Doctor's surgery waiting room, a bank and going to buy cheese at the supermarket. It smelt like a doctor's surgery anyway. You basically wait and then when your ticket is called you go and hand all your forms in and they take your fingerprints. I couldn't put my hand down too flat I was quite nervous. Then you have a second *interview* where they ask you a few questions. Then if approved you leave your passport and they stamp it and send it back to you.

So back to my last day... people ask me what I will miss most. It probably sounds cheesy but will miss all the friends I made here the most. Anything else I will get back to you on because I probably don't know what I will miss until I get there haha.

Today I have to finish packing, get my dollars and make sure I have all my important documents (there are about 20 of them I swear). I'm mostly excited but nervous about who I will share a room with. I suspect whoever that person ends up to be is just as worried about me though haha. The picture I've enclosed is a giant cookie that they got me at the Disney Store. I always wanted one so once again... another dream to tick off the list! There is also some snaps from the farewell dinner I had with my cousins. We watched Ratatouille. It is really good but I don't think it is my favourite Pixar movie. And thanks for the cookies you made Amanda!

Some of you may have recieved a personal video message on facebook today. If you did I hope you enjoyed it! Catch u all soon!

Working for Disney

I like to think my adventure with Disney began a little early because I became a Christmas temp at my local Disney Store in early October. I've really enjoyed my time there and they must have liked me because they have let me stay on until I leave for Florida!

I was inspired to write this because today I had an experience I didn't think I would have. It was a normal day for me at the cash reigster today selling shed loads of sale items and High School Musical merchandise (who knew it would be so popular?!) and a little girl comes to me with her grandmother. She is about six years old and I could tell she either had downes syndrome or was autistic or perhaps both I'm not sure. She couldn't really talk properly because of her disability but she pointed at my High School Musical 2 T shirt (which is my uniform) and she clapped at it. I asked her if she liked High School Musical and she made a few sounds which suggested she did. She was smiling so much and was really mesmirised by my t shirt.

Her grandmother was actually buying her a Snow White dress and when I was putting it in the bag she got so excited it actually almost brought a tear to my eye, it was so moving. I asked her if the dress was for her as I often do with the kids (she giggled really excitedly) and I can't really describe how her reactions made me feel. Here was a girl right in front of me who probably knows already at the age of 6 that she is *different* to other children... yet she seemed especially content and delighted that she got to dress up as a princess... just like any little girl. She seemed almost happier than other little girls of her age. To know the dress had made her feel so happy was a really nice feeling.

They say that is the magic of Disney. I think it's one of the reasons I have such a high respect for the company. Not only that but I feel without Disney my own childhood may have been more traumatic and less musical. I love how much delight it brings to people and I think it's especially wonderful how even the foreign or the mute can still recognise and be delighted by a Disney character. And there really is no age limit on the joy. I've seen that already without even being at Disney World.