Crazy Crazy

So I apologise for not having wrote anything for weeks! Things are so mad here I barely have any spare time. I got really down about my work location and my financial situation but my area manager was very supportive about the whole thing. It's extremely difficult to transfer to a different position to what you started in but she has talked to the scheduling team to get me more hours and is having me trained in stock so it is easier to pick up extra hours.

I'm feeling better about things although I had a bit of an insane week this week. I thought I would pick up some extra hours on the 'Extra Magic Hotline' to get me a better paycheck. I worked 64 hours over 5 days. Tuesday was my longest day. I started around 7 at Epcot then worked an evening shift at Magic Kingdom. I worked in Fantasyland and did most merchandise locations in that area. It was so much fun to be somewhere new and meet lots of new people. Although I'll admit I felt pretty dead by the time I finished at 230AM (that's a long day I know haha!).

I also went to Downtown Orlando for the first time with some american friends. That was a cool experience. We went to a club. From what I heard I actually expected the whole area to be really dodgy and dingy. It was pretty cool though if not real sweaty haha! There was so many people it reminded me a little bit of a club I used to go to at university.

UCF classes finished two weeks ago so I am on a break now until May. That is pretty sweet because I get two days off... allows me to get my life together a bit more! I'm trying to make a lot of decisions of late about my future. I'm still planning on joining the Disney Cruise Line when I finish my programme here but ultimately my dream would be to work for the company in California in their music department. I'm in a good position at the moment to talk to people within the company so tomorrow I'm hoping to send a few emails around and see if anyone can offer me any advice.

A lot of people are very encouraging towards me about staying here. I actually have three international managers (one from UK, one from Mexico and one from Jamaica). Part of me knows what I want to do with my life and the other part of me wonders how the heck I'm supposed to get there hahaha...

Peace out for now

It's been a while

I didn't write for a long time and I have some spare time in class so I figured I would write something! The last few weeks have been insane. I went to universal studios for the first time last week and went on loads of rides I never thought I would. People here just get awesomer (if that's a word). Shout outs to Megan, Drew, Heather, Rahila. These people keep me grounded when it gets tough... and it's been tough. I still like the Disney side but money has been getting me down because I don't have it. I went to the bank yesterday to get some fees reversed... I somehow managed to go overdrawn three times and they charge you when that happens!

In work news... I'm actually trying to transfer to a character role at the moment because I feel it would be more beneficial for me - future career prospects and all that.

Last night I drank too much. I'm not a big drinker. Infact I drink pretty rarely so it was pretty insane. Craig and Drew got me home somehow and this morning Drew came round because he wouldn't let me not go to class. I have vomit on my shoe still... I am a disgrace.

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.