Moving Out and heading home

So move out day was a CRAZY hassle! Everyone was on the move! I had 97% of my stuff already moved into Steph’s car (luckily, everything fit), and was helping my roommates get their stuff out. When came our turn to THE FINAL INSPECTION, my roomies still had stuff there (grr!) but luckily, I got all of my security deposit back and I headed towards Steph’s apartment. While I waited for her FINAL INSPECTION, I began saying my last and final goodbyes to my friends; it was hard because I made lifelong friends that I will visit again! After Steph got checked out, we drove to Vegas straight from there. 4 hours later, we arrived safely, and we met up with Adam and spent the next 2 days walking and enjoying Las Vegas. My favorite part was the Coca-Cola and M&M store. Adam and I tried 16 of the most popular international Cokes out there. Our favorites were a ginger ale one, and the Japan flavored one. O yes, and of course the original! On the 4^th, we packed up and left for home, which we drove through Nevada, Utah (with the absolute detailed view of the mountains), and Colorado. We hit some weather but made it home safely.

Overall, this experience was well worth the trials and errors and I learned so much and really did enjoy it! I made tons of friends, and created magical moments not only for the guests, but they did for me too. Have a Magical Day!

Happy 2011!

So luckily, New Year’s eve was my last day of work, and I worked 10-2; nice short shift! Afterwards, yes I did go into the park and it was shoulder to shoulder!! But luckily, I saw from friends and said my goodbyes, and had them sign my poster I received upon graduation from the program. I even saw Goofy dressed up as Santa!  

Later that night, there was a New Year ’s Eve party on the housing patio and it was really fun just hanging out with my friends! We took fun photos and went over to the parking garage to watch the fireworks from the park. It was all so magical and fun! Happy New Year!

Disney point!

 

Moving Out

So this experience is coming to an end and I’m happy to go but super sad to leave! I’ve made so many lifelong friends here that I’ll never forget and I hope I can come back soon to visit again! One of my great friends, Steph, is also from Longmont and she invited me to drive back with her. So Thursday the 30, we practiced packed. Basically packed, but did it early so I would know if I would have had to ship anything or not. Luckily, her and her mom are amazing at it so they got everything to fit perfectly (like tetris) and now I don’t have to ship anything! And my apartment is looking blank again and I’m excited. It’s funny because of all the stuff I have, I only used about half of it and it’s going to be easy to clean out my section of the apartment. My roommate already checked out early so our bathroom is pre-cleaned and our bedroom is too (which is really nice). So I just have a few things left to pack and then I’ll checked out and on my way home. But I still have to celebrate the new years and we’re going to stop in Vegas for a couple of days! VIVA LAS VEGAS!

Christmas season and such

So on Christmas, I did work. Oh ya, I keep forgetting to tell ya’ll: I’m on transitional. It’s when you get hurt on the job you go see a Disney doctor. They put you on work restrictions and when your original job can’t accommodate them, you do other jobs. You still get your same pay and hours. Some do back of house work, and some do greeter at stores. So I was a greeter at stores, well I organized merchandise and stocked items, pin traded, and interacted with guests more. It was fun and easier on my back. The camera equipment was too much for me after awhile because I had no upper body strength. I’ve worked at the Emporium, Clothiers, Mad Hatter (all on main street), Pieces of Eight/Port Royal (in New Orleans Square) and at Greetings (Californa Adventure). I got to wear different costumes. One time I went out of my way to help a special needs guest (while helping other guests too) and 2 leads recognized me and gave me a “Great Service Fanatic”. I’m not completely sure what it is but it made my day! Some other quick moments: I got to play tag with a 2 year old and got a hug and kiss from her; met a guest who was a button collector and had so many that he put all the pin traders to shame!, there’s a little boy who only trades mystery pins so I call him “Mystery Boy”, and I was the first person a little boy traded pins with and the power went out at New Orleans Square so I spent 6 hours doing nothing (except “testing” the merchandise). So you could say I’ve had more moments in transition, but I did miss working with my old friends and characters.

Anywho, back to Christmas. So I worked at the Emporium that day and I definitely felt the holidays, but not Christmas. I felt like it hasn’t come yet. But my shift went by fast. Katie and I had a steak dinner, watched Elf and exchanged gifts with an amazing dessert to follow. It was short, but I enjoyed just being around friends who are my “Disney family”.

FUN FACTS: the park hit compactly (and hit it the next 3days before noon!) which is 75,000 so Disney California Adventure got super busy too! Throughout those next few days here’s an idea of how busy it was: The line for Alice ride wrapped towards the castle, Matterhorn line had to get parade ropes out, Tower of Terror line went all the way into Hollywood backlot and the fastpass line went into bugs land, Woody and Jessie had to more further down Paradise Pier because the Toy Story midway mania ride went into their area, Minnie and Goofy had to leave Condor Flats area early because the Soarin’ ride over took their area and even started going backstage, Space Mountain had a 120 min wait, 90 min wait for Dumbo, 140 min wait for Indiana Jones, 40 minute wait for Splash Mountain, 130 min wait for Haunted Mansion Holiday. So the best thing to say was: DO NOT GO TO THE PARK AROUND THE HOLIDAY SEASON FOR YOUR SAFTEY AND SANITY! Thank you and have a magical day!

Vacation from Disney

Luckily, I got away from Disney for awhile because my aunt invited me to stay at her place for a few days which was very nice! So after graduation, we shopped at Downtown Disney, had lunch at the Napa Pizzaria, headed over to company D, and then we headed out to Apache Junction Arizona!! It was a long drive home and I didn’t sleep but enjoyed the ride. The next morning we were supposed to go to Mexico but I forgot my passport so I got my homework done and I relaxed all day. Later that night, I remembered that there was BLUE BELL ice cream so when I went out to find some… and I did! The flavor I wanted was only available in a big size so if I bought it, I would have had to finish it by the time I left. And I got to take a picture of an amazing sunset by the way.

The next day, we baked and decorated homemade sugar cookies. It was tons of fun and eating the dough was the best part! Of course we had to test some out too and I had to eat some with my ice cream. Then I took a nap, and when I woke up, my little cousin Cal had built a tent in the basement! It was awesome! Then we had some dinner and I got to sleep in again! (P. S. I got to sleep in everyday this week!) Then for breakfast I FINALLY had me some Mickey Mouse pancakes with peanut butter! Then I hung out wit Cal for a bit and we ate some more ice cream and hung out some more. After my aunt got home from work, Cal and my Uncle went to get a real Christmas tree! Then Cal and my aunt decorated it and we put some random decors around the house as well. Later that night, my uncle informed me that there is a lunar eclipse, but it was during the winter solis? And that only happens not very often! So between 11pm-1 am, we chilled outside and watched it. It was really neat and luckily, we got to see some of it because it was cloudy out (of all nights to be cloudy out?!).Then the next day, Cal and I decided to go to the mall and hang out and catch a movie. We first got some pizza lunch and then went on the double Decker carousel. He rode the white tiger and I rode the elephant. Then we walked around the mall twice and then headed towards the movie theater. Since Cal being the young energetic child he was, I told him to run up and back down this “trail” as fast as he could and I would time him. So he ended up doing this 3 times and then we headed in to watch Despicable Me in 3D! I love the little Minons!! Then my other cousin Tierra finally came home (the next night?) from Vegas and we hung out wit some of her friends which was fun! Turns out one of them knows one of the girls I work with at Disneyland…. “it’s a small world after all”… So the next day my stuff was packed. My aunt and Tierra took me to Jack in the Box and then on to the airport to fly back to Cali. I forgot to mention that my aunt adopted a dog from my other aunt and she ran away about a month ago and we found her the night before I left. She is a sweet dog and she’s a puggle (pug-beagle mix) and her name is Belle. And I finished all of my Blue Bell Ice Cream by the way too. Overall, this mini-vacation was just what I needed before going back and I really enjoyed my time there.

Finally.... Graduation!

So the day we’ve all been waiting for finally came! Graduation from the Disney College Program which took place at the Disneyland hotel Grand Ballroom! The night before my Aunt Susan and Uncle Ron came to witness my graduation, so we met up at Rainforest Café for dinner which was amazing by the way. Then they dropped me off at my place so I could get ready for my big day.

Next Day: I woke up with excitement on my face and I was all ready to go within the hour. I went downstairs to get a ride from Steph and we were on our way. When we arrived we signed in, I met up with my aunt and uncle, and then I went to the back room to get my ears! And after I got them, I began taking tons of pictures with my friends and before I knew it we were lining up for the ceremony. Then, it began. About 300 of us graduated overall. The ceremony started up with a very funny “Disney joke speech” opening with two CP’s (College Program).

Then our program’s office manager did a speech congratulating us on our success and work we did throughout the program. Then he introduced the 2010 Disneyland Ambassador Quinn Dubois who also gave an inspiring speech. Then our instructor Paul Solis congratulated us on our hard work and effort towards our classes.

Finally, another speaker came up and then the calling of the names began and we received our Mouseters Degree with an honor! And then Mickey aka Big Cheese came out and officially congratulated us then we all lined up to get pictures with him too. Overall, I’m excited that we did it but unfortunately, we still have to work through the holidays. Bah Humbug!

A Night of Memories

So right before graduation, the College Program has a dance or a “CP Prom” as most call it where everyone can dress up and dance the night away. Ours was at the Paradise Pier Hotel in their ballroom and it was a blast! More of a workout actually, but I had fun! I went with my friends Bahar and Jessica (we got ready at Jessica’s). I wore my Jack Skellington dress of course. When we got there we took some pictures in front of the college program poster and of course they had the free photo booth!! That was fun! Then we grabbed some food (including Mickey shaped chocolate covered rice krispies) and punch, dropped them off at the table and headed for the dance floor. Well, Jessica brought her Mickey with her haha!

So we danced to all different songs throughout the night (I had to take random breaks because it wore me out for the most part) and I even dance with a few friends and towards the end of the dance, we got a great photopass group photo!