Moving!

So I decided to move this blog to:

http://steamboatlyssie.wordpress.com

Because I want to post pictures here and I haven't been able to yet.  So please add that site to your watch list, since that is where I will now post updates!

Thanks for reading :)

See ya Real Soon!

one more thing...

For some reason, I am having issues putting pictures up here so I am giving you guys the link to my facebook album, which has most of the pictures I have taken!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=20289&id=1275739881http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=20289&id=1275739881

enjoy!

On With The Show

Update!

On Thursday, I had to go get my I-9 in order, and I found out I would be working in Disney's Hollywood Studios.  For those of you who don't know, that's where the Rockin Roller Coaster, Tower of Terror, Lights! Camera! Action! stunt show, and Great Movie Ride are all located.  That only took about an hour, so afterwards, my parents and I went to spend the day at EPCOT.  

We had a blast.  We got there and my dad got a free 5 day park hopper pass (around $400-$500) for FREE for being a part of the military.  My mom also got a nice discount on her ticket.  I was the only one with full price admission because I had not done my Traditions class yet, meaning I wasn't a full cast member.  Ironic, huh?

Anyways we got in and had to get some sunscreen and a hat.  Then we headed over to Innoventions.  There we played this game about household fires and kicked butt--needless to say, we helped bring a victory for our team...  Next we got to try out the Segway!  It was really cool--the thing is so sensitive to any movement, it took a few seconds to get used to the movement of it.  But still, that was really fun to do.  Then my dad and I headed over to Mission to Mars, which mom skipped due to the possibility of motion sickness.  Dad chose the "intense" version of the ride, which I was scared for since I do tend to get pretty sick from rides--and boy, do they hype that up.  The way they were describing it, I thought I would end up on a stretcher or something.  But...it was good.  It made me a little off balance, but I thought the ride was really cool--the launch was probably the best.  You could just feel the immense force as they "launch" you into space!

Next we needed some lunch so we headed to "The Land".  We got lunch at--I forget the name now--but it was really nice.  I had a chicken ceaser, dad had a sangwich, and mom had a few healthy snacks while we all shared some grapes and cheese--yum!  Then we jumped on a random boat ride called "Living with the Land".  It turned out to be really interesting--it was all about the new technology in farming!  They had some cool displays, like one greenhouse had soil-less gardening.  It was neat!

Then we hit the Nemo area.  The ride wasn't whimsical enough for my dad, but I liked it... We did Turtle Talk with Crush too which was SOOOO cool!  I loved it.  The turtle actually interacts through the screen, it was incredible.  I just couldn't get over how great the imagineering on the attraction must have been.  Plus, Crush was pretty funny, we were all laughing.

Next we did the World Showcase, which was cool.  We watched a feature on Canada and France, then got hungry and ate a hamburger in America.  After that, we had to go catch Soarin', so we kind of rushed through the rest of the showcase.  Soarin' was awesome though--it really does feel like you're hang gliding.  They pump smells at you throughout the ride, which makes it so much more real.  After that we looked around in Mouse Gears for a while, which was cool.  Mom and I got matching hoodies with Mickey on them.  We then had to go get some ice cream from Dreyer's, which was delicious, and then watched the firework show "Illuminations."  It was neat--they did kind of a light show with it, I enjoyed it.

So that was Thursday--I had to say goodbye to my parents that night which was sad.  I definitely will miss them!  The next morning I had to be at a bus stop by 6:20 AM for Traditions, my mandatory training class.  After waiting on the bus until 7:05 to leave (ugh!), we made it to Disney University.  The building was so cool inside--there were Disney legends up on the wall and everything.  The class was good too.  We learned about the past, present, and future of the Disney company, so I thought it was fantastic.  We got our official cast name tags there.

After the class, my roommate Shannon and I tried to find Company D, our discount store, but ended up in the Magic Kingdom!  So we decided to try to get in, since now we were full-out cast members.  We got to drive right through the parking booths.  Then we rode in the front of the monorail, which was really cool.  Then, sure enough, we walked right into the park without paying a dime.  So cool!  Anyways.  I got a Happy Birthday pin, since I did turn 19 yesterday :).  All day, cast members were coming up to me to wish me a Happy Birthday.  Shannon and I rode Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, The Scary Adventures of Snow White, the People Mover, and Phillarmagic.  Then we got some ice cream and went to Main Street to get some custom mouse ears.  My ears have a gold base with black ears with a black pirate ship floating across the front.  I was a happy camper.  

That was about it for yesterday/last night.  Today I had a training session called "On With the Show" at 7:30 AM.  We all got an extensive tour of Hollywood Studios, and got to go backstage a little :).  Then we had some computer training for our roles, which I admit was a little dry.  I did find out the attraction I would be working on though.  I'm with the Playhouse Disney show and the Little Mermaid show.  So not exactly a ride, but...still.  The possibility of air conditioning is really nice!  The costumes aren't bad at all--khaki pants and a red polo.  I start my training for that tomorrow morning!

So that's it for now!  Sorry that was really long, I will try not to put so much next time.  I hope you are all doing well, and I miss you all! 

See ya Real Soon!

Check-in

Alright--first day, check.

My parents flew out with me yesterday to Orlando, FL--complete with 4 suitcases in tow for me....I kind of brought a lot.  Anyways, once we got here, we went and found Vista Way (the main apartment complex), just so we knew where to go today.  Then we hit target, took a nap, and went to dinner at Margaritaville in Universal Studios.  It was pretty cool--I love Jimmy Buffett!  Then we walked CityWalk for a little bit, and went back to the hotel to sleep.  

That brings us to this morning.  We woke up for a check-in at about 9:30; I was super nervous.  I filled in a bunch of paperwork about the Disney Look and how I'm not allowed to disclose Disney secrets.  So that was good--then I got my apartment assignment.  I live at Patterson Courts, which is the newest of the housing arrangements.  I have three roommates, named Alexis, Shannon, and Nichole.  Alexis and I share a room.  

So once we got everything moved in, we went for another run to target to get food and essentials.  Then I had to come back for a housing meeting that took about two hours.  They told us we are not allowed to have any decorations at all on the walls except for a bulletin board.  Also, they told us about the great possibility of bug infestation, and the possibility of theft on property.  Then they told us the top ten ways to get fired.  So that was good to know...the presenter told us that about half of us would leave the program before its completion due to termination or to free choice.  With that said, if our apartment occupancy falls below 50%, we have to move rooms.  I'm crossing my fingers that won't happen, since I do have a lot of things to move!

Anyways!  After the meeting, I got on the wrong bus and got a little tour of backstage Epcot--whoops!  I finally ended back at "The Commons" and my parents took me to Downtown Disney for dinner.  We went to the Rainforest Cafe, very very good.  

Aaaaand now I am back in my new room, filling you all in.  I'm not too sure about the roommate situation right now...I will have to give it some time I guess.

I plan to update again tomorrow, with (hopefully) the ride that I will be working on!

Have a goodnight everyone--

See ya real soon!

One More Month...

Well, the final countdown has begun--only about four more weeks, then I am off to Florida.  I am getting pretty excited and nervous!

I had a little bit of trouble stopping out of DU for next quarter, so that was fun, but it's all cleared up now.  

Disney called me about two weeks ago to confirm, so it feels like it's really happening!

I found out that I can't do roommate matching, since it's not available to my particular program.  So hopefully I wind up with someone I will get along with! 

I also found out some interesting things:

-Company D--supposed to be a discount store just for cast members, sells discontinued merchandise and tickets to other theme parks in the area

-Black out days for the Magic Kingdom--July 3 thru August 1.  

-Black out days for other parks--July 3 thru July 5.

-that means I can't get people in for free on those days...

I guess that's it for now--I will update when I get closer to leaving!  Let me know if you have any questions/comments!

first post

I decided to start this blog so that people could keep up with what's going on with me, especially for when I leave for Florida in about three months.  

For those of you who do not already know, I was accepted into the Disney College Program, which lasts from March 25 to August 14.  As of right now, I know that I will be an attractions cast member.  I live in apartments on Disney property and take a couple classes focused on business and leadership while I'm down there.  

So yeah, big changes ahead!  I will keep this updated with any changes or new information that I receive.  Let me know if you have any questions!

On a side note, I got some great presents for Christmas centering around Disney and the parks :)