Okay so I know this blog post title is from the speech Walt gave when Disneyland opened...but the same idea applies...and I hope you all realize why through this post.
So picking up with Tuesday evening: Brittany, Lauren, and I wound up staying home and heading out to meet our neighbors. Overall, it was a success. Four apartment visits and a time check later (11 pm at this point), we realized, most people in our building did not arrive on Monday like we did nor could they sleep in the next day because they had work...so we took their lead and returned home and went to bed.
Wednesday: Wednesday was a pretty relaxing day. My old London sleeping habit came back (aka I slept in until 10 am). I had a housing meeting at 12, which consisted of housing coordinators explaining the rules of Disney housing, etc. Let's just say...there are a lot of rules.
I was able to get a quick trip to the gym before the rain. It rained for much of the afternoon so Lauren and I wound up watching Good Will Hunting.
That night, Alexis, Allie, and I headed to dinner at Chick-fli-a and then to Downtown Disney for the first official roomie trip to Downtown Disney (Lauren met up with us a later on in the night). We explored Downtown Disney and I complied a ridiculous list of items I want from World of Disney and all the other stores there :) We got sweets and enjoyed the dance/sing along party happening on the main stage area...it was a lot of fun!
Thursday: Allie, Brittany, Katie and Lauren all had traditions on Thursday morning while Alexis and I had the day off. Day off, great, right?! Yes and No. Yes, because we went to Dunkin' Donuts and spent time at the pool. No, because we knew the other four girls would come home all excited about just receiving their official Disney IDs and would want to go into the park - and they did.
After some pool "tanning" and a workout I got a quick work out in at the gym, came home, and made myself dinner. When Alexis and I got home from the pool we found a note under our door saying our apartment would get ALL our carpets replaced on Friday - YAY!
Alexis and I were also able to attend the Woody's Round up Welcome Event where we had food, drinks, a throw down dance party and got to meet WOODY and JESSIE! :)
After the event, Alexis went to dinner with her big from her sorority (shout out to Greek Life) while Brittany, Allie, Katie, and Lauren spent time in Magic Kingdom --- it was Brittany's first time in Magic Kingdom and the girls got great videos and pictures of Britt's reaction to seeing the castle for the first time! :) It was a bit of a quite evening for me with the apartment to myself for a time...but you need those every now and then.
The pool...literally 15 steps from my front door :)
Alexis, Woody, Jessie, and I :)
Friday: I woke up at 5 AM to get ready for my own Traditions. Traditions is an official class that every new Disney employee partakes in (in some form or another) as their formal start with the company (before training). So yes, Friday was my first official day as a Walt Disney World Employee. The whole day was really exciting. Despite an early wake up time and a bus call at 6:45 am, which we waited for in an already muggy, hot Orlando morning, the day went very smoothly! Thankfully, Alexis and I had Traditions together so it was nice to someone to talk to, or lack there of, on the bus ride over to Disney University.
Once at Disney University, we were all split up into groups and sadly Alexis and I were in different ones. Walking through the halls of Disney University is really cool - Disney everywhere! It made me feel quite special. My group went into a classroom that we came to find out was many employees favorite room in the whole building because it was so colorful. After a short presentation on company integrity (very important) we were introduced to our group leaders, Chris and Eunice.
We spent the day learning all about the company and our affiliates, company policy, safety, internal dialogue, and all types of information one might think of when they think of business...and the business of a huge company. It wasn't all entirely business as Chris and Eunice tried to keep it fun with stories, jokes, and sharing their funny/happy work experiences with Disney.
I was named table leader for my table and as a result won a small Donald Duck figurine (these small, small plastic dolls can only be won at Traditions so it's pretty cool to be able to say I have received one).
It was a lot to take in but also surreal for me to realize I was all apart of it.
Part of the day was spent taking a field trip to Magic Kingdom - where I will be working - in fact, I think we passed my work location (I'll know for sure on Monday)! We got to see many, many guests and even experienced a few magical moments.
Once we got back to the classroom, we talked about our experiences in the park when we were interrupted by a visit from our boss - MICKEY MOUSE :) He wished us all luck and sprinkled our name tags with extra pixie dust :)!
After that, a magical moment came when we got our name tags!!!
The last thing we watched was a short video with pictures and clips/quotes from Walt Disney himself. It honestly gave me the chills and I could not be more excited to start working here in WDW! :)
As we left the classroom, other members of the company lined a part of the hall and cheered for us as we left saying "Congratulations" as we walked by!
The girls were waiting for Alexis and I when we got home. Before I knew all six of us were headed to Animal Kingdom! It is quite amazing to be able to park and get into the parks for free...that will never get old. Once in Animal Kingdom we did several rides, before we were caught in an afternoon thunderstorm. When I say caught in it I mean we heard thunder, saw lighting, and huddled in a hut like shopping vendor with other guests, where we bought ponchos, and watched the walk ways turn into small rivers. At some point one of us decided we shouldn't wait any longer and the ladies of 4201 headed into the POURING RAIN. The ponchos kept us mostly dry but we couldn't say the same for our socks and sneaks. I felt bad for the poor souls we saw walking around with no poncho or umbrella...but we knew the storm would end soon AND the felt very refreshing!
All of us after the downpour! Britt and I wore our Phillies shirts in support of Charlie...:(
My favorite part of the day was probably riding Mt. Everest, taking roommate pics with Goofy and Pluto, the Safari, or walking back through the park, seeing Goofy and Pluto, and having literally run after us so they could skip with us down the path - quite the ladies' men haha.
After a great afternoon in the park Brittany, Lauren, Katie, Allie, and I went for dinner at Benihana (Alexis wasn't feeling all that well and went to bed early). The restaurant is hibachi style and we shared a table with a family of four from NJ who were just ending their two week vacation in Disney. We had nice conversations with them through out dinner. The five of us have decided we will be returning to Benihana's in the near future...not only for a happy hour...but to eat dinner cooked by our new favorite cook - Ken. Ken was a riot and he insisted he was born in Japan - in Epcot - though he's never been to Disney and doesn't like Disney all that much. We've established a love/hate relationship - it was too great. We all came home exhausted and went right to bed.
Please note: the carpets never came....:(
Saturday: Today, Britt and Lauren had training so Allie, Katie, Alexis, and I (aka the Brunettes) decided to take on Epcot! The only attraction we missed was Sourin' (too long of a wait). It's also a great feeling to know we have MONTHS to be able to see/get through the parks, so we don't feel as rushed per say as we usually feel on vacation. Alexis and I didn't go on Mission Space but went into the interactive areas and became healthy habit heroes and "went green"! We went around the parade of nations and spending time in the UK was amazing! I will be spending more time there in the future. It was almost a relief going there, in some respects I felt like I was home. I think my room mates could tell I was having a "moment"/I was in heaven. I got fish and chips for lunch. I can't wait to go back for tea. :) Shout out to my London loves :)
Lovin' the UK! :)
:)
Leaving Mexico and the Parade of Nations we headed to The Land...and Test Track !!! Test Track was as amazing as I remember and Katie and I got to design our own awesome car!
We left Epcot and headed for Hollywood Studios (it will always MGM to me)! The four of us wandered around and ate pizza for dinner at PIZZA PLANET....OH COOL! (I know, right?! ;))
Lauren and Brittany met up with us in Hollywood Studios and we all sat and watched Fantasmic. Fantasmic = FANTASTIC and AMAZING! It is seriously better than I remember. Brittany had never seen it and we all loved her reaction to it! It was like being five years old again (for all of us)! Best show in Disney - true magic of Disney all on that stage!
I had a moment sitting watching the show where I realized how fortunate I am to be here and even if I don't have my life figured out beyond the Disney College Program just yet, I know things will work out and great things are in my future!
Now I'm off to bed before one more day off. Training starts Monday!
Hope everyone is enjoying the blog so far.
Keep Dreaming,
Mary-Kate
My side of the room :) I promise it'll become more festive :)
*Please see facebook for all my pictures from Disney :)
"...Here age relives fond memories of the past...and here youth may savor the challenge and promise of the future. Disneyland is dedicated to the ideals, the dreams and the hard facts that have created America...with the hopes that will be a source of joy and inspiration to all the world," Walt Disney.
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