My Disney & America Bucket List

Since my last post nothing of interest has really happened. I did get my Step-by-Step guide which was quite exciting! It's all about how to fill out/ pay for your CRB check, when to get your visa, when to book flights etc. They also gave us a little check list sheet to print off which was really helpful, but that was really it. So, I thought I would make a bucket list of all the things I want to do when I get out there. Still seems sooooo long away, just another 202 days to go till I fly!

So here goes, my bucket list for the summer of 2013:

1. Fill an Autograph Book

When I thought of creating this bucket list, this was the first thing I thought of. I want to get as many souvenirs as possible and thought this was a brilliant way to start (and doesn't weigh that much!) and I'm quite happy waiting in line with all the other children waiting to get them, I really do not mind haha!

2. Go to Walmart

This is when I think I'll have hit America once I've had my first grocery (see what I did there) trip to Walmart. Now I know they own Asda and so it'll be like walking round Asda, but it's still an exciting, American experience all the same!

3. Tell an American I've Met the Queen

This is just too tempting not to include on my list! And they have to believe me too. Just a little thing to amuse myself but I would absolutely love it if they'd believe me. I think I'll say I've had tea with her, just to add to the cliche :)

4. Visit all the Parks

An absolute given. I've only been to Walt Disney World once when I was 7 and so I cannot wait to go and see all the parks in all their glory! I am so excited to just be able to go to any park on my day off and jump from one to another. I'll get to know them like the back of my hand! (well... Maybe.)

5. Speak to a Guest in Another Language

This year on the ICP they have included a new element. It used to be "Live, Learn and Earn in the USA" and now they have added a cultural exchange element. So, I've decided I want to try and speak to a guest in another language which someone I'm staying/working with has taught me and who knows, I might be able to teach them something interesting too!

6. Buy/ Trade Disney Pins

Now I'd never even heard of Disney Pins until last week, but they sound really cool! And another souvenir I can add to my collection. Apparently you can get Cast Member exclusive pins and are allowed to trade with guests and others, so I'm definitely jumping on this band wagon!

7. Get as Many Pictures with the Characters as Possible

This is exactly like my need to fill an autograph book. I really want loads of pictures (I am really snap happy at the best of times) and I want loads of me, and the friends that I make, with the characters. One thing I do think is strange is that I could know the person in the costume! That is very strange to think, and yes I will queue up with all the other children to get them quite happily. This is another must.

8. Eat Fruitloops

Now I've never eaten Fruitloops, but everyone who has says their brilliant and that I need to try them, I've had a request to bring a box back already haha! So I am quite excited to give them a go. I was also going to include Twinkies on this list but apparently they've gone bankrupt? Let's hope someone takes them over so I can add them to my list too!

9. Go to Mickey's Retreat

Mickey's Retreat is exclusively for Cast Members and their families only and is just a place to kick back and relax on days off and whatnot. So I definitely want to do this as this will be my only chance to go behind the scenes of a Disney Cast Member hang out.

10. Go to an American Diner

Huge urge to do this. Even though the ones here are amazing and delicious, I bet the American ones are 1000x times better, and plus they'll be the real mcoy, an actual diner that is American that sell decent grub. I can't imagine not getting slightly fat on this trip so why not splash out on goooood food! 

11. Be Able to Pull of a Decent American Accent

I want to be convincing! Don't really think I can say more about this, except it's something I really want to be able to do.

12. Go on an Upside Down Rollercoaster

Now I am an absolute wuss. I hate the majority of rides except the Big Dipper because they are all scary and high and big. But I always hate saying I have never been on a rollercoaster that goes upside down and where better to do it than Florida? The thought scares me but this is a bucket list and so why the hell not! 

13. Watch all the Parades

I don't really think I need to explain this much more. The parades are so amazing and magical I don't think I could get bored of them and to be able to say I've seen all of them is just something I really want to do.

14. Be in America on 4th July

This is definitely going to happen (unless I am horrendously home sick or something else negative). I really want to see how the Americans celebrate Independence Day and if they do go all out like everyone says they do. I really want to party with the Americans and celebrate (working or not) and have a great time! Plus it's another cultural experience to gain from going over there.

15. To Graduate from the Disney University

When you finish your programme you graduate from the Disney University. This is a place where you do all your training, get your badge etc. You get a little hat with mouse ears and your name on and it'll be just such a huge achievement to stay there until the very end, and it'll prove I can do things completely on my own in another country and that I will have officially completed the programme! 

So there you have it. This is my bucket list so far, if you can come up with anything that you think I can add, please let me know! I really, really want to do everything on my list. We'll just have to wait the 200 and odd days until I go to see if I actually do them all!

Thanks for reading and have a great day!

The start of my Disney Diary!

Ok, so it’s been 5 days since I found out I am going to be working for Walt Disney World Orlando as an official Cast Member for the summer of 2013! Annoying as it might be to other people I cannot stop talking about it, I talk about all the time, I talk it without even realising and I’m getting the boring ‘Yeahhhh’s already! Noooo! But it’s mainly because I still cannot believe that out of 1700 people that applied that I am one of the 200 and odd people who have been chosen to go. My role in the show is operations and I can’t wait to find out what ride and in what resort I’m going to be in (you don’t find out until you get there, it’s part of the magic). But I’m just sure they love to keep us waiting.

A little bit about the application process:

First off you had to apply through a company called Yummy Jobs, with your CV and cover letter attached saying why you want to work there, how it will benefit your course etc. I applied on 30^th August and eventually found out almost a month later on 28^th September that I had made it to the pre-screen interviews! Talk about making us wait, and yes it gets worse. I was invited to Manchester (they have them in Edinburgh, Liverpool, Manchester and London) on 10^th October which was great because that’s not too far away, but I still had to get up at 5.15 for my train! There we had a presentation by Yummy Jobs which was selling you something you already wanted, and got you really hyped for the interview. My interview was at 11.45 and I was with 9 other applicants and the interviewers Louise and Becky. It sounds horrendously daunting, but it was honestly wasn’t anything to worry about. The majority of questions were open for anyone to answer, which was a bit tricky, but everyone kinda bounced off each other which made it easier.  They did ask individual questions like “What Disney character are you most like” where they asked everyone, and sometimes they directed questions to people who they thought weren’t really having a good chance to speak. In all, it was really light hearted once the nerves had settled. Just be really smiley and you’ll do just fine!

Luckily for us we only then had to wait 2 days until we found out if we had made it through to the final interviews which would be held by the Disney representatives themselves. But those two days took FOREVER and I, like near enough everyone else, spent the whole day refreshing my emails. For it not to come until 6.45! How very rude! However I forgave them when I found out I’d made it through to the FINAL interviews! This time I was travelling to Liverpool on 18^th October, and had yet another 5AM alarm set. So I went and bought a new outfit and made sure I was in accordance to the Disney Look (No weirdly coloured hair, no cleavage etc) and off I went. Here we met our interviewers who were so lovely, it put you straight at ease. They were supposed to deliver an apparently amazing presentation, but the projector wasn’t working so we missed it, boo hoo! But they ran through the same information which was literally the same as the presentation as Yummy Jobs in the pre-screen. It finished at 11.15 and I had to wait till 3.30 for my interview and I was sure I was going to be asleep on the table by then! But eventually it rolled along and off I went for my interview. Like I said before all 3 interviewers seemed lovely, but I really wanted Jim as his area of expertise was attractions and that was my first choice, and after them being an hour late he called my name! It was the best interview I’ve ever had (not for performance but for how it was conducted). And believe me when I said before about the pre-screen being a light hearted, this was literally so relaxed and we had a laugh and he just asked why Disney and then wanted to know specifically about the roles I’d chosen. It was as simple as that.

Ok, so well done if you’re still with me! Disney said Yummy Jobs would contact us by 9^th November (see what I mean about all the waiting?!) and so the Facebook group was going CRAZY! With people getting phone calls and emails to which they kept saying “You will hear from us shortly”, I mean how shortly is shortly?! (I didn’t get any of the two, which worried a lot of people but apparently there was no need.) And just over a week later I knew my fate and that I was going to Disney! I didn’t want to open my email, my heart was racing and there it was in big, bold, red writing CONGRATULATIONS! I was sat watching Emmerdale at the time and really spruced up an uninteresting episode, I was on cloud 9 for about 4 days, and now on today the 5^th day, I think it’s sinking in.

So this brings us up to the present day, and there’s not really a lot to report right now. I’m waiting to get my step-by-step instructions from Yummy Jobs next week to take me all the way to Orlando, even when I write that I get excited! Eeeep!

I will update once I have more information,

Have a great day!