I love working at Disneyland.

I don't necessarily love my specific role at the park, but I love working here.  I love seeing little kids meet their favorite character for the first time.  I love hearing stories from families from the different parts of the world who have saved up for years just to come here for a day.  I love the look on kids' faces when they ask if I know Mickey and I tell them that he's my boss.  I LOVE answering questions and hearing people say to each other as they walk away "wow, the employees are just so nice here!"  

When we clock out every day there's a little Mickey icon that tells us "thanks for helping make the magic!" That's what I love.

Photopass... I love a little less.  Our department is new so it's kind of disorganized.  Photopass just switched from being part of the Merchandise section to being part of Entertainment, so the details are still being ironed out and it makes some things confusing.  It's not bad at all, I just see how much better it could be.  I kind of want to stay here and work my way up to management because I feel like I have so many ideas about things to do to make it better.  But, you know... school.

First day of work!

Well, I've spent the last week doing OJT (on the job training) and today was my first official day at work on my own!  I worked at Big Thunder Mountain today, taking pictures both of people in front of Big Thunder and of Woody and Jessie every half hour.


It was a lot of fun and went pretty fast.  I had tons of equipment problems, but from what people have told me, that's to be expected.  I had to get two new PDAs and a new camera.  That doesn't sound like a big deal but when the people who have your PDAs and cameras are halfway across the park and you have to hike a ways to call them it means you miss a lot of pictures.  We're getting a bunch of new equipment in October so hopefully this won't happen any more after that!  


I've decided I don't like working Big Thunder.  There aren't that many people who want their pictures taken in front of the mountain, and I really hate accosting people and trying to get them to take photopass cards from me.  Everyone thinks I'm trying to sell them something!  


I did run into a few cool people today, though, and had some good conversations.  A little girl, probably four years old, told me she liked the bow headband I was wearing.  Cuuuute!  I ate my lunch with Ariel, Tiana, and Belle.  How awesome is that?


I got my schedule for the week and I'm working at the View on main street twice next week!  I'm excited to wear a cute costume for once.  I looove those blouses to death!  And I get a bow tie!  I can't wait :)


Tomorrow I'm working the main entrance of DCA.  Should be interesting!

traditions

I am now officially a disney cast member!  I have my nametag and Disneyland ID and everything.  I feel so legit!

Today we had Traditions which is basically our official welcome/talk about Disney values/tour the park day.  

While we were touring the park we stopped near main street for a little while.  I'll admit, I paid very little attention to what was being said by our group's leader, but it's because I was watching a little girl (probably six) conducting the main street marching band.  Mickey pulled her up in the middle of everyone and in front of the band, handed her the baton, and had her start moving her hands.  I don't think she really realized that the band was following her and that she was actually conducting the music until she started to speed up her hands faster and faster until the band was playing so quickly you could hardly figure out what the song was.  Once she realized they were actually following her she perked up and you could see the excitement take over her face and she started varying it; faster, slower.  Faster, slower.  She was laughing and having a ton of fun with it.  It was such a fun moment to see, and it was especially cool since it was during traditions!

Well, now that I have my ID I will be heading to the park to go see world of color tomorrow night!  Also some of my roommates and I are going to dinner at my house.  Pot roast, mashed potatoes, green beans, corn on the cob, and angel food cake for dessert!  Ahhh I am so ready for a home-cooked meal!

Move-in and Orientation

If you're planning on doing the college program, you should plan on being very, VERY tired your first few days.  Between moving in, unpacking and meetings there's not a lot of time to relax... I'm so exhausted!

Move-in

Yesterday I got to Carnegie Plaza at 7:15 for my 8:00 check in.  I was 45 minutes early and still pretty far back in line.  And it was a very slow-moving line.  They started to check people in about 15 minutes early but I still didn't get through the line and finished checking in until about 9:30 or 10:00.  

I actually got moved in relatively quickly.  I think I made only two or three trips to the car with my parents and that was it.  I was a little frustrated to see I got a ticket for parking in the 90-minute spaces across the street.  They said check-in would take less than 90 minutes and that it would be okay to park in those spaces... LIES!  I now owe the city of Anaheim $46.  

Here's a quick cell phone snap of our apartment... I love it!

I'm on the bottom of the bunk bed in the room with three people.  It sounds like it would be bad to end up with the three-person room, however we have a pretty big walk-in closet and a much larger bathroom!  

I also found these cute wall decals from Target and we had fun putting them up last night

Orientation

Today at 9AM I had orientation.  We got our ID photos taken (and of course mine is awful) then we sat in the auditorium at TDA (team Disney Anaheim) and watched the Lion King while we waited for everyone to get their photos taken.  Around 10 we started orientation which was the basic boring "welcome to Disney" kind of thing we've heard a few times already.  We did, however, get to pick our scheduling preferences and classes.  I asked for Wednesday/Thursday off and for my class I want Marketing You on Fridays (that way I can go to class in costume.)

I also found out that I have Traditions tomorrow!  This is awesome because you get your employee ID at Traditions and your employee ID allows you to get into the park for free.  Therefore, since I have Traditions on Friday instead of Saturday, Saturday is my day off and I'll already have my ID which means I can go to Disneyland and FINALLY see World of Color!  I'm so mad that I missed it in June because of Grad Night.  Boooo.  I haven't watched any Youtube videos or seen any pictures of it because I want to see it in real life first!  

I got back from orientation around 1pm today and now I'm just sitting bored in our apartment.  It's so nice to get a little relaxation time!

0 Days

My stuff is all packed up in my car and in under two hours I'll be checking in!  I'm SO excited to move in.  I have the earliest check-in time so hopefully I will have my pick of rooms/beds.  I can't wait to meet my roommates (I really hope I like them) and get all of my things unpacked and put away.  

This was just a quickie post because I'm off to breakfast and then to the apartments, so adios!

-Kallie

It's time!

My cousin pointed out to me that I have been remiss in updating my blog.  So thanks, Rachel.  And I'm sorry!  


Well, I'm finally starting the college program on Wednesday.  This is so surreal!  I remember my countdown starting somewhere around 134 days left before disney.  I remember getting excited when it was finally down to double digits, and now it says three.  THREE!  


Everybody I've talked to with August 18 move-in dates (like me) is in town and ready to get started.  I'm hanging out with a couple girls I met on Facebook who are doing the program and staying in housing also.  We're staying at a hotel, going to Universal Studios tomorrow and Knott's on Tuesday.  


They've given us a tentative schedule for our first week.  Mine goes something like this:


Day 1 (wednesday) :  Arrival and Check in.  I'm checking in, moving in, and attending what I'm sure will be a very boring mandatory housing meeting.  


Day 2 (thursday) :  Orientation and a Disneyland Resort Resource Info Fair where we will "have the opportunity to meet and learn about many of the different organizations and resources available to you as a Disneyland Resort Cast Member"


Day 3 or 4 (friday or saturday) :  Traditions.  The first paid day of work, and the day I'll get my training schedule and work information.  




And that's all they've told us so far.  I'm anxious to move in and meet my roommates (hopefully I actually like them... fingers crossed) and to start working.  I'm telling myself that having to use a Nikon every day won't be so bad.  


Okay.  bedtime.  USH tomorrow.  KBF tuesday.  Move-in wednesday.


My life is craaaazyyyyy.


-Kallie

Roommate Notification

Ah!  I can't believe it's almost a month until I start at Disney!

I'm having a crazy summer.  Working at Universal is ridiculously fun, I love the studio tour.  This is the view from the tram loading plaza, and what I get to look at all day:

My summer is so busy!  I'm currently sitting in the Phoenix airport charging my computer on my way to Omaha, NE for some senior photo shoots.  

I haven't had many blog updates because, obviously, my college program hasn't started yet and I haven't had any significant Disney updates to talk about.  However, I recently got my roommate notification email!    Her name is Samantha and she's from Washington state.  I haven't had a chance to talk to her much but I do know she's working at the front desk of one of the resorts.   I think it's cool that everyone in our apartment will have different roles, it'll give us a lot to talk about when we meet each other!   I don't know if Samantha and I will be actual roommates or just apartment-mates, but I'm going to assume roommates since we only heard about each other. 

But anyway... that was my news.  Thrilling, I know!

Well, I'm about to board my flight so I'm out!

adios guys!

new job, and DISNEYLAND in a couple weeks!

I went back for a second interview with Universal Studios and they hired me!  I'm going to be a Studio Tour Ambassador.  YAY I'm so glad I have a job!  It's just for the summer... only for about two months until I start at Disney.  

Speaking of...  My aunt and uncle and cousins planned a trip to DL and they're coming out in a couple of weeks.  I was kind of bummed because they were going to be there the whole time and I didn't think I'd get to see them that much.  

HOWEVER,  the new socal resident ticket deal at DL is not lame, therefore I can go!  The spring deal was this weird "two-fer" deal where you got two days, one park each day, for like $90.  Last summer, you could get a three-day park hopper for $99.  But the new three-day park hopper ticket for this summer is $129.  Not great (up $30 in a year!) but it means I can go to DL with my family.  Woooohoooo!  

It's awesome because I can't stop thinking about Disneyland.  Every time I realize how close it's getting, I get super excited!  It's so weird, because that's totally not the way I am about things, and I'm not Disney obsessed at all like I know some people are, but I just can't wait for the college program to start!

Sooo, Disneyland in 11 and 15 days, and then the college program in 73 days!  

BTW, if anyone is going to be around before August and wants to go to DL with me so I can use the third day of my 3-day pass, let me know!

Universal Studios interview

Since there isn't an advantage program here at Disneyland, I've been trying to find another job for the summer.  But thinking about working at DL in the fall has made it so that every other job I can think of pales in comparison.  Grocery store?  ew.  Movie theater?  nooo.  Another theme park?  Maybe...


so, I had an interview at Universal Studios today.  I know, it's far.  62.6 miles, to be exact.  But still... I want to work somewhere COOL!  And I think being a studio tour guide and getting to ride around the universal backlot all day would be rad.


Therefore... I made the trek up to Hollywood today.  Well, Burbank.  Universal City?  LA.  Whatevvv.

I left late enough that traffic wasn't too bad, which was nice.  I got there with plenty of time to spare before my interview so I went and chilled at Citywalk and walked around for a while.

Then I had the interview which was looooong and I didn't get out of there until like 5:30.  Then of course traffic home was HORRIBLE.  I didn't go over 35 in LA at all.  Once I got down to OC it was a bit better.  But seriously, ick.

Then when I got home the sun was setting and looked really pretty so I took a picture.  :)

So yeah.  That was my day.  Oh and they apparently weren't hiring studio tour guides which is the position I WANTED and they said they'd hire me on the spot to be an admissions attendant, but if I'm going to drive allll the way up there, I want to do something with the tours.  So I'm going back in two weeks.  ohhhhhboy.

ΑΦΩ

ΑΦΩ!

All right, well...

Activation is over.  I'm not a pledge anymore!

Banquet is also over... no more working day and night on our slideshow and/or worrying about our pledge skit.  Last night was crazy... a lot of fun and I saw some things I never thought I'd see!  Ah, endless entertainment with APO.  So glad I joined! :)

Here's the slideshow:

Almost down to double digits in my countdown til Disney.  I can't wait!  

Three days of class until I go home for the weekend.

11 days until summer vacation.  AGHHH I am so ready to be done with school until 2011!  That's so exciting to stay!  I'm sooo over this.  I need a break!

Countdowns!

11 days until initiation!  (May 7)

12 days until banquet!  (May 8)

16 days until classes are done and I get to go home for a long weekend before finals!  (May 12)

23 days until I'm done with finals and get to relax and move out, and

24 days until I'm back home in Orange County for the summer!!

then, of course, 113 days until Disney.  I'm not going back to school in the fall!  I can't tell you how excited I am about that!  I can't wait to start work, even if I do have to use a Nikon.  :)

Formspring!

So, now that I have some actual followers, I thought I'd post my Formspring in case any of you guys want to ask me questions!

Feel free to ask whatever... Disney-related or not!

CREDIT! Wooohooooooo!

So, I've been on a wild goose chase around SDSU to find out if/how I could get credit for the DCP. No, seriously. WILD. GOOSE. CHASE. You don't believe me? This is where I went:

academic advising: didn't know what the DCP is, sent me to my major advisor

major advisor: didn't know anything about the DCP and told me to go back to academic advising (but she did tell me I'm on track to graduate a semester early, so I won't complain)

academic advising (again): told me to call Disney

Disney: told me to go to career services for a list of campus reps

Career services: had no idea what I was talking about

so I did MY OWN RESEARCH online and found Brian Blake who has a really cool accent and is in the HTM department here, and in under one minute he answered all of my questions and assuaged my fears. He's my new hero.

Soooo, I'm getting credit! I'll be able to stay a full time student, and I won't get credit for my major most likely but I wasn't really expecting that anyway.

YAAAAAY! Now I can concentrate on more important things like my spanish test in two hours and staying on top of pledge stuff for APO.

Oh and just because I want to practice posting pictures...

here's how I spent my Easter morning, instead of going to church:

yup.  I learned how to change a flat tire!  

I paid for housing and all my fees!

I'm officially doing the DCP next semester!

I GOT IN!!!!

So I was watching Alias with Megan today and we were halfway through an episode (the Hourglass, in case you were wondering) when I got a "Private number" call. I usually don't answer those, but I know that's mostly how it appears on caller ID when disney calls so I answered anyway. It WAS disney!!!

I figured it was just about me switching from the fall program to the fall advantage program so I didn't freak out or anything, until the lady said "congratulations!" Then I started getting really excited.

OH, and I got PHOTOPASS! YES!!!!!!

coolest thing ever.

I'm going to work for DISNEY! FINALLY!

waiting

Sooo, I'm still waiting to find out if I got into the Disney program.

If I get into the disney program, then I have to figure out wtf I'm going to do next year... I want to be photo editor but if I'm not around first semester next year, I'm not sure if I'll ever be editor because someone else will almost certainly take the job.

So I need to figure this all out once I hear back from DCP. If I don't get in... well, it might make this all easier. But I want to do the program so badly! I don't think I could ever turn it down.

AGH!

Why does this have to be so hard?

The Disney Interview!

OMGAAAAAH.

I just had my interview! That was so nerve wracking! I've had like six job interviews in my life, and I've always gotten the job. I've never been this nervous.

She didn't sound weird after any questions she asked... like weird disappointed, but idk.

Let's see... she asked when/how have I made someone feel special.

I told her about working at camp and how I had a group of seven year olds and I made them all feel special all the time. (that was an awful answer, but it's the only time I can think of that I've ever tried to make kids feel special.) I told her I listen to the kids, smile, spend time with them... all that stuff.

She asked how I've handled emergency situations

I told her about the 5 times we had tornado warnings at camp and having to evacuate all the campers to the dining hall. Yeesh, that was a seriously high pressure emergency situation. I think this was my best answer of anything.

She then asked how I stayed calm in that situation

I told her that I realized that freaking out would be a bad thing and wouldn't help the situation at all. I said I knew that the calmer I was, the better the situation would turn out and it would be safer for everyone.

she asked how I would deal with messy roommates

I told her I live with 7 roommates, and I'm the cleanest of all of them. (sadly very true.) I told her that I usually take initiative in terms of cleaning, and it's not like they mind. I mentioned that we have a bathroom and living room cleaning schedule to get people to pitch in. It seems to work pretty well. She laughed when I mentioned having seven roommates. I think she thought I was nuts :)

She asked me how familiar I was with Disneyland.

this one threw me a little. I said I was interested in guest relations and guest services. She said that for those jobs you're expected to be very knowledgeable about the park. I should have seen this one coming. I feel like I'm pretty knowledgeable, but I didn't want her to like start quizzing me or something and ask me a question I didn't know and have it look like I was lying, so to be safe I just told her I've only been three times in my adult life so I don't know a lot, but I'm fairly knowledgeable and will find it easy to learn more.

She asked if I'm comfortable speaking to large groups of people

I told her I did speech in high school (I hated speech, but I didn't mention that,) and I told her that in my college communications classes I've had to speak to groups of up to 500 people. I don't have a problem speaking at all, so I'm glad I could answer that one easily.

oh, big one- she asked why I want this job

That threw me, because I thought she would ask more specifically why I wanted to work for Disney or why I'd be a good candidate (I mean I literally mapped out those answers last night) but she asked why I wanted it... so I said I've always loved Disney, ever since I was a kid. I told her my friend just started the program and I saw all of her pictures and it looks like she's having so much fun so I started looking into it. I said that every time I go to disneyland, all of the cast members look so happy all the time. I told her that in all of my jobs, I've never been that happy to go to work and I want to be one of those people. I said that working at disneyland AND getting college credit at the same time sounded like an amazing deal.

so... bad answer.

She asked why I wanted the photopass job

I told her I didn't even know it existed until last summer and when I read about it it sounded like the coolest job ever. Walking around disneyland, talking to people at disneyland and taking their photos? That combines like my three favorite things in the entire world. Talking to people, disneyland and photography. So awesome.

She asked about each of the jobs I listed, had me describe in detail what my duties are for each job.

She asked about my cash handling experience.

I didn't get any questions about custodial, so fingers crossed that's not anywhere in my future!

She asked me a LOT of questions about photography. She asked if I've ever used computers for a job before, what my experience with cameras is, what kind of pictures I take for my school paper, how long I've been taking photos, if I have any experience with photoshop, all of that stuff.

So...

While I was googling the Disney college program trying to figure out what some of my interview questions would be, I saw a lot of people blogging about their experiences with the program. They all have such cool stories!

So I figured I'd start a blog... and maybe since I've started a blog of MY disney experiences I'll be more likely to work for Disney... right? Does it work that way?

haha, well... my interview is on Tuesday so I guess we'll see.

The questions I'm most worried about answering are ones about why I want to work for Disney, and what qualities I have that would put me above everyone else who's applying.

It's not that I don't have answers to why I want to work for Disney... I just feel like it's the answer everyone must give. I just really really like Disney... always have, always will. I mean I've watched Disney movies my entire life, listened to radio disney watched the disney channel... and I've wanted to work for Disney my entire life. But doesn't everyone say that?

And then the question about why they should pick me.... yikes. I'm so bad at answering that! I mean, I have all these qualities that other people say I have, but it's so hard to talk about them because this is ME, not somebody else. I don't get to observe me like everyone else does, I AM me!

Hmmmm.... well, wish me luck.

We'll see what happens.... I have four days to freak myself out before this interview.

AHHHHHHHHH

(oh, feel free - meaning please please please please - comment with advice for me!)

-Kallie