Work, Work, Work!

Hi Everyone!

     It's been a few days since I last filled you in how I'm doing.  I'm really sorry about that, but everything is just happening all at once and I'm finally getting settled into the routine.  For this week and next week, I work 6 days a week, and I don't know if that's how it'll be when the full group of bus greeters finally arrive.  It's tough getting up at 430 everyday to go to work, but at least I'm done by 1 pm. :D That's definitely a plus! I'm feeling like an old fart going to bed around 830 or 9 and waking up at 430 the next morning. Haha just kidding all you old guys out there. :)

      In the past three days I got to work at Disney's All Star Movies Resort, Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort and Disney's Polynesian Resort.  Each had it's own perks and faults.  Honestly I enjoyed working at the All Star Resort the most. Although it's a Value Resort, it seemed that more buses arrived there than the other two.  People were a little more patient, happy and kind.  Folks didn't mind waiting for the next bus, and I truly enjoyed chatting with many of them.  Saratoga Springs and the Polynesian are moderate and deluxe resorts so people seem to expect more.  I hate to call them stuck up and snotty, but sometimes that's what I felt like.  I told them all the information that I knew, and when the bus didn't show up at that time (through no fault of my own, I think), I was the one who got their anger.

      Let me go back to my experience at the All Star Movies Resort.  Many people were happy, excited and ready to go.  There were a lot of families as well as a lot of groups going to the various parks.  I truly enjoyed working here that day.  I also got to Princessify (New Word.  It'll be in the dictionary soon) two little girls.  They were already dressed in cute little princess outfits and I gave them a ring to add to their accessories so they could be a true princess.  You wouldn't believe the smiles they had on their faces.   Towards the end of my shift, and older couple pulled up, the gentleman in a scooter and the woman walking alongside.  The woman had a Happily Ever After pin on (we give pin for a lot of different occasions like Anniversaries, Birthdays 1st Visits and other celebrations), so I casually asked her what she was celebrating happily ever after for.  You'll never believe this, but she and her husband were celebrating their 61st Wedding Anniversary.  61 YEARS!  I was so shocked and offered if she wanted a Happy Anniversary pin as well.  Being married for 61 years is a big deal, and I don't mean that sarcastically. ;). That was truly the highlight of my day.

   I'm not trying to say that people at Saratoga Springs and the Polynesian aren't nice, but it just seemed like they were grouchier, or more angry when a bus didn't show up as planned.  I couldn't do much.  I had already called the coordinator and that's the most that I can do. Anyhow, let's just say that I don't prefer to work at the Moderate or Deluxe resorts because I feel like I just don't fit it.  I'm more of the economical crowd.  Patient, and kind. :).

     It's barely even been two weeks yet, and I do miss home a lot.  But now that all of us in the apartment are starting to work and are getting to know each other a lot better, the week has been going by faster.  Our first week here was really slow and uneventful, but this past week has flown by.  It seems like just yesterday we were talking about how we were here for one week, and tomorrow now marks two weeks.  It'll be August before you know it.

    Enjoy the quietness at home, work and everywhere else now, because before you know it, I'll be back and talking A LOT!  It'll be a lot noisier when I return, so enjoy the peace and quiet now! =D


    OH and to end my post I have a fun factoid for you.  On January 26, 2011 (which was two years and two days ago), the Disney Dream set sail on it's maiden voyage.

    Thanks for reading!

Letters from Home?

I received my first letter from home today! Thanks to Jen I have a little bit of home 2 weeks into my program. =) It really made my day. Thanks again Jen!

Last two days of training, Day Off, and my FIRST Day!

Hello Everyone!

It's been a busy four days since I last posted so I'll briefly attempt to fill you in.

     Tuesday was my 3rd day of Resort Bus Greeter Training. We visited the remaining resorts and I got some time in for practice at Disney's All Star Music Resort.  It didn't go so well.  I wasn't as nervous as I was the day before, yet I still felt the knot in my gut.  Luckily for me, Mike my trainer offered me some tips on how to improve and what I could do to ease my fear.  That day we ate at the Cast Cafe at Animal Kingdom again.  I got another massive salad that was well worth my $5.49, but I also grabbed an egg roll and a water.  The day ended without too much more excitement.
   
     Wednesday was my final day of training.  Final day of training meant... Knowledge Assessment and Performance Assessment. >.<  Before I began the Knowledge Assessment, my new trainer for the day, Steve, assured me that it wasn't pass/fail, but rather a learning tool.  I'm glad to say that I only got 8 wrong out of 31, but many of those that were wrong were very tricky.  Finally the time came to get out in the field and perform all the skill that Mike had instilled in me.  As we rode the bus to Disney's All Star Sports Resort, I could feel my heart beating. THUMP  THUMP  THUMP... Well that's the closest I can do to a heartbeat, but you get the picture.  The beginning of my assessment went well.  I was able to check for buses in a timely fashion and ensured that guests were not too delayed.
      It was about halfway through the assessment and these two cute Japanese girls passed.  I mean CUTE. My trainer then called me over and told me, "Hey, you see those Asian girls that passed.  One of them checked you out man."  I laughed and politely disagreed, but I think he only told me that to encourage me to relax.  In perhaps a stroke of luck, they came towards me and motioned like they wanted to ask a question. I wondered what for excitedly... Were they really checking me out???

     NAH! Just kidding.  I never thought that.  They wanted to ask about the different theme parks and the different shopping areas at Walt Disney World.  For the rest of the day, he kept telling me that they did check me out, and I constantly laughed and laughed.  When we got back, I got a certificate that certified that I had the skill necessary to work as a Resort Bus Greeter.
     That night, 4 of us from our room headed to Downtown Disney to have dinner at Planet Hollywood.  I ordered Penne Pasta with Broccoli and Chicken.  It was alright, and not really worth the price.  We all agreed that we probably won't be visiting again in the near future.

     Yesterday was my first day off.  I was so glad that I could sleep in till 930 (I'm used to waking up at 430 to go to work).  My roommate Doug and I decided to hit the parks.  We first went to Magic Kingdom and rode Buzz Lightyear's Space Adventure, Monster's Inc. Laugh Floor, Space Mountain, and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.  I got this amazingly large Cinnamon Roll from the new Gaston's Tavern in Fantasyland.  From there we went to EPCOT.  We grabbed a FastPass for Test Track and proceeded to travel the world.  We rode the two different rides in Mexico (A Musical Adventure), and Norway (Education about Norway).  We stopped for an extremely LATE lunch in China.  I had a Beef Noodle Soup, and Doug grabbed some Orange Chicken and Rice.  We joked about how we might see our roommate Tom working in EPCOT.  Once we left China, coincidentally we ran into our roommate working. It was quite funny.  We finished out by traveling to Germany then to Italy.  We ended at America and watched The American Adventure.  Finally we returned to TestTrack and rode it then departed for home.

    Now to today.  It was my first day on the job.  I was out there as a greeter by myself for the first time.  I got stationed at Animal Kingdom Lodge.  The shift started out pretty slow.  Buses came at normal intervals, not too many guests.  Starting at about 830, the buses got a little slower and more and more guests started to show up at the bus stop expecting a bus right there.  There were about four guests or so so were a little agitated that the buses were not arriving as they wished.  I politely informed them of the status, but I was panicking myself because the buses weren't there yet.  I told them ten minutes and sometimes it was fifteen before the bus arrived.  I was stressed out! Finally 1030 came and I could take a break.  It was a welcome relief.  On the bus ride back to EPCOT (where I'm stationed), I chatted with the bus driver.  Driving the bus was a retirement job for him, and he only drove the bus seasonally.  He mentioned how he had come to Hawaii in August and he recommended to try the Aulani Breakfast/Lunch (YES that's a subtle hint for all of you to go and eat at Aulani and support this wonderful company that I work for :) ). The day ended without too much more fanfare and that's where we end today. =)

I'm going to try and end every post with a fun fact from now on.  Hopefully I can continue this.

Did you know? Walt Disney World Resort buses travel more than 21.5 million miles every year.




Thanks for reading!

Day 2.

       Today was my second day of actual Resort Bus Greeter Training.  Before I begin, let me explain to you how I started my day.  The first bus to EPCOT (where I meet to be deployed), is supposed to leave my housing area at 540a. We are supposed to be there 15 minutes before the bus departs just to be safe. I arrived happily at 530a (yes, 5 minutes late... but what bus driver would leave 10 minutes early?) I stood and waited and waited and waited.  540a came and passed.  The next bad sign was when my roommate Doug arrived for his bus at 550a. In fact, he got on his bus before my bus even arrived.  Finally an EPCOT bus arrived at 600a, which was actually scheduled for 600a. I hopped on the bus with other ECPOT cast members and greeters.  I was supposed to start work at 630a.  The bus did not get there in time.  As soon as it stopped, I hopped off and rushed to the time clock area to check in then rush across to where I needed to be for work.  Luckily all the other greeters were also late, so my 9 minute late check in was removed and it was approved for being late.
           After this whirlwind of a morning, training was as exciting as it was yesterday.  Today we got to visit Disney's Boardwalk Resort, Disney's Yacht Club, Disney's Beach Club, The Swan, The Dolphin, Disney's Coronado Springs Resort, Disney's Pop Century Resort, the NEW Disney's Art of Animation Resort, Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge and the All Star Resorts.  It's really amazing to be a transportation cast member.  My trainer Mike explained to me how greeters aren't like any other cast member who works at a specific hotel or at a theme park.  Instead of the same thing or same area everyday, greeters can work at various resorts throughout the week.  Plus we get to interact with people all the time, sometimes for a while and not just for a minute or two like you might in a theme park.
        Soon it was time for some practice on what I learned about being a greeter yesterday and today.  Mike took me to bus greet at the All Star Sports resort.  THERE WERE SO MANY PEOPLE! I had to ensure that everyone was safe and behind the lines for smooth and safe bus transportation to the theme parks.  Luckily no one was grouchy about stepping back or waiting for a bus.  I was so nervous, and I'll get to do more practice tomorrow.
        For lunch today at one of the cafeterias, I ate an extremely large salad.  It was originally weighed, but since I put it on the styrofoam plate and not a container, it was a max out weight.  It was awfully nice of the woman who suggested that idea to me.  I could load my plate with as much salad that I could fit for a nice low price of $5.49.  What a deal!
         Thanks for reading! =D Until next time... o o
                                                                      O      <--- Fail attempt at a Mickey. =(

Magical Moment?

        Today was my first day of training to be a Walt Disney World Resort Greeter!  I got to go to five different resorts today and visit.  We first went to Fort Wilderness Campground, then we proceeded to the Wilderness Lodge.  Next we visited the Polynesian Resort.  We stopped for a short lunch in the break room at the Polynesian. We hopped on the monorail to proceed to the Grand Floridian Resort.  It was such a beautiful resort.  Finally we took the monorail back to the Contemporary Resort.
        I don't know if this was a magical moment or not, but to me it was.  It was only my first day and I was able to interact with a guest!  My trainer Mike and I met a woman, her mother and her son at Fort Wilderness.  Mike started to have a conversation with the two older woman and I decided to bend down and talk with the little boy.  Sadly I didn't get his name.  I told him that I was from Hawaii, and asked him what he was going to do today, or what he wanted to do.  He wanted to finish an attraction at the Magic Kingdom and get some Dole Whip.  I explained to him how if he comes to Hawaii he could still enjoy that very same Dole Whip.  Soon it was time to leave and we said our goodbyes.  Before he left, the little boy came up to me and GAVE ME A HUG! This might not seem like a big deal to most, because I'm just a normal cast member, not a friend of a character or anything. But to me, it was the greatest moment so far.  I was able to have a short 5 minute conversation with the little boy and he gave me a hug, on my first day!  If this wasn't a magical moment, then I'm excited to actually see what a magical moment is.
       Thank you again for taking the time to read my blog. =) I'm trying to update at least once a week, and hopefully that will continue. =D Thanks again!

Day 3 =)

Hello! It's day 3 of my Disney College Program.  I arrived on Tuesday, went through the whirlwind day of check in and made it to today.   Yesterday we had an extremely interesting Housing welcome session and today we have the day off today.  It's strange to live on my own (well with roommates of course), but I never realized the actual cost of groceries to keep you going for more than a couple of days.  Luckily one of my roommate's girlfriend had a Costco card so we were able to shop in bulk for our grocery items.  Tomorrow I have Traditions class at 8 am.  The bus actually leaves housing at 645 am!!!  Saturday is the day I am waiting for.  My first day of Transportation training! That's all for now. =) Again, thanks for reading.

Hello from Patterson Court in Orlando!

As I am writing, I am currently sitting in my apartment in Patterson Court for the Disney College Program Interns.  It's a nice and spacious 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom apartment.  Each bedroom has it's own bathroom, and there are two people per room.  Not too bad huh? Today was a long and tiring day.  I flew in at 530 this morning, got to the housing to stand in line at 630.  630 AM!!!!! The line snaked as you would expect a Disney line to, but we got through it in about 2 hours.  =)

The Day is Here!!!

Today is the day! Very excited and nervous at the same time. Hopefully I can continue blogging when I get there. =) Thanks for reading.

ONE WEEK!

Hello there... Let me just say... ONE MORE WEEK!!! Soooooo excited and scared at the same time.  Here's to hopefully continuing blogging when I get there, although from what I hear, they work you like a horse. That's it for now. =)

The day is coming!

In just two short weeks I'll be at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida! It's hard to imagine that just last month I couldn't wait for the day to arrive, and soon it will be here.  It hasn't hit me yet that I won't be here in Hawaii, but this will truly be an adventure of a lifetime and I'm definitely looking forward to it.  I hope to continue posting, and also continue once I'm there.  As my email said, See Ya Real Soon!. :D