*Crickets Chirping*

Hello? Anybody out there?...

*sileeeeeeennnnnncccccceeee*

Ni Hao!!!
Heeeeeelllllloooooo Everyone!!!!!!

     It's been quite a while since I last posted.  I'm sure you are all wondering what happened to me?  No I didn't die (knock on wood), and no I wasn't abducted by aliens.  It's just such a marvelous experience here, that sometimes there isn't enough time in the day to blog.  Some days it's a stressful day at work, others I'm partying at the park like there's no tomorrow. Most days, I'm so exhausted from work that I just pass out for a few hours.  It's not too healthy to take such long naps, but sometimes it's needed around here.

     For the past two weeks, I've still been a Resort Bus Greeter.  I've experienced some new resorts, as well as some old ones.  I've been lucky to work at the EPCOT resorts like Disney's Boardwalk, and two of Disney's All Star Resorts.  There's hasn't been too many magical moments, or anything to complain about regarding my job in the past couple of weeks.  It's been pretty much the same.  Just chatting with guests, and getting through the day.

      Since I last posted before Valentine's Day, or rather SAD (Singles Awareness Day), let me start there.  The housing team planned a Valentine's Mix and Mingle Event at one of the housing complexes.  I was planning on attending just for fun and of course for the FREE food!.  That day, I got home from work, and decided to take a nap to refresh myself for that night's events.  This is where the journey begins and let's use our visual imaginations.  I walked over to the next housing complex where the event was located and got some of the free food.  I found myself then chatting and mingling with an extremely cute and intelligent girl.  It was like a match made in heaven.  I felt so happy and was having a great time.  It's almost like it was a dream that I could be having this much fun and enjoying it.  Well.... The story that I just told you was a dream.  I woke up, and looked outside.  It was dark, and I thought, WOW! it's time for work.  I checked my phone.  It was 748PM!!!!!! *forehead slap* I basically missed the whole event.  So the story, I just made that up as I was writing, and it wasn't the actual dream I had, but I thought it would add some flair to this story.  Long story short, I slept through most of the event and by the time I woke up, it was too late to go. So... that was my Valentine's Day Story.

Everybody still awake??? 

     I decided to try some new culinary adventures in the past couple of weeks.  First, I treated myself to a petite sirloin steak.  On an extremely cold day, I made some saimin with vienna sausage.  Finally I made Oven Baked Chicken.  It wasn't as good as the one's from high school but it was still good nonetheless.  Sadly on my first attempt at the chicken, I burned my thumb on the cookie sheet.  I had a mitt, but I miss it when I tried to grab the pan and OUCH! burn!. I also made some tomato pasta.  I used store bought sauce, and pasta and pan mixed it with some cheese.  Not to toot my own horn, but I thought all of these meals were very delicious. =)
   
   
     I hope that got your attention.  Living here near Disney World has given me the opportunities to visit various resorts and try some of the food at the restaurants.  My friend Rob told me that he's doing the Resort Food Challenge.  No, don't think this is some sort of Man V. Food Competition.  The basic idea that he had, was to visit all the resorts and eat something that is unique to that resort.  I'm doing an abbreviated version, where my goal is just to eat at each resort.  (Sounds like me huh? Plenty of eating. haha) Of course I'd eat something unique here and there, but that isn't my main point.  In the past couple of weeks I decided to go to Disney's Port Orleans Riverside Resort, and Disney's Polynesian Resort.  On the day I went to Port Orleans, I got what is called the Beef and Blue Sandwich.  It consists of a slice of roast beef, blue cheese and caramelized onions with a side of pasta salad.  When I first got it, boy was it stinky.  The cheese had an odd smell, but I think that's how blue cheese is.  It was actually a decent sandwich.  Nothing I would die for, but it was pretty good.  Just yesterday I went to the Polynesian Resort before my class at the Transportation and Ticket Center.  I had the Pork Nachos.  It consisted of a mixture of fried wontonish chips and potato chips, cheese, pulled kalua pork, and tomato.  It was pretty good, but a little too cheesy for my liking.

 

     Finally let me get to my adventures in the theme parks.  The week, my coworker Rob, Barrett and I went to Winter Summerland Miniature Golf Course.  It was a lot of fun, and I WON!!!  =)  On another day I went to EPCOT and I got a picture with Duffy the Bear.  I felt like a little kid again!.  I've done a lot of the same attractions and rides at the Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney's Hollywood Studios and Disney's Animal Kingdom.  I rode Expedition Everest and I didn't get sick this time.  Rob and I also rode Kali River Rapids in 50 degree weather.  It was amazingly cold and refreshing!.

     On a final note.  I have a funny story, and a personal story.  First, in reference to my last post, I got to ride on a RTS bus.  You might think, what's so special about riding on a bus?  Well the RTS company went out of business many years ago, and Disney has been able to maintain their fleet of these buses and they are still operating on Walt Disney World roads today. =)  I felt like I was riding a part of history.  Secondly, I saw a sign at the Town Hall in the Magic Kingdom advertising a short film.  I saw the wait time was 5 minutes.  Suddenly my body turned to go into the queue and I found myself waiting in line, anticipating a film about the history of Disney.  Waiting waiting waiting.  They were only letting in 5 people at a time.  Maybe it was a small theater?  I kept following the line.  Suddenly around the corner I saw what we had been waiting for.  It wasn't a film or movie... IT WAS MICKEY MOUSE!!!  =D  I felt a little embarrassed telling the lady that I was the only one in my party.  Then I realized that anyone can still be a kid at heart, and that I loved Mickey Mouse, so who cares if I'm 20 years old, and still love my favorite mouse.  Walt Disney said that he hoped that nobody ever forgets that it was all started by a mouse. =)

That's the end of this loooooooonnnnngggg post. 

Thanks for reading!!! 

OH!!!! 

It's time foooooooooorrrrrrrr FUN FACTOID/QUIZ QUESTION!!!

What was the name of Disneyland Paris when it opened in 1992? 

Any answers yet?

Anyone???

We don't have all day... 

C'mon, just take a guess... 

We're not playing Jeopardy.  You won't lose any money for answering wrong. 

Drumrooooolllll please.  *lkflalvnaldvnalkdnlanvlknalvknalvnalndvlandvlknadklvn*

It's name was Euro Disneyland!!!!!!!

Thanks for reading! Have a Magical Day!!!

Finally Settling In.

Hello Everyone!!!

This past week since my worst day ever has been a really positive one.

Last week Wednesday through Saturday, I still had to go to work.  Fortunately there weren't too many guests that were angry or upset, and not many excessive delays.  Nothing really new on the work front.

For fun, I got to go to Disney's Animal Kingdom, EPCOT and the Magic Kingdom.  Since I'm here for a good seven more months or so, my roommate Tom and I started this game at the Magic Kingdom called "Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom".  It's an interactive adventure throughout the lands of Main Street U.S.A, Adventureland, Fantasyland, Frontierland, and Liberty Square.  You get a set of cards and a key, and you must find all the different locations around those lands and fight villains from stealing the crystal of the Magic Kingdom.  It's a lot of fun, and definitely something I wouldn't be able to do on our normal family vacation because it takes a lot of time.  I've been to EPCOT more times during this trip, than I ever have before.  Now that I am older, I take a little more time to watch shows about the countries, and read more facts about the countries.  I've been to China and Japan again this past week for dinner. :).  Finally, I was able to go to Animal Kingdom today with my roommate Tom.  It was a lot of fun!  We rode many rides like Dinosaur, Primeval Whirl, Expedition Everest, and we watched It's Tough to be a Bug.  We also got to see Finding Nemo The Musical.  It was amazing!

I've been so lucky to work and play here at the Walt Disney World Resort.  It's such an awesome feeling to know that I can go to the theme parks every day after work, or just relax at home.  No rush, no hustle, or anything.  I went on rides that I probably would have never gone on during a family vacation like The American Adventure, Hall of Presidents, Country Bear Jamboree, and the Carousel of Progress.  You know, basically the minor attractions that most people skip when they come here.

FUN FACTOID!
The Walt Disney World Transportation System uses three types of buses, RTS, Gillig, and Nova.  Interestingly enough, the City and County of Honolulu also have used those same three bus manufacturers in it's existence.

OTS used the RTS back in the 90's, the Novas are the new buses that look a little like spacecraft (Bus Numbers in the lower 200 range), and the most common bus you see is a Gillig Phantom.


Okay, so that probably wasn't the cool factoid you were all expecting so....

BONUS FACTOID!!!
The Walt Disney World Monorail System operates Mark VI Monorails. 50 mph is the top speed of the monorail, while the top speed is 40 mph when guests are on board.  Also, it anyone in the six cars leans on one of the monorail doors, the monorail automatically stops.  It's happened to on of the trains I was one, so it definitely happens.

Thanks for reading!

Worst day ever...

Hello everyone,

Today was the worst day ever.  Work.  Personal.  Everything.

Before I get to the bad, let me start with the good.  Last night I went to Planet Hollywood to celebrate a birthday for my friend Nene whom we met at the welcome party last week.  It was a lot of fun! We stopped at two of the performing groups at Downtown Disney and danced a little.  I really had a great time.  This led me to the beginning of a terrible day.

I had so much fun last night, I overslept my alarm today.  I woke up at 619am.  You might say 619a? That's not late.  It is considering that I start work at 645a and I had to catch the bus to get to work.  I jumped out of bed (well not really, but it's probably one of the fastest times that I've gotten ready in), and quickly grabbed my costume and brushed my teeth.  I quickly looked at the bus schedule.  It was 627a.  I almost gave up and conceded to take the 651a bus.  I ran from my apartment in Patterson Court to Chatham Square and by sheer luck I made the 631 bus instead.  No more than 20 seconds after I got on, the bus driver shut the doors and drove on.  Phew! I thought that I was having a very lucky day.

I got to work about 25 minutes late because the bus takes a while and I have to catch the cast bus to my location.  I got to my post at Port Orleans Riverside and began the day.  It seemed like a normal and quiet day.  For the first hour or so, buses ran normal, and guests were pleasant.  BOY was I wrong!  More and more guests kept coming out to the stop, but some buses were running extremely late.  Some were late and some were already full by the time it got to our stop.  Sadly we had two buses that had over 60 minutes of wait.  Guests were furious at me.  What could I do? I gave them the most up to date information that I had, and I could do nothing more.  I have no more control than any of them did.  All I could do was call to find out when and where the next bus was.  This one woman and gentleman in particular were very mean and angry.  I understood their anger, but as I said, I gave them all the information that I was receiving from those above me.  I gave them the most updated information, and they just kept getting angry and yelling at me.  I was ready to cry and quit on the spot.  Seriously, I was ready to just break down and stop working.  I was trying my hardest to give the guest what they wanted.  I passed everything I knew about the buses to them, and I hid nothing.  Nothing was helping.

I was ready to quit.  I could not handle the situation. The lady directed some anger at me, and I just snapped!!! Okay, so I didn't hit the lady or anything.  I just couldn't handle it anymore.  I practically yelled back at this woman who had been yelling at me for quite some time.  It's not the Disney way, and I really regret it right now, but at that very moment I could not handle it anymore!  Everything I was trying to do for them, and she kept getting angrier and angrier.  

I tried so hard to please these guests, but for reasons beyond my control, nothing could help them.  After enduring more anger from those same two guests, it's like the heavens opened, and an angel descended.  Another woman, who was also waiting for the same bus (although a little more patiently), calmly comforted me.  She told me that there are people like that in the world, who think that yelling and anger will help the situation.  This lady really helped me to see that not every guest could be angry and rude like this other woman.  It showed me that when I thought nothing else in the world could go right, there is still people in the world who can make it better.  Although it was just a small kind gesture, it really comforted me, that someone would care and see it from the other side.

Finally the bus arrived and the angry group of people left.  I was so stressed.  It was worse because of my morning already, but now it finally began to settle.

To make my day better, I decided to go to the Florida Mall.  It was a very large mall, and I found two nice Ecko collared shirts.  This definitely made my day better.  To cap of this terrible day, I treated myself to my first Starbucks beverage in almost a month.  It was a wonderful end to this terrible day.

Let me end this post on an upbeat and positive tone.

FUN FACTOID!!!
Did you know?  If you were approximately two miles tall, you could actually use the EPCOT ball as a golfball.

Thanks for reading!

Tomorrow will make three weeks?

Hello Everyone!

It's hard to believe that tomorrow will make three weeks that I've been here at Walt Disney World.  Since I last posted, work has been quite the same, but the social activities have been a lot of fun.

Let me start with working as a Resort Bus Greeter.  Don't let my comments before fool you. It's a really fun job!  You get to interact with guests all the time, and sometimes you get into deep conversations about their hometown or where their from.  Sometimes it just starts out talking about the weather back home.  We even chat so much that the bus comes too early (as in we haven't finished our conversation).    Since the last time that I had checked in here, I've worked at a few more resorts.  I've worked at Port Orleans Riverside, Port Orleans French Quarter, and a couple of times at the Caribbean Beach Resort Trinidad South bus stop.  It's a sort of slow period right now, so it gives me some time to work on my approach and smoothness.  Sometimes the job is tough when a guest is a little hostile with you, and sometimes it's really enjoyable when you can give a little princess just a little more touch to their outfit (i.e. little rings).  For those guests who do get upset, what more can I do?  I gave you the most up to date information and approximation that I had.  I can not control the traffic, or control the speed of the bus.  Working here really changes you.  It makes me realize that when I come as a Guest, I shouldn't act like people who get upset, because I now know how the cast member on the other side feels.  We are working as hard as we can to get you where you need to be, and as efficiently as we can.  Please understand if a bus is 5 minutes later than the 15 minutes I told you, or if a bus arrives full.  Chances are, if you want to go to that specific theme park, a third of the guests at your resort might want to as well.

In the fun department everything has been going swell.  By finishing work so early, it gives me the whole afternoon to enjoy.  One day I went to eat at Earl of Sandwich with my coworker Barrett, and then we went bowling as Splitsville, the new bowling alley in Downtown Disney.  Another day I went to Typhoon Lagoon with Barrett and another coworker Rob.  Rob, Barrett and I also went to a Winter Wonderland welcome event at the housing complex.  We met a couple of other coworkers and also met new friends Lea, Erica, Carla and Nene.  Only Carla and Nene are roommates.  Just yesterday, Rob invited me over to his apartment for a Superbowl viewing.  Carla and Nene also came by for a little while.  It was an interesting night. :).  Nene has a big obsession with Beyonce and she absolutely loved the halftime show.

It's been a busy but fun week, and I hope that I will continue to enjoy a lot that Disney has to offer.

Thanks again for reading.

FUN FACTOID.
Winnie the Pooh first started as the animated character on this day in 1966.  He starred in Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree.

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!