What Disney Means Now

     As most people know or can tell by now, the DCP was life changing for me. I met the best people in the world while I was there, formed a connection to the entirety of Walt Disney World that cannot be matched, had the experience of a lifetime and the word Disney is more than just a company to me now. That word and that place symbolize a time in my life that is invaluable to me and continues to have a positive impact on my life months after I have left. I have had the pleasure of maintaining friendships from my DCP that are likely to last a lifetime, and I have even begun to form new friendships with people I have met outside of Disney because we have a love for Disney in common. Wearing the Disney clothes I wear and representing it where I go is just a part of who I am now, I wear it all loud and proud.
     Chances are if you are anything like me and are going into the DCP being a big Disney fan to begin with, you will probably come out the same way. Your roommates and fellow workplace CPs will be the best friends on planet Earth, you will share moments during your DCP that will be unforgettable and you are going to miss those people and Disney World every single day. But the first time you all get the chance to go back once your DCP has ended, it will feel like you never left, it will feel just like home. And that is what Disney World will become after your DCP, your second home. You'll be so familiar with the entire property that you could navigate it with your eyes closed. So prepare yourself for that, the symbolic meaning it will have, the sentimental value it will have and all the feels seeing the Disney World logo or commercial will bring to your heart.
     I never expected the emotional connection I have with Walt Disney World to come from my DCP. The months leading up to it all I could think about was the fun I was going to have getting into the parks whenever I pleased and doing it with new people from all over the world. Thankfully that is exactly what happened and 4 months went by in the blink of an eye and I had the time of my life, nearly every moment I was on that property. Now, every time I see anything Disney when I go about my life I realize the sentiment, the joy, the happiness it brings me...whilst at the same time I am overcome with the bittersweet feeling that I left as I recollect my DCP.
      That being said, when you are there, live in the moment and make the most of your program. Don't overthink it or stress, just get out there and do it each and everyday and know...that when your time is up you will look back and realize the connection you have to Walt Disney World is unique and yours, and no one can take that away from you.
 

No DCP Bucket List

And I stand by it...
     I couldn't tell you where I read it or when I read it, but when I saw someone write on their blog that they chose not to make DCP bucket list because they did not want to set expectations for their program, I thought they were genius. Because they were right, setting that list of expectations can set yourself up for a let down, and I did not want that. Sure I had my own expectations of going to the parks and a few things I REALLY wanted to do, but I never made it into a tangible list. They merely remained thoughts in my head to motivate me to get them done, because after doing the program, I can tell you flat out, unless you stay afterwards and are there for years after, you cannot do it all. It is unfortunate and disappointing, but it is the truth. There are so many places I never got to go, never got to eat it and a few rides I never ended up doing and I felt like I was there for a lifetime. But I was okay with it, I still did more than I could have imagined.
     There are going to be times where plans are out of your control and unpredictable. If you're relying on someone to do something with and they back out or get called into work, its not all clear cut. So be prepared for that unpredictability and embrace it. Some days your going to be the only one off from work and want to do the parks, so you just gotta go ride Space Mountain by yourself because you want to. Next thing you know, someone is off work and can meet you at the park and you spend the rest of your night there together. Just let it all happen to you, make the plans where you can but everything is going to figure itself out and some of the best things that will happen during your program are going to be things you never could've dreamed would happen to you or planned for.
     I am grateful I was able to knock off the 3 biggest things I wanted to do while I was at Disney, I ate at California Grill, I went on the Wild Africa Trek, and became a Galactic Hero on Buzz Lightyear. I planned way in ahead for California Grill and that was hands down the one "if I don't do this I might cry" thing I had for my DCP. Most others I could have lived without and been okay, but I planned ahead and got to eat there and it was incredible. And in my opinion, I think that is how your DCP should be approached. Making a long bucket list of things to do and knock off can definitely be a fun challenge, but trying to bust through all of it is not easy. We're all going to miss out on some things, there is just too much to do in that small period of time, and setting your expectations too high can be daunting. Just going with the flow, letting everything happen as it did made me as happy as I could have been.
   

What I Learned from Blogging

1. It isn't easy
     In reality, I "didn't have time" to keep up with the schedule of posting I initially planned. I had the time, but rather than sit down and take the time to write posts, I much preferred spending my time out at the parks or socializing with my roommates when I was in my apartment. If I wasn't doing one of those two things I was working and there was no way I'd be able to write a post while I was there.
     Looking back, I could have hand written them if I had a dispatch shift at work, but that thought never crossed my mind while I was there. Or I could have been writing the posts in my phone while I was waiting in line at the parks, but rather than have my face deeply rooted in my phone, I was much happier socializing with the people I was at the parks with. It also crossed my mind as I was writing all the posts after the fact, if I ended up writing every single week of my program like I had initially planned, a lot of it would have become redundant. Most weeks were fairly repetitive, between work and going to the parks, I did the same thing every week. All that was changing was which park I would be going to or who I would be going with.
     Therefore, I kept up with posting weekly for about the first few weeks when everything exciting and new was happening. Casting, Traditions, Training, getting the Main Gate, all of those early milestones. But once everything started to become much more regular, writing seemed less exciting. After I left though and was looking back at everything I did and could think to tell people about, I had a lot more ideas. So I thought of all the major events that took place, and any topics or tips I could potentially give an incoming CP and created my ideas for my posts through that. It was a blessing in disguise because as I kept thinking back and brainstorming post ideas, it also solidified the memories I made while I was in Disney...which brings me to my next lesson learned.

2. You'll make the memories truly last forever
     It is impossible to remember everything from every single day, but I gotta say I remember A LOT from my DCP and I credit a majority of it to this blog. When I had to think back and put it all into words, I remembered everything from those days I wrote about and some of those major moments from my DCP. And then I went back and selected pictures for each post which made me remember even more. At times it made me sad looking and thinking back at everything but at the same time I was also very happy to have such vivid memories of my DCP to come back to. If you choose to make a blog, do it for yourself and remember this, because even if no one read what I have written, I have it to always look back on and remember some of the best moments of my life.

3. Take a lot of pictures
     Going into my DCP I told myself I would not get overly obsessed with taking pictures of everything at every moment I was at the parks and I didn't. Which on the one hand I am grateful I didn't because I truly did enjoy my time in the parks more because I wasn't constantly whipping out my phone. But on the other hand, when I was putting this blog together, there were certainly moments in time I wish I did take more pictures, it ultimately would have given me more options to work with when choosing them for my posts. All that being said, take a lot of pictures, but never overly obsess about it. I am and was a firm believer in enjoying the moment and keeping my phone in my pocket allowed me to do so.

4. Do it for you
     And keep that as your driving factor when writing. Don't do it for notoriety, don't do it because so many other people do it, do it because you want to and enjoy it. I was inspired by all the other blogs I read when I was coming up on my DCP and wanted to be able to share my experience as well as answer as many questions as possible that I had before my DCP. For the most part I found that I was successful in achieving the goals I had hoped to achieve and then some. As I was writing, I began realizing how much I enjoyed it, how passionate I was about the positive experience and impact the DCP has, how much I wanted to share my experience and how inspired I was to keep writing. So here I find myself continuing to write and enjoying every second of it.

5. Don't be ashamed
     I kept my blog "hidden" for over a year and slightly regret that I did. My entire program not a single person I met or worked with had any idea I had this blog and I never said I had it. Not even my family knew about it and for months afterwards I was still reluctant to publicly say I had this blog and share it with my friends and family. In retrospect, no harm would have come from sharing it but I still never did mainly because I did not want to sound like a self promoter prancing around telling everyone I have a blog.
     But once I did eventually show it on social media, everyone was very supportive and excited for me, which was very reassuring. It is also something I am very proud that I was able to create so all the positive feedback I received felt very good.

3 Favorite Attractions: Magic Kingdom

Mickey's Philharmagic
     I met a lot people during my CP and came to the conclusion most people either love Philharmagic or could careless for it. Personally, I could watch this one over and over and over and never get sick of it. Growing up when I did, this attraction takes me through all the movies that I grew up with and their greatest songs. The soundtracks to those movies are what I love most about them and this attraction puts them all into one place and does it in a whimsical, seamless manner. And Donald's sassyness throughout the film adds some good laughs into it as well. I saw this one so many times I memorized the sequences in each film it went through, where the lyrics started and ended, everything. I love this attraction!
     Two more reasons I love this attraction, air conditioning and no wait time....ever....like seriously ever. The only waiting you will ever have to do is for the show in front of you to end so you can enter the theater. I have only seen Philharmagic's wait time go above 10 minutes during the peak holiday seasons, around Thanksgiving and Christmas. I almost always guaranteed myself a visit to Philharmagic if I was at MK for an extended period of time. And of course the air conditioning, the reason a lot of people end up at Philharmagic. It is a beautiful luxury of the indoor attractions and movies, feeling that cool burst of air across your face as you step into the queue. It is tough to beat that feeling on a hot Florida day.
     Last but not least, this attraction is all inclusive and no one will need to be left out. I went to the parks with a variety of different people who were against some attractions and refused to experience them, and it isn't a great feeling leaving them to wait on the side while you go and enjoy it. Thankfully this is never a problem with Philharmagic, it is nothing more than a 3D musical movie that guests of all ages can enjoy. I will be seriously disappointed if/when this attraction is replaced, I love it too much.

Splash Mountain
     Going much more mainstream with this selection but this has been one of my favorite attractions ever since the first time I rode it as a kid. Something about the theme and music this attraction has that never fails to bring a smile to my face and have me bouncing along to the rhythm of "Zip-A-Dee-Do-Dah." I rode it so many times that when my family came and visited and we went on it, I was singing along like a child and they all just looked at me like I was crazy, and I loved it. Hearing the music in the queue and on the ride itself manages to make me forget any worries or distractions I had going on and just makes me happy. There were times before my CP, where I'd be doing homework or studying and I'd listen to the music from Splash Mountain's queue I love it that much.
     Being the thrill seeker I am there is of course the ever looming drop gives Splash Mountain its name that I will always enjoy. Along with this drop comes the opportunity to create an ever memorable Photopass photo, an opportunity I will always seize. As is evident with the many Photopass photos I have saved from my Memory Maker stints. With this drop comes some pretty great views as well. As you progress through the attraction you continue higher and higher up the mountain and get progressively better views of the Magic Kingdom. One of my best memories of this attraction was when I was about to crest the top of the mountain and plunge into the Briar Patch and our log was stopped. I managed to snap a pretty outstanding photo from the top of Splash Mountain at sunset with Cinderella Castle and Space Mountain in the distance, truly unforgettable.
     Another great memory I have from this ride that compounds why I love it so much, was seeing Wishes while riding. It happened completely by coincidence and was quite the treat when it happened. It did not click for myself or my roommate that we were getting on right around when Wishes was starting and if you ever have this opportunity, embrace it. We ended up at the the big drop about a third of the way through Wishes and as we were pulling into the unloading station, through the opening above us we were able to see the grand finale, clear as day.

The PeopleMover
     Those who are not die hard Disney fans may find this selection questionable as it is such a simple attraction, but most Disney nerds that I met and explored with loved The Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover just as much as I do. This attraction is incredibly basic, taking you on an elevated ride through Tomorrowland in and out of different attractions, but it can also be a beautiful escape from the chaos. As you board and then zoom off on the track, you get to look down at all the people exploring Tomorrowland as you can sit back and relax. You're taken all throughout Tomorrowland inside of Space Mountain, Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin and Mickey's Startraders and get some neat birds eye views into each.
     As is the case with Philharmagic, this is another attraction that will never have a wait unless it is a peak season. You will always walk on and if it is really slow, you can ask to just stay on and ride again. Included in this attraction as well is some cool history, when your inside the buildings of Tomorrowland you'll be taken past the original plan for EPCOT as Walt intially imagined it, which is much different from the EPCOT we have today.
     Overall this is a great attraction to just allow yourself a chance to sit back and relax. It may not be an air conditioned theater, but it is shaded and you get a nice breeze as the trains zip along above all of Tomorrowland. It may be underappreciated by most passersby, but the Disney veteran knows the value this attraction has and loves it for its simplicity.

   

3 Favorite Attractions: Hollywood Studios

Tower of Terror
     It's a classic, it is the new icon for Hollywood Studios, it had better not get turned into a Guardians of the Galaxy ride or I might cry. My DCP was my first opportunity to experience Tower of Terror and like most things, I will never forget my first time. Thankfully I have reached an age where the creepy theme and darkness that comes with the attraction does not effect me as badly as it used to, but its the feeling of falling that will always get me, and that it what ToT is all about. I was anxious and nervous the first time I rode, genuinely hating the feeling of free fall and knowing that each ride is random did not sit too well at first. But it was exhilarating, thrilling and always had me coming back for more. It is unfortunate that with the state Hollywood Studios is in now and was in while I was there, it made/makes the wait times for Tower super long during the day. Therefore I felt like 90% of my rides came early in the morning or toward park close, but I was okay with that. It seemed like if we were there toward park close, we could usually get two rides in back to back because you could walk on. But during the day, you better have a Fastpass.
     But this is another one of those rides that was graced by having a Photopass opportunity that you can bet I took advantage of every single ride. And after knowing the full ride sequence up to the free fall drop all the anxiety and nervousness was gone and this was the most fun attraction to go on. I loved messing around during that lead up sequence, and knowing the drop was random every single time kept me coming back for more.
     Some of my fondest memories happened on Tower of Terror as well, adding to the sentimental meaning this ride has for me. It was one of the rides myself and some of my Port Fam got to go on after we did our backstage tour of Great Movie Ride and took one the best Photopass photos from my DCP. Next was when I got to ride it with my family when they all visited for Thanksgiving and we just had way too much fun. I was a bit mean to everyone in our ride vehicle when the doors close into darkness the first time, I was that guy who screamed and got EVERYONE to jump and scream which, for me, was hilarious. And we of course managed to take some great Photopass photos as well since we rode twice. Overall, I have and always will love this ride, I have too many great memories to share that I will have forever.

Rock N Roller Coaster

     The reason I like Coaster so much strays away from sentimental value, great theme or being a classic Disney ride....I just really like roller coasters. Plain and simple. My DCP was my first opportunity to experience this attraction as well and I was pretty hyped about it. In terms of other coasters I have done in the past, I was not very nervous about what it had to offer, I just wanted to finally experience it first hand, and I could not have been more excited when I got the chance.
     It is unfortunate that when I had my first opportunity to ride I did not have Memory Maker because my first Photopass photo from Coaster was priceless. I could not have looked more excited, screamed any louder, had my eyes more wide open than I did when I first experienced that launch. I loved every second of it and throughout my entire program wished the wait times for this ride were never as long as they always were. It was rare this ride dropped under 45 minutes, it was usually up in the 60 to 90 minute range so I usually steered clear. But the rare times it had a reasonable wait time or I planned a Fastpass, I was pumped. The launch at the start gets your adrenaline flowing and then the whole experience after that is a ton of fun.

The Great Movie Ride
     Now GMR has some of the most sentimental meaning to me that any ride at Disney has. Which is funny when I think about how little I thought about this ride leading up to my DCP having never rode it. After my DCP though, this ride is one that I have fond memories of because I had the chance to do a backstage tour of it, and once you do a backstage tour of an attraction you realize all the detail that are put into all of these attractions that no one would ever notice. The one I remember most is in the scene from the movie Alien, there are monitors on the left side of the track with text on them, all of the names on the screens were Imagineers who worked on the ride, its was crazy.
     And doing that backstage tour is what gives GMR so much value to me. It was at a time where all of us at Port were becoming a lot closer, it was something special we got to experience together outside of work and that is something no one can take away from us. So whenever I get to take a ride on GMR I always think about all the interesting facts and details I learned about during my backstage tour, and everyone I got to learn those things with.

3 Favorite Attractions: Animal Kingdom

Festival of the Lion King
     As a 90s kid, this show is the greatest attraction that has ever been thought up for any Disney park. I saw this show for the first time when I went to Disney in 2012 and ever since that day I have had an unparalleled love for it. When I was down in Disney for my CP I saw this show almost every single time I went to Animal Kingdom, essentially made it a point to make sure I was able to see it. I knew the schedule of the show, every hour starting at 10AM so I always made sure to work around it and ensure I could make my way to theater to see it. The only times I usually did not was if I got in line too late and the theater filled up.
     The show is just out of this world incredible, from start to finsih I love every second of it and could watch it over and over again and never get sick of it. When the show opens and they call in all the animals, everytime I saw it I got chills as soon as the music started and for the rest of the show I would just sit there with a smile on my face. From the tumble monkeys performance with Timon to  "I Just Can't Wait to be King," (my favorite song from The Lion King) the show is an absolute joy to watch. My personal favorite part is when the cast sings "Can You Feel the Love Tonight," and it brings me chills each time I see, it is truly breathtaking.
     And this was another attraction where I could find myself at peace no matter what was going on outside of it. For the duration of the show I could sit back and enjoy and be transported outside of the real world and into The Lion King.

Dinosaur
     This attraction was another love it or hate it with most people I met while I was in Disney and I of course loved it. I was not quite as passionate about it as I am with Festival of the Lion King but I really enjoy the entire immersion of the ride. When I think about why I truly love it, it comes down to the same reason I love Disney, it transports me to a completely different world that you can only experience there. And as a kid, my brother and I loved dinosaurs so of course that just adds to the reasons I enjoy Dinosaur so much.
     When I rode this for the first time, all I remember is darkness...because after the first encounter with the Carnatouraus, my head was between my knees and my hands covering my ears. The Photopass picture from that ride was pretty comical, my cousin, my brother and I all in the same position while my grandpa was just chillin' at the end of our row. But thankfully I have grown up from that age of fear and come to enjoy the herky jerky motions of the time rover and all the loud noises from the Dinosaurs. Sure, the pre ride movie is about as cheesey as it gets, but once you exit and descend into the Dino-Labs to board the time rovers, it becomes pretty immersive. This attraction has one of the most recognizable smells as well, and I can remember it wherever I go.
     Overall I think this is a fairly underrated attraction. I think it is more immersive than people think, maybe not completely throughout from queue to ride, but once you exit the preshow I think it does a very good job transporting you to a different place. No matter what I will always love this ride, it is a great experience from start to finish,

Kilimanjaro Safari
     I think this attraction is basically the poster child for Animal Kingdom. Obviously the Tree of Life is the icon the park stand by, but no one who thinks Animal Kingdom is thinking It's Tough to be a Bug. No, when Animal Kingdom first opens, most people flock over to Africa to get on Kilimanjaro Safari and I am shamelessly one of those people. Many a morning before work I could be found at Animal Kingdom going on the safari and then seeing Festival of the Lion King and being completely satisfied at Animal Kingdom.
     First of all, this attraction takes the cake for one of a kind, most unique you will find anywhere. Going to a zoo is one thing, but driving through an open, faux Serengeti and have a gaggle of giraffes walk within feet of you, is absolutely unreal. Every single opportunity I had to ride this I knew I would never get the same experience twice, never knew if I would see the same animals I saw the last time I rode and these are just some of the reasons I kept going back. On top of all of that, you completely forget where you are, and it does not process while you are waiting in line or experiencing the attraction itself that you are in Florida, I love it. Anytime I can forget where I am and feel like I am being transported to a completely different place I will be a very happy person.
     A small tip for when you experience the safari, sit on the left side of the truck. For a majority of the ride the animals are primarily to the left of the vehicle so you will get the best view of them and be able to take pictures without your friends heads in the way. Also try to get the back row as well, this way you will have the entire back of the truck open as well so if you want to continue to get a great view of the animals, you are able to look out the back with no obstruction.

3 Favorite Attractions: EPCOT

The Seas with Nemo and Friends

     The reason I love this attraction, and pavilion as a whole, is very personal and subjective. I love Finding Nemo, I remember seeing it for my 9th birthday in 2003 the summer it was released, I love fish and aquariums which is basically what the pavilion is, and I have grown to love the score to the film, it is incredibly relaxing and I have been listening to it since my college days because it made studying much easier. Oddly enough the ride itself, is pretty meh in my opinion, I think the effects they use to take you down the EAC is really cool and the end of the ride as you approach the unloading station with your view into the giant tank is fun as well. Everything in between is just a build up to getting off the ride and exploring the pavilion, and that is where I get the most enjoyment out of this attraction.
     First of all I could just stand in the queue of the ride itself for hours and never want to leave. Even though most of the time I could just walk on to this attraction, after you ascend down the beach and then find yourself underwater, between the lighting and the music, it is beyond relaxing. The blue wavey lighting effects create a very cool feeling and then the music just sets the mood overall. This small portion of the attraction is quite possible one of my favorite places in all of Walt Disney World.
     After the queue and the ride, I loved wandering around the pavilion, I did it over and over again when I was at EPCOT. From the large tank observation area upstairs, to the manatee tank, I spent countless hours here. Just getting to watch all the different sea life swim around always made me happy and put me at peace, I couldn't tell you exactly why but is has been a part of me for as long as I can remember. Coming here by myself to just wander around and look at everything was one of my favorite things to do on my program, I could relax, keep to myself if that's what I needed and block out the world. If I was ever in a bad mood or having a bad day, I can guarantee, you would probably find me staring at some fish at The Seas.

Living with the Land
     A lot of people are probably going to call me crazy for even mentioning this attraction but this attraction has always been one of my favorites. It may not be the most thrilling or exhilarating, but it is certainly one of the most unique and relaxing. It is also one of the more forgotten attractions in all of Walt Disney World and unless your well versed with EPCOT, the casual Disney goer probably has no idea it even exists.
     As is with most of the attractions I am listing off, this attraction has no wait, so you can always walk on whenever your at The Land Pavilion. Once you board it is a very slow moving boat ride through a variety of different scenes showing different climate areas around the world. But after that it takes you through the greenhouses which I find very interesting. As someone who cooks, seeing all the different plants and how the grow is fascinating to me, I always love it. And this is another one of those attractions that just allows me to relax, its takes it slow, is more informative than exciting and allows me to forget about most of my problems. If you're just looking to get off your feet for a while and take a break from the hustle and bustle of World Showcase, Living with the Land is the perfect place to go.
     One part of this attraction that I never got to experience but hope to do one day is the Behind the Seeds tour. It is a walking tour of the attraction, primarily the greenhouses, and it was not something that I necessarily heavily prioritized during my CP, but know I will have the opportunity to experience one day. It would be a neat experience to get to walk around the greenhouses and experience everything up close.


Spaceship Earth
     The landmark of EPCOT this attraction is a classic and will likely be at EPCOT until the world ends. And rightfully so, it may need some updating here and there but this is a classic Disney ride and everyone I know loves it. Taking you up and down throughout the big ball, it shows you the progression of man from the early days of cavemen to "today". 
     This attraction is quite literally the first thing you run into when you enter EPCOT, with the entrance to it right at the base of the ball itself. More often than not the wait time does not exceed 20 minutes and because of the constantly moving track the line moves fairly quickly. I always loved the attraction as a whole, it is a neat experience walking in and boarding and realizing that the entire attraction manages to maneuver throughout ball is fascinating. And although the animatronics at this point are fairly outdated, each scene is neat to see as it takes your through the progression of man. Overall this attraction is just classic Disney, a must do when your at EPCOT and its relaxing, which we all need sometimes when we are hustling and bustling around Disney.

One Year Later...

It feels like yesterday...

    And it truly does. It really is hard to believe that my check-in date for my DCP was exactly a year ago today. I feel like I just left and I still think about my program every day. On top of that, countless times I find myself reminiscing with the friends I made during my program, always expressing how much we wish we could go back to the magical period of time that was our DCP. I am grateful that I still have a friend who still works at Disney, doing Vacation Planning at DAK whose snap stories keep me wanting to go back for more. I have already gone back to visit once since my program ended for a vacation, am in the process of planning my first trip to Disneyland with one of my DCP friends and we are already discussing going back for Food and Wine in 2017. So needless to say, my time in Disney has had a lasting impact on my life on both a daily basis and where I see myself in the future.

     I do what I can to keep the Disney in my life at every opportunity. From using all the stuff I bought, listening to podcasts, watching YouTube videos and, of course, planning my future trips back, I will never escape it and I am 100% okay with that. I have left the closet Disney fan way behind me and will be forever shameless of my love for everything Disney. And in doing so it has sparked some new friendships in my post-DCP life. When you are able to become best friends with a new employee at work because you both came from Disney...let's just say we were both pretty pumped, and are constantly talking about the parks. What I've learned the most in the past year is no matter how far removed I become from my DCP, it is going to be a part of my life that I cherish and hold near my heart forever, and the same goes for the people I got to experience with.

Post Disney Depression

It's No Joke

     It's real, it's no myth, everyone leaving Disney will feel it, experience it and loathe it. We just spent 4-6 months living in a literal fantasyland. Minimal responsibilities, a livable wage for the DCP lifestyle and free access to a place where people spend thousands of dollars, travel thousands of miles, make major sacrifices just to visit. We all just lived the dream and took advantage of every second of it, and then it's all gone in the blink of an eye. It didn't fully hit me that it was all over until I pulled into my driveway and saw my house and had to unpack and realized I'm back in reality. Starting a full time job, moving to a new state again, building my own life and starting to take on real responsibilities. In relation to the DCP it sucks...bad. I have never had more fun, made better friends or been a happier human being than I was doing my DCP and now I'm on my own, all my friends back to their native states or extending their programs. The negatives of this time in our lives will greatly outweigh the positives, at least they did for me, but we all will find ways to combat that.

     Personally, I will never be shameful of where I came from and how much I love it, cherish it and value it. I go to my job everyday with a Mickey Mouse backpack with my Port Orleans Riverside key chain, my car keys have a Mickey Mouse key chain on them,  I will wear Disney World shirts to work and wear my Animal Kingdom hoody whenever the weather is right. I drink my coffee and eat my breakfast out of Disney mugs, I have a Simba sticker on my water bottle at work and my phone will forever have a wallpaper of my DCP family. I keep the photos from my DCP on my phone and reminisce when I've had a bad day at work on the train ride home. Call what I do what you want, but Disney asked so little of me and gave me so much in return I refuse to let anyone tell me I'm childish, immature or irrational. My co workers don't need to understand it, my family doesn't need to understand it, the people who understand are the ones I spent 4 months with...working, living and playing...forging the most real, legitimate friendships I have ever had in my lifetime. The early years of my life never gave me this, college gave me little of this, Disney is where I met real people who I really care about and feel the same way about me. I'd do anything for these people no matter the circumstances, they are more meaningful to me than they will ever know. For as long as I am connected to them through social media and have ways to contact them I will never lose touch, they are irreplaceable friends who saw me for who I was, both at work as a professional and outside of work as a 21 year old child. They ask me to jump, I'll ask how high.

     I think we will all go into our DCP expecting to have a ton of fun, and we do. But I don't think anyone expects the impact and value it will have on our personal lives, from the relationships forged, the life lessons we learn, this is a time to not take for granted. We will all hit rough patches, times where we're down and want to crawl into hole, even in Disney, but those are outnumbered by the moments of euphoric joy experienced during our DCP.

     During those final days, those waning hours of your DCP, spend them with the ones you know you will miss the most and do what everyone will enjoy. For me, this was my Port Fam, we forged a bond that you can't break. As time went on and drew shorter, we became closer and closer until by the final week of our program we wondered why we hadn't been hanging out outside of work the past 4 months, but rather than look back and regret...look forward and plan. Plan to see each other again, plan to do that Disney Vacation together, never lose touch. We all went back to our homes into completely different stages of life, back to college, into the real world, where ever life had us going next. But we never lose sight of where we met and came from.

     After all of this, a rant about my feelings towards my DCP, not a day goes by I don't sit back and smile and remember why I love it all so much. Whether it be from a Snapchat, a Facebook or Insta post, or just looking back at the photos of the good times I had, as sad as it is we are no longer there, I will never be happier I got there and did it all, met the friends I did and made the memories I have. Now I look forward to the next times I'll talk to my DCP family and when we can plan to see each other again and we can all reminisce together on one of the most valuable times of our lives.

     To my Port Fam, my roommates, my neighbors and anyone who I had the pleasure of spending time with during my DCP....you have all had an impact on my life I cannot express, no one is ever forgotten in my memory and I will never take our time spent together for granted.

Wrapping It All Up

Best 4 months of my life...

     After 4 months of nonstop fun, getting home is genuinely sad. I realize what the real world is like again, no more Magic Kingdom on my days off, no more Festival of the Lion King before work, just reality. That being said I made memories that will last the rest of my life, I will forever remember the friends I have made through my DCP and will keep in touch with as many of them as I can. I look back at the pictures, remember all the good times I had and realize it was the best decision I ever made. After years of writing it off, thinking it would never happen, thinking it was a pipe dream...I think back everyday to when I submitted my application and finally got accepted. It was the best post college graduation vacation I could have asked for.
     If you have the opportunity to get yourself down to Disney for your DCP, do it! Whether it be for the work experience or the fun of it all, you will not regret it. Working for Disney was some of the most fun I have had in any workplace, from the people I got to work with to the guests I got to interact with, it was an all around incredible experience. It also allowed me to learn even more about my industry and how different companies and different properties manage themselves and function on a daily basis.
      Even if you are not going into the hospitality industry, where Disney makes its name, if you are just a Disney nut like me or love theme parks, find the right time and excuse to get yourself into the DCP. You are looking at a once in a lifetime opportunity to do something few people can say they had the opportunity to experience. Never in a million years would someone have told me when I started my college career that I would end up living in Orlando for 4 months with free admission to The Most Magical Place on Earth.
     No matter where I go now, I have an experience in my back pocket that not everyone can relate to but people enjoy hearing about. I wear it on my sleeve proudly, from my Animal Kingdom hoody I wear to work, to my Mickey Mouse backpack I bring with me, I have gone from being tentative of sharing my love of Disney to showing it loud and proud. So get out there, fill out your application and do the DCP, it is a decision you will not regret!

Everything I Did, Everything I Bought

Kept track of it all...

     I knew of people who did this before I got to Disney and thought why not do it myself, so I did. I kept notes in my phone for each day I went to a park and which ones I went to, and another for each of the parks and how many times I went on the rides. Out of the 123 days I had my main gate, I went to the parks 60 of those days.

    

     I lived up to all of my expectations and then some and it is fun to look back at everything I did during my time at Disney. On top of all the visits I had to the parks, I also made plenty of purchases to represent my connection and love for Disney at home. All of my merchandise purchases were:

• Walt Disney World Mug
• Mickey Mouse Mug
• Port Orleans Riverside Mug
• Animal Kingdom Starbucks Mug
• Mickey Mouse Keychain
• Port Orleans Keychain
• Magic Kingdom Lands Magnets
• Walt Disney World Magnet
• Cast Member Magnet
• Sorcerer Mickey Ears Magnet
• Mickey Mouse Long Sleeve Shirt
• Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party Shirt
• Walt Disney World T-Shirt
• EPCOT Food & Wine T-Shirt
• Mickey Mouse Hoody
• Animal Kingdom Hoody
• Star Wars Snapback
• Duff Beer Pint Glass
• Duff Beer Tank Top
• Sorcerer Mickey Puzzle
• Fantasmic Pin
• Steamboat Willy Pin
• Splash Mountain Pin
• Kilimanjaro Safari Pin
• Squirt Pin
• Buzz & Woody WDW Pin
• Green Alien Christmas Ornament
• Hakuna Matata Lion King Painting

      And that was it, blew tons of money on all that to remember it by and do not regret a single penny of it.

The Bittersweet End

How bittersweet, yet fun it was...

     My final night in Disney, where I went from counting days to counting hours. I did the Wild Africa Trek that morning and by the time I returned to my apartment around 2ish, the texts were flowing about who was making it to Magic Kingdom that night and when. Once most of my Port Orleans family was confirmed to show up, I just left on my own and would eventually meet them all there. At this point I just wanted to soak it all in and enjoy it one final time before it was all over.

     

     I got in, immediately rode Buzz Lightyear and The Little Mermaid and then my family started coming in. We met up and started having the night of our lives, did Mickey's Philharmagic, Haunted Mansion, It's A Small World (stopped for food), Jungle Cruise, Buzz Lightyear and then made our way back to Main Street so we could make some final purchases and prepare to watch Wishes. We were having a blast on Main Street, I got one last Mickey Bar, we took some group photos and then Celebrate The Magic started. Next thing you know a bunch of early 20 something year olds are belting out "Let It Go" with no shame. And then Wishes started, everyone gazing up and I know I was nearly crying again but managed to keep it together. Once it was over, I had to say my final farewells and then go to Beaches and Cream to meet up with my roommates. It was sad, it hurt, but we all knew it had to happen eventually.

     The rest of that night was depressing, I made it to Beaches and Cream and my roommates  (who extended) could clearly see I was pretty upset. So we just hung out and talked for a while, eating our ice cream and we finally left and I had to spend the rest of my evening packing my things, I had a train to catch the following afternoon. As upset as I was to leave Disney and everyone I met behind, I was happy to finally be headed back to my family.

Wild Africa Trek

One of those experience you have to do...

     As a Cast Member, there are certain Disney experiences you have the opportunity to capitalize on at a highly discounted price. The Wild Africa Trek is one of them and the cast discount varies depending on the season, I got to do mine for 50% off the original price and was SO happy I did. I wanted to do this ever since I got to Disney and just could not find someone to do it with. I love Animal Kingdom, Kilimanjaro Safaris is one of my favorite attractions at all of Disney, so knowing I had the opportunity to do this was something I could not pass up. So in my final week, and on my last day, I had it booked and went with one of my friends from Port Orleans.

     We were very tentative that it would even happen as we woke up that morning and per usual Florida, it was raining. So I called to ask how we would find out if it would be cancelled or not, and they told us we would receive a phone call but it would go on if it was raining. And it did, we arrived to the entrance for the Wild Africa Trek, right next to Kilimanjaro Safaris. We waited around for about 15 minutes, talking to the Cast Members before getting let in to be geared up to head out. They weighed us, gave us our harnesses, signed our waivers, got a water bottle and headed off.      It started with us walking through the Pangani Forest Trail and a few minutes into it we veered off into the woods and next thing we knew, we're standing over the Hippopotamus pool. It was awesome and hilarious, the Hippos immediately swam over to where we standing over them on the rocks, mouth open ready for food. Getting to see them up close was awesome and from there we walked on, over the suspension bridges to the Crocodiles. Got strapped in there, peering over into their habitat as we were told a bunch of facts about them, then got into the special Wild Africa Trek truck to drive into the Serengeti and see all the animals. We got up close with the Giraffes, drove around to the Elephants and finally pulled up to the gazebo placed in the middle of the grass. The views from there were awesome, they fed us and we had a chance to just relax and take it all in. After about a half an hour there we finally departed, finished the rest of the safari and finished our trek. 

     Overall it was an awesome experience that I would do again in a heartbeat. Seeing the animals from a different perspective, learning about them in detail and being so immersed in a Disney attraction was unreal!

The Countdown to the End

Expect it, but embrace it...

     As my days become less and less, it begins to sink in more and more that leaving is inevitable and I will miss everything about my CP so much. It has been 4 months of a working vacation, minimal responsibilities, amazing friends and nothing but fun. What's most upsetting is how close I have become with my fellow CPs from Port Orleans in the last month. Sure we talked at work, but it wasn't until December that we all started becoming best friends, went to the parks together and now it's all ending. I have to try and squeeze so much into such a small amount of time to take advantage of the time I have left with these friends and it's bittersweet.

     It becomes more and more apparent as the days dwindle that each time I'm in one of the parks could be my last, I don't know when I will be back at Disney to have as much fun as I have had these past 4 months. Knowing this, I capitalized on every opportunity I had, to do the parks with as many of my friends as possible and the last two weeks of my program were my best. I went to the parks before work, after work, on all my days off and made the effort to do them with as many friends as possible. At this point I realized I did not know if or when I would see these people again, so I didn't want to regret anything during my final days.

     Even with the days dwindling though, they are becoming some of the best days I have had since I got to Disney. Work is even more fun because, knowing we are all leaving soon, we are just having fun getting to work with each other everyday and making the most of it. We have all started looking forward to our final days of work because we know we will be spending time with each other and we know how to make work almost as fun as being at the parks together.

     I will also be real, expect the waterworks to flow during this time because the floodgates opened when the days became numbered. Especially with my co workers, specifically around Christmas when we were missing our families and accepting we were leaving, we were all upset. Tears were shed at work quite often. But, having each other around, knowing we were all feeling the same way gave everyone comfort, we could all relate. To relieve some of the depression we went bowling after work on Christmas Eve, and it really brought us close together and we forgot about how much we missed our families.

       I remember one of my final days off, I ended up at EPCOT that evening on my own because everyone had work. This night was for me, I went to Morocco for dinner, finally went to see The American Adventure for the first time and when I exited, I lost it. Walking through World Showcase talking to my mom on the phone, within minutes I was sitting between China and Norway bawling to my mom about how hard it is to leave. The friends I made here are the best I've ever had and leaving them and all the fun behind is not easy. When I finally pulled myself together, I went to The Seas and walked around before watching Illuminations one last time.

     After all of that, I knew I still had about a week left until my departure. And with plans nearly all these days, I could still look back at my CP and know I had no regrets and made the most of my time here.