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.