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.

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!

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.

The Candlelight Processional

Another one of those "don't miss" events...

     Once the schedule of celebrity narrators was released, I looked down the list and made my decision on who I wanted to see and when pretty quickly. I passed over the A list stars since I was not looking to deal with the mass of attention they would draw and chose Chandra Wilson, an actress from one of my favorite shows, Grey's Anatomy. I got real excited when I was talking with one of my friends at work one day talking about The Candlelight Processional and the guest narrators, we hit it off when we both said we wanted to see Chandra since we were both huge fans. Right there we started planning out the day and how we would attack it from beginning to end, and right there a true friendship was created.
     When the day came, we were starting reasonably early and knew we would be going for a full day of park hopping. We started around 10 AM and kicked off at Magic Kingdom, and both started kicking ourselves when we got out of the car and it was raining and NEITHER of us had any rain gear to fend it all off, but we just did not care. This was one of those days where very little could bring us down and ruin our day so we just powered through. Kicking off our day we rolled over to Space Mountain and used our first Fastpasses, moved over to Buzz Lightyear, next headed to Fantasyland for Mickey's Philharmagic and The Little Mermaid then wrapped up with the Haunted Mansion and Splash Mountain. It was a little after midday at this point and we still had plans of doing EPCOT for the candlelight and then going to Hollywood Studios afterwards. So we stopped at Starbucks on our way out of MK to grab some Frappuccinos for a sugar/caffeine boost and stopped to watch the Dapper Dans on our way out.
     Got back to the car and drove to EPCOT and had lunch out in World Showcase before waiting in the single rider line for Test Track. We waited long enough for Test Track that we had a little more than an hour before the candlelight began, so we went back to the amphitheater to wait in line. In retrospect, we could have wandered around a bit more before getting in line but we were not going to put that risk in play. So we were finally allowed in to be seated and the performance was incredible. This is an event at Disney that you CAN NOT miss, no matter who you see narrate or when. We LOVED it and had a blast watching it, so you will have the same experience. Between the narration and the choirs singing, it was unbelievable especially if you enjoy and appreciate excellent choir music.

     Upon the conclusion of the candlelight, we went to the International Gateway to take the Friendship Boat to the Boardwalk Resort. We grabbed some food there before walking to Hollywood Studios to round out our day. When we got into the park we went straight for the Osbourne Lights and just took our time enjoying them since we had a lot of time until Fantasmic started, which we were planning to see as well. After we finished at the lights we went single rider for Rock N Roller Coaster and then went to see Fantasmic. I have heard a lot of mixed opinions on Fantasmic, but in my opinion it is a great nighttime show to see, although the fireworks I will admit are preferable, if you are at Studios, seeing Fantasmic at night is no pushover of a performance.
     Once Fantasmic ended, we were BEAT! Both of us were struggling to function since we had been going nonstop ALL DAY. But we had no regrets, we had the time of our lives and were ready to call it a day and headed back to Chatham.

Transition from Halloween to Christmas (What's Thanksgiving?)

It's the most wonderful time of the year...

     As October ends and November begins in Disney, the atmosphere stays magical but you'll begin seeing less orange and more green and red. Although gradual over a week or two, the transition to Christmas seems like it happens overnight. And being there to see it all happen is something else.

     First off are the resorts, and from my personal experience, at Port Orleans. Now, being a moderate our decorations are not quite as hardcore as the deluxe resorts but they do their job of setting the resort in the Christmas spirit. It was fun getting to close on the night they brought in all the Christmas decorations and watch the beginning of the transformation. Big wreaths and all sorts of Christmas decorations to transform our hotel. And overnight our hotel goes from standard Port Orleans and jumps into the Christmas spirit.

     The parks of course get the royal treatment and imagining the crew of people that decorate each of the parks overnight is mind blowing. One day Magic Kingdom is full of Mickey Pumpkins, the next it's full of wreaths and lights. Each park gets its own massive Christmas tree decorated in theme with the park. The Dapper Dans and Main Street performers' outfits change from their fall colors to Christmas colors and start jamming out with Christmas songs. Best of all the castle goes from getting just the spotlights at night to drowning I'm Christmas lights, it's incredible when you see it for the first time, and seeing it for 2 months on repeat...it's just amazing and hard to imagine it without them. Let us not forgot the merchandise, you'll be swimming in it. Christmas essentially pukes all over Disney property and it was wonderful, I personally loved every second of it and as long as you aren't the grinch, you will too!!

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party

You're Gonna Have A Good Time...

     If you do the fall or fall advantage program, you HAVE to do the Halloween and Christmas parties! I didn't know if or when I may get another opportunity to go to these events at the cast member price and I wasn't going to miss out. So even though I ended up at the Christmas party alone, I had a great time regardless.

     After doing the Halloween party, I realized that as much as I know all the rides have no waits, that's not why I'm at the party. Take advantage of all the party exclusive things, character meet and greats, free cookies and hot chocolate, exclusive merchandise and ride some rides in between, don't make them your priority. Also, plan your night around the parade, stage show and fireworks. That way you won't miss any of the fun!

     I initially planned to meet up with my roommate around 4:30-5 when the party was supposed to start because I was at MK around 2. But his phone died so I didn't see him the entire night, upsetting at first but I got over pretty quickly. I got my party map with all the character locations and show times and began planning my night.

     The exclusive characters I made it a point to meet were The Seven Dwarfs and it was the first thing I did that night. I got in line for them about half an hour before the party even started because their line gets long very quickly. Once I finished there I found my friend working who had the guide to where each character actually was rather than the map guests have that has locations but not who is there. I met Mickey all decked out for Christmas as well as Pooh and Friends and caught the parade and the fireworks. In between it all taking major advantage of the free cookies and hot chocolate because why not, sugar kept me going throughout the night.
     All in all I had a great time, even though I was on my own, it gave me the freedom to do what I wanted with no one arguing about who to meet or what to ride. So it had its perks for sure and I made the most of the night!

Making Friends During Your CP

I stressed about it and shouldn't have...

     This was hands down what I was most nervous about before starting my CP. Who and how would I make friends while in Disney. It's not like college where you can just leave your dorm room door open and meet people thru class. But like most things, it will just figure itself out thru time.

     I was incredibly fortunate that day 1 some of our neighbors from upstairs in the same building came down to our apartment to see who we were and ended up being some of my better friends throughout the program.

     The beauty of Facebook is how easily you can connect with other people doing the program. Between other people from school doing the DCP and friends of friends from other schools doing it, I met and hung out with a number of people this way. And of course you have your fellow CPs at your work location. By no means do I guarantee you'll be best buds with your co workers, but depending on where you are working, it is where you will meet the most other CPs.

     My best advice is do not stress about it and just let it happen. I freaked out more than I should've before coming to Disney and feel silly about it. Most of my friends from my DCP I will keep in touch with for quite a time after.

Breaking the CP Stigma

You're a CP...and everyone knows it

     It's just a fact, at the start of your CP it's gonna be a little uncomfortable going into your new workplace that will most likely be temporary while you are surrounded by people who do it full time. It took me weeks to feel fully comfortable and accepted in my role at Disney. No one was super talkative toward me, my role did not have a ton of other CPs and I felt alone. But it did not last forever and it shouldn't for you either.

     Don't be lazy, prove you are trying and doing your best to learn. At the end of the day that's all anyone wants or cares about, it's when you slack off and show you don't care...then your fellow cast members will never accept you. Also be social with them, no matter their age you share a role at Disney with them. I had cast members my age and ones twice my age and managed to become great friends with all of them.

     The stigma that comes along with being a CP is not permanent. If you work hard and prove your there to learn and enjoy work, they will accept you. Some of the best people I met in Disney were the full time or part time cast members at Port Orleans.

Making the Most of your Time

If you work nights, go out in the morning...

     Whether you do your DCP for 4 months, 6 months or extend up to a year, you have a lot of time and opportunity you have to enjoy everything Disney has to offer. It's also easy to let it all slip away and it took me a few weeks to realize this.

     The mornings are not only some of the best times to be at the parks because it's usually less crowded, often times it may be your only time to go because of your work schedule. For me, my shifts started at either 1, 2, or 3:30 PM...consistently...every week. I worked 6 morning shifts out of my 4 months and 5 of those were just for training. After that, I was assigned to be a true CP (closing personnel), so the best advice I can give is expect it and don't get upset about it.

     That being said, if you are anything like me and primarily looked to be at the parks as often as possible, get used to going for 3 or 4 hours in the morning before work. Since the parks usually opened up at 9, there is plenty of time to get a few rides in. Of course, this is substantially easier when you have a car as I did, but if you are motivated enough, you can do it while riding Transtar.

     Sleep is for the weak. And I lived by this everyday I was there. I was consistently getting my body used to waking up between 8 and 9, just to get to the parks before work and I do not regret it. Some days I may have only gotten 6 hours of sleep, but that's what coffee is for.

     I was a major advocate of hitting DAK on these mornings because I could usually get my 3 major attractions done in a small period of time and it was usually the least crowded. I'd get there, hit Kilimanjaro Safaris, see the 10 o'clock or 11 o'clock Festival of the Lion King show and made sure I rode Everest either after the Safari or the Lion King depending on wait times or when I showed up. Although I only did it once (primarly cause of $$$) go to Tusker House for the character breakfast! It was about $25 with the cast member discount and it has a massive breakfast buffet to dive into. I went HAM on the Mickey Waffles as you should and its never a bad thing starting your day off with some characters!

     I did Magic Kingdom a couple of times before work but only when I worked later since getting there is so time consuming. If you drive, you almost have to account for about an hour of travel to get to the main gate since you park at the TTC and it just takes a while. But to get a ride on Space Mountain and Buzz Lightyear...well worth it.

     All in all, become a morning person and go have fun! Don't leave your CP regretting not going to the parks more!

     

CP Housing Options

To me, they were basically the same...

     This will be a decision everyone will need to make when completing your DORMS application. Choosing between Vista Way, Patterson, Chatham or The Commons can be as easy or as difficult as you want it to be. There are plenty of minutia details that can be the primary decision makers but overall, they are all pretty equal and mediocre. It's a roof over your head and you gotta pay regardless so what're ya gonna do.

     The Commons is the newest but also the most expensive of the 4. They benefit from having in unit laundry which is nice and host all the housing meetings. But your distance from Chatham to catch Transtar is the furthest.

     Chatham and Patterson  (in my opinion) are two in the same and only a stones throw away from each other. Chatham benefits from being the hub for all the Transtar buses but from what I was told Patterson had a nicer gym. The unit themselves are generally the same though.

     Vista Way lived up to every reputation it had. The people who lived there either loved it or hated it, and the ones who loved it loved to party and didn't mind the lack of quality. The others hated the partying and we're salty about how poor the apartments were.

     Pricing for all units is gonna be between $90-$140 if I'm not mistaken. And that'll all depend on how many people are in a unit and how many bedrooms.  Overall don't stress about where you'll live, if you are anything like me, you'll barely be there anyway, only to sleep and shower.

Being a Bell Service Dispatch/Greeter

How y'all doing welcome to Port Orleans!

     And welcome to being a Bell Service Dispatch/Greeter at a Moderate Resort at Disney. This role is genuinely what you make it, you have a fair amount of freedom without management or guests constantly watching your every move. That being said when managers are around, you never get stressed about if your doing it right or not because it's so simple. And when guests enter and exit the property, you simply interact with them as you see fit, just always say hello and have fun!

     For my resort, being a moderate, we had a few different positions you could have for a shift...luggage greeter, lane greeter, dispatch and transfers. Each nearly as easy as the last. During a luggage greeter shift, your primary responsibilities are to greet guests coming off the Disney Magical Express (DME) from the airport or returning from the parks, wish them well as they depart the resort for the airport or head to the parks, answer any questions they have and store their luggage when necessary. Lane greeter is essentially the same, but rather than store luggage you are more responsible for keeping the lane where cars pull in and out clear and making sure no one parks there. Transfer shifts were some of my favorite and you'll realize you are literally "making the magic" for guests. So....when guests change resorts during their stay, they can have us move their bags from resort to resort for them rather than taking them themselves. That's where the transfer shift comes in, you drive the big 'ol transfer van full of luggage to the resorts that guests are moving to. Each day your trip length will vary, I've been done in 30 minutes while other days I'd be gone 5 hours. Once your done with the transfer shift, you'll return to your resort and do a normal luggage greeter shift until your 8 hours are up. 

     Lastly you have dispatch, this is where your job can get stressful but not to the point where you'll break down. You'll be in front of the computer answering phones and putting in work orders for bellmen to deliver bags to rooms. It took nearly a month and a half before I got trained for this part of my role because it requires you to take a class at DU but it's not terrible. The system you'll use is super simple and once you understand it you can do it in your sleep.

     And there you have the Bell Service Dispatch/Greeter role at a moderate resort. If you end up at a Deluxe Resort, basically eliminate the greeter roles. You'll only be doing dispatch, transfers and luggage room, where you stand at the bell service desk and get luggage from the luggage room when guests need it.

     At the end of the day I loved my role and the people I got to work with. I had a ton of fun at work once I got comfortable there and the fellow cast members became some of my best friends!

Essentials to Pack

Obvious and not so obvious...

This is the short list of things I recommend packing, other obvious stuff like tank tops and shorts I won't bore anyone with. Some of these are obvious but they are all items I cannot stress enough to people doing the DCP. They all made my life so much easier during my time in Disney, and they should do the same for all of you. I'll even throw some links in here to what I used.

Rain Gear: It's Florida, rain is about as predictable as lottery numbers and is spotty as a dalmatian. I've left Chatham where it's pouring, showed up to MK and it's gorgeous, so ya never know. Last thing you want is being caught without some form of rain gear, so always keep a poncho or rain jacket with you when your at the parks.

Portable Phone Charger: I commend anyone who can survive a day at the parks on one full phone charge, I know I couldn't. So invest in one, they can be cheap or expensive depending on how much extra charge you want with you, but you'll be happy when it's 2PM and you can fully recharge while standing in line or eating.

Portable Phone Charger

Refillable Water Bottle: It's hot, your gonna get dehydrated easily and there are water fountains everywhere to refill. Get used to drinking like a fish to stay functional and avoid headaches, never left my apartment without mine.

Water Bottle

Running Shoes: Don't be the person complaining about your feet hurting. They're comfortable, you'll have plenty of support and you'll be able to walk all day without issues. These are an essential.

Sweatshirt & Sweatpants: Whaaat??? But it's Florida! And your not paying utilities so your apartment will always be an ice box. And if you do the fall program, the winter months can hit 60s and 50s at night, you'll want that sweatshirt....trust me.

Cheap Sunglasses: Keyword here is cheap. Mine fell off my face, got tossed in my bag, into the storage nets on rides and just all around beat up. They cost $20, so I could've cared less what happened to them or if I lost them. Was just one thing I never had to stress about.

Sunglasses

Backpack: Between work and the parks, your gonna be bringing stuff with you everywhere you go. For me, I always had my water bottle, rain jacket, keys, portable phone charger, wall charger, wallet and who knows what else depending on where I was going. So you probably have a backpack already. I was rarely seen without mine, bring it down with you and you'll probably use it religiously.

Brita Filter: You will use it every day in your apartment, especially knowing how hot it gets. Even though I had no issue using the water fountains in the parks for water, but when I could use my Brita in my apartment I did.

Arrival and Check-In

It's finally real....

     And now your official a member of the DCP, you have your housing ID, your program guide and all the anticipation begins to fade, you move in and realize you are here for good. It was a crazy day, constantly occupied with something and by the end of it all I was exhausted, but it was all worth it.

     Check-in at 7:30, arrived at Vista a little after 7 and was one of the first in line which 100% paid off in the end. They started walking us through the check-in process starting with getting your sticker name tag so EVERYONE addresses you by name (only Disney) and you find out your work location, housing complex and roommates, get your ID, get a brief breakdown of your itinerary for that day and the ones to follow...next thing you know your on the bus off to casting.

     Since my check-in was so early they took me straight from check-in to casting (my casting time was 8:30) and when I was on that bus I realized it was real. When you pull up to casting, the building itself is whimsical and pure Disney. Depending on what time you arrive there will determine how long it will take you, but at the end of the day they just do all the usual pre-employment shenanigans and once your out of there you head back to Vista and then to your respective complex

     Being so fortunate, I headed out around 10ish and got to my apartment at Chatham Square at 10:30. I was lucky to end up with the 3 roommates I found on Facebook and linked with through DORMS, but we also ended up with 2 random roommates and are in a 2 bedroom....not pumped about the bunk beds but we'll make do. 

     Today has been pretty exhausting, I have traditions on Thursday my first training class Saturday and my first day of training next Tuesday...oh yeah, I'm working at Port Orleans, pretty excited. When you first move in I'd recommend heading past Walmart on 535 and going to the giant Target at the end of the road on the left. One of the guys from the Auto Train told us that and it was great advice, cause there was no one there; where Walmart (as I'm told) is a madhouse on move in day. Got some household essentials and did some grocery shopping as well.

     If you have a car you will also need to pick up your parking decal from your complex's clubhouse. It couldn't be easier, they ask for your license, vehicle registration and proof of insurance. Took literally a minute and I was done....while at the clubhouse you can grab any kitchen essentials that are not in your apartment. There was a sheet of paper for us to fill out upon arrival in our apartment and we took it to the clubhouse and came back with everything we needed.

     All in all I'm fried, if I lay down I'll be out for a good 2 hours. But it's nice to be all moved in, slowing getting settled and figuring out how the apartment will function, looking forward to the next few days for sure!

Down to Earth (aka Disney)

The journey begins...

Train cars that got to carry our cars.

     So your arrival is going to begin, as far as I’m concerned, about 5 days before your check in day when you receive the email with your arrival time. I received mine on Thursday, August 27^th and my arrival time is 7:30-8:30 AM. Early, yes, but in my opinion, likely well worth it. From everything I have been told, the earlier your arrival time, the faster check-in and casting go and the quicker you have the opportunity to get fully moved into your apartment. So waking up that early is a small price to pay to enjoy the benefits that (should) come along with it.

     Last night I made sure my car was (for the most part) completely packed, minus the carry-on bags I would be taking on the train with me. I tried to be as minimalist as possible but that is because my car is pretty small, so the less stuffed in it the better. I brought a backpack with my laptop, chargers and a few mags to read. With that I have a duffle bag with my changes of clothes for the next two days rather than trying to dig through my car to get to my suitcase…just much easier.

     A few immediate recommendations if you choose the Auto Train, its hot, but bring sweatpants, a hoody and a pillow. The train can be a bit chilly at first, and especially overnight, I was frozen and it was no fun. Also consider bringing a change of comfortable clothes to wear on the train, it will make your trip much less miserable. Lastly, reach out on Facebook to see who else is taking the Auto Train, trust me, you’ll be happy you did.

     From the area of Jersey I am from, it took me about 5 hours to get to the Lorton, VA Auto Train Station with minimal traffic and a few rest stops. Overall pretty painless, I left at 8AM and arrived in VA at 1PM giving me about an hour and change until they began boarding the train that departed at 4:30PM. As I sit on the train typing this, I just wrapped a glorious game of Apples to Apples with 7 other CPs….beauty of this mode of transportation, I can almost guarantee other CPs will be with you because we all want our cars and this is an easy option if you are from the Northeast. 

The next morning....

     Sitting in the station in Sanford feels fantastic right now. If you take the Auto Train and ride coach, sleeping will be horrible, just is what it is. We got here at around 9:30 and they are unloading the cars as I type this so myself and a few other CPs are just sitting, waiting, anticipating the greatest shower of our lives when we get to our respective hotels.
     All in all it wasn't a terrible experience, sleeping was tough but when you connect with other CPs you are no longer alone and the trip is much more enjoyable. I'm now less than 24 hours away from check-in and it is still surreal!

How To Find Roommates

Finding roommates...

      So when it comes to finding roommates or approaching the roommate situation for the DCP, it can definitely be a little awkward but also remember, most people are in the same boat. It is definitely weird messaging someone out of no where asking to be roommates but it is just the nature of the beast. I joined 3 groups on Facebook for my program and posted the DCP roommate survey everyone was filling out in each of the groups hoping for someone to message me or finding someone else's survey who seemed to match my general personality. I was lucky that it worked out and I ended up finding 3 roommates so far, hoping to stay with 3 to try  and avoid being put into an apartment with bunk-beds (fingers crossed). Just keep in mind, most people in the group are in the same situation as you and we all just have to dive in and try and find others also looking for roommates. It can hands down be a daunting task but once you found your roommates, you'll be feeling real good that you took the leap of faith.

Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride

More like an East Coast Train Ride, how I'm getting to The Most Magical Place on Earth

      A decision you'll end up having to make once you are accepted into the DCP is how am I gonna get to The Most Magical Place on Earth? Of course, for everyone this will be different because we are all from different places so I can only speak for how I am getting down there, but we all generally have the same options; driving, flying or (if possible) riding the train. Each have their pros and cons of course, and I had to do a fair amount of debating and contemplating before finally deciding on taking the train from Virginia. So I'll break down my thought process for each.

My drive from NJ to the train station in Lorton, VA.

      Flying: I almost instantly ruled out flying because, to me, it was a major inconvenience. Having lived in apartment style housing for past 2 years of school, I know what I want/need to bring with me and flying just would not allow for that to happen. On top of some stuff needing to be shipped down after I arrive to Orlando because we don't get our addresses until we are down there, so that just didn't help at all. Lastly, cost. From the ticket, to transportation to and from the airport, to (likely) a hotel room for the day prior to check in, it was just too much to handle.

      Driving: Being on the east coast and the drive only being 16/17 hours, this was heavily considered. I would've ended up driving my Honda Civic, loaded up with my stuff, with my Dad and then flying him home after check in. I could bring (for the most part) everything I needed, have my car and spend some quality time with my Dad. But once we did out the cost of driving down (from the gas to hotel rooms to Dad's plane ticket home) we discovered it would cost about the same as taking the train down, so we chose the train.

      Train (Auto-Train): Until my Mom mentioned what the "Auto-Train" was, this had never even flown across my radar. All it is is a typical train ride, but they have cars designated to load and transport passenger's cars. We had agreed that having my car with me would be a "necessity" (more like a luxury) so we wanted to explore all of our options, and the Auto-Train turned out to be the best. I could have my car, bring as much stuff as I needed and avoid the work of driving all the way down to Orlando. It costs roughly the same as driving and it just SO MUCH more convenient.

The train ride from Lorton, VA to Sanford, FL.

      It's settled, I'm taking the train. Now its a little bit of a pain cause its roughly a full 36 hour journey from when I'll leave my house to when I'll arrive at my hotel the day before check-in, but it'll be well worth it. The train leaves on Aug. 29th, two days prior to my check-in but arrives in Florida Aug. 30th, so I'll only have to kill about half a day. It leaves at 4PM from Lorton, VA and arrives in Sanford, FL at 9:30 AM the following day;  about 45 minutes from Vista Weeeeey. Therefore, I'll end up leaving my house in NJ between 8-9 AM to get to Lorton around 12-1 PM because they start loading cars at 11:30 AM and stop at 2:30 PM. Once I arrive in Florida, I'll get my car off the train and drive straight to my hotel near Vista Weeeeeeeey and chill for the remainder of the day.

      For those going from the east coast looking to take their car, I'd recommend the Auto-Train because of its convenience, general affordability and ease of travel. There are no weight restrictions for how much stuff you can load into your car and then you just sit on the train overnight and (hopefully) sleep through the night. Best of luck and safe travels to all!