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: 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.

Why Memory Maker is 1000% Worth It

You won't regret it...

     This was probably one of the best investments I made throughout my entire program. Even though we all have our phones that take great pictures whenever we want them. Being able to utilize all the Photopass Photographers and keep all my ride photos throughout nearly half of my program was incredible. I have nearly 400 Photopass photos that I am able to look back on and just reminisce on the best 4 months of my life.

     Memory Maker is about $170, and it is good for 30 days. Therefore from when you activate it, you can capture and download photos for 30 days and then it will expire. One nice aspect, any Photopass pictures you took and linked to your My Disney Experience before purchasing Memory Maker, you can download as well, as long as they haven't expired. So I didn't purchase mine until mid November, but all my pictures from some of my early visits to the parks and the Halloween party I was able to download which was awesome.

     I timed my purchase specifically so I could have it when my family and friends were visiting, that way we didn't have someone from our party taking the pictures and we could get the best quality pictures to remember our vacation by. I definitely recommend getting Memory Maker if you end up at the parks very consistently and want to be able to remember all of your DCP. It may be a hefty investment, but if you take full advantage of it, I promise it is well worth it.

Epcot Food and Wine Festival

Wave goodbye to your money...

     It's that time of year where EPCOT will be the bane of your existence and will heartlessly destroy any and all financial stability you thought you had. But, your gonna love every second of it because no matter what you say or think, resisting the temptation to buy food or drink while walking through World Showcase during this month and a half is nearly impossible. I held back for as long as possible, then went HAM over 3 days.

     First off, I thought I was a big deal when I said I'd eat thru the world in 1 day. HA nope. I went with my friend from work prepared to eat....and eat......and eat. We went to the Festival Center near Ellen's Energy Adventure and perused the booths checking out everything they had and I went and threw down a couple hundred dollars on a gift card to make paying at the countries easier....in my opinion well worth it. It's about the size of a key tag and it's on a bracelet you can wear on your wrists. So every time you go to pay, just hold it up and the cashiers will just scan it, easier then whipping out your wallet for every country.

     So Day 1 I made it to about France, not too bad but jeez I was FULL. I went into this endeavor fully prepared to try at least one item from each country and I did, and I have the stamps in my passport to back it up. Oh, whatever the first country you stop at is...ask for a passport and have each country stamp it as you go thru, it's a cool little memento to have when your done. We spent a good 2 hours going from country to country eating, enjoyed every second of it.

     Day 2 was a little more tame, didn't eat nearly as much but that made Day 3 a beast. Day 3 I think I ate at about 2/3 of the countries and still had money left over on my gift card to spend, which thankfully is taken at all the shops on EPCOT so I grabbed myself a Food and Wine shirt (not gonna not) and a Mickey Mouse hoody. When all was said and done I have no regrets. This is one of the reasons I saved up before coming down, I wasn't gonna miss out on the opportunity to eat around the world. No chance.

     
     Of course the menus change every year so you will see different menu items than myself, that being said my top items from the festival:

Kahlua Pork Slider from Hawaii
Lamington from Australia 

Side note: Look up the menus online before you head out. I remember waking around World Showcase before the festival started and seeing the menus out while the countries booths were still covered so I was able to preview them. And days later I found everything online with prices so I was able to plan how much money I would need to try everything I wanted.

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!

     

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!

Between Check-In and Traditions

You'll be stuck in a weird limbo...

     During this time you will get a chance to see how your apartment will function with your roommates, if you like your roommates and meet some new people in your complex. I'm lucky to have some solid roommates and we met our neighbors from upstairs the day we checked-in and they're awesome, I've also taken the time to find the pool and fitness center as well as the closest Publix for all my grocery shopping.

     The first day after check-in you will have your housing meeting at The Commons Clubhouse, its long and pretty boring but we all have to do it so you just gotta tough it out. The remainder of that day is yours to enjoy, I chose to lay by the pool for a few hours and that evening my roommates and I went to the Boardwalk to walk around and ended up getting surprised with a magical moment from a cast member at  the Yacht and Beach Club. He approached us asking what were up to, I told him we are CPs that just arrived and it turned out he offered us a fireworks cruise to watch Illuminations.....ummmm YES PLEASE! It was unexpected, surreal and amazing, I was smiling like a school girl the whole time and loved every second of it!

     Definitely take the time during those few days to find everything in your complex and do some resort hopping if you can, it is a great way to get acquainted with your surroundings and spend the days with people you want to get to know. The more you do and busier you keep yourself the happier you will be, I do not want to stay in my apartment during these days so I've been trying to do whatever I can to get out and enjoy my surroundings.

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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!