I was just lying here on my bed watching Inside Claridges and I thought, none of us have been to empty the mail box yet- I wonder if there is anything in it. Down I wander with our special little key and you won't believe what was sitting there on top.
A LETTER FOR ME! And look at all those stamps!
Please excuse me while I go and open it!
(There were other things for the others, but nothing handwritten!)
I am sure very few of you were surprised that I was not awake enough to write when I arrived home at 2.45am this morning! Day 3 was great. It has left me feeling a lot more comfortable with the roles I will need to perform when at work. I am still unsure as to if I will pass my assessment on Tuesday, but I'm not actually sure as to if I mind about this. My mind is in a sort of just go with whatever happens sort of frame. We spent the day going back over all the positions and also reading through some more of the Ride Manual. When I was walking from the bus to the room where I clock-in I walked straight into Gaston as he came out of the entertainment break room. I still cannot separate in my mind that these people are not actually the characters. I apologised and he was very nice about it.
I particularly enjoyed working on the line merge position at Ariel's Grotto (where you can come to get photos and autographs with Ariel) as every family I talked to commented on my accent. My particular favourite was a family with two young girls. One of them said to me whilst jumping up and down "Ariel is my favourite Princess", I said "Is she, how come?, "Because she is a mermaid and I look like her!". I said "Snow White is my favourite!". This turned out to be her older sisters favourite. The father then said to me, "and you talk like Wendy". This made me laugh! I pointed out that my accent was a New Zealand one, but that they did sound somewhat similar. We got to go in and watch the process of the families meeting Ariel for a while. She said to us "Hello Mermaids!". I love that in 3 days I have now come to be referred to as a mermaid at work!
Ariel in her grotto
Despite working the 5.30pm-2am shift our break was still referred to as a lunch break! Prior to lunch though we ventured through the utilidors to City Hall where we were shown where lost and found is located. After this we stood outside in the backstage carpark and watched the Wishes fireworks display which happens around the castle. I kept thinking, I can't believe I am getting paid to watch these fireworks. After this we headed to Belle's village to experience the attraction called Enchanted Tales with Belle. This attraction is run in conjunction with the Mermaid ride so many of the staff are trained to work at both locations. This show was awesome, such a laugh and extremely sweet. Kate Mouse when you are here you are going to have to do some fantastic hopping because then they might choose you as Mrs Pott's or Chip! Imagine that!
Belle's cottage
On our way back to Mermaid we bumped into Beast! Lovely man/creature he is.
Back at Mermaid we had a quick talk with one of the managers, I think his name was Jonathon. He spoke to us about the random audits which take place everyday with people coming up to us and asking about certain safety aspects of the ride. We also did another ride walk through after closing and were shown the intrusion reset switches once more. There are so many to remember, but I think that as the switches and buttons flash when they need to be trigger will help (fingers crossed).
I really enjoyed working once it was dark. The lights in the park seem so enchanting and magical.
We clocked-off and made our way back on the buses. Almost everyone on the bus was asleep!
Once home I had a drink, called Mana quickly (and quietly as everyone else was asleep already). I slept very soundly and only awoke at 12.40 today. I have decided to have a pajama-rama day (so I won't get dressed). I need to go down and do my washing at some point, but that is only downstairs so I think staying in my PJs will be fine.
I received a message from Kate Mouse yesterday. Look at the smiling Nutri Grain she found in Dave's cereal box! So sweet.
I am set and ready to head off for day three of training, well apart from my shoes- haven't put them on yet.
I wasn't going to post anything before work as all I have done all day is sit here doing nothing, and then go off for little naps. Brilliant day if you ask me. And after tonight I have two days to do that again. However I am keen to go to Magic Kingdom on Monday for a few rides.
If I am awake enough upon my arrival home tomorrow morning at approximately 3am I will write up my evenings adventures- alternatively I will do them tomorrow upon my awakening.
I am a lot more nervous today than the previous two days. I wonder if it is because I have had time to stop and think over all that I have learnt so far.
Better go and put my shoes on. But before I do here are some pictures of the fireworks which I could see the other night on my way home from the path outside our building. Normally we can hear them from inside- but outside I could just catch a view of them. They go off at 8pm at the moment.
Another whopper of a day. 7am work start, so up at 5am today. The extra hour sleep was bliss (even on top of last nights hours I clocked up in the afternoon). I heard the sprinklers turn on at 5.30am so I now know their routine!
We had a few bus issues today. First of all my bus didn't arrive at all... and then the second bus which I got instead broke down and we had to transfer. I was sitting there thinking, I am going to be late for my second day of work. I got there with about 3 minutes to spare. I went to log on to the computer but it wouldn't let me as it said I didn't start till 7.30. This was wrong though. My timetable definately said 7 and my trainer was there waititng for me. We had to get the manager to change my timetable on the system and then run back and clock-in before it said I was late.
Back to mermaid we went. Today we helped open on the main console. Man it is complicated stuff. I really hope it gets easier as I come to know the processes better. At the moment there is just SO much to remember. But I enjoy going in to work so I am taking that as a good sign that I enjoy it. There are some situations where I am definitely out of my comfort zone at the moment, but I think with time/ hope with time I come to be great at these things! I managed to stay awake the whole time I was at work- Hooray! One of the procedures we have to follow is when guests decide to step out of their clam-shells when they are going around the ride. The complete ride is covered in censored mats and if anything hits them it sets off an intrusion alarm. This happens ALL the time. I am so surprised at how often this happens. Why do people try and get out of the shells? It just doesn't make sense.
The clam shells (There are 103 of them and two WAV vehicles for wheelchairs)
Three of the positions on the ride involve walking on a conveyor belt and helping guests on and off the ride. After I was on it for a while today I felt like the rest of the room was moving and the belt was still-even though I was walking. Very odd.
I finished work at three thirty and made my way home on the buses, past the holiday services building where they store the Christmas decorations.
A dismantled Animal Kingdom Christmas tree
This evening a group of 12 of us went out for dinner. I think it must have been the boys decision on where we went as Hooters was the chosen location. You should have seen the smiles on the boys faces as soon as we walked in!
BBQ chicken wings
Stacey and I
On the receipt at dinner
I have a lovely long sleep in tomorrow. No work until 5.30pm. It is my final training day tomorrow so I am doing the closing shift, 5.30 until 2am.
Dan's joke of the night: What's green and has wheels? Grass, I was lying about the wheels.
What a day! It has been extremely intense, but I am loving it.
At 4am I was up and out the door. I even bet the sprinklers today so was able to walk the quick way to the bus stop in the dead of the night. Somehow managed to run out of time for breakfast though so ate a muesli bar on the bus. Ashton was on my bus too so once at the park we headed inside together, along with another girl Lauren who had her first day training on Under the Sea as well..
I'm not sure if I explained earlier but we get a bus from the apartments to an area called Westclock which is close to Magic Kingdom (MK) and then have to switch to another bus which takes College Programmers (CPs) as well as all other staff who have driven to work into the park.
We met in the Fantasyland training room and as our bus had got us there about 20 minutes early we could relax for a bit. Lauren and I were taken by the same instructor today. Her name was Ashley. We were shown the break room and the lockers we can use etc. We have our own clock-in computer so don't have to use the general one in the utilidors. We also have our own entrance so won't necessarily need to go through the utilidors each day to get to our rides. We can get off a stop earlier on the park bus and avoid the hoards of workers entering at the same time.
It was still the middle of the night when arrived so the maintenance workers still had control of the ride. This meant we were not allowed to go in the ride yet. We went outside and started working on one of the checklists which are done each morning to check the attraction is in working order. It was chilly chilly and we had to wear orange safety vests so the truck drivers wouldn't run us over. Our uniforms have big polar fleece coats which we can wear inside and out as we wish- thank goodness.
The day went by very quickly even though it was 8.5 hours. It all merged into a blur, but we got to learn things like the controls on each position, how to greet people out the front, how the ride phones work, how to slow the moving belt for assisting guests, we got to walk through the ride before opening and get it all show ready, we had to check all the emergency doors were working etc. There is so much to remember and I hope that our three days training is enough to learn it all and remember it all.
We had to do some reading this morning as part of the training. I am not going to lie... I fell asleep a few times while doing it. I thought, right - when I get home I just need to sleep. This was further enforced when I got on the bus home this afternoon and fell asleep 4 times!
After our shift I popped into costuming to pick up another 2 matching costumes for my role so the one I have doesn't get disgusting and dirty.
All the workers on Under the Sea seem really lovely. There is one other kiwi there called Natasha and she is from Rotorua. Sam's friend Briar also used to work on this ride- must be a kiwi magnet!
The role also involves being positioned in the Grotto where guests can come and meet Ariel.
I got home this afternoon and wanted to have a quick nap before heading to the Up! themed welcome party. I lay down, and didn't wake until 10.30pm. Eeek, missed the party completely. Oh well, sleep was much more important than meeting the characters.
That reminds me, I saw Minnie and Daisy backstage today- we waved at them and they curtsied for us!
I've slept for about 5 and a half hours this afternoon. I was tempted to sleep right through until my shift in the morning but I decided I needed to get up and have some dinner, shower, and make my lunch for tomorrow.
However our toilet overflowed last night so that is out if order, and the shower is not draining either so there is a inch of water sitting in the base of the shower. Ergh. I wasn't very keen on washing in a pool of dirty water so Stacey and Missy very kindly let me use their shower. It was heaven!
I've got to make my lunch now but then will be straight back into bed.
I have a feeling that blogs may start to slow from this point in as I reckon some days I might not have the power to pull myself from my sleep!
Keep on swimming,
Mermaid Polly xxoo
Ps, I saw Peter Pan backstage at work yesterday. He gave me a smile and melted my heart. I'm in love. And don't worry, I've told Mana- he said if needed he will come over to stop any connection which is super likely to eventuate.
This is the outside of the ride I work on
This is my favourite scene if the ride: Kiss the Girl
I have an even earlier start tomorrow, alarm is set for 4am, so I am not going to add photos in until tomorrow as I need to sleep!
When I got up to leave this morning, the sprinklers were once again on! Instead of snaking right along, I sprinted out to the road/drive through the complex and walked along there instead and made it with only a few drops.
Emily was on the bus today, she made it! So we set off on our day together.
Once at Disney we had to meet in the Mouseketeria in the Utilidors. We were then shown how to clock in and also handed out the same listening devices as used yesterday on our tour.
We set off on another tour however this one was of the entire park.
We exited the utilidors near Town Hall on Main St, and started from the very front of the park. Whilst being told about the Railway Station one other cast member came past and sprinkled Mickey confetti all over us. Awesome.
We heard all about details of Main St and its creation, I got a badge for this being my 1st official visit to the park, and we learnt of things such as the lightning rod diverters which are along the rooftops on Main St but disguised as flag poles even though the American flags on them are not actually proper (they have stars missing!).
We ventured through Adventureland prior to the park opening, through Frontierland, and into Liberty Square (I saw a Thumper but couldn't buy him as I was working) where we got to ride on the Haunted Mansion. I rode with Emily in the doom buggy and it was her first ever Disney ride.
We then walked through Fantasyland and had a break in one of the cafes, and then wandered through Tomorrowland and then backstage to one of the classrooms. I learnt SO much about the park that it would be impossible to share it all- but I will endeavour to include bits and pieces throughout my posts as I see fit!
After watching another video about the 4 keys which we covered yesterday (including a Mary Poppins with a horrific english accent), we went off with our training instructors for each area. I went with one other girl called Ashton from America and were led away by a lovely lady called Jiselle I think (?). We were both given our 'earning my ears' flags to place on our badges during training. We were introduced to our COTs and then shown how to log on to the Hub- the company intranet.
From here we went over to costuming. Ashton and I were very excited to see what our costumes were as we thought if we knew that we would be able to narrow down which rides we were going to be on. Our instructor was withholding this information by choice! She could have told us straight away- but she didn't end up telling us until 30 minutes before the end of our shifts. The costuming building is insane. There are rows and rows of costumes and racks and racks of them. Our costumes are green tops and shorts. We look a bit like a pixie mixed with Robin Hood! The photo will illustrate this!
After costuming we went back and put our outfits in our lockers. I am locker number 98.
Then it was lunch time. Back to the Mouseketeria where we ate our lunch in amongst some of the other characters!
We then went on a guided VIP tour of Fantasyland. We got to be taken almost straight to the front of ride lines- it was fantastic. We were also explained what the different shops held, what each attraction involved, and where Fastpast locations are etc. These just changed from paper Fastpasses to Electronic ones yesterday.
We went on Peter Pan, Under the Sea, Winnie the Pooh, watched Phillarmagic, went in the Dumbo tent, on Goofy's Barnstormer. A pretty awesome way to be trained if you ask me.
After this we went back and were told where we would be positioned. I had worked out we would be on either Winnie the Pooh, or Under the Sea (which had been my first choice). On the count of three we turned over our schedules... and I had UNDER THE SEA! WooHoo. Man I have been lucky with my allocations over here. I truly couldn't believe it. I really thought I would be on Winnie the Pooh.
After clocking out we got the two buses home. I dropped my costume of and then headed to Walmart to get black polishable shoes for my training tomorrow. I have to be in costume. I am working 6am until 2.30 tomorrow. I might need a nap in the afternoon before heading to the welcome party which is on in the evening.
Sorry for the briefness of my post- maybe I will bulk it up tomorrow or the day after... but I wanted to give an idea of the magical day I had. My mind is jammed pack with information.
Sweet dreams tonight,
Polly.
My costume for Under the Sea
The sprinkler trap
Stray cat at Walmart. It has come to visit me each time I have been
My goods for the day. Check out the earning my ears flag on my badge!
I have a big day of stories to tell, but first I need to introduce you all to the beautiful costumes of Missy and Mel which we were all lucky enough to view last night!
Missy: Character Attendant at Hollywood Studios.
Mel: Main Street merchandise
Melissa and Melissa!
Tuesday January 14
I had to be at Disney University by 8am, so got up before the sun today.
I shouldn't have been so disturbed by the earliness as tomorrow I need to get up an hour earlier than today! After breakfast I was out the door and set to make my 2 minute walk to the bus stop. Jacob from the building next door stepped out as I did and we found ourselves in a bit of a conundrum. The garden sprinklers were still on. They are moving sprinklers and were covering the grass and pathways along which we needed to walk. We ended up snaking our way around the sprinklers one by one! It wasn't until we reached the bus stop that I remembered it was still within quiet hours (1am- 7am). I had been laughing quite a lot and may have disturb some peoples sleep.
Got on my bus to Disney University. I was supposed to be meeting drug-test Emily, but she had decided not to get this bus and risk being late on the later one instead! Once at DU I lined up and had to have my passport checked prior to Traditions.
Emily and I. We are in training together tomorrow too.
I was allocated the Evil Snow Queen group and told to wait in the cafeteria until my group was called. I talked to some Americans who are here working on professional internships. Emily arrived about 30mins after me and joined our group in the cafeteria. We were in the same group- Hooray! And were mixed in among entertainers, cruise workers, textile staff, interns, and one or two other domestic CPs whose background checks had failed to come back in time for last weeks traditions.
There is some fun stuff around Disney University. I took quite a few photos.
We went into the classroom, watched a safety video thing for about 30 minutes, and were then asked to leave the room for 10 minutes. When we came back in there were red gift boxes on all the tables, and Traditions guidebooks. We were told to not open the boxes just yet. When we did eventually open them they had a set of Mickey ears for each of us in them.
Check out how I'm rocking them ears.
We learnt about the goals of the company, the diversity of the company, the 4 keys of the company and various other aspects. Throughout the day if you answered questions or volunteered to read things you could get a spot prize of a disney figurine. They had them in the coolest little Mickey Mouse baskets. We had done some group work where you had to say what you do to be safe each day. I said that I look both ways before crossing the road- my group laughed at me for this... But then when it came time to share our ideas with the class (and possibly get a figurine), Emily shot her hand up to share my idea. Cheeky thing! Anyway, it turned out that as she was saying MY idea that they would give us each a figure. We both got Minnie Mouse!
At some point we got let off for a half hour lunch break after being presented our Staff ID cards (I can now get into the parks!). Emily and I headed into the cafeteria. Dan from next door saw me in there and came over to chat to us, he was on his lunch break from training. For some people it is their last day training today/tomorrow and then they are out there for real. We sat at a table with 2 Americans, Jessica and Aaron. They added us on Facebook, so we are sure to be best buddies in no time at all. They are both here on professional interships. Emily had decided to buy a bit of pizza for lunch, deespite being lactose intolerant (that's three in the club now!). It was the biggest piece of pizza ever. It was about the size of a loaf of bread. But she ate it all anyway.
In amongst our afternoon lessons we were taken by bus, the short distance across to Magic Kingdom. We were all connected via ear pieces to our instructor who gave us a bit of a tour while also pointing out situations where the four keys were being utilised (Safety, Courtesy, Show, and Efficiency) We walked through the utilidors (a system of corridors upon which Magic Kingdom is built- the utilidors are at ground level and then some areas of MK are build on top), which act as access routes for cast members and workers. They also house cafeterias and rubbish shoots etc. All away from the public eye. These are quite well known by the public or otherwise I wouldn't be allowed to mention them. As this is a bit of a secret I wasn't allowed to take any photos of them. However here is a photo which I found on google which gives you some idea of what they are like.
We made our way up backstage to one of the cast entry doors onto Main St. For some of the people in our group it was their first time at a Disney park and they were very excited. From Main St we made our way up and past the castle into the Storybook Circus area of Fantasyland. We were given about 15 minutes to look around in our groups, however it had started raining. Emily and I wandered around a little and then sat down to people watch for the remaining 5 minutes.
After our quick trip to Magic Kingdom it was back to DU to debrief on all that we had seen. About an hour after that we had a friend drop by.
The Mouse himself, hand delivering our namebadges.
On the way in the Mouster tapped me on the shoulder...
On the way out, he gave me a high five. Yeah Boi!
We were then given our name badges. I was the only one in the room who cheered for the other three people at my table. Everyone was a bit surprised- but it was a momentous occasion.
My name badge on my ears.
We were then given our timetables for tomorrow and sent on our merry ways. Emily and I got on the bus- somehow managed to stay awake the whole way back to our complexes. She stays at Chatham so got off before me. When I got off I headed over the road to Walgreens (different room Walmart and right over the road from us). I wanted to get some apples to take for lunch tomorrow, but they were $1.25 each and I didn't want to pay that. I ended up getting a bag of dried fruit instead.
Then home sweet home to unpack my bundles of goodies from today.
Since being home I have had leftovers for dinner, talked to my girl in her lunch break back home, talked to my boy in his late lunch break, and tried to ring Mum- but no luck yet.
In this blog I have tried to increase the number of pictures of me (as requested). You also may be interested to know that no one has asked to be sent the photo of the dead squirrel.
I start in MK at 7.15am tomorrow so will be setting my alarm for 5.15 in order to be ready for the appropriate bus. Fingers crossed for another day of intrigue!
POLLY Auckland, New Zealand.
PS. Yesterday I left a note on the open door of the apartment opposite ours. It was being painted after the previous occupants moved out. I had asked if we could have the broom which was lying on their kitchen floor (as we need one), and also anything else which could come in handy since it was all going to be thrown out anyway. I got home today and the door of that apartment was shut- no sign of the note I had left on it last night, and no sign of the yellow broom. Oh well- no harm in trying eh?
January 13th continued. (5 months to go!)I was sitting around waiting, and got sick of that. So at 1pm I gave international recruitment a call. After being put on hold and played the entire soundtrack of the Alice and Wonderland ride they let me know I had been cleared for Traditions. Finally!
I sorted out what I will wear tomorrow. I am worried that the dress I have brought with me for the formal wear might be too short/ otherwise it is just on the boundary of length requirements- so instead I have a skirt and blouse out to wear.
I went for a wander to the front office as the lady on the phone had told me to go there in order to work out which bus to take to get to Disney University in the morning, but they were unhelpful so I came back and worked it out myself.
I have been watching How I Met Your Mother this afternoon. Might watch the Inside Claridges documentary in a while.
I'm not planning on a big night. I should try and get to sleep reasonably early in order to wake up ready in the morning.
Mum sent me another message from Gretel, Gretel must have liked being talked about in my last post!
Bring on Disney! I am now making progress. In the next few days I will hopefully have all sorts of adventures to share.
On a different note, when Anne got home in her uniform yesterday she showed us that she has been allocated to be a pin trader. So she gets to wear one of the satchel things and trade with the guests. I wonder if I will get to? Maybe not if I am working on a ride.
Every time I finish a post I realised I have forgotten to include something. I normally end up adding it on to the next post but today I will just make it its own. We were having trouble working out if the dishwasher was dirty or clean, so we have invested in a magnet.
Meet Ariel. Or as others seem to call her, Ah-ri-elle. I say it Ear-e-ill.
The beautiful Ariel is here to assist. If she is on the fridge the dishes are clean and ready to be unloaded. If she is on the dishwasher things are dirty and we can keep loading. I like to think that when she is on the fridge she is Under the Sea. Imagine if Ariel, Sebastian and Flounder were swimming around with our dishes. I bet they would love the bubbles.