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!
Tuesday January 14
I had to be at Disney University by 8am, so got up before the sun today.
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.
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.
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.
When we did eventually open them they had a set of Mickey ears for each of us in them.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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?