The Lagoon and Chick-fil-A

 Disney had mercy on me today by giving me two days off in a row! A break couldn't have come at a better time either, because yesterday I woke up with the flu and a fever. I had my final day of training last night at 4 o' clock, but only made it through an hour of the assessment. Thankfully, my coordinators and manager had pity on me an sent me home early without giving me any points (3 points equal a reprimand and 3 reprimands means I'm shipped back home to Michigan). I came home and crashed last night, which meant I missed the spaghetti and cupcakes Sam and Lauren made for everyone, but I woke up around midnight and had a wonderful, reheated dinner.
 Woke up this morning feeling great, but still spent the morning resting. Dedra and I went to Typhoon Lagoon for the afternoon since we get free entrance to the water parks until early June. I loved the atmosphere of the park and had a lot of fun. I lost my sunglasses on one of the slides, but a kind lifeguard relocated them for me and I had another "magical moment".
 There's a Chick-fil-A hardly two miles away from our complex and every time I pass it, I comment about how I have never eaten at one. Apparently I've never said it around Dedra because she promptly turned around and pulled into the drive-thru. So today, I tried Chick-fil-A for the first time and it was wonderful! I have never had a shake as good as their Banana Pudding shakes. MMMM! I suspect they'll be receiving a part of my paycheck every week!
  At the moment, I'm waiting for Lauren to get out of work so we can all head into Magic Kingdom. During Traditions we walked Main Street U.S.A., but didn't get anywhere near the Castle. Today, we're going to ride a few rides and watch the Wishes fireworks show. Hopefully it doesn't rain on us, but if it does I'll be ok with coming home to rest. My thoughts are with everyone back home, thanks to everyone who has been keeping me updated!

Training and the Studios

 Yesterday I had my first on-the-job training in Downtown. I was training with one other person, who I thankfully had met a few days ago. Basically, they taught us how to sweep and change trash. My job is not a difficult one. However, I do feel very official because I get to carry a radio and earpiece with me. I was given a lanyard and pins so I could participate in the Disney Pin Trading craze. So far I am enjoying the guest interaction. As one of my trainers kept saying yesterday, the amount of interaction is decided by the individual. He chooses to carry bandages, 5 different languages of maps, and he does pin trading, which ups the guest interaction. Some guest show hosts (custodians) don't carry any of that and simply do their cleaning duties. I hope to be like Dave in a few months, but I feel like I need to acquaint myself with the area more before I can be that helpful.
 I wanted so bad to just come home and crash last night, but I don't want to miss out on anything while I'm here. So instead of sleeping, Molly and I met up with Lauren and Jenessa at Hollywood Studios. It was my second time to the park during the program. Molly rode the Tower of Terror and Rock n' Rollin Coaster with us despite of all her opposition to them. We walked the whole park last night, something I hadn't been able to do two nights ago. I had been disappointed the first time because everything has changed so much. Queues are more built up and all the extra space that was there 11 years ago has been filled in. I was very sad that the things I remembered (the fire truck and Muppet fountain) were gone. Last night though, we stumbled upon both and I had a Magical Moment! I'll have to go back again to get pictures.
  In our wanderings, we also came across the Jedi Academy show. Kids 12 and under are invited to join the academy and be trained in the Jedi ways. After they have mastered the moves, Darth Vader arrives to turn them to the Dark Side! Needless to say, Molly and I were freaking out! After the show, we rushed to the newly opened Star Tours ride. Any loyal Star Wars fan has to ride this! I wanted to get back in line, but the park was preparing to close. Oh well, it's another excuse to go back.
 I have the morning off today, which is why I actually have time to post. I have training in cleaning restrooms from 4 to 12:30 today and recycle and Back of House training tomorrow morning. Hope everything is going well for everyone else out there!

Traditions and Friendosaurs

   Today was Traditions, a class that basically outlines how Disney expects us to act when we're onstage. It was four hours of learning what makes Disney such a great, respected company: safety, courtesy, show, and efficiency. We also learned a few secrets, but if you want to know those, you'll have to take the class yourself. At Traditions, we also received our Main Entrance Pass and our coveted nametags.

 

   The afternoon was spent cleaning and rearranging the apartment and watching YouTube videos with Sam. We had planned on going into the parks once everyone else returned from Traditions, but with time issues, we found ourselves once again in Downtown Disney. Lauren, Mary Kate and I made dinosaurs at Build-a-Dino (Apatosaurus and Ankylosauruses, respectively)  We explored the shops a bit more, watched one of the night performers, and stumbled into a restricted area in search of water. We're finally back to the apartments, which consisted of paying a toll twice (our normal guide didn't go with us tonight). Most (if not all) of us have orientation to our respective parks tomorrow, so we're watching a movie and hitting the hay. And remember, Safe D Begins With Me!

Hakuna Matata

   I am finally all settled into my new apartment with my wonderful new mates! I have one true roommate, Lashon, and 6 other apartment mates that I shall forever just refer to as my mates: Jenessa, Jillian, Dedra, Mary Kate, Sam, and Lauren. After waking up at 6 to get to registration at 8, I waited in line for a good hour and a half, filling out paperwork and talking to other CPers, before boarding a bus to Casting in Downtown Disney. I worked myself up about today way too much. Everyone was friendly and talkative and I made a lot of new friends. At Casting, our place assignments were given out. I will be working Custodial in the Downtown Disney Marketplace. At first, I was not too thrilled since this means I'm away from the main park area, but after visiting the area, I realize that I'll have just as much fun there as anywhere else.
   After Casting, we were set loose to find our apartments. (If anyone wants my address to write letters, just ask!) I chose to live in Chatham Square and as mentioned before, have 7 mates. We have a nice place with a living room, 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, kitchen, 2 fridges, and 2 pantries.
   Cutting this short so I can go play Apples to Apples, we went to Downtown Disney to scout out the Marketplace and eat at T-Rex, a dinosaur version of Rainforest Cafe. They're yelling at me, so I'll write more later!
 

All Packed With No Where To Go

   Well my Disney adventure begins in 4 short days! Since getting home from Ferris last week I've been busy packing, fixing my car, and spending time with family and friends. This evening has been spent packing my car up and getting last minute paperwork together. Everyone has asked if I'm excited to be going to Disney....the answer: of course!! To some degree, it seems as if my excitement stage has come and gone, but I know as soon as I set out Monday morning, I'll be obnoxiously excited again. It's such an amazing opportunity and I can't wait to be there! One of the few things I am stressing about is the roommate situation. I really can't imagine that I won't get along with the other girls though.
 Tomorrow after lunch with my mom and David, I'm heading down to Detroit to spend the day/night at a friend's house. From there I'll be going to TN to stay with an aunt Monday night and Tuesday evening will be spent less than two miles away from my new home in Lake Buena Vista, FL. What a grand adventure this shall be!