Fun News

Remember that wonderful dinner my family and I had at Victoria & Albert's? I got a job there! They started transferring me right after we left!! I was SO SO excited. People request to be transferred there and wait on lists for a long time in order to work at V&A's. I was incredibly honored, and so thrilled to make the move.

Now, I am training to be a reservationist as well as a seater. V&A's has received the AAA five diamond award each year for the past 10 years! There are very high standards set for the restaurant and they most certainly deliver.

I have only been here for a week and I LOVE my job. I work with fantastic people (everyone has been so incredibly kind to me) and I'm doing fun things. Not only that, but I walk into the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa each day to go to work. (?!??!!)

Here is Frommer's review on the hotel.

When I work as a reservationist, I leave work around 5:30 pm, right as the Grand Floridian Society Orchestra begins to play in the lobby. It feels unreal that I could be this blessed. 

Of course, when watching the band it makes me think of being there with Nate. The past two years when we've gone we've stopped at the Grand Floridian to hear the band play. I miss him so much, but he's coming in November - and I have LOTS planned already!

Because I am in training again, this week and next week will be busy. I am having so much fun. Work doesn't feel like work here. Maybe it will someday, but everyone I've talked to has sad that it never stops being magical. 

Victoria and I have been taking every opportunity to visit the parks. We have a goal to eat at every table service restaurant on Disney property. We get asked ALOT where is a good place to eat, and while we have many recommendations, many of them are at resorts, or in Epcot. We have 49 more restaurants to eat at (which is probably not possible if we only stay until January), and here is a list of new ones we've dined at since coming to Disney.

These ones we went to with mom and dad when they were moving us in:

Victoria & Alberts (@ the Grand Floridian)

California Grill (@ the Contemporary)

Artist Point (@ Fort Wilderness)

These Victoria and I went to:

50's Primetime Diner (@ Hollywood Studios)

Kona Kafe (@ The Polynesian)

The Sushi Bar (@ The Polynesian)

Gasparillas (@ the Grand Floridian - this one is a quick service location)
Kouzzina (@ the Boardwalk)

Tonight we are going to Tony's Town Square in Magic Kingdom, which is an Italian restaurant that we have never noticed before! Once we've dined at 10 locations, I'll do a blog entry detailing the restaurant and the food there.

Ttfn!

Up-To-Date and A Surprise!

So I'm finally up to date!!!!! Thank you for bearing with me as I added all my blog posts from the last few days. As I said, we just got internet so I was able to upload the posts I had been writing in word the past week.

Speaking of which, it's literally been one week since check in! I can't believe how fast the time went by.

This is not going to be a long entry because I have lots of things to accomplish on my day off today, BUT I did want to post a teaser: I have great news!!! I'm so excited that I had to post that I have news, however...I can't put the information online until tomorrow or the next day.

I can't wait to share with you what happened last night and this morning, so check my blog tomorrow or Friday and the update will be there!

Thanks for reading! Ttfn!

First Day on Location!!

Blog Entry from August 23, 2011:


So today was my first day on location!!! It was so much fun. The theme of my restaurant is so cute. First off, Restaurantesaurus is located in the Dino-Land section of Animal Kingdom. It's more geared towards younger guests, but there is one ride, "Dinosaur" that is for older ones (it's very scary in my opinion, but Nate loved it).

The idea is that two archeologist brothers, Chester and Hester set up camp in Dino-Land to dig for dinosaur bones along highway 498 (AK opened in April of 1998). They opened a gas station and then tourists started coming through to see their bones so they added a store to the gas station and ultimately, a restaurant. Then a bunch of college students came in to work at the dig site and thought they would add some fun elements - such as adding -osaurus onto the "Restaurant" sign out front. They also opened up their hang out area and bunks to guests.

My trainer's name was Jayme and she was so so nice. She did the college program a year ago and she stayed on as a Cast Member. She really seems to love her job, and she said training was her favorite. I learned all about the restaurant and the area that I will be working in so that I can answer guest questions about bathrooms, ATM's, or the location of certain rides in the park.

A part of the restaurant are two "carts." One is an ice cream booth that is inside and sells sundaes, and floats, as well as churros. The other sells turkey legs and frozen lemonade. I actually think it'd be really fun to work in either one of these locations because it seemed more low key and you work with only one other person. It seemed really fun. Plus who wouldn't want to be making ice cream sundaes and floats for Disney guests!

You have to be working at Restaurantosaurus for 30 days before they'll train you on it, so we'll see! I'm so excited for the possibilities here. They have an entertainment audition halfway through my program so I'm trying to decide if I want to go to it, or if I want to try to work my way up in corporate. I don't know, I guess I'll decide when I come to it.


For now, working in the parks is awesome. When I walked into work today in my costume, through the Animal Kingdom gates, I got SO excited. I don't know if that feeling will ever go away. Like I've said before, I've just wanted this for so so long, that I can't even believe I'm here working.

We'll see!!!

Disney Dining

Blog Entry from August 21, 2011:

Disney is really good at a lot of things, and one thing I have noticed first hand thus far as a Cast Member is their wonderful system of training. Each CM goes through "Traditions," followed by an orientation to their actual location - whether it's Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, or a resort like the Grand Floridian or the Boardwalk. There they give you inside information about that specific location including the history, some fun facts, and where the CM rooms are, etc.

After that you do another orientation in your role. So for me, that was Food & Beverage, for Victoria that was Attractions. In that session you learn everything about safety and the rules to your specific role. From there you start training on location.

Today I had my Food & Beverage class. It was interesting to learn the safety of cooking, what temperatures things need to be at, and then added Disney do's and don'ts that differ from the rest of the American standards and laws of food. It was very interesting.
Victoria and I would love to make it our goal to try each restaurant on property. Now, I don't know if that is possible, but we'll try. Tonight we caved and went to California Grill again. We just couldn't resist the "Spicy Kazaan" sushi dish. It is sushi with crab, shrimp and tuna, and on the plate there are scallops in a creamy "fireball sauce." It is so delicious. We got that and the sushi platter. Everything was so so yummy.

I really love it here. Tomorrow I have the day off and then Tuesday I start training at my location. I'm so so so excited.

Ttfn!

A Surprise Day Off

Blog Entry from August 21, 2011:

So yesterday I was supposed to go to a session called "DAKlamation" which is all about the history of Animal Kingdom but mine had to be rescheduled so I had a surprise day off! It worked out really well because my parents were leaving that evening so I was able to spend some time with them before they had to go.

I met them at Magic Kingdom and it was my first time getting in free, as a Cast Member. It was VERY exciting. I got to go through a special CM line and everything! Walking down Main St. will never stop being magical. I don't think it will matter how many times I walk into MK, that will never change.

I met my parents at the Emporium, a store on Main Street and we talked with a few CM's there. I know I say it in every blog post, but everyone is SO nice.

After walking around Main Street we went on the Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean before heading back to the Grand Floridian for lunch before my parents had to leave. We ate at "The Grand Floridian Cafe," which will always stay in my memory as the restaurant we had brunch on Easter in 2006.

After lunch we went to the concierge level, which my parents still had access to since they checked out that morning. It is so comfortable there - they have couches and tables and two televisions that were playing Disney shows. It was nice to be with my parents before they were leaving but the time was sad. I knew I would be by myself for a few hours after they left and before Victoria got out of work and I knew that was going to be hard. My mom and dad were talking about when they would come back and see us and how fast the time would fly by.

Before I knew it, it was time for them to leave. It was so surreal to be in Disney with my sister and my parents and have them leave. I've never gone to Disney with them and not gone home with them. I knew that this was what would happen, but it still seemed so strange.

Of course, it was also during the late afternoon storm that their bus came. I stood in the lobby of the Grand Floridian watching them load their suitcases into the Magical Express bus - in my sadness, I couldn't help but find it a little "funny" how dramatic and movie-like it seemed. It made me think of the scene in "The Parent Trap" when Hallie has to leave her mom in London to go back to California. I had tears in my eyes and felt a bit ridiculous, BUT in all honesty, it was really sad. Victoria and I had been staying at the hotel with my parents and I knew that night we would be officially on our own in our apartment (which is still not completely unpacked).

In the midst of my tears, I saw a family of a mom, dad, three older kids (around my age), and a grandmother, and the dad was taking a picture of the family. Even though I didn't have my name tag on I fulfilled my Cast Member duty of courtesy and going above and beyond and I asked if they wanted me to take the picture for them so that they could all be in it. Naturally, they were so grateful, and when I turned back around the bus had left.

I walked back into the lobby and up the stairs to the concierge level and my dad called. He said he loved me and he's so excited for us and can't wait to come back. Of course, I started crying again. It's interesting that this all happened in the Grand Floridian because that hotel has always felt like Disney home in a way. We stayed there when Victoria and I were little and ate there with dance and I spent a great evening with Nate there watching the band play (because they have a wonderful full band that plays each night).

As I waited for Victoria to get out of work I thought about how much I missed Nate and my parents (already). I truly love it here and feel so at home here but that brings about this torn feeling I've never felt - like my heart is in two places. I feel so secure that it will all work out. I have incredible peace about being here and my future with the company. It seems so soon to be saying that, and I can't explain it any other way but that there's just this all encompassing feeling that this is right.

When Victoria got out we had dinner at the free concierge food level of the hotel and then went to Magic Kingdom. It was so so exciting and fun to be there with her, and we even got to see the Main Street Electrical Parade before leaving.

It was an emotional, but wonderful day.

Here are some pictures of that Easter I was talking about:

Traditions!

Blog Entry from August 19, 2011:


Yesterday we went to Universal Studios to see Harry Potter World. Since this blog is about my Disney experience, I'm not going to say much except that I'm glad I went, but Disney would have done it better. I'm not just saying that because I work for them, I was just really disappointed with Universal. Like I said though, I'm really happy I got to see it! Onto Disney... :)


After getting back from Universal my family and I ultimately ended up going to California Grill, the restaurant on the top on the Contemporary Resort. It was SO delicious. They definitely have the best sushi on Disney property (compared to the sushi at the Polynesian resort and at Tokyo in Epcot). A must try if you're a sushi fan. We happened to walk in an hour before the "Wishes" fireworks started at Magic Kingdom, and since you can see the castle from the Contemporary resort, they dim the lights and pipe in the music to the program while we watch. It was magical. I would definitely recommend it to anyone vacationing at Disney, especially if you want to see the fireworks but didn't want to spend a pass on the parks that day. It is on the pricey side, but they have flatbreads for $11-$13 and the sushi is in the $20's BUT it comes with ALOT of sushi and is so so delicious.

 It was a really nice memory for my family :)

Today we had "Traditions". What this is, is a class that every single Cast Member of the Walt Disney company (not just WDW, but EVERYONE) has to take. It was SO much fun.


We started off the class with a video about the company itself, and some history. They defined the word traditions as "the handing down of information, beliefs, and customs, by word of mouth, or by example, from one generation to another." They, essentially were bringing us into the Disney family by letting us in on the traditions that Walt laid out for us that they intend to carry on within each one of us. It is such a wonderful idea because it automatically brings you into this family, this legacy, where you know you will be a part of the company's history. That is so neat.


They talked about what we do now as Cast Members because of what Walt wanted. I'm going to share a story that one of my "Traditions" leaders, Kristin, shared with us. So one day a little girl walked into Magic Kingdom with her parents. She loved to read and so she of course, was very excited to meet Belle. When she saw Belle, she told her about her love of books, and Belle asked what her favorite book was. The little girl replied that she just finished a book about Walt Disney. Belle smiled and asked what she remembered about Disney. The little girl looked at her and said "Walt created Disneyland because he wanted a place where families could grow closer together."


Ugh! Literally tears welled up in my eyes and I wanted to ask if Belle cried, but I was sure I knew the answer. What the little girl said was true. Walt wanted to create a family friendly place that was fun for "children" of all ages. Where families felt taken care of and didn't have to worry about trash, or unfriendly employees. The park is still very much what Walt wanted. Safety is of utmost importance here at Disney and next is courtesy.


It is so so important to the company that we treat our guests with courtesy as well as other Cast Members. It's such a simple idea, and yet I've never worked somewhere that the employees respected one another and talked kindly. Of course, everyone has a bad day, and everyone is going to have a time where they are frustrated, but if our goal is to be courteous to everyone we encounter you can't go wrong. So far I've truly seen that displayed by the Cast Members here.


Walt wanted every guest to feel at home and welcome and that is why it is so important to go above and beyond to make every guest happy. Anyone who has come to WDW had witnessed first hand the VIP treatment each guest receives. You truly feel like a princess or a prince while you're here and that is what makes us want to return. That's what made me want to work here.


And, of course, Mickey dropped by with a special box containing our Disney name tags!!!!!! It was VERY exciting to see mine and put it on (it goes over your heart - very cute). It was magical.

I don't think I can go into too much more detail on what "Traditions" entailed, however, I will say that we are told in the class that our goal each day is to make our guests happy. We can do that by smiling and talking to them like they matter, by treating everyone - including children like they are important, and by going above and beyond - by doing things like getting a new ice cream for a child (or adult) that dropped theirs. We will never be reprimanded for going above and beyond (except we can't give out free tickets or free hotel stays - of course!) Those are pretty much our perimeters.


I'm learning that everyone here has a story about a guest that touched their heart. Kristin had the story about Belle and the little girl, and our other "Traditions" leader (who is one of the managers at the Boardwalk) had a nice story about surprising a teenaged guest with a cupcake on his birthday. He told us that the mother came over to him at the end of their stay and said that he had changed their vacation. She said that that action brought her son back into the magic and he actively joined their vacation from then on. Another Cast Member saw a little boy who got sick on his t-shirt. She got him a brand new one free of charge from a merchandise location, took his old one, had it washed at the costuming center and sent it to his hotel. All these things are ENCOURAGED by management. Who wouldn't want to work here?


I can't wait to really be working and have the opportunity to change someone's vacation or make them feel truly special. We have no idea where each guest is coming from, or how long they saved to be here and I just can't wait to be a part of someone's Disney memory. I think that all children should have a moment when they feel so so special. My parents worked incredibly hard to ensure that my sister and I would feel that way, and I think it is so wonderful to give that to a child, or an adult.


I could go on and on about more stories I've heard, or first hand experiences, but I'll save them for another time. Basically, "Traditions" was amazing, and in four hours, made me feel like I could work with this company for the rest of my life. I can honestly say that in the past week I have had more moments of pure joy and happiness than I've had in a very long time. Not because I don't have a wonderful life, and not because I don't have wonderful people surrounding me, but because I am somewhere I feel I belong more than I've felt in any school, show, or workplace anywhere. Ever. It's so amazing to be doing something I love for such a wonderful company that encourages me in that.


Speaking of wonderful company.... There is a restaurant called "Victoria & Alberts," located at the Grand Floridian. It is a five-diamond restaurant - one of only two in the state of FL, and one of forty one in the US. 


We knew we wanted to go there as a family so weeks ago I made reservations for today at 5:15 PM.  However, on check in day I was given my "Traditions" schedule which was today from 2-6. So after check in I called the restaurant to see if they had any cancellations that we could switch into. The Cast Member I spoke to was named Lauren, and she said she could move us to 6 but that was the only time slot. She said not to worry about it, to just have my family get there on time and she told me just to come after I got out. However, yesterday I missed a phone call and when I listened to the message it was Lauren. She called me to tell me that they had a cancellation at 8 pm and she thought that might work better for me so to give her a call back to let her know either way what I wanted to do.


That's what they're talking about! Above and beyond service that makes everyone feel special and keeps guests coming back. It was so so nice of her to not only remember I had a conflict, but call me to let me know there was a cancellation that might fit better in our schedule. Needless to say we took the later time and were very impressed by the customer service.

When we checked into the restaurant (which was a suit jacket/tie affair), we were immediately greeted with congratulations on becoming new cast members. Victoria and I (of course) began a conversation with the restaurant manager and assistant manager about the company and our desire to stay in it. They were so so nice! I can not get over how willing everyone in the company is to help others. We talked for a few minutes before they brought us over to our table. When we sat down our waiter came over and handed us custom made menus! Victory and my menu even said at the top "Congratulations on the WDWCP!" It was very exciting.


It was a seven course meal. And each course was exquisite. I suppose we should have expected that from the five diamond restaurant, but I couldn't have imagined just how delicious it was. There are only 12 or so tables in the entire restaurant and there are two waiters to every table. It was such an experience. If you ever have the chance, and love experiencing food, I would definitely suggested saving up to go to the restaurant. You will not be disappointed. You are treated like kings and queens the entire night and it was such a wonderful experience. Halfway through our meal, the manager Israel came over to our table and said he really enjoyed meeting Victoria and I and gave us his card in case we wanted to set up a meeting with him about opportunities there. It was so exciting. We've only been here a few days and already Cast Members (in management AND at a five diamond restaurant none-the-less) is noticing how well we fit into the Disney family. 


Our meal took about 3 hours and it was wonderful. I wish I could better put into words how great it was. Let me attempt to describe the atmosphere. There was a harpist playing and everyone is dressed very nicely. The waiters were wearing suits with tails on their jackets. The colors are soft and include a pale pink, green, and gold. 


It was incredible. We could not have had a more perfect ending to our week. My parents leave tomorrow and I know it will be sad, but we couldn't have had a better final dinner in Disney together.


The best part is that the manager of the restaurant came over to us after we ate, gave us his card, and said he would be interested in perhaps cross training us or looking into opportunities working with them. So hopefully I will be able to set up a meeting with him in the next few weeks to discuss some options!!! Everyone there was so nice, just like everyone has been so far. It's been so much more than I could have even expected. I love it here. 

Check- In Day!!!

Blog Entry August 17, 2011:


(FYI: For this blog post I uploaded a good amount of videos - so that it didn't take up a lot of space on the page they are all linked to certain words or phrases. The words you need to click on are in grey writing instead of black. Just click on the words and the video will pop up in another screen! Enjoy!)

This morning Victoria and I woke up at 6:30 am to get ready and wait in line at Disney's 'Vista Way' apartments. Disney has four different apartment complexes, but Vista Way are the ones that everyone checks in at. The check in starts at 9 am, but housing is first come first serve, and since we wanted to make sure we would get a one bedroom apartment for just the two of us, we wanted to be the first few in line.

When we pulled up to the line two hours early, there were already over 50 people ahead of us!!!! It was crazy! I wish I knew what time the person in the front got there, it had to have been around 6 am. It definitely made me a little nervous that so many people were ahead of us, but I kept my hopes high.

We ended up talking to the couple standing behind us. The boy started his college program in May and his girlfriend was starting with us. It was really good to be able to talk to him about what to expect for the first few weeks of work. It was also nice to see another person who was really enjoying their time on the program.

At around 7:45/8 am they opened the doors and starting letting people in. This was VERY exciting because it meant we would have extra down time later.

Everything was VERY organized. We stayed in a line that looped through different stations. We turned in paper work and were given times for the rest of the day. When we got to the table for housing a Cast Member came up to us and asked if we had requested a specific roommate. We told him we were roommates and sisters, and he informed us that one of us would talk with the person who would assign us to our apartment while the other waited. When he asked who would be the negotiator, I raised my hand at the same time that Victoria pointed to me, and he immediately chuckled and said “I'm guessing you're the older sister.” It was nice to share a laugh with him, because I was so nervous about getting a one bedroom.

The moment of truth arrived and I approached the booth where a nice woman was going to find an apartment for me. I immediately started small chatting and asking how her day had been so far before telling her that Victoria and I would REALLY like a one bedroom. She smiled and nodded and began typing and searching her computer. It felt like it took her FOREVER. I was getting nervous because I didn't know if the length of time meant there weren't any left, but just as my heart started really racing, she looked up and said “You have a one bedroom in Chatham!”

I was SO excited. I looked at Victoria who was waiting in the designated area across the room and mouthed “We got it!!” She immediately ran over and we started hugging each other and jumping up and down as we approached the next booth. The cast members there were smiling but were definitely wondering what we were so happy about. We told them and they handed us our key to our new apartment!!!

Then we received our housing ID and winded around to a man who told us we were on the 10 AM bus to casting! While we waited a Cast Member went over our “on-boarding paperwork,” which is all our I-9/W-4 type paper work we would need at the casting building. We of course had ours, and all the documents we needed since I compulsively checked the computer to make sure we had everything.

We soon got on our bus and were so so so excited to see the casting building and to find out where we would be working!! I really wanted either Magic Kingdom or Animal Kingdom (MK because it's so magical and AK because they have the best hours) and Victoria wanted either the Great Movie Ride or Tower of Terror in Hollywood Studios, or the Haunted Mansion in Magic Kingdom. When we pulled up to the casting building (which is located right across from Downtown Disney) it was so beautiful!!! It was very whimsical with big golden columns with a diamond pattern. Legend has it that the pattern was made to look like the design on Walt Disney's argyle socks. Inside the building is even a painting of him wearing socks in the same colors as the outside of the building. There are Mickey Mouse shaped cut outs along the top of the building and the best part – the doorknobs from Alice and Wonderland!! They are so cute (they do NOT talk but they are very fun none-the-less).

When we walked through the oversized doors and into the rotunda we were “greeted” by our favorite Disney characters. Minnie, Mickey, Daisy, and of course, Tinker Bell were perched at the top of the columns circling the room. Once we recovered from the excitement we realized a Cast Member was walking around giving us our locations. My stomach flopped in anticipation and when he finally came to us he playfully stalled, knowing how badly we wanted to know, and asked where we would like to be. Both of us said we would be happy anywhere (which of course made us no fun) so he handed us our assignments. I would be working at Restaurantosaurus at Animal Kingdom and Victoria would be at the Haunted Mansion!!! We were SO SO SO excited. We both were placed somewhere we wanted and I could NOT wait to find out what my costume would look like.

We moved through casting looking at all the fun pictures of Walt, his brother Roy, and famous imagineers. We saw pictures of our beloved characters, as well as preliminary drawings of certain rides and movies. I often forget, by Disney was truly a pioneer in the film industry. Quick fun facts: he was the first ever to use story-boards when creating a film, he was the first to combine animation and audio in his cartoon, Steamboat Willie, and he was the first to combine animation with live action in Mary Poppins. In all areas he was told these things were impossible and couldn't be done, but he found a way.

When handing in our I-9's we met one-on-one with a Cast Member so they could see our official documents and write them in on our form. While I was talking to the woman who helped me she asked if I was interested in pursuing a career with Disney. I, of course, told her I was, and she launched into giving me advice about networking, the Professional Internship program, and what I should make sure I do on the College Program. She was the first of many CM's who helped give advice on a future with the company. It was also fun to talk to a College Program Alum who worked her way up to Casting. Very cool.

After we got back from the casting building, we met my parents and drove over to Chatham Square. One thing that is AWESOME about Disney is their security. There is only one entrance that you can access our apartment complex through as a car or as a pedestrian and they literally check each and every person's ID before they can get through. If I am going to have visitors, I have to notify security that they are coming and those people then have to present a valid state ID to get in, and are only allowed to stay until 1 AM. After 1 AM, even other CM's that live in other buildings must leave. It's very comforting knowing how strict they are.

We walked into our apartment and we love it! It's so nice (although there is green carpet – weird). But all the cabinets/ counters are nice and even the furniture isn't bad. I was expecting dorm style furniture but it's nicer than that so that's good. (As soon as we're really done unpacking I'll put up pictures!).

After we walked in, we started bring our stuff up and we quickly learned that at some point between 4 and 7 pm there is a crazy rainstorm. It doesn't last very long at all, but it POURS. Like no rainstorm I've ever seen in MA. It is CRAZY. Luckily, my stuff was almost in when it started. Still, I was SOAKED. So we loaded in our stuff and then my parents helped us unpack before we had our Housing Meeting.

The meeting was about as fun as a meeting can be. They were blasting Disney music when we walked in and they basically went over the safety regulations and protocall as well as where we go to do laundry, who to contact if our dishwasher breaks and all fun stuff like that. At the end of the presentation they played a slide show that had pictures and information about the program. It was really moving the way they put it together and it ended with “get ready to have the time of your life.” Of course, both of our eyes were filling with tears, and Victoria looked over to see that the girl next to us was crying. It was so cute, but also very comforting that we are not the only ones so so excited to be Disney Cast Members. I'm learning more and more how truly amazing the company is, I can't wait to share some of the fun and wonderful things they do with you all.

By the time Victoria and I got out we were so so hungry. Luckily, we had reservations at the Flying Fish – one of our favorite restaurants. We met my parents at their hotel and drove over to the Boardwalk Hotel together. When we got there it started to really sink it that we are Disney Cast Members. This is the hotel that we have been staying at the past few times and so I literally was walking down memory lane remembering all the times I set foot on that boardwalk wishing it was as a Cast Member, but never sure if it would actually happen.

As many of you know, college was difficult for me. Not so much scholastically, as I have always done well in school (fortunately and unfortunately, even when I didn't try), but never felt truly happy there. I had isolated moments of feeling like I belonged, but mostly either onstage, or with select friends and family. I've always felt like I could do great things and really help people while working for this company and it is so so incredible to see all the possibilities right in front of me.

At the Flying Fish we had a wonderful dinner, but it was sad again for me that Nate wasn't there. He LOVES the Flying Fish and the last two times I had been there was with him. The hardest part is just wishing he could experience this all with me. It's so incredible, and I know he would love it just as much as I do.

After dinner, we walked around the boardwalk some more, going into the stores and talking to Cast Members. It's so fun to talk to them because so many of them are so excited when they learned we have joined their Disney family. They want to give advice, tell their Disney stories, or just reassure us of how great our decision was. Everyone has been so kind to us and I hope that we continue to have good experiences with fellow Cast Members, from what I heard, the courtesy will continue.

Here is my schedule for the next few days: tomorrow I have off, Friday I have “Traditions” (which I will talk more about then), and Saturday and Sunday I have more orientation type stuff for the company and my specific job. Training at location starts Tuesday!! I'm so excited :)

Tomorrow we are getting up and going to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios!!!!! I am so so so excited, but sad that Nate isn't here. I really wanted to be able to go with him, but it's expensive so when we were down here we couldn't afford it. I'm sure we'll have so much fun. I'm so lost in the world of Disney that it will be weird to switch over to the Harry Potter world, but it'll happen and I know we will have so much fun. My whole family is excited and it will be so fun to spend more time together as a family. I'll update about it soon! As well as the rest of my crazy weekend!

Ttfn!