Beginning of a crazy six-day week. Today 5:30am - 4:00pm. Tomorrow 11:00am - 6:00pm on register. Another 5:30am - 4:00pm after that. Then normal day of 5:30am - 2:00pm. Then I'm deployed to World of Disney. Sunday register. Monday stock from 3:30pm - midnight. Shifts are all until late at night. It's going to be fun.
Woke up today not feeling all that great. Managed to get to work and was put in Bubble. Found out General Manager of something from California was doing a walk of store from 3-5pm. Met woman looking for black visor. Didn't have one out on display, offered to check stockroom really quick. "Really, really quick" she said. Had to meet someone, didn't tell them she was stopping. Raced downstairs, skimmed hats, took stairs two at a time to get up, opened door to find Cast Member standing where woman was now rolling away (wheelchair? ECV?). Other Cast Member told me the woman had said I was taking too long.
...
Coolest thing happened while I was working on shoes. Family came in, looking at shoes and chatting. Thought it would be polite to acknowledge them. One of the young adult daughters was wearing wedding headband ears. Said they looked nice. Dad told me I looked like one of the people he went on the Keys To The Kingdom tour with yesterday. He looked familiar. Asked him what time his tour was at. 9:00am he responded. "Wait..." I said, "Alabama? With the Wrigley Field shirt?" It was him! He was surprised to see me, especially to find out I was a Cast Member. "Ta Da" I said weakly, commenting it would've been nice to have transformed into something a little better looking (Mouse Gear costume's kind of cool). Said it was nice to meet him again.
Also met up with Holly from Sunset later in the day. Was there with her former roommate, who had extended and works in Dinoland now. Holly's living at home with her parents. Doesn't know what to do with her life. Is thinking about going to grad school as a result.
Not the most productive day in Bubble. Finished and walked back to Cast Services. Quick costume stop and clothing change, and I was on my way to get gas. Then it was over to Walmart to get a new pair of work shoes. After much back-and-forth, chose same brand and style ("Captain") as before, just larger. Then back to apartment to try to make Pasta Primavera. Lots of work, hard to keep track of the two different items. Managed it anyway. Food was delicious, although not feeling well now. Possibly just because not having felt well this morning?
Had chat on phone with Mom (Dad in background) about next steps. Really feeling uncertain. Waiting on Professional Internship, but no idea whether or not I'll get it. Had sent e-mail yesterday, asking why I had been denied. Generic e-mail response: too many requests, not enough roles. I understand why my parents say there's more opportunity here, but I don't feel ready to get involved in getting an apartment, at least, not in Florida, not for a minimum wage job, and not without a focused future.
Not happy with the way I act sometimes, especially when my family's trying to help me.
I know I should have looked at jobs, or read "Parachute" book. But sometimes, you just gotta watch Ed, Edd, n' Eddy.
Just watched South Park's 200th episode. Dramatic and funny, nicely done. Definitely time for bed now. Lots to focus on, lots to think about.
Happy One-Month-Left. One month from now, I'll officially no longer be a CP. Whether I'm here at that point, working, driving, or at Acen, I don't know. I wonder where I'll be. But, I've got to say, I can't believe there's just one month left. Crazy to think about, especially when I think about the journey I've taken since that March day (March 17th maybe? 12th?) last year, when I decided to go for the Disney College Program. And now, here I am, trying to get a hold on my future.
Amazing.
Showing posts with label Keys To The Kingdom. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Keys To The Kingdom. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Keys To The Kingdom
Went on "Keys To The Kingdom" tour today. Had previously gone on this, but shorter version offered by Disney University for Cast Members. Accidentally woke up Soyoung with my alarm. Quick breakfast, got ready, on my way. Tour was for 9:00am, with my having to be there 15 minutes early to check in. Thought I had plenty of time. Arrived about 8:15am, parked in Minnie, and walked to TTC. Got in line for monorail. Monorail Gold (yay!) was sitting in station, but wasn't going. Doors were opening, and Monorail was "snorting" like the trains at Big Thunder, but nothing happening. PA announcement - going through safety checks. Took a little while. Clock kept ticking. Gold eventually ready. People went in, I moved up. Saw Transportation Cast Member's name tag said he was from Chicago. Said he was from the North West side. I said where I was from. Said he knew where it was.
"60187, right?"
"Right!"
Kids excited, waiting for next monorail. Monorail Red pulled into station. Doors opened...gates did not. Another Transportation Cast Member began going through the cabins, opening the hatches for the phones and picking them up to make sure they were working. Doors made "bing-bong" noises you hear on subways and the L. Red started snorting too. Were they doing safety checks? WERE THEY DOING SAFETY CHECKS?!?! Yes. PA Announcement told me twice. Finally, at 8:53am, we were ready to go. Missed check-in time; thought I could still make tour. Got through ride, moving to entrance, bag check (security didn't know where to enter for tours, but by then, people were going inside), and tickets. Entered park 9:01am. Found check-in at City Hall. Asked if I was Cast Member on tour. Said yes, was directed to sign in paper. Thought it was odd. Saw "DU" for Disney University at time. Told them I was on actual, actual tour. Got to pick up name tag, ordered "Anchors Away" tuna sandwich and Coke from Columbia Harbour House. Offered free water and coffee. Sweet! Directed outside. Tour Guide - Gregg from upstate New York. Handed headset, tuned to Channel 2. Had a bit of trouble getting earpiece on my ear. Finally managed it. Waited a little bit more for other Guests, then set off. Walked up Main Street, down side (Center?) street as trolley show was coming. Introductions - name, where from, role you'd want at Disney. Older couple next to me said they were from Homer Glen. Said Carol Stream (hoped they'd recognize it) and said I wanted to be in Holiday Services. Gregg surprised, said it was very specific. Explained Holiday Services to rest of group. Some wanted to be in Guest Relations, one head of horticulture, one wanted to be Mickey, one wanted to meet the owner of the place. Window gazed. Went up to Hub. Headed to Adventureland. At Swiss Family Robinson Tree House, Gregg mentioned renaming of Disneyland's to Tarzan. Said he had a brother in the animation department. When trying to figure out what Tarzan should look like, decided to try and figure out what he looked like as a baby. Had a young niece at the time (maybe animator's daughter and Gregg's niece?). Used her as reference. True story. Way cool!! Went to Jungle Cruise. Gregg got us our own boat. Had a skipper drive while he told us secrets about Jungle Cruise. Hidden Mickey, sensors, guy at bottom of rhino pole has same face as watchman in Haunted Mansion. Very cool experience. Bathroom break at Pirate and Parrot, which appeared to be open, damn! Talked to girl named Katharine. Also named after Katharine Hepburn. Middle name Joy. Sometimes called Katie Joy, since people didn't really like Katharine Joy. Sister's middle name is Elizabeth. Went on Pirates. Got to sit with Gregg. Had mentioned before he started as CP at front gate. Wanted to ask him more, but he answered other Guest questions. Fun ride, no splash this time. Wandered to Frontierland. Time to go backstage. Went past Woody and Jessie (apparently one couple really liked this characters - husband pointing out Woody to wife, saying she got a rumbly in her tumbly seeing him) and to parade step off. Gregg said past yellow line, out of site of Guests. No clothes off until beyond fence/gate. Paused before heading back there. Reminder - no pictures. Continued on. "Pretty glamorous, huh?" Headed to float storage. Cast Member working back there flipped on the lights to the fish. Made it seem as if she was just doing her job, but I wonder if she did it for us. Some of us said thank you anyway. Turned to see Woody and Jessie without their heads going to swap out point. Laughter and giggly goodness from group. Got to see water pumps for Splash. That's a lot of water! And a lot of power! Shoe floating in water. Said they'd found a prosthetic leg? Talked about trash too. Only park to have the A.V.A.C. (spelling?) system. Too expensive. Back out onstage. Told once we cross the yellow line, we'll forget all we've seen. Through Frontierland. Paused by Christmas shop. Bunch of little kids wandered by shouting "Tinker Bell! Tinker Bell!" Informed part of a family tour. Had a cloth scroll with clues and everything, ooh. Moved to carriage house by Haunted Mansion (which we were told we'd be going on after lunch). After a few minutes, Gregg went to Columbia Harbour House to check what's up. Enjoyed weather in meantime. Greeted by lunch coordinator. Escorted inside, up stairs, into VIP room. Meals set out for us. Find place card. Found mine and sat down. Got a bag of chips in addition to meal and drink, sweet! Another tour guide came in. Said she was there so Gregg could rest his voice. Guy sat down across from me. Wearing Wrigley Field t-shirt. Asked him if he was from Chicago. Alabama, but had visited Chicago. Chatted a bit about it. Guy found our key pin was on the inside of the name card. Cool ^-^ Gregg asked if he could join us. Ate salad that had been sitting next to me. Thought placard had another name on it. Maybe Guest didn't show? Alabama asked Gregg if he'd ever been Mickey. Then asked who his brother's favorite animator was. Probably Ward Kimball? Had a light discussion about Ward's stuff being sold on eBay. Felt bad for Gregg, being asked all about his brother (though I was curious too). Asked Alabama about driving or flying, and tried asking Gregg more about his job, whether easy to move around in Company. Said used to be, in 2007, but now, not hiring so much because of economy and people not coming. Asked also if true Tour Guides had to be in Guest Relations for a certain period of time and had audition. Said it was. Asked if I was going to go out for Guest Relations. Said no. Maybe wouldn't have the patience to deal with people. Something like that. Probably not the best thing to say x.x Gregg said Guest Relations means having to take the good with the bad, handling complaints, which they actually get. Told him I knew, trust me. Left to go to bathroom. Met up with Katharine and sister. Was asked if I was staying on property. Trying to hide Cast Member roots (surprisingly difficult on a DISNEY TOUR). Said family was out in park, I was taking tour. Staying at Pop Century. Woman behind them said her too. 80s building for them. I saw I was in 70s. Asked Katharine. Turns out, woman was her Mom. Bathroom busy because downstairs one was closed. Adding in changing station. Made joke about standing in line being what you're supposed to do at Disney. Waiting for great bathroom ride. Came back, took another bite of sandwich, another sip of Coke, saved chips in purse, tossed everything else but water from the morning.
Gotta get to bed. Another 5:30am day tomorrow. But notes for next update:
"Keys" to the kingdom
Haunted Mansion
Servants quarters
Finally spotting Hidden Mickey
Paul Frees - I'm just a fan
Alas - no tour
Liberty Square "brown river"
Pause
Imagineering - English Literature
Washington Irving - Headless Horseman/Rip Van Winkle
Hub
Flower vacuum
Hidden Mickey ring
Bathroom break again
Same backstage entry from DU - Keys To The Kingdom
Goofy!
Bricks painted on wall - firehouse
Jungle Cruise boats
Down into the tunnels
(Woman worried about clausterphobia in tunnel)
Guest reaction - smiles and big eyes
Vice President Phil (and earlier)
Band members
Alice
Kingdom Kutters?
Video
No wall display?
Back up "my" staircase
Tinker Bell landing
Back onto Center (?) street - where's the yellow line?
Roy and Minnie
End of tour - hand the stuff in
Linger, just taking it easy
Haunted Mansion favorite ride? - Book, theming
Jungle Cruise movie?
Called Mom
Oops, name tag
Carousel
Big Thunder
Come back to make phone call
Soyoung left!
E-mail
Nibbles and food planning
Vista, Walmart, food making
Call again
What's my next steps?
"60187, right?"
"Right!"
Kids excited, waiting for next monorail. Monorail Red pulled into station. Doors opened...gates did not. Another Transportation Cast Member began going through the cabins, opening the hatches for the phones and picking them up to make sure they were working. Doors made "bing-bong" noises you hear on subways and the L. Red started snorting too. Were they doing safety checks? WERE THEY DOING SAFETY CHECKS?!?! Yes. PA Announcement told me twice. Finally, at 8:53am, we were ready to go. Missed check-in time; thought I could still make tour. Got through ride, moving to entrance, bag check (security didn't know where to enter for tours, but by then, people were going inside), and tickets. Entered park 9:01am. Found check-in at City Hall. Asked if I was Cast Member on tour. Said yes, was directed to sign in paper. Thought it was odd. Saw "DU" for Disney University at time. Told them I was on actual, actual tour. Got to pick up name tag, ordered "Anchors Away" tuna sandwich and Coke from Columbia Harbour House. Offered free water and coffee. Sweet! Directed outside. Tour Guide - Gregg from upstate New York. Handed headset, tuned to Channel 2. Had a bit of trouble getting earpiece on my ear. Finally managed it. Waited a little bit more for other Guests, then set off. Walked up Main Street, down side (Center?) street as trolley show was coming. Introductions - name, where from, role you'd want at Disney. Older couple next to me said they were from Homer Glen. Said Carol Stream (hoped they'd recognize it) and said I wanted to be in Holiday Services. Gregg surprised, said it was very specific. Explained Holiday Services to rest of group. Some wanted to be in Guest Relations, one head of horticulture, one wanted to be Mickey, one wanted to meet the owner of the place. Window gazed. Went up to Hub. Headed to Adventureland. At Swiss Family Robinson Tree House, Gregg mentioned renaming of Disneyland's to Tarzan. Said he had a brother in the animation department. When trying to figure out what Tarzan should look like, decided to try and figure out what he looked like as a baby. Had a young niece at the time (maybe animator's daughter and Gregg's niece?). Used her as reference. True story. Way cool!! Went to Jungle Cruise. Gregg got us our own boat. Had a skipper drive while he told us secrets about Jungle Cruise. Hidden Mickey, sensors, guy at bottom of rhino pole has same face as watchman in Haunted Mansion. Very cool experience. Bathroom break at Pirate and Parrot, which appeared to be open, damn! Talked to girl named Katharine. Also named after Katharine Hepburn. Middle name Joy. Sometimes called Katie Joy, since people didn't really like Katharine Joy. Sister's middle name is Elizabeth. Went on Pirates. Got to sit with Gregg. Had mentioned before he started as CP at front gate. Wanted to ask him more, but he answered other Guest questions. Fun ride, no splash this time. Wandered to Frontierland. Time to go backstage. Went past Woody and Jessie (apparently one couple really liked this characters - husband pointing out Woody to wife, saying she got a rumbly in her tumbly seeing him) and to parade step off. Gregg said past yellow line, out of site of Guests. No clothes off until beyond fence/gate. Paused before heading back there. Reminder - no pictures. Continued on. "Pretty glamorous, huh?" Headed to float storage. Cast Member working back there flipped on the lights to the fish. Made it seem as if she was just doing her job, but I wonder if she did it for us. Some of us said thank you anyway. Turned to see Woody and Jessie without their heads going to swap out point. Laughter and giggly goodness from group. Got to see water pumps for Splash. That's a lot of water! And a lot of power! Shoe floating in water. Said they'd found a prosthetic leg? Talked about trash too. Only park to have the A.V.A.C. (spelling?) system. Too expensive. Back out onstage. Told once we cross the yellow line, we'll forget all we've seen. Through Frontierland. Paused by Christmas shop. Bunch of little kids wandered by shouting "Tinker Bell! Tinker Bell!" Informed part of a family tour. Had a cloth scroll with clues and everything, ooh. Moved to carriage house by Haunted Mansion (which we were told we'd be going on after lunch). After a few minutes, Gregg went to Columbia Harbour House to check what's up. Enjoyed weather in meantime. Greeted by lunch coordinator. Escorted inside, up stairs, into VIP room. Meals set out for us. Find place card. Found mine and sat down. Got a bag of chips in addition to meal and drink, sweet! Another tour guide came in. Said she was there so Gregg could rest his voice. Guy sat down across from me. Wearing Wrigley Field t-shirt. Asked him if he was from Chicago. Alabama, but had visited Chicago. Chatted a bit about it. Guy found our key pin was on the inside of the name card. Cool ^-^ Gregg asked if he could join us. Ate salad that had been sitting next to me. Thought placard had another name on it. Maybe Guest didn't show? Alabama asked Gregg if he'd ever been Mickey. Then asked who his brother's favorite animator was. Probably Ward Kimball? Had a light discussion about Ward's stuff being sold on eBay. Felt bad for Gregg, being asked all about his brother (though I was curious too). Asked Alabama about driving or flying, and tried asking Gregg more about his job, whether easy to move around in Company. Said used to be, in 2007, but now, not hiring so much because of economy and people not coming. Asked also if true Tour Guides had to be in Guest Relations for a certain period of time and had audition. Said it was. Asked if I was going to go out for Guest Relations. Said no. Maybe wouldn't have the patience to deal with people. Something like that. Probably not the best thing to say x.x Gregg said Guest Relations means having to take the good with the bad, handling complaints, which they actually get. Told him I knew, trust me. Left to go to bathroom. Met up with Katharine and sister. Was asked if I was staying on property. Trying to hide Cast Member roots (surprisingly difficult on a DISNEY TOUR). Said family was out in park, I was taking tour. Staying at Pop Century. Woman behind them said her too. 80s building for them. I saw I was in 70s. Asked Katharine. Turns out, woman was her Mom. Bathroom busy because downstairs one was closed. Adding in changing station. Made joke about standing in line being what you're supposed to do at Disney. Waiting for great bathroom ride. Came back, took another bite of sandwich, another sip of Coke, saved chips in purse, tossed everything else but water from the morning.
Gotta get to bed. Another 5:30am day tomorrow. But notes for next update:
"Keys" to the kingdom
Haunted Mansion
Servants quarters
Finally spotting Hidden Mickey
Paul Frees - I'm just a fan
Alas - no tour
Liberty Square "brown river"
Pause
Imagineering - English Literature
Washington Irving - Headless Horseman/Rip Van Winkle
Hub
Flower vacuum
Hidden Mickey ring
Bathroom break again
Same backstage entry from DU - Keys To The Kingdom
Goofy!
Bricks painted on wall - firehouse
Jungle Cruise boats
Down into the tunnels
(Woman worried about clausterphobia in tunnel)
Guest reaction - smiles and big eyes
Vice President Phil (and earlier)
Band members
Alice
Kingdom Kutters?
Video
No wall display?
Back up "my" staircase
Tinker Bell landing
Back onto Center (?) street - where's the yellow line?
Roy and Minnie
End of tour - hand the stuff in
Linger, just taking it easy
Haunted Mansion favorite ride? - Book, theming
Jungle Cruise movie?
Called Mom
Oops, name tag
Carousel
Big Thunder
Come back to make phone call
Soyoung left!
Nibbles and food planning
Vista, Walmart, food making
Call again
What's my next steps?
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