Bucket List Part 2

Today I decided to go back to my bucket list and see if there was anything I could check off as of about three months into my program. I haven't looked at my list in quite a while, and I have to say some of the things I originally wanted to do have changed and other things have been added. There are so many things I missed or that I didn't even know about before I got here! My first list has become a draft, so here is the real deal! I can't believe there is only one month left of my program. Lots to do!!

**The ones crossed out have been completed already.

1. Go to all four parks in one day
2. Have a drink at each of the countries at Epcot (Mexico, Norway, China, Germany, Japan, Italy, America, Morocco, France, UK, and Canada)
3. Take pictures at all the countries in Epcot World Showcase
4. Go to both water parks (Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach)
5. Witness a wedding proposal (fingers crossed)
6. Try to finish a Kitchen Sink with my roommates
7. Go on as many backstage tours as possible
8. Get a sunset picture in front of the castle (DMK)
9. Watch a Wishes fireworks show
10. Take pictures with as many characters as possible (this is going to a running list I think)
• Rafiki
• Bolt
• Mickey
• Minnie
• Belle
• Aladdin
• Jasmine
• Tinker Bell
• Goofy
• Donald Duck
• Daisy Duck
• Pluto
• Chip and Dale
• Ariel (duh)
• Alice
• Mary Poppins
• Winnie The Pooh
• Tigger
• Mad Hatter
• Marie
• Cinderella
• Rapunzel
• Tiana
• Green Army Man
• Anna
• Elsa
• Aurora
• Pocahontas
• Jiminy Cricket
• White Rabbit
• Tweedle Dee
• Tweedle Dum
• Fairy Godmother
• Buzz Lightyear
• Woody
• Jesse
• Gaston
• Merida
• Peter Pan
• Mulan
• Sulley
• Mike
• Baloo
• Dug
• Russell
11. Go to the beach
12. Attend a Character Breakfast and meet the princesses
13. Experience a magical moment
14. Collect and trade as many pins as possible
15. Go to the parks solo
16. Eat at Be Our Guest restaurant 
17. Try the Grey Stuff (I've heard it's delicious)
18. Take pictures of as many hidden Mickeys as possible.
19. Go to Disney outlet mall
20. Go to Disney seminars
21. Lights on tour of the Haunted Mansion or Tower of Terror
22. Go to the Wizarding World of HP at least twice
23. Make someone's day completely magical
24. Have Afternoon Tea at the Grand Floridian
25. Ride all 4 Mountains in one day (Space, Thunder, Splash, & Everest)
26. Attend a Cast Member only private event
27. Eat at Earl of Sandwich
28. Go on a Safari in Animal Kingdom
29. Go on the Characters in Flight Balloon Ride in DTD
30. Say "YES" as much as possible
31. Get personalized Mickey Ears
32. Swim with sharks in the Typhoon Lagoon Shark Reef
33. Collect pressed pennies from all the parks
34. Make a wish at Cinderella's Wishing Well
35. Get a haircut on Main Street
36. Get a pin from every park
37. VoluntEAR
38. Take pictures of the park when it's empty
39. Visit every resort on the Monorail
40. Walk the boardwalk at night
41. Try Dole Whip
42. People watch
43. Sit in the front row of Soarin' (EPCOT)
44. Get ice cream at Ghirardelli (DTD)
45. See a movie at the AMC Theater (DTD)
46. Shop at Company D and Cast Connections
47. Buy Disney wine glasses
48. Take literally thousands of pictures
49. Ride all the rides in Magic Kingdom

• Astro Orbiter
• The Barnstormer
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
• Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin
• Dumbo the Flying Elephant
• Enchanted Tales with Belle
• Hall of Presidents
• Haunted Mansion
• It's a Small World
• Jungle Cruise
• Liberty Square Riverboat
• Mad Tea Party
• The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
• The Many Adventures of Winnie The Pooh
• Mickey's PhilharMagic
• Monster's Inc. Laugh Floor
• Peoplemover
• Peter Pan's Flight
• Pirates of the Caribbean
• Regal Carrousel
• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
• Space Mountain
• Splash Mountain
• Stitch's Great Escape
• Swiss Family Treehouse
• Tom Sawyer Island
• Tomorrowland Speedway
• Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid
• WDW Railroad
• Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress
• Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room

Update from March 25th, 2015

Hey guys,

I am sorry for not updating in a while!! I have been crazy busy with work and making plans to surprise my family back at home. Everything went without a hitch and I was able to watch Connor and the West De Pere Phantoms play at the WIAA State Boys Basketball Tournament and make our entire community proud to call them ours. I ended up surprising the entire family, and they were in tears when they saw me. The trip was 100% worth it and I am so glad I got to visit for a while. I got to see Milo, Wil and Jamie, which was an added bonus!

My mini-vacation with my family ended yesterday with me flying into Orlando and almost immediately going to Magic Kingdom with one of my coworkers. It is hard to be upset about leaving your loved ones behind when you get to stop by the happiest place on Earth on the way home! (no big deal haha.) I have been keeping myself very busy whether it’s my day off or not. Spring break season is upon us and with it comes hot days, busy lobbies, and many opportunities to make magic. I never miss a chance to greet a little “princess” or “Jedi” as such and add a bit of my own pixie dust to a little guest’s day.  One thing is for sure: people skills are a must at Disney.

Today I was fortunate enough to meet up with some old friends from home and give them a proper day at Disney. We did a few things I have never done before which is always awesome, including riding Expedition Everest in the very first row and being able to see the entire Disney area especially Epcot and the Hollywood Tower of Terror! We visited Animal Kingdom as well as Hollywood Studios and did as much as we could possibly fit into our perfect day. Then they invited me over for a lovely home-cooked meal. Thank you ladies so much. I had a great time!!

I’ve been working on updating my Bucket List now that I have been here for a while and know some inside things about the parks and the company and have a better idea of what is doable and the most magical. That way I can better keep track of what I’ve already done and what I still would like to do before I go home. The list keeps on getting longer and longer as I go!

Overall I am getting along with my roommates and coworkers fabulously. My Port Orleans Family is wonderful and supportive when work is tough, and we get to have fun while we’re at it. I am so thankful that I am working at a resort versus the parks, but I would like to try to work at one of the parks just once to see what it is like. I think it would be fun but a lot different pace. There are so many things to see and learn from working in that sort of setting. 

Thank you for checking in on me! I hope to update my blog again very soon. Y’all are wonderful.

Sam

HEY Y'ALL!

So it has been about a week since I updated you guys (holy crap this thing is making time go crazy fast) and I thought you'd be interested in some things I learned this week and a few of the things I did. I have been in class training all week in preparation for my on-the-job training that will start on Friday at Disney's Port Orleans Resort. I've been trying to absorb all kinds of information that has been thrown at me, ranging from all the awesome things the resorts offer to how to use a broom and dustpan (yes, I had an orientation class that covered how to use a broom).

   It hasn't all been work though! I was able to go to Magic Kingdom on Saturday night (we are crazy) with ALL of my roommates for the first time since becoming a cast member. It was absolutely magical. I cried during the Wishes fireworks show and made some wonderful memories with my roomies that I already am so close with. More on them later haha.

   On Sunday, I had a class called "Welcome to Operations," which is a general class for all the lines of business. It covered the Four Keys (safety, courtesy, show, and efficiency) many, many times, especially the safe part. We learned why we are a part of this wonderful company and how we should stay "in character" whenever we are "on stage." The way Disney integrates "the show" into the training course is really helpful and effective. I'm so lucky to have been able to experience it.

   Monday was a longer day. I had a orientation class called "Welcome to Lodging" (the area of business resort custodial is considered a part of) that spoke about the many resorts and how we should commit to having interactions with the guests instead of simply transactions. I am going to have so many opportunities to do this with my role and I can't wait to make some magical moments! The next class I had was called Custodial Core, and they taught us the basics of custodial, mostly common simple things, but also more serious things like blood borne pathogens and other potentially hazardous spills we may come in contact with. At the end of the day, I was able to meet up with my friends Casey and Scott Crevier for dinner. Casey did both the Disney College Program as well as the Disney Professional Internship, and has been a great resource and friend to have while I was preparing for my program. She just finished a couple weeks ago, and she and Scott were headed on a road trip back to Wisconsin this week. It is so lucky that we were able to have dinner and that I was able to meet Casey's friend Kim, who is also in the program. Such wonderful people!

   Yesterday, Shirley, Jenny and I all had a day off, so we decided to spend the day at the parks together. I am so happy we did! We were on a mission to go on all the mountains Disney has to offer (Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, Expedition Everest, and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad). We made it on THREE mountains, but were unable to go on Splash Mountain because unfortunately it is currently closed for refurbishments. I call that a successful day!! We went on Everest twice and a whole slew of other rides. We also had "Story Time with Bell" in the (semi-) New Fantasyland (magical and adorable!).  Can I just take a second to say that my roommates are really making this program for me? These ladies are awesome and a half, and even though I have only known them for a short time, I can tell that we are going to continue to grow closer. There is not a time when the apartment isn't filled with laughter or positive energy. These girls will make my program. No doubt about it.

   Today, I was finally able to train at the resort where I will be working. I had in-class training at Port Orleans Cast Services and I learned all about the New Orleans/Southern Comfort background, story and theme of the resort that I am expected to uphold as a part of my role. I am encouraged to use phrases like "Hey Ya'll!" and "Just over yonder" when interacting with guests. My orientation leaders were awesome and I really enjoyed the class. They then took us on a tour of the resort (which is gorgeous by the way) and showed us the beautiful rooms it has to offer. The "royal rooms" are princess themed with Tiana (The Princess and the Frog, from New Orleans) at the center of it all. They were of the highest luxury, and I felt privileged to be able to see it and hear about its secrets. I feel so blessed to be here and humbled to have such an underrated role.

   I know this program will fly by, and that is exciting and terrifying. I wish I could stay at Disney World forever, but of course I'd want to bring the ones I'm missing terribly along. It is such a rush of emotions and magic, and I am going to make every second count.

Thank you for listening! I love and miss you folks.

Until next time,
Sam

First Day at Disney

On our way to Orlando!

Finally I have a chance to put the incredible experience of my first day in words. It was a long, eventful day with relatively no hiccups for a move-in. We have been staying at my Grandpa and Grandma's villa in The Villages about an hour north of Orlando since late on Friday when we finally finished our 18 hour drive from Chicago. Yesterday (1/19/15), we packed up our things and made our way to the start of my adventure.

My room before the unpacking began.

I had check in at 11am, so we arrived a little early, and they didn't let us into Vista Way to check in until a little bit before the hour. We met one of my roommates, Stacy, at check-in and it took about an hour and a half to get through the process. I found out my role location and housing location. I will be working as an outdoor custodial cast service member at Port Orleans Resort in the French Quarter and we will be living at The Commons (our first choice) in a 3 bedroom 3 bathroom apartment. It is huge!! 

Once I got all moved into the apartment with the help of Mom and Aunt Sara, we decided to do a little exploring at the resort I'll be working at to see what it looks like. The resort is a beautiful New Orleans Mardi Gras theme with a huge pool and access to the riverboat system. I have orientation and classroom training Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday and then on the job training after that. I can't wait! I am going to have a ton of freedom, guest interaction, and the atmosphere will be very relaxed compared to the parks. I also won't get burnt out from the parks while I'm at work because I'll be going there to have fun and not when I have to work.

On our way to Downtown Disney by Riverboat!

After we saw the resort and the awesome pool, we thought maybe we would try to spontaneously go on the riverboat going to Downtown Disney (soon to be called Disney Springs) and see what was going on. The guy who was directing the boat asked where we were going and said he would hold the boat for us! So we got to see the resort, have a nice boat ride, and go to downtown Disney all without paying a penny!

Downtown Disney was a ton of fun with many street performers (a didgeridoo/guitar player/singer in particular was really awesome), shopping, food, and is basically a party all the time. We ended up eating at Wolfgang Puck (which was super tasty) and tried to fight the urge to spend all kinds of money. Once it started getting late, we headed back on the riverboat to where our car was parked and headed back to The Commons.

Dinner at Wolfgang Puck's

I love my family.

That first day was absolutely magical, surely a sign of the experience to come. I would like to put a huge "thank you" out to my Grandmother, who is letting me use her vehicle during my experience, and all of my family/friends/boyfriend for being so super supportive with everything regarding the Disney College Program. I love them so much and couldn't do anything without them. I'll miss them, but I know the time will seriously fly by, so I'm going to try to enjoy it as much as possible. I better head to bed, two of my roommates and I are going to see the new Harry Potter World tomorrow at Universal Studios, which is super exciting!

Thank you everyone for keeping up with me, I love all your comments and support. I'll update real soon!

Sam

Road Trip!

My Disney adventure is fast approaching, and I thought it would be a good idea to have a playlist of mostly Disney as well as a ton of other music (because I don't want to drive my mom and aunt crazy) for the drive down to Florida! I am going to be driving from Green Bay, WI, which makes the whole trip about 20 hours long; that's the length I'm shooting for with this playlist!

I've asked the DCP Facebook people to give me some suggestions, and a few playlists that were already on Spotify were helpful as well. You can always put these songs into your own playlist on Spotify and remove/add songs as you wish. Spotify Premium is only .99 cents for the next three months, and I totally recommend it!! Premium allows you to make these songs available offline so you don't have to drain your data and you can listen when you have no internet. 

My "Disney Road Trip Playlist" has many of my favorite Disney songs along with a lot of the Disney classics. I also included a ton of songs that just seem like they would be good for a road trip and many oldie-but-goodies to add some variety. I'm adding every day, so please let me know what other songs you think belong on here! 

Enjoy!
Sam 


I'm pretty proud of myself for figuring out how to get this playlist widget into my blog...so cool!! The widget only shows the first 200 songs in the playlist, so you'll have to go to Spotify to view the whole list. You can go here in case the widget doesn't work for some reason. Thanks for listening!

DCP Packing List

THE DCP IS ONLY A MONTH AWAY. 
I've been compelled to make lists for everything, and I thought this one in particular might be helpful for many DCPers! I'm going to be driving down to Orlando, so I'll have room for this super long list of items, so you may need to edit your own list as necessary. I used checklist.com, which makes making/using lists easy and customizable. Plus, check out this list I made for items you might split between your roommates and this one for items to buy the day of move-in. And lastly, as usual, let me know if there are any things I missed and should add to the list! You may find the official Do/Don't bring lists Disney provide helpful as well.

DCP Personal Packing List

• Backpack
• Bathroom Stuff
• Band-aids
• Bath mat (for each bathroom, discuss with roommates)
• Bath towels
• Bobby pins
• Body wash
• Clippers
• Cold medicine
• Comb
• Conditioner
• Contacts
• Contact solution
• Face wash
• First aid kit (decide with roommies)
• Floss
• Glasses
• Hand sanitizer
• Hair brush
• Hair clips
• Hair dryer
• Hairspray
• Hair ties
• Headbands
• Loofah
• Lotion
• Makeup
• Medications
• Mouthwash
• Nail polish
• Pain reliever
• Q-tips
• Shampoo
• Shower curtain (one for each bathroom, talk with roommates)
• Soap
• Straightener
• Sunscreen
• Toilet cleaner
• Toilet brush
• Toothbrush
• Toothbrush charger
• Toothpaste
• Trash can (one for each bathroom, talk with roommates)
• Beach bag
• Beach towel
• Bedroom Stuff
• Alarm Clock
• Blankets
• Coaxial Cable
• Comforter (Twin)
• Extension cords
• Fan
• Foam Mattress Pad (Twin, definitely need this)
• Hangers (lots)
• Lamp
• Laundry basket
• Mattress cover
• Movies
• Over the door hooks
• Pillows
• Power strips
• Sheets (Twin)
• Storage containers
• Wall calendar
• BluRay/DVD Player (decide with roommates)
• Car (I've heard it is best to bring one, but not impossible to go without)
• Clothes
• Bathrobe
• Belts
• Blazer
• Bras
• Coat
• Cover up
• Dapper Day clothes
• Dresses
• Jacket
• Jewelry
• Pajamas
• Pants
• Scarves
• Shirts
• blouses
• long sleeves
• short sleeves
• tank tops
• Skirt
• Socks
• Sports bras
• Swim suit
• Underwear
• Command Strips
• Disney pins
• Documents
• Birth certificate (not necessary, but might come in handy.)
• Car insurance info
• DORMS registration forms
• Health insurance info
• I-9 Documents
• Passport card
• Social security card
• Valid driver's license
• Duffel bag
• Electronics
• Camera
• Laptop
• Laptop Charger
• Memory Card
• MP3 Player
• Phone
• Phone Charger
• Tablet
• Floor lamp(s) (decide with roommates)
• Furniture for balcony (decide with roommates, disregard if planning on living in Vista Way, no balconies there. Also have been told that balcony furniture is not allowed. maybe wait on this.)
• Games
• Cards Against Humanity
• Deck of cards
• Harry Potter Scene-It
• Kitchen Stuff
• Britta filter/pitcher
• Coffee mug
• Coffee maker (decide with roommates)
• Crock Pot (decide with roommates)
• Dishcloths
• Dry erase markers
• Food containers
• George Foreman Grill (comes in handy, decide with roommates)
• Ice packs
• Kitchen towels
• Kitchen utensils
• Lunchbox
• Magnets
• Mixing bowls (decide with roommates)
• Oven mitts (decide with roommates)
• Recycling bin (decide with roommates)
• Sponge
• Toaster (decide with roommates)
• Trash can (decide with roommates)
• Travel mug
• Water bottle
• White board (decide with roommates)
• Lanyard with sturdy ID case
• Money, money, money
• Cash
• Credit Card
• Debit Card
• Purses
• Push pins
• Shoes
• Dress shoes
• Flats
• Flip-flops
• Tennis shoes
• Work shoes (wait until after assigned role/location, some roles provide shoes)
• Suitcase
• Sunglasses
• Swiffer mop (decide with roommates)
• Table lamp(s) (decide with roommates)
• TVs (decide with roommates)
• Umbrella
• Vacuum (decide with roommates, they have some there, but if you can bring one it is more reliable and I guarantee you will vacuum more.)
• Wallet
• Watch
• Wireless router (decide with roommates)

Helpful DCP Links

Where can I find...?

There have been a lot of questions about where to find different resources and sites for the DCP around the Facebook groups, and I thought it would be a great idea to put together a list of the links I keep bookmarked for myself to make this whole process a lot easier. Let me know if I missed any, and I'll update when I find new resources! Enjoy!

100 Things I Learned on the DCP (The Fro Diaries: Working for the Mouse Blog)

ATM Locations at WDW (WDWinfo)
Budget Spring 2015 Facebook Group
Cast Member Perks (Disney Little Things Blog)

Courses (Official)
Course Registration (Official)

Course Registration (Ears on Emily Blog)

Customized Maps of the Parks (Freebie)

DCP Dashboard Sign In 

The DCP Guide App

DCP Site (Official)
DCP WDW Onboarding Site (Official)

Discounts and Perks (The Disney College Life Blog)
Disney Decals (Freebie, design your own)
Disney Food Blog
The Disney Look (Official)
Disney Professional Internships (Official)

Disney Programs Blog
Disney Vacations Mobile App (Official)

Disney World Vacation Site

Dorms Site
FAQ (DCP Spring/SA 2015 Accepted Facebook Group)
First Few Days Official

First Week Info (MiceChat Blog - very detailed)

Freebie Guide (Cheapskate Princess Blog)
Free Disney Vacation Planning DVDs (Place order online)
Free Things to Do in Orlando
Go Fund Me - Raise money for your program!
Helpful Things to Pack for the DCP (Living Colorful, Cheerful, and Creative Blog)

Housing (Official)

Housing (The Disney College Program Life Blog)
Housing (Mouskateerz Blog)
Housing Pre-Registration and Pricing (Official)
How to do Grocery Shopping on a Budget (Full-Thyme Student Blog)

Interview Questions and Tips (Alyssa's Dream Come True Blog)
Jogging Trails at WDW (WDW for Grown Ups)
Living in Florida
Mint - Personal Finance and Budgeting 
Move-in Day Shopping List (my own list, checklist.com)
New Hire Portal
Packing List (Official)
Packing List (my complete list)

Packing Checklist - General (my own list, checklist.com)
Packing Checklist - Personal (my own list as well)
Packing Checklist - Roommates (again, my own list - feel free to use!)
Paycheck Calculator 

Penny Press Machine Finder (very old website, but still useful)

Pre-Arrival Checklist (Official)
Publix Savings (nearest grocery store to the apartment complexes)
Recruiting Contact Info

Reservations

Role Descriptions (Official)
Roommate Finder
Special Events and Tours (Disney Official)
Spring DCP Facebook Groups
Survival Guide (UNCW Campus Rep Team - super helpful!!)
Top 20 Things You're NOT Allowed to do at Disney Theme Parks
Tips on Being a Good CP (Amanda Joy Makes the Magic Blog)
Traditions Attire (Official) 
Traditions Overview (Official)
Two Girls and a Mouse Tale Purchase (amazon)
Volunteering in Florida

Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Hopefully this list helps you from looking like 
this during your pre-DCP preparations! :)