Well, I got to do something new and exciting today: I opened the park! In fact there are a couple of days lately when I have had opportunity to escape the cinnamon-dusted and coffee-ground encrusted clutches of Critter Country and New Orleans and at last explore new areas. I discovered through this that other lands are incredibly FUN to work in! Saturday I was sent to Fantasyland, which after I dealt with the crazy madness of chasing all over the park and backstage figuring out my "costume" and assignments was extremely fun. Today I was on the central hub of Main Street, and it was absolutely fascinating to observe the differing dynamics in time and place between that and my usuals. It was awesome getting to watch Disneyland open. It was almost exactly like the "Disneyland Fun" sing-a-long video we used to watch, except that instead of Mickey and his friends setting things up it was the night maintenance crew. But they were hard at work making everything perfect, polishing and planting and perfecting to the utmost. It was magical to hear the tinny music of the Main Street style showtunes and to watch the crowds gathered in anticipation for the attractions to officially open. When the hour did arrive the guests burst inside, gushing from the entrance as though a dam had burst. They stormed around the hub eagerly hustling to be the first in line. Now this element of things made my job slightly less exciting. Instead of drained, sun-scorched parents desperate for sugar and caffeine after a long day, these people were still happy to be at Disneyland and full of energy. They skipped and ran and smiled their way around my cart hardly aware of the presence of my churros in their concentrated efforts to make a beeline for Space Mountain. But in spite of the slight boredom (which more or less continued for the duration of the eight hour shift), it was great to people watch and chill out right by Main Street. There was just such a lighthearted feel to everything. I met people from all over the place and even got to be in a picture that's going back to Australia! I get a kick out of listening to accents, from the sophisticated British requests for "who-ter" or the "toilet" to the Southern drawl of a nice cold "sprat" (sprite). I enjoy timid kids and hastled parents, even. I've discovered things that do bug me, though. There are the people who are extremely vague, grunting and pointing when they obviously have full capability of coherent speech. Then, the worst, are those who have absolutely no consideration for the fact that there are hordes of people around them. Some people just bustle on up as though you have nothing to do but serve them and them alone. Then they stand taking their precious time deciding what they want- I mean, it's not like I have a lot of options...but anyways, that shouldn't surprise me much really, after the experiences I've had working with people.
But anyways, after all of this I decided to at last satisfy the long-festering longing i have had to actually visit the park as a civilian, and take advantage of my free entry as a cast member. I must say if anything that it was even more magical than my naive days as just an average joe! And I'd had plenty of time to consider what I'd want to do in the park, so I had all kinds of adventures. I strolled through Main Street and bought a new pen in the gift shop, I went on the Teacups and It's a Small World (the new and improved version with obesity-proof boats). I went on The Haunted Mansion, too, and the drugged out Whinnie the Pooh ride (hey, it didn't have a line, what can I say?). And I hit my all time favorite, Splash Mountain. Then I mosied on over to DCA (that's cool person talk for California Adventure), where I took advantage of my single rider status to jump ahead in line on the Maliboomer and Mulholland Madness, along with the roller coaster- which is always more of a thrill and rush than I remember. Oh, I got to do the Toy Story ride, too, and peek at all this new junk that they are putting in. And I cruised through the tortilla factory to score a free tortilla.
But all that sort of tuckered me out a little, so I think I'm calling it a day. More adventures to come! :)
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Monday, June 22, 2009
My first big thrill!
Oh, what a magical place...
Despite the fact that last night's shift was a lot of crazy haphazard randomness, I still love it. My leads didn't know where to put me and I was jumping around on churro carts and then had to stay late and close the cart, and hadn't really been trained so I was terribly confused and perplexed and my quarters went flying and I had to unload very cold drinks and it was all kinds of madness. And some of the people I worked with were disgruntled and whiny and definitely not in the spirit of magicalness! But still, I got to see Fantasmic and walk all over the park and make cinnamony goodness, and all at work!
And here's the real big excitement...so I'm standing behind my cart near Splash Mountain, waiting for my churros to finish cooking and dusting them up with cinnamon, nothing too crazy, and then up walks a very familiar face to my vending cart (actually, I saw my old master teacher too, but she wasn't the exciting one). And as he requests four churros (in a very, uh...colorful....voice) I recognized it was Fred Armisen! Not a huge celebrity, but still, a TV guy! (he's on Saturday Night Live cast, in case you didn't know, kind of smallish with dark hair and glasses, often plays a Hispanic or gay character-- now I see why). I was quite excited and as I prepared his order the guy working with me said "you know that's a celebrity, right?" And that confirmed it. I played it cool and gave him the churros, and he proceeded to have his friend take a picture of him holding all of them. Then we joked and said we'd give him four more if he ate them all, and he said it was tempting. Pretty darn cool...my first real star. The guy I was with said he's given popcorn to Hugh Jackman, lemonade to Paris Hilton (who makes her bodyguards wear pink sunglasses, evidently), and even bummed a cigarette from JOHNNY DEPP!!! Wow. The things you see at DIsneyland. But see, the policy is we can't "recognize" them. We just have to treat it as any other old random Joe out for a day in the park. But it makes for good stories! :)
Despite the fact that last night's shift was a lot of crazy haphazard randomness, I still love it. My leads didn't know where to put me and I was jumping around on churro carts and then had to stay late and close the cart, and hadn't really been trained so I was terribly confused and perplexed and my quarters went flying and I had to unload very cold drinks and it was all kinds of madness. And some of the people I worked with were disgruntled and whiny and definitely not in the spirit of magicalness! But still, I got to see Fantasmic and walk all over the park and make cinnamony goodness, and all at work!
And here's the real big excitement...so I'm standing behind my cart near Splash Mountain, waiting for my churros to finish cooking and dusting them up with cinnamon, nothing too crazy, and then up walks a very familiar face to my vending cart (actually, I saw my old master teacher too, but she wasn't the exciting one). And as he requests four churros (in a very, uh...colorful....voice) I recognized it was Fred Armisen! Not a huge celebrity, but still, a TV guy! (he's on Saturday Night Live cast, in case you didn't know, kind of smallish with dark hair and glasses, often plays a Hispanic or gay character-- now I see why). I was quite excited and as I prepared his order the guy working with me said "you know that's a celebrity, right?" And that confirmed it. I played it cool and gave him the churros, and he proceeded to have his friend take a picture of him holding all of them. Then we joked and said we'd give him four more if he ate them all, and he said it was tempting. Pretty darn cool...my first real star. The guy I was with said he's given popcorn to Hugh Jackman, lemonade to Paris Hilton (who makes her bodyguards wear pink sunglasses, evidently), and even bummed a cigarette from JOHNNY DEPP!!! Wow. The things you see at DIsneyland. But see, the policy is we can't "recognize" them. We just have to treat it as any other old random Joe out for a day in the park. But it makes for good stories! :)
Thursday, June 18, 2009
I still can't believe I'm doing it!
Well, today was my big first "solo" day!
And it got off to rather an interesting start, because I was actually sort of covering another shift, so instead of being the random floater kid I got to man my very own cart, which was exciting except that I didn't have an official pin number thing and had to start off doing all my sales on a tally sheet and adding in my head. Not that I had any problem with that, of course, but between that and getting the stand opened up with impatient customers and all, it was a little hectic. But then I got into the groove of it and it was so stinkin' fun! I was manning a frozen lemonade stand, featuring plain lemonade or a flavor shot of raspberry, cherry, or vanilla (yeah, I really don't know how well the vanilla matches lemon, but hey, don't knock it till you try it. Which I didn't because I don't get a discount and it costs four bucks and I am not allowed to drink "on stage"). We also sell souvenir sippers, chips, coffee, and hot chocolate. So it wasn't too complicated, but it was exciting enough because I'd be pouring the drinks and ringing up the guests and re-stocking the cups and wiping things down and all kinds of fun. Then of course there's answering questions when people walk by, usually directing them to the nearest restroom (across the way between the French Market restaurant and the train).
But that's what I love. Getting to sound super smart and answer questions, and helping people with my extensive Disneyland knowledge (it finally pays off! hurray!), and having people respond to friendliness with like attitude. I just love watching people be happy because they are at Disneyland. And I love making them happy because they are there. And I love watching how cranky people are when they are desperate for coffee (it's pretty funny), and how much we make them spend on a little slushee. Actually my cart isn't too outrageous except for the three dollar potato chips.
It is so neat to walk down and think "hey, I'm at Disneyland! This is my work and I am getting paid pretty decently to do it. And I'm at Disneyland!" And it's the coolest darn thing on two legs that I get to walk through all of those special "cast member only" doors that you always find when you're hunting a bathroom, and you wonder what's back there. And now I am privy to that knowledge. And I get to see people in mid costume carrying their big rodent heads around, or chatting it up with a neighbor as if oblivious to the fact that their is a big duck outfit covering their bottom half. It's so cool! I'm sure that the newness will wear off eventually and I'll be all grumbly and disgruntled like a lot of the people around here seem to be...but for now I am going to savor as much as possible enjoying the elements of this terrific job! Yay :)
And it got off to rather an interesting start, because I was actually sort of covering another shift, so instead of being the random floater kid I got to man my very own cart, which was exciting except that I didn't have an official pin number thing and had to start off doing all my sales on a tally sheet and adding in my head. Not that I had any problem with that, of course, but between that and getting the stand opened up with impatient customers and all, it was a little hectic. But then I got into the groove of it and it was so stinkin' fun! I was manning a frozen lemonade stand, featuring plain lemonade or a flavor shot of raspberry, cherry, or vanilla (yeah, I really don't know how well the vanilla matches lemon, but hey, don't knock it till you try it. Which I didn't because I don't get a discount and it costs four bucks and I am not allowed to drink "on stage"). We also sell souvenir sippers, chips, coffee, and hot chocolate. So it wasn't too complicated, but it was exciting enough because I'd be pouring the drinks and ringing up the guests and re-stocking the cups and wiping things down and all kinds of fun. Then of course there's answering questions when people walk by, usually directing them to the nearest restroom (across the way between the French Market restaurant and the train).
But that's what I love. Getting to sound super smart and answer questions, and helping people with my extensive Disneyland knowledge (it finally pays off! hurray!), and having people respond to friendliness with like attitude. I just love watching people be happy because they are at Disneyland. And I love making them happy because they are there. And I love watching how cranky people are when they are desperate for coffee (it's pretty funny), and how much we make them spend on a little slushee. Actually my cart isn't too outrageous except for the three dollar potato chips.
It is so neat to walk down and think "hey, I'm at Disneyland! This is my work and I am getting paid pretty decently to do it. And I'm at Disneyland!" And it's the coolest darn thing on two legs that I get to walk through all of those special "cast member only" doors that you always find when you're hunting a bathroom, and you wonder what's back there. And now I am privy to that knowledge. And I get to see people in mid costume carrying their big rodent heads around, or chatting it up with a neighbor as if oblivious to the fact that their is a big duck outfit covering their bottom half. It's so cool! I'm sure that the newness will wear off eventually and I'll be all grumbly and disgruntled like a lot of the people around here seem to be...but for now I am going to savor as much as possible enjoying the elements of this terrific job! Yay :)
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Flying solo with Mickey Mouse :)
Well, at last it's time!
I finally finished my training and am an official fully fledged Disneyland employee! Hurraaaay for me! And boy am I glad of it, too, I must say. The past five days (36 hours) of training have been quite ridiculous and boring at times. I spent tremendously agonizing amounts of time reviewing information or going over things again or standing around waiting for something to happen, or standing around waiting for my trainer to finish talking with someone and griping about things. See, evidently I came in at a very odd time because there is a confusing switch-over happening in the foods department between "ODV" (outdoor vending) and "QSR" (quick service restaurants). And it's causing a bunch of problems so there are all kinds of complaints and rumblings and dissatisfactions, and everyone is stirred up and talking about it. I'm learning that there is a very political side to this whole operation. And that a lot of Disney employees are not exactly the image of a magical thing, especially when we are not "on stage." And I'm learning what I already suspected, that while Grandpa Adams tried to tell me there would be plenty of guys to watch for in this place, a lot of the gentlemen employees are, well, let's just say they'd rather be hunting Mickey down than a princess...
So at last the walking through things with my hand held and still being perplexed and confused about things is over, and I get to really scoop and plop and pour and serve and what-not...granted this is a bit intimidating since I still don't know exactly what I'm doing, and since it is such a huge place with so many little ins and outs and craziness. But I'm excited. I traded in my tent-like trainee shirt and parachute pants for a slightly cuter New Orleans ODV outfit, and tomorrow I am going to be manning a frozen lemonade cart right by the rivers of America! Hurray.
So despite the weird politics and frustrating angles and scheduling mania and millions of things to remember and dozens of ways to get to the park (I discovered an efficient new route and parking lot today, that was cool), I am still loving it and amazed that I am actually working at Disneyland. I like taking moments to just step back and gaze down Main Street, thinking, "Wow.I really work here. This is crazy!" It is truly magical. And tomorrow the real fun begins....we shall see how that feels. I have now tried my hand at Churros, lemonade, slushees, popcorn, pretzels, and even turkey legs! Gobble gobble, here comes the fun :)
I finally finished my training and am an official fully fledged Disneyland employee! Hurraaaay for me! And boy am I glad of it, too, I must say. The past five days (36 hours) of training have been quite ridiculous and boring at times. I spent tremendously agonizing amounts of time reviewing information or going over things again or standing around waiting for something to happen, or standing around waiting for my trainer to finish talking with someone and griping about things. See, evidently I came in at a very odd time because there is a confusing switch-over happening in the foods department between "ODV" (outdoor vending) and "QSR" (quick service restaurants). And it's causing a bunch of problems so there are all kinds of complaints and rumblings and dissatisfactions, and everyone is stirred up and talking about it. I'm learning that there is a very political side to this whole operation. And that a lot of Disney employees are not exactly the image of a magical thing, especially when we are not "on stage." And I'm learning what I already suspected, that while Grandpa Adams tried to tell me there would be plenty of guys to watch for in this place, a lot of the gentlemen employees are, well, let's just say they'd rather be hunting Mickey down than a princess...
So at last the walking through things with my hand held and still being perplexed and confused about things is over, and I get to really scoop and plop and pour and serve and what-not...granted this is a bit intimidating since I still don't know exactly what I'm doing, and since it is such a huge place with so many little ins and outs and craziness. But I'm excited. I traded in my tent-like trainee shirt and parachute pants for a slightly cuter New Orleans ODV outfit, and tomorrow I am going to be manning a frozen lemonade cart right by the rivers of America! Hurray.
So despite the weird politics and frustrating angles and scheduling mania and millions of things to remember and dozens of ways to get to the park (I discovered an efficient new route and parking lot today, that was cool), I am still loving it and amazed that I am actually working at Disneyland. I like taking moments to just step back and gaze down Main Street, thinking, "Wow.I really work here. This is crazy!" It is truly magical. And tomorrow the real fun begins....we shall see how that feels. I have now tried my hand at Churros, lemonade, slushees, popcorn, pretzels, and even turkey legs! Gobble gobble, here comes the fun :)
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Wow, memories in the making!
So day two at Disney is complete...today was even more fun, I must say. It was more meetings and videos and procedure discussion type stuff, for the most part, but it was cool because it was all of this food handling business, so I looked smart because I knew a bunch of it and I played the part of eager nerd student. I fit well into that role, really...can't imagine why ;) But at least we knew each other a little bit. Things got narrower as we went from yesterday's bunch of twenty-five or so, to around ten or eleven today, and then just four of us at the end of the day (those who are in "DL ODV" or Disneyland Outdoor vending), and then down to two for training the next few days...so it weeds out some fun neighbors and some people I'm not sad to part with...no offense, of course. But I'm okay not working side by side with Mr. Awkward who kept whining today, or Debbie Downer who overheard me mention that I just finished my credential and said "Oh, teaching...no jobs in that field these days" (I could practically hear the distinct "wha-whaaaa").
At any rate, I found out a little bit more about my role today. Tomorrow begins "OTJ" or On the Job Training, where I'll learn all of the tricks of my little trade. Today I got my "costume" for this basic thing, and then after Wednesday (twenty plus hours of training) I'll get to fly solo for reals, and then I get another costume. It looks like this will be a fun red plaid shirt and brown pants, because I'm starting off in Critter Country. Kind of a random tucked away spot, and not the cutest outfit, but at least I'm by Winnie the Pooh and Splash Mountain!
I still cannot believe I'm doing this. Sometimes it feels like overload and there is just so much I still want and need to learn about my job and Disneyland and everything, but it's so fun to listen in on all of the other cast members chatting, and try to see what is in store for me. And to soak in all of the park magic. I mean, everything is so precise and exact down to the letter, in order to preserve the integrity of the magic and "show." It's all about show, from the costuming and decor to the things we say in each land...it's ridiculous, but it's a really fun kind of ridiculous! Just to walk around and see rows and rows of random costumes, or be in the break room and see Tinkerbell in her sweats and green skirt, or take stock of all the tidbits I never realized before...so stinkin' COOL!!! I'll keep you posted :) ENjoy
At any rate, I found out a little bit more about my role today. Tomorrow begins "OTJ" or On the Job Training, where I'll learn all of the tricks of my little trade. Today I got my "costume" for this basic thing, and then after Wednesday (twenty plus hours of training) I'll get to fly solo for reals, and then I get another costume. It looks like this will be a fun red plaid shirt and brown pants, because I'm starting off in Critter Country. Kind of a random tucked away spot, and not the cutest outfit, but at least I'm by Winnie the Pooh and Splash Mountain!
I still cannot believe I'm doing this. Sometimes it feels like overload and there is just so much I still want and need to learn about my job and Disneyland and everything, but it's so fun to listen in on all of the other cast members chatting, and try to see what is in store for me. And to soak in all of the park magic. I mean, everything is so precise and exact down to the letter, in order to preserve the integrity of the magic and "show." It's all about show, from the costuming and decor to the things we say in each land...it's ridiculous, but it's a really fun kind of ridiculous! Just to walk around and see rows and rows of random costumes, or be in the break room and see Tinkerbell in her sweats and green skirt, or take stock of all the tidbits I never realized before...so stinkin' COOL!!! I'll keep you posted :) ENjoy
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Making the magic happen...day one
Well,
I just got done with my first big day of training- eight hours of cheesy videos, protocol, Disney standards guidelines, and "coaching" in the Disney way. Pretty intense stuff, but it was just a thrill to know that I'm going to be a part of this! We took a little tour of the park as part of our training, and that was pretty darn exciting. It was crowded, but we got some inside trivia on things, and I kept looking at all the vendors thinking "ooh, that's going to be me!"
There's still a lot I have to learn about my job and all. Tomorrow is more training, then we move into on the job training, and eventually to real work. Well, Disneyland work, that is! And I did learn a bit more about perks...I can get in to any park, any time, with my employee ID. That means Disneyland, Florida, Hong Kong, everything- except for tokyo, because I guess Japanese people don't want us or something. Then I'm getting this special main entrance ticket where I can sign in up to three other people with me! I only get to use it sixteen times a year, but hey, that's still pretty sweet. I get 20% off merchandise and 10 off food, and I also get sweet deals at hotels, and even on other parks in Southern California! Woohoo...I am officially hooked up.
I will keep posting the latest on my adventures, but I think those are the juiciest details so far. Let me know if you need a sign in! :) Talk to you soon.
I just got done with my first big day of training- eight hours of cheesy videos, protocol, Disney standards guidelines, and "coaching" in the Disney way. Pretty intense stuff, but it was just a thrill to know that I'm going to be a part of this! We took a little tour of the park as part of our training, and that was pretty darn exciting. It was crowded, but we got some inside trivia on things, and I kept looking at all the vendors thinking "ooh, that's going to be me!"
There's still a lot I have to learn about my job and all. Tomorrow is more training, then we move into on the job training, and eventually to real work. Well, Disneyland work, that is! And I did learn a bit more about perks...I can get in to any park, any time, with my employee ID. That means Disneyland, Florida, Hong Kong, everything- except for tokyo, because I guess Japanese people don't want us or something. Then I'm getting this special main entrance ticket where I can sign in up to three other people with me! I only get to use it sixteen times a year, but hey, that's still pretty sweet. I get 20% off merchandise and 10 off food, and I also get sweet deals at hotels, and even on other parks in Southern California! Woohoo...I am officially hooked up.
I will keep posting the latest on my adventures, but I think those are the juiciest details so far. Let me know if you need a sign in! :) Talk to you soon.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Disney dreams come true! :)
Well, it has been a long and trying semester of student teaching. I have had fifth graders cuss me out, throw desks at me, criticize my breast size, and blatantly disobey…and I have had a master teacher who yelled constantly at both the students and me. This while at the same time hearing naught but doom and gloom for the looks of the job market in the teaching profession. All in all I finished up feeling quite discouraged, incompetent, and drained. But I must say that these past couple of weeks have been quite enlightening and refreshing. I volunteered at a huge book fair and earned a bunch of free books, I am taking a great class with a bunch of reading and prayer, and I finally came to a point of peace with the fact that my life is in limbo and I am not sure where I’ll be or what I’ll be doing come next year.
And, as often happens when things grow out of control and you at last release and trust that God knows what He is doing, He worked a couple of things out. For one thing, I got a job! Well, not a teaching job, but a summer one. After scouring the surrounding area of my La Habra home and applying at every restaurant and coffee shop I could find, and turning up pretty much zilch, I at last got in for an interview yesterday…at the happiest place on earth. It was a long and annoying road from the online application I filled out months ago to the actual visit to the Disney Casting Center, but I did it, and decided that whatever happened would be what God wanted. The long road continued through the interview process, as I filled out more paperwork, then waited, then went into a room with a bunch of candidates and watched a little video, then took another computer-based questionnaire with a bunch of situational and “strongly agree/agree/neutral/disagree/strongly disagree” questions, then waited some more…then finally went to talk to a real live person. But talking to the live person was great. For one thing, he interviewed me at the same time as another guy, which I thought at first was a bit odd. But it turned out to be quite a good thing because this other kid was a slightly scruffy around the ears, inexperienced, fresh out of high school, “Disneyland sounded cool” applicant. Needless to say, it made me look pretty good in comparison. I had thought up some great classic interview responses ahead of time and I made sure to throw in plenty of buzzwords emphasizing my commitment to customer service and desire to create a memorable guest experience and serve others, and I guess it sounded good, because the interviewer dismissed scruffy dude and then talked to me alone. Well, he let me know what positions were available and then gave me a role description, and then he went to get a bunch more paperwork. Then I started wondering what was going on, and began to realize I pretty much had a job. I went back today to finish up all of the paper nonsense, and I think the excitement factor is at last settling in as it becomes real. I got my dream job! I am working at stinkin’ Disneyland, a place that I love and adore and have had such positive happy connections to my entire life! I am going to go behind the scenes and see Minnie walking around with her mouse head off! (and hopefully not discover that my paranoia about it being a hairy man inside is true…) I am going to be an official cast member! I am going to make the magic happen! WOW!!!!
So details, details, you may ask. I don’t know all of them just yet. I am working in foods, which was my preference all along, and I think my official title is “outdoor vendor.” What this means is that I get to be the person who pushes around the little cart selling ice cream or popcorn or pretzels or giant turkey legs or churros, as well as the person who walks around before the parade selling glow sticks and ridiculously priced light-up roses! And as it turns out this sounds quite perfect. I will get variety, since I’ll get to work at both parks and various locations and with various products. I get to lift things and push things and stand for long periods, which my active compulsive little self will just adore, and I get to cook up products and clean my little cart and sniff cleaning products (I mean, use cleaning products…safely). I get to wear a money belt and think quickly, doing calculations in my head so that I give the proper change to the hairy-arm-pitted French lady with three screaming kids and five Mickey-shaped ice cream bars. I get to be busy and crazy, and then when nobody wants a hot churro on a 100 degree day, I get to sit and sniff the cinnamon all by myself, people watching and laughing at the temper tantrums and crazy couples. I get to be a lizard and soak up the sun outside while everyone complains about the heat, and then I get to sell them a nice frozen banana. This is so COOL!!! I go in next weekend to do my orientation, which is an eight-hour Saturday of explanations and tours and rules, followed by another eight-hour day learning about my specific area. And at this point I’m sure I’ll get plenty more details and figure scheduling and what not. But at least it’s paid. Speaking of which, that is another cool element…I will make $9.46 an hour to start, which is more than I have ever made before! I mean, I am a part of a union now and I am subject to the strict rules and codes of Disney, and I pretty much am owned by a giant rat for the next three months (and continuing holiday times if I want), available 24/7 if they want me. But hey, it’s DISNEYLAND!!! Heeheeehee, hurray.
There you have it. It’s still sinking in, and there’s still plenty to think about and deal with, but I decided I will probably get a lot of interesting and fun experiences with this gig, so I might as well re-open the blog page. But I must say recounting the tales of balloon sales will be a good deal more pleasant than describing crusty brown bath towels and bloody toe nails…so read if you like, and enjoy the story of behind the scenes Disney. Well, as much as I am permitted to share, that is. Disney is quite hush-hush about behind the scenes. I love you all! Thanks for your interest and support!
And, as often happens when things grow out of control and you at last release and trust that God knows what He is doing, He worked a couple of things out. For one thing, I got a job! Well, not a teaching job, but a summer one. After scouring the surrounding area of my La Habra home and applying at every restaurant and coffee shop I could find, and turning up pretty much zilch, I at last got in for an interview yesterday…at the happiest place on earth. It was a long and annoying road from the online application I filled out months ago to the actual visit to the Disney Casting Center, but I did it, and decided that whatever happened would be what God wanted. The long road continued through the interview process, as I filled out more paperwork, then waited, then went into a room with a bunch of candidates and watched a little video, then took another computer-based questionnaire with a bunch of situational and “strongly agree/agree/neutral/disagree/strongly disagree” questions, then waited some more…then finally went to talk to a real live person. But talking to the live person was great. For one thing, he interviewed me at the same time as another guy, which I thought at first was a bit odd. But it turned out to be quite a good thing because this other kid was a slightly scruffy around the ears, inexperienced, fresh out of high school, “Disneyland sounded cool” applicant. Needless to say, it made me look pretty good in comparison. I had thought up some great classic interview responses ahead of time and I made sure to throw in plenty of buzzwords emphasizing my commitment to customer service and desire to create a memorable guest experience and serve others, and I guess it sounded good, because the interviewer dismissed scruffy dude and then talked to me alone. Well, he let me know what positions were available and then gave me a role description, and then he went to get a bunch more paperwork. Then I started wondering what was going on, and began to realize I pretty much had a job. I went back today to finish up all of the paper nonsense, and I think the excitement factor is at last settling in as it becomes real. I got my dream job! I am working at stinkin’ Disneyland, a place that I love and adore and have had such positive happy connections to my entire life! I am going to go behind the scenes and see Minnie walking around with her mouse head off! (and hopefully not discover that my paranoia about it being a hairy man inside is true…) I am going to be an official cast member! I am going to make the magic happen! WOW!!!!
So details, details, you may ask. I don’t know all of them just yet. I am working in foods, which was my preference all along, and I think my official title is “outdoor vendor.” What this means is that I get to be the person who pushes around the little cart selling ice cream or popcorn or pretzels or giant turkey legs or churros, as well as the person who walks around before the parade selling glow sticks and ridiculously priced light-up roses! And as it turns out this sounds quite perfect. I will get variety, since I’ll get to work at both parks and various locations and with various products. I get to lift things and push things and stand for long periods, which my active compulsive little self will just adore, and I get to cook up products and clean my little cart and sniff cleaning products (I mean, use cleaning products…safely). I get to wear a money belt and think quickly, doing calculations in my head so that I give the proper change to the hairy-arm-pitted French lady with three screaming kids and five Mickey-shaped ice cream bars. I get to be busy and crazy, and then when nobody wants a hot churro on a 100 degree day, I get to sit and sniff the cinnamon all by myself, people watching and laughing at the temper tantrums and crazy couples. I get to be a lizard and soak up the sun outside while everyone complains about the heat, and then I get to sell them a nice frozen banana. This is so COOL!!! I go in next weekend to do my orientation, which is an eight-hour Saturday of explanations and tours and rules, followed by another eight-hour day learning about my specific area. And at this point I’m sure I’ll get plenty more details and figure scheduling and what not. But at least it’s paid. Speaking of which, that is another cool element…I will make $9.46 an hour to start, which is more than I have ever made before! I mean, I am a part of a union now and I am subject to the strict rules and codes of Disney, and I pretty much am owned by a giant rat for the next three months (and continuing holiday times if I want), available 24/7 if they want me. But hey, it’s DISNEYLAND!!! Heeheeehee, hurray.
There you have it. It’s still sinking in, and there’s still plenty to think about and deal with, but I decided I will probably get a lot of interesting and fun experiences with this gig, so I might as well re-open the blog page. But I must say recounting the tales of balloon sales will be a good deal more pleasant than describing crusty brown bath towels and bloody toe nails…so read if you like, and enjoy the story of behind the scenes Disney. Well, as much as I am permitted to share, that is. Disney is quite hush-hush about behind the scenes. I love you all! Thanks for your interest and support!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)