Today was my first day of work where I was on my own, no more training. It was actually a lot easier than I thought it would be and I didn't have any issues. The coordinators were very helpful and like I said, there were no issues. Today I worked two carts in Asia one before break and one after break. It seemed like a much longer shift today than my previous nine hour shifts, even though it was only six hours. I think it was because I only got one fifteen minute break compared to the lengthy and frequent breaks I got when I was training.
Overall it was a good first shift on my own!
Showing posts with label Asia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Asia. Show all posts
Saturday, February 1, 2014
Friday, January 31, 2014
Merchandise Tier 5 Training
I have officially earned my ears! Today was my last day of training, also known as Merchandise Tier 5. Today I worked up in the Expedition Everest: Legend of the Forbidden Mountain gift shop, the biggest merchandise location in Asia. Half of the day was spent learning about Photopass, this is where people go to purchase their ride photos. That came with a lot of details and things to remember. The second half of the day was spent just putting everything I had learned up until this point to the test. Well, in reality, it was very slow because it was yet another dreary day in Florida.
Training went by very, very fast and I can't say I feel 110% ready to take on everything that I've learned! Tomorrow is my first day on my own and I am definitely very excited though, especially because I don't start work until 2:30pm!
Training went by very, very fast and I can't say I feel 110% ready to take on everything that I've learned! Tomorrow is my first day on my own and I am definitely very excited though, especially because I don't start work until 2:30pm!
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Merchandise Tier 4 Training
Today I had my second to last day of training which means....floor stocking. This means, a new costume. Get excited people.
Weather was AWFUL today, which meant Disney's Animal Kingdom was dead. So there wasn't a lot of practice to be done. It was another one of those training days that included a lot of pointless walking around and few tips and tricks sprinkled in here in there. About half way through the day I had to take my 67 questions assessment, which I happily passed.
Tomorrow is my last day of training, Tier 5, and I will be up in the Expedition Everest gift shop, the biggest shop in Asia. There I will be learning Photopass for guests who want to purchase their photo from the ride. I'm definitely very eager to take off my "Earning My Ears" ribbon and finally start actually putting what I've learned to use. Thus far, training has been fine, nothing exciting, but nothing awful. My trainer Steven has been really cool and I find him to be a pretty entertaining man, not purposefully.
After Tier 5 tomorrow I will have one day on my own before I get another two days off...not complaining. Lots of work makes it hard to catch up on things outside of work such as laundry, errands, etc. and I'm looking forward to getting all of those done.
Saturday, January 25, 2014
Merchandise Tier 1 Training
So today I had my first day of in-costume training at Disney's Animal Kingdom, this is also known as Merchandise Tier 1. The morning started out with about two hours of E-Learning in the computer lab at the DAK Cast Services building. Although the two hours flew by, it didn't make it any less boring. There were about five of us in there, all were ladies I had DAKlimation with.
After the E-Learning, we got our Pin Trading lanyards! I'm super excited for that aspect of merchandise and actually did a lot of Pin Trading with guests when I was out in the park! After some more talk about Disney's Four Keys (ALWAYS) it was already lunch, which we all had in Pride Rock cafeteria.
After lunch, we split up with individual trainers based on what land we were in and we got well acquainted with the area and the merchandise locations within our area, not to mention all the backstage areas. I was a little disappointed to find out that the majority of merchandise locations in Asia are all outdoor carts, which means working outside, which is not exactly wonderful in the Florida heat/humidity/rain. There's actually only one indoor location. While today was a pretty general overview, it sounded like we rotate throughout all these locations during our shift.
Overall I feel like it was a very long day for not a lot of stuff, but all in all it was a fine day.
Alright, so the moment you've all been waiting for...the reveal of my costume. Let me prelude this by telling you that sadly, this costume is probably one of the best ones there. Get excited people.
Even though I was dead tired after training, we HAD to hit up Hollywood Studios with just an hour to spare (duh)!!! We went with our favorite DCP boys, our neighbors across the hall, and were able to ride Hollywood Tower of Terror and Rockin' Roller Coaster. I also saw Fantasmic for my very first time and I cried really hard like such a weenie. Just one of those side effects of Disney magic I guess!
After the E-Learning, we got our Pin Trading lanyards! I'm super excited for that aspect of merchandise and actually did a lot of Pin Trading with guests when I was out in the park! After some more talk about Disney's Four Keys (ALWAYS) it was already lunch, which we all had in Pride Rock cafeteria.
After lunch, we split up with individual trainers based on what land we were in and we got well acquainted with the area and the merchandise locations within our area, not to mention all the backstage areas. I was a little disappointed to find out that the majority of merchandise locations in Asia are all outdoor carts, which means working outside, which is not exactly wonderful in the Florida heat/humidity/rain. There's actually only one indoor location. While today was a pretty general overview, it sounded like we rotate throughout all these locations during our shift.
Overall I feel like it was a very long day for not a lot of stuff, but all in all it was a fine day.
Alright, so the moment you've all been waiting for...the reveal of my costume. Let me prelude this by telling you that sadly, this costume is probably one of the best ones there. Get excited people.
Even though I was dead tired after training, we HAD to hit up Hollywood Studios with just an hour to spare (duh)!!! We went with our favorite DCP boys, our neighbors across the hall, and were able to ride Hollywood Tower of Terror and Rockin' Roller Coaster. I also saw Fantasmic for my very first time and I cried really hard like such a weenie. Just one of those side effects of Disney magic I guess!
Friday, January 24, 2014
DAKlimation
Today I had my DAKlimation training to become acclimated to Disney's Animal Kingdom (ahhhh I see what you did there). DAKlimation began at 8:00am so I planned to take the 7:05 bus from Chatham to get there at 7:35. However, when I got to Chatham at 6:50am, the next bus wasn't coming until 7:37...a bit of a problem for me. So I ended up driving after all and with the help of my bus app map and a couple of u-turns later, I eventually made it to the cast parking lot and found my way to the Cast Service Building.
Like Traditions, I had to dress in business casual today, and after learning my lesson yesterday with wearing a skirt in the unusually cold weather here, I switched to pants and a blazer. Let me tell you...THIS DID NOT HELP! It was so cold first thing in the morning and didn't warm up until...uhhhh right now at 3:30pm, and it's STILL pretty chilly! Of course, the first thing we did in the wonderful chill was take a park tour to become well acquainted with Disney's Animal Kingdom's five lands. Each land has a different story, a different conservation message, and a different greeting, and it was really neat learning all of those, it definitely made more excited to work at DAK! The first thing we did on our tour was ride Kilimanjaro Safaris before the park opened, which, of course, was AWESOME. And as a prize for getting up so early and being up so early, we actually got to see more of the animals because they're more active in the early morning!
After the park tour, our leaders talked to us about "Disney's Four Keys" at DAK (view last post, if you're really interested in that) for about forty five more minutes, gave us the rest of our training schedules, and then we were broken for lunch at Pride Rock Cafeteria, the cast member cafeteria for DAK cast members. Apparently all cast member cafeterias have a Subway in them, and homegirl got a six inch meal for like four bucks....uh, what?!
My training schedule is as follows:
Saturday - Merchandise Tier 1
Sunday - Merchantainment
Monday - Merchandise Tier 3
Tuesday - OFF DAY
Wednesday - OFF DAY
Thursday - Merchandise Tier 4
Friday - Merchandise Tier 5
After lunch, came the best (and I say this in a half sarcastic way) part of our day...costuming. I drove to DAK Wardrobe and there had to try on a bunch of different sizes before finally getting the right ones in both tops and pants. When I found the right sizes, I eventually went home with five tops, five bottoms, one winter jacket, one rain jacket, a pair of gloves, and a fanny pack to keep my rain stuff in.
I made a lot of promises that I would show my costume today, but I didn't take any pictures while I was there trying them on because it was just so hectic. However, I do have to wear my costume tomorrow to training, so you will definitely be seeing it tomorrow when I take my picture in the morning (which is now weirdly becoming some sort of ritual?).
DAKlimation was just fine, there wasn't a ton of information just thrown at you, which was nice, it really is just what they say, just to get acclimated with the park. I got to meet some nice people in my group and even met a really sweet girl who is also doing Asia Merchandise and also lives in Patterson, so it looks like I found my carpool buddy!! I have absolutely no idea what to expect tomorrow, but I can't wait to fill you in on what happens. I'm still trying to decide if I should go to the parks tonight, I am definitely pretty tired, and I still need to go get work shoes, which I will be going to Walmart for...woo!
Also, I think you can be expecting a vlog on Tuesday!
Like Traditions, I had to dress in business casual today, and after learning my lesson yesterday with wearing a skirt in the unusually cold weather here, I switched to pants and a blazer. Let me tell you...THIS DID NOT HELP! It was so cold first thing in the morning and didn't warm up until...uhhhh right now at 3:30pm, and it's STILL pretty chilly! Of course, the first thing we did in the wonderful chill was take a park tour to become well acquainted with Disney's Animal Kingdom's five lands. Each land has a different story, a different conservation message, and a different greeting, and it was really neat learning all of those, it definitely made more excited to work at DAK! The first thing we did on our tour was ride Kilimanjaro Safaris before the park opened, which, of course, was AWESOME. And as a prize for getting up so early and being up so early, we actually got to see more of the animals because they're more active in the early morning!
After the park tour, our leaders talked to us about "Disney's Four Keys" at DAK (view last post, if you're really interested in that) for about forty five more minutes, gave us the rest of our training schedules, and then we were broken for lunch at Pride Rock Cafeteria, the cast member cafeteria for DAK cast members. Apparently all cast member cafeterias have a Subway in them, and homegirl got a six inch meal for like four bucks....uh, what?!
My training schedule is as follows:
Saturday - Merchandise Tier 1
Sunday - Merchantainment
Monday - Merchandise Tier 3
Tuesday - OFF DAY
Wednesday - OFF DAY
Thursday - Merchandise Tier 4
Friday - Merchandise Tier 5
After lunch, came the best (and I say this in a half sarcastic way) part of our day...costuming. I drove to DAK Wardrobe and there had to try on a bunch of different sizes before finally getting the right ones in both tops and pants. When I found the right sizes, I eventually went home with five tops, five bottoms, one winter jacket, one rain jacket, a pair of gloves, and a fanny pack to keep my rain stuff in.
I made a lot of promises that I would show my costume today, but I didn't take any pictures while I was there trying them on because it was just so hectic. However, I do have to wear my costume tomorrow to training, so you will definitely be seeing it tomorrow when I take my picture in the morning (which is now weirdly becoming some sort of ritual?).
DAKlimation was just fine, there wasn't a ton of information just thrown at you, which was nice, it really is just what they say, just to get acclimated with the park. I got to meet some nice people in my group and even met a really sweet girl who is also doing Asia Merchandise and also lives in Patterson, so it looks like I found my carpool buddy!! I have absolutely no idea what to expect tomorrow, but I can't wait to fill you in on what happens. I'm still trying to decide if I should go to the parks tonight, I am definitely pretty tired, and I still need to go get work shoes, which I will be going to Walmart for...woo!
Also, I think you can be expecting a vlog on Tuesday!
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Check-In and Location Announcement
So check-in was a pretty breezy process. I got a DORMS email a night or two before asking me to arrive at check-in at my designated check-in time, which was 10:00am-11:00am. However, since I had to eventually get my boyfriend to the airport and I didn't know how long check-in and casting would take, I decided to get there as early as possible.
According to the website, check-in starts at 8:00am, but blogs and Facebook posts have made it sound like people are let in at 7:00am and start lining up prior to that. I left my nearby hotel around 6:30am. I was very hungry so was going to get Starbucks but figured I'd cruise by Vista Way, where check-in is located, just to see what the situation was. As I drove by, the line was already starting to get lengthy, so I snagged the last parking spot in the parking lot across the street from the Vista Way security and hopped in line.
At 7:10am they let us into Vista Way where we walked to the Welcome Pavilion. As we waited in line, a couple employees began handing out temporary name tags.
And when we got a little closer to the front of the line we received our Program Guide, or as the staff like to call it, "The Bible."
When I finally got the the first check-in table I got a sticker they put on the back of my Program Guide that showed my work location. Drum roll please.....
According to the website, check-in starts at 8:00am, but blogs and Facebook posts have made it sound like people are let in at 7:00am and start lining up prior to that. I left my nearby hotel around 6:30am. I was very hungry so was going to get Starbucks but figured I'd cruise by Vista Way, where check-in is located, just to see what the situation was. As I drove by, the line was already starting to get lengthy, so I snagged the last parking spot in the parking lot across the street from the Vista Way security and hopped in line.
At 7:10am they let us into Vista Way where we walked to the Welcome Pavilion. As we waited in line, a couple employees began handing out temporary name tags.
And when we got a little closer to the front of the line we received our Program Guide, or as the staff like to call it, "The Bible."
When I finally got the the first check-in table I got a sticker they put on the back of my Program Guide that showed my work location. Drum roll please.....
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I will be working at Disney's Animal Kingdom in Asia! So God knows what that costume will be like! I've very excited, I would've been happy anywhere honestly. Also, I've been informed that I won't have to work late shifts because DAK closes the earliest! So that will be nice!
After I got my sticker, I went inside and received my housing assignment, got my key, took my picture for my housing ID, and received my printed housing ID.
From there I hopped in line in a screened in section outside the Welccome Pavilion building. When I got the front of the line there, I received my "Itinerary," which outlined my next couple of days for casting, my housing meeting, and Traditions. Then they took us in groups of five and went over what to wear for Traditions and what to expect the next couple of days. Last but not least, we were walked through the I-9 form in groups of five, which we had to bring to casting.
So that was all for check-in! Minus waiting in line, the entire process only took about 45 minutes to an hour. It was not bad in the least!
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