In exactly two weeks I will be checking in to Cumberland Park and signing my life away to Disney at Casting! I will also be meeting my new roommates and moving in my crapload of stuff. I'm a bundle of excitement and nerves right now, and I still feel like there's so much to do.

I'm all done with work and school, so the only thing distracting me is reading all of the Disney blogs and message boards I can find, and making packing lists. Also, I gave my dad the URL to this blog, so if you're reading this, hi dad! Don't make fun of my writing.

Hope everyone had a great holiday and has a happy new year. Bring on 2012.

Many thanks to my awesome roomie Heather and her dad for creating the new layout for my blog! It's more than I ever could have hoped for, and definitely inspires me to write more. I just love the art in Disney's Tangled, so I'm beyond excited that my blog can reflect a little part of that :)

Ah, three weeks left till check-in! I have no idea where the time went. After graduation, things seemed to just pass by in a blur. My last day of work is this Saturday, then on Sunday is Christmas. Even though I don't celebrate Christmas, my mom's birthday is on that day, and I love watching all the holiday specials on TV. My favorite is the Disney Parks Christmas Parade- I look forward to that every year.

On Thursday and Friday of last week, I explored Orlando with my boyfriend, as a kind of "end of semester" gift for both of us. Thursday night we crashed the Polynesian hotel, watched Wishes from the beach, and lazed around on lounge chairs while watching Tangled on a big inflatable screen. It was awesome! That was my first time in the Polynesian, and I can't wait to one day actually be rich enough to stay there. After the fireworks we went upstairs to the Kona Cafe sushi bar and pigged out on sticky wings and a massive volcano roll. It was heaven, and something I could definitely see myself doing again while on my internship.





On Friday, we went to Downtown Disney and got an amazing ice cream soda from the Ghiradelli shop. So. Good. I decided not to buy anything until I start working and can use my Cast Member discount, but I definitely spotted some things I want in the near future. Especially at the Art of Disney and the Tren-D stores. We also drove by Cumberland Apartments to see what it looked like. I was glad to see no obvious signs of danger- no unsavory characters roaming around, no trash on the streets- in fact, it looked pretty nice. I liked the fact that it was right across the street from Mickey's Retreat. I also got to creep on some of the college program apartments. Maybe it's just me, but Patterson and Chatam look so beautiful.

Saturday we came home, and that night was my holiday party at work. I'm going to miss my amazing coworkers so much- when things got crazy, we always had each other to keep sane. In case I never mentioned it before, I work part-time in a Kid's Club at a 24-Hour Fitness. I get to babysit all the kids ages 6 months to 12 years old while their parents go exercise. I've worked there for over two years, and while I definitely need a change, I'm still going to get nostalgic for the friends I've made there and the kids I've grown attached to. My coworkers gave me a huge card that they all signed, and it was just so unexpected. I'm going to keep it around for inspiration.

In Disney news, progress has been made on my upcoming adventure. I got my hiking boots, my bed sheets, my pillows, and some towels. I also booked a hotel that me and my dad are going to stay in the night of check-in. We'll be driving up the day of the 11th, staying at the All Star Music hotel that night, and then I'll be checking-in to Cumberland the next morning!

I alternate between feelings of nervousness and excitement. I'm excited because I definitely feel like I need change in my life. I love my boyfriend, but I'm getting tired of living at home. I need to be independent, and I need a different job. Even though all my coworkers are awesome, the management at that place has been getting to me for a while. And now that I've graduated from college, I feel that I deserve a better job with my degree. Disney is something I've always loved, and I just love Orlando in general (even if the I-4 does scare the crap out of me sometimes).

However, I'm nervous because I'm about to be thrown completely out of my comfort zone. I'm used to having my own room, I'm used to being around people I know and streets I'm familiar with. I'm used to a certain routine and a certain area and a certain way of life, and in a few weeks it's all about to change. A few years ago, I never would have volunteered to move away from my family and work in a job that involved public speaking. I feel like I've changed a lot from the shy, quiet girl I used to be, but even so, this internship is going to be a big change. It's going to take a lot of courage to fight the homesickness. But at the same time, I know things would be worse if I decided to back down and stay home. This experience is going to be a great and life-changing one, and all I have to do is make it through the fear of the unknown.

Since the time is getting closer to leaving for Orlando, I've began obsessing over reading Disney blogs and tumblr's. Most blogs out there are about the College and International Programs, but I've been lucky enough to find a few that relate to Animal Kingdom and the Conservation Education Presenter role. I figured I would post them just in case you're like me, and like to gather as much information as possible before starting a new job. In any case, they provide for very entertaining reads.

Previous Conservation Education Presenters:


http://wdwcollegeprogram2011.blogspot.com/
http://doingasdreamersdo.blogspot.com/
http://wdwpi2011.wordpress.com/
http://nickwdwfall2011.blogspot.com/

Blogs of those who have worked in Animal Kingdom (Various Capacities):


http://safariwanyama.wordpress.com/
http://katies-going-to-disney-world.blogspot.com/

General PI Blogs:


https://working4themouse.wordpress.com/

Favorite CP Blogs (even though I'm doing the PI and not the CP, all of these blogs have tons of helpful information about what to expect from life in Orlando):


http://disneyworldcollegeprogram.blogspot.com/  (FSFB Spring 2011)
http://calismagicalinternship.blogspot.com/  (Main Entrance Operations Spring 2011)
http://amandasfstop.blogspot.com/ (Photopass Spring 2011)
http://enchantedfuture.tumblr.com/ (Character Performer Fall 2011)
http://kaylamakesmagic.tumblr.com/ (Merchandise Fall 2011)
http://askacm.tumblr.com/ (Custodial Fall 2010)
http://wdwcpfall10.blogspot.com/  (Attractions Spring 2011)
http://whereinternshipdreamscometrue.blogspot.com/ (Hospitality Spring 2010)
http://seasonswiththemouse.blogspot.com/ (Character Attendant and Performer)

http://disneydispatch.com/content/columns/amber-earns-her-ears/ (QSFB Spring 2010)


Disney Youtube Channels (these always help to get me excited):


http://www.youtube.com/user/UndercoverTourist
http://www.youtube.com/user/PopSong1#g/u

Disney Music:


http://simpledisneythings.tumblr.com/music

If anybody has any suggestions on blogs to check out, let me know! Now that school's over and I'm all set to graduate on Friday, I have tons of free time before I start my internship. Additionally, I have a whole word document saved with links to blogs (I know, very stalker-ish), so if anybody wants more blogs to check out I can pass it along.

In other news, my bed sheets for my new apartment arrived the other day:



It's a small image, but you get the idea. :)

A quick recap of my Thanksgiving holiday, just because I'm in the mood for typing and don't feel like neglecting my blog this early into my Disney adventure!

Thanksgiving was nice, I love having time off from work and school. It was a lazy day full of cooking, watching the parade and the dog show, and reading. Smells of green bean casserole, turkey, yams, stuffing, and cranberries filled the house, and everything was lovely. That is, until my relatives came over.

Don't get me wrong, I love my family. I really do. But sometimes they tend to test my patience. Like my dear grandmother, who has gone slightly nutty ever since my grandfather passed away. She repeats questions like a broken record, and insults people in what she thinks is an undertone. She also forces me to wait on her hand and foot, and then chastises me for having my elbows on the table instead of saying thank you. I know a lot of the things she does isn't her fault, but sometimes her crabbiness and lack of regard for others really makes my blood boil.

And then there's my aunt, who takes over the television and switches it from football to....the Jewish channel. Needless to say, the males in my family were not pleased. She also is convinced that an iPhone is not a proper cell phone.

I guess everyone has things that they love and hate about their families, and it just wouldn't be Thanksgiving without a few minor annoyances. Luckily, the food was amazing, my dad did a brilliant job with the turkey, and my parents successfully managed to embarrass my boyfriend Eric by singing happy birthday to him at the end of the meal.

Speaking of Eric, his birthday was on Black Friday and he is now a very distinguished 23-year-old man. We celebrated very casually, by hanging out at his house all day in our pajamas. Me playing around on Tumblr reading Disney blogs and him playing online poker. We also watched Pirates of the Caribbean (the first one) and Monsters Inc. Thank you ABC Family, for providing an awesome setup to a lazy day. It also was a fantastic alternative to battling the scary crowds at our local BrandsMart and Macy's.

Now that those two major events are out of the way, Disney is looking more and more real. In just a little less than two months I will be moving in with my lovely new roomies and stuffing my brain with as many animal facts as I can remember. However, there are still some exciting times to be had at home before I leave. Tomorrow, in honor of my mom's birthday, we are going to see Beauty and the Beast at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. It's my first time seeing the show, and I'm very excited. Pictures and a follow-up post to come.

Thanks for reading, and I hope everyone had an amazing Turkey Day :)

Today I got a a rather long email from Michelle Matuszewski, one of the Animal Programs' trainers. She and Jason Martin will be the ones helping out all the new Animal interns as we begin our first few weeks of training.

For this term, there is a hiring process that is new to everyone. Every person has a dashboard that they log in to, and that dashboard lists all the recent emails and documents that have been sent to you. Also, there is Yammer, which is a social networking site (similar to Facebook) only for Animal Programs Professional Interns. It allows everyone to meet, talk with each other, and ask questions before arriving in Orlando. This turned out to be a great tool, as it provided me with tons of information and my future roommates!


My arrival day is Thursday, January 12, 2012. On this day I'll be filling out all my hiring paperwork and moving into Disney Housing. On this day I will also be receiving a detailed training outline and training guides. I will also be given an agenda for the day, which will include afternoon meetings and a social networking event in the evening. It sounds like a very busy and jam-packed day, but totally exciting as well! I've been told to dress casual this day, but since it will also be the first time meeting Disney Professionals, I'm sure I'll be obsessing over what to wear anyway. That day might include a few outfit changes :)

The email also went over the Disney Look. Disney requires that literally every inch of your body be within their guidelines- no crazy hairstyles, no crazy makeup, no crazy jewelry, no crazy piercings or tattoos- basically dress professionally and look well kept while onstage. I won't go over every detail about the Disney Look, but the rules are definitely extensive and cover everything- from the tips of your hair to the toes on your feet.

As for my costume, I am now in need of some plain brown hiking boots. I have never purchased hiking boots before, so if anyone has any suggestions on where to get some, please let me know!


The email reiterates that the first couple of weeks on the job will be VERY busy. No time off is expected for these first few weeks. I have to admit that this scares me a little, but I'm fully prepared to work hard and I know that it will be worth it in the end. I'm also a little nervous about dealing with the traffic around Orlando and finding directions to places I need to be, but I know that these are things I'll come to learn in time. Just those silly little things we all obsess about before changing our lives in a major way, no big deal.

That's all for the moment. I hope this helps any future prospective Disney interns, and entertains those who are just interested in learning about the process.

It's official! I received the link to pay for my housing, finally! I selected a two-bedroom in Cumberland Apartments, and will check-in at 8 am. I'm really impressed with the onboarding website- it's full of useful information about where to go, what to wear, what to bring, and it lists all the amenities that come with the apartment. Washer/dryer, towels, kitchen appliances, coffee maker, toaster- it literally has everything except bedding and clothes!

I'm a little worried about being able to find a nice roommate, but I'm not going to stress too much about it. I have faith that everything will work out- it's Disney, how bad can it be?

After a short hiatus, we continue...

New for future Disney PI's this year is a social networking site called Yammers. This site is exclusively for those who have been accepted into an Animal Programs and Environmental Sciences (previously Animal Programs) internship, and it gives us a chance to network and connect with some of our future coworkers.

I was so excited to get the invite to this site! Everyone I've met seem awesome so far, and it's making me even more excited to get to Orlando and meet them all in person. Everyone is so nice and friendly, and best news, they all seem obsessed with Disney like me! Now I don't feel so alone and weird. Next up will be receiving the link to an "Onboarding" website, where I'll get to pay the $100 housing deposit and receive information about check-in. At first I was a little nervous about Disney housing, but after talking to some of these girls I feel so much better- I know whoever I end up sharing an apartment with will be awesome!

In other news, I got my graduation tickets in the mail! I graduate with my BA in Anthropology on December 9th at 9 a.m. and I couldn't be more excited! I'm so ready to be done with school, and to have a semester off to work in Orlando before Grad School. November is here, time for Thanksgiving, my boyfriend's birthday, Christmas, Graduation....only good things ahead!

Well, I have officially accepted my PI, but I'm still waiting on my offer letter email. Once I get that, I can pay the $100 deposit to secure my housing in Cumberland Park. The recruiter tried to send me the link, but for some reason it wouldn't work. I emailed them, and now I'm just waiting for them to fix it. I can't wait to officially get my offer letter and pay my deposit! It will seem all the more real. But, in the meantime...

So, these 30 days won't actually be consecutive, but I figure doing it this way could work as well. Anyway, on to Day 2....

Friday, September 23rd at around 4:45 pm, I was accepted to Disney's Professional Internship program as a Conservation Education Presenter at Disney's Animal Kingdom!!!!

I was super excited and amazed to get my offer so fast! I had my panel phone interview on Wednesday the 21st, and then on Friday I got home from class to find an email, telling me that I had a form to fill out in order to complete the application process for my professional internship. The form was pretty basic, just basic screening questions about age and background checks. Then, about thirty minutes later, I got a call from Disney! The recruiter on the phone repeated the screening questions I had already answered online just to confirm, and then explained the real reason he was calling.....to offer me the position!!!! I accepted right away, and then he began explaining all the fun stuff- benefits of being a Disney cast member, housing (I'll be living in Cumberland Park Apartments), and pay rate. I'll be moving in on January 12th and staying till June 9th.

I'm so excited to start working in Animal Kingdom and teaching kids about conservation and ways that they can help the environment. To celebrate, me and my boyfriend went to go see Disney on Ice down in Miami at the American Airlines Arena. The show was called 100 Years of Magic, and it was amazing....the scenery, the costumes, the music, everything was so beautiful. I loved getting to see all the kids dressed up as their favorite Disney characters, and watching their eyes light up as Mickey Mouse skated in front of them. It was my first time seeing a Disney on Ice show, and it made me even more excited to start working at the happiest place on earth.

Some pictures of Disney on Ice: 100 Years of Magic: