First Time at Cafe Orleans

I've been visiting Disneyland regularly for nearly three years now since moving down to Southern California, but there are still plenty of things on my Disney bucket list that I haven't accomplished. Many of these tasks include eating at various restaurants around the resort. In early January, I was actually able to check off Blue Bayou! (It was too dark to take photos...but I definitely had an emotional experience with the steak. It was SO good.) Most recently, I made reservations with my best friend at Cafe Orleans to once and for all try the ever famous Monte Cristo Sandwich. All I have to say is I was NOT disappointed!

My friend and I ordered and shared the Monte Cristo Sandwich and a bowl of Pommes Frites (garlic and parmesan fries). We also both had pomegranate lemonade, which never fails to be delicious and satisfying during a long day in the parks.

I first dove into the fries - I can't resist anything covered in garlic. Even though I love garlic, I was a little pleasantly surprised because the last garlic fries I had at Jazz Kitchen in Downtown Disney weren't as good as I had hoped. I don't know how much different they are compared to the ones at Cafe Orleans, but I definitely enjoyed the ones at Cafe more!

I honestly had no idea what I was getting into when I ordered the Monte Cristo. I only knew that the bread was a donut and that hardly any of my friends could finish one on their own. As soon as I took the first bite I understood what the craze was about...it was amazing! The ham and cheese inside was warm and delicious, and the berry jelly was the perfect compliment to dip the sandwich in on the side. I simply had never experienced any food like the Monte Cristo before, and I thoroughly enjoyed it!

My best friend and I were definitely happy campers with our experience at Cafe Orleans. It was a beautiful day to eat outside, enjoy the cold lemonade and devour our new favorite sandwiches and fries. Can't wait to someday go again!

Have you been to Cafe Orleans? What did you think?
What's your favorite restaurant in Disneyland?

Have a magical day!

Top 7 Favorite Rides at Disneyland

Like many Disney fans, I've been going to Disneyland since I was barely three-years-old. Through those years both the Disneyland Resort and myself have changed in many different ways, but one thing remains constant: I love rides.

Attractions have always been my family's favorite part of going to any Disney park. We never really spent much time meeting characters or watching too many shows...probably because I was deathly afraid to meet characters, but that's another story. I remember always loving it's a small world back when I didn't know any better...and now I can barely stand to ride it barely once a year.

Now that I've lived in Southern California for almost three years and have frequented Disneyland too many times to count, I thought I'd share my top seven favorite rides within the Disneyland Resort (including California Adventure). Let's see if any of mine are your favorites too!

Top 7 Favorite Rides at the Disneyland Resort

7. Toy Story Midway Mania - I'm so ridiculously competitive on this ride, but it's just because it's so much fun! For the longest time I had an undefeated streak, but my brother broke it a couple times within the last year. It's a complete must-do whenever my family comes to visit, mostly because my dad is obsessed!

6. Big Thunder Mountain - I remember loving this attraction when I was younger, but I would always close my eyes whenever the train dodged and weaved through caves and dark tunnels because I was scared something would jump out at me like the yeti in the Matterhorn. However, with the most recent refurb and added updates to Big Thunder Mountain after closing for the big incident, I have to say this is one of the most fun and enjoyable attractions in the resort. Great for anyone, really! Even those who don't prefer roller coasters!

5. California Screamin' - One of the biggest and probably most fun thrill rides within the park. You can't really ride Screamin' without a giant smile on your face.

4. Soarin' Over California - I honestly wasn't the biggest fan of Soarin' until recently...I always liked the ride, but I felt like it was a "one and done" kind of experience since it was the same film every time. However, this place now has a very special place in my heart because it's been the location I've grown personally and professionally the most at work, as well as where I made the closest friendships with my coworkers. 

3. Space Mountain / Hyperspace Mountain - The original Space Mountain has always been a favorite of mine, but I have to give huge props to the new rendition with Hyperspace Mountain. They did an excellent job with the new score and effects, I almost don't want it to ever leave!

2. Indiana Jones Adventure - When I participated in my college program in Florida, this was the one ride I missed the most. It's so different from anything else in the parks, combining thrills and incredibly fun animatronics and effects. Even the queue is fantastic!

1. Tower of Terror - This ride stole my heart the very first time I rode it. I even found a short narrative the other day that I wrote about my first experience riding Tower for a school project back in middle school. The theming, the story, the bellhops, and the drops...everything together just makes this ride (in my eyes) nearly perfect. It's been such an honor and great experience to be a bellhop for the past year!

I originally tried to keep this at only five favorite attractions, but it was nearly impossible to narrow it down to only that many!

Which are your favorite Disneyland attractions? Do you agree with my list?

Have a magical day!

Book Review: The E-Ticket Life

The E-Ticket Life: by Kyle Burbank

I met Kyle through one of my best friends, who works with Kyle on a Disney podcast called The Disneyland Gazette. Kyle was kind enough to be the first person to officially review my own book on both the Gazette and LaughingPlace.com. While I was participating in an interview for the Gazette with Kyle, I learned more about his book The E-Ticket Life. I was definitely excited to read it myself, and jumped on the opportunity to finally meet Kyle in person at the D23 Expo and purchase a signed copy.

I didn’t actually get around to reading Kyle’s book until a month or so after D23, but I was immediately hooked. Each chapter is a personal anecdote about Kyle’s experience either in Disneyland or somehow related to Disney. He’ll take you through his journeys from Florida to Tokyo, with some stops in between. Kyle includes some of his personal life and lessons woven through his adventures, such as what it’s like to travel to a foreign country on your own, or how you can find a little bit of Disney in unexpected places.

One aspect in particular that I really enjoyed throughout Kyle’s book was reading his Disney experiences through the eyes of a true Disney fan and Annual Passholder. Before I became a cast member, I didn’t travel to Disney as frequently as I do now. Actually, I had only been to Disneyland maybe four or five times and Walt Disney World once before I got a job in Florida. I only know what it’s like to work and play in the parks together, not only see Disney as a place to frequent only for fun on a regular basis. I’ve always wondered what it was like for Annual Passholders to go to Disneyland as often as Kyle did and not grow tiresome of the place (people wonder the same thing about cast members, but that’s a different story).

There was one chapter in particular that really resonated with me. Kyle explains “The Disney Bubble,” which is basically the overall feeling you experience when attending a Disney park. You’re completely unaware of the outside world and simply enjoying the atmosphere and magic within the resort. If you attend as frequently as Kyle or I do, sometimes this “bubble” can pop, leaving you rather uninspired or possibly have a feeling that you’ve “lost the magic.”

Kyle makes an excellent point about being a Disney local or regular: You need to explore outside of the Disney parks to “keep the magic alive.” Disney fans use the parks as an escape from reality, but if you’re in the parks too often…they become your reality. The outside world and problems will follow you inside the parks of you don’t handle them in the “real world” before stepping foot inside your escape. Kyle explains an important lesson perfectly, that I feel more Disney locals need to take to heart:

“I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with wanting to live near the parks and visit often; I’m just saying that you shouldn’t define yourself by your fandom.”

This is something I’ve tried to explain to people who ask if I ever grow tired of going to Disney all the time. My answer is always plain and simple: I don’t allow myself to get to that point. If you maintain a healthy balance and attend the parks with a purpose (whether as small as grabbing lunch and people watching to as large as an all-day Disney excursion), you’ll most likely avoid popping the bubble that keeps Disney’s essence everyone knows and loves.

Along with Kyle’s fun and interesting anecdotes, I have to commend his writing. He’s fluid, professional, and tastefully adds his own personality and humor all throughout his story. If you’re a Disney buff, cast member, or simply want to learn about a young man’s journey traveling across (and out of) the country, I definitely recommend giving The E-Ticket Life a read.

You can find more of Kyle Burbank’s work on his blog at LaughingPlace.com, as well as purchase a copy of his book directly from Laughing Place Press or Amazon.

Disneyland Fall Bucket List

With the end of the year quickly approaching, my two-year anniversary with Disneyland come and gone (already!), and the recent announcements of many Disneyland attractions and locations closing either permanently or temporarily for the construction of Star Wars Land...I decided I need to finally make a bucket list for the parks of things I need to do before the end of the year.

Without further ado, here are a list of attractions, restaurants, and activities I need to do before 2016!

Source

1. Big Thunder BBQ - I've eaten here once before, and I LOVED it! I already have a plan in the works to eat here at least one more time before it goes away permanently in January. (Completed: 11/17/2015)

Source

2. Watch Fantasmic! - I actually haven't seen this show at all this year. I definitely need to see it before it's gone for over a year!

Source

3. Davy Crockett's Explorer Canoes - This may seem kind of odd...but I've never been on the canoes that paddle around the Rivers of America. I wanted to give it a try this most recent summer but it was way too hot for that kind of physical activity.

Source

4. Ghost Galaxy - I love this particularly spooky version of Space Mountain during Halloween. I've actually had the opportunity to ride it with the lights on, but I haven't seen the regular version yet this year! (Completed: Oct. 14th)

Source

5. Mickey's Halloween Party - Even though I've worked in Disneyland for over two years now, I've never actually been to a Mickey's Halloween Party. Thankfully, I have a ticket for next week! I'm so excited! (Completed: Oct. 14th)

Source

6. Haunted Mansion Holiday - It's mandatory to see the new gingerbread house and changes Jack Skellington made to the Haunted Mansion every year! (Completed: Oct. 14th)

Source

7. Doctor Who Day - I've participated in the last two "Gallidays" in Disneyland, and they're so much fun! Definitely made it into a tradition and plan on attending this November. If you're a Doctor Who fan, this is definitely a day in the parks you don't want to miss. (Completed Nov 8th)

Source

8. Hyperspace Mountain - A new version of Space Mountain themed for Star Wars? Can't wait! (Completed 11/14/15)

Source

9. Star Wars Launch Bay - Even though I'm not a huge Star Wars nerd, I'm really excited to see what they did with Innoventions for the new Launch Bay coming in November!

I'll keep updating this list as I accomplish each goal, and keep you posted on Twitter and Facebook!

Do you have any items on your Disney bucket list?

Have a magical day!

Sara Squared Takes on Disneyland's 60th!

Sara came to visit me in Disneyland for the first time in almost two years! It was actually pretty crowded in the parks, so we did everything Sara's never tried in Disneyland before! We were also able to see each of the new shows offered in the parks for Disneyland's 60th anniversary celebration, such as the new fireworks and Paint the Night parade!

Enjoy!

Galliday in Disneyland (Doctor Who Day)

Last Sunday, September 21st, Whovians from all over the area came together and participated in Galliday 1.5 - The Next Regeneration (aka Doctor Who Day) in Disneyland. This is similar to Dapper Day, as an unofficial "holiday" in the parks completely organized through social media. Throughout the entire day there were meet-ups, group photos, and even picture challenges from Galliday's official website.

Almost everywhere you went, you could spot someone dressed as a character from Doctor Who, or even just a fan wearing a Doctor Who shirt. I cosplayed as Clara Oswald (or Oswin Oswald, to be specific), from the latest two seasons of the show, while some of my friends dressed as Ten, Eleven, Rose, and The Moment.

It was honestly one of my absolute favorite days in the parks. We spent most of the day meeting characters and visiting friends. Some guests even asked to take pictures with us! It was so great to see such a supportive and connected community (of nerds) come together in one place to just have fun and enjoy a day dedicated to one of our favorite shows.

Hope you enjoy the video!

Oswald is Coming to DCA!

Many sources are reporting that Oswald the Lucky Rabbit will be joining the Disney family for meet and greets on Buena Vista Street in Disney California Adventure on September 14th!

I'm pretty excited. So far, guests can only meet Oswald in Tokyo Disney Sea. It only makes sense that he's finally making his way to Buena Vista Street; he has his own gas station right next to Chamber of Commerce already!

I walk down Buena Vista Street every time I work at Soarin, so I'm looking forward to see him mingling with Mickey, Pluto and the gang. I wonder if he'll have his own special outfit, similar to the adorable dapper clothes the other characters wear on Buena Vista Street. That'd be so cute!

Are you excited to see Oswald in DCA?

Have a magical day!

5 Things You Didn't Know About Working in Disneyland Attractions

Photo Credit

I've had many friends, family members, and even guests ask me what it's like to be an attractions cast member in the Disneyland Resort. Disneyland runs their attractions department a little differently from Walt Disney World, so I thought I'd explain what exactly is involved when working in this department at the Disneyland Resort.

1. You Start With One Attraction: Every attractions cast member will have one attraction under their belt when they begin their career in this department. It's important to note that I say "attractions" instead of "rides", because not every attractions cast member works a push button ride. My home attraction is the dark ride Monsters Inc, Mike & Sulley to the Rescue, but I was actually almost placed in the Animation building as my first attraction, which is an area filled with shows and activities for guests. I have friends that work the Hyperion Theater (The Aladdin Musical Spectacular), Disney Junior: Live On Stage, and Muppet Vision. These all are filed under the "attractions" category, along with rides such as Tower of Terror.
2. You Can Cross Train to Other Attractions: After four months of working at your home attraction, you can have the opportunity to learn and work a second attraction. You can't necessarily choose where you would like to work next, but you're more than welcome to submit cross training interest forms to management and talk to your leaders about where you would like to go. For example, I requested either Tower of Terror or Soarin' Over California, and I ended up learning Soarin' (which I absolutely love). Learning a third and possibly fourth attraction comes later, on depending availability.
3. You Also Work Guest Control: After training at your home attraction, you'll have Guest Show Operations training (GSO for short). This is where you learn about how to work "guest control" shifts, such as the parade or a large show such as World of Color or the fireworks. These kinds of shifts will be mixed in with working at your home attraction, and honestly will be a more prevalent feature in the first few months of your career. I have so many wonderful memories and friendships from GSO shifts, especially World of Color. It's a great way to connect and meet with cast members that work other attractions and other sections/lands in the park.
4. You're Asked...Interesting Questions: You have no idea how many times I've had some guests walk up to me and ask some very interesting and well...shocking questions. I was once asked if Soarin' Over California was a water ride. (That one threw me off guard, beings that it's clearly about flying and it's inside a giant warehouse...) I've also stood right in front of Monsters, which is very decorated and themed to the movie with doors and characters all over the place in bright colors, and been asked, "Is there a Monsters Inc. ride in this park?" Just remember that what might seem obvious to you, is a very honest and sincere question to them. Don't respond rudely or with a sarcastic tone, because they really do want to know the answer to these kinds of questions (most of the time).
5. You Will Meet Amazing People: Between working GSO shifts and both of my attractions, I've met some really incredible coworkers and guests in the past year. My coworkers have become my second family since moving down to Southern California; I really couldn't ask for better people to work with all the time. I've met so many adorable princesses, given countless high fives to guests young and old, and witnessed dreams come true for guests from all over the country. Whether it's someone enthusiastically exclaiming their love for Soarin' after riding for the first time, or a tear-jerking proposal during World of Color, there will be those people that remind you just how blessed you are to have your job, and that you're job is literally to help make magic and put a smile on someone's face every day.

Next month marks my one year as an attractions cast member in Disneyland, and I can honestly say I still absolutely love my job. I still really enjoy working both of my attractions, with the occasional GSO shift every once in a while. If you're ever considering applying for attractions, I highly recommend it. 

If you have any more questions that I can answer about attractions, feel free to ask!

Otherwise, have a magical day!

Newly Refurbished Alice in Wonderland (Disneyland)

Disneyland's classic Alice in Wonderland attraction in Fantasyland was looking a bit run down when I rode it back in January. I always wondered why the wait was so long when the ride was honestly rather....out of date. I was relieved when Disney decided to give the attraction a lengthy refurbishment for the first half of 2014, and was extremely excited to ride it for the first time since it re-opened earlier this week.

I was incredibly impressed. I absolutely love what they've done with the ride. improving many of the old animatronics and effects and adding all of the amazing projections really enhanced the attraction. I can honestly say it's now one of my favorite rides in Fantasyland.

Take a look at a side-by-side video comparing the old and new versions of Alice in Wonderland, courtesy of ThemeParkHD. You can really see a difference between the two!

I'm glad they used this long refurbishment opportunity to really improve the ride. (Unlike The Little Mermaid refurb....where they just added creepy fish and changed Ariel's hair...) Hopefully Disney will finally help enhance Monsters, Lord knows it definitely needs it. 

I'm definitely curious to see what they do when Nemo finally reopens in September! I never actually went on the original version, but I heard it was rather lackluster. I hope they spice up the attraction and make it more worth the long wait the ride always seemed to have!

What attractions do you think need a face lift? 

Have a magical weekend!

Celebrating Fourth of July at Disney?

Independence Day is one of the most popular days for families to spend time together in the Disney parks. Both Disneyland and Walt Disney World have special plans, events, and shows for guests that decide to have their vacation during this patriotic holiday.

Disneyland Resort

For those of you spending the fourth in Disneyland and/or California Adventure, there are a few things to look out for that have been catered especially to this holiday. 

• 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Band: An extremely talented military band will perform several times in Disneyland throughout the day on July 4th:
• 3:30 pm - The band will lead the way before the new Frozen pre-parade in Mickey's Soundsational Parade.
• 5:30 pm - During the flag retreat ceremony in Town Square, the band will help retire the flag for the night.
• 5:45 pm - The band will continue down the parade route right after the flag ceremony all the way down to "it's a small world."
• 7:15 pm - The last chance to catch the band will be a full concert session at Big Thunder Ranch Jamboree.
  
• "Disney's Celebrate America! A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky": From July 1-4 at 9:25 pm, you can catch Disney's beautiful Independence Day fireworks spectacular above Sleeping Beauty Castle. If you want to find spots right in front of the castle, I recommend getting there at least an hour before the show starts. July 4th is extremely busy for Disney, so the earlier you find spots for shows, the better chance you will have in finding a good viewing location. If you can't find a space for you and your family in front of the castle, I also recommend watching the show from Main Street. I watched "Magical" on Main Street just the other day and it was a wonderful location to view the show.
  
• World of Color Fourth of July Pre-Show: At 9:00 and 10:15 pm, there will be a special patriotic pre-show before World of Color. Remember, if you want to watch World of Color in the dedicated viewing area, you MUST obtain FastPasses before the show. I highly recommend immediately heading towards Grizzly River Run to get FastPasses for the show. On busy days, these passes run out quickly, which is something you won't want to risk if you want a spot in the viewing area. If you for some reason don't get a FP for the show, there are dedicated areas for viewing without FPs. Two consistent locations available are in front of Toy Story Mania, and behind a white fence at the top of the bridge near Ariel's Grotto. Ask a cast member for more specifics if you need to find one of the alternative viewing area options. (Note: I will be working this show for July 4th!)

(Last year's 4th of July pre-show for World of Color)

Walt Disney World Resort

There are a few special patriotic firework shows in different parks in Walt Disney World on July 3rd and 4th:

• Magic Kingdom, "Disney's Celebrate America! A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky": This incredible fireworks display will ignite over Cinderella Castle at 9:00 pm. This is probably the most incredible and jaw-dropping fireworks show in all of the Disney parks. I've seen bits and pieces of the show from friends, and I can't even imagine how spectacular it must be to witness in person. You will definitely need to find a spot early for this show if you have a specific viewing location in mind.
  
• Hollywood Studios, "A Rockin' Fourth of July Celebration": The celebration begins at 6:00 pm at the Sorcerer Hat with a DJ to help energize the crowd. At 7:00, 8:00, 9:00 and 10:00 pm, Mulch Sweat & Shears will perform on stage. At 10:15 pm, the rock 'n roll fireworks will ignite the sky above the Sorcerer Hat!
  
• Epcot, "Illuminations: Reflections of Earth - 4th of July": Epcot's beautiful nighttime show "Illuminations" will have a new patriotic spin for guests on the 3rd and 4th of July to celebrate America's independence. It will feature a five minute patriotic finale called The Heartbeat of Freedom. Also, throughout the day Disney characters will appear near The American Adventure in patriotic outfits for meet and greets.

Once again, 4th of July is one of the busiest days in Disney. I personally haven't experienced this holiday in the parks just yet, but some compare it to the same kind of crowd as New Years and Christmas time. It is highly recommended to plan ahead which shows you will want to watch, as well as which rides to conquer throughout the day. Lines will be long and shows will be crowded. For those of you planning on braving the parks this day, may the force be with you!

Disneybounding in Disneyland! (Part One)

Something I've really grown to enjoy doing in the parks (or sometimes just any day for fun) is Disneybound. If you're not familiar with Disneybounding, it's when you create your outfit similar to something related to Disney. The most common Disneybounds are modeled after various characters, such as Mickey, Ariel, or Anna and Elsa. Sometimes you can even dress similarly to Disney attractions or resorts! (I've seen a Tower of Terror Disneybound that I'm dying to try!)

Since I started working in Disneyland and coming to the parks for fun on my days off, I've Disneybounded twice with different friends. The first time I took my roommates into the parks for fun for my roommate Diana's birthday. Each of us had a Disneybound for a different character that we pulled together the night before. I was actually really impressed with what we were able to create!

(From left to right) Erin was Mickey Mouse with her sweatshirt, Emily was the Genie from Aladdin, I was Flynn Rider, Diana was Killian Jones/Captain Hook from Once Upon a Time, and Imani was Briar Rose. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get an actual picture with Flynn because his line was way too long by the time we were done watching the Beauty and the Beast show in Fantasy Faire. We made do with what we could, and I found these posters of Flynn and even tried to smolder! (Keyword: tried)

My second Disneybound attempt in Disneyland was when my lovely friend Raisa came to visit. She was Bounding as Anastasia Tremaine from Cinderella, and I was finally able to dress up as my favorite character: Megara from Hercules!

I actually bought this dress last year for Dapper Day during my college program, but decided it wasn't necessarily "dapper" compared to some other dresses I found afterwards. It was rather difficult to re-create Meg's massive ponytail and curls on such a hot day, but I tried my best! (It looked better before this picture with Daisy.)

Raisa and Anastasia!

The Tremaines recognized Raisa's Disneybound immediately. I may have mentioned this before, but if you ever have the chance to meet these crazy sisters, do it! They're so entertaining to interact with and meet.

On this same day I actually was able to finally meet my wonderful friend Tera! She was visiting Disneyland for her first time with some of her friends, and they all decided to Disneybound as well! We had dinner at Ariel's Grotto, got to meet all the princesses, rode a few rides, visited Mad T, watched World of Color, and SPRINTED to Big Thunder with one of my coworkers to cast preview the attraction before it opened back up to the public! It was so much fun!

(From left) Meg, Mary Poppins, Minnie Mouse, and Ariel!

Disneybounding has definitely become one of my favorite things to do in the parks. It's so much fun dressing as some of your favorite Disney characters with clothes you just happen to find in your closet or casually come across at the mall. It's a super fun way to interact with characters if they recognize your outfit, as well as when other cast members notice you dressed as a certain character!

I felt like this was an appropriate post to share on Disney's official "Rock Your Disney Side" 24 hour event today. If you're braving the parks, make sure you stop by Monsters Inc, Mike & Sulley to the Rescue tonight to see me! I have a full on graveyard shift until 5:30 in the morning....wish me luck, and have fun everyone!

Sara Squared: Reunited in Disneyland (Vlog)

A couple months ago, Sara came to visit with her roommate from BYU and my best friend Holly! We spent the weekend in Disneyland together before the semester started, and I was so happy to finally see her again!

A few more updates...I've officially been trained at Soarin' Over California! I'm so excited to finally start working another attraction before the summer starts! 

Hope you guys have a wonderful week!

If you'd like to see my other videos, take a look and subscribe here!

Interview a CP: Karlyne (Disneyland Custodial)

Karlyne (right) on her final day of training!

So far, the majority (well actually, all) of my interviews with past DCP alumni have been from cast members who participated in the college program in Walt Disney World in Florida. I was thrilled to get a message from Karlyne to learn about her experience in custodial while participating in the college program in Disneyland! Here's what she had to say:

What role did you have during the DCP, and where did you work?

I was a Day Custodian in Disneyland. I mainly worked in Tomorrowland, but just because that was my schedule preference! 

What was a typical day like at work?

I would clock in, where I got my location for the day. Usually, your schedule says your location, and either Trash, Sweeping, or Queues. Or it will say restrooms, and you'll find out your location when you arrive. I would then head to my location's locker and check in with my lead, and when my breaks were, or if I needed to go get a radio and keys for a ride. My hours were all over the place! I usually did Tomorrowland Trash, which was my favorite since it goes by very quickly.

Is this the role you originally wanted? If not, are you happy you got it?

This was actually my first choice! I was nervous about getting accepted since I had been denied twice. While I'm so happy I got in, I always wonder if I would have gotten in if my first choice was something else. My job was hard, but I was good at it, so I'm still happy I got it! I met a lot of people!

What are your favorite and least favorite parts about your job?

My Favorites:

• Pin trading! There were a lot of pin traders in my location, and I loved talking to them and trading with them.
• Freedom to explore! I went in so many strange places during work, like under the track of the Haunted Mansion, and in a random break room for Space Mountain, the basement of Star Tours, the parade building, the list goes on and on! As long as I got everything done, I had the freedom to chat with guests, find new areas in my location, etc! 
• Stormtroopers! This is a pretty specific one to me, but I got along really well with the wandering Stormtroopers in Tomorrowland. They would come and check inside my trash can, or bring me over to sweep something and pretend they were forcing me to. One time, they opened the lid to my can and I said "that's not the trash you're looking for." I got a lot of guests to laugh on that one. Maybe we got along because we both wore all-white?

Not-so-Favorites:

• Restrooms! I never actually had a restroom shift, but I did have to train. Not a fan. It's so fast paced and you have no freedom.
• The costumes! I am so envious of people that got to wear fun, themed costumes. And white shorts don't look good on anyone.
• Guests that assume I don't know the answers to their questions because I'm "just a custodian."

Any specific magical moment you want to share?

Karlyne and her uncle, who used to be a Disney custodian!

About halfway through my program, I was sweeping the Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters queue when I overheard a family talking about how sad they were that the line for Star Tours was so long. A few moments later, they struck up a conversation with me and I talked to them the whole way through the line as I swept. When they boarded, I quickly walked over to the Star Tours entrance and asked one of the greeters if he would help make a magical moment. After getting the ok, I hurried back over to greet the family at the exit for Buzz, and I took them up the VIP hallway and right on to Star Tours! They could not stop thanking me! I realized that once you’re a cast member, you are the one that makes the parks so magical, and that I wanted to keep making magic for a long time.

What made you want to do the DCP?

I was so unsure about what I wanted to study in school, so I knew this would show me what kind of opportunities are available. I assumed I would use the DCP on my resume to look good for other companies, but I realized that my career goals lie within the company! I'm applying for the WDW Fall 2014 program right now! 

Is there something you wish you would have known before doing your program?

I really wish I had worked out or physically prepared for my role. You're not only on your feet a lot, but you're walking constantly. As for the program in general, I really wish I had prepared for housing more. I didn't pick roommates ahead of time, and I brought way too much stuff. 

What advice would you give to those who are going to be participating in your role?

Prepare yourself physically, and wear sunscreen every day! And don't be afraid to ask for help. Make friends with your fellow cast members! While you do work independently mostly, you'll want people to hang out with at the locker. And try every location at least once! 

What advice would you give to people who are interested in doing the DCP?

If it's the right time in your life, just apply! It's worth putting school on hold. And remember that every role is a starring role! If you think the jobs available won't help with your major, you're wrong! It will help in ways you won't even realize! Good luck to those currently applying, or those thinking about it!

If you're a current or past college program cast member and would like to share your experience, email your name and role to thedisneyden@yahoo.com to participate!

Holidays in Disneyland

This was my first time experiencing Disney during the holidays! I absolutely love Halloween, and all of the Christmas decorations and shows were so beautiful! The crowds may be pretty crazy during this season, but it's sure a magical experience!

At first I was a little apprehensive about Haunted Mansion Holiday, where the mansion is transformed into a completely new attraction based off of Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas. However, after riding it a few times, finally watching the movie, and meeting Jack and Sally three times, it really grew on me and I have to say I really like it! I wish guests could meet Jack and Sally year round. They're really entertaining, I've never had a dull meet and greet experience!

The parade Disney has during Christmas is called A Christmas Fantasy. Let me tell you, after listening to that parade's soundtrack just one time, the song will be stuck in your head forever. I prefer watching this parade at night. If you see it on main street with all of the Christmas lights shining from the shops and buildings, it's definitely something magical that really took my breath away.

I only saw the holiday fireworks once, but it's a beautiful show called "Believe in the Holiday Magic". I recommend getting there at least an hour before if you want a decent spot. My roommate and I stood there for about an hour, and managed to get a viewing spot right in front of the castle. So worth it!

One of my favorite aspects of Disneyland during the holidays is the decorations for "it's a small world". At night, every 15 minutes or so there's a projection show similar to "Celebrate the Magic" in Walt Disney World. The lights for the night time decorations on this attraction are so stunning!

World of Color: Winter Dreams is the final holiday show, and probably the most popular this year. This is the first time World of Color transformed into a completely new show for the holidays, and honestly it focused on promoting Frozen more than the actual holiday season. However, I LOVED Elsa's part, and I really wish they kept it when they switched back to the regular show! I ended up seeing this show around 40 times since I was scheduled to work it many, many nights. (So. Much. Olaf.) Many memories were made during this show, but I'm definitely glad it's back to the original!

Did you go to Disney during the holidays? What's your favorite holiday attraction?

Have a magical day!

Meeting Thor!

Loki's helmet and cuffs!

At the beginning of November, Thor became available for meet and greets in Disneyland. Before he was ready to meet with guests, Disneyland cast members got to experience the exhibit and meet him in the Asgaardian throne room!

Jesi and I woke up early in the morning and carpooled over to the park before her classes. Once we parked we head on over to Innoventions before the park opened to wait in line and see the Asgaardian exhibit. It was pretty neat to see imitation props such as weapons and Loki's helmet. After you wait in line, you walk into a room filled with these props and listen to Odin explain how Jane Porter built the exhibit for everyone on Earth as a gateway to Asgaard. After his speech, the doors open and you walk in to see Thor standing tall and proud in front of the throne. He started talking about Asgaard and then had one of the cast members in the group try and pick up his Mjolnir (the man failed, of course).

First sighting of Thor!

After his short performance, Jesi and I were near the end of the line when they started to do meet and greets. Most of the time Thor would ask each cast member where they worked and if they wanted to pose like a fearsome warrior. When Jesi went up to meet him, he asked her about her CSUF sweatshirt, and she said she's from the home of the titans (our mascot). He got pretty excited and said he's heard of them! I thought she was pretty clever for saying that.

I was curious with how Thor was going to react to the shirt I was wearing. You see, back in Florida I met Captain America in Universal Studios with my Iron Man/arc reactor shirt. Captain America didn't say anything about it, but Thor definitely noticed when I walked up to him.



Thor: "Hello! I see you know my metal friend!"

Me: "Yes, why yes I do!"

Thor: "Now, he's not your favorite, is he?"

Me: "Uhhh.....yeahhhhh he kinda is..."

Thor: *laughs* "Ah well, you seem to like the narcissistic type. It's fine, he makes a very good Avenger."

(I said something stupid that I can't remember to try and stick with the story.)

Thor: "Would you like to pose like my metal friend?"

Me: "Of course!"

Which lead to this picture:

Since this happened, it's now on my bucket list to take a picture with Thor and bring my own Mjolnir. However, I'm still trying to figure out how I would obtain one...

If you're in Disneyland and want to meet Thor, he can be found in Tomorrowland's Innoventions on the second floor, right next to the Iron Man exhibit!

In other news..I have a HUGE announcement in store for you this weekend! I'm officially done with finals, so I can film the video and share it with you guys very soon!

Have a magical weekend!

Training at Monsters Inc.

My attraction, Monsters Inc. Mike & Sulley to the rescue! (Source)

I can't believe it's almost been three months since I starting working, and I still haven't told you guys what it's like to train and work in my new role!

As I mentioned in a previous post, I was assigned to work at Monsters Inc., Mike and Sulley to the Rescue in California Adventure. Before I started actually training at my attraction, I was assigned to work during the Pixar Pals Countdown to Fun parade...even though I hadn't officially been trained for guest control shifts yet. Everyone was nice and helped when I had questions. I also met and really got along with a girl from Soarin' Over California named Shannon, who quickly became my parade buddy whenever we had a shift together. (I just found out yesterday that she got accepted to cross-train at Tower of Terror, I'm so jealous!) I have more to say about guest control shifts, but I'll write a separate post to explain everything in better detail.

My first training shift was a closing shift that lasted until late at night. What's different about training here and my experience at the Polynesian is that we actually had one trainer throughout the entire training process. At the Poly, I had a different trainer each day when learning something new. Also, I trained with another person at the same time at Monsters. I actually really appreciated this structured set up, because having one trainer means they understand where you are, what you've covered already, and can give you more accurate advice near the end of your training process to see what you still need to work on. Training with another person is also nice. If one of you has a question, usually the other can help out. It's helpful going through that experience with another person, especially since I learn by watching others demonstrate the process over and over again.

My sexy Monsters costume (missing the hat)

The first day we met up with our trainer, Kayla, who was honestly the best trainer ever. I'm not just
saying that because she was mine. She was extremely thorough and explained everything we needed to know, and always elaborated in case we were confused or had any questions. She first took us to get our new costumes. They're...uh...not nearly as festive as the one I used to wear for the Poly that's for sure. Sara had the most accurate comparison for me, "You look like a janitor." That basically sums it up.

After we changed into our costumes we walked over to Monsters. The first day of training is mainly filled with briefly explaining each position, describing the ride and its details (which of course includes riding the ride at least once), and reading LOTS of the Operation Guide, which honestly made me almost fall asleep. I learned that there are seven main positions within Monsters: Booth, Greeter, Unload, Load, Dispatch/Main Console, Grouper, and Grouper Assist.

Booth: Honestly, I can't say much about booth. Let's just say it's a fun and interesting way to interact with guests ;)

Greeter: When someone is at greeter, he or she is standing in front of the ride entrance, mainly in charge of answering any guest questions (yes, this is a ride, not a show), maintaining stroller parking, and making sure the wait time is accurate.

Unload: This position is pretty straightforward. We're in charge of making sure the guests unload out of their cab quickly and safely before sending it back to load more guests. If the attraction breaks down due to a monster getting loose (which tends to happen quite a bit at mine..), unload is one of the positions in charge of walking the track and helping guests evacuate safely out of the attraction.

Load: This is my favorite position, because we're constantly moving. After a semester in quick service food and beverage, you get used to the constant busy nature of the restaurant and the fast pace work environment. I really thrive in busy work environments like that, so load is right up my ally. Load starts at a small console, spiels to the guests to take all backpacks off and load little monsters into the cab first, closes the gates, checks all lap bars, then pushes the first button to approve sending off the cab before dispatch double checks from the main console to make sure everyone is seated and ready to go. If the monsters become loose in the attraction, load is in charge of evacuating the other half of the building similar to unload.

Dispatch/Main Console: This is one of the most important positions. Dispatch is in charge of watching to make sure the cabs are not backed up, eying the cameras to ensure guests are safe on the attraction, and double checking to make sure load has the guests in their cab safely. If the monsters escape, dispatch is in charge of powering down, spieling to guests, as well as powering up the attraction after the monsters are back safe in their houses again.

Grouper: Grouper assists guests into designated lanes for each cab. They're the one who asks guests, "How many in your party? Okay please go to rows one and two."

Grouper Assist: Grouper assist helps the grouper fill lanes in case row three remains empty, as well as assists guests with disabilities when they need to be loaded into a separate cab.

The first day of training we mainly practiced Unload and the Booth, and the other two days we went over all of the procedures for powering up in the morning and also powering down for closing. The very last day of training we were scheduled to have our PA (Personal Assessment), but the monsters were let loose for at least two hours, making it difficult for us to practice our spots. We did, however, practice a lot of powering up and down, which was helpful. At the very end of our shift, one of our leads took us through the positions and watched us perform each role independently, asked a few questions, and said we passed! Just like that, I earned my ears!

I honestly love working at Monsters. The people there are great and it's so much fun interacting with the children. It's nice having an attraction with no height limit, so we get to see babies and small kids all day that we wouldn't really see at larger, more intense attractions.

Even though I was trained at Monsters, new hires usually see more guest control shifts during their first few months during their probation, which I will explain more about in a later post.

Until then, have a magical day!

New Life at Disneyland

Hey guys!

I'm so sorry I haven't posted about what's happening in my life lately. With classes, work, and homework, I've been swamped! However, I feel like there's quite a bit I need to fill you in on the past month since the last time I posted.

Last month I announced that I got a job in attractions at Disneyland and took all of the initial orientation classes to get prepared for work. I was initially going to be in the Disney Animation building in Hollywood Land, but that changed at the last minute because it was just about to go under refurbishment. I had the option of moving to Paradise Pier and continue training that same weekend, or stay in Hollywood/Condor Flats and train the following week. Since Tower of Terror is my ultimate goal and destination, I decided to stay in Hollywood.

I took this unexpected free time to hang out in the parks for a little bit! The first day I met up with my new friends Jesi and Jeffrey, who I both met on Tumblr and work as PhotoPass Photographers in the parks. My main goals were to ride Pirates of the Caribbean and Indiana Jones, since Pirates isn't the same in Florida and I've missed Indy so dang much. I swear, no matter how many times I ride Indy and Space Mountain, I can never decide which one is my favorite in the Disneyland park! The next day I was able to see one of my lovely friends from my DCP, Raisa! She was in town for Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party for the week. I was so happy to see her, even if it was for a short bit! We got to meet Jack Skellington and Sally from The Nightmare Before Christmas, which I actually was finally able to watch on Halloween this year for the first time! I have to say, if you have the chance to meet these two, DO IT! Even if you haven't seen the movie, they're delightful to meet in person!

With Jack and Sally from Nightmare Before Christmas!

The weekend ended and I went (reluctantly) back to class. I can tell you one thing...even though I work at Disney again (and love it, might I add), it's not quite the same because I still have to deal with school and homework. My classes are getting rather difficult because I'm going further and further into my major, which requires more time and attention that I'm not used to balancing with a part time job. It took me a couple weeks but I can finally say I'm starting to become more accustomed to the new schedule. I just needed to sort out priorities and stay focused....and stay away from Tumblr as much as possible when doing homework.

I had a couple parade shifts and World of Color training that next week. It was interesting because these parade shifts were actually supposed to be my "Post Training" for my attraction. Since I wasn't actually at an attraction yet, I would automatically be placed in Guest Control to work the Pixar Pals Countdown to Fun Parade in Hollywood Land. I quite like parade shifts! World of Color is also growing on me, but I'll get into more detail on that later.

After a couple of parade shifts, I got a phone call from the cast member in charge of scheduling informing me about my new attraction: Monsters Inc. Mike and Sully to the Rescue! I was definitely excited! I'll talk about what it's like to work there and training in another post, but I enjoy it! All of the cast members there are extremely nice and helpful, and my trainer was the best.

Again, I apologize for my lack of posting! The other day I filmed some footage at Disneyland, but not enough to make an entire video. I think I'm just going to film a little each time I go to make one bigger compilation of Disneyland and then California Adventure. I'll even try and show you guys my ride!

Right now I'm actually back home with my family for the long weekend. I wanted to be able to visit before the holidays really started to kick off, which means that requesting days off would be more difficult. I'm EXTREMELY excited because as of tomorrow, Lizzie will be visiting me in exactly a week! Also in less the two months, Jake will be here! I can't wait to see them!

I hope everyone has a magical weekend!

I'm a Cast Member Again!

My new name tag!

Hello everyone!

Last weekend one of my dreams came true: I am officially a cast member for the Disneyland Resort.

I had mentioned previously that I had gotten a job in attractions for Disney California Adventure, but I actually had to wait an entire month before I was officially re-joining the Disney family, as well as know which attraction I would be working.

Saturday I had Traditions. Honestly...I actually enjoyed the way Disneyland did Traditions more than Walt Disney World. It's really small and nit-picky reasons, but overall they were pretty similar. (I was also hyped up on coffee since my class was at eight in the morning, which probably helped my attention span this time around.) At the end of Traditions I was extremely excited to get my ID and head to the parks to meet my friends Jesi and Jeffrey, who already had jobs as Photopass photography cast members. However, once I walked over to get my items, it turns out I was one of very few people who wasn't getting an ID that day...which meant I couldn't go in the parks. I was really disappointed, and felt bad to cancel my plans with my friends, but my roommate made tacos that night and the park was really crowded so I guess everything worked out just fine!

The next day was my Our California Story class. All cast members who are going to be working in California Adventure need to take this class to learn all about the heritage of the park. This was actually the first time I had visited the park in over two years, before the addition of Buena Vista Street and Cars Land. I really grew to appreciate the park and it's story after this class!

The third and final day of my orientation series was Welcome to Park Operations, where I learned all about the different roles that contribute to park operations! I enjoyed this class. It was definitely more fun and interesting than my Food and Beverage class (food safety is just so....awesome...). It's also probably because I've always been fascinated with theme parks, especially Disneyland. Learning more about the different areas and roles that contribute to park operations was really interesting.

My guest control/World of Color costume!

At the end of this class I finally was able to see my training schedule, as well as my location! They had placed my in the Disney Animation building, which includes Turtle Talk with Crush and other really cool rooms and activities. I was really excited to get started at this location, but by the time my first day of on the job training started on Wednesday, I discovered that Animation is going under refurbishment soon, so casting is going to need to switch me in a different location. This postponed my training for about a week, but I'm still going to stay in Hollywood Land/Condor Flats area. I haven't been told where I'm going to be yet, but I do still have a guest control shift at World of Color on Wednesday which I'm excited for!

Overall life has been getting very busy, but I'm loving every minute of it! I'll let you know as soon as I find out which attraction I'm going to be working at specifically. But until then...

Have a magical day! :)