#kittenPAUSE
So as most of you may or may not know, I'm currently down in Orlando doing the Disney College Program (DCP). I'm probably one of the oldest in the program as I've already graduated college, and this was an "it's my last chance, I'm doing this before life really starts" type thing. I read so many of these blogs and had so many questions, so I'm just going to type up my experiences.
So my check in was on August 8, and as per Disney directions on the site I didn't want to arrive too much before 6:45, and so got there about 6:15. I was driving and I'm going to count this as mistake one. To be elaborated on later. The small parking lot outside Vista Way had filled up by that point, and Vista Way was not open for further parking, so one of the crossing guard/security type people told me to park in the Walgreen's parking lot. I was the third roomie to arrive and we were maybe 100 people back in line. We stood there until they opened the gates to Vista Way at maybe 8 am (honestly, I didn't have my watch and don't remember the precise time.) They had us queue up and around that time my other suitemate with a car realized she didn't have her registration/insurance information to get her car decal and ran off to do that. Shortly thereafter she texted one of my other suitemates saying she had to move her car because Walgreen's had informed the Disney security that they were starting to tow. I stayed in line until a cast member came over to us in line and told us the same thing. Cue me running. I moved my car into the now open Vista Way, where there were parking spots in abundance and no threat of a tow.
I called my suitemates and the other one with a car (henceforth J) said the cast members had let her get back in line with everyone and that I needed to get a nametag before I resumed standing with them. Cue me going up to cast member distributing nametags: "Hi I had to go move my car so it wouldn't get towed, is it okay if I go stand with my roomies again?" "I don't care if everyone else in line doesn't." Nametag: acquired. Back in line with roomies for more waiting. First group of cast members at a table with computers - check in and check phone number/email info. Wait wait wait. Enter into large tent area. Receive program guide (with sticker on back for housing arrival meeting). Profession intern (PI) tells us the law of the land (contract for behavior while in apartment complexes. No drugs, alcohol, you know the drill.) Enter into pool house type thing (AIR CONDITIONING!!) with monitors telling us important things like "close and lock your apartment doors and windows" and "Star tours has 52 possible combinations" (actually I don't remember if that's the right number, but let's assume it is. Okay? Okay.) There were several booths with cast members and the suitemates and I were called up to one (funnily enough the one my possible cousin went to. There is going to be a lot of questions as to whether we're sisters - same last name and first initial). Mission Get Chatham 3-Br not on first floor: Accomplished. Then sent to a table where we received apartment keys and they were taped in our program guide. Shuffle shuffle. Sign paper saying that housing can take rent from my paycheck. Shuffle shuffle. Housing complex ID photo time! Take out hair bow, rearrange myself. Smile. Shuffle shuffle. Don't lose ID, costs $50 to replace. Shuffle shuffle. Registering a car? Over here please (cue mistake 2 where I write X's instead of initial on all the car agreement lines) Sticker for windshield. Shuffle. Catch up with roomies. Sticker for shuttle to casting. Not 'til 11:00 am (in about 2 hours.) Another discussion with cast member about time to arrive/what to wear, how to behave aka chance to ask questions.
Back in car, drive to apartment, move all my crap in, help move everyone else's crap in. Eat something despite nerves. Wait for bus to casting. Wait. wait. Get on bus. Super attractive PI. Cue suitemates giggling. Ride ride ride. Casting!!!! ZOMG I'M GOING TO KNOW WHERE I WORK!!!! Not so much. Sticker with Adventureland/Liberty Square (AdLib) designation and Traditions group. Wait. Wait. Wait. zzzzzz Wait more. Disney look spiel for traditions. Wait wait. Somewhere in here was receive training schedule. Mine only says what I'm doing for first day of training. Guess I don't find out my location today. Talk to new people. Process I-9 documentation and get a chance to have questions answered. Cast member I talk to had a spiel ride. Express my hope that I do as well. Wait wait. Verify my number a bajillion times. Fingerprinting. Fingers don't want to be printed. Wait wait. Paperwork. Cast member from Colorado Springs: "My brother went to USAFA" "So did I! 7th graduating class!" Wait wait. Discussion about courses during the program. Wait wait. Bus. (Cute PI is back.) Aaaand 3 hours later, back to apartment to chat and wait to meet our sixth suitemate who flew in.
We went over to the Beach and Yacht resort in hopes of visiting Beaches and Cream with the new suitemate, alas the wait was 2 hours so we went to the boardwalk and got some unhealthy food. Stopped at super overpriced grocery store (never again, mistake 3) and back to room to finally sleep!
End Day 1.
#kittenPLAY
