Video Update!

Another Video / Hollywood Pictures

Video Update!

Watch me ramble about my job!

(Video will not be able to be watched until 10pm 2/18)

2/24-3/2

Sunday 2/24 
11am-7:30pm
Toontown Trash
Monday 2/25 
630pm-Midnight
Utility
Tuesday 2/26 
7pm-12:30am
Utility
Friday 3/1 
3pm-1130pm
Day Parade
Saturday 3/2 
3pm-1130pm
Day Parade

I'm trying to trade either Fri or Sat because two of the baseball players that used to live with me are playing against each other! Otherwise this is a perfect schedule.

Photos!

I don't have time to post much about my amazing last couple of days, except for one little excerpt perhaps. But here are some photos! :D

I'm a Senior Wilderness Explorer now!

Lunar New Year Minnie!

Drinkin' smoothies, winning Dumbo, sittin' in Hollywoodland. No big deal.

All the royal couples were out in honor of "true love week." I waited nearly two hours, intent on meeting the Beast. I was next in line to see him when they switched all the characters out. I was heartbroken, since he is rarely ever in the parks. 

I asked Captain Hook to be my valentine. He said yes and gave me a kiss. Later during the parade, he came up to me and gave another!

Maestro Goofy!

My Prince Charming! I told Cinderella to get outta our picture. haha

Closing in on 1 Month!

"What kind of primitive beasts are responsible for this mess?"

- Tarzan

Hard to believe I've been here nearly a month. I already can't imagine leaving, and because of that, I've decided to apply for the fall College Program, meaning I would stay here until January. Ideally, I'd find a way to stay until January 15th so I could get my one-year pin! Here's a look at what I've been up to lately.

Wednesday 2/6:
On Wednesday I got around to some much-needed errands, and even stopped by Company D, the employees-only store for Disney merch. I got a sign that was used for the runDisney event that has information about the hours for the park that day. It was a quiet but productive day.
Thursday 2/7:
I spent a little while in the parks on my own, taking photos with the characters and watching the Pixar Play Parade. I'll post pictures at the bottom. After the parade, I met up with my friend Grant and we spent some time in California Adventure. He kicked my butt on Toy Story Mania. Soon I'll figure out how to actually not suck at that game. Afterwords, we went to Earl of Sandwich and then he showed me the masterpiece of television that is Breaking Bad. I'm now obsessed.
Friday 2/8:
When it rains, it pours. Friday was full of some very Olympia weather. Hail, rainstorms, lightning, and wind. I had a Parade shift that day, but both parades were replaced with rainy day cavalcades. After my firework cleanups, I got sent to Tomorrowland for the remaining hour of my shift. There was an 80s cover band playing on the Tomorrowland Terrace, so I got to listen to them while I worked.
Saturday 2/9:
I haven't been a huge fan of my lead for parade shifts, and was not looking forward to working with her on Saturday. But, lo and behold, my absolute favorite lead was working parade for the first time in a year and a half! I have a little celebrity crush on him, I must admit. When I went on break after the first parade, I had a moment with Aladdin. Such a cutie. I got sent to Tomorrowland again, and got to listen to an Elvis impersonator.
Sunday 2/10:
Uneventful, other than seeing Side Effects at the theater in Downtown Disney. Sometimes you need to take yourself out on a date. It was such a good movie! I don't want to say a single thing about it because it has so many surprises and I know I'll ruin it. After the flick I walked around Downtown Disney, and took advantage of my holiday discount again since it ends on the 13th.
Monday 2/11:
I was assigned to New Orleans/Critter Country trash today, but was placed in queues instead. I was in charge of keeping the lines for Haunted Mansion, Winnie the Pooh, the New Orleans train station, and the rafts to Pirates Lair sparkling clean. I spent most of my time in Haunted Mansion, and when it was shut down because a guest cut their leg exiting a Doom Buggy, I got to clean inside a bit. I also had to deal with a woman finding a nail (like the tool, not a fingernail) in her popcorn, but she was super understanding and chill about it. I met a little girl named Carly and helped her not be afraid of riding the Haunted Mansion. Super cute. All in all, it's been a great day.

I have utility tomorrow so I have most of the day off. I want to go into the park and see what's going on for True Love week. Apparently all the Disney Couples are doing meet & greets together. There's also the Lunar New Year celebration in DCA, where we can meet Mushu & Mulan. So many characters to meet!

Five & Dime in DCA

The Dapper Dans!

Grant & I at DCA

Next Week's Schedule

I'll try to post an update soon, so far nothing too overly exciting has happened since I last posted. Here's what my next week is going to look like:

Sunday 2/17 
10am-6:30pm
Fantasyland Trash
Monday 2/18 
10am-5:30pm
Tomorrowland Queues (I've been waiting for this awesome shift to finally come my way. Plus I get paid overtime all day because it's President's Day)
Tuesday 2/19 
6pm-11:30pm
Day Parade
Friday 2/22 
1pm-9pm
New Orleans/Critter Country Trash
Saturday 2/23 
2pm-11pm
Adventureland/Frontierland Trash

Total Hours: 37.5
Total Pay (before taxes, after rent): $231.04

Update!

"That might sound boring, but I think the boring stuff is the stuff I remember the most."

- Up

Today I didn't have work until 7PM, so I decided to explore Anaheim a bit. By trying to get to places I needed to go without my GPS, I ended up seeing the Angels' stadium and the Honda Center before ending up at a Starbucks, where I ate lunch. It was nice to see more of Anaheim than Disneyland and my apartment. After my mini-adventure, it was time for a much needed nap before my utility shift. Utility is always a mystery, and tonight we cleaned backstage Main Street, Aladdin's Oasis, and the Jungle Cruise queue. While we were doing Jungle Cruise, Fantasmic rehearsals were happening. Can't wait for that to start up again on 2/15. If you've ever been in line for Jungle Cruise, you may have seen a fake "office" room upstairs (right above the entrance). Totally went in there. No big deal. 

In Aladdin's Oasis, I picked the nose of the Cave of Wonders with my feather duster. I don't think there was any dust in there, but I couldn't resist. While on Main Street, I went up on the roof of one of the buildings. After work, our lead took us to see Small World, which is currently under construction. So crazy. One of the main reasons I wanted to be in Custodial was to see this stuff, and my wish has come true. The only thing I hate is that I can't share these sights with you guys, because posting pictures of backstage areas isn't allowed. 

Here's an update on my last week!

Thursday  (1/31) and Friday (2/1) were basically just full of work work work. Other than having to sweep from 4-12:30 in Frontierland, my first shift without other college program kiddos, Saturday was fairly uneventful as well. I spent seven hours sweeping Frontierland and answering more questions than I've ever had. I realized I don't know much about that land. During the firework show, half of our backstage area is blocked off for "firework fallout." During the show, I went and used a bathroom in our break room. I realized later that the false window in the bathroom would have overlooked the Rivers of America's waterfront. So if you're looking at a window above the River Belle Terrace, there could be someone peeing up there. The more you know! After the park closed, we went and cleaned every single Pirates of the Caribbean boat. It goes so fast, even though there are forty-four boats. Because we clean them at the load/unload dock, I heard the load/unload audio twenty-two times. I think I have it memorized!

Sunday (2/3) brought a special visitor from home, and we spent the day in the park before going to my Adventureland sweeping shift. I learned more fun facts about the park, and got to share some too! In addition to them visiting me while I was on the job, I also got a few visits from fellow college program kids. One of my coworkers talked to me the whole shift about their time working at the park. I was surprised that we were the same age, yet he's been working in Custodial for nearly two years. After the park closed, we once again cleaned the Pirates boats, a fun way to end a night of work!

Yesterday we had a Cast Update in the Lincoln Theater. We were told about the four keys for the four billionth time (safety, courtesy, show, efficiency!) but were also told about what's coming up in the parks. We were shown previews for things such as the Lunar New Year celebration in DCA, Love Week, new merchandise and menus, and the much anticipated Fantasy Faire, an addition to Fantasyland where you are immersed in the worlds of the Disney princesses. After the presentation, we were given food from the Fantasy Faire food cart "Maurice's Twisted Treats," a cart based on Belle's kooky inventor father. So yeah, we got to try food from a place that doesn't even exist yet. It was delicious. We also got posters of a draft of the Disneyland dedication speech that was approved with Walt's signature. After the presentation, I went to my Day Parade shift, which ended with me wandering around an empty Main Street. After work I got to hang out with some friends from the fourth floor. I think I'm really starting to feel at home here.

Next Week's Schedule

Sunday 2/10 - 12:00-20:00 Main Street Trash
Monday 2/11 - 12:00-20:00 New Orleans/Critter Country Trash
Tuesday 2/12 - 19:00-0:30 Utility
Friday 2/15 - 16:00-0:00 New Orleans/Critter Country Trash
Saturday 2/16 - 12:00-20:30 Undistributed Sweeping (aka, they'll stick me where they need to)

Not happy at all with this schedule. Not one bit.