My First Shift as a Runner!

Friday I finished my classes at Disney University. I think I still have to go back at some point for one more day to learn about the Disney Vacation Club. Yesterday I had my first shift at the Beach Club Resort! It was beautiful!! I was scheduled to be a runner. I haven't even had my Welcome Aboard (orientation) at the resort yet, so I didn't have a costume. I had to get there about an hour before my shift to get fitted for a runner costume. The runner costume is baby blue pants, a white belt, a white button up shirt, and white shoes. The shirt also had blue details on it. (I'll post pictures of it later). At orientation I'll get my front desk costume.

My runner shift was amazing! As a runner you basically are 'running' all over the resort both the Yacht and Beach side, as well as running things to other places outside the resort. We deliver packages, flowers, cards... really anything. My trainer was probably the smartest Disney person I have met. He knew so much information and lots of trivia!! So I feel very lucky that my first day at the resort I was able to spend with him running all over the place. It was a slow runner day so we even got to spend some time driving around in the resort's Suburban and Stuart (my trainer) showed me back stage areas I may have to make runs to. It was awesome!

On my first day I even got to help a lost child! It was fun to call her princess and find out where she needed to be! She had come from the pool. The pool is amazing!! It is shared between the yacht and beach club. It has a sand bottom and is the largest pool on property (for now, I learned we'll be losing that title when the new resort opens). They are very strict about the pool in the sense that only guests staying at the Yacht and Beach Resorts can use the pool. They have this rule because they have enough chairs/seats for the exact amount of guests that could possibly be staying at both resorts including the Beach Villas (which are incredible!!) Needless to say there is lots of seating! I thought that was a really cool fact! Another cool thing about the Yacht and Beach Club is that they each have their own beach. You're not allowed to go in the water, but still are able to play in the sand or lie back in a lawn chair and enjoy the sunset! They also play a movie on the beach each night (all Disney movies of course!).

I met lots of people that I will be working with, which was great. For the most part everyone seems really nice and they were really happy to be at work! There is a woman who works in the back office who went to IU...her background on her computer was of Sample Gates (GO HOOSIERS!! =)) It was great to meet her!

Everything is so themed even down to the last detail! For example, there is side table in the lobby that has what looks like filing drawers that have one for Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, etc. On the Beach side the carpet in the hallways have Flounder and Sebastian in them as well as some hidden Mickeys. The hidden Mickeys are popping out to me more and more. There are lots of those cute Disney details all over the place.

Overall it was a great first shift and it went pretty quickly! Even after all the running around I wasn't that tired afterwards either =). I'll write again after my orientation and fill you in more about the resort and what it has to offer! As for now, I have the next two days off so I think I'll go lay by the pool =)

First Day of Work... Kind of.

Today I had my first day of training. It started at 8:30 at Disney University which meant I had to be on the bus by 7:29. We spent the morning learning about all the basic Disney lodging information. It had its interesting points but overall it was kind of boring. After lunch we got to start learning about the check-in process, which I was happy to find doesn't seem all that complicated. The next three days will be all about physically learning/doing the check-in process. They said they have a lab we will be working in where we will practice the check-in process over and over again. This will help us get familiar with their computer system called Lilo and get us ready to start checking guests in at our resort.

It's a little overwhelming all the information that we have to learn and the questions we need to know how to answer. However, I think that with practice and working with our trainers it will become easy. I'm excited to learn the system and I can't wait to get my costume (yes, we don't wear uniforms they're called costumes ha!). As for the next few days I think it will be a lot of repetition and practice, but I'm looking forward to it! Can't wait to be out of Disney University and at the Yacht and Beach Club Resort!

Traditions & Magic Kingdom

Yesterday I had Traditions. My three roommates all had the morning session and I had the afternoon session. I was a little bummed about that at first, but while waiting for the bus I met a girl and we ended up in the same group. She was really cool! Traditions was a lot of time spent in a classroom learning about the Disney company and their values. It was long and boring at times, but also exciting and filled with interesting facts. We also went on a tour and got to see places that few get to see. I got to meet my boss at Traditions, he was very smiley! Besides meeting my boss the best part was we got out name tags! They are so official looking. It has my first name and Indiana University written on it. All in all, Traditions was a very long and inspirational four and half hours!

After I got back from Traditions two of my roommates and I took advantage of our benefits of being a cast member at Planet Hollywood. It was an hour wait, but because we are cast members we got the next available table, so we waited maybe five minutes. It was a delicious meal and the 20% discount made it taste even better!

Today, my roommate Shelley had her first day of training, so she was busy with that all day. Randi, Amanda, and I started our day off with a healthy workout and then we got ready and made our first trip to the Magic Kingdom! It was wonderful! It was the first time I'd seen the castle since I went during the 25th anniversary and the castle was a pink cake! Today it looked A LOT different.

Right now I'm super excited to start my job training and learning new things! As for now I have the next two days to relax. (I better take advantage of them!)

Longest Day Ever

On Wednesday I checked-in. That consisted of a super long line, but my roommates and I got there pretty early so we weren't too far back in line. It was still kind of crazy how many people were there so early! Overall, check-in went really smoothly! We got the last two bedroom apartment in Chatham which was really exciting. After housing check-in we had a little bit of time to go to our apartment and check it out before we had to go to casting. At casting I found out that I will be working at the Disney Yacht and Beach Club Resort! I've heard wonderful things about it and I can't wait to get in there and start working!

Today I have traditions. I'm not really sure what to expect, but I've heard it is one of the best days, so I'm looking forward to it! As far as starting work, I start training on Tuesday. So, I actually will have a few days off which I suppose I should take advantage of and enjoy while I can!

This has definitely been the most challenging days I've experienced. I'm just trying to get adjusted and get comfortable with the change. I know that it can only get better from here =)

Finally, I'm a Few Days Away from Disney!!

I'm getting ready to start my adventure at Disney World!! I will be doing the Disney College Program for the Spring Advantage 2012. I will be there from January 18th until August 3rd (the longest and furthest I've been away from home)...should be fun! I'm a hospitality role which I'm thankful will count towards my professional internship that is required for my major. As of now I am most anxious about finding out my location, I'm hoping for a deluxe resort!

I leave Monday morning and will arrive into Disney World on Tuesday afternoon. I'll spend some time with my parents and then I'm hoping to meet up with my roommates Tuesday night before our early check-in on Wednesday. I've heard our check-in day is one of the busiest so that will probably be exhausting yet I doubt I will feel the effects of it for a few days because the excitement will overshadow the exhaustion (at least I hope!)

This past week has been full of see you laters (I hate goodbye). When I went to visit my Grams I was telling her the general idea of what I'll be doing in Disney. I was also telling her that outside of my internship there was so much that I want to do while I'm there, and I'm afraid that I won't have time for everything. She looked at me and said, "But you know what? Anything that you truly want to do, you'll find time for." I think that's very true. I'm looking forward to everything this experience is going to offer and I'm looking forward to sharing it with you!

~ Linds