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 =)