From: Walt Disney World International Recruiting

3 emails in the past week from Disney!! Do they want me to fail my first year?! Finding it realllly hard to concentrate on my uni work but one more week and it will all be over with :) 

Like I'd forget when I'm going!! Haha.. I'm soo jealous of the people who flew out yesterday, gutted to hear that ash cloud cancelled a few flights though.. Hopefully everyone got it sorted and are well on their way to the sunshine state!! Really excited now seeing what they're getting upto on facebook, can't wait to join them out there.. I do wish I was there but I don't think I'm prepared enough just yet..

ONE MONTH TO GO!!!

So I just found a flyer in my room from uni advertising "Summer Jobs at Walt Disney World, Florida" telling me to apply online before 24th October 2010... 7 months later and I'm down to the last month!! Possibly one of THE worst waits of my life - purely because of the exitement, nerves and anticipation. Even though I've been given the role of 'merchandise' I don't actually know where I'll be working until I get there but I can't wait to find out!! Hopefully these 4 weeks should go quickly as I've got quite a lot to do..

Got an email yesterday repeating the 'Disney look guidelines', they sound really strict which got me a bit worried.. But I've sorted my hair out so it's not an 'extreme style' and it's all one colour.. I read on a girls blog who is already out there that a few girls got told to dye their hair eek.. They know about my tattoos and my uniform or 'costume' as they call it will cover them but I've bought some MAC make-up to cover them if I need to.. They'll check how we look at traditions which is my first day of work, a few days after arrival, we've been told to dress in business attire so think I'm just going to stick to what I wore at the interview.. Now to practice smiling constantly haha.. My cheeks hurt already!! :)

Disney housing!!

There's 3 complexes we could be living at but I think most of the people on the International College Program are housed at Vista way..

I love the way the girl says "It's kinda cold today, about 50 degrees"?! Haha.. But it looks sooo nice, can't wait to move in..

There's the slight issue that I'll be sharing my room, kinda used to sharing cos of uni but that's only in the kitchen really eek.. I like my space and will be a bit awkward with a complete stranger.. They could be from anywhere in the world too - places like.. France, Mexico, Turkey, Thailand, Agentina, UK, Hong Kong, Canada, USA, Peru and Brazil.. I'll just hope for the best, they should be nice anyway if they got the job in the first place :) Apparently roommates are assigned based on arrival and departure dates, work location, gender, age (under or over 21) and program season.. I'll be in a 'wellness' apartment since I'm not 21 until next year.. Looking forward to meeting plenty of new people anyway :)

Rent is deducted from our pay and includes stuff like maintenance, utilities, internet, gym, sport courts, pools, hot tubs, security and laundry.. They do events like pool parties too which I can't wait for!!

FLORIDA!!

There's a lot of talk on the facebook groups about what to get upto in Florida (when we're not working!!).. But with 2 days off a week and shifts at different times of day then there should be plenty of time if I'm not at the beach or my pool - in that heat I don't think I'll want to do much else but relax and top up my tan!! I've never been before so going to make a list of things I want to see/do to make the most of my summer:

• Miami Ink
• Shopping!! International drive near where I'm living and these malls.. http://www.best-orlando-getaways.com/orlando-shopping-malls.html
• Universal Studios - Someone mentioned a summer pass which you would only have to use 3 times to get your money's worth compared to a day pass which are apparently quite expensive?
• Wet n Wild
• Seaworld..

• Hard Rock - Wanted to see Florence and the Machine but it sold out before I got my ticket :( but might still go down on the day and see if there's any ticket sellers outside..
• Disney waterparks (Typhoon Lagoon, Blizzard Beach)
• Disney themeparks (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood studios) - Will be working in one of these eeee!!
• Busch Gardens
• HOOTERS!!
• Soo many restaurants I want to go to.. Mmm - Defo going to need 2 seats on the plane coming home!!
• Cirque Du Soleil
• Any American cinema.. Heard you can lie down and have a table with waiter service?! Haha.. NEED to see Hangover 2 if I don't get to see it before I go..

Sure I'll find plenty of other stuff to do when I'm there anyway, just a few ideas cos I'm toooo excited and can't concentrate on uni work.. Can't remember what the discounts/free admission works like with me being a Disney cast member but I will be making the most haha!! xx

"Your visa has been approved"

3 weeks until I move out of my uni accomodation in Birmingham - which means.. One step closer to Disney!!

So I've got my passport back with my visa and bought my insurance with ACE.. Now just a bit of summer shopping to do - going to save most of it until I'm home cos I need to see what holiday clothes I've got already.. Plus not buying much branded stuff as I can get it for soo much cheaper out there, can't wait to hit the 'malls' :D

Still don't know what to do about my phone.. T mobile will turn my sim only contract into pay as you go for £15 and that goes towards credit at any time but I've heard on the grapevine my Blackberry won't work over there?! Tempted to just get a cheap US phone and sim when I'm there but want to let people know I'm there safe and settled in before I'll get chance to go to Walmart so really don't know!!

Anyway, I'll keep this short and sweet as I've got an exam to revise for, a presentation and a group assignment to do before the real excitement can begin!! :) Oh and some serious drinking before I become 'under-age' for 3 months!! :P xx

Less than 6 weeks to go!

Bit late to start a blog but thought I'd jump on the bandwagon to keep everyone updated :) 

The story so far: I applied through Yummy jobs to work at Disney Florida this summer and had a phone interview with Hannah (who was soo nice!).. I passed that and got to the next stage which was a face to face interview held at my uni (luckily.. because a lot of people there had travelled).. Which went surprisingly well but you can never be too sure, didn't want to speak too soon! Then after a looooong wait everyone was hearing from Yummy jobs and I hadn't had an email which was a bit concerning cos even people who didn't get the job had heard back, so I gave it a bit of time and just rang up in the end.. Think it was Nick who answered and told me "You should have had an email cos you got the job".. I could have actually screamed but I saved his eardrums haha.. Finally got the confirmation email and was soo relieved! 

After hearing the good news I just had to wait (not so patiently) for updates etc.. Paid for my criminal background check.. Booked my flights.. Will be heading to Orlando International on the 19th June with American Airlines.. At the start of September I'll be travelling to New York to meet my Mum and Dad for 5 days then heading back to Manchester on the same flight as them (still need to buy an internal flight from Orlando to JFK but might wait until I'm over there).. Booked my seats for the plane next to LOADS of Disney people so should take my mind off leaving everyone for 3 months :(

Finally got my Disney pack through the post with all my documents and information which meant I could book my visa appointment..

After a boring and genuinely painful 4 hour wait at the US embassy in London last week my visa was approved and my passport should be making it's way back to me today.. £14 later!

So flights and visa are sorted all I need to worry about now is insurance (still haven't bought any!) money and packing eeeek.. HOW am I possibly going to fit 3 months of my life into ONE suitcase?! Oh and meeting the 'Disney look'.. Which is proving quite difficult! Went and bought myself some MAC coverage makeup for my tattoos (which they know about and should be wearing long sleeves whilst i work) but my neck one is a bit sneaky and peeks through the back of my hair so thought might as well be on the safe side and hide it! Need to find a suitable 'business style' watch to keep my wrist tat out of sight too.. My hair is a different story, ended up looking like a mushroom/justin beiber whilst in the process of growing it so in need of a trim.. But least it's evening out in length and my shaved bit has grown out *phew*..

Not too sure on how much money to take in cash, which card to use (thinking FairFX).. But I'll worry about that nearer the time!


Feel like I'm waiting for Christmas I'm soo excited to be living in America and working for Disney.. I'll try and keep this updated as much as I can! Thanks for reading xx