First in Park shift

Okay I had my first in park shift at DCA and lets say it was an interesting experience. I was suppose to be sheduled for Hollywood Pin Cart in Hollywood Backlot.

So I got to parking lot and parked my car and hour before I clocked in and thought I'd given myself enough time to figure out everything. So I go to costuming at Harbor Pointe and this is a new experience. For World of Disney, I am so use to get my costume underneath Grand California Hotel, and there you go to a window and the CM's there get the costume for you. For park shifts in Disneyland and DCA you have to get it yourself. Well I go up to a CM there and say unsure of my costume so they look it up and it says I need the Greeting California shirt and khaki pants. So the CM directed me to where they are and then I'm left to pull my own size.

So I get dressed and then realized I have no where to put my stuff. Once again at WOD we use clear lockers where you input a code to lock it. (You create your own each use). Well the lockers there use combination locks so I had to go ask about getting that one. And let me say I'm terrible at using combination locks for some reason so it took me a bit to figure it out so my stuff wouldn't get stuck in the lockers lol. So by time I put my stuff away. It somehow became like 5 mins are so 'till I clocked in. I was like oh crap. So I exit and had to figure out where DCA backstage entrance was which I figured on my own. But then I was lost and confused and some fellow CM's told me how to get to Gone Hollywood. So I finally get there and ended up late for my shift which ugh had a goal to avoid getting any points this month and was doing good too. :\

But anyways I go in the store and was directed to the backroom and the lead there told me I had the wrong shirt on but she let me clock in but I had to go back to costuming to get the correct one wich she showed me what it is. So walked back and got the right shirt, came back and by then it's like 3:30, 30 mins after my shift start. Terrible I know. But then they set me up in the system there and walked me to Pin Cart and all of a sudden could not log in over there. I was like great really? So after 10 more mins figuring out what to do, they finally put me in the outdoor kind of shop called Studio Store right across from the Muppet 3D show. Wasn't too bad there just wow the Hollywood Backlot is like dead man zone. Working over there reminded me when I worked at the Aquarium of Long Beach, and out back they had a store called Shark Shack in Shark Lagoon and that would be a dead zone during weekdays.

But yeah started off a little crazy but everyone was so nice including the leads in helping me out. And it helped that another CM I've worked with at WOD was in Studio w/ me for a little so someone to talk to. But hopefully if I get another in park shift it won't be this bad because I'd like to give it another try. Definitely a different atmosphere then being in Downtown Disney.

Now tomorrow morning I start my 2nd class, Leadership Speaker's Series class. Hope it's a good course and I learn something from hearing people from different lines of business share their stories.

New shifts outside WOD!

So once again sorry about the slow updates. Really is hard to update once you start the program. You're so busy and when you have days of then you're just tired.

But a couple weeks ago at my 2nd check in, I think for like 75 days, I asked about getting shifts outside of World of Disney a.k.a WOD and my home manager, Sarah said she'd put a email in about my request. Well like 2 weeks later I get scheduled outside of WoD.

Yesterday(Sunday), I had my first experience at Marcelines(a Candy/Sweets/type of store in Downtown Disney) and lets say your shift flies by fast over here because always busy with few mini breaks to stop and restock and what not. Also I had to basically learn things through out the day because never had time to really stop and figure out how things go. Also it was a closing shift which was okay, even though some of us who had to walk, including me didn't finish our closing assigment. (I was at 8 hours and they weren't doing O/T). But overall was okay.

Tomorrow, I'm scheduled my first in park shift, Hollywood Pin Cart in Disney California Adventure. So I have to for a first get my costume, at Harbor Point Costuming. Never been over there, and also not sure where to clock in either. So this should be a interesting experience. I guess I'll give myself some extra time to figure this out.

Then on Saturday, I have Pin Traders(located in DTD) so hopefully that one isn't too bad though I still know nothing about the pins or anything. Everytime a guest ask me about pins at WoD, I'm always unsure and have to ask others for answers. I mean like special release pins and stuff. I never got into the pin trading before I started working. I mean its okay but not something I'd personally do.

Okay also it's Halloween Time at Disneyland Resort! Still haven't been in the parks since the decorations went up but I am trying to go to one of the Mickey's Halloween Party. I already have my costume. Just need to buy my tickets.

Oh and I really need to utilize the Team Center. I just now seeing they have discount tickets, for Wicked? I'm definitely looking into that sometime this week. I saw the show few years ago and would love to go again. But regular prices are expensive!

But that's my update for now!

So I haven't posted in a while, mostly because nothing to exciting has happened. One dis-advantage to being a local CPer is that for a while working at Disney just felt like a job instead of being in the College Program especially once my first class was over.

But now the housing kids have arrived and the Fall College Program has begun to kick off with CP events happening. I've already done one, the scavenger hunt. I'm not really into scavenger hunts but I mostly did it to hopefully meet some of the new people because I hardly see to many people who are in the college program at my area, World of Disney and two I knew of already quit in the last month so yeah. But I also signed up for the Dream Suite tour later this month so excited to do that even if it means having to come up to Disney on my day off.

Summer time is over and we're now entering off-peak season and you can already tell at the resort as it has been less crowded. Which means we're soo slow in the store all day until maybe the last couple hours we're open. Its so hard to keep busy during the slow periods. But however since the parks close right after all the night events happen(Fireworks and World of Color) on weekdays, we get a small rush of people coming into our store that the last few days instead of us closing at 10pm they've extended to 11pm. So some of my fellow CM's got their schedules extended much later. Lucky for me Tues and Wed didn't get effected to much.

Also the last few weeks have just felt weird to me because first in a while, I don't have to worry about school since I graduated in May. So it's like wow so I don't have to worry about textbooks or anything. Also in the past couple weeks, had two guests come up to my register showing their CSULB ID for their identification and a lady who said she teaches there. I'm like aww I went there. I miss that campus already :(

But other than that not to much eventful has happened. I did a few days ago take my 6 year old cousin to Disneyland for a first and it was a interesting experience. He doesn't get to go to much places so I just think the whole park was a little too much for him at first. He'd kept crying before we get on rides thinking it'd be scary and I tried to take him to all the little kid stuff and then he'd end up after the ride going 'that wasn't so bad' lol I think my favorite ride I took him on was Jungle Cruise because whenever the skipper was all like duck. He jumped down so fast it was too cute. I hope to try and take him some more soon so he'd get more use to park and actually want to go up to the characters lol

Oh and also a group of us in the CP Fall Facebook group got tickets to see Ellen in Oct. I'm super stoked because I've always want to go to her show but in the past I always couldn't because of school. Now I can. Yay!

Oh and last today saw an announcement that an upcoming Twilight Convention is happening in Nov in LA. And the way they're hyping it up sounds like it's gonna be good like last years I attended. Now I just have to hope some miracle I can get the weekend off to attend. *crosses fingers*

'Till then I'll try and update more often instead of like once a month haha.

30 Day Check-In

So yesterday had my 30 Day Check-In and passed. And talked to my home manager Terri and it went well. She's really nice. Though I talked to her once before but was reminded I forgot to clock out on one of my first days working. Which I'm still not sure how that happened since I clock out everytime, very weird that happened.

But so far everything is going okay and not so bad. Finally got too see some of the new stuff such as a week ago got to ride Star Tours finally once. Was kind of cool. Definitely better than the outdated old version haha. Only thing I haven't seen yet is the Mickey's Soundsational Parade. I just never found the chance. And when I do have time, it starts like so close to when I need to go change and get ready for my shift. One of these days...

Tomorrow have a in-park assignment for Blended learning class. Looks like we're probably doing a scavenger hunt like assignment. So least get to play a little even though will be dead tired.

But other than that not much has happened. Well except I got sick out of nowhere last week and had to make my first call-in which was trying to avoid. The points system scares me not going to lie. I just try my darn hardest to not rack any points. I think it's just mostly I got fired from a old job for being late even if it was a couple minutes and I was with the job for over a year, almost two and I don't ever want a repeat of something like that happening again. So if I have no points, less I worry. :)

Busy busy last few weeks

So I haven't had much time to update this is because I've been so busy and tired. All I've done is work sleep then work some more and on my days off been busy doing other things planned.

So after a couple weeks working at World of Disney isn't too bad. I'm starting to become more familiar with things and the store layout and all the process of paying, doing returns, and exchanges. Basically is not as overwhelming anymore. Everyone is so nice and helpful though when I'm unsure of things and help me out so I know what to do or find something. I've already made a couple friends through the college program and some of them working in the store so it's nice to have some people to talk to and know of.

Other than that work work work, not much free time to play in the parks though I did get to finally check out the new Little Mermaid ride a week ago. Hopefully I can catch the new parade and Star Tours next week.

I did, last friday and wednesday see my favorite group Backstreet Boys w/ New Kids on the Block and those were great shows. I never get tired of seeing BSB. Though I finally got to meet them by winning a soundcheck pass through the fanclub after being a fan for sooo long about 14 years aye! haha. It was great they're cool and fun when in a laid back setting.



Well that's about it that I have to update for now. Hopefully I'll have something interesting to share soon.

On The Job Training

So Saturday and Sunday had training at World of Disney and day 1 was just packed with lots of information. You think you're understanding then they're like now you need to do this and that. At the end of day 1 I was just like OMG.

So day 1 spent mostly in a room and worked on test registers on how to ring up transactions and accept different forms of payments. Then learned returns and exchanges, which after 2nd day still not sure how to do that correctly. Haven't had to do one on the floor yet. Anyways near end of shift they took us out to the floor and for a hour we went on the registers. It wasn't too bad it's just remembering how to use the system. I've had a couple retail jobs and everyone's registers are different so it's like just remembering how they ring and take payments and when to ask for identification. Since I've had jobs where they want you to and jobs where we don't.

So day 2, started out as a quick review over what we learned then took us out on the floor where most of shifts we stayed. Wasn't so bad except had to run around the store looking for stuff and had an angry guest for having to wait. But with help got it sorted out. But last at the end of the shift we had to learn how to close out. They told us how in day 1 but so much information that most of us didn't even remember next day.

Once we got hands on how to close it became a little clearer but there's so many steps, and I'm nervous when I'm on my own tomorrow(tuesday) I'm gonna screw up somehow lol.

And never thought there be so many numbers I have to remember outside of my personal life. There's numbers for like everything, to activate this or that. Or contact lead managers, stock room, fun little numbers to call for guests so can get a special messages from characters. I'm like aye!

But yeah overall the training wasn't too bad. Had great trainers and the group of us had a lot of fun joking around whenever we were in back learning the info and I've slowly been making lots of great friends already.

Tomorrow is my 2nd class meeting and then think I might hang out in the parks with some of the people from the facebook group until my shift which is at 6:45pm or 18:45 as Disney uses haha. Till then later.

First Class!

So had first class today, Blended learning course. Had to be at Paradise Pier Hotel at 8:30am so ugh another early morning. I'm not much of a morning person but managed to get myself up. Guess have to thank my previous job at my school for helping with that. Over there I had to be at work at 6:30 am, yikes I know! lol

But the class was okay, did a lot of little activities through out class, got to meet and chat with other fellow CP'ers and found out another CPer already works at World of Disney at my table so got some insight on what to expect. But yeah overall it's okay course so far. I honestly wasn't looking forward to the education portion since just graduated so I'm like oh more classes...yay? lol But the atmosphere is cool, everyone including the instructors are friendly. And in this course not all the classes meet at the same place so hopefully will be a fun, interesting 9 weeks. :)