We Have Now Reached the End of the Journey

Well....my Disney College Program is officially over. I graduated on Thursday, moved out of my apartment yesterday, spent one last day in the parks, and came home today. It's hard to believe that I no longer live in Orlando, that I no longer work for Disney, and that I'm no longer surrounded by magic pretty much 24/7. What really sucks, though, is not being around the amazing people I got to spend my time with down there. Especially my besties. It's hard knowing that all of sudden I'm going from seeing them on a daily basis to not being able to see them at all. So this whole Post-Disney Depression (PDD) thing is very real. I'm going through such a wide range of motions, usually within a few minutes of each other. I'm happy to be home, back with my family, with my boyfriend, and with my friends here. I'm happy that I won't miss anymore family get togethers, and I get to spend the holidays with them this year. And that's going to be amazing because honestly, Christmas kind of sucked last year because it wasn't what I was used to. So I'm definitely looking forward to being surrounded by my huge, amazing family this year. :) But I'm also very upset about the fact that I'm no longer at Disney. I don't get live with pretty much constant sunshine (something I never thought I would get used to). I don't get to go play in the parks when I want. I don't get to get that wonderful Cast Member discount on pretty much everything. And I don't get to say that I work for the Walt Disney Company. I absolutely loved my life in Orlando, so I am definitely sad that I don't have it anymore. Being back home is definitely something I'm going to have to get used to again. And as sad as I am that this wonderful journey, this dream come true, is over, I am pretty excited to see what my next adventure will be. I've got a job interview lined up next week, and I'm applying for grad school, which if I get in, I will start in the fall. So I definitely have some kind of plan for my life right now. But, no matter how amazing it all turns out to be, nothing will ever truly replace my experiences on the Disney College Program. I had the time of my life, and I'm so glad I did the program. For everyone who kept up with my journey through this blog, thank you. I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it. And for those of you who are looking into the program, do it! You will never get another experience even remotely close to this. You will make amazing friends, work in the most magical place on Earth, and have the time of your life. It won't always be easy, but it'll be worth it. I promise. :) Well...that's it, I guess. My college program is done, and so is this blog. So, for the final time.... Have a magical day!

It's My Last Full Month!

So it's officially my last full month here in Orlando. I know I said this in my last post, but I really am sad about leaving. However, I know that it's time for me to go back home and settle into a "normal" life there. And as much as I love Disney and Orlando, I feel like I've been missing out on a lot back home, and I don't like that. I can't wait to be around my family and friends, and to be able to do the things that I love doing back home. And I'm also looking forward to being able to be back around my dogs! I miss them!

So since I'm leaving my "dream world" in 37 days, I have started trying to find jobs back home. So far, I've applied for one, and I'm getting my resume ready to send out to other places. I've also applied to go back to school for my Masters' degree. All that's left for me to do is to register to take the GRE. I'm dreading that because (a) I hate taking tests like that, and (b) it's expensive. But it's something that has to be done. To be honest, I'm looking forward to going back to school. I feel like I'll be one of those people who is pretty much always in school because there's just so much that I'm interested in and want to learn about. :)

However, I still have over a month left here at Disney, and I plan on making the most of it. Today, since I'm off, I'm planning on going over to the Grand Floridian and seeing the painted Easter eggs that they have on display. And Monday is my birthday, so Kim, Kelly, and I are planning to drive up to St. Augustine for the day to celebrate. I've always wanted to go to St. Augustine, so I'm excited that we're going for my birthday. :) I also have to start packing stuff up so I won't be rushed to do it all my last week here. Let's hope that for once, I'm actually on the ball about this. :p

Oh! And even bigger news--the boyfriend is coming to visit me!!! He'll be here for just 2 days (next Saturday and Sunday), but I'm so excited that he's coming!! He's never been to Disney before, so I'm very excited to get to share this part of my life with him and show him around the place I love so much. He'll be here in 10 days, and I can't wait!!! I just have to get through some crazy hours at work the rest of this week and next week. But it'll be worth it. :)

Well that's all for now. I will definitely try to update next week because I've picked up a PAC (Parade Audience Control) shift over at Magic Kingdom next Wednesday, and I want to tell y'all about that. I'm looking forward to that experience. :) And now I'm off to get ready and head out for the afternoon!

Have a magical day!
-Amanda

Sorry for the Disappearing Act

I know I've disappeared for awhile, and I apologize for that. I've been settling into my new apartment, hanging out with my friends, and working. So I've been a little busy. :p

Just a few updates since I've been away from the blog for over a month. I know I said in my last blog that we were supposed to be getting new roommates, and I hoped that 2 of them would be Australian. Well, they are! Their names are Clare and Taylor, and they are such sweet and fun girls. I love sitting and talking to them and comparing cultures.....and of course, listening to them talk with their accents. :)

On a work note....we've got 6 new CPs at my location, making it a total of 8 CPs, when really, we only need 4. This means that those who work part time at my location aren't getting hours, and Kim and I are getting fewer hours than we're used to. As a CP, we're guareented at least 30 hours a week. When I checked my schedule on Sunday for next week, I was only getting 28.5. Luckily, when I told my managers, they fixed it and got me the hours I need. But I really feel bad for the part-timers because they need hours, too. Whoever is in charge of placing CPs didn't really seem to think this one through. Hopefully things will work out and people who need hours will be able to start getting them again soon.

Last week, my parents came to visit me. :) We got to stay at the Grand Floridian, which is the nicest resort on Disney property. It was a very relaxing vacation, and even better since I only had to work one 6 hour shift while they were here. :) I love getting to spend time with my parents like this, and I'm sad that I won't see them until May now.

And speaking of May, I have officially decided to go back home to Georgia at the end of this program. Don't get me wrong, I love being here in Florida and working at Disney. And 2 of my best friends are here, and I hate to leave them. But, I miss my family, I miss Ronnie, and I miss home. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with my life once I get home, but I'll figure something out. I'm just ready to go home. After going home for a few days last month, I know that's where I need to be again.

So there's what's been going on with me for the past month. Hopefully I'll be able to update (meaning: hopefully I'll have something to update about) more than just once a month. So until next time....

Have a magical day!

Update on Life

I suck at blogging here lately. >.<

Anyway, I finally heard back about the PI I applied for, and........I didn't get it. :( Oh well. At least I still have my extension, so I can stay here a little bit longer. :) That's definitely an upside.

Speaking of staying here, I go next Tuesday to find out my new housing placement. I know I'm going to be living with one of my co-workers (Kim) who is also extending. We've gotten pretty close during this program, so I'm excited that we'll be living together come January 4 (move-out/move-in date). We don't know who else we're going to be living with. I guess we'll find that out next week. :)

So, I know that my blog has been mostly about the positive experiences I've had while I've been down here. And for the most part, this has been a very positive experience for me. However, there are times when it gets hard being here and away from my family. Like the holidays. I have a pretty big family, and I'm used to spending Thanksgiving and Christmas around them. And I love being around them. So, it does suck that this year, I missed Thanksgiving, and I'm going to miss Christmas. And it makes it hard because I haven't really had a chance to incorporate some of my families traditions down here. However, my parents are coming back to visit me over Christmas weekend, so that will definitely help because I'll be around them on Christmas morning. And I'm also planning to Skype with my brother and his family that morning as we open our gifts. :) It's not going to be the same as actually being around my nieces and nephew when they open their presents, but it will definitely help. :)

And the program does a lot to make sure that we have a good holiday season down here, too. They know that we're all away from our families, so they try to make up for that. They had a Thanksgiving feast for us the week before Thanksgiving, and on December 20, they're putting on a special edition of Grocery Bingo. Which reminds me, go to at least one Grocery Bingo game while you're here. They are so much fun, and if you win, you get a ton of stuff. They definitely treat us well here. :)

Plus, Disney has some amazing holiday traditions to experience and be a part of. The Magic Kingdom has Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party on select nights in November and December. That's probably one of my favorite traditions. I've been to the party 3 times in the past 10 years, and it always amazes me. :) Epcot has Holidays Around the World, which is my favorite thing to do. You get to walk around World Showcase and learn about the holiday traditions in the different countries. It's so cool! :) Hollywood Studios has the Osbourne Spectacle of Lights, which is amazing. I need to get over to the Studios to see those this year. And Animal Kingdom has Mickey's Jingle Jungle Parade, which I need to go see as well.

So, even though I'm away from my family this year, there is a lot to do to still get in the holiday spirit. Although, I'm not exactly used to wearing shorts in December, which I was doing up until Wednesday night. Then we actually got a cold front, which meant I could finally wear jeans and a jacket outside. But we're apparently going to be warming back up here today. Our high for the day is 78 degrees. It never stays cold long here in Orlando. I'm still trying to figure out how I feel about that. :p

Well, time to get ready for work! Have a magical day!

PI Auditions

So this morning was my audition for my Professional Internship. The day started off good, minus the fact that I was a bundle of nerves this morning. I think I became so focused on my nerves that it got to me, and I ended up messing some things up a bit. I forgot my nametag, so I had to turn around and go get it from home. Then, I got all the way to Disney University, and was about to check in when I realized that I left my paperwork hanging on my bulletin board. Thank God I talked to them and they're letting me turn it in tomorrow morning. Luckily, they have an office at Epcot, so I can drop it off before work tomorrow.

Then, I realized that I was supposed to schedule a phone interview last week when I applied online, and I hadn't done that. The email I got after I applied told me I was supposed to schedule the interview within 2 days of applying, so I was really nervous when I realized I hadn't done it. If I wasn't able to schedule the phone interview, then this audition today would have been for nothing. THANK GOD I was able to schedule my interview for Friday morning.

However, now it's time to play the waiting game. The next step in the process (after this phone interview Friday with Casting) is to hopefully have done well enough in the audition to get a phone interview with the Y.E.S. Program. However, I won't hear about that for 2-3 weeks. This is the frustrating part now. I probably won't find out if I got the internship or not until sometime in November or December. I don't want to wait that long, but at this point, I guess I don't have a choice. I just don't know what I'm going to do if I don't get it. I guess I'll put it for an extension when the time comes (which is apparently some time this month) just to cover my bases.

So, because of everything that happened this morning, I was feeling pretty low. I want this internship so much, and I was so scared that I was screwing everything up. However, once I was able to schedule the phone interview, I started to feel better. And then I went to CFA and did some shopping and resort sight-seeing with Cayla, and that made me feel better. Then we came back home and cooked dinner (chicken alfredo tacos!) and watched "Lion King" and then went for a walk. It was definitely a good ending to a day that started off less than steller, and it was a good way to end my weekend.

Work the rest of this week is going to be nerve racking. Actually, work all this week has been nerve racking. I was trained in a new position Sunday and Monday (General Teller), and I'm going to be trained as Assigner tomorrow. Then Friday and Saturday, I am the GT. I'm not feeling comfortable with it at all, but hopefully I can talk to the GT tomorrow night and get a little more comfortable doing this on Friday. We'll see. I'm just glad next week I get to go back to the positions I'm comfortable with.

Well that's all for this update. I really do need to get some pictures up here. Maybe I'll have time tomorrow night to do so. I'll try! :)

Have a magical day!

Reasons Why I Love Disney [[Day 35]]

**I leave for Florida TODAY!!! And check in is in 2 days!!!!**

Source: Simple Disney Things

I love Disney date nights. They're the best. 

And I love this sweet picture of Minnie and Mickey. <3

Reasons Why I Love Disney [[Day 33]]

**4 days!!! EEEEE!!!**

Source: Simple Disney Things

Disney movies have a way of tugging at your heartstrings. It can suck sometimes. :p

Reasons Why I Love Disney [[Day 32]]

**5 days!!! OMG!!!!**

Source: Simple Disney Things

Favorite song from my favorite movie. :)

Signs That I Was Always Meant To Work At Disney Part 2

For my 1st birthday, my parents decided to go with a Mickey Mouse theme. I've told them that they should have realized then that I was going to work at Disney someday. :)

My cake. See? My parents started this. :p

Pretty sure I was telling my mom to leave me alone.

My uncle stole some of my cake. I was not happy. Notice the look on my face.

My daddy and me the day after. Still eating cake. :)

I still think cake is one of the greatest things ever invented. And Disney cakes are the best. :)

Disney has been apart of my life since I can remember. I think it's only fitting that I get to work there now. :)

Reasons Why I Love Disney [[Day 12]]

Source: Simple Disney Things

I love when Cast Members say this to me. And I can't wait to say it to guests! :)

And I hope that you have a magical day, too! :)

Reasons Why I Love Disney [[Day 7]]

Source: Simple Disney Things

I'm in a pretty lovey-dovey mood today. My boyfriend does this to me occasionally ;p. So, what's a better reason for loving Disney today than by showing the original Disney couple? None that I can think of. :)

Reasons Why I Love Disney [[Day 3]]

Source: Simple Disney Things

Because Disney makes every girl feel like they can be a princess, too. :)

Day 29!

And I'm officially in my last full month at home! Ah!!

Day 29: Your favorite theme park attraction.



I have quite a few favorites, but these are the 2 that are my favorite park! :)

Love, love, love! ♥

Day 27!

Day 27: Your favorite quote.

"There it is, Wendy. Second star to the right and straight on til morning!" -Peter Pan

"Yo, Rugman! Haven't seen you in a few millennia. Give me some tassel!" -Genie from Aladdin

"Do I still have to sleep in the cupboard?" --Chip from Beauty and the Beast

Day 26!

Day 26: Saddest death.

Mufasa's death in the Lion King....especially when Simba finds his body. I cried so hard at this part in the movie. Heck, looking at this picture makes me want to cry all over again. :(

Day 25!

*6 weeks until check-in!!!!!*

Day 25: Your favorite scene from your favorite movie.

When Wendy and Peter are standing on Big Ben, and he says this:

There's just something so magical about those words to me. And since I consider Disney World my Neverland, I always say this before we head down there. And in 6 weeks, I'll once again be heading to the second star on the right, and straight on till morning! :)

Day 24!

Day 24: A movie that makes you cry.

I cried pretty much the entire movie.

Day 23!

Day 23: A movie that makes you laugh.

I love this movie! And I love love love Stitch! :)

My nieces love Stitch, too. :p

Day 22!

Day 22: An overrated movie.

 Yes, I admit it, HSM is an overrated movie franchise.

However, that will not stop me from watching it. :p

Day 21!

Day 21: An underrated movie.

Seriously underrated.