Becoming a Disney Trainer!

Being a cast member has definitely been the coolest experience of my life. Whether it's been the exclusive backstage tours, free admission into the parks, or early previews of new buildings opening up in the parks it feels like almost everyday there's something new happening. Tommorow for example I am attending a cast exclusive ride preview of the new Tiana's Bayou Adventure ride. The ride replacing Splash Mountain that Disney has been re-imagining for a couple of years now. Splash Mountain was my favourite ride when we visited years ago so I'm so excited I happen to be here when it's finally ready to open! More on my experience tomorrow in next weeks blog!

This week however I had a cast preview of Epcot's newest building CommuniCore. This elevated character meet and greet venue replaced the outdated old one that housed surprise characters certain days of the week. The new CommuniCore building is where guests can meet Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald and Daisy everyday of the week. Disney hosted an early preview of the new building a few days before the official opening so a couple of my friends and I met Mickey, Minnie and Goofy. I'm still working through the awkwardness of character meet and greets. Some people thrive in this environment but I would rather watch the character interact with people from a galaxy far, far away. Plus who doesn't get nervous meeting their boss. even if your boss is a mouse! All of this before starting my 7:30pm shift that night.

Speaking of my 7:30pm-2:00am shift I unsurprising didn't enjoy it. Much like Cinderella, by the time the clock strikes midnight my magic also disappears and I'm ready for bed. It definitely is an easy shift which also means boring. Standing in the France pavilion for 4 hours making sure guests don't walk through the closed part of the showcase is a brain numbing excerise and one I feel a rope could also preform to the same level, maybe with even more magic than I can at that hour.

Guess what!?!

I have a second 7:30-2:00am shift tonight. Yay :(. Oh well, there's definitely worse jobs out there. Acting like a rope for a few hours is managble. Besides who needs sleep? I have to be up 8:30am tomorrow for my ride preview but I'll sleep when I'm back in Kelowna.

In other news, a couple months ago I was interviewed for a trainer position within the attraction. A trainer is the highest level of title one can recive on this program. Responsibility's include training new cast members in the attraction and refreshing our leaders and coordinators every couple of months on the different positions of the attraction. Benefits include a $1 an hour increase of pay while training and a cool Jiminy Cricket pin you can wear on your costume. I recived the trainer offer and had my trainer class last week making me an official Disney Trainer! A pretty cool experience I received my pin and worked through the responsibilities of the job. I don't know when I'll have the oppourtunity to train anyone since the theater is such a small operation but it will for sure happen before my progrsm ends.

The Florida heat is beginning to amp up with the average being in the mid to high 30s! My walk to Starbucks this morning felt sticky almost immediatly upon exiting my apartment.

Well that's been the last week.

I'm excited for all the new stories this week has in store. Stay tuned!

I love and miss you <3 xoxo

Jiminy Cricket is ready to guide me.

I didn't know Goofy was like 10 feet tall

The mouse, the myth the legend.... ladies and gentleman.... the boss!

Can you even tell I'm not in Canada? The landscape, the costume it's all SO Canadian

Disney apparently loves their "arms in air" photos, but this was taken during one of my many park clear shifts with a couple of cast members from Mexico, China, France and of course CANADA!!! :)