Your ULTIMATE SURVIVAL GUIDE to Disney World at Christmas Time! UPDATE x2 10/21

[Disneyfreak508]

Originally Posted by JanieZ526

I've been lurking on all your TRs, but I just wanted to say I'm so excited for you!

Ahh thank you so much!

Originally Posted by bigsis1970

Yay for you Jess!!!! Congrats!!

Thank you so much!

Originally Posted by chalee94

yay!

YAY thanks!!

Originally Posted by PlutosRHM55

Woah, I can't believe I just caught up on all of that. I need to take a breather now lol I'm so glad though I caught up before baddabing this was done. :O Well, I love all the Disney facts you rambled off in the MK update, and just an edit, the effect used in the ballroom scene at the Haunted Mansion is called "Pepper's Ghost" not Magic, but I knew what you were talking about so that's all good and Little Leota at the end of the ride has a different voice... okay, I'll stop being a Disney know-it-all for ya.

Sorry to hear you didn't get into your school's show, I've heard great things about Urinetown But INTO THE WOODS!!!! OMG so jealous! Stephen Sondheim <3 Huge theater geek right here, no shame. It really is a great show and a VERY big cast so I'm sure you have a good chance at getting in. I recommend for songs, "Children Will Listen" since I think the Witch is a soprano and same with the Baker's Wife both great roles. "Last Midnight" is also another good song if you are looking to play the Witch, but I'm not sure if either of these are soprano, but Bernadette Peters played the Witch so I have a feeling. I do recommend watching the filmed on Broadway movie with Bernadette Peters, it would probably help. Good luck with the auditions when the come up!

Can't wait to read more and hear about your most recent trip!

P.S. Didn't know if you saw my tweet, but since I don't want to spoil anything... Congrats!

Haha I'm glad you enjoyed all of the facts!
Well now that I won't be here next semester, I'll have to miss out on Into the Woods. As sad as that is..... Disney is MUCH better. SO EXCITED!
Thank you!

[rdkeim]

My gosh - congratulations! You must be thrilled! You'll be a wonderful CM - can't wait to hear the details!!

[michael's mom]

Such exciting news Jess! I hope you get a resort you'll love...Maybe the YaCHt Club?

[danimaroo]

I've already chatted with you about it on twitter, but I am beyond excited for you getting into the DCP AND getting Concierge. I mean, that is AWESOME. I hope you do get to work at Beach Club!

Haha, it also dawned on me... With how popular you are here on the DIS, you are probably going to have SO many DISmeets while you are doing the DCP!

[SmallWorld71]

Originally Posted by danimaroo

Haha, it also dawned on me... With how popular you are here on the DIS, you are probably going to have SO many DISmeets while you are doing the DCP!

We could start a whole Frump Fan Club.

Congrats!

[cindianne320]

So happy for you! Sad that I won't be there while you're there- we're going in October!

[miss.potatohead]

Congratulations! All your work paid off I hope you have a fantastic experience doing the CP. I know someone doing the ICP at the moment who is having a bit of a negative experience but I think you'll have a blast! Your recent trip made me so jealous, following along on twitter and instagram :P

[wigeboo]

Well done

[Disneyfreak508]

Originally Posted by rdkeim

My gosh - congratulations! You must be thrilled! You'll be a wonderful CM - can't wait to hear the details!!

Thank you so much! I am ecstatic! Aww thanks - I can't wait to share them!

Originally Posted by michael's mom

Such exciting news Jess! I hope you get a resort you'll love...Maybe the YaCHt Club?

Thank you! Oh my goodness... that would be INCREDIBLE! If I worked at the YaCHt Club my life would really be full circle.

Originally Posted by danimaroo

I've already chatted with you about it on twitter, but I am beyond excited for you getting into the DCP AND getting Concierge. I mean, that is AWESOME. I hope you do get to work at Beach Club!

Haha, it also dawned on me... With how popular you are here on the DIS, you are probably going to have SO many DISmeets while you are doing the DCP!

Aww thank you so much! I am thrilled! I would LOVE to work there!

Hahaha I was just talking about that today! It's going to be busy, busy, busy! I'm really looking forward to it!

Originally Posted by SmallWorld71

We could start a whole Frump Fan Club.

Congrats!

Hahaha aww thank you!

Originally Posted by cindianne320

So happy for you! Sad that I won't be there while you're there- we're going in October!

Aww dang I'll just miss you! Hopefully I'll get to continue my career with Disney in the future so we will just have to meet up another time.
Thank you so much!

Originally Posted by miss.potatohead

Congratulations! All your work paid off I hope you have a fantastic experience doing the CP. I know someone doing the ICP at the moment who is having a bit of a negative experience but I think you'll have a blast! Your recent trip made me so jealous, following along on twitter and instagram :P

Aww thank you so much! That's sad that they are having a bad experience.. I hope it picks up! I think I will too! Aw thanks haha. It was an AMAZING trip! I can't wait to share!

Originally Posted by wigeboo

Well done

Thank you!

[Disneyfreak508]

Real Life Update #4: ACCEPTED!
October 13th, 2012

Alright everyone, I have a very big announcement to make!

Although most of you already know this.....

I GOT ACCEPTED FOR THE DISNEY COLLEGE PROGRAM FOR SPRING ADVANTAGE 2013!

(Advantage means I stay through the summer! So I'll be there from January through August!)

And what role did I get??

CONCIERGE!

That was one of my top two, so that means...

I'M MOVING TO DISNEY WORLD!!!!!!

I literally can't believe that I'm working CONCIERGE at the WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT before the age of 20. I'm going after my dreams and I am so ecstatic that they are coming true!

I found out that I was accepted on October 8th. It was the morning I was leaving Disney at 10 o'clock am. We were driving to 1900 Park Fare for breakfast and going under the Magic Kingdom signs when I got my email. It LITERALLY felt like a movie. It couldn't have been more perfect. God clearly had a say in that one.

I opened the email and I screamed! I cried and just couldn't believe it was actually real.

Guys, I have my DREAM JOB at Disney. I literally CANNOT believe it. I have been preparing for this role since the day I was born. I am absolutely beyond thrilled.

I'm waiting to get everything approved by my advisors at school before I can officially "accept" the offer, but it has to be done before Thursday! So soon I will know what day I am officially moving to Disney World!

I don't find out what resort I am working at until I get there (or potentially a few weeks before) so we're in a whole new waiting game! Fingers crossed I get placed at a Magic Kingdom or Epcot resort!!

And on top of that, my friend Mark got accepted to the DCP yesterday and he's going with me! He got accepted for Costuming but is going to an audition this weekend. Fingers crossed for him! We are both SO EXCITED and can't stop talking about it!!

So... pretty much this is the most exciting thing that has ever happened to me in my entire life. LITERALLY my dream is coming true. I can't wait to begin the adventure of a lifetime. It's exactly what I need right now... I know it's going to be life changing and it's going to just help me figure out what I really want to do. I can't wait to begin my journey!

Thank you all for the prayers and pixie dust - they really paid off! Now in return, I will have to pay you back my sharing all of my stories from LIVING IN DISNEY WORLD. Sounds like a pretty good deal, right?

As far as the trip reports go... I have about 2 more updates to do for this one and 6 more to go for HHI. Once I finish up the Christmas trip, I'm hoping to post the new report for October! It was THE MOST incredible vacation EVER. We just kept having magical moment after magical moment. Everything that could have gone right actually did! I can't wait to share everything with you all!

Once again, thank you so much for following along! I hope you continue to enjoy the trip reports, the life updates, and then eventually my experience with the DCP! I AM SO EXCITED!!!!!

Continued in Next Post

[Jazzabelle508]

even though i already congratulated you on getting into the DCP on twitter i also wanted to say congrats to you on twitter as well!!!! that's exciting your friend is going as well! that will be nice for you to have at least one other person you know down there with you.

[ronnmel]

I was waiting for you to post an official before I said CONGRATULATIONS! I'm so happy for you because I know how much you wanted it, but more importantly how great you will be at that job. You're Disney enthusiasm is infectious through your writing and it is clear that you know so much about it. I doubt any guest will be able to ask you a question to which you won't know the answer, or at the very least know where to find the answer. So again, congrats and ENJOY!

[Disneyfreak508]

Chapter 100: Wrapping Up My Personal Tour and a Dis-Meet!
January 1st, 2012

After we met Mickey, we wandered down Main Street the other side and met up with my Mom. She was supposed to have met up with Dad and Jonathan but they never ended up coming over. So she just had fun for herself and watched Wishes, the parade, and MM&Y.

Once we were with my Mom, we talked for a long time. Ryan kept sharing Disney facts, and Mom was very interested as well!

On your way to the Cinema, you will see this sign that says “Watches.” If you notice, it is in the same font as the Haunted Mansion sign. Ryan has asked why that is and nobody seems to know the answer!

He told us about how the Magic Kingdom is basically the “roof” of a building. We are not at ground level at ALL when were are up there. The utilidors (aka the "tunnels") under us are unbelievable. For example, under the Partners Statue there is a break room. Ryan has seen the Dapper Dans playing ping pong there! Also, there is a Subway down there!! (Yes, a fast food restaurant in Disney!) If the cast members bring subway into the park they can get in HUGE trouble. That would completely ruin the illusion.

The castle is on an incline and due to perspective tricks, it looks MUCH bigger than it is when you are at the beginning of Main Street. The Castle is actually only 189 feet tall. In FL it is a law that if something goes over 200 feet, it needs a red blinking light on it. The castle is 189 ft and Tower of Terror is 199 feet. The Characters in Flight balloon goes above 200, but they have the light.

Did you ever notice how the park maps are a weird material? Well, if you rub it on the ground where there’s gum, it takes it off of the concrete. The type of plastic they use is a gum remover! Ryan didn’t know exactly how that works, but it’s a true fact. So if you see a custodial CM using a park map on the ground, they are picking up gum.

Also, Walt Disney World is run like a show. From the minute you’re outside until the minute you get up to the castle, it is setting you up for the "performance." You enter the park and if you notice, all they play is classical music. There are no words - they are all instrumental Disney songs.



Then as you go through the arch under town square, you see all of the ride posters which are the previews for what you’re about to see.



Then you walk up Main Street and on all of the buildings are the names of the Imagineers, or the “credits.”



And then as you finally get up to the castle, you have reached “the show!”


(Pictures taken from my May 2012 trip)

It really is a beautiful concept. If you think of films like Lady and the Tramp and Peter Pan, that is exactly how their beginning credits are laid out.

The design for the Pirates Suite in DLR was actually created by Lillian Disney. She had it all planned, but unfortunately the Disneys passed away before that was ever made. They took her plans and created it for Year of a Million Dreams.

There is a lantern that is left on above the Fire Station in Disneyland all of the time. The lantern is a signal Walt used to use whenever he was there, and he would turn it off whenever he wasn’t there. Now they leave it on all of the time in his memory.

We talked about how excited we are for the Fantasyland Expansion! When Ryan drives on the Cast Member only roads he can see the progress they’re making. We talked about how we were not thrilled about the idea of Avatar land.

We went back over to the Emporium and I picked out a phone case and a cookbook for Kristen’s family as a thank you for the DVC referral. We had Ryan use his Cast Member discount and for both of those it only came out to be $45, which is almost sick. That’s AMAZING because usually the phone cases, alone, are over $30!

He gave us our purchases and we chatted a little bit more. He hopes to get the professional internship and so he can stay with the company. If not, being a skipper won’t pay the bills forever so he doesn’t know how long he would be able to work for Disney. So here’s to hoping he gets that internship – that would be awesome for him!

We chatted a little bit more about the resorts and stuff, he doesn’t know that much about the Disney resorts because he has never stayed on property! He always used to stay at the Marriott when he went with his family and then he worked here. He really wants to stay at a monorail resort! His parents also hope to retire there when he finishes up school – not a bad idea!

We chatted a little more and then it was time for him to go. He said he was gonna leave at nine but didn’t end up leaving until 11:45 pm! And he had to work in the morning! Ahh well I hope he had fun, because the whole experience was absolutely INCREDIBLE. I learned so much and now have an even greater appreciation for Disney. Absolutely amazing. Such a fantastic night – I’m so glad we got to fit that in before I left!

Once Ryan left, I had a VERY important DISmeet to go to! Joni and John were at the Magic Kingdom and they were over by Space Mountain! So Mom and I went directly there to meet up with them!

Joni was sitting by the Video Arcade while John was inside, and we saw each other and gave each other a big hug! Joni is one of my closest friends on the DIS so I was SUPER happy I finally got to meet her!



We just talked and talked and talked. We chatted about each others trips and I was telling her about a bunch of the cool secrets that Ryan shared with me.

We talked a lot about her room situation, how they were staying at ASMo and their room was not that good. They wanted a king size bed and in order to have that, you need to get a handicap accessible room, which basically had a locker room type shower in stead of a bathtub. So they switched to Coronado Springs – another favorite of mine!

We talked about how much we loved the DIS and how awesome it was that everyone really understands each other here. Also, we love that we all take recommendations from each other. Joni tried out a bunch of things on her trip that I talked about in my report, and vice versa! The DIS is such a cool concept. Really, I wouldn’t know about half of this stuff if it wasn’t for you disers! Thank goodness!

They LOVED the fried wontons at Yak and Yeti and, of course, THE BREAD at Kona. My Mom and I talked to them about DVC and Annual Passes. We told them they are best investments you are ever going to make if you’re going to Disney anyway! It's the truth!

The park was starting to die down, and the people mover had completely stopped. It looked like they were having technical issues. We noticed how light the crowds were, and the wait time for Space Mountain was only 10 minutes!! We couldn’t pass that opportunity up because I hadn’t been on it all trip! Me, Joni and John all got in line. The wait at that point of the night was a lot shorter than they waited earlier in the night WITH fastpasses. It was amazing. Any EMH’s after 12-1 am are unbelievably perfect. There are NO crowds.

We basically walked right on, and we were in the last three seats. I sat in the very back. Dang, that ride shakes you around. Oh my Gosh. If I had neck or back problems, I don’t think I would be able to go on it. I felt like I was close to getting whiplash in the back seat :P However, I love the ride and it’s one of my favorites.



We went up the fun flat escalator and met up with my Mom in the gift shop. We ended up talking for about another half an hour. We talked about school and our hometowns. We discussed how there is no other better place to go than Disney! We all just got along so well. Joni is such a sweetheart and I absolutely loved meeting her! I am so glad our trips lined up - that was perfect. I really hope we will be able to see each other again someday soon! (And now thanks to my DCP, we will be seeing each other in March! YAY YAY YAY!!!)

I think we finally left around 1:30 am. Mom and I walked out of Main Street and right back to BLT. It was our last night there. But honestly, there is no better way I could have ended that trip. I had a ridiculously fun time that night, and it couldn't have been more perfect!

Welcome Home - one last time.



I changed, got ready for bed, and then typed up as many Magic Kingdom Facts as I could remember that Ryan told me. I swear, it was a Magic Kingdom crash course. Absolutely awesome. I’m glad I did that because I never would have been able to remember them in the morning!

I don’t think I went to bed until about 3:45 am, but hey, it was the last day. I didn’t have to get up for TSM fastpasses or anything the next morning. </3

I posted on twitter:
One of the most amazing nights. EVER.

Overview of January 1st, 2012:

Highs:
- Le Cellier meal OMG.
- Spending the night with Ryan and learning all about the Magic Kingdom. I have a whole new outlook on that place now!
- Meeting Joni and John!

Lows:
- Having to waste time sleeping in, but it’s okay.
- The monorail breaking down
- Wasting time in the room watching sports
- Having to pack
- Being so tired
- The thought of having to leave the next day

Weather:
High 70’s during the day, and in the 60’s at night. I was comfortable with a light sweatshirt and jeans.

Food of the Day:
Le Cellier Mushroom Filet Mingon from Le Cellier in Epcot


Continued in Next Post

[Disneyfreak508]

Originally Posted by Jazzabelle508

even though i already congratulated you on getting into the DCP on twitter i also wanted to say congrats to you on twitter as well!!!! that's exciting your friend is going as well! that will be nice for you to have at least one other person you know down there with you.

Aww thank you so much again! I know, it'll be great to have him there with me! We are already starting to come up with a huge DCP bucket list to complete together, so I'm excited!!

Originally Posted by ronnmel

I was waiting for you to post an official before I said CONGRATULATIONS! I'm so happy for you because I know how much you wanted it, but more importantly how great you will be at that job. You're Disney enthusiasm is infectious through your writing and it is clear that you know so much about it. I doubt any guest will be able to ask you a question to which you won't know the answer, or at the very least know where to find the answer. So again, congrats and ENJOY!

Aww thank you so much! You are too sweet! I really am looking forward to performing this role because I know that I will be able to help so many people. Writing these trip reports on disboards is my pride and joy because I get to help all of you out... so now I get to do what I do here on an even grander scale. It is so incredibly exciting! Thank you for all of the support and kind words - I really appreciate it!

[AnimalPrincess]

CONGRATS JESS!!! What wonderful news!!! I am so happy that you got the role you wanted and that your dreams are coming true!! I did an advanced CP (do they even call them that anymore) right after I graduated and it was wonderful! The job wasn't that great (oh well) but I met my husband, loved living at WDW and then spent the next 2 years there. It definetly will be a life changing experience for you!
YAYAYAYAY!!!! Eeeeee!!!!! Woot!!!!