Oh yes!
Ok, I'll try to tell the abbreviated version, I tend to get longwinded.
I was in college and struggling with what to major in...I felt like I was floundering (I *loved* high school and had been in all AP/Honors classes/drama/chorus but in college I felt lost) and took a semester off. Then it hit me that what I wanted to do was work for Disney. I thought working for their Reservations office would be the most fun; planning other people's vacations! So I found a college that had a Bachelors program for Travel & Tourism management and transferred. I then convinced my mom and boyfriend to also move down and work there. So in May of 1995 we all moved down, and by June we were all Cast Members!
The only thing was DRC (the reservations center) was not hiring when we interviewed. Of course I would've accepted anything just to work there, and ended up with a position in merchandise on Main Street, USA. My mom ended up in Food & Beverage at All-Star Sports and my boyfriend was at MGM in merchandise also (he later moved on to attractions and did the special effects 'inside the magic' tour with the water tank and the inside miniatures/blue screen special effects when that was still around) My mom later transferred to merchandise and worked at Mickey's Star Traders. It was fun when we could meet up on our breaks in the Tunnel
My first day was the 4th of July and I was in the Main St. Athletic Club. Working on one of the busiest days of the year until 2am was a trial by fire but I wouldn't trade it for the world! I LOVED it because it was an all-new store (though of course I missed the Magic Shop and Penny Arcade as did many guests that came thru!) and we had NEW costumes. They were knickers instead of the plaid skirts and dark turquoise blue sailor-collared blouses. MUCH better than the high-necked blouses and hot pink bow ties! But now those costumes are done and it's all integrated again and it's not even pink bow ties anymore.
I also worked in Disney Clothiers and later volunteered to transfer to Uptown Jewelers when management told us we had to lose a member of the Athletic Club team to move over there. I was talking to CM's a while ago though and learned that now CM's rotate throughout all the Main Street shops. One of my favorite things to do was work the outdoor cart next door in the winter because we got to wear those cool long dark green coats.
My other favorite part was when SpectroMagic would come by. The shops would empty out and I'd see the floats going by with their twinkling lights and watch all the guests so excited to see it for the first time. Hearing that music still brings tears to my eyes.
Working during the Very Merry Christmas Party was also wonderful with the snow, and we got to wear Mickey Ear Santa hats and welcome all the guests as they walked down Main Street. SO magical...I'll never forget those special memories.
I was later offered a position in a full service
travel agency and decided to take it. I worked there for a while and got my associate and Master CLIA (cruise line international association) certifications and I moved up to manager there quickly. I married my boyfriend in 1996 and we had our reception at the Dolphin
More magical memories!
After we had our first child, we moved back to Mass where we had our second child. I *thought* I was ready to try to go back to work part time and got a job at The
Disney Store up in Marlboro Mass, when my youngest was a year old. I soon realized it just wasn't going to work with my husband's networking job having him on call and unpredictable hours, so I wasn't able to stay there long.
We moved BACK to Orlando in 2003, and I finally got a position at DRC in reservations in early 2004. The training for that was fabulously fun. It was 6 weeks long and you have to remember that they are hiring people that might not have ANY experience with Disney at all...so every time there was a question about the resorts or activities we (oops, they) offered, I was the first to answer. Not embarrassed to say I became the teachers pet haha!
Sadly, my first week finally on the phones, my dad got gravely ill and passed away suddenly. I was pretty devastated and took a week off...during that week, my husband's job transferred him to Tampa (he worked there during the week and would come home on the weekends, until we moved in 2005), so I had no choice but to leave that position as well. There IS a DRC office in Tampa and I recently interviewed with them again (passed the phone interview!) but realized with a new little one at home, committing to working weekends and holidays wasn't really the best for us at this point. Another reason why I didn't go through with the interview was it was the same week that Moms Panel applications went through...I knew if I got the DRC job, I would not be able to be on the Moms Panel. I guess I was a little too optimistic about making it through.
ANYway...that's my story...sorry for rambling on!! I have written more about it in my
history of Disney love. I guess I haven't posted my cast member pictures on the blog, but they are on my flickr account. I should make a separate blog entry I guess. Thanks for asking, Jud and sorry to anyone I bored with this! Back to the topic at hand!!
My favorite.
I hope you round 2-ers don't mind making room for one more?? 
This is us on the Tower of Terror...you are holding my hand so I'm not scared. This is us on the Nemo ride, I love looking at all those fishies with you, Mommy. I love, Disney, don't you?" 
