WdwforLife
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Mar 5, 2009
- Messages
- 434
I don't know if this necessarily counts as a trip report but I'd like to think maybe it does: a permanent trip report as one might say.
As I sit here listening to my Disney Parks playlist as it gets me in the mood, I've come to remember how I've gotten to this point in my life.
I can't quite remember when but at some point in my pre-teen life, I fell in love with all things Disney. The era of Walt Disney, post Walt, the Parks etc. You name it I love(d) it. I decided I wanted to eventually work in the parks. I wanted to be a part of that magic. I wanted to surround myself in all things Disney. I wanted to be responsible for the joy and happiness a cast member brings to a child in the Magic Kingdom.
I had decided I would move down to Orlando after graduating college. That was back in 2008. It was something I had always wanted to do and I had nothing holding me back. No significant other, no job, no kids. I could do whatever I wanted to! However, I saw my friends and people I graduated with getting jobs and starting their lives. So I thought, "Well, maybe I should put away childish dreams and start a life too."
That was 3 years ago and I'm still stuck in retail. I majored in animation. Aside from a few leads that led to nothing and some freelance jobs here and there, I have not started any life one would be happy with. I moved out of my mom's house. That's pretty much as far as I've gone.
I had still always thought about moving down there and doing what I always wanted to do. But I always convinced myself otherwise for whatever reason. Money, family, friends. Any excuse I could think of. It was maybe 3 or 4 months ago that I had the most enlightening conversation of my life at work with a complete stranger.
I work at a Famous Footwear in the Philly 'burbs. There was a mom and her daughter shopping one evening. The daughter was maybe 13 or so. They ended up buying a pair of low, maroon Chuck Taylors. I asked her what the occasion was. She said they were leaving for Disney World tomorrow and needed a new pair of shoes. I immediately got over excited and started asking questions and rambling off suggestions. All the while the mom trying to write everything down and remember what I was saying.
Two men came and bought a couple of pairs of shoes shortly after and asked what all the hub bub was about. I told them I was somewhat of a Disney enthusiast and was giving them suggestions. They laughed a little in approval and left. After them came Larry. He was also purchasing an item and told me he saw how I lit up when I started talking about Disney. I agreed. We got into talking and he told me I should go work in the parks. It's obviously what I love. I told him it was what I always wanted to do but I was always too afraid to take the risk. He then prodded me as to why. I told him my reasons: money, family, friends. He told me, "Save up! And your family and friends will be here for me if I ever decided to come back. I can't be afraid to follow my dreams and do what I want. I will always wonder what if I had done it. Where would I be. Plus I would just plain be happier." Trust me, the speech he gave me was much more inspiring than that. And while the speech itself is a blur in my mind, the impact it left is still there.
I thought about it a little more for the next few months until I finally decided, yes. I will do it. I need to do it. It's something that needs to be done before it's too late. Plus, this could be my true calling. Everybody has different dreams and goals. Some people want to be doctors. Some want to be famous writers. Some want to dance on Broadway. Me? I want to work in Walt Disney World.
And so my journey begins. I have started saving up to move down there. My goal is $3000. Plus I will have my first and last month's rent as well. I have about $1200 so far! In just over a month! I guess you can really do what you want if you put your mind to it!!!
My target month is October. I don't want to set an exact date until I have every dime saved up.
I plan on transferring down to a Famous Footwear first, getting settled and then when I have a feel of the land and my surroundings, I will make the jump from shoes to Disney.
I have a tattoo on m left forearm. I am currently looking into cover ups. I don't want to go through the pain and expense of tattoo removal yet until I know for sure I need to. For now, I will experiment with tattoo make up.
So as I finish up, "We Go On" plays on my iTunes. And I get a little emotional but still determined to do something I've dreamed about for years.
I would like to document every step of the way here to share with you that you really can do whatever you want as long as you put your mind to it. And to look back at this when I finally make up and think to myself "Wow. It didn't all happen at once, it took a lot of baby steps but boy does it make a difference."
So, as you might say, this is the ultimate trip report. It could be a trip that lasts a year, 10 years or a lifetime.
P.S. - Ignore my ticker for the time being. It's mucho off. I made it a long time ago when I was still planning a September Disney trip!
As I sit here listening to my Disney Parks playlist as it gets me in the mood, I've come to remember how I've gotten to this point in my life.
I can't quite remember when but at some point in my pre-teen life, I fell in love with all things Disney. The era of Walt Disney, post Walt, the Parks etc. You name it I love(d) it. I decided I wanted to eventually work in the parks. I wanted to be a part of that magic. I wanted to surround myself in all things Disney. I wanted to be responsible for the joy and happiness a cast member brings to a child in the Magic Kingdom.
I had decided I would move down to Orlando after graduating college. That was back in 2008. It was something I had always wanted to do and I had nothing holding me back. No significant other, no job, no kids. I could do whatever I wanted to! However, I saw my friends and people I graduated with getting jobs and starting their lives. So I thought, "Well, maybe I should put away childish dreams and start a life too."
That was 3 years ago and I'm still stuck in retail. I majored in animation. Aside from a few leads that led to nothing and some freelance jobs here and there, I have not started any life one would be happy with. I moved out of my mom's house. That's pretty much as far as I've gone.
I had still always thought about moving down there and doing what I always wanted to do. But I always convinced myself otherwise for whatever reason. Money, family, friends. Any excuse I could think of. It was maybe 3 or 4 months ago that I had the most enlightening conversation of my life at work with a complete stranger.
I work at a Famous Footwear in the Philly 'burbs. There was a mom and her daughter shopping one evening. The daughter was maybe 13 or so. They ended up buying a pair of low, maroon Chuck Taylors. I asked her what the occasion was. She said they were leaving for Disney World tomorrow and needed a new pair of shoes. I immediately got over excited and started asking questions and rambling off suggestions. All the while the mom trying to write everything down and remember what I was saying.
Two men came and bought a couple of pairs of shoes shortly after and asked what all the hub bub was about. I told them I was somewhat of a Disney enthusiast and was giving them suggestions. They laughed a little in approval and left. After them came Larry. He was also purchasing an item and told me he saw how I lit up when I started talking about Disney. I agreed. We got into talking and he told me I should go work in the parks. It's obviously what I love. I told him it was what I always wanted to do but I was always too afraid to take the risk. He then prodded me as to why. I told him my reasons: money, family, friends. He told me, "Save up! And your family and friends will be here for me if I ever decided to come back. I can't be afraid to follow my dreams and do what I want. I will always wonder what if I had done it. Where would I be. Plus I would just plain be happier." Trust me, the speech he gave me was much more inspiring than that. And while the speech itself is a blur in my mind, the impact it left is still there.
I thought about it a little more for the next few months until I finally decided, yes. I will do it. I need to do it. It's something that needs to be done before it's too late. Plus, this could be my true calling. Everybody has different dreams and goals. Some people want to be doctors. Some want to be famous writers. Some want to dance on Broadway. Me? I want to work in Walt Disney World.
And so my journey begins. I have started saving up to move down there. My goal is $3000. Plus I will have my first and last month's rent as well. I have about $1200 so far! In just over a month! I guess you can really do what you want if you put your mind to it!!!
My target month is October. I don't want to set an exact date until I have every dime saved up.
I plan on transferring down to a Famous Footwear first, getting settled and then when I have a feel of the land and my surroundings, I will make the jump from shoes to Disney.
I have a tattoo on m left forearm. I am currently looking into cover ups. I don't want to go through the pain and expense of tattoo removal yet until I know for sure I need to. For now, I will experiment with tattoo make up.
So as I finish up, "We Go On" plays on my iTunes. And I get a little emotional but still determined to do something I've dreamed about for years.
I would like to document every step of the way here to share with you that you really can do whatever you want as long as you put your mind to it. And to look back at this when I finally make up and think to myself "Wow. It didn't all happen at once, it took a lot of baby steps but boy does it make a difference."
So, as you might say, this is the ultimate trip report. It could be a trip that lasts a year, 10 years or a lifetime.
P.S. - Ignore my ticker for the time being. It's mucho off. I made it a long time ago when I was still planning a September Disney trip!
Seriously, think about it. Do you really want to be thinking the same thing a year from now: "I could have been in Disney had I just done it." I'm not saying if you find a job you'd be happy with you shouldn't take it. But in the meantime, plan it! Do it! Make a plan. Set goals! You'll be surprised how it reenergizes you and gives you a purpose again. Trust me on this. One day it's going to be too late.
