From Cast Member to Annual Passholder! Updated 03/14/16

[ipuffyheartdisney]

I'm following! I love seeing a different perspective on trip reports!

 

[disneyworldluvr349]

Those auditions sound interesting. I like that the casting person said "you are all beautiful" as I can imagine that is not something people in that business generally get to say!! Only at Disney ) Magic! I'm not sure what you are talking about when you say "Traditions" but I'm sure it's some wonderful Disney event to do with starting your new job

Traditions is our very first day of work and every single cast member has to go to it. It's basically a history lesson of the company with other special things involved as well!

Joining in! First off, want to say congratulations - not only for getting the job but for having the guts and strength to go for it!

That's cool that while you are there you can go on those character auditions - be funny/cool if you got one and had to tell you manager you were switching roles before you even started

BTW - since you said you love margaritas and will be working in EPCOT I fully expect you to spend lots of time at The Ditch (a.k.a. La Cava) as they have some of the best margaritas I have ever had

Thank you so much!

I think it's awesome as well that I can decide to go for Character Auditions! It would be funny/cool if I get one and have to switch... I would be super excited!

Thank you for recommending The Ditch! I will be sure to try a margarita from there!

I'm following! I love seeing a different perspective on trip reports!

Glad to have you here!

 

[disneyworldluvr349]

Today I decided I would go out towards Mall at Millennia and look around but I got side tracked because... ORLANDO HAS AN IKEA.

Iowa (as you may have guessed) does not have Ikea, and the only time I could go to one was either when I visited Colorado or Illinois. So the fact that there is an Ikea in the state that I live is WONDERFUL!

When I texted my mom to let her know what amazing discovery I made, she said I should just "hand my wallet to a stranger"



I looked around there for a long while and then headed back home to drop off my purchases! I saw the most beautiful sunset!




Then it was time to meet up with my Disboards friend Jay at a cool arcade bar called Player One!

It was so cool to play the old Super Nintendo Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, Lion Kind, and Toy Story games! This place was really awesome!





It was such a fun time. I would definitely recommend checking that place out if you're in the area!


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[darrenf67]

Just joined in! What a brave and exciting move! Congratulations - I look forward to more of your adventures

 

[Scoobymoons]

Really enjoying all of your posts. It looks so exciting and definitely as if you're making the most of it
Can't wait to read more

 

[KathyM2]

Oh IKEA....sigh. I guess you don't need too much furniture right now lol. But yes, they can be a lot of fun and I think I would miss it if we didn't have it. That said...I have a lot of IKEA furniture that is falling apart after a few years. That game bar place looks pretty cool. It will be fun to explore some of the non-Disney parts of Orlando as well...I never have time (or want to) do that on a short trip...

 

[ThePin Princess]

Hi Grace!

I'm actually a full-time cast member for Disney, not doing the Professional Internship.

I'd love to meet up with you too! You should add me on Facebook!

You can find auditions on the disneyauditions.com website, I am going to another one on February 5th!

OHHH!! That's even cooler! I thought you were doing ICP!!!! Congrats on being full-time haha! That's awesome! Yeah we should definitely meet up that'd be fun! And thank you!

 

[jackdis]

Following along! Very interesting!! Your joy and happiness comes through so clearly in your writing, and it is an absolute pleasure to see! Wishing you all the best!!!

 

[DisneyAsh21]

Following along! I love reading about cast members' experiences! Congratulations on becoming a cast member!

 

[aidansmommy]

Congrats!!! I love to read any trip report, but this one is so much fun! Can't wait to read all of your adventures!!!

 

[disneyworldluvr349]

Just joined in! What a brave and exciting move! Congratulations - I look forward to more of your adventures

Glad you're here!

Really enjoying all of your posts. It looks so exciting and definitely as if you're making the most of it
Can't wait to read more

I am so happy to hear that you are enjoying the posts!!

Oh IKEA....sigh. I guess you don't need too much furniture right now lol. But yes, they can be a lot of fun and I think I would miss it if we didn't have it. That said...I have a lot of IKEA furniture that is falling apart after a few years. That game bar place looks pretty cool. It will be fun to explore some of the non-Disney parts of Orlando as well...I never have time (or want to) do that on a short trip...

Fortunately I don't need any furniture or else I would probably have spent way too much money!
The bar was awesome, it's pretty awesome to be able to explore the area outside of Disney now that I have time!

OHHH!! That's even cooler! I thought you were doing ICP!!!! Congrats on being full-time haha! That's awesome! Yeah we should definitely meet up that'd be fun! And thank you!

Thank you! We should!

Following along! Very interesting!! Your joy and happiness comes through so clearly in your writing, and it is an absolute pleasure to see! Wishing you all the best!!!

Thank you so much!!

Following along! I love reading about cast members' experiences! Congratulations on becoming a cast member!

Thank you!!

Congrats!!! I love to read any trip report, but this one is so much fun! Can't wait to read all of your adventures!!!

I am so glad you like it!

 

[disneyworldluvr349]

Day 8: Cocoa Beach

Disney Cruise Ship on the way to Cocoa!


The beach was so amazing. I had to have walked over 4 miles, and it was just breathtaking! It just made me feel so lucky to be alive to see such beautiful things!






While I was walking I met a a guy from Oklahoma and we started talking. We ended up having drinks and dinner together, and we had so much fun talking. It was such an unexpected and pleasant surprise to have met him! The day was just filled with magic from beginning to end!


Day 9: POR, DTD, AMC Theaters

Today I decided I would go to Port Orleans Riverside and catch the boat to Downtown Disney so I could watch Mortdecai and grab Earl Of Sandwich for dinner. (It was delicious!)











I am just so lucky to be here. I am so proud of myself to taking the risk to move here because I am inexplicably happy and in love with my life for the first time in a long time! I can't wait to get into those big beautiful parks and to start working for the best boss ever!​

 

[disneyworldluvr349]

Today was another wonderful day! It rained pretty hard around 12:30 pm but afterwards the sky cleared up and it was a beautiful 75 degree day!

Jay and I decided to go to Caribbean Beach to look around! Here are some photos:












From there we decided to go to POR for a little bit and then headed to Old Key West!

Old Key West


Amazing mug in the gift shop!




Afterwards I really didn't want to go home so I decided that I would go to DTD and enjoy the sunshine for a little bit longer!

DTD




In other news, tomorrow is going to be the best day of my life! It's Traditions day and that means... I CAN GO TO ALL OF THE PARKS!!!!!!!!​

 

[Pesky]

Lovely pictures. And glad you are taking the time to explore! That's half the fun.

I think I have to have that mug. I asked DD, who saw the mug, "who says 'never grow up'?" "you and daddy." I guess we'd fit right in!

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Glad you are having such a great time and taking the time now to visit all the resorts and just taking it all in! So great to be able to be like "oh, I think I'll just head over to Port Orleans and then catch the boat down to DTD"

That is a pretty great mug

 

[ichabody]

Can't wait to hear how your Traditions day went...but I'm guessing your too busy playing in the parks now! Enjoying your report....hoping someday I can live the dream!

 

[KathyM2]

I'm so so excited for you!! I hope you get some time off from work to enjoy the parks...though I guess with passes to all of them you can just go for an hour or so whenever you can squeeze it in!! So awesome.

 

[MissDisney121]

I know exactly how you feel about the Ikea. I grew up in San Diego and went there all the time but living in Iowa now I miss it so much. I look forward to whenever we go into a state that has one (next planned trip is Minneapolis in August).
Loving your report so far and I can't wait to hear how traditions went!!

Today I decided I would go out towards Mall at Millennia and look around but I got side tracked because... ORLANDO HAS AN IKEA.

Iowa (as you may have guessed) does not have Ikea, and the only time I could go to one was either when I visited Colorado or Illinois. So the fact that there is an Ikea in the state that I live is WONDERFUL!

When I texted my mom to let her know what amazing discovery I made, she said I should just "hand my wallet to a stranger"



I looked around there for a long while and then headed back home to drop off my purchases! I saw the most beautiful sunset!




Then it was time to meet up with my Disboards friend Jay at a cool arcade bar called Player One!

It was so cool to play the old Super Nintendo Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, Lion Kind, and Toy Story games! This place was really awesome!





It was such a fun time. I would definitely recommend checking that place out if you're in the area!


​

 

[disneyworldluvr349]

Lovely pictures. And glad you are taking the time to explore! That's half the fun.

I think I have to have that mug. I asked DD, who saw the mug, "who says 'never grow up'?" "you and daddy." I guess we'd fit right in!

I loved the mug. I will definitely be heading back to Old Key West to buy it!

Glad you are having such a great time and taking the time now to visit all the resorts and just taking it all in! So great to be able to be like "oh, I think I'll just head over to Port Orleans and then catch the boat down to DTD"

That is a pretty great mug

It's wonderful!!! The mug is amazing!

Can't wait to hear how your Traditions day went...but I'm guessing your too busy playing in the parks now! Enjoying your report....hoping someday I can live the dream!

If you can dream it you can do it!

I'm so so excited for you!! I hope you get some time off from work to enjoy the parks...though I guess with passes to all of them you can just go for an hour or so whenever you can squeeze it in!! So awesome.

It's going to be so great!!!

I know exactly how you feel about the Ikea. I grew up in San Diego and went there all the time but living in Iowa now I miss it so much. I look forward to whenever we go into a state that has one (next planned trip is Minneapolis in August).
Loving your report so far and I can't wait to hear how traditions went!!

I am glad you understand my IKEA pain and joy when I find one!

Thank you!

 

[disneyworldluvr349]

Day 11: Tradtions!

Today was such a magical day! I still can't believe it's all real! I woke up at 7:00 am to get ready for the day and made my way to Disney University for an awesome day of Traditions!


Unfortunately I can't go into too much detail about the goings on in the actual class but it's basically a giant history lesson on the company and it's wonderful found Walter Elias Disney...and the whole thing just inspires you to be the best person you can be because you are working for the best company in the world. My job is essentially creating happiness...and that's pretty amazing!

I got a couple of ears today...





But most importantly I got this beauty!



The entire day I was just on the verge of happy tears, and I was just filled with pride!

Traditions got out around 5:00pm so I went over to Disney Hollywood Studios (MY VERY FIRST PARK IN 3 YEARS!!!) to meet up with a new friend and to watch Fantasmic! The show was fabulous but the wind made it a little difficult to see the water projections so I felt a little bad for the guests who were seeing this for the first time.





After I said goodbye to my friend I decided to head to Epcot for a celebratory beverage! I tried the Grand Marnier Grey Goose Orange Slush and it was delicious!!!


I also took a peak at my new work location!




So pretty!



It was such a magical day! Tomorrow I have orientation from 7:30 am- 4:00 pm at Disney University and right afterwards I plan on going to Magic Kingdom to finally see NEW FANTASYLAND!!!!!!!!!

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