Before I *officially* start this installment, I just want to let you all know that as I delve more into the World of Disney, feel free to ask me questions at anytime! Especially if you are going to be a CP and want to know more! Okay, that said, let us begin!
At WDW, as I had found out before I left through various online resources, there is a general Cast Member orientation/training called "Traditions." For new CPs, this meeting takes place about two to five days after arrival. The days before this meeting are pretty low-key. I had about three or four days before my Traditions class and I spent my time saying good-bye to my mom, reading (the Walt Biography!), finding shoes for work, finding out my specific work location (to be revealed later) and getting to know some of the other CPs at my complex.
Why didn't I spend these couple of days in the parks? Well, you can't get into the parks (for free) without your cast ID. And you don't get your cast ID until Traditions. So even though we were all already excited for Traditions, we were ALL super excited for to get our cast IDs and go to the parks we all know and love.
Traditions, a required class for all Cast Members, is held at different times and on different days. It is around 5-hours long for CPs. The "Disney Look" is required for this meeting. The "Disney Look," outlined in a nifty looking pamphlet, is a way of making sure that everyone looks their best and professional. If people are not within the guidelines of the Disney Look upon arrival to their Traditions class, they are turned away and rescheduled for another meeting. This next meeting could be the next week, which means that (1) this cast member cannot enter the parks until then and (2) this cast member is not going to be receiving any payment until they take the Traditions course, which means, they have to pay for a week of rent out of their pocket. So it was very important that we dressed as Disney asked us to.
Another big thing for Traditions: punctuality. Again, Disney is a very professional company. The Traditions meetings start promptly. If one is late to their particular session, that person has to reschedule their meeting and the same consequences that I explained before may occur in this situation as well.
That all said, the morning of my Traditions class, I was super-dee-duper excited. I set my two alarms and woke up in plenty of time to be ready for my 12:30pm class. (I was lucky and got the early afternoon meeting... some people get the really early morning sessions.)
I planned on meeting Bethany at the Vista Way bus stop at 11am so that we could be shuttled over to Traditions using the transportation that the CP provided us with. Well, at about 10:40am, Bethany tells me to go to her apartment because we were going to get a ride. I said okay...
Now, I just ended up saying yes but as I hung up the phone, I was thinking, "Why did I say that?" I was thinking that I would end up regretting that choice. What if the car broke down? What if we got lost? If you miss Traditions, it throws off your whole work schedule. Also, I was hoping to meet some new people at the bus stop and before so I could chat and stuff with them. But I also wanted to sit by Bethany during Traditions, so I just hoped that it would be okay anyway.
Well, I went over to her apartment at about 11:45 and I found out it was Lexi, currently MIA, who would be driving us. She was still eating lunch and at a different apartment. This made me a little anxious... But she finally showed up. We didn't end up getting out of the house until noon, but I was feeling okay. I had asked Lexi if she had driven to the Traditions building before and she said, "Yeah, tons of times." She was an alumni so she had worked at Disney before. Reassured, we got in the car and then she realized that she forgot her keys. So she had to dash back and get them. And I'm starting to get more anxious... Well, finally, she comes back and then we were on our way. We were just barely out of Vista when Lexi goes, "Wait, are we going the right way?" And I'm like, "
Oh no she didn't!" in my head. All I could think about was that I should have just gotten on the bus like everyone else. Instead, Rosie (another alum) was like, "Oh, go this way..." because she was sure she knew the way.
We drive and drive and it feels like we're not going anywhere. Rosie keeps saying how she's seen the buildings that we're passing before, but all I can think about in my mind is how we have basically gone in a big loop and are back where we started. The panicking sets in. In my head, I am like, "OH MY GOSH, I'M GOING TO BE LATE... MY VERY FIRST DAY OF WORK AT DISNEY AND I'M GOING TO BE LATE. OH NO. OH NO."
I keep looking at the clock on the dashboard. We're cutting it VERY close by this point. Bethany and I are in the backseat, squeezing each other's hands. I have the most petrified look on my face.
Long story short (sorta): we make it about 30 seconds before Traditions starts.
Inside, I am relieved, but I am also a little upset (and sweating from my Michael Johnson quick-dash in heels to my Traditions class which was being held on the 3rd floor (I believe) of Disney University).
But my anger quickly dissolves as I am handed my CAST ID!!! and my NAME TAG! OH MY GOSH! THE GLORIOUS CAST MEMBER NAME TAG.... *Angels sing... OH HAPPY DAY!* I am going to make dreams come true! I am... a part of the magic!!! I was sooooo excited. But I couldn't just stand there and be excited, I had to hurry up and take a seat!
Now, I can't tell you what happened in Traditions because it's a big secret... if you want to know, just become a Cast Member!

But I will tell you this: we did fill out paperwork during the class and every time I signed something, I felt like, "Wow, it's OFFICIAL!" I was grinning from ear to ear.
JOURNAL EXCERPT
Traditions was really great and I just thought it was interesting and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It made me reflect on how truly great a company that Disney is and how amazing Walt Disney was (and his legacy still is amazing). I would get chills at some points during the meeting. I mean, Disney is truly magical. There was even this part at the end where I just felt like crying. Because I am going to be a part of that [making magic moments for guests]! And you know what? I haven't started working yet, but I just love the Disney Company and I really hope to be a part of this in some more ways in the future.