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

[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!

 

[JessicaFaye508]

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 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​

 

[JessicaFaye508]

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!!

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!!!!

 

[JessicaFaye508]

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!!!!

Thank you so much! I am absolutely thrilled! They call it "advantage" now, if you stay a semester plus a summer. I don't know what advanced referred to. What job did you work, again? I feel like I asked you that before. That's awesome that you had such a wonderful experience! I think it definitely will be incredible! I am so excited! Thank you so much! ​

 

[LumosQ102]

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!!!!!!

Continued in Next Post​

Congratulations

With the passion you have for all things Disney it would have been criminal if you didn't get in. And in Concierge too - you'll be perfect. Your trip reports have been so educational (and enjoyable of course ) to those of us who can't go so often, and with those resources to be available to guests at Disney, I can't think that anyone would be more suited. Who knows, maybe we will need to call on your services whilst we're there in February.

I hope you have a wonderful time.

 

[ReneeDisney]

Congratulations!!! You're going to be a Great CM!!!
Are you going to start a blog so we can all read about your college program experience? It's like one big trip report.
Looking forward to your October trip report too!

 

[Disneydude97]

It's too bad that this trip report is almost over.

 

[PartOfYourWDWorld]

Congratulations, Jess!! So happy for you and looking forward to hearing all about your DCP experiences. I'm also sad this report is almost over, but it has made me super excited for our trip next month, so thank you!!

 

[ChattaAlley]

Jess -
I am so VERY excited for you. If anyone deserves to work at Disney it would be you. Your passion and enthusiasm is apparent. I can't wait to hear all the new memories and stories that will happen next year. 2013 will be a great year for you. How awesome would it be to make magical moments happen for other guests now? Looking forward to your October report.

Allison

 

[AvasMommy526]

CONGRATULATIONS!!!
(I said it on instagram but this is much better )
This is such an amazing opportunity and it's wonderful that your dream has come true! You're going to do a wonderful job and I can't wait to read all about it! I will be there in May, maybe we will see each other :

I'm sad the report is almost over but I have to say this has been one amazing trip report! Some much fun, beautiful photos and awesome Disney facts! Thank you for letting us all in on it! :

 

[merbobear]

Congrats on the DCP! That is so awesome! I knew that they would choose you, and obviously they KNEW that they were getting a real resource because they said yes so quickly to you! AHH I'm so happy for you!

 

[flyergrad09]

First of all, even though I already said it on Twitter, CONGRATULATIONS!! You are going to have an amazing time, I just know it!

That park map thing is brilliant! I mean, who else would think of something so awesome as to coat the maps with a plastic that helps you remove gum? Only Disney!

Last nights are so sad! But I can't wait to read about how your October trip went!

 

[catchmeifyoucan]

Wow, Jess! That is soooo fantastic that you got concierge, congratulations!!!!! When do you find out what resort you will be at? That really is a dream come true, and you deserve it!

 

[Disneymad1993]

Great update!

Congrats on getting onto the DCP!!! So excited to hear about it!!

I also found out yesterday that I got to the final interview for the Summer International College Program!!! I'm going to Disney headquarters in London on the 26th Ocotber to have an interview with Disney representatives Im so excited!!!!

 

[__disneygirl]

Ahhhhh this is just the greatest thing. Ever. We have already talked about it so much so I will just move onto your update but basically I just have to ask, when you are CEO of Disney World, can I live at the Poly? Hula Timon too? We thank you in advance.

There is a SUBWAY under the Magic Kingdom???? LOL. Oh my God. Why would you eat at Subway when there are so many delicious things at the MK to eat? Really now.

YAY, you got to meet up with Joni! I swear it's so true... I was lost before the DIS. I mean, I knew tons about WDW from my trips and books, but I didn't know that much about the resorts or the restaurants and I had NO Disney World obsessed friends!

AHH your food of the day. I can't believe I will be eating Le Cellier food in 8 days!!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME.

 

[katt789]

That's sounds like a pretty amazing last night!! So many tidbits of information about Disney! I'm glad to know there's a subway down there haha, I knew there was a "mousketeria" but wasn't sure how much healthy stuff there'd be, and subway counts as healthy, right? Lawl.

I love that cinderella jumper! Super cute!!

Joni seems awesome! I know I've read (at least some) of her TR, glad you guys got to finally meet, disboards are great for that, so is tumblr. I'm definitely one of those people who sometimes likes my internet friends better bahaha!

Again, congrats on the DCP! I'm super excited for ya, and I'll definitely be seeing you in Jan, and maybe Feb/March! Who knows, maybe I'll hear good things and end up being there for a year too!!

Will you do a TR for your time down there/the highlights of it?

 

[MsFrazzledFro]

Whoooooo, congratulations! Concierge is supposedly a really difficult role to get too, which makes it doubly exciting!

I'm doing Spring Advantage too, and I'm so utterly excited. It's making it hard to focus on classes!

 

[IheartDDuck]

Congratulations on being accepted into the DCP and working in Concierge. You're going to be great and it's going to be amazing experience for you to gain.