The Wonderful World of Disney

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeee so it's the day before I leave.  I.E. I go tomorrow... aka I'LL BE IN DISNEY TOMORROW.  We hope.  See, we had snow.  Lots of it.  Gatwick was open this morning and then it closed and who knows what's going on now.  Fingers crossed it's open tomorrow and we're not delayed too much.  Colin said they were unlikly to cancel the flight because it's full, so if it is cancelled, I'll blame him entirely.

So I'm nearly all packed.  Just the duvet to go in, but I have to wait until I dry and straighten my hair so my straightners can go in when they cool down.  Otherwise the air will all come out of the bag my duvet will be sucked into and there will be problems.

I've checked and checked and checked everything and tomorrow I will still check it all LOL.  The only thing I forgot was to put my karaoke tracks onto my laptop, so that's happening now.  Can't go without the most important thing!

So yeah, I'm really excited now (though it's been toned down due to the inclement weather <<< see getting with the Disney lingo already) and just want to go!  I can't wait to get there and see my apartment and go to Walmart and just be in the heat again!

I'm so glad everyone liked my suitcases.  They are rather splendid and I'm so glad they came out well.  I doubt they'll remain as prettiful but one can only hope.

I'd just last to add, I've packed a crown in my suitcase.  Total Disney Princess!

So right now I've washed my hair and we're about to have dinner.  Sausage, beans and chips.  It was supposed to be fish and chips but funnily enough we can't get to the chippy.  Ah well.  My handbag weighs a tonne and my laptop bag (a pink HSM one...whoop!) is stuffed full and I'm sure I'm forgetting something.  But I won't know until I get there.

Must remember to wear wellies tomorrow otherwise I'll break something.  Not the best time to do that methinks.

I really don't know what else to type, except I'll really miss everyone (and everyone who's coming out to Disney, hurry up, I'm waiting!)  I hope the snow goes before the 17th lot come.  That will be a lot less hassle for you.

Anyway it's dinner time.  Tomorrow my blog is back!!! How exciting!!!

Laters all, love you much.

Lou x

Woo today was the day I went to have my visa interview!  I woke up at 4.50am (some would say that's early, but normally I'd have been at work nearly an hour by that time!) and headed off in the dark to the train station.  Luckily it's like, a 5 minute walk >>>>> thataway to the station, and it's along a main road so I wasn't that scared of walking on my own in the pitch black LOL.  Because there are lights.  Duh.  So I got on the train with the 5 other people mad enough to be up at that hour, changed at East Croydon, and got to Victoria at 6.45am.  Very early I know, but the next train would have gotten me there too late!  I went and bought my underground ticket and headed to the Victoria line so I could tube it up to Green Park, where I changed onto the Jubilee line and went to Bond Street.  I got there at 7am.  Only have an hour early!  No big deal, I thought, I'll find a Costa and have some breakfast.  Now you'd think on Oxford Street there'd be a million Costa's.  Nope.  I walked for five minutes and didn't come across one.  So I went to McDonalds instead.  I bought 3 hash browns and a tea.  Yum.  Whilst in there, I bumped in Sarah! who gave me the other form I needed to give to the visa people.  So we headed back to the Disney Store where we were meeting the other guys (who all turned up on time!) and we set off towards the embassy.  I managed to get tea and ketchup down me...nice.

So we got in line for our 8 o'clock appointment and had documents checked and were searched and stuff (I didn't have scissors this time!) and saw Katy Price go in (woo!) and then got our numbers and took seats.  I was number 1033.  Not bad, being the 33rd person in line.  So we all chatted a bit and then finally I got called!  I went up the window (7) and handed over all my forms and got a blue piece of paper back.  I had to fill that in for the courier service and wait to be called again!  Not long afterwards, I got called to window 22 (though I had to wait because Stu was still there!) and the woman (she was American! Funny that.) asked me what I was doing in America (working for Disney) and was that what I had done on my last visa (yes)?  Then she said that was all!  Whoop! So I went to pay for the courier (it was £14.20 actually, not £13.50 like Yummy said it would be) and got told my passport should arrive back to me within 3-5 days.  And when it was all done it had only gone 9 o'clock!  Sarah and I then got the underground to London Bridge, where we departed and I got a train home!  Not bad for a morning's work.

So it's that waiting time again.  I stuck all the felt and jewels (real Swarovski crystals thank you very much!) onto my suitcases and must say, they look awesome!  If I do say so myself .

Ok, so since having THE phone call, things have been a little bit stressed.  Where do I start?? Booking a flight was fairly simple.  I booked my flight through expedia (because it was cheapest!) and got the flight I wanted and the seat! Haha.  Then they cancelled the flight.  No problem, they moved me to the later flight that day (12.45 I think) but it means I arrive in Orlando at 17.20, which is a bit later than I would have liked.  So long as I get there I suppose.

So then I started thinking about insurance. Seemed straight forward enough, until I started emailing insurance companies asking if they would cover my medical condition.  I have a blood condition called Factor V Leiden, which is a type of blood clotting.  It generally means that I'm more likely to get blood clots because I have thicker blood than people without it.  We found out I had it when I was tested at 15; my Dad died of a blood clot and he had the same thing.  Now its definitely a good thing that I know, but insurance companies won't insure me because of it.  All their policies state that pre-existing won't be covered, but that's what I need covering!!! Argh.  So then, I find companies that will cover me, but they don't meet the visa requirements (mainly they don't cover the $7500 it would take to send my body back home if I died...not that I plan on dying!)  So therefore that's another problem.  SO then I phone up BUPA and they won't cover me because I'm going to be working (which makes no sense at all....most backpackers work on their travels!) so they direct me to BUPA International.  I phone them, and great, they'll cover me!  For £2000.  And that's only basic.  Meaning it doesn't cover out-patient treatment.  So we're back to square one.  Even Seven Corners (the company Yummy Jobs recommends) won't cover me.  So finally I try American Express.  The guy on the phone is really nice and says that yes, I'm covered for my condition, and that I meet the visa requirements.  However the policy says that repatriation of remains is only £2500, which is not $7500 not matter how good the exhange rate is.  So I take it out anyway, and have 15 days to cancel, which is good because my uni replied to an email I sent them, and they've given me the details of the company they use.  On my last program I had insurance through my uni.  Hence why I asked them about it.  This new company actually has a specific form you can fill in for medical conditions, so now I'm just waiting for a reply, or I might just phone them on Thursday.  Hmmm, so that's the insurance fiasco.

Finally, I've been getting rather panicked over the visa appointment.  Michele at Yummy Jobs told me a couple of weeks ago that they were hoping for all the information in a couple of weeks.  We didn't hear anything for a long time and if the worst come to the worst we'd be pushed back until the 17th.  Bad news because flights were booked, and work was sorted out and stuff, but luckily today Michele emailed us, and I booked my visa appointment!  27th January, 8am.  With a bunch of other WDWIP people!  It'll be so much nicer to talk to people this time!

Oooh also, today I got my new laptop!  This one is too big and expensive to take to FL, so I got a tiny one to take with me.  It's pink, has more space than this one (160GB!) and only takes up half of my HSM laptop bag.  It'll do perfectly for internet, and music and pictures.  The only thing I have to do is get a CD/DVD drive, but they're not expensive.  It's just so I can put my pictures onto CD before I lose them like last time.

Ah well, that's enough for today...I can relax for a bit now...but not for long; ONLY 21 DAYS/3 WEEKS!

So today Mum and I were shopping at the Ashford Designer Outlets.  'What's that got to do with Disney?' I hear you ask.  EVERYTHING!!!

So there we were in a curtain/duvet/pillow shop looking at v-shaped pillows (which I purchased coincidently) and I had a phone call.  Now I never get phone calls...except from work.  Which are boring phone calls.  No, this was an EXCITING phone call.  So I answer it and Michele from YummyJobs is on the other end.  She asked me how I was and I said fine and then she said I was about to be a lot better.

So to keep this very exciting story short andn to the point...I GOT IN!!!  Third time really is the charm!  I leave on February 3rd 2009 (so like, 3 months from now!) which is only 3 days before I started my program in 2006.  How exciting!  So Michele went through everything (though I don't remember most of it) and I had to stop walking towards the back of the shop because the signal kept going .

So now I'm soooooo excited and really hope everyone else gets in!  This has been a long time in coming, and I just can't wait to go!  I'll be doing Food and Beverage as an assigner (not sure what that entails...I shall report back when I do!) in the UK Pavilion in Epcot.

So that's about it...thought I'd let you know!

Toodles for now!

So today I woke up stupidly early so I could get a train to London!  I had to be at the Disney offices by 8.30 so we could fill in forms and watch the presentation with Valerie.  We love her.  Not.  I had planned to be outside the offices at 8am complete with a WDWIP.com sign so a bunch of us could go in together.  Haha, well my underground train got delayed and then stopped outside Hammersmith station and so I ended up being the last to arrive.  Not that it mattered.  Everyone was still signing in and no one had gone upstairs so I didn’t have to walk in like a loser.  So finally we were able to go upstairs and fill in our application forms.  Luckily I had one I had filled in with blue pen (instead of black!) in the first interviews I went to, so I copied that.  Then it was time to go have the presentation with Roger!  Roger was the only recruiter this time (the other times there has been two) and of course, he has interviewed me twice and therefore knows me fairly well!  The presentation was the same as normal.  Roger really doesn’t like Valerie (I suppose I wouldn’t either if we had to watch it as many times as he does!)  We got told all the normal stuff about the roles and I got a prize for answering some questions with my experiences.  Roger said they used me too much lol.

 So, just as I was about to grab my suitcase and leave the theatre, Roger told me that he wanted to interview me first on my own (the rest are done in pairs) about a kind of new role they wanted to introduce.  That got me pretty intrigued and quite excited because I got to be interviewed first!  So I hung around for a bit with Kirstie, Chari and Nick before Michelle called me over to sort out my forms and stuff.  Then I went to have my interview.  We had to go up quite a few floors, but I did get to see the High School Musical room they have there.  It’s decked out like a Wildcats locker room and it’s so cool.  It wouldn’t fit in my bag though.  So we went round the corner and into the interview room.  Roger told me about this role he wanted me to do.  It’s essentially a seat assigner for the Rose and Crown.  I’m not sure what the full details are, but it sounds good, even if I won’t be able to do Full Service.  It’s shame because I would make more money in Full Service, but then I would be making more money than last time anyway, what with no uni fees and a pay rise since I left!  So after Roger explained it all to me, he said that as he had interviewed me before there was no need to ask any questions.  I guess there’s only so many times you can ask someone how they cope in heat!  So then I returned to the main room (nearly getting lost but not quite) and sat with other applicants.  Then, when Nick and Kirstie had been interviewed, and Joanne had finally gotten into Hammersmith tube station, we went to meet her outside McDonalds.  We hadn’t eaten that morning so we were starving.  It was awesome finally meeting Joanne!  In fact it was awesome meeting all the WDWIP people.  Then it was time for a mooch in the Disney Store at Hammersmith.  There is so much I want!  Once we had had food, we said bye to Nick and went off to find out hotel.  It was about a 15 minute walk from the station (with suitcases) so not too bad.  The room was fairly simple, but seeing as we were only there for a few hours it really didn’t matter.  I stuck our sign on the door, because we are that cool, and after a bit of freshening up we headed back to Hammersmith to meet Helen (or maybe we met her at the hotel…I don’t remember!)  We then met Chari, and went to Oxford Street to go to the Disney Store.  They had an awesome HSM laptop bag that I would love!  Beth wasn’t working when we were there, but we all felt right at home hehe.  It was then decided that we go over to Covent Garden and wander around there before out meal.  Kirstie took us to an amazing shop called Cyber Candy, where they loads of American candy!  I was in heaven!  I bought some Lifesavers and Jolly Ranchers…stock up until I go on holiday!

 We then went to wait at TGI’s.  We were an hour and half early, but sat in the bar to wait for people.  Our group of 17 gradually turned up; at one point we stood outside to wait with my sign, and I gave directions to Laura and Karen.  I’m surprised I remembered where to go!  Once we were all there we finally got our table, and got down to ordering food and taking pictures and talking about Disney!  The food took a while to come, but I had chicken fajitas and Joanne and I shared some fries.  I couldn’t eat it all though!  After a big farewell and good lucks for the Friday interviewees the girlies at the Dalmacia Hotel went back to Hammersmith.  Joanne and I got some milk to have some proper tea in our room.  So having got back to the hotel, a few of us started watching Hairspray, whilst Joanne, Karen and Laura ran through their notes and generally freaked out!  Then it was time for bed.  Not that I slept much.  I got a cold on the Wednesday and was coughing and spluttering everywhere…not to mention the fact that our room was facing the main road, and as London doesn’t sleep we were kept awake by lorries and drunk people! Eek!

 So in the morning, Joanne got up at some crazy time, while I stayed in bed hehe!  I then got ready and checked us both out, leaving our suitcases at reception, before going back off to Oxford Street.  I wandered around all the shops, bought some pyjamas from Primark and got annoyed with Debenhams because they didn’t have my size in a skirt I wanted (to go with my purple pirate coat).  It’s a Red Herring label so it’s only in Debenhams.  Oh well.  So then I went back to meet Joanne and everyone at the Disney offices.  We went back to the hotel to change and collect out suitcases, and then wandered around London.  We went to Buckingham palace to take pictures (very nice pictures they were too) and then we went back to Victoria Station so Joanne could get her coach, Helen could get the tube and I could get my train!  We had a KFC while we waited (well Joanne had a subway) and then we went our own separate ways!

 So all in all it was a great couple of days!  I got to meet some amazing people and have a lots of fun, so now it’s just the waiting now.  I’m dreading it! 

Yup, today I went all the way to Hammersmith to have an interview with Disney!  It's for the Cultural Representative Program in Epcot, where participants either work in F&B or Merchandise.  A bunch of us from WDWIP.com had a huge msn conversation on Sunday, so at least we all knew each when we got there.

Anyway.  First I had to get the train to London Victoria.  Simple enough, I drove to Upper Warlingham and got the train from there.  It's a lot faster than going the other way and I didn't have to change at East Croydon.  So I finally got to Victoria and went to have lunch upstairs at Costa Coffee.  I had a tea and one of those chocolate danish twisty thingy's that are really, really nice!  Then it was off down to the underground.  This is where my problems started.  The underground was closed when I got there (at least the barriers down to the underground were), but luckily, just as I was contemplating using all my money and taking a taxi to Hammersmith, they opened the barriers and everyone streamed downstairs.  Thankfully this meant I didn't have to stand in line to get a ticket and before you knew it I was off!  It's not that many stops to Hammersmith, so I got there in plenty of time, but it looked like everyone had got there before me! 

The Disney building reminds me of the Disney University; not as many pictures and things, but still the same feeling.  I checked in at reception and was taken upstairs to see hoards of people standing around.  I went to collect my application form and found where all the WDWIPers were sitting.  Not long after we decided to head up to the doors of the lecture theatre, so we could get front row seats!  And we did!  The presentation was led by Kim and Rachid, who both work at WDW and are very nice!  They started out asking a few questions and handing out prizes (I won a pen for telling them how many people worked at WDW...55,000-58,000 in fact, well, I said 55,000 but Kim was impressed!  I don't think she realised I'm the biggest Disney Dork going!)  We then got onto the main presentation (most of which I had seen before, but like I cared!) and Jason came up to read out when our interview times would be.  They don't do it in alphabetical order, but rather the distance in which people have to travel, which means I was one of the last ones!  My interview was to be at 5.10pm and when Jason read out my name, he looked at me and said 'know you!'  I'm famous! LOL.

But then we all had the dreaded wait for out interview.  I realised I had filled my form out in blue pen instead of black yeah I'm a loser.  So I got another one and we headed off to Starbucks.  Having sat there for a while, we went to Novotel (as one of the girls had to check out) and basically sat there for the entire day!  We did a lot of talking....and I mean A LOT of talking and really got to know each other, before it was time to go back to the Disney building!  I still had a long time to wait, but finally, at 6.20pm (they were running late!) I got my interview!  I felt it went well, but it was nothing special.  I think the questions were good, but didn't really allow me to express how much I want this job!  I know I've worked there before but I NEED more magic!  Argh.

Anyway, I left after that, already getting nervous at the wait ahead (they said we'd find out within two weeks) and went back to the underground.  Here another problem started.  The District line was closed, and guess who needed it?  Yup, me.  So instead I had to get the Piccadilly line up to Green Park and change onto the Victoria line to get back to Victoria.  There I found the next train wouldn't be until another 35 mins, but luckily the train was already there so at least I got to sit down!

So that is my day at the interview.  Totally different to my last one, but I met a great bunch of people who totally deserve to go, so even if I don't get it, I can be happy for those who do!

Well so it's been my last day today.  Not done much, except packing the odd thing, went out for lunch and then to Argos to get some scales so we can weigh my suitcases properly!  The ones we had before were wrong haha.  I don't like the new scales though, they say my actual weight!!!  Well I'm supposed to be getting some kind of sleep tonight, but I don't know if it will happen.  I'm too excited!

So this time tomorrow I will be in Disney!  Thoroughly tired!

So I will post next time I can  but on a different page!

See you all real soon!

 

Louisa xx

Hmmm well what a pavlova its been (yes I meant to spell  it like that) trying to get this Visa sorted out.  I mean, you have to have an actual interview and then wait 3-4 hours for your visa to be processed.  ARGH.  I got all my info today which includes about a million forms and what-not.

Anyway my interview is on the 19th Jan so I'll have to navigate my way to London and stuff.  Not too hard I dont think

Not much to update on otherwise...except not long now!!

Dear Louisa

Congratulations!  We are pleased that you have accepted our offer of employment.  You have been selected to participate as a Food & Beverage/Operations Cast Member on the Disney College Program from February 6, 2006 to January 5, 2007.  This is a great opportunity for all the students, and we are proud to offer this opportunity to you!  This program will allow you to gain academically orientated work experience - the kind that professionals in every field agree provides students with the tools they need to compete effectively in today's job market.

As a participant in the Disney College Program, you will have the opportunity to acquire a variety of transferable skills that will enhance both your personal and professional development, including:

• Responsibility                       
• Time Management
• Problem Solving
• Partnership
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Multi-Tasking
• Guest Service
• Networking
• Leadership
• Corporate Culture
• Product Knowledge
• Computer Skills
• Diversity
• Professionalism

These skills are developed though the responsibilities involved with a Food & Beverage/Operations role:

In this role, students will be placed in a Quick-Service Food & Beverage position from February-May, and then will be placed in an Operations position from May-January.

Quick-Service Food and Beverage - High volume and Guest contact are key parts of this role.  Cast members in Quick-Service Food and Beverage will work independently or as part of a large team in either indoor or outdoor locations.  Responsibilities may include: taking orders, operating a point-of-sale system (cash register), cash handling, filling food and beverage orders, dispensing and selling of alcohol, heavy lifting, pushing and pulling, emptying waste cans, general cleaning with chemicals and food preparation.

Operations - Operations Cast Members will be placed in one of the following areas: Attractions: working at any one of the "rides", theatre shows or FASTPASS® locations; Parking: greeting all Guests who arrive by vehicle working mainly outside or at the Toll Plaza; Park Greeter: greeting all Guests who enter the park and validating their tickets.  Responsibilities may include: loading and unloading Guests, operating sophisticated ride systems, memorizing and delivering lengthy narrations to large groups, staffing Toll Plaza areas, cash handling, operating a motorized vehicle, operating turnstile areas, obtaining knowledge of the Walt Disney World Resort ticket media, light cleaning and assisting with audience control.

We are excited to have you join our team.  Enclosed you will find your offer booklet that will prepare you for your Disney College Program experience.  Please review the information carefully and feel free to share with your family and friends!  Inside your booklet is the Acknowledgement Form for your review.  Please sign and return the completed form to our office by fax as soon as possible.  You will also find the following information inside your booklet: a copy of the Disney Look Book (which provides you with the important details on our appearance guidelines), luggage tags, Mickey stickers (to identify you at the Orlando airport upon arrival) and the policies and procedures for both Walt Disney World Company, and our student housing complex.

We look forward to the magic you will bring to the Walt Disney World® Resort and are thrilled about the opportunity we have to include you in our Disney family!  We're sure it is a journey that will change you!

Sincerely,

Michael Dabrowski

Walt Disney World® College Recruiting