Another Rainy Day with the Mouse

….hi.

I know, I know, know.  It’s been FOREVER.  I always used to judge the writers whose blogs I would read and be terribly disappointed when the updates stopped once they arrived down here.  What I didn’t realize is exactly how little free time one gets on the Disney College Program. 

I usually work between 45 and 55 hours every week and only ever get one day, Tuesday, off.  I keep saying that I used to think I knew what exhaustion was.  I was very wrong.  It’s not as exciting as one would think.  Work is…good.  Not necessarily fun or incredibly enjoyable but I like it and my coworkers are great.  My days typically go as follows: sleep late, get ready for work, work from 1:00 or 2:00pm until 10:00 or 11:00pm (they money room trained me meaning they get to keep me FOREVER every night), come home, chat with roomies and eat dinner around midnight then finally fall into bed between 1:00 and 3:00am aaaaaanndd repeat.  Thrilling, huh?

I’ve really hit my stride at work, though.  I’ve earned a lot of respect from the coordinators and managers (proven in the fact that they trained me to handle money) and it’s been hilarious to me how that, and getting a new nametag that says “Memphis, TN” instead of “NW Mississippi CC”, has made the older Cast Members treat me differently.  It’s not that they treat CPs badly…they just treat us like silly party kids who are only here to goof off.  It’s nice to be spoken to as an equal. 

I sold the very first Retail MagicBand at Creature Comforts!  It was very exciting.  I got a card that said I was officially part of Disney History and everything.  And I found out yesterday that MagicBands are actually made in Memphis!  How cool is that?

A lot of you have inquired exactly where it is that I work so I drew up a handy-dandy map!

I work both register and stock and (unless they switch me) I know ahead of time whether I am on Island side (Island Mercantile, Creature Comforts, Creature Cart, or Baby Care) or Outfitters side (Outfitters or Tree of Life Cart).

You can tell it's Springtime at DAK (Disney's Animal Kingdom)...BUNNIES! EVERYWHERE!

Bit of trivia: Have you ever sat on one of the benches?  Did you know that they are made from approximately 1,350 recycled milk jugs a piece?  That's a lot of milk. Also, those obnoxious straws that tend to collapse on you mid drink?  Yeah, they aren't made of paper like most people think.  They are made from potatoes.  Yep, you heard me correctly.  It's in case one of our thousands of animals that run around (like the bunnies above) get a hold of one.  They'll digest it just like they would a french fry.

 Soooooo... Shortly after my last update, I was at work and may or may not have gotten injured.... It wasn't that bad (I didn't need medical attention and it's already healed and gone) but there was a lot of whoopdedoo to do about it and we had previously been several months incident free.  Oops?

Oh, I know it's long overdo but thank you so much to Ryan, Anne and their wonderful family for visiting me at work!  I love seeing familiar faces.  Doesn't happen often.

I do have my share of fun, though (when it's not raining on my day off LIKE IT HAS FOR THE LAST THREE WEEKS).  I still haven't gotten to fully experience the Flower and Garden Festival at EPCOT but the small taste I got was amazing.  I couldn't get over all the topiaries, exhibits, sights, sounds, smells.  I always thought I liked the Food and Wine Festival best at EPCOT but I think this may have proven me wrong.  For those of you who have never been, it is Disney World's big Spring Celebration.  There are shaped topiaries of all different characters all over the park.  I only took pictures of a few of my favorite but there were many more.  There are also vendors who sell Spring like things.  I got some all-natural beauty products but they also had garden ornaments, displays on aquaponics, and my favorite was these two sisters who create "Fairy Houses."  They had several in and around the butterfly exhibit including one designed just for Tinkerbell!  How do you think it compares to the movie version?

I've also met lots of characters!  Went to several Welcoming Events as well as the United Kingdom themed DCP Spring Diversity Event where we had lots of good food, classic songs from the UK played and lots of characters!  Met Mary Poppins, Burt, some dancing penguins, Alice and the White Rabbit, the Mad Hatter and I got the rare chance to meet Merida and Queen Elinor together!  

We finally checked out Storybook Circus in Magic Kingdom.  There we met Donald and Goofy!  We also met Russell, from Up, when we became Senior Wilderness Explorers at DAK!  Carey and I decided we were determined to complete the Wilderness Explorers' Handbook so we teamed up with Lauren from work and did so in two days.  We almost completed it in one but it was just too much for one day.  If you decide to come to DAK, with or without kids, make sure you check it out.  It's a blast and it's a great way to make sure you see everything.   

This guy wasn't an official character but I had to get a picture with him.  His cosplay (costume-play, for my non-geeky readers) of Burton's Mad Hatter was flawless.  Down to the bandaged fingers.  I was incredibly impressed.

We have fun. There's no denying it.  It may be spread out but my roommates, coworkers, and I have a blast.  Especially when we all hang out together.

I love my roommates.  I really do.  I lucked out, that's for certain.  I know way too many people who don't like to spend time with their roommates but we hang out constantly.  

Here are a few examples why I adore them so:

I emerge from my room only to, literally, fall to the floor laughing because Katie was curious to see if she fit in my duffle bag.

I got this snapchat after hearing this conversation happen in the kitchen:
Katie: "Am I in that?!"
Carey: "What? No!"
Katie: "Yes, I was! I saw you licking my head!"

Katie and I were lamenting that we couldn't get a pet so we bought Baby Tree!

And, best of all, we can't get enough of the Mad Tea Party.

Hopefully, next time I'll update quicker.  I still intend to share everything I learned during my backstage tour of Expedition Everest!

Love you all and have a Happy Easter!

Abigail