Canada Day through the Fourth of July!!!

So my week started off great with an awesome Canada Day. I spent the morning at Disney's Animal Kingdom and then spent the afternoon at Epcot for some great free food for the cast members. Disney Event Services did a fantastic job decorating the pavilion as well. All in all I had a great day on my day off.

Monday and Tuesday were just ordinary days at work. Wednesday was the Fourth of July and this was truly a day I will never forget. I arrived at the park at 10:30 am in order to catch a special show at 12:30. So I rode Ellen's Energy Adventure and then went to the American Garden Theater to watch a special show by Disney's Voices Of Liberty a capella group. The 45 minute show was amazing. After that I went for lunch before starting work at 3:30pm. Work was busier than usual but the fun really began immediately after we closed the attraction at 10:00pm.

I had gotten approval from my coordinator that as long as I clocked out within my grace period that I could go up to the promenade and watch the fireworks before going back to the computer to clock out. So my coordinator, my coworker, and myself all went up to the promenade to watch the show. Our regular fireworks had about 2 minutes left and then the additional segment started. It went from amazing to downright unbelievable in the 4 and a half minutes it lasted. I found a YouTube video of the special segment and have posted the link below. When you see the last 35 seconds of that video just imagine how it felt feeling the sonic blast from all of those fireworks. I was standing laughing so hard because I couldn't believe what I was seeing.

So after the fireworks I went to go leave but the cast bus was sooooooo busy the line was about 7 times longer than usual and still growing. So I went back to cast services and got changed and then went to go sit in a break area for an hour or so in hopes that the line would be shorter. However while I was there I met a couple friends. One of them mentioned wanting to ride the monorail so I decided to lookup how late the Magic Kingdom was open until. When we found out it was open until 1am we decided to go there. We got to the Magic Kingdom at about midnight. We watched Mickey's Phillharmagic and then at 10 minutes to 1:00am we rode splash mountain. We only had a 5 minute wait for it and the ride was awesome ( even though I got wet!). So once we got off the ride it was after 1am so all the rides were closed. However we decided to stop and eat at the bakery on Main Street USA in the park. We all had a blast and I ended up having a large brownie for my supper at about 1:30am.

We proceeded to slowly walk out of the park and to the Contemporary Resort and waited about 30 minutes for the cast bus home. I got back home at about 3:00am. So I managed to break a few goals I have had.

1. I watched 4th of July fireworks at Disney.
2. I saw the Voices of Liberty 4th of July show.
3. I was at the Magic Kingdom past 1:30am.
4. I finally rode splash mountain again.
5. This was the latest I have ever come back home at night. Especially after working for
6 hours and 45 minutes.

In all I had a blast over the course of a few days! I LOVE my job and the perks that come with it!!!

YouTube Video

Getting paid to have fun!

Today was a great day! I got paid to stand around for 5 hours and hold a rope while listening to Mike Delguidice and Big Shot - The Ultimate Billy Joel Show. They were an awesome group. All I can say is: I love my job!!!

Training Completed

So I know it has been awhile since I last posted on here. My apologies. This past week has been a pretty rigorous training schedule and I had a lot to learn in a short time frame. Monday I had my Discovery Day in Epcot. All I can say abut it is that is was a lot of fun. Tuesday through Thursday I had on the job training and Friday was my assessment. Saturday was my relax day. I spent the day talking on the phone with my parents and catching up on TV shows on Netflix. I then went to see Cirque du Soleil - La Nouba with a friend of mine at Downtown Disney. We also wandered through the World of Disney Store as well for a bit. Now, today, I get to work on my laundry and I might be hanging out with a friend from Canada that starts his program on Tuesday. At any rate I am having a blast here. You can't help but have fun at the happiest place on earth!

New Cast Member Welcome party at Patterson!!!

Well hello everyone!!! I just came back from an absolutely awesome welcome party held at my housing complex. It was an outdoor party and it rained almost the whole time but it was still awesome just the same. It was held at the pool area here at Patterson Court (My housing Complex). They had free pizza and pop/juice/lemonade/etc. Everyone, including me, was out dancing in the rain. And for anyone who knows me, they know that is really strange as I don't like to get wet and I really don't dance (ever). But I did both this time, and I had a wonderful time. I didnt have my camera because of the rain but i wish i did. I got pictures at the party with Goofy and Minnie Mouse. I will post the pictures as soon as the housing operations team sends me them. In all, I had a great time and lookout for those pictures on here tomorrow!

It all starts today!

Well today is the day I check-in at the Disney Housing Complex. I am sooooo nervous but I am defiantly excited as well. I can't believe the day has finally arrived. I'll be posting as often as I can throughout this next year so keep an eye out on this blog so you know what and how I'm doing. The adventure starts NOW!!!

In the homestretch!

The airport control tower designation for Walt Disney's private airplane was 234MM. When said aloud it was 234 Metro Metro, however it was eventually nicknamed 234 Mickey Mouse. In just 5 days I check-in at the Walt Disney World Housing Complex. The adventure of a lifetime begins in just a few days now!

Just 10 days left!

Which of the following was the airport control tower designation for Walt Disney's private plane? A. Mickey Mouse B. WD407 C. 234Walt Disney D. 234MM

Orlando Area

So after just a mild adventure at the United States Border yesterday, I am now in the Orlando area. This will be my new home for more than a year. I'm so excited now!

Leaving Canada in 7 hours!

Well the excitement are nerves are running at full tilt tonight as I try to get to sleep knowing that tomorrow I leave Canada for more than a full year. Not knowing what will happen at the border is a little nerve wracking as well. All in all I should have less than 5 hours of sleep tonight. But I suppose it all works out as I usually sleep most of the car ride down. Lol. At any rate, I am keeping my fingers crossed for a smooth border crossing experience and in 11 days I will be "letting the memories begin" as a start my new career!

20 days!

When Walt Disney was seeking land to build his new Florida Project he cleverly had some of his business partners use dummy businesses to purchase the land. Because of the huge success of Disneyland the owners of the land would have charged enormous amounts had they known Disney was the one actually buying it. This technique saved Walt Disney thousands of dollars in land prices. Now that's what I call good bargain shopping!

Done Work in Canada

Today was a very surreal day for me as it was my last shift working at Walmart in Chatham. As I was waiting in the back to have my exit conference it started to hit me that I was actually going to work at Disney. With the exception of these brief moments when it seems to just hit me, I really don't think much of it. It's kind of like that really nice dream that you're sure can't be true. I couldn't believe all the people who were so happy for me and so sad to see me go. I got soooo many hugs and best wishes, it was amazing! I will always look back fondly on the 4 years I spent working with the friends I made at Walmart in Chatham. And I have only one wish for everyone who works there: May all your dreams come true!

The Sorcerer's Apprentice

The sorcerer in the short animated Disney Classic "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" is named Yensid. That is Disney spelled backwards. This short film-within-a-film has grown to be one of the most famous Disney scenes of all time. Its original debut was in the 1940 production of "Fantasia" and due to its huge success was also included in the sequel "Fantasia 2000."

30 days left until the adventure of a lifetime begins!

Which of the following is the name of the sorcerer in the classic Disney cartoon "The Sorcerer's Apprentice," first shown in the 1940 production of Fantasia? A. Diasalis B. The Magician C. Yensid D. Vulgaron

And his name is...

Oswald The Lucky Rabbit

Question 4

___________________________ is commonly considered to be the first character that Walt Disney made who was eventually forgotten. This character made a large come back in the Disney game Epic Mickey.

Answer to question 5

Walt Disney had originally planned on calling him Mortimer Mouse but his wife suggested Mickey would be a better name.

Visa is here!

My work visa has now arrived. The paperwork from the US Department Of Homeland Security came in the mail this week. It's now even more official that I am leaving in just a short while.

50 days left

Mickey Mouse is one of Walt Disney's most famous characters ever. However Mickey's name was originally supposed to be _____________ but Walt's wife suggested Mickey would be a better name.

At 55 days the correct answer is...

All of them are housing complexes at WDW.

Two months left to wait... Question 6

Which of the following is NOT one of the four Disney Housing Complexes at Walt Disney World? A. Vista Way B. Chatham Square C. Patterson Court D. The Commons E. All of the above are housing complexes at Walt Disney World

65 days left. Answer...

The answer is C. Serka Zong is a fictitious town that the Disney Imagineers created.

Question 7

Which of the following is the name of the village that resides at the base of Expedition Everest in Disney's Animal Kingdom? A. Harambe B. Tigris C. Serka Zong D. Lebanon

The answer?

Cinderella Castle is 189 feet from the bottom of the moat. It appears much larger due to a visual technique known as forced perspective.

The next question will be on March 27th when there will be just 70 days until I start!

80 days!

Cinderella Castle was completed in July 1971 after about 18 months of construction. It reaches to a height of _________ feet tall, measured from the concrete bottom of the moat, which itself is 6 feet deep at the bridge.

A. 189

B. 200

C. 300

D. 325

Retired parade quote

The quote came from the millennium celebration parade at EPCOT. The parade was entitled "Tapestry of Dreams" and was shown at dusk around World Showcase Lagoon. Originally it would start at three locations around the lagoon simultaneously and end where the next one had started. However, after a few years the parade lost interest and they reduced it to just one start that would go around the lagoon finishing where it had originally began (like the parades at the other parks). Eventually the parade was retired and EPCOT was left without a parade.

Question 9

Which park parade had the following quote?

"Walt Disney once said, "the age we are living in is the most extraordinary the world has ever seen. The human species is still reaching for the stars. Today we are the shapers of the world of tomorrow. Often we can't explain what we see, but the era we are living in today is a dream coming true!""

100 days until I start!

Walt Disney said,

"Around here, however, we don't look backwards for very long. We keep moving forward, opening up new doors and doing new things, because we're curious... and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths."

Arrival Email Done

I have sent and received my email to and from the Disney Arrivals Team. Yet another thing done off of my list of things to do before I leave. Tomorrow is the 100 day mark before I arrive at my housing complex and I am getting very excited as I see the days go by! Check back tomorrow for the 100 day statement.

Fantasia!

"...the film was Fantasia!"

Question 11

The following fact was mentioned during the MGM Studios fireworks show Sorcery in the Sky:

"Walt Disney had long dreamed of taking the art of animation beyond that of a simple moving comic strip.  On the eve of November 13th, 1940, and in the very same theater where Mickey Mouse made his debut only a dozen years before, Walt's dream finally came true.  A three year effort to marry film graphics to classical music had been completed just two days before its world premiere.  The New York Times called the result "Motion picture history.  Simply terrific!"  The film was _______?

Answer to Question 12

And the correct answer is of course Cinderella.

Check back on Thursday the 16th for question 11.

Question 12

Which of the following Disney Princesses lives in the castle at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World?

A. Rapunzle

B. Snow White

C. Cinderella

D. Belle

And the winner is...

Congratulations go to my Mom for getting 2 answers out of the series so far. Question number 12 will be up on Monday the 6th of February. In the mean time, "remember the magic ... Lives deep down inside of you."

Question 13

Which of the following people is shown as a statue sitting on a bench with Minnie Mouse at The Magic Kingdom?

A. Roy Disney

B. Mickey Mouse

C. Cptn. Jack Sparrow

D. Walt Disney

Housing booked

I got my official confirmation from Disney World Event Services saying that my housing assessment fee has been paid and that I have reserved my apartment and my position at the Walt Disney World Resort. Tomorrow is 130 days until I start! I'm starting to get very excited!

Question 14 - Answer

The answer is B. Mission Space was the first ride to offer FastPass.

Check back on Friday the 27th of January for the next question.

Question number 14

Which of the following attractions was the first ride at Disney World to introduce FastPass?

A. Space Mountain

B. Mission Space

C. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

D. Disney's Carrousel of Progress


Check back on Sunday, January 22nd for the answer. Post your best guess in the comments for a chance at the honorable mention.

And the answer is...

The answer is C.

Question 15

It is now officially only 150 days until I start work at EPCOT in Disney World!  So question 15 is:

Which of the following symbols was the original symbol for EPCOT as a whole?

A.

B.

C.

D.

Pick your best guess and answer in the comments for a chance at being this question's honourable mention.  Check back on Thursday, January 12th for the correct answer.  Good luck



Answer to Question 16

The Twilight Zone Tower Of Terror in Disney's Hollywood Studios has a possible wait time of 13 minutes. 

The "Hotel" has many references to the unlucky number 13 and this was one my Mom and I found out while waiting for family members to get off of Rockin' Rollercoaster.

Check back on Saturday, January 7th for the next question.