Coba- More than 24hrs in a Day!

posted by Coba:

Whew! Doesn't seem like I've only been here a few days. So far a lot has been happening and going on. Hang on folks, this is gonna get crazy!! :D

So Monday morning Jordyn and I wake up like super early to check in. We wake up at like 5:30, shower and get ready quickly, load up the car, grab some K bars to go and then take off for check-in. This doesn't actually start till 9am, but we wanted to get there early to improve our chances of getting a room we wanted. We arrive at about 8am at one of the apartment complexes they have here for college program students and there is already massive line outside! Phew talk about a surprise, later I found out that people had actually begun lining up at about 6am...that sounds a bit extreme! Finally we decide that I should stand in line while Jordyn found a parking space (which for a moment, there was none of.) We started going through the check-in and it was a lot of little stops or like checkpoints...this whole bit took hours because that's how many college program participants there were. During this whole process, we found out our role: mine is Costuming with Entertainment (woohoo!) and Jordyn is Quick Service Food and Beverage at a placed called the Electric Umbrella at Epcot! We also got our room assignment: Patterson Court 10102! We were fingered printed, filed out tax info, and got our schedule for our first couple days of training. We were finally done with our whole check-in at about noon, so we went to check out our apartment and to meet your new roomies! We ended the day with a Welcome Housing Event, which was kinda long and tedious followed by a trip to Walmart to buy groceries... BTW nicest Walmart I've ever seen!

Where we went to get our "roles"

This is the door handle to casting!

Let me just say that we have a pretty decent sized apartment and I only have to pay a little over $80 a week for it! Crazy! When you first walk in there is the kitchen to your left and a wide living room area on the right. In front of you is mine and Jordyn's room. We each have a twin bed, dresser, and vanity and we share a bathroom and closet. Also in our apartment is the outside "porch" area. Its a decent size space and I'm excited about eating some meals out there from time to time.

So about the roomies: we have a second pair of sisters with us! How crazy is that? Lauren and Brittany Nanney from Tennessee and they are so sweet. We also have Sherrin Miller from New Hampshire, she's done the program before so she's become our unofficial tour guide/answerer to all questions! And then there's Christine Nelson from New Jersey she is super nice and is a lover of musicals and Harry Potter, we are totally gonna get along! :D

From Left to Right: Brittany, Me, Christine

From Left to Right: Jordyn, Lauren, Sherrin

Tuesday was a day-off day to finish un-packing and to get comfortable. Jordyn and I also used this time to catch up on some much needed sleep.  We also checked out one of the outlet malls near us, a nearby Starbucks and....Downtown Disney!! It was so beautiful and so much fun! They had so many stores and toy stores that completely blew me away. At "Once Upon a Toy" right in the entrance is a place to make your own Mr. or Mrs. Potato Head!! So excited for that! We also found a huge Lego store, an amazing place for candy and chocolate, super exciting and fancy restaurants (the biggest Planet Hollywood I've ever seen) a dinner movie theatre at AMC, a FIVE story virtual interactive park and Cirque du Soleil! While we were there, Jordyn and I danced to the sounds of an amazing sax player and enjoyed a super sweet candy apple at Candy Cauldron!

In Love with this store!!

Cirque du Soleil!! Can't Wait!!!

Day three was Traditions held at Disney University (yes there is one!) Traditions is a mandatory class all new cast members must take to become part of the Disney Family. During this class, we learned that this park is magical because we make the magic. We also did a walk around the Magic Kingdom to look for live proof about how this magic is made. Near the end, we went over some Disney history, now our heritage and "our" history as part of the Company. Mickey himself even dropped by to deliver our name badges!!

So Fun!! :D

I make the magic!

After this class, we were officially part of the team. As such, we were able to use our perks right away starting with free parking and free park admission. All 6 of the roomies gathered together to go to which park? None other than Magic Kingdom!! I did not know this, but the park itself is about a mile and half away from the parking lot so you have to take a Ferry or a Monorail to the gates. The greatest sight to see was the castle, all lit up in different colors and absolutely beautiful!! Main Street USA was a sight to see too; strung with while lights all over was so stunning and beautiful. Our first ride we went on is an all time classic, "It's a Small World" amazing how something so simple in theory now is such a tribute to where we have come from and where we are going technically. We also went through the Haunted Mansion, went thorough the line of Space Mountain but it started having technical issues, the PeopleMover ride and we also got to see "Wishes" the firework show behind the castle! Our "seats" blocked out most of the fireworks, but I cried like a baby anyway. Before we left the park for the night, Jordyn and I got 1st Visit pins to celebrate our evening and we took the Ferry back to the parking lot with Magic Kingdom and the lit up castle in our backview...aaaahhhh really feel like I'm gonna love it here!

With the Castle in the background!!

Stunning!!

Yay First Visit!! :D

Its called the "Happiest Place on Earth" for a reason and I'm lucky enough to call it, "Home."