Last Day at Disneyland

I've been bad about posting in this blog lately -- even worse than normal. I've been so busy working and trying to pretend to myself that this day wouldn't come, but here it is: my last day. Today, I put on that costume for the last time and worked my final shift at the Pizza Port. I turned in my costume and my Cast I.D. and left backstage.

As I was saying goodbye to the friends I've made, I was trying to keep it together, and doing fairly well. But as one of the managers, Luis, walked me to Harbor Point and took my I.D., he told me that I'd been a great Cast Member and that I always have a place with them and he shook my hand and sent me on my way. I felt like crying right then and there.

I can't believe how much I feel like I've changed over the past few months. I came here so scared and unsure if I really wanted to be here, and now I'm scared to leave. I've made friends and fallen in love here. I've gained some independence from being outside a parental figure's house and gained new perspective of the world. 
I never would have thought that I'd get my first boyfriend while I was here, let alone that I'd be mentally preparing myself for a long-distance relationship at the end of this program. I never thought I'd do a long-distance relationship, period, but things look different when you fall for someone.

It's kind of hilarious: pretty much everyone at Pizza Port knows that Josh and I are together, whether we know these people or not. And they keep asking us what we'll be doing once I go back. Even the managers. And it makes our pretending this day isn't going to come so much harder. At least he's taking me home to meet my folks, so we have a little bit more time to pretend we aren't parting.

Honestly, this program itself wasn't very beneficial from what I can see. It was the break from school I needed while still being in school. It allowed me to regain some independence while not forcing me out into the world before I'm ready. This program is what you make of it, and I didn't participate too much in the actual program. There are some things I wish I'd had the opportunity to be more involved in, like trips and activities. The things that really affected me, though, were the people that I met who weren't even necessarily part of the program. This program was a stepping stone for me to experience other things, and for that, I will always be grateful.

Graduation

On December 13th, we had our College Program Celebration party, where we got our ears, had dinner, and listened to important Disney people speak.
Actually getting our ears was very unceremonious. They just handed them to us as we waked into the party. No name, nothing. I want to go into a store in the Park and have them put my name on them.

 I didn't stay for the whole thing, because I honestly didn't have much interest for it. I didn't make very many friends during my time here, and the ones I did were mostly busy dancing with the ones they'd made. 

The best part about this program for me was the fact that I got to take a break from school while still doing something productive for my future. I still did a few classes and I had a job.I got some time to live on my own, which is something I'm striving for. Plus I earned the right to put Disney on my resume. How many people can say that?

I am going to miss the people I've met here: coworkers, friends, and roommates. I never would have thought that I'd be leaving here with a boyfriend with whom I'd be planning on maintaining a long-distance relationship. 

Josh is going to bring me home after my program ends so he can meet my family. I don't know if that's going to make our parting easier or more difficult. It doesn't really matter; it's going to be much harder than I ever thought it would be. 

It's not really goodbye, though. 

The next semester is going to be a challenge. My classes are all lined up, I've got a place to stay until I can figure out my next move, and I'm looking forward to what the future holds. 

This program has brought me a lot of experiences and memories. It's strange to think that they weren't all at Disneyland. 

 Sarah, me, Leslie

Disneyland After Hours

I can finally say I'm participating in College Program events! Today, my roommates and I had the opportunity to take a tour of Walt Disney's apartment above the Fire Station and a backstage tour of the Haunted Mansion. Both were amazing! We got to see things that no ordinary guest or even Cast Member often gets the chance to see.

Afterwards, we met up with our friend, Gage, and we were getting ready to leave the Park and go home. We were walking through the dark and deserted Park when I suggested taking a picture together. I mean, how many times can you take a picture in a darkened Disneyland?
Sarah and Leslie were too scared to, but Gage was all up for it. We decided to go to Snow White's spot, because Gage thought it would be lit up. It wasn't, but we took a picture anyway.
Figuring Sarah and Leslie would have gone to where the cast shuttle would be, Gage and I went there. Only upon getting to the shuttle and boarding it, did we discover that they were still on Main Street. So, we trudged along back over to them (giving me a chance to embarrass myself in front of one of my managers by singing a Snow White song with an arm flourish, right as he walked by... work's going to be interesting, I'm sure.)

Just as we got to Main Street, we noticed that the massive Christmas tree they have there was lit up beautifully, though it hadn't been just a few minutes earlier when we'd left it. We were looking for Sarah and Leslie, and found them at the Hub, right in front of the castle, which was also beautifully lit. Turns out, Sarah and Leslie had been talking to a couple of security guards, who had arranged to have the lights turned on for us to take pictures.

I feel so lucky to have gotten to experience this, because it really was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I just love that these cast members made magic for other cast members. It was really special. I'll always remember it. I just wish I'd had a few quality people there with me, other than the ones I was with.

More pictures to come!

I've Been Slacking!

I've been home sick for the past few days. Well, that's not entirely true. Like, four days ago, I finally had a weekend, but I spent the whole time sick, and therefore was not able to get any homework done that I'd planned on doing. I'd fallen behind in homework because I hadn't had any time off in forever.

So yesterday, I decided to call in sick to work because I desperately needed to get school work done and I had a closing shift. I still didn't feel completely better, and I had my college program class that day too. I was afraid of overexerting myself with a day full of stuff to do, so I decided to just take the day to catch up on homework.

Then, today, as I was getting ready to leave for work, I ended up getting sick after eating my poorly thought out breakfast. I was fine after, but I didn't want to risk it and I still had homework to do, so I called in again.
I'm stressing out over missing so much work.
Honestly, it's not that bad, since I don't even get points for today. You can call in up to three days in a row and only get points for the first day, so I'm good as far as points go. My paycheck is just going to suck.

This is Scheduling's fault. If they hadn't scheduled me to work, like 8 and 9 days in a row with only one day off in between those stretches, I wouldn't have exhausted myself into NEEDING these days off.

Also, I have the sweetest boyfriend. He surprised me with flowers last night.

He also brought me Powerade and chicken noodle soup when I was sick. <3

Pictures from the Scavenger Hunt! :)

  

A picture of a cannon

 

A picture of our group on a ride

 

A picture of at least two group members on a ride.

(Sarah and Gage!)

 

A picture of a trash can from our assigned land
Frontierland!

 

A hidden Mickey on Big Thunder Mountain!

 

Chinese takeout box.. haha

 

A picture of an animal.

 

Character topiary

 

A picture of our whole team wearing different Mickey Ears

 

A picture of a Cast Member trading with a Guest

(Kelsey)

A picture of the team with a character inside Disneyland

 

A silly group picture.
(Minnie's bodyguards totally photobombed us)

 

A picture of the team with a character inside California Adventure

 

Two Main Street Windows

 

A Mickey Mouse sticker

 

Two Team Members next to an ice cream cart menu board

 

Hidden Mickey again

 

 

Team Frontierland outside the castle

Today for my Blended Learning class for the College Program, we had to do a scavenger hunt in the Park. We went to DCA (California Adventure) first and we were looking for a character for our group to take a picture with. We saw Minnie and half of us rant over to her, beating out a bunch of little kids who wanted to get a picture with her. We got a picture with her and her autograph ("Love and kisses, Minnie Mouse") and then I got a picture with her on my own. I love Minnie she's so freaking cute. I think she's probably my favorite Disney character. I love Daisy too. She's sassy. haha

:(

Remember how excited I was for my family to come up and to get my brother into Disneyland for his birthday? Welp, looks like that's not happening. They have to get their bumper replaced or whatever, and so they can't come up here. This is why I hate looking forward to things. They never work out right, and you end up disappointed. I wanted to give my brother a good birthday. More importantly, I wanted to SEE him and my family. Apparently that's too much to ask for.