thetexasharpist: July 2014

So, as you totally know I am terrible at blogging/journaling/updating my sister's blog, which in all reality is just copy and paste.

Anyway, I figured I should tell you all that my dream life at Disney is over. I left in the first week of June. I had an absolutely fabulous time. I loved every moment and I am still not sick of Disney. Hollywood Studios is totally my park, even though I transferred to Magic Kingdom from January to June. College program is usually 5-7 months long. My first program was August-December. I then applied to extend my program and was accepted. So in my second program my new area was Tomorrowland in Magic Kingdom! I worked the Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin, Monster's Inc. Laugh Floor and Carousel of Progress. It was a much more complicated attraction than the Magic Of Disney Animation in Studios. I was actually working with moving parts and things that can go wrong. I loved it. My favorite thing to do was problem solving, and figuring out how to "fix" the attraction. Nothing was ever seriously wrong, if it was, maintenance would be the one to fix it. As cast members, essentially all we do is re-align things to keep the attraction running. Monster's Inc. Laugh Floor was always super fun and very funny. The attraction would always brighten my day. Carousel was either really amusing or really boring. There really wasn't anything in between.

So working in Magic Kingdom was very different from Studios. It was open later, and I could not travel through the different lands in my costume and I had to deal with a higher influx of guests. The only part that was really difficult for me was the late hours. I had to work as late as 3:45 am. Which meant I was not in home, in bed until 4:45 am. That is late, and I became an owl in order to survive. I would come home, sleep, get up, go to work to repeat the cycle. I was even more sleep deprived but I still managed to wake up on my days off to go play.

So the spring is completely different than the fall in Disney. In the fall you get to experience: Food and Wine Festival (Epcot), Halloween Parties (MK), Christmas Parties (MK), Spectacle of Dancing Lights (Studios) and just the Christmas Season which is the BUSIEST time of the year for Disney. However, end of August-November is a slow period for the parks. The weekends are busier but, for the most part, wait times stayed at 30 minutes or below. In the Spring you get to experience: Cheerleader season, Tour Groups, Flower and Garden (Epcot) and Spring Break. Also, there were more attractions and areas under refurbishment. So, for me, I think fall is a better deal for anyone considering the college program.

While fall is my favorite time, I am really grateful that I almost experienced a full year at Disney World. I still went to the parks all the time. I have experienced every ride that Disney offers (except: Hall of Presidents) and I know all the parks like the back of my hand. I made really good friends with my fellow cast members. I made magic for guests of all ages and I experienced a lot of magic myself. I was present for the Festival of Fantasy that premiered in March. It is an amazing parade! Disney definitely outdid itself. I will provide a picture below. I was also present to ride the new Seven Dwarves Mine Train, and I have experienced every festival that Disney has to offer. The only event that happens year after year that I have not seen is Fourth of July Fireworks. So I am feeling pretty fabulous.