disney-carly-program

[disney-carly-program]

a u g u s t 12th

[disney-carly-program]

standing here, it's crystal clear, I'm where I'm meant to go

Eight months ago, I was experiencing dozens of firsts. First official day as a member of the college program, first day as a real cast member, first time going into the parks with a blue id, and so much more. These past few days have been a whirlwind of just as many lasts. Last class with Paul, last college program event, last day of the college program. Each memory I have of the program has been woven with happiness and thankfulness, and it is incredible bittersweet to see the past eight months completely in the rear view mirror instead of on the road ahead. I’ve already said some tough goodbyes, as friends from far off places sometimes choose to return home for an indefinite amount of time, making the later in “see you later” seem like it could be an eternity. I have learned. I have made magic. I have brought happiness into my life with the glow of friends and positivity in a work environment. I have pushed myself to be more dedicated to doing a good job and to strive to better than I did yesterday. I was a part of Disney history, as The Village Haus transformed into Red Rose Taverne. I told millions of guests that the bathroom was “straight out the doors, to the left, and around the corner on the left” and that “unfortunately we are sold out of the enchanted rose souvenir cup” with a smile every time. I have accepted the cliches that my life has created in the emotional side of me that came out in this program and in the creation of this diary on the internet. All I have is memories of this program, and they are fleeting, and like they say, “once you post on the internet it’s there forever.” I want the best memories of my life to last forever. I want to always think of the time I dressed to the nines to go have a dinner and dance party graduation celebration with my best friends. I want to always remember the jokes I made with my coworkers because we all understood what it was like to be on the back side of the counter. I want to always remember the overpowering joy I felt when I read the word “congratulations” on an email that sealed my fate and finally granted me a position that I had been trying to get for two years. I want to always remember what it felt like standing on the Hyperion stage, or walking down the lanes of the Walt Disney Studio, or touching the screen of Soarin’, or looking at the gas lamp that looks down on Main Street from behind in Walt’s apartment. I want to remember every second because I cannot guarantee happiness in this lifetime but I can guarantee a positive attitude. I have been given a taste of what my life can be if I take hold of the reins and take advantage of every opportunity. I have learned the importance of stepping outside of my comfort zone from the moment I applied for a program I thought was for hundreds of people who were a better fit for Disney than I was. I have cherished friends and guest interactions alike because they can be brief but they can have such a lasting impression on both parties. Seeing a little princess curtesy to me gives my heart wings, and wishing any little mouseketeer a happy birthday always puts a bigger smile on my face. Even just working at a quick service restaurant I have had the time of my life because I knew just how important my role in the show is. Guests come from all over to be wowed by the fireworks and parades and characters, not by the people serving them meals. But that is the difference that Disney has. Every single cast member signs up to help maintain the magic in their own job no matter where guests go. Even with a simple “bonjour” or “bon appetite” I helped transport guests out of a fast food restaurant and into Belle’s small, provincial French village. I have never worked so hard and been so fulfilled in return. Every single person refers to a period of time on the past as having “flown by too quickly” and eight months will never be enough to satisfy a person yearning to constant magical moments. And I understand that people apply for multiple programs for this reason, and I understand that I am staying with the company for this reason. While I am seeking out new opportunities that will be a better fit for my interests, I cannot wait to continue my story with Disney. The college program was and always will be a special time in my life that I will treasure always, but I have no choice but to say goodbye to this period of time, no matter how fast it has flown by. I just have to keep moving forward.

[disney-carly-program]

j u l y 24th

[disney-carly-program]

this must be heaven's light

My program is quickly coming to a close but the opportunities and memories are coming even quicker. This post is going to be in list format because there is so much to share:
-I got to tour the Hyperion Theater, a place where thousands of people watch incredible shows daily. It is currently home to Frozen, and I couldn’t love that show more. It is bursting at the seams with talent and I got to stand on the stage where it all happens and see a few of the special effects and costumes up close. This was a dream come true for me to get an inside look at one of my favorite shows of all time.
-I got to sign a steel support beam that will become part of Galaxy’s Edge (Star Wars Land). This was an especially meaningful moment for me because I will literally leave a part of me in Disneyland forever. My legacy will be immortalized alongside my fellow cast members in a beautiful collaboration of signatures that will be hidden away, soon to only be our special secret.
-Lastly, I got to tour Walt Disney’s apartment in Disneyland. Any avid Disney fan knows of Walt’s hideaway and dreams that one day they will get to see the inside with their own eyes. I am beyond grateful that I got to have my dream become a reality. The moment I stepped through the door my heart stopped and I felt my breath exit my body as I was in complete awe and shock that I was there. I learned about Walt’s family and so many special pieces of memories that people have shared about the first few days of Disneyland. I coincidentally was wearing a rose shirt and matched the rose decor of the room that Walt had carefully selected because Lillian (Walt’s wife) loved roses. I teared up hearing a retelling of a story from the perspective of Mouseketeer who was in the apartment on opening day. As she was waving out the window to the guests as they entered the park for the very first time, she looked to Walt and saw him grinning ear to ear, with a lump in his throat and a tear in his eye as he watched his dreams that he bet so much of his life on become a reality. I am ever inspired by the impact one man has had and continues to have on the world. Walt’s legacy lives on and is absolutely remarkable as it grows and grows. His presence remains in Disneyland though, it was his land and he chose to share it with the people. The eternally lit lamp in the window above the firehouse represents the eternal spirit of Disney, always watching and looking down at his dream continue to flourish, and I saw the lamp and I looked out the window. I watched the dozens of guests flood into the park, towards the castle on their way to make some of the best memories of their lives. I talk a lot about how grateful and how I feel beyond blessed, but I am being completely honest. And the greatest lesson I’ve learned is to take advantage of every opportunity no matter what. In the past, I have turned down chances because I didn’t want to do them without my friends. But I have done several of the CP events alone and I have grown because of it. I feel the imminent bittersweet feeling coming as the final celebration is in three days. When people say time flies when you’re having fun and that the program will fly by, they are making a huge understatement. This week will definitely be one to soak up all of the great feelings that are shining down on me, and I don’t think I will ever be ready to let my program end.

[disney-carly-program]

j u n e 16th

[disney-carly-program]

with all the force of a great typhoon

Working at Disneyland is a truly demanding job in more than just a physical sense. I go to work each day knowing I will be performing the same handful of tasks and repeating the same phrases over and over again. Each day I am reminded of one of the questions I answered in my phone interview. The interviewer asked how I would make sure I wouldn't get bored with the repetition of work each day, and I said I would try to find a way to improve upon each guest interaction and each skill in order to keep things interesting and exciting. And I try incredibly hard each and every day to find something new to continue my optimism and passion for the work I contribute. I finally earned my ears, which in Disney-speak, means I have worked in the company for four months and am finally out of probation. From the outside, my job looks monotonous and repetitive and boring, but I wouldn't trade my job for anything in the world. I was also granted the opportunity to volunteer at the Orange County food bank for my class this past week and I was reminded of how fun volunteer work is when you are surrounded by your closest friends. Regardless of the fact that most of us had been awake since 5:00am for a collective Spring 2017 College Program picture in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle, we all had a wonderful time packing up boxes of food that would help over 700 families. I am growing stronger each and every day, from lifting boxes of Enchanted Rose Souvenir Cups to managing guest concerns when we don't have the Enchanted Rose Souvenir Cups, and I am beyond grateful to see how my growth will trickle into every other aspect of my life after my program.

[disney-carly-program]

m a y 25th

[disney-carly-program]

just around the riverbend

I got to have an amazing opportunity to take a day away from my regular location in Disneyland to help with the grand opening ceremony of Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission BREAKOUT! as a Disney Rep. While this opportunity was not exclusive to the college program, I was still incredibly grateful that I had the chance to partake. In this role, I was responsible for helping the amenities team prepare for the arrival of a variety of guests from social media hosts to celebrity VIPs that would be coming for the special weekend. My main task was to help deliver supplies to check in, but I was also granted the chance to help out in some special tasks such as organizing brochures and tickets to be distributed and helping wrap up gift baskets for the most esteemed guests. I always enjoy being able to help out the company that I love, so I am so thankful that I got to step "next door" and try something new to help out.

[disney-carly-program]

m a y 15th

[disney-carly-program]

bop to the top

I had the privilege of getting to go to a cast member exclusive presentation on the making of Moana, featuring John Musker, Ron Clements, and Osnat Shurer. It was incredible to see how animation comes together and hear about the great lengths and massive efforts put forth to make just one Disney movie. People within the Walt Disney Company care tremendously about their art and it shows in their product because of the extensive research and time put forth to make sure every detail is perfect. I sat in awe of these people who created so many characters that I grew up with and could only think of the thousands of stories and memories they have related to Disney and how they grew and climbed in the company. They briefly mentioned how they got started with the company in the beginning of the presentation. Ron and John (as I call them as if they were my close friends) joined in the 70s. More specifically, John Musker partook in a special program (WITH JOHN LASSETER) designed for college students to do an animation internship, which was oddly reminiscent to where I stand now with Disney. While I know becoming the next John Musker/Lasseter is a bit of a stretch for someone not interested in film or animation, it was inspiring to think of where I could go and where I can find success.

[disney-carly-program]

a p r i l 27th

[disney-carly-program]

I'm almost there...

It’s official, I’m halfway through my program and I don’t think it could be going any faster. I finally feel like I have made friends that I will keep for a lifetime and am so content with the joy I have gained from my time here. There was a celebration for the CPs (College Program-ers) to mark the halfway point of the program. There was disneybounding, music, games on the boardwalk, and unlimited rides on Toy Story Midway Mania for an hour. Seeing as how there is consistently an hour long line for the ride, even now with the fast passes, I decided to go as many times as I could in order to not miss this opportunity. Even as my friends complained of being tired of the ride, I kept going on and although I lost count, I’m pretty sure I went eight times in a row. It was insane but such a wonderful memory for me and only me. I know I express this sentiment a lot, but I really don't want my program to end, and this celebration has been a wake up call for just how quickly time is flying by. I look forward to the many more opportunities I will have but I wish I could make it last a little longer.

[disney-carly-program]

a p r i l 24th

[disney-carly-program]

and no one knows how far I'll go

As my program continues on, I am constantly pleasantly surprised by the kindness I encounter al around. I have had so many wonderful magic moments that I feel are truly unique to me and are signs of my hard work and dedication to the program paying off. For my final project for my class in the program, I made a poster board about the profession of elementary school teachers. While I am not getting credit at my university for this class, I still chose to put in effort in order to learn specific skills that will be helpful for me later in my professional life. I decided to make my final project a representation of how much I appreciate the opportunities I have been given in life and how thankful I am to have had so many doors open for me, especially this year. I used what little artistic skill and creativity to prepare for the presentation and, boy, did it pay of fantastically for me. I was one of two people who got a perfect score in the class and I was unanimously voted best presentation by the class. My heart soared as my commitment to the project paid off with the kind words of my peers and teacher as they all told me how they could tell I was passionate about the career I had chosen for myself and how they enjoyed the details of my project. As of this week, I will be halfway through my program and it feels like grains of sand slipping through my fingers against my will and without any way of reversing the effect. I want the joy I am getting from this program to last forever, not just eight months. I want the friendships to endure, even as people move back across the country. I want the memories to happen every day as I desperately continue to soak up every moment and push myself to go further and do more each day while I can.

[disney-carly-program]

a p r i l 4th

[disney-carly-program]

I will find my way, I can go the distance

My most recent college program opportunity was a tour of the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank. On the tour, I got to see memorabilia of Disneyland and Disneyworld, items that belonged to Roy and Walt, a multiplane camera, and the legends plaza that was dedicated to the people who had massive impacts on the Walt Disney Company. While I know it's such a long shot for where I am in the program and in my life at this moment, I realized how much I wanted to be recognized in that plaza with the dozens of names that I cherished. I don't know how realistic this goal is, but I am determined to at least try to influence the company that I love and leave my mark on the world through Disney.

[disney-carly-program]

What is your favourite DisneyLand/DCA memory?

I have so many wonderful memories from the program, but one of my favorite ones this far has got to be the backstage tour of Soarin'. It's my favorite ride of both parks and I had the largest smile on my face the entire time.