The First Few Days

In my opinion I think the first few days before Traditions is some of the toughest but enjoyable times :) You're dealing with jet lag, home sickness, living with new people, filling in forms, attending meetings and getting some of your first glimpses of WDW!

On the 11th we only had a housing meeting at 12pm. I had intended to sleep in a bit but jet lag woke me bright and early at 6am!! So both me and my roommate ended up unpacking before heading over to Walgreens across the road from Vista for more shopping. 

We met at Vista at 12 to get the bus over to the Commons where the housing meeting was taking place. I'm pretty sure this was the day where we had to do some immigration stuff before the meeting. Then some of us went to the outlet malls across from the commons for a nosey round the Disney store and a Starbucks. It was on the way back that someone said about the wind getting stronger and how that was the signal for heavy rain coming, 10 minutes later when we were thankfully under shelter we had our first Florida thunderstorm! 

The housing meeting was fine, they tried to make it exciting by playing Disney music and having a party atmosphere at the start but after that they went through all the rules of Disney housing including how we weren't allowed lightsabers as they can be classed as weapons!

Later that night a big group of UK ones went to Downtown Disney, it was so exciting to finally pass under the purple gates of WDW for the first time! We spent  most of the time walking around DTD trying to decide on somewhere to eat before eventually going to Earl of Sandwich. We spent the rest of our time looking around the different shops and we even got speaking to one of the Cast Members who was really nice and was so excited for us to start our program!

Wednesday the 12th June we had another meeting over in the Commons but this time it was to do with immigration and other serious stuff. We were in a room of 200 and they had to guide us through filling a form to apply for our social security number! And they had an officer from the department of homeland telling us what not to do or else we would be deported!!

We went back to Vista and each of us had an appointment in the welcome centre there to fill in even more paperwork and to find out where we were working!!! I found out I would be working at Blizzard Beach in Lottawatta Lodge (say it slowly you'll get it!!). To be totally honest I was a bit disappointed when I got a water park but it turned out to be the best place ever and I wouldn't change my location for the world. 

After that I went back to the apartment and probably Skyped home, it was after that the homesickness really hit me but my roommate was great, gave me a hug and we went out to Downtown Disney.

We ended bumping into a group of UK girls heading there as well and we all went to dinner at Paridiso 37. We had a lovely meal and I really enjoyed the night :) After the meal we all headed back to our apartments since a lot of us had an early morning for Traditions tomorrow!!!

Have a Magical Day!!

10th June - Hello Orlando!

The day I had been waiting for had finally arrived!! I woke up before my alarm and got myself organised before checking out of the Yotel. 

I then met up with my roommate at check in before heading through security. We then had breakfast before heading to meet up with the rest of the ICP's on our flight :)

Our flight was long but uneventful, it consisted of watching movies really! We arrived in Orlando on time and then the fun began!! We had an hour and a half wait for immigration since there were several international flights coming in at the same time. But thankfully they didn't take us into a separate room we were allowed straight through :)

We then got our baggage before heading on the fake monorail to the main terminal. Since there was so many of us we got a mears taxi to Vista Way which worked out at $10 each. Before we even got into the taxi the heavens opened up and it started to rain! What a welcome to Orlando lol

Once we got to Vista Way we were greeted by Disney reps and two of the Yummy Jobs team which was really nice to see! We had to do a bit of paper work and watch a video before heading to our apartments. My apartment was in Vista Way in building 17 beside the basketball courts which was a great location! It was close to the buses and the main building. 

After quickly meeting a couple of our roommates we headed to Walmart although on our way we seen two girls looking lost, we asked them if we could help and it turned out it was our other two roommates who had just arrived from France!

Walmart is massive!! I think it took us longer just to work out in our heads where everything is! I just got some essentials since I was tired already. 

After returning from Walmart me and my roommate decided to go to Wendy's which is just outside Vista Way since we hadn't ate since the plane! By this point I was so tired I hardly ate anything!! I think we eventually got to bed about 11/12 so it was a very long day!!

I'll talk about the first few days before Traditions in the next post!!

Have a Magical Day!!

9th June - Travelling to London

So the day had finally come, I was leaving NI and moving to Florida for 10 weeks! It was so weird sitting in church that morning thinking the next time I'll be there is August!!

After church we headed up to Belfast and went to a Chinese actually around the corner from my university, we had a nice meal before heading to the airport. 

I'm not gonna lie the goodbyes were horrible! I started crying in the carpark!! But I got through security and after a sit down and getting all the emotions out I didn't feel so bad :)

My flight to London was uneventful and I found the Yotel in Gatwick airport very easily. After settling into the room I Skyped home (I know I'd only been away a couple of hours!) But this was the first time being away from home for a long period of time and daily contact was necessary!

For dinner I actually met up with my roommate and we went to Wetherspoons, it was nice to actually met her and talk to someone who was going! My poor family had to put up with me talking about it lol The rest of the night was quiet and I did get some sleep thankfully!!

I'll talk about the arrival to Orlando in the next post!

Have a Magical Day!!

It's been a while is an understatement!

Hi everyone!

Well blogging out in America clearly didn't happen! But to be honest I knew it wouldn't and I've been so busy since I came home with university and stuff that the time has flown in!

Honestly the Disney ICP has been one of the, if no the best thing I have done in my life so far! I had a blast; making the magic for guests, working with some amazing people from all around the world, playing in the parks on days off and as much as it sounds cheesy I really did make memories that I will cherish for the rest of my life :)

Although it was tough as well! The first week is probably the worst for homesickness and you really do work hard! I was consistently working 40 hours a week and there were days I literally woke up, ate, work, sleep! But honestly I wouldn't change the experience for the world!

I'm gonna talk a bit more about my work in another post :)

Have a Magical Day!!

Monday!!!

Well today is my last full day in Northern Ireland!! I honestly cannot believe how quickly time has flown in and it still doesn't seem real!!

Today will be the start of the goodbyes :( But tbh I think I'm actually ready to leave home for 10 weeks and Skype will be brilliant for keeping in touch :) I think also seeing the 3rd of Juners updates makes me feel more excited and less nervous about it :)

Packing is just about done! I was slightly over 20kg so I had to repack and it is now under! Silly Aer Lingus has a weight restriction on hold luggage of 20kg but Virgin Atlantic has a weight restriction of 23kg!! And since I'm flying with Aer Lingus from Belfast to London I have to keep the weight under 20kg. 

Have a Magical Day!! 2 days to go!!!! 1 day till the journey begins!!

This time next week...

...I will be taking off from Belfast and will be on my way to London Gatwick!! :O

It's still hard to believe to be honest. I have quite a few things to do this week including packing and after hearing about the 3rd of Juners doing packing and having to repack things so that they are under the weight limit, that should be fun!! Last week I thought that, actually I don't have that much stuff, then I looked in my Disney drawer under my bed which is full of different things including duvet and towels and thought "Oh dear!!" lol I'll let you's all know how I get on with that challenge!!

Also if any 3rd of Juners are reading this, Have a great time and enjoy yourselves!!! Hope everything goes smoothly and I cannot wait to be there in the Sunshine State with everyone!!

Have a Magical Day!!! 8 days to go!!!

13 days to go!

How can time fly so quickly!!?? Honestly it seems like yesterday when I found out I got onto the program! Here I am 13 days from landing in Orlando and it still doesn't feel real!!

Everything is paid off now including travel insurance and I have my travel money card from Virgin with money just waiting to be spent!! I finished uni on Thursday and then ended up going shopping the next day to get clothes since I hardly have a summer wardrobe! lol My bank account was definitely lighter after that shopping spree!! I just have to buy a few bits and pieces which include an Ethernet cable, alarm clock and some toiletries like sun-cream etc. Then next week I can focus on packing, spending time with family and celebrating my birthday before I go away!

It's weird since I actually leave Northern Ireland on my birthday then we aren't celebrating on my birthday then but one day next week and apparently I'm going to get my presents then :) One part of this program that I'm not looking forward to is saying goodbye!! I know once I get the first few days over I should be fine but it's just getting to that point!!

I'm not promising to keep this blog updated, it's got quite a few posts but there have been times where I have forgotten about it with being so busy with uni work. But I will definitely update about my time after I return to the UK :)

Have a Magical Day!!! 13 days to go!!!!