Oswald

I just realized that not everyone knows who Oswald the Lucky Rabbit is to begin with so I thought I should give a little background in case that last post really confused you! Oswald was Walt's first cartoon creation. It did not start with Mickey. Oswald was the star of Walt's first cartoons and in the 1920's he lost the rights to him through a contract issue. So really it's a good thing that he lost Oswald because if he hadn't he would never have gone on to draw Mickey!!

That's Oswald!!! Also, another interesting tidbit; Walt wanted to call his mouse character 'Mortimer Mouse'. He would have, except that his wife Lily said that was ridiculous and no one wanted to see a cartoon about a mouse named Mortimer. She preferred Mickey. And so Mickey Mouse was officially named!

Corporate Analysis

I just came from my corporate analysis class. I think I love that class more every week. Today we talked about the last 75 years of Disney history. It's REALLY interesting. I think it makes me feel much more invested as a cast member to know the company's history. I feel more dedicated to upholding Walt's vision of Disney World having learnt more about his life and the life of the company. It will be really interesting when we start comparing the Walt Disney Company with other companies. I'm a really big fan of Bob Iger. For someone who just took over as president of the company, he's really dedicated to the company's history. Ever since Walt lost the rights to Oswald the Lucky Rabbit in the 20's, he'd tried and tried to get Oswald back from Universal. It never happened. In 2006, Bob got Oswald back. Things like that really show Bob's dedication to Walt's legacy, and I like that.

I also like how Disney has their own front desk operation system. Have I mentioned that? I think I may have in passing, but I'd like to mention more about it. Last year, Disney decided they were tired of using the same operation systems as every other resort and they created their very own front desk operating system. It's called Lilo. Yes, like Lilo and Stich. It's totally exclusive to Disney and it's SO cool. The really neat thing that I don't think I've mentioned yet is how Lilo co-operates with The Hub. The Hub is our Disney intranet. It has all the information we as cast members need to function day-to-day. On The Hub we can view our schedules, request time off, book hotel rooms, and check out what's going on all over Disney property. It also links with Lilo when you're working at the front desk. I can use Lilo to send requests to housekeeping to send a guest more towels, or laundry detergent. Obviously not everyone can access those parts of The Hub, someone in merchandise, for instance, won't have the same access to certain areas that I do being at front desk. It's really neat.

Oh, I also need to mention how much I love my job. My resorts are SO COOL!! Everyone there is wonderful. I get along so well with everyone already. And in the tunnels below the resorts, cast members zip around on special bikes, and even segeways. I don't get a segeway because I don't need ro spend much time zipping around in the tunnels between the resorts, but some cast do get to use them and it's pretty much the coolest thing ever.

Well that's all I really have for now. I have some lovely photos from our last few days in the parks but I haven't uploaded them yet and right now I have to run to work!!! More later!!

First Official Shift

Well yesterday was my first official shift in the resort. I'm supposed to have 5 shifts on front desk with a trainer before I'm on my own and then go back for concierge training. Well yesterday morning, I waited where I was supposed to for my trainer. 40 mins later one of the managers came down to get me and explained that my trainer had called out sick. So he didn't really know what to do with me. So he introduced me to the back office cast and left me with them for a bit. This was really amazing because back office does EVERYTHING. The front desk staff in Disney resorts don't even answer phones. Back office re-arranges rooms, assigns rooms, takes care of all the problems. Really just runs the hotel. Back office is somewhere near 2 positions higher than what I was hired for so it was a really neat opportunity for me to see what they do. Then I went to the front desk where I had a trainer that already had a trainee, so he helped me with my first check in and then I pretty much got to work alone. It was really cool. I learn better if I'm thrown right into things anyway so I really liked that. I received much praise for my work yesterday and that made me happy! I just adore all the people that I work with, everyone is sooo much fun. I really think that I'm going to like it here! I went for a nice workout this morning and now I'm off to work again. Hopefully my trainer is there today, if not, I'm sure I'll have another adventurous day!

Big Day!

Well I've been training and training and training. And now I finally get to have my first day in my resort!!! Very exciting. I saw the resort the other day when I went to pick up my costume and it's stunning!!! I love it. So I do front desk shifts in both the resorts (Kidani Village and Jambo House) before I go back for concierge training. Also very exciting. I do have a trainer for my first few front desk shifts, they don't just unleash me upon the front desk, so that's comforting. But I'm still nervous! It feels like it's going to be a great day!

Collegiate Class

We just got back from our first collegiate class! I love it!! Our prof is soooo entertaining and wonderful! And the content is super interesting. All about corporate culture and the history of Disney and what other corporations are up to. It's going to be 11 weeks of magic, I just know it. We have the rest of the day off, so we're going to MK (Magic Kingdom) to explore. Stay tuned for photos!!

Best Homework Ever

As a Concierge cast member, it is my responsibility to know the parks backwards and forwards. What better way to become an expert than seeing and doing everything in all of the parks?! Just as a side note, today is my fourth consecutive day spending time one or more of the parks, I've been going after training every day. So Linds and I had a day off today and we spent it in Disney's Hollywood Studios and Epcot. I adore Disney's Hollywood Studios, I absolutely love how it looks like Los Angeles. It has some of my favorite rides (The Hollywood Tower of Terror, Toy Story Midway Mania, and The Rock'n Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith) and the stores are full of really fantastic Disney merchandise. Something that I'm really noticing in all the parks is how amazing the attention to detail is. Whichever park you're in or ride you're on, nothing is left undone. Every detail has been seen to, and it really enhances the experience. As does the attitude of the cast. Every cast member acts and dresses as if they are part of the ride. If you're on the Tower of Terror, all the cast are dressed as bell-hops and behave as if they are working in a very high class LA hotel. At the Toy Story Midway Mania ride, the cast are dressed as toys and also refer to the guests as toys when they enter and exit the ride; it really makes you feel like you're in  giant toy box, which is the premise of the ride! Disney is SO dedicated to the show and as I'm discovering, the Disney trainers really instill that dedication into all of the cast members. At the concierge desk, not only do I have a costume, but I even have a special greeting that is used only in my park, so the show goes on not just at the attractions, but anywhere you go within a Disney park. As you travel through any of the parks, it's remarkable how almost every person is either wearing or carrying a piece of Disney merchandise. Disney really has marketing down to a science. I can't wait to learn about their marketing philosophies!! Speaking of learning, tomorrow we have our first Corporate Analysis class. Very exciting. Can't wait! We took some video of our adventures today, click HERE to see it! And I'll put a few photos up as well!! Enjoy!!

This is the evening show 'Illuminations' that runs every night in Epcot's World Showcase. The building you see is part of the entrance-way to the China part of the Showcase.

Disney's Hollywood Studios has some really lovely stores. As you know, the villains are my favorite!!

As you walk down towards the Toy Story Midway Mania ride, the street is lined with giant toys, making it seem as though the guest has been shrunk down to the size of a child's toy!!

We had a chance to visit with a few of our favorite Disney characters from the movie Monsters Inc. That's Mike Wazowski on the left with Linds and I'm getting a big hug from Sulley!

Disney's Hollywood Studios is home to this fantastic New York City scene, used in many movies. Yup, the buildings in the very back are not real. Well, they're really painted walls, but not real buildings! The ones in the foreground are actual buildings.

At the GM Test Track, after the main ride, you can check out some exciting things that GM is working on!

The famous Sorceror's hat that symbolizes Disney's Hollywood Studios!

One of my very favorite rides!!

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We had to try on some mouse ear hats! It just had to be done!

This is in the Mexico pavillion in Epcot! Lovely!

So much learning

This will be a short one because I'm really tired, and need some sleep. It's been a long few days, lots of things to learn in training class and then I've been spending the evening in the parks trying to figure out where I am, and ride all the attractions so that I can advise my guests! I know what you're thinking, 'ooohhh tough work, going to Disney World.' And you're right, I'm living the dream! However, there really is a lot to learn before my first onstage shifts and Disney puts a lot of trust and confidence in their concierge staff so I have a very high performance standard to maintain. I went to Epcot after work tonight and I LOVED it. There are some seriously amazing rides. The ride based on Finding Nemo is actually backed by a massive working aquarium with dolphins and all kinds of things. And the Soarin' ride is so cool, it's as if you are para-sailing through multiple beautiful settings, the chairs actually twist and make you feel like you're flying. I feel as if it's really important for me to ride all the rides. Even the ones I wouldn't necessarily choose to ride, it's important that I am able to advise families of exactly what those rides are like, and the more passionate I am about the park, the easier it will be to make magic moments for my guests. The Illumination firework event, which happens every night, was AMAZING!! I look a really neat picture that I'll put up soon! Anyhow, I'm beat, definitely time for some rest!!!