School is fun!

We had a great time in the rest of our class. It got so hot in there that I almost fell asleep a few times, but the prof was so cool. We had some really interesting talks about tourism and hospitality and how much the industries have grown in the last few years. We also did a drawing about what hospitality and tourism meant to us. Some of the groups had really cool ones, I still think ours was probably the most awesome (I may be a little bit biased!!)

It has 'pineapple' written in all the languages that our group spoke, and the slogan on the top says 'Have a Juicy Experience'. We decided that to us, tourism and hospitality are about bringing people together, regardless of whether you're working in the industry or are vacationing. And pineapples are international symbols of hospitality. So we made a travelling pineapple. Seemed logical!

Derrek and his group thought that tourism and hospitality are like a book because you never know what's coming up in the next chapter! I support that for sure.

Two of my group members, both Spanish, working hard!

I'm definitely learning some Spanish. Today I learned 'fresa' which is strawberry!! I'm confident that I will be fluent by the end of this work term!!

We (the Canadian crew) are renting a car and driving around the California coast this weekend. It seems a shame to be here and not go take a look!! Planning is in process as we speak!

Photos

So the internet at our hotel has been spotty at best, but it seems to be working pretty well at this exact moment so I'm going to try to upload a few photos!!

This is the LAX airport, well, the outside of it. It was so warm and wonderful from the moment we got in!

Shopping in Cali for the first time was a very interesting experience!! Frozen White Castle burgers!!

This is the pool at our hotel, at which we are fixtures when we have time off!

Our home for the next two weeks, the Comfort Inn Riverside

Walking to the main campus!!

An orange tree!! A real live orange tree!!

Our school!!

Day 1

I'm still having problems uploading videos, so I think that I have to try to change the format of them and then try to upload. Sorry to dissapoint you! I'll make it happen! So today was our first day at school. It was an orientation day so we met professors and learned about the course we're taking here in California. Oh and they gave us cool UCR t-shirts!! We got a nice binder full of information, and they split us into the groups we'll be taking our classes in. Since there's 118 students, obviously we won't all fit in one classroom. So there's five groups of 24 students and we take the same classes but in a rotation. We heard from the director of the program who gave us some more detail about the program and what to expect. It's getting really exciting!! The professors are all really nice and we have some fun field trips coming up. Next wednesday we have a mandatory trip to Universal Studios where we get a behind the scenes tour and then have time to explore for ourselves!! All the locals keep referring to 'winter'. Which apparently is right now. Us Canadians are basking in the glorious sunshine and swimming by the pool, and they keep calling it winter. I'm going to get working on this video problem! More later!!

And here's a few little photos of us on our first day of classes!! yay!! It's tough to get a photo where one of us isn't making a stupid face!

Riverside

So we made it!! 3 of our group missed their flights out of Vancouver, but they showed up in the end, which is fantastic. I had a marvelous time coming through customs, my customs official was super nice and we laughed and joked and had a grand time. So this was by far the easiest time I've ever had coming through customs. So we are currently in Riverside, California, today is Martin Luther King day here in the states so it's a day off for us. We had a really lovely reunion with all our HMGT friends whom I've missed very much. There's a lot of international people, lots of new friends to meet. I'm going to learn spanish pretty quickly I think. My roommate is from Spain, she's really nice. There's a few groups of people from Spain, some from Madrid and others from Barcelona. There's a group of Moroccans who are really cool and also some from France, I haven't really fun into them much yet but I know they're here somewhere. We start our classes tomorrow, lots of fun to be had I'm assuming, but also lots of work. This morning Johnny and I ate breakfast in the sun under a palm tree. Quite the change from the snow we had in Victoria last week! We have a lot of fun things scheduled for the next two weeks and I will be sure to document it all!!! The grocery stores here are pretty crazy, everything is in mega sized portions and super cheap! And the news is pretty intense. We were watching it last night and every story is about people getting shot or dead babies or people being kidnapped. I miss Canadian news!!  So I'm trying something Ive never done before on this blog, VIDEO!!! Bear with me, this is the first time I've tried this so it might not be amazing. But here's a little bit of footage I took this morning around our hotel in Riverside. I actually took two videos but the first one didn't really work so here's the second one, nothing too crazy, just a little tour of parts of the hotel!! Hopefully you like it!! So I can't upload the video, the internet is too slow, i'm going to upload this post and then later I'll upload the video!! SORRY!!

I love rides!

I had so much fun doing the top 5 resorts that I thought I'd do my top 10 rides! I'm a huge amusement park fan, I love roller coasters and anything that feels like I may get thrown out of it at any second. I'm an adrenaline junkie by nature. So of course, I'm really excited to be working in one of the biggest amusements parks in the world. So, here is my top 10 list of rides!! Why top 10 and not just 5? Well mostly because I couldn't narrow it down to just 5!!
Oh, while talking about attractions, I should mention that I'm SO EXCITED to go see La Nouba by Cirque du Soleil, which is a show that is performed exclusively in Downtown Disney!!

Space Mountain
This super thrilling roller coaster is not for the faint of heart and is located in Tomorrowland within the Magic Kingdom theme park. Featuring lots of flashing lights, heart stopping turns and gravity defying loops, this ride is not to be missed if you're an adrenalin junkie like me!

Splash Mountain
This flume ride might be one of the best known rides ever! Splash Mountain is located in Frontierland within the Magic Kingdom theme park! Offering those who dare to ride the chance to get wet, there are several big drops into pools finally ending with a 52.5 foot drop into the final pool. The ride centers around Br'er Rabbit's escape from Br'er Bear and Br'er Fox and is very entertaining as well as thrilling!! Lots of fun!

The Haunted Mansion
Located in Liberty Square within the Magic Kingdom theme park, this is a classic Disney ride that is full of ghosts, surprises and even ghosts singing songs!! I don't even need to explain why this is one of my favorites, because it's just so obviously awesome!!

Test Track
The Test Track is a vehicle simulation ride that allows guests to experience the test that General Motors puts all of it's vehicles through. Located in the Epcot Theme Park within the Test Track Pavilions, this is one of Disneyworlds longest and fastest rides! I can't wait to try this one!!

Pirates of the Caribbean
This is a classic Disney ride (and now movie franchise) that is not to be missed!! I'm a huge fan of pirates in general and I have really fond memories of this ride from visiting the park as a child. Plus there is a 14 foot drop off a waterfall into a pirate cave!!!

Expedition Everest
Set with Mount Everest as it's majestic background, this roller coaster looks spectacular. This ride is housed within Disney's Animal Kingdom Park! There's even a yeti!!!

Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
This is another roller coaster that is actually set to music recorded by Aerosmith! Located in Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park, on Sunset Boulevard, guests ride in a coaster car shaped like a stretch limousine around the Disney recreation of Southern California!

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
The Tower of Terror, located in Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park, is a ride modeled after the famous Hollywood Tower hotel, a well known retreat for movies stars in the 1920's and 30's. According to legend, in 1939, five people were trapped in the elevator when a storm hit the building, and none of them were ever heard from again. This tower of terror takes you up and down the hotel and may even drop you to the bottom!! I love scary rides, especially ones where you feel like you're falling!!

Studio Backlot Tour
This isn't a crazy roller coaster or anything but it's really cool!! Kind of similar to the Universal Studios backlot tour, you get to see behind the scenes of your favorite Disney movies!

Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin
Located within Tomorrowland in the Magic Kingdom theme park, this one isn't too crazy, but it looks really fun because you get to shoot at space invaders and you get points for how many you get!!

I left out the water park rides, not because I'm not excited for them, in fact I'm VERY excited, however, I think they water parks are kind of seperate from the rest of the fully-clothed rides, not sure why I think that, but I do. Maybe I'll save waterparks for another day!!

A Word of Thanks

I just wanted to take a moment and give a really big thank you to those businesses and associations in the community that support the Camosun School of Business, and students like myself. This semester I received the Hotel Association of Greater Victoria Co-op Education Award as well as bursaries through the Camosun College Foundation from the Great Canadian Beer Festival Society and Attractions Victoria. These generous contributions are invaluable to students like myself, and I can't accurately articulate how much I appreciate them. Without this support I would be really struggling to pull this work term together. So thank you, not just to the donors of my specific awards and bursaries, but also to all the other donors, your support is VERY much appreciated.

The Top 5

So we're 7 days away from leaving and as a crazy Disney fanatic, I can't help but wonder what hotel I'll be working in! Sooooo I've compiled a list of my top 5 favorite resorts in Disneyworld. Obviously they are all lovely and I'll be happy with whichever resort I'm assigned to, however, these ones are my absolute favorite and I can't wait to see them in real life!! So the way the resorts work in Disneyworld is that there's several different categories; Deluxe Villas,  Deluxe Resort Hotels, Moderate Resort Hotels, and Value Resort Hotels. There's even campgrounds!! Disney has gone to great lengths to ensure that everyone has a place to stay at Disneyworld, no matter what budget!! There's over 25 different resorts in the park (actually I believe there's 31, but that's unconfirmed knowledge)!! And I've gone through every one of them online trying to decide which ones I love the most! So without much further ado, I present my favorite resorts!! I hope you like them as much as I do!! Click the names of each resort to see the resorts in more detail!!

 Oh also, sidebar, did you know that Disneyworld's "Typhoon Lagoon" waterpark is home to the world's biggest wave pool?! Its true.


Erica's Top 5 Disneyworld Resort List

5. Disney's Port Orlean's Resort - French Quarter
This resort made the list because it looks like SO MUCH FUN!!! Located in Downtown Disney, this resort invokes the fun and frolic of historic New Orleans!! I had to put this one on the list because I'm fascinated by New Orleans and particularly the raucous lives of those who lived in the French Quarter, I love jazz music and cajun food! So this one definitely gets a spot in the top 5!

4. Disney's Polynesian Resort
Located in the Magic Kingdom are of the park, this resort is a tropical paradise, it is build to resemble a royal Tahitian assembly lodge. The furniture is bamboo and rattan. The Nanea Volcano pool features a 40 foot high volcano with a waterfall and a waterslide!  The dining room has huge carved totems and is warm and inviting. I've never been to Polynesia, but looking at this resort makes me feel like I have. I love how much attention to detail is put into these resorts, it really transports you to another world!

3. Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas - Kidani Village
Located within Disney's Animal Kingdom, this resort is situated within the park's 21 acre wildlife preserve, featuring over 30 different species of animals that roam freely. The buildings are modeled after an African lodge. Something I love about this resort is that the villas and lobby are built to stretch out in the shape of a water buffalo's horns!! I also love that it's right in the wildlife preserve!!

2. Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa
Located in the Magic Kingdom theme park, this is Disneyworld's flagship resort. Opulent and spacious, it sits on the edge of the Seven Seas Lagoon. The Victorian style resort's grand lobby stands over 5 stories high and is lit by two massive chandeliers. It is luxury at it's finest. This is on the list because I simply adore the grandeur of it, and I love Victorian style buildings and decor.

1. Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa
Here we are!! Number 1!! My very favorite resort in Disneyworld. This is a stunning Victorian style, equestrian themed resort in the Downtown Disney area. It is inspired by Saratoga Springs, a late-1800's New York retreat area that was well known for spas and horse racing. The resort is set on 65 acres, and features lakes and fountains on the grounds. There are 6 different areas that make up the Saratoga Springs; The Springs, The Paddock, Congress Park, The Carousel, The Grandstand, and The Treehouse Villas. There are many reasons that this resort is number one on my list. First and foremost, I'm a horseback rider so anything with an equestrian theme goes right to the top of most of my lists. Also I love the idea of the treehouse villas. They are actually built on pedestals and beams and are raised 10 feet off the ground so guests are sleeping in the lush green trees! I adore that idea. Plus the resort is simply stunning, I can't wait to see it in real life!!

 So there is my list! I hope you enjoyed it!! Can't wait to actually be there!!