#DCPSpring

[alexandralegr8]

Making Moves???

Well, I have some news! This past Friday, I finally got my WBI!!! I went straight home with my already accepted bestie and she helped me ace my WBI and I immediately scheduled my PI!!! It’s tomorrow (Monday) at 11:15, and I am beyond excited and also extremely nervous. I’m afraid that I won’t get QSFB, Merch, or Attractions, or even get the 28th as my move in day. I am hoping to be Kirsten’s roommate and with a good role for myself. Attractions and Merch are my top choices, but QSFB is an extremely close second to those, and I would be so happy to get that! I know QSFB the best, hence my work history, and I have a feeling that that is what I’d get, but now they’re saying that roles are limited, along with arrival dates. I am terrified that they’re going to give me custodial or lifeguard. I’m just praying and praying over here, along with Kirsten of course. Pray for me!!!!!

[thekimmiandjackieshow]

The Manatees & The Storm

My high school friend Sarah was still in town for a few days. We had the choice of two parks to visit. I’m sure most people would pick Magic Kingdom and EPCOT. We instead picked EPCOT and Animal Kingdom. I could not let her leave Walt Disney World without getting to show her my home park. Our first stop though, was EPCOT. It was another gorgeous day. I told Sarah she was getting really lucky with the weather. The humidity was tolerable and the minimal clouds helped cover the sun.

Beyond Starbucks, our first stop was The Seas. I’m sure that’s not where most people start, but I knew Sarah was excited about one thing: manatees. As we walked up to the Nemo ride, I told her she was going to get to see real live manatees. She instantly started crying real actual tears.

The exit for Nemo’s ride dumps right into an aquarium. It’s one of my favorite spots in Walt Disney World. It just has so much to look at, and despite being a ride dump, it never has that many people in it. I guess many people don’t pay the Disney price to go to an aquarium of all things, but to me it’s a hidden treasure. So we rode Nemo and went on to the aquarium. 

Inside the aquarium we saw dolphins, manatees, and endless fish. Sarah was in heaven. We meandered on through until we reached the gift shop. The gift shop was one place I always wanted to work and never did. In part because after my one EPCOT experience backstage, I wasn’t quite ready for another. The other part of it was that I didn’t really see a ton of shift openings for it. I still wish I had sought after it a bit more.

Stormy clouds started to roll over EPCOT. The potential for rain lingered but the day remained beautiful. Spring is one of my favorite times to go to Walt Disney World. The weather is usually nicer and EPCOT’s Flower and Garden Festival usually takes place for the majority of the season. We headed over to World Showcase so I could show her some of my favorites. 

World Showcase is a popular favorite. Tourists are amazed by the amount of detail in each pavilion. Returners have favorite spots they love to hang out and relax in. While I enjoyed World Showcase, I personally didn’t have a lot of attachment to it. I liked walking around, I loved the festivals, but I didn’t necessarily need to visit every country every time. In fact I still haven’t visited most of the attractions. But it is something I feel like everybody needs to at least see, especially because I know my opinion is an unpopular one. There is so much to see that some people feel like they could spend their entire lives there. But for me, it is one of those things that remains stagnant. Luckily Flower & Garden was well under way, and I already had several favorites.

The first favorite is the infamous Frozen Lavender Lemonade. On my first visit to Flower & Garden I happened to be in the right mood, and was easily convinced to try new things. Usually, I steer away from newly flavored drinks. I’m not a super picky eater but I’m definitely a picky drinker (alcohol or no). The fact that it was purple didn’t dissuade me, nor did the fact that I had no idea what on earth lavender would taste like. I went ahead and tried it and fell in love, much like everybody else who tries it. It’s the perfect mix of sweet and sour. It’s smooth and cold and wonderful on warm days in a park that doesn’t have a lot of shade to offer. Of course that was one of our first stops.

We made our way through all the pavilions, stopping for the occasional picture, pausing for the shows we ran into, and paying for small snacks along the way. We took our time wandering through shops in countries that fascinated Sarah. I remember us not having a ton of time though I really can’t remember if it was because I had work that morning or if it was because we had both decided to sleep in. Whatever the case, we made what we could out of the day and had a blast doing it. 

By the time the sun went down, we were in the Mexico Pavilion and had made our way all around the world. My favorite food is Mexican food, so we stopped under the covering for some nachos and decided to stay in the area to wait for illumiNations. Shortly after we grabbed seats though, it started to storm. Rain drizzled down and lightning lit up the sky. It was common in Florida. Most of the time it lasted 20-30 minutes and then moved on. Sarah asked if IllumiNations would be cancelled, but Disney doesn’t cancel things until the very last minute because weather can change in an instant. When it became clear that the storm was going to linger and IllumiNations was not going to happen after all (about 10 minutes before they actually made that announcement), we decided to make our way to Spaceship Earth. My roommate Dana worked that night and I wanted to pay a visit. We packed up our things and headed out. I mentioned earlier that EPCOT has no shade. Well, it also offers very little shelter from rain and storms. For whatever reason, that is the park I got caught in the MOST during storms. From the Mexico Pavilion to Spaceship Earth, there is almost no safe place to walk in the rain. We knew this and decided to go for it anyway. A little rain never hurt anyone and Disney had lightning rods installed in several of their buildings to keep guests safe. So we started running. The rain got harder until it was an absolute downpour. There were no guests in the streets and the lightning had gotten super close. The entire park was 101 - meaning all Cast closed outdoor locations, escorted guests to the nearest covering/shelter, and got to a safe place until the storm cleared. Ultimately it is up to the guest to decide whether or not they want to walk in the storm. No Cast Members can tell you that you have to go inside, and truthfully nobody had advised us to stay under cover. We were halfway across the bridge out of the Mexico Pavilion before we realized it was raining way too hard. We ran into one of the Ports of Call shops for safety. The store was packed with other guests seeking shelter, but we were the ones who ran in dripping wet. 

As a Californian, I will forever love playing in the rain. We just didn’t get that much rain and when it came, it was special. So I was never bothered by rain in Florida. I never minded racing through storms and winding up soaking wet. Inside the store, guests were talking and mingling with one another. People were estimating how long the storm would last, locals were trying to convince visitors that it wouldn't last long, and normal chitchat ensued. Sarah and I started talking about whether or not we should pursue our goal to get to Spaceship Earth. Both of us agreed that if we were going to do it, we needed to go ahead and do it then. 

The only problem I have with running in the rain is that, without fail, the rain fills my glasses with water droplets making it impossible to see. Then water starts to drip from my glasses into my eyes, making my sensitive eyes burn. I normally try to keep my head down to keep the water out, and get to my destination as quickly as possible.

We made a plan, and we had it figured out. A few other guests behind us were cheering us on. Nobody was outside. We ran out of the sliding doors and right into the giant lake that had formed in the entrance of World Showcase. The drains couldn’t keep up with the amount of rainfall, and massive puddles were starting to form. It was dark so we couldn’t really see where they were until it was far too late. We were ankle deep in water, I was completely unable to see, and Sarah was holding my hand and pulling me along with her. Just as I go to look up, an incredibly bright light filled the area. No time passed and the thunder came right behind it, making a deafening noise. Guests from the shop behind us gasped and/or screamed as the noise made them jump. Sarah had crouched to the ground with her hand over her head, panicked. The wind picked up, the rain fell harder, and the lightning was right on top of us. Sarah grabbed my hand and we booked it back to the store, letting the storm claim victory. By that point we were even more soaked and breathing hard. 

A few guests thought it was hilarious how soaked we were and wanted to take our picture for us. I managed to clear my glasses with another nice guest’s help. About 10 minutes later the rain let up. Lightning was sill in the area but a few guests started to head towards the front of the park. World Showcase was pretty much a lake and guests were sloshing through the flooded park. We still had a bit of time before the park closed so we made our way to Spaceship Earth. Nobody was in line and Dana wasn’t in the front greeting, so we headed up. Inside it was freezing cold. Their air conditioning was still on and when the cold hair hit our dripping wet clothes, we froze. We found Dana at the top of the ramp loading guests. I introduced Sarah and Dana and we caught up for a second. Soon, guests were behind us and Dana had to get to work. If my memory is correct, Sarah and I didn’t stick around to ride. We were too cold and were ready to go home so we went back through the exit and called it a night. The front of Future World was a lake too. I attempted to get a picture of the flooded area, but it was so dark.

There’s nothing quite like getting caught in a Florida storm during your day at the park. I honestly kind of miss it. Even though we were uncomfortably wet, we were happy. We had an amazing day and I was so happy to share that with Sarah.

[dannysexbangrps]

Dreams really do come true! #waltdisneyworld #magickingdom #mainstreetusa #balloons #disneyballoons #disneycollegeprogram #dcpspring (at Disney's Magic Kingdom)

[flashbulbsburstmovestoflorida]

Would it be a DCP blog if I didn’t post this screenshot?

After applying on a whim since my life is a giant question mark post grad, I got accepted! I’ll be a photo pass photographer, which means I get to put my degree to use (sort of). I arrive February 1st and leave June 2nd. I’m pretty stoked!

[theyell0wbrickroad]

My disney college program experience!

hey guys, 

so i figured id make a post about my experience with the disney college program. originally, i made a separate tumblr but honestly during the program i had no time to post to it. when i wasn't working (which brace yourself you'll be working around 40 hours a week) I was in two disney courses or at the gym or at the beach or exploring the parks. there was never a dull or boring day and you can seek adventure anywhere.

i worked in the entertainment department as a character performer. it was my dream job growing up and it was awesome that i got casted. working in entertainment was a lot different than the traditional college program life, so if you're in a different department I'm not sure how helpful this post will be. 

the disney courses were cool, however very long. four hours each definitely takes a big chunk out of your day. (i took in the morning so i had the afternoon to either work or get some errands done) my college gave me credit for them so i definitely recommend checking with yours to see if you do to!

ok lets talk living. YOU NEED A CAR. i cant stress this enough. the bus system takes forever to get anywhere. i was so blessed that i had my car with me. also if you need to buy groceries (which you will) waiting for the bus at public will not help you keep your items cool. 

its hot. its really hot. working all day out in the hot sun gets brutal. remember this is a once in a lifetime thing on those tough days. 

roommates- yeah well didnt become the best of friends. had awkward encounters. i wish my roommates were going to be my lifelong friends yada yada yada but it didn't work out that way for me. oh well!

i met some cool people from my character audition so that was cool that i had them to hang with. (though its hard to find time to hang since everyones working)

lets talk $. you won't make much haha living expenses, rent, groceries, going to the beach, gas, souvenirs, etc. i left the program with less money than i started. 

any questions please feel free to ask!! id love to help, i wish i had someone to talk to before going into the program to tell me like it really is. you'll remember the tough long days at work, but you'll also remember the magic. and how you helped create it. 

:)

[whyidontwearpants]

I’m unearthing my old blog about the DCP.  Yes, I was a boob and forgot to post, BUT I’m making up for it and chronicling my whole experience over the summer.  Follow my tumblr and my blogspot!  www.rememberthemagicwdw@blogspot.com for all of my adventures and daily Disney musings.  

[oldladycollegeprogram]

Friday, February 20th It was my niece Addison's birthday. I tried to call her a couple times but didn't get through so I left a message. Her mom called me later but Addy was exhausted at that point and just said No when Lindsay told her I wanted to tell her happy birthday. Ok! Gotta love 3 year olds. I don't even remember what I did in the morning, but I worked from 2 to 8. I love the 6 hour shift. I have such a good attitude on those days, because I know whatever happens I won't have to...

[flyawaywithmetonight]

We got to dance with Slim today! One of the coolest characters I've ever seen! We are having a great day in the parks so far 🍃 #animalkingdom #slim #disney #disneyworld #wdw #dcp #dcp2015 #dcpspring

[ycro]

Awww yeah!! #DcpSpring #Dcp2015 #Dcp #Scifithearher #picoftheday

[thekimmiandjackieshow]

The Night with Shawn Mendes

During the spring time, Universal has continuous concerts in the park in celebration of Mardi Gras. Passholders who weren’t blocked out could attend the concert for free and the listings weren’t always Joe Schmoe and the Nobodies. Early on in my spring program I had heard that Shawn Mendes would be performing there. Due to my lack of radio-listening, I hadn’t really heard of Shawn Mendes before. On a random day during the fall program though, Jackie had texted me saying there was a song I needed to hear that she heard on her Pandora station while she was studying: “A Little Too Much” by Shawn Mendes. It was the first Shawn Mendes song I had heard and it was exactly what I needed to hear at the time. I became obsessed with the song and listened to it often, but honestly hadn’t heard much else from him. Dana, my roommate, however, loved him. We had made plans to go together but then we realized she would be blocked out.

The day snuck up on me and I realized he’d be at Universal that night, shortly after I got off of work. I casually mentioned to my coworker Edric that he was going to be there while we were working in the stroller garage, and Edric decided we should go together. I guess he was a moderate fan of Shawn Mendes too. 

We carpooled over to Universal after work, planning on getting there early so that we could beat the majority of whatever crowds were expected. During the ride over, Edric found my name tag in my cupholder and decided to rock it for a bit. 

We had no idea how busy it would be or how popular this guy was. I guess I didn’t realize that “Stitches” was an incredibly popular song and that this concert was a huge deal to a whole lot of people. We got food from the Mardi Gras area and Shawn Mendes shirts. Edric said that if you didn’t get a shirt from the concert, you basically didn’t even go. One of the shirts had his face on it. I asked Edric if that was what Shawn Mendes really looked like. He had no idea. I bought it anyway. 

The sun was setting and we found our place in the grassy area in front of the stage. More and more people filed in, mostly teenagers. A group of girls came in front of us with shirts that said “MENDES 98″ on the backs, baseball team style. I asked Edric if that was the year Shawn Mendes was born. Edric didn’t know. Mega-fans filled in the holes around us until there was little-to-no room. People who knew everything about him, every lyric to every song, and the potential order of his set list, were all around us. We realized we were much older than a good portion of the crowd, and it turns out, Shawn Mendes himself. But, I didn’t care. The concert was free so even if he never played the one song I knew, it wouldn’t matter.

He got up on stage and the screaming began. “Max Capacity” flashed on the screens on the sides and Shawn Mendes sat in the center of the stage on a humble stool. Just him, his guitar, a microphone, and a huge group of fans dying to hear the first song. 

The first note played. “Something Big”, a song I had never heard of, but he sang it well. The chorus was a pattern of “Oh’s” that the crowd was screaming along to. After a chorus or two, Edric and I picked up on it and decided to sing along. Well, I did. Edric screamed along. He got really into it and pretended to be a diehard fan, practically convulsing as he shrieked at the top of his lungs. We really had no business even being at the concert but there we were anyway, holding on to concert shirts and screaming along to songs we didn’t know.

A few songs into the concert I decided I really enjoyed his stuff. Clearly he had made an impact on a ton of people. Then, he started the one song I knew. Instantly, I started recording it for Jackie. The song she introduced me to when we were friends was a song I’d be sending back to her now that we were an official couple. I wished she was there with me. 

The rest of the concert was just a bonus. The weather was pleasant, the music was good, and I was spending some extra time with Edric which we had been meaning to do. It was all worth the extra trip to Universal after work. When the concert was over we ducked through the crowds and passed the long line of people waiting to buy concert t-shirts. It ended up being the only Mardi Gras concert I went to, but I was glad that I at least went to one, and I was thankful that it was a good one.

[dannysexbangrps]

So I got to meet my boss mouse tonight! He loved my ears and bow. 😍✨ #waltdisneyworld #mickeymouse #disneycollegeprogram #dcpspring (at Disney's Magic Kingdom)

[princesskellylynn]

I need to find some roommates!!!!!!!

DCP SURVEY !

Name: Kelly Gender: Female Orientation: Straight Relationship Status: Taken Birthday/Age: May 8, 1991/ 23 years old Current Location: Collingswood, NJ From: Collingswood, NJ Major: Vet Tech Are you allergic/allergies to anything? Just raspberries & I am a vegetarian Do you have any siblings? Two older brothers & one older sister Do you have any pets? Dog and 4 cats  DCP DETAILS Are you applying for WDW or DL? WDW Flying or Driving: Driving down but won't have a car during program :/ Role: QSFB What program were you accepted for?Spring 2015 Dates: February 2nd - May 29th Do you want to live in Wellness or Non-Wellness? Non-Wellness Which housing complex do you want to live in? Commons, Patterson or Chatham How many people do you want to live with? 4-6  Alumni? No LIFESTYLE Do you party? Not really, only occasionally but i love having movie marathons and playing board/ video games all night Do you smoke? Nope Do you drink? Occasionally Can you cook? I'm okat at it Are you a night person or morning person? Night. Do you snore? No. What does your bedroom normally look like? Organized. I cant sleep if I know my room is messy. Do you like it when your room is hot or cold? Chilly.  Would you rather go out or stay in? Stay in but I don't mind going out.   What do you like to do on your days off/the weekend? I usually go shopping or exploring or stay home and watch movies all day. In Disney I plan on going to the parks/resorts (including Universal!) and exploring other stuff around Orlando too. Do you work out a lot? Not very much. How annoying is your alarm clock? I'm a light sleeper so I have a soft alarm also the second my alarm goes off I'm up turning it off.  How would you handle a bug situation? I kinda just freak out. I cant handle spiders. Should the toilet paper be over or under? Over How often do you shower? Mornings or nights? I shower everyday but normally at nights unless I am out really late than in the morning Will we sing obnoxiously together? OF COURSE! I need people to sing disney music with PERSONALITY Three words that describe you: Funny, Sarcastic, Easy-Going One good quality: I'm One bad quality: I’m awkward & shy  Are you outgoing or quiet? Quiet until you get to know me and then I never shut up. Do you like hanging out with people or keeping to yourself? Both! I love hanging with people all the time but I need some alone time What would you want in a roommate? Someone who is adventurous & wants to go explore the parks with me. Also someone who does there part in the apartment and doesn't need someone else to pick up after them  What are your biggest pet peeves/dislikes?  Are you messy or organized? Organized How do you feel about sharing? A long as I'm asked first I don't have any problem sharing Do you like having people over a lot? Yeah I don't mind.  Favorite thing to do: Me and my friends once a week spend a night playing board games and I love it so much. Favorite Music: One direction, 5SOS, and Taylor Swift Favorite TV Shows: Once Upon a Time, American Horror Story, Gossip Girl, Sex and the City, Pretty Little Liars Favorite Movies: Disney movies! Harry Potter, Get Him to the Greek Favorite Books: Harry Potter  Favorite Food: Cheese, Pizza, Mac n Cheese, Frenvch fries, and Taco bell Favorite Candy: Reeses Favorite Drink: Juice Favorite Color: Pink/Purple DISNEY Favorite Character: Aurora, Maleficent, Jack, Rapunzel, Belle, Chip and Dale Favorite Movie: Sleeping Beauty, Nightmare before Christmas, The Little Mermaid, Tangled, Alice in Wonderland, Monsters INC ( I have so many more) Favorite Disney Channel Show: Lizzie McGuire!!!!  Favorite Park: Magic Kingdom Favorite ride: Haunted Mansion, Splash Mountain, People Mover, Expedition Everest, Tower of Terror, Space Mountain 

[rubyslippersindeed]

In a world of my own..🌻🌹🌷 #verymerryunbirthday #aliceinwonderland #whiterabbit #favorites #dcp #dcpspring #iliveinwonderland

[jollyholidaywithcourtney]

You see some crazy things while driving around Florida.. A car with a GIANT lobster on top...

[brittanydoesdisney]

I am the newest Expedition Everest cast member!!

[oldladycollegeprogram]

It was getting pretty crowded at that point. I'm not saying there were a lot of people there necessarily, but with all the walls and the dance parties, the walkways are small and the crowds thick. I was trying to push through and just find a place to sit for a minute. I wasn't having a bit of luck and I may or may not have been getting crabby. Finally I found a spot that wasn't quite a seat but that would work for me over by the backpack place. I sat down and thought and wrote for a few...