So There’s This Bench …

So Mom came into my room the other day and said, “have you thought about cleaning?”

I just ignored her, since she says this all the time, but she continued with “Make a Disney corner.”

The idea sounded good. A corner to pile bedding and toiletries, etc. So that it’s all in one spot and I can tell how much stuff I’m actually bringing. So I have yet to appoint a corner, but have piled all of my belongings on my bed. They were on the floor. Now they’re on my bed, in the hopes I’ll clean before I go to sleep tonight. More than likely, I’ll put it all back down on the floor. But it’s the thought that counts, right?

 How many days? Hah. Who’s counting?

I think I might protein spill myself when it comes to cleaning them up. I’m not too good with that. I’ll survive, I suppose.

Protein spill = vomit, throw-up, etc.
Voban = nifty stuff to clean up protein spill

I’ve been googling galore in search of WDW Custodial ICP blogs. Does no one blog anymore? If my mom’s any example, I guess not. But, if you google it, and go about 4 pages in, you start to see related things.

Apparently, what I’ve garnered from the first 4 pages on Google is that Disney’s custodial department is the model for custodial departments everywhere. I’m going to be such a good role model for Universal =]

I really hope I get to Sea World while I’m down there though. Steffi wants to go  too, maybe we’ll day trip it if I ever get a day off.

D - 96 days and counting.

I called Eric yesterday, and after trying to get through for an hour, he finally answered with a quick “Call back in five.” So I did, and was informed that I am a Custodial Cast Member for my ICP experience. I’m very excited to do this. This position has the highest level of guest interaction and I’m not hurried or having to repeat myself over and over and over again. I’ve been looking at blogs and asking alumnis for tips and advice and all anyone really says is that it’s an excellent, independant job. I also heard a rumor that I get special exceptions because of how much I’m in the sun.

I’m also excited for my walkie talkie. Haha. It’s a standard part of the uniform, which is white shorts and a white shirt. I love walkie talkies. Custodial has two weeks worth of trainings and it’s not because of how difficult it is to sweep - it’s because I need to know as much information about the whole resort as I can. Everyone asks me questions!

100 days to go and counting!

At the beginning of Main Street, near the entrance to the Magic Kingdom, Roy E. Disney and Minnie Mouse are sitting on a bench. Tourists clamber to sit in the empty area beside Minnie and get their picture taken, but few know the true story behind the bench.

Walt Disney, and the mouse who started it all, Mickey, are up Main Street, at the hub, in front of the castle. Walt’s hand is outstretched, pointing down Main Street to where Roy and Minnie sit. Rumor has it, from a reputable Disney tour guide, that Walt is saying:

“Mickey. It’s my time to go now. It all started with you, and now I’m leaving it with you. Don’t you worry. Roy and Minnie are down there, waiting for you. They’ve left a spot on the bench for you. Take care of the magic Mickey. Make everyone’s dreams come true.”

 These two statues were created as a pair by Blaine Gibson, a retired Imagineer. The first statue made was Roy and Minnie, with the statue of Mickey and Walt (also called “Partners”) following shortly before Walt died of lung cancer.

–

All I have to do at the dinner table is say “So there’s this bench…” and my mom tears up. Then again, the entire family are Disney nuts, and I just found out today that I might get the chance to tell that story to guests at the Walt Disney World Resort (henceforth refered to as WDW) in Orlando Florida from the end of May to the middle of August.

That’s right, WDW, prepare for Angelica Haggert. I’m on my way!

I applied for the job in the fall, and was then told that the Walt Disney World Summer International College Program for Summer 2008 (henceforth refered to as ICP) was going to be cancelled due to lack of interest. Wait a minute - I was interested! I joined forces with a group of people on Facebook (gotta love it), we petitioned and wrote e-mails to the Cast-a-Way screening company and the Disney Recruiters themselves contesting their decision. I think my e-mails said I would fly to anywhere they wanted me to fly to, just give me an interview!

Eventually, Eric (the Cast-A-Way guy) said the show was back on the road, and we all re-sent our CVs, resumes, whatever you call them. Three days later, I call to make sure he got it, and he does the pre-screening phone interview on the spot!

I probably said “Okay” about a thousand times as he concluded the ten minute long interview with a time, date, and location for my face to face (henceforth refered to as F2F) interview with real Disney cast members. Anxiously, I waited. I brushed up on my Disney trivia, I chatted with others attending the interview online, and stressed. A lot of the stressed part, that’s for sure.

I went to the interview. My mom and I had a horrible experience in the THREE different hotel rooms we stayed in, in TWO different hotels for TWO nights, but the interview was excellent, the dinner we had planned with other Cast Members (henceforth … CM) and then the wait begin.

It was probably the longest week and a half of my life, and for the last two days I’ve been calling home every hour to get my mom to check my e-mail for me, and today, the answer was there.

I was in!

And so, the list making, packing, trip planning, highway driving, 103 days left before I leave, begins.

I’ll post next about why I want to work for the Mouse and how I figured out my life - Disney style.