Day 33

Worked again today. Sorry, no pictures.

Day 32

Today at work us Cast Members that work at Costuming were given a $15 bonus for helping them put on the Disney Show everyday. We could spend it on the Food and Wine Festival going on at EPCOT or we could use it at almost any other Disney location.

This week we will be having concerts every day. Otis Day and the Knights, Little Richard, Beach Boys, The Four Tops, and the Village People to name a few.

Oh, yeah... and I also went to the Vista Credit Union for the first time. It was weird. I was talking to a teller, through a wall, and his face was on camera and we would have to send each other things through a box in the wall. Very creepy. Meanwhile, Matt waited in the car for me.

Day 31

Not much happened at work today. But I did pick up my forth check... big money! :)

Day 30

Today after work I went with Matt to a special event going on over at Magic Kingdom, just for Cast Members. We had made it just in time, after riding an empty monorail. They opened up Tommorow and just for us, and they had music playing (kinda like Grad Nite). The cool part was that we got to ride Space Mountain with the lights ON. That kinda killed the expereince, but it was a once in a lifetime event. The ride actually seemed slower than how it feels with the lights off. It also was as thrilling because you could see where and when the car would turn or drop.

We also were given free popcorn, food, and drinks. Very special.

Day 29

Today after work a friend of my roommates called me to see if I wanted to go see a movie with them over at Downtown Disney. We went to go see Hairspray and after we went to go eat at Planet Hollywood. It was really cool because since we are Disney Cast Members, we get VIP Seating (which means first table to open up is ours, which means no waiting). We got to skip ahead of the very long line and were seated right away.

Pictures coming soon. (the girls i went with have the pictures, i didn't take my camera that day)

After that we just walked around the downtown Disney stores, becasue they had never been there before.

Day 28

Today I got a new cell phone. Yes, I lost my old one on the monorails. I went to the Florida Mall, about 8 or 9 miles from here (which is where I might be doing my Christmas shopping from). Well, this one seems nice. It has bluetooth and media player... so that means I can upload music onto it, just like an ipod. It has a better camera than the Razr had and it has interent access and just about the same features the other one had. It's a navy blue, at first glance it seems black. I'd say it's about the same size and weight as the Razr.

In order to add songs to the phone I need to get a MicroSD card and a cable to connect it to my laptop. One of my roommates might have the cable, but I would still need the SD card. That's on my To Do List for tomorrow. I work tomorrow from 6-2. That should be my last day working at 6am for a while. It seems that for the next couple of weeks I am working 2:30-10:30.

Day 27

Today we cleaned the apartment... still not done.

Day 26

Today at work I didn't do anything new.

P.s. We have an apartment inspection this Tuesday. We've got to clean, clean, clean.

Day 25

Today in the character room I got to brush fur of all the bears. I also got to take out ink of all the character gloves. That'a all that's new. And, oh yeah, I lost my cell phone.

Day 24

Today I picked up my 3rd paycheck. Woo Hoo!

Day 23

Today I worked in the Character Floor. I built 25 costumes. My very own record.

Day 22

Today I worked in the dressing rooms again. Not much happened today. Just took a nap when I got home. We got our lock changed today because none of our keys were working.

The other day I bought the first Season of The Odd Couple. Really great show.

Two more days till Survivor!

Day 21

Went to the Animation Studio attraction where I got to draw a character. Drew Stitch from Lilo and Stitch.

Day 20

Still working in the Character Floor.

Day 19

Today I went to work at the Character Floor. This is where we build costumes.

Day 18

Went to work today. They let me drive a company bus today, from EPCOT. Drove to Fort Wilderness and to Pleasure Island in the morning to check dressing rooms.

Linda finally let us see her in her costume.

Day 17

Didn't do much today. Just went to work, and was taken to another dressing room over at Pleasure Island (in case I ever have to go there during my shift).

Day 16

Today was Discovery Day. Technically I was supposed to have done Discovery Day before I started working. Basically, it was a tour of the park in which I work, EPCOT (Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, or Every Person Comes Out Tired, or Every Paycheck Comes on Thursday). Disney's all about the acronyms. So Spaceship Earth is under rennovation, soon to become an "interactive" ride. We were given a tour of the countries, by boat.

We rode The Seas with Nemo and Friends. Later we were told to stand in a circle. We are told the significance of the fountain to our side, and the significance of the union of all countries. Then, we are told to face away from the circle and raise our right hand in the air. All of a sudden, music starts to play throughout the park, and of course, guests are staring at us like we're crazy. Then an announcer says that please give a round of applause and to wish us luck, to the new Cast Members.

The I got to see this streetshow before the day was over. It was very funny. These are some of the costumes that I help get to the dressing rooms.

Day 15

Here it is, the 2nd moment you've all been waiting for... I did my laundry. AND folded it!

Although, some items did not fully dry... I think it's that particular machine.

Our washing and drying facilities.

Each wash and dry cycle is valued at the grand price of:

Interesting fact, today I noticed for the first time that there was a vending machine in my building. For the grand price of $1.25 I can have the soda of my choice.

Day 14

This is the room I said I was in before, which is seen on the Backlot Tour in Disney-MGM Studios.

There's an attraction in MGM where they teach you how to draw characters. I got to do Mickey Mouse.

Before

After

Pretty good, huh?

Today I went to Disney-MGM Studios. I met some characters.

Mike Wazowski & James P. "Sulley" Sullivan

Emile & Remy

Elastigirl "Mrs.Incredible" & Bob Parr "Mr. Incredible"

Bert & Mary Poppins

Jojo & Goliath

Mulan

Day 13

So today I went to Disney's Animal Kingdom. First, when I got there, I took a picture with Playhouse Disney's Stanley.


Stanley

Then we saw a really cool and exciting African Acrobatics Show.


Later we went on the Safari Ride and got to see all the animals.





Then we went over to play with the Dinos.

It was hot!

We ate lunch at the Flametree BBQ.

Day 12

Today I worked again in the Hoop Dee Doo Revue. Different cast though. They all work every other day and are constantly changing.

Later at night I got to see the big Fireworks show at EPCOT.

Day 11

Today I started working in the backstage area of the show called Hoop Dee Doo Revue over at Fort Wilderness.

I got to see how the costumes are laid out, wigs are preset. Performers are not even dressed or have half of their makeup done when they call "15 minutes to show time." They are quick. And they don't get nervous because they've done it so many times.

Day 10

The moment you've all been waiting for.... IS HERE! Here is my beautiful Disney cast member Costume. Isn't it special?

Day 9

Today was my official first day at my designated work location. However, it is still undecided as to what particular tasks I will be assigned. I will either be working with the costumes that pertain to the dressing rooms of all the performers that work in the World Showcase in EPCOT (China, Morocco, Japan, Canada, UK, etc.) That means I have to work with bellydancer costumes and the cotumes for those guys who play "The Beatles," for example.

The other option might be to work on the Character Floor. Which deals more with the performers who play the characters, such as Belle, Jasmin, Aurora, Peter Pan, etc. These are called "face characters" because they don't wear masks. They use their own facial characteristics to play a part. And being on the Character Floor also means working with characters with head pieces, such as Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, etc.

The most interesting thing that happened to me today was that I got to go in a car while driving through the inside of EPCOT. This was before all the guests were let in. It's a pretty amazing process to see what actually goes on behind the scenes. So much stuff happens around the clock.

I also got to be part of another ride. The Studio backlot Tour in MGM Studios.

Day 8

Today I had a class called "Styling Our World." We were taught basic terminology for some of the things we'll be using in our work locations.

Most interestingly, I got to go through "the tunnel" - underground Magic Kingdom. It was very big. It's actually not underground... MK is just built above ground.

I was also part of one of the rides... you know... the one that travels through the backs of rides in EPCOT, where you get the see the cotuming rooms. I got to wave at people who could see me from the ride.

Then we took a took through the textile building where they sort and distribute millions of garments. Imagine that scene in Monster's Inc. where all the closet doors were gliding through a railway system. Rumor has it that the scene from Monster's Inc. was inspired by this room.

Not allowed to take pictures on backstage property... so there are no pictures... just use your imagination.

Then I went with a few friends to the Outlet Mall (Orlando Mall) to help them get some shoes for work.

When we got home, and we were tired, we decided to go to the pool, just for a little bit to relax and get ready to sleep for the next day.





Linda's afraid of the water!

Space Mountain

This is what Space Mountain looks like with the lights on...

Day 7

Look at all the celebrities I met today...

Gepetto & Pinocchio



J. Worthington "Honest John" Foulfellow & Gideon



Stitch




Winnie the Pooh Bear & Tiger





Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum




I also got to meet someone else...

Captain Jack Sparrow

Meet the Roommates

Miriam (better known as Mimi) - She's from Puerto Rico, knows some English. She's likes to cook and keep an organized and clean kitchen. She'll be working in Food & Beverage at Fort Wilderness. She's never been to Disney World.

Kristi - From Mississippi, has the strong southern accent. Kristi will be working in Downtown Disney in the World of Disney (the really big Disney store).

Linda - From Africa but has recently been living in New York. She's got the worst costume out of all of us. She'll also be working in Food & Beverage in Animal Kingdom at the best quick food service, the Flame Tree BBQ. We love to bother her about her "cute costume." She also likes to cook (spicy food that Mimi doesn't like).

Kristin - (the girl with the handbag in the picture above) is from Illinois. She'll be working at the Port Orleans Resort.

Tiffany - My actual bedroom roommate. She's always on the cell phone and is scared of going on rides, even if they're slow. She'll be working in Magic Kingdom in a store somewhere in Toon Town, called County Bounty. She's never been to Disney World. During her shifts she has been attacked with water bottles by little girls, and enjoys pin trading with the adults, I mean kids.

Those were my five roommates. Other than them, we sometimes hang out with some of their hometown friends that live in other buildings.

Giovanna - She's from Puerto Rico and knows some English. She'll be working in Disney-MGM Studios at a popcorn stand.

Cynthia - Also from Puerto Rico and knows some English. Don't know where she'll be working either. Her and Giovanni are both Mimi's friends from back home.

Tonia - From New York, friend of Linda's. She's very funny and very crazy. This is her being annoyed by whoever is on the phone with her. She's also trying to learn Spanish from hanging out with Mimi and myself. She'll be working at Space Mountain in the Magic Kingdom. She says her cotume makes her look like Buzz Lightyear's girlfriend.