Sunday 29 April 2012

5 weeks!

Not long to go now. In 5 weeks I'll be flying from Manchester to the sunshine state.

It seems to have gone so quickly, I remember finding out like it was just yesterday and setting my countdown app off.

So far i've met some really nice people and hopefully meet even more out in Florida.

Also can't believe some people are going out there in 1 weeks time. Unreal!

I'm slowly getting what i'm taking put together. Decided to buy a duvet and pillow to take out there. Only cost about a fiver for them both from Ikea.

I also need more shorts, flowery ones hopefully. I love my flowery shorts!

Have a magical day guys, and if I don't blog between now and next week. Good luck to the ICPers going out next Sunday! :)

Friday 20 April 2012

Update about..

Nothing!

Thats right.. Not much is happening on the ICP front with everything basically sorted bar actually getting to Manchester for my flight.

Cricket season starts this week which means a lot of my time will be spent down at the club playing and coaching, which will hopefully speed up the next 44 days.

As of now I have 3 assignments left and university and then I am free to get even more hyped for Disney :D

However, after these 3 assignments i've officially left university and most likely education forever, which is extremely daunting! But at least I have this summer to look forward to before the job searching begins, and who knows, I may apply for the Cultural Representative Program to go and spend a year working in Disney World.

I'll leave you all with this video of Illuminations from Epcot

Have a magical day guys :)


Saturday 14 April 2012

Starlight Starbright

Words any Disney fan would know!

Also the opening words to Wishes in the Magic Kingdom.

Not much has happened on the ICP front, all my documents are here and all sorted out nicely. Its just a case of waiting till the 4th June to fly out there. Which is now 50 days away. :D

But anyway, one thing I can't wait to do is watch Wishes. It's basically what Disney is all about, and will be such an awesome way to start the program- Standing on Main Street, looking at Cinderellas Castle as the sky lights up.

Only about 53/54 days till I can enjoy that :)

I realise there was no point to this blog post. Just a little bit of random musing. I may start the 30 day challenge that i've seen a few people do.

Have a magical day guys :)

Friday 6 April 2012

Serving Ice Cream From Inside a Dinosaur

Yes the title of this post may seem a little strange, but after narrowing a shortlist of where i'd like to work to 5. I realised how awesome that would actually be!

So on Wednesday I emailed Becky at Yummy Jobs with 5 location requests where i'd like to work. To be honest I know i'll be happy anywhere, but these 5 places are probably the top 5 i'd like to work in.

It was hard work narrowing down to 5, and even after requesting I find theres more and more places I would love to work in.

But the 5 I requested were:

Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe


One of my favourite places to eat in the Magic Kingdom, and was at one point the largest Fast Food restaurant in the world! It still is the largest in Disney World I believe, which means it will be incredibly busy. But the main "star" of this restaurant is Sonny Eclipse, the loveable alien who sings a medley of songs to entertain the guests.

Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe

The Main Street Bakery


Walking up Main Street USA just after the park has opened, taking in the smells of freshly baked goodies as you walk, can only mean one thing... You're walking past The Main Street Bakery. Such a lovely place to sit in and have breakfast or a snack, and the smells are incredible!

Main Street Bakery



The Electric Umbrella Restaurant


I love Epcot, and the music around Innoventions area which just happens to be where this location is. It is a pretty large restaurant, and one of only 2 that I think ICP's can work in in Epcot on QSFB.

Electric Umbrella


Dinosaur Gertie's Ice Cream of Extinction


This is where the title of this blog has come from. At first I never even though about it until one of my friends suggested I put it down. What could be more amazing that coming to work inside a Dinosaur and serving Ice Cream to people, while listening to the showbiz soundtracks of Disney's Hollywood Studios!?

Dinosaur Gertie's Ice Cream of Extinction

Toy Story Pizza Planet


Combining two of my favourite Disney things. Toy Story and Walt Disney World. Based a little bit on Pizza Planet from the Toy Story film, it even has an arcade on the bottom floor. It's the only one out of the five I requested that i've never actually had a meal in, so working in there could be a new experience for me.

Toy Story Pizza Planet




Have a magical day :)

The Postman Brings Nice Things!

Well not really the postman, a lady in a car knocked on the door on Tuesday with a special package for me!

My passport with a US Visa inside!

Basically that's everything sorted now before my arrival in Walt Disney World, just go to sort out my dollar and what i'm taking with me.

Its just over a month will the first group of people go out, which is incredibly excited for them all. It seems to be coming round so fast!

In 59 days i'll be leaving England for a nice long summer in the most Magical Place on Earth.

Have a magical day :)

Friday 30 March 2012

Viva la Visa

So on Wednesday I had my visa appointment down in London at the US Embassy.

I went down a day earlier with my mum and stayed overnight in a hotel just 2 stops on the tube away from the embassy.

The first night we went to see Wicked, which was AMAZING! I'd already seen it a few years ago but my mum hadn't. I think she liked it (:

So appointment day came, and I was feeling extremely nervous! What if they didn't believe I was coming home? Or they just generally didn't want to give me a visa!

I got to the embassy about 10:15, didn't realise it would only take 10 minutes on the tube, after dropping my phone into the pharmacy up the road. They must make a small fortune from all the people leaving their phones and items there!

I got into the embassy about 10:45 and the first thing I noticed was the incredible heat in there. It was HOT! It felt like being in America, just not as fun or entertaining. I waited around 15-20 minutes until I was called up to the first window to hand over my documents, I thought I was flying along and would be out in an hour. Yeah that didn't happen.

At 11:30 some other Disney peoples came into the embassy. I went over and sat with them a little bit later (Hi Laura, Beckie, Rachel, Bee, Justine and Amy!). After another 2.5 hours of waiting my number was finally called. I felt like i'd won the lottery when really i'd won the chance to speak to an American lady about my visa (same thing right?). The American lady was lovely and just asked if I was working in Disney and what as. And then told me that my visa had been approved. So off I went to pay to have my passport and visa sent back to me. (Goodbye £14.80) and left the embassy, just as my mum was coming round the corner. Good timing eh?

We moved into the Hard Rock Cafe where for a change (not really) I had the Legendary Burger, it was sososososososososo nice!

We wandered around for a bit and then went for the train back to Newcastle.

So visa is now sorted and should be here next week, and after that there is nothing left to do apart from buy clothes clothes and more clothes! :D

Have a magical day :)




Wednesday 28 March 2012

Program Information Time

So most of you reading this will probably know what the International College Program is, however there might be some of you who don't. This post will reveal all.

The International College Program gives students from around the world to work at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. This program is a 3 month long program where us students can work in various roles in Walt Disney World including, but not limited to, working on the attractions, in the restaurants, or in the Water Parks. Sounds fun right?

To apply for this program you have to be a student at university and over 18 when you arrive in the World. Yummy Jobs are the lovely people that Disney use over here in the UK to help with the recruitment process. The process involves submitting an application on their website, a group or telephone interview with Yummy Jobs and then finally an interview with a Disney recruiter. I say Interview its more like a fun exciting chat about Disney!

One thing to note, although you're getting paid, its not cheap to get out there. So far i've paid for my flights, CRB check, a program assessment fee which goes towards my housing and housing events, my Visa application fee, a student tracking fee and my transport down to London. Must have spent at least £700 so be warned its not cheap! 

Not trying to scare or put anyone reading this off, it really is an amazing opportunity that I have, and I can't wait to head out there! (68 days).

Have a magical day :)