99 Red Balloons... Wait...

99 Days!!!!!

Hi all, 

There is just a mere 99 days until I will be flying away! 

There is still so much to do, 

Many people on the fb group have got their packs and have applied and received or are applying for the visas, 

Unfortunately Disney still doesn't have everything it needs to complete my visa paperwork, sigh So hopefully I will get my pack in the next month, 

Book visa, get visa and then save save save! 

99 days 99 days 99 days 99 days 99 days :) :) :) :) 

Until my next blog, 

Natalie :)

General Update... Pre-Accommodation, Police Check, Budgeting...

Hi All,

It is nearly a month since I was accepted into the International College Program and less than four months until I leave to be an Operations Cast Member!!

I have booked pre check-in accommodation at the Holiday Inn Sunspree with Kate from the AUS/NZ August Arrivals Facebook group :) very excited!!

Also sent off my Police Check! $53 bucks later, disappointing that the AFP does not have an electronic payment system, anyway... I shall await the AFP paperwork to state I have no criminal background (I had a dream it came back I did have a background and was suspiciously connected to attempted murders on co-workers.. weird!! and untrue! haha)

Money Time..

So.... Left to pay before check-in;

Visa & Appointment $300 plus

Program Assessment Fee $100

Disney Medical Insurance $101

Flight LAX to MCO (Orlando International Airport) $200 plus  

Possibly Travel Insurance $300 plus 

(The travel insurance has been a heated debate on the Facebook Group, some willing to pay extra and double up on Medical the whole time, some just buying it to cover the before and after Program dates, I am unsure, I did however find that Annual Insurance would be a cheaper option, however only covered for 21 days at a time, I could use it for when I take a trip every so often and before and after... would just have to confirm with STA Travel that it would cover me!)

So left to pay is around $1000 

And I hope to pay this all and save another $1000 for initial expenses then begin living and saving off my third/fourth paycheck.

The amount other group members are taking shocked me, I guess that they want to live life to the absolute fullest over there, and they have probably been saving for a few years now, I however am currently in debt and need to pay that off before I even save! so in total with payments pre check-in and debt paying off I will hopefully save $4000 before I leave in August, which is actually a lot when you look at it that way haha but I will only have a mere $1000 left of it when I hit Orlando! haha

My Parents are still planning to visit in early November :) and I found out I get 40-50% off the hotels, so they will stay nearby hopefully, we shall see how that pans out..

I think that is it for now...

Until my next blog,

Natalie :)

An About Me

Hi all,

So I realised people who might read this blog may not be my family and friends and may be potential roommates :)

So this blog is a short "about me"

My name is Natalie, I just recently turned 21 last week (yay!) I live in New South Wales, Australia, about an hour north of Sydney, which is where I will be flying to Los Angeles from.

I also live an hour south of Newcastle, so I am enrolled at the University of Newcastle, however my university has a smaller campus, about a 10 minute drive from my house, which is where I attended University for 3  years from Jan 2009 to Nov 2011.

I study/studied a Bachelor of Commerce, with my major in Accounting. But no I am not your 'Typical Accountant'. My Ultimate goal is to become a Teacher, but I am looking for real world experience before I dive into the education world.

I absolutely LOVE Disney, I don't know why, or how it started. I have always been a Musical Theater fan, and dreamed of visiting Broadway ( I even have a New York Calendar this year from my Best Friend who knew it was where I was determined to go this year no matter for how long or for what reason, I was just going to make it to New York!)

but back to Disney, I was fortunate enough to visit Disneyland Paris last July, Unfortunately it was raining and definitely not the best experience, but that was rectified when I was again fortunate enough to go to Tokyo Disneyland in November last year. This would have to have been one of the BEST experiences of my life!! I brought two different set of Disney ears, a beanie Minnie Mouse Christmas hat and light up Minnie Mouse ears.

(Chilling on the cars ride with my awesome beanie in Tokyo Disneyland, I was blinded by the sun, considering it was Winter it was a very hot day!)

So I love Disney and Musicals, and therefore I listen to Music a lot, but a large variety of Music, it depends on my mood.

My friends call me the "List" girl, I write lots of lists, I like to be organised, some could say it is a great personality trait, others despise how I like to be in control of situations. You decide.

I believe I can get a long with the majority of people, I enjoy talking, no matter what it is about, however I don't like to argue too much, so sometimes I tend to just agree with people so we don't get into an argument.

I think that is all there is to know about me at this point. Any questions about the application process or my housing preferences, please feel free to comment below.

I will arrive in Los Angeles on the 2nd of August and my Arrival date in Orlando is the 4th of August, Leaving on the 4th of January, working in Operations.

Until My Next Blog,

Natalie :)

It has only been 4 days! + Booking Flights

Hi all!

So it has only been 4 days since I received word about being accepted as a Cast Member at Walt Disney World.

It feels as though time has gone by fast, but when I thought about it, nope it had only been a mere 4 days.

However good news is that I have booked my flight into Los Angeles!!!!!!

V Australia was having a sale, and it ended today, so I put all my fear aside and just booked! haha

I shall be flying out of Sydney on the 2nd of August and will Return to Sydney on the 14th of January. Both flights are non-stop and cost only $1100!! I was happy, it means however, I will not be able to change my flight if I want to stay longer, but I am sure I could fly home for a day and fly back if I really needed to :)

All I need to book in relations to flights to be organised is from LAX to Orlando, but I will book that closer to the date :)

I have been reading blogs of previous and current participants religiously, when I wake up, before work, after work until I go to sleep, Repeat the next morning...

I don't know whether this is a healthy way to spend my time, some times blogs are positive and I get soo excited, other bogs have me a little scared, however I believe one quote I will be living by is "It's not about the money, It is about the experience and the experience is what you make of it, If you are positive, chances are it is going to be positive!"

I can not wait to receive my Disney Pack in the mail!! :) :) :)

Until my next blog,

Natalie :)

I HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED!

Hi all,

So for the past 3 months I have been applying to work at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

On the 17th of March the news finally came through that I have been offered a place as a Cast Member from August to January!!

This is the start of my process of getting organised for this once in a lifetime experience.

From now on in I will begin to document the process and then of course the experience when I start working at Walt Disney World.

Until my next blog, 
Natalie :)