The Real Lives of Patterson Court CP's

Hi All,

Wow I am getting pretty bad at this uploading business, apologies!

Yes as you can tell I am living in Patterson Court with 5 other girls on the second floor :)

Justine, Dayna from New Zealand, Amy from Brisbane and Tiffany and Chloe who I have coincidentally met in Sydney on each of our meet ups :) YAY

So Check-in was so chilled, we literally just got our apartment keys and then had a free afternoon and also had Sunday free. So we were loving life.

Monday was our housing day, we had two housing meeting type things, one at the commons and one at Vista to get our housing ID's.

Tuesday we had Immigration talks and Work locations & pay talks with our first two days that we were scheduled to work, HOORAY!

I am working at.. DRUM ROLL PLEASE.....




FANTASYLAND ATTRACTIONS!!!!! yay

On Wednesday we had Traditions which was funnn, and then Thursday I had my Park Orientation and work Orientation. Friday we had another Orientation with lots of walking and then lots of computer module learning... (yay :\)

Saturday was my first day of on the job training... I am working Mickey's Phillar Magic & Prince Charmings Regal Carrousel. We opened the Carrousel and then learnt how to move guests and operate the machine.


I then had Sunday & Monday off, to which I spent Sunday afternoon/night in Epcot and watched Illuminations.. it is amazing! and then Monday was Amy's 21st Birthday so we went to Magic Kingdom for the day! it was sooo much fun!!

Today (Tuesday) I had my second day of on the job training, opening the Theatre! was lots of fun and tomorrow we FINALLY have an afternoon/night shift, yay for sleep in!!

Until my next blog,
Natalie :)

Welcome to the US of A

Hi All,

so it has been a few days since a blog post and well frankly A LOT has happened!

I was sooo busy prior to leaving that I just did not have time to squeze in a blog post :(

But here I am sitting in the Holiday Inn Sunspree on check-in day waiting for some people to wake up (bloody jetlag)
The flight to LA was pretty brutal, fortunately I had the extra legroom seat (SCORE) so that helped and my flight attendent worked at Disney 3 years ago! what a coincendence!

so we had plenty to talk about on take off and landing :)

I didn't really sleep on the plane and so I had to stay awake in LA all day until my flight to Orlando (KILLER)

I went on an adventure to the Target and brought some Lunch etc

When I eventually landed in Orlando, the Mears transportation was closed and so I just got a Taxi, I could NOT be bothered waiting around

I got to the Hotel, dropped my bags and it was 7am so I waited for a few people to wake up and then we went to Walmart for a bedding shop :)

I brought my bedding and towels so I could stay in my apartment and not have to carry them on the bus tomorrow/today (whenever) and then I just have to get food today

check-in is in a few hours (4 hours) so I am just waiting for that

ohh and the AUS/NZ group had dinner at applebee's last night :) yum

ohh and in Walmart we meet a few people not in the Disney Facebook Group who we invited to dinner too :)

So I think that is all so far, hopefully,

If I have missed a few things I hope to include them next time,

Until my next blog (hopefully in my awesome new apartment),
Natalie :)

Whats That?? SIngle Digits you say?

Hi All,

Yes that is correct,
WE have hit the SINGLE DIGITS
9 days
Just 9 days until I hop onto a plane and fly to America!

I have such much planned in the next 9 days, I have a feeling it is going to be Thursday week in nooo time.

Ohh Disney sent us an email,

"Greetings!

We look forward to your arrival Saturday, Aug. 4!
To help us prepare for your arrival, please click the link below to indicate your housing preferences. 
This is your opportunity to let us know which complex you prefer to live in, as well as unit size and floor level preferences. You may also list the names of any roommates that you would like to request. Please note that any roommate request must be of the same gender and departure date as you. 
To complete your housing registration, proceed to the following link: xxx
 The placement team will do their best to accommodate all of your requests, however please note that your requests are not guaranteed and will depend solely on available inventory on the day of your arrival. 
The deadline to complete this form is Friday, July 27. Once the deadline has passed, you will be pre-placed into a unit based on remaining inventory.
Please note, The Walt Disney Company is an Equal Opportunity company and cannot discriminate according to race, color, origin, religion, sex or sexual orientation.
Thank you in advance for completing the next step in your housing process. Please feel free to email us at xxx with any additional questions.

We look forward to meeting you soon!
Disney Housing Operations"

So a bit weird, we are yet to hear of them asking for preferences prior to our arrival before.
It makes our check-in (11am & 12pm) seem more reasonable as we do not have to fight for good complexes.

So they asked for a preference of Complex (Vista Way, Chatham Square, Patterson Court & The Commons), Number of Bedrooms (taking into consideration two people share a bedroom) (2, 3 or 4 Bedrooms), Floor Level (No Elevators) (1st, 2nd or 3rd Floor) & Lastly we could name two other participants we would like to Room with.


They also gave you the Current Room Rent to help in your decision process!


Mm I think that is all for now...


Until my next Blog,
Natalie :)

American Bucket List

So after careful consideration I have decided to make a post with my bucket list and slowly update and cross off if I happen to complete the task :)

ENJOY!

• Go on Every Ride in Magic Kingdom
• Go on Every Ride in EPOCT
• Go on Every Ride in Hollywood Studios
• Go on Every Ride in Animal Kingdom
• (Lame) Drink from a red cup at a party (& take photographic proof for Gabby)
• Have Butter Beer
• Visit Harry Potter World 
• Visit all Resorts in WDW
• Collect all Fastpasses
• Visit Miami
• Visit NYC
• Go to a Baseball Game
• Have a Photo Adventure in the Parks (MK, EPCOT, HS, DAK)
• Give a Guest a Magical Moment
• Get a Great Service Fanatic Card
• Receive a Guest Letter
• Eat at Cinderella's Royal Table
• Spend a day in the Parks without going on any rides
• Drink around the World (Canada, UK, France, Japan, Morocco, America, Italy, Germany, China, Norway,  Mexico)
• Eat around the World (Canada, UK, France, Japan, Morocco, America, Italy, Germany, China, Norway, Mexico)
• Go to a Shooting Range
• Go to Disneyland
• (Much more to come...)

EDIT: 15 March 2013

Less than TWO WEEKS!

Hi All,


Time feels like it is flying by! I am sure to everyone else it isn't, but to me, my oh my there is only 13 days left!!


I just purchased Travel Insurance for 2 days before the program, I cannot remember if I talked about it in my last post,


But one of the ladies on the Facebook Group rang the insurance people and discovered that it covers us in and out of work and for doctors visits etc! Stoked! means I don't need to fork out the $400 bucks for Insurance :)


I had a mock pack yesterday and I failed, badly! 


So I decided two medium sized bags would be better than one overweight bag :)


I am very excited to get these two weeks on the way! should be nearly in LA this time next week! yippppeee


also I went and watched Brave a little while ago now with some Sydney girls and it was Ahhmazing! the animation was stunning, her hair was just beautiful!

Until my next blog,
Natalie :)

SO.. How did you get this?

Hi All,


Generally when I inform people that I am leaving to go and work at Walt Disney World for 5 months I get the same question;

'So How did you find out about this?' 


The story starts back in July last year when I was participating in a short program in Tours, France. Across from my dorm room was a girl named Lauren, she lived on the Gold Coast and was going to America to work at Disney in the following January for 6 months. We of course became friends through the experience in France and on returning home continued our friendship.


Unfortunately Lauren was unable to go to America and at the end of last year I was thinking about what I could do with my gap year from University.


So I jumped online and researched the Walt Disney World International College Program and found out all about the program, based in Florida, where millions of International and Domestic Students travel to participate in the program. 


https://www.disneyinternationalprograms.com/

The Link provided tells you all the information you need to know in order to submit your application.


After months of tossing up whether I would really apply for the Program around the end of February I sent in all my paperwork and received an invitation for a Skype interview.


Once I interviewed with the lovely Jeni, I received my offer of employment from Disney, and I was off!


I believe the next and probably most important step is to try and find the Disney AU/NZ group on facebook! this group has been amazing in helping each other and also connecting with each other before we leave on our adventure.


I am so grateful for all the opportunities that have been presented to me and so fortunate to be able to take these opportunities.


17 days!


Until my next blog,
Natalie :)

Tick Tock Tick Tock Tick Tock

Hi All!


So it's ummm ONLY 20 DAYS UNTIL I LEAVE!


time is just ticking by... I think it is moving slowly but I am sure in two weeks time I will be all like "Where the hell did time fly too?"


Disney decided that we all needed a little freak out before we left and sent us an email stating we had to pay an insurance premium of nearly 80 USD a month, and if we were arriving 7 days before we started we had to call them and tell them or we would not be allowed to participate in the program :O

and so by the time we all woke up and tried to call, it was past office hours in America.


BUT, that night a few gems stayed up and called and got Cameron the Australian Recruiter to sort out what was going on and send us all a loveeely email saying that it was incorrect information and that we have already paid our Medical Insurance . YAY


I decided to book an extra leg room seat on the flight to LAX, I just hope they wont decline me at the airport because I will not get the money back I paid for it.. bummer


My beautiful Nephew was born yesterday at 3.32am 12/07/12, Isaac Ian, I wish I had some more time with him before I leave! Sad Sad :(


I believe that is all for now!


Until my next Bog,
Natalie :)