A DCP Friendsgiving!

Being away from family during the holidays is rough. There are all of these little things that my family has always done around Thanksgiving that I didn’t think were important — but they are. So it meant the world to me to have great friends here in Florida to share my favorite traditions with. For a group of 20-somethings, we actually did pretty good for ourselves! My friends made stuffing, cranberry sauce, pies, and beans, and I made my mom’s famous sweet potatoes! (The sweet potato secret is lots of sugar, butter, and of course, marshmallows!) Ironically, the only one of our Thanksgiving dishes that didn’t turn out was the turkey! We did that cute Thanksgiving thing where we all went around and said what we were thankful for, and had a great time eating and visiting…

I know that I’m only going to be here for another month or so, but I am beyond grateful to have these people in my life right here, right now. I’ve learned so much from them, and having them around me has made being away from home worth every minute.

To my new friends — thanks for being more than just coworkers. Thanks for being the family that I’ve needed not only on Thanksgiving, but through the whole program.

— Lindsey from Endor

DCP Birthday Bash!!!

My 21st birthday last week was one of the most magical days of my life! I was so excited that I was going to have my birthday during the DCP, and I was not disappointed! Here are some ways that I found to make your birthday at the parks even more magical!

Get Yourself a Top Notch Birthday Buddy

It’s your birthday! Don’t spend it alone! This is my lovely friend Maria, and she was one of the best birthday buddies a girl could ask for. I also spent the next day with my friend Maddy, and she was an amazing friend to spend my birthday with, too! They both insisted on standing in any line that I wanted to stand in (even the super long talking Mickey one), and taking artsy park pictures of me! It was so great to have these wonderful girls to spend time with, and I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.

Get You Some Buttons!!!

You can’t have a birthday in an Orlando theme park without getting some buttons!!! Everyone tells you happy birthday, and it makes you feel so special! At Disney, you can find a button at any merchandise location. Just go up to the register and ask for one! At Universal, you actually have to go to guest relations near the front of the park. This may seem like a hassle, but it also means that not as many people will have birthday buttons, therefore making you feel just a little more special. 🙂 After my program, I plan on turning all of the buttons that I’ve collected into fridge magnets so I can actually use them in Idaho.

Ask Around!!!

It never hurts to ask cast members what the best things to do on your birthday are! You guys already know that I love Beauty and the Beast, so I went to Gaston’s Tavern. When they saw my birthday button, they actually gave me this rose cupcake — on the mouse! It was both beautiful and delicious. I also know that at Cosmic Ray’s in Tomorrowland, they have a really cool birthday song if you’re into being sung to. 🙂

My birthday was more amazing than I could have ever imagined, and I am so grateful that I got to spend it with my friends in the most magical place on earth! If you or a friend are having a birthday on the DCP, I hope this helps you to make it extra special.

What To Do When Parks Are CROWDED!!!

If you’ve done any research on when is the best time to come to Disney, you probably know that Thanksgiving and Christmas are NOT great times to go! But while you’re on your college program, you don’t want to waste any day off that you have! I mean, when else am I going to get to go to Disney World for free again? So even though it’s been SUPER crowded, I am NOT staying away from the parks on my last month here.

Whether you’re going on the program, or you can’t avoid going to the parks when it’s crowded, here are some fun things you can do in and out of the lines!

#1 – Cosmic Ray’s Dance Party!!!

This is my absolute favorite! On Monday, my friend and I were wandering around Tomorrowland trying to find something that wasn’t an hour wait, when we stumbled upon the dance party! It’s outside next to Space Mountain, and there’s a DJ that plays fun songs and has everyone do silly dance moves (i.e. the sprinkler, the Q-tip, and the Macarena). After a long day of crowds and long lines, it was the perfect way to let loose and unwind! My friend definitely just stood to the side and laughed at me, but I had the time of my life!

#2 – Walk Through Attractions

Believe it or not, there are some things at Disney that you don’t have to wait for! Walk-through attractions like the Swiss Family Robinson Tree House in Adventureland in Magic Kingdom, or the Star Wars Launch Bay in Hollywood Studios are fun ways to be involved in the magic without having to stand in a 65 minute queue.

#3 – Unpopular Shows

Shows like Phillharmagic and The Muppets 3D hardly ever have a queue, but they’re really cute shows! Sometimes a low wait time doesn’t mean a bad show. You can find a lot of gems by just going with the flow and seeing the attractions that you can just walk into.

#4 – Have a Picture Day!

There are so many fun picture spots in the parks! Take a few hours, or even a whole day to go on a picture scavenger hunt! Grab an Instagram buddy, and take artsy pictures of each other in front of the castle or on the carousel! then you can edit and post the pictures while you’re waiting in a line! Just make sure you bring a portable phone charger!

#5 – Play Line Games!!!

Even when you have fastpasses, you’re still inevitably going to have to stand in long lines at Disney. but “line” doesn’t have to mean “boring”!! Plan out some fun games and activities that you can play in line so that your wait time isn’t all  time! If you’re alone, I’d suggest reading a book, or even streaming a movie from Netflix (if you have unlimited data). With friends, you can play Heads Up, Truth or Dare, Never Have I Ever, I-Spy, Cat’s Cradle, Desert Island, — the possibilities are endless!

Heavy crowds definitely create a different park experience, but they don’t have to ruin your day at Disney! Remember, if you’re having fun, you’re never wasting your time.

 

 

Everyone Has Something

No matter how many people there are in the world, there is something uniquely you that allows you to make a positive impact on the people around you. Without you, the world would be missing a gear that makes it tick.

The other day, I had a really cool interaction with one little girl that reminded me just how important each individual is. Since our location doesn’t have a set birthday song, sometimes I sing this cutesy little song that I learned at church when I was a kid. This girl with a birthday button came through one of my lines, and I decided to sing it to her. I said, “Would you like to hear my birthday song? No one ever knows it, so it’s super special!”

I started to sing her my song, and to my surprise, she jumped right in and sang along! She said, “I know that one! We learned it in church!” I discovered that we go to the same church, and she was all grins as she told me all about her upcoming baptism, and all of the other things that she was excited about in her life.

Now, if anyone else had been in my position that day, I’m sure they would have had an amazing interaction with her, too! Everyone has a unique and crucial essence that allows them to make an impact on others. But I am very grateful that I was there, and that I got to have that cool interaction with that girl and her family that was unique to me.

Everyone has something about them that allows them to help others in a way that only they can. So don’t hide your silliness or your smartness, and don’t be embarrassed to be yourself — you never know when someone else might benefit from the awesomeness that is you!!

Simple Fixes

One thing that I didn’t anticipate about my job here at Disney is how easy it is to make people happy. Well, young people anyway. I am of the firm opinion that there should be no sad kids at Disney, and I have a super top secret weapon for turning frowns upside down. Want to know what it is?

It’s stickers.

STICKERS!!!!!!!!!!!

I cannot tell you how many times I’ve seen a kid eat it on the concrete — screaming and crying — only to get instantly better when I hand them a sticker. It’s the cure-all for boo-boos. Stickers are also very useful when it comes to bringing back run away kiddos. Seriously, if they don’t want to go back to their parents in line, I take out a sticker, and they follow it like a dollar on a string. Easy peasy. I actually had one family ask if me and my stickers could follow them around that day so they could get their toddler to listen to them.

It’s amazing to me how something so simple and mass-produced as a sticker can be so magical in the Disney setting. Once, I gave this girl an Olaf sticker, and she was so excited!! I had a lot left, so while she was in the queue, I slipped a whole bunch of them into her stroller.  Sure enough, when she came back from meeting Olaf, she asked for another sticker. So I told her to go check her buggy because Olaf had left her a present. Her reaction made that one of my nights ever!

Last sticker story and then I’m done, I promise: The other day, I was giving away Minnie stickers to pretty much everyone in line to see Minnie and Mickey. Then this one girl asked me if I had a Mickey sticker as well. I knelt down on her level, and I said “You know what? It’s your lucky day, because I happen to have one left.” She was so excited, she gave me a hug! I was really surprised, but her parents told me that she’d been looking for a mickey sticker their whole trip and hadn’t found one for her collection! So we flipped through her book together, and I happened to have just one or two of most of the characters she was missing. She had the biggest grin you’ve ever seen.

So just a couple of things I’ve learned from my Disney sticker experiences:

#1 — Be prepared. You can’t give something you don’t have. For me in my job, this means stocking up on stickers before I head on stage. For me in my life, this means making sure that I am emotionally and physically prepared to listen to, and help my friends when they are in need. Because…

#2 — It doesn’t take much to make someone’s day magical. Whether it’s a sticker, a smile, a listening ear, or even an offer to help someone with a daily chore, each one of us has the power to make a difference in someone else’s life every day. Creating happiness is a part of my job description now, and I’m so proud to say that this is one aspect of work that I’m going to try to take home with me.

 

Be Our Guest — in Comfort, Style, and Frugality

I am a cheapskate. Ramen Noodles make me very happy inside, because the price is always to the right of the decimal point. I also love being comfy. I will almost always choose comfort over style, because what’s the point in looking great if you feel miserable?

But even though I love the simple things in life, I firmly believe in the power of the “Treat Yo’ Self” mindset. When you work hard, it’s okay to play hard; it’s fun to dress up; and if there’s something that you have been wanting to do, it’s important to take a day and do it! Since I’ve been a big fan of Belle and her Beaux since childhood, eating at the Be Our Guest restaurant was a must-do for my DCP experience.

If you plan to have a similar “Treat Yo’ Self” day, here are a few tips to help you get reservations and have the best time ever at “Be Our Guest”.

#1 — Reserve Super Early, or Really, Really Late!

Okay, so you may have heard that Be Our Guest is nearly impossible to get a reservation for. This is absolutely true. If you have a big group, or a very rigid schedule, you’re going to want to make reservations months in advance — like, the minute they let you make reservations, you need to make them! However, if you have a smaller group, and you’re willing to adjust your schedule a bit, it’s not impossible to get in. The trick is to keep checking. If you don’t check, then someone else will, and they’ll get that spot before you. Start checking for reservations on the My Disney Experience App at least once every day in the week before you want to go, and then every hour or so the night before. Remember, plans change. People get tired. I’d say the best times to check are late at night, and then early in the morning.

#2 — Don’t Get Attached to Dinner

Everyone wants to go to dinner at Be Our Guest because dinner seems like a fancier meal than breakfast and lunch. And it is. But you know what? Breakfast and lunch are cheaper than dinner. WAY CHEAPER! And the delicious Grey Stuff is still there during the earlier meal times, so why not save a few bucks? My roommate Kayla and I went for lunch, and it was still more magical than we could have ever hoped for! The only down-side to booking an earlier meal is that the Beast only meets for dinner, so if meeting the Beast is the only reason you want to do Be Our Guest, then you might be disappointed in breakfast or lunch.

#3 — Be a Scrapbook Mom!!

No, you don’t have to actually go home and make a scrapbook. Who has time for that anyway? But DO take as many pictures and videos as possible! At first, Kayla and I felt kind of silly stopping to take pictures of everything, but you know what? This is probably the only time you’re going to eat at the BEAST’s CASTLE so take as many pictures as you want to and don’t pay attention to that old man muttering under his breath about millennials! Another thing that we did was we took a video of us just wandering around the castle and discovering the three cool rooms, It was so fun to watch it back, because it was like we were going through it again! Get up. Explore. Document everything.

#4 — Dress Up, Or Don’t…

I personally love going to the parks in dresses. It makes me feel pretty, and more immersed in the magic. But like I said earlier, comfort comes first! If dresses just aren’t you’re style, then wear what you think you look good in! It’s important to feel confident for all those pictures you’re going to take. My go-to dress up style at the parks is a cute dress and comfy sneakers. I felt pretty and confident for our fancy reservation, but afterwards I was still good to explore the park and go on rides! Yes, Be Our Guest is a fancy place (it is a palace after all), but you’re at DisneyWorld! Be comfy. Be confident. You do you Boo.

 

So there you have it. Your poor college kid’s guide to having a blast at one of the fanciest restaurants in the park. Feel free to comment with questions, or other tips you would add!

The Common Thread

I believe in the power of stories.

As a kid, stories were one of the only things that connected me and my brother. We had very different interests. While he was playing high school football, I was playing clarinet in 6th grade band. But despite any difference in our age or our hobbies, we could always come together to enjoy a good movie or book.

That’s why our family went to Disney — to truly be a part of the magic that wove a common thread between us.

But let’s have some real talk for a moment.

Even at Disney, not everything is going to be magical and fairy-tale-like. At Jedi Training, we typically fill up our spots within the first two hours of the day. So for the rest of the day, I have the pleasure of telling parents that there are no more spots for their younglings. One day, I got a tap on my shoulder that I’ve gotten many times before.

“Please, my nephew is crazy, he wants to be a Jedi.”

“I’m sorry sir, sign ups are all filled for today.”

“Is there anything you can do, we came all the way from Brazil!”

“No, I’m sorry, even our alternates list is full.”

And that should have been the end of it. But no. The man taps my shoulder again and when I turn around, he’s holding this 4 year old kid. Which is totally NOT FAIR. So my coworker and I told them to stick around until the show break, and maybe we could take a picture of him with a lightsaber or something.

That. Kid. That 4 year old kid. Watched the whole show with the most focused and serious look I’ve ever seen on a 4 year old’s face. Had his own lightsaber. Had his own robe for goodness’ sake. And I’d been told he didn’t speak that much English, but when I asked “Are you a Jedi?” I got the most serious “Yes” I’ve ever heard.

So we went nuts. My friend got him a Jedi Training pin. We got him a bottle of water just like the other younglings got. And I ran to ask one of our Jedi masters to take a picture with him. He was still very serious of course, but his family was all smiles.

That experience just reminded me of why I love coming to Disney parks. At Disney, we’re all just kids in the middle of our own favorite adventures. I’m proud that as a cast member, I get to help people make those lasting memories for others.

So whether you’re a Disney fan or not, please read good stories. Watch great films. Appreciate art. Because when you do, you are linking into a network that is so much bigger than any one person. That child and I didn’t speak the same language, didn’t live in the same country, and we weren’t even born in the same decade — but it was a story that gave us some common ground and helped us understand each other.

That, I think, is truly magical.

 

My First Magic Moment

Have you ever had a dream so big, you were afraid to want it too much? That’s how I felt as soon as I even heard about the Disney College Program (DCP). During my application process, anytime I felt my hopes floating up, I would shove them back down into my chest and duct tape them down. But you know hopes. They always find a way to float back up again.

So I let them float. All the way up to Infinity and Beyond! And just like any respectable Disney princess would, I went and shared my dreams with my own “Grandmother Willow.”

I sat next to her in that chair she never left, and I held her hand in mine. When I told her, “Grandma, I might get to work at Disney World,” her warm smile could have thawed any number of frozen hearts.

“If I go,” I said, “what would you like me to bring back for you?”

“Oh, it doesn’t matter.”

“No, really! Anything you want! A t-shirt? A Mickey Mouse doll? A lightsaber?”

At this point, my mom nearly choked on her muffin. “A lightsaber? Lindsey, you can’t get Grandma a lightsaber. She would literally attack the nurses with it whenever she didn’t want to take her pills!”

And Grandma and I smiled at each other, because we knew exactly what my present was going to be.

A few days later, she was gone. Mom and I were each holding a hand when she slipped through the veil between this world and the next. And you know what? I knew she was out of her pain. I knew that she’d lived a good life. I knew that she loved me, and that I’d see her again. But all that doesn’t make the initial separation hurt any less. It’s a painful wrenching of circumstance to go from loving someone, and desperately trying to keep them with you to missing someone, and knowing you’ll eventually have to move on.

But three days later, I had a very Moana-like moment. You know, when Moana sees the light go out in her Grandma’s cabin, and then three seconds later that huge glowing Manta-Ray thingy races under her boat and she knows her grandmother is going to be with her? Well. Our moment was just as dramatic. I opened up my email on February 14th, 2017, and received my acceptance to the Disney College Program. From that point on, I knew for sure — that I wasn’t just moving on, I was moving forward. And I certainly wasn’t going alone.

Now you wanna hear something really cool? Like, sickeningly serendipitous? Get this: I got cast into the Jedi Training attraction. That’s right. JEDI TRAINING in Hollywood Studios. WHERE WE GET TO CARRY A LIGHTSABER EVERYWHERE!

So I know it wasn’t just coincidence that led me here, and it definitely wasn’t my own pure skill. Call it pixie dust, magic, divine intervention, or a grandmother’s love. I am here to grow, and learn, and meet new people, and take pictures of Mickey cake pops in front of the castle, and work hard, and have the time of my life — and I get to do it all with Grandma’s lightsaber right by my side every day.