My Adventure is Coming to an End.

So I have officially less than a month till I leave Orlando and working for Disney. I cannot believe how fast it has gone, its crazy! I really don’t want to leave, I love it over here but it has got to come to an end. There is still so much I want to do, so I have made a list of things I want to do before I leave. Here it is:

• Universal Studios
• Seaworld
• Visit Miami
• Florida Mall
• Outlet Mall
• Go the Animal Kingdom Lodge
• ESPN Wide World of Sports
• International Drive
• Company D
• Grand Floridian
• Art of Animation
• Boardwalk
• Busch Gardens
• Disney Quest
• Cirque Du Soliel

There is so much to do so little time. Ive kind of done everything I want to do in the Disney Parks so on my next days off I am going to start on this list. On Monday my plan is to go to the Florida Mall then visit a few hotels and then go to MK to watch Wishes - maybe go on Space or Thunder Mountain as well and on Wednesday Amy, Ema and I are going to Universal, I am so excited. Really looking forward to going Harry Potter World for the first time. I love HP! Because I don't normally start work until late afternoon I can go and visit a few places on the list before work.

The last month Ive been working like crazy as per usual. So theres nothing much to tell really. On the Monday just gone it was my day off. I was on my own all day as normal because no-one is ever off on Mondays like me. I got up around 11:30am and I caught the 11:58 bus to Epcot so I could meet the characters. I met Daisy Duck first then I went to the character spot where I met Mickey, Pluto, Minnie, Donald <3 and Goofy.

Me + Goofy.

I also wanted to meet Chip + Dale but they weren't there. I need to meet them before I go. Then I caught the monorail to MK where I watched the 3 o'clock parade, met Mickey + Minnie in the Town Square Theatre and went on rides. My plan for the day was go on the rides that I haven't done yet. So I went on Jungle Cruise, The Enchanted Tiki Room, Winnie The Pooh, Peter Pan, Stitch's Great Escape and the Astro Orbiter. I did however go on a few rides that I have been on before which was Space and Thunder Mountain - love those rides. There's just 3 more attractions in MK I need to do then I have done everything they are Dumbo and Prince Charming's Carousel in Fantasyland and then the Carousel of Progress in Tomorrowland. I also have 2 more attractions in Epcot and 2 more in Animal Kingdom. In Epcot it is Ellen's Energy Adventure and Living with the Land and in AK it is Kilimanjaro Safari's and the Triceratop Spin. Once Ive done all these rides I have been on every attraction in Walt Disney World.

Me, Minnie + Mickey.

That's basically it for now, I will do another post within the next week telling you all about my trip to Universal. I really don't want to go home yet plus I want to go travelling after my program but no-one will come with me. If anyone wants to let me know :)

Have a magical day,
Shauna xx

Busy.....Working.

So lately I have been neglecting my blog, this is due to being so incredibly busy. Plus on my days off I do not fancy sitting at my laptop writing a blog when I could be out in the parks having fun. Since my last post on the 12th May, I haven't really done too much. Work work work basically! As I only have one day off a week, I haven't really been the parks much. Ive been Epcot - twice, Animal Kingdom - once, Hollywood Studios - twice and Magic Kingdom - four times. There isn't much that I can tell you about what has happened since I last posted as its all work related. A few people are starting to leave now as their program has ended, I miss the people that are leaving they are some awesome people. With them leaving I'm guessing that we are going to get some more new people which I am excited about. Should be fun making some new friends at work.

The last couple of days haven't been the best for me. Friday I hurt my wrist in work which meant I had to go to Health Services on Saturday to get it checked out. He put my wrist in a splint, gave me some medication to bring the swelling down and put me on restrictions in work. One of the restrictions being that I am not able to work with food and what do I do? Work with food. I went into work with my restrictions that night and the managers at work said that they couldn't do anything for today, so they asked me whether I wanted an E.R (Early Release) and get report pay. I of course said yes, so Me, my trainer Carlos and Mileyzia went into Magic Kingdom for a few hours. We went on Pirates of the Caribbean, Space Mountain and Thunder Mountain for the first time as it has not long reopened after the refurbishment.

Thunder Mountain, MK.

My managers told me to report to Modified work at 10am the next morning, so I did and they gave me my schedule for the next week. So unfortunately I have to be deployed for the week. Sunday I was on Strollers in Fantasyland, Monday and Today I had off. Tomorrow I am in the Town Square Theatre on Main Street, Thursday I am in Cast Connections and Friday I am on Main Entrance Operations in MK. After my shift on Friday I have an appointment to go back to the doctors to see whether there has been any improvement on my hand. I really hope it has healed some what as I hate being deployed I really want to go back to the Bakery and Cone shop. I miss my job and my friends. I really doubt it has healed because its still very sore. My fingers are still crossed though. On Monday my first day off I went to Epcot with Amy in the day and then we went to Magic Kingdom in the night. We arrived at Epcot at about 12:45pm, we went on Soarin', Mission: Space, Captain EO, Figment, Grand Fiesta Tour (which is the Donald Duck ride in the Mexican Pavilion) and then we went round all the pavilions. We had some dinner at the US Pavilion and then we got the monorail to MK.

Me + Mexican Donald Duck.

While there we went on Monster Inc. Laugh Floor, Space Mountain, Aladdin's Magic Carpets and Thunder Mountain - 3 times. I love Thunder Mountain. Today I haven't done much at all, I got up late and Ive basically chilled in my apartment all day. As it is the 5th June, more people are starting their programs today so I met up with Laura, a girl I met at my face to face interview, it was so good to see her. She's in Vista too, which is awesome. That's basically it!

Back at work tomorrow unfortunately, I could get use to having 2 days off a week :)

Have a magical day,
Shauna xx

I am here.

Well everyone this is my first post in Orlando. I'll just give you an overview of what has happened in the last couple of days. On the 6th May 2012, I woke up at 6am and I left for the airport at 7:30am. I met up with Amy, Charlie and Ema in the airport we checked in with 8 cases between us. We were suppose to leave Manchester airport at 11am but we were delayed 30mins and we were suppose to land in Orlando International at 3:25pm but we landed at 3pm, which is good. We cleared immigration within an hour and a half and got the Mears shuttle bus to Vista. After arriving we checked in and found out what housing complex we would be staying, I am at Vista Way and I have 5 other roommates, 3 Canadians (Paige, Abbey and Audrey) and 2 English (Amy and Leah). I am so happy and lucky that I have Amy as my roommate. We put our bags in our room and went straight to Walmart to get some essentials, once getting back for the supermarket we unpacked and went to bed.

My Apartment Door at Vista.

The next morning we went to a checked in at Vista and went welcome meeting at The Commons. In the welcome meeting we were told about this Cast Member only pool party at Typhoon Lagoon that night and it was free. So we decided to go, what a night! Best way to start the summer. Tuesday we went to the Commons for 2 more meetings, one to fill out more paperwork and to find out what park we were working in and the other was an immigration presentation, both very boring. This is where I found out where I would be working, I am working in Magic Kingdom on Main Street, USA. After that we went to Downtown Disney to have a look around as we didn’t have our Disney I.D’s yet. We had a lovely meal at the Rainforest Cafe, I had Cheeseburger and Chips and we all shared a Volcano. Wednesday was Traditions which started off really boring and then picked up. Mickey Mouse came in about half way through which was really good. He’s so cute! Also at Traditions we had a backstage tour and a park tour of Magic Kingdom, very hot outside especially because we all had black on. Because it was traditions it meant we got our Disney I.D so that meant that we could go into the parks now for free. So after Traditions a few of us went to Magic Kingdom J first ride of the summer was Space Mountain, we literally walked onto the attraction. We also went on Splash Mountain, Its a Small World, the Tea Cups and a few more. We didn’t stay for the parade or the fireworks because we were all exhausted.

My Name Tag.

Thursday was the start of my training for my new role, I had a class to attend ‘Once Upon a Time...Is Now!’ from 7:15am to 3:45pm this was my theme park orientation, long day! I was up at 5am and I got the bus from Vista at 6:15am. This day was pretty interesting we had another backstage tour and park tour around Magic Kingdom as that’s where I will be working. The tour was in more depth this time plus we were allowed to go on 2 attractions which was fun they were Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin and the Haunted Mansion. Once the class had finished we were taken over to Costuming to get our costumes for our role, I am working at the Main Street Bakery and the Ice Cream Parlour. My costume is shocking! After my class a few of us was going to go Hollywood Studios but we decided not to go in the end because we were all very tired. So went for tea at Applebees and crashed out after that. Friday had another class from 8am to 12:30pm which was ‘Food and Beverage Core Cafe’ basically telling me all the safety procedures, what to do and what not to do when it comes to food. That was the most boring class I have been in yet. Once that was over we were taken to Costuming again, this time to get our slip-resistant shoes. They are awful too! After my class a few of us went to Epcot, that was the first time I had been to Epcot as I didn’t go last time I was here. We went on Spaceship Earth, Mission: Space (more intensive and less intensive), Finding Nemo, Captain EO, Figment and the attraction in the Norway Pavilion. We went all around the world in all the pavilions, the United Kingdom Pavilion is so stereotypical. We had tea at the Electric Umbrella which wasn’t very nice at all, then we left to go to Magic Kingdom to watch the parade and Wishes. We didn’t end up watching the parade as we went on the People Mover and onto Space Mountain as the wait for them was nothing. Once wishes was over we went home, I accidentally fell asleep on the bus oops! As soon I got home I went to bed.

The Castle just before 'Wishes'.

That's basically it for the first couple of days, today is now Saturday which is my first day at work. My first couple of shifts are grim, today I am on 5:30pm to 1:45am, Sunday I am on 6:30pm to 2:45am (Extra Magic Hours), Monday I am 4:30pm to 12:45am, Tuesday I am on 12:30pm to 8:45pm, Wednesday I am on 9:15am to 5:30pm and then I have Thursday off. Friday I am on 4:15pm to 10:15pm and Saturday I am on 4:30pm to 12:45am. I cannot wait for my day off already, I also cannot believe I only have 1 day off a week. I am going to talk to someone about that, I dont see how that is fair! Anyways...


Have a magical day,
Shauna xx

My adventure begins TOMORROW.

So today is the 5th May 2012 which means that tomorrow is my start date and I will be flying to the beautiful Sunshine State to begin my Disney summer. I cannot believe how fast it has gone, I found out in late November and now its May, crazy! I'm all packed besides from a things that I need tomorrow morning, all my insurance is done, no more fees to pay and most of all no more Uni until September. I've just checked in online, all I need to do now is print off a few things then I am done and ready to go. These last couple of days has been so stressful but worth it!

Yesterday I had a little goodbye get together with my family and friends, it was such a good night. I just hate saying goodbye, well I guess its not goodbye just see you soon. It was still hard regardless, knowing that you not going to see people who you care about for 3 potentially 4 months. If I thought that was hard I cannot imagine tomorrow when I say goodbye to my dad, my sister and most of all my mum. I'm tearing up just thinking about it (I'm feeling a little sentimental). Its going to be the hardest thing I have ever had to do, leaving them behind but I cannot pass up this opportunity. I am going to have the time of my life, I just know it!

I'm ready and I cannot wait to start the summer of a lifetime. BRING IT ON!

1 day to go!

Have a magical day,
Shauna xx

Visa Visa Visa.

Well as you can tell with the title of my post, this blog is all about my trip to the US Embassy in London to get my Visa. I travelled down to London the day before my appointment which was the 3rd April. We got into Euston Station at around 2pm, once we got the tube and walked to our hotel which was in Oxford Circus it was around 3pm. We decided to go to the British Museum, well I did my mum just tagged along. That place is amazing with all the Egyptian artifacts, mummies, sarcophagus etc in there. After that we decided to go to Buckingham Palace, which was good, its a lot smaller than I thought it was going to be. We got the tube back to our hotel to get ready for MAMMA MIA! that show is without doubt the best west end show I have ever seen. So much fun!

Mamma Mia! West End.

The next day (the day of my visa appointment) I left my hotel at 10:45am to get to the Embassy for 11am, half an hour before my appointment. I met up with Charlie outside the embassy and went in, we met a few girls in there that are going Disney as well. They were Laura, Amy, Daisy and Jade. I was called to the first window to give all my documents in and they scanned my finger prints and then I sat back down. Then at about 12:45pm I was called to my actual visa interview, all they asked me was 'What job are you doing at Disney?' once I said Food and Beverage, he said visa approved. Awesome! All I had to do is pay for the delivery charge for my passport then I was done. Out of the Embassy by 1pm. I was lucky, Charlie didn't get out of the Embassy until 3pm, felt so sorry for her. I got back to my hotel at about 1:15pm and my mum and I went on a open top bus tour around London for a few hours, once we saw all the sights we decided we wanted to go and see another show. My mum chose this time, she chose Shrek: The Musical. There's another £100 gone, it was really good though. The production of it was amazing.

Tower Bridge.

Then the dreaded 5th April came, the day we had to go home. We got up early so we could do some last minute shopping, we had a look around Covent Gardens and then Leicester Square. As we had so much time left we went to Waterloo and to the London Eye before getting the tube back to Euston Station so we could head back home.

London Eye.

I absolutely LOVE London, I want to live there. I'm hopefully going back for my birthday in October. So there's my adventure to London.


In other news, I have bought my Medical Insurance off Disney as well as paying for my Program Assessment Fee. I haven't bought my Travel Insurance yet, I am just looking around to see what is the best deal for me. There's not long now only 22 days! All my essays are finished just need to complete my 2 exams then I can completely focus on my arrival in the Sunshine State.


Have a magical day,
Shauna xx

Look What Came Through The Post.

FINALLY it has arrived, my Disney pack :D about time too. It arrived through the post on Monday, inside is my Disney acceptance letter, some visa paperwork and the Disney look book. I am so happy that I finally have it in my possession. With the arrival of pack means that I could book my visa appointment which I did on Monday night, you can either go to the US Embassy in London or in Belfast. I booked it for the 4th April 2012 at 11:30am at the US Embassy in London, if anyone is there the same time let me know :) I was going to just travel down to London and go back home on the same day but my mum and I have decided to stay in London for a few days and see the sights. I have only been London once and I didn't do much sightseeing plus my mum has never been so I thought I'd treat her to a few days away. So that is sorted, it cost me $140 though and then however much it cost to book it over the phone. Once I booked my visa appointment, I filled out the SEVIS fee form and paid the $35 for it. That's another thing checked off my list. Then I paid for mine and my mum's train to and from London Euston which cost me £115 luckily my dad goes away a lot with work so he can get rooms free at Holiday Inn's across the UK so I didn't have to pay for our hotel. Then today I started to do some more visa paperwork, I have nearly completed my DS-109 (online visa paperwork) all the questions are answered I just need to add a passport style photo to it then I can send it off and print myself a copy of it. There are still some things I need to do before my visa appointment but there's no rush, its 3 weeks tomorrow!

Disney Pack.

I haven't heard anything more on Disney's medical insurance yet but I am sure I will soon now that all the Disney packs are out and almost everyone has received their welcome emails. Once I have paid for that I am going to buy my travel insurance which is going to cost me about £50 maybe less. I am hopefully going to pay for my program assessment fee before the weekend, even though my credit card needs a bit of a rest :D Once all that is paid for, I don't think there is anything else I need to pay for. Some advice for people who are thinking of applying for next summers ICP make sure you have the money to do it, I knew that it would cost me a lot of money but I did not realise it would cost me this much. It will be worth it though, I'm hoping!

That's all I have to update at the moment, I have got so much work to do for University before my visa appointment. Hopefully now I stop stressing about anything Disney related and concentrate on my essays due in.

Only 53 days to go!

Have a magical day,
Shauna xx

Trip to Chester.

Its only been a few days since my last blog, so there isn't really much to tell. I did however go to Chester on Saturday to meet up with Charlie and Amy, yet again another day talking all about Disney :D be rude not to. Amy and I arrived in Chester about 3pm and met up with Charlie who lives in Chester because of Uni. We went around the town centre and did a little bit of shopping, of course the first shop we went in was the Disney store. I bought a Donald Duck plastic tumbler it is so cute. After an hour or so it started to rain so we decided to go to Pret-A-Manger for a hot drink and to wait till the rain died down a bit. Once it did, we took a trip to the American Sweet Shop, we couldn't resist! I bought a can of Pepsi Wild Cherry, two bars of Laffy Taffy (one grape flavour and one cherry flavour) and a Baby Ruth. Yum! We started to get a little hungry so went to a pub and had some tea, I had southern fried chicken burger and chips :D very nice indeed. By the time we had something to eat and talked more about Disney it was nearly 7pm, so Amy and I got the train back to Lime Street and went home. All in all a very good day, looking forward to the next one.

An update on the program is that yesterday I received an email off Yummy Jobs that told us to login into our Yummy Jobs account and read the instructions about our Visa's. I now know what to do once I receive my Disney Pack :). Also this morning I received a letter in the post saying that I passed my CRB check as I have no criminal convictions, yaaaaay! Thank god for that. I think that is it, ill update if there is anything new :)

Here's just a video telling you what I could be doing in the role of Quick Service Food and Beverage.

Have a magical day,
Shauna xx