Wednesday, September 30, 2009

X Marks the Spot

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Let me start by saying I’m feeling good today. Wait, scratch that. I’m feeling AMAZING today. In fact scratch that too. I’m having a Zip-A-Dee-Do-Dah-Day.

Now today’s tip is not one that you do in the park but that you can do right now. Many people do not realize but Disney Parks actually have a map customization program on their site where you can customize your own Walt Disney World maps with your favorite attractions and restaurants marked. And best of all, when you’re done they will mail your customized maps to you for….wait for it……FREE! I know that as soon as I heard of this I ordered my maps right away. And when I got them I was completely blown away by how amazing they looked. Anyways, here is the link to the maps page http://bit.ly/pKoFC.

I also want to take this opportunity to congratulate those who have been accepted into the program including Eric, Princess Ashlie, and old roommate Tom. I also want to say to those who are still awaiting a reply and those who haven’t had their interview yet, GOOD LUCK!!!! And finally those who are applying for a future season or who are just fans reading this blog, in the words of Walt Disney “Keep Moving Forward.”

Have a Zip-A-Dee-Do-Dah-Day!!!!

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

FOCUS DUDE!

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If you are reading this blog then must have a passion for the Walt Disney Company, the College Program, and possibly future employment in the company. And the last thing you want to do while you are on the program is do anything to harm your chances of working for Disney again. That is why, if you follow only one piece of advice I have ever or will ever post it’s this one. First though look around you for a scrap of paper or a note card and any sort of writing instrument in your general vicinity. You have it? Great! Now write down the following in big letters:

“REMEMBER WHY I’M HERE.”

Now that you have that done stick it into your wallet, purse, or whatever you carry around with you. Make sure you always know where it is and when you start your program make sure you bring it with you. It only takes one day. On my program I knew any fellow CP’s who were sent home packing for making the stupid mistakes and thinking about only the short term gain and not focusing on the big picture. You do not want this to happen to you. If you tarnish your record by getting terminated or racking up reprimands then you make the job of the cast members in charge of the Professional Internships and casting in general real easy. So to conclude this post here are some points to focus on as well as some common mistakes to avoid.

Think about it

-You are there to work fun and have fun second. Yes you are in Disney World and it’s fun to explore the parks and Orlando in general but don’t skip work just to have fun.

-If you are a minor, it isn’t worth having a beer or going to a friend’s place to drink. They really crack down on underage drinking and if you are found with alcohol in a wellness apartment then you are also putting your roommates in danger of termination as well. Plus you don’t want to have to leave just because you wanted a buzz.

-Just because you are a cast member does not mean you have any more rights than a guest when you are in the parks. Point being, when you are in the park act like youare a guest because guess what.....you are. And don’t try to draw attention to the fact that you are a cast member when you are exploring the park, only bad things can happen.

-And finally I can’t stress this one enough because I was told about six people during my program that were termed because of it. Do not I repeat do not try to sneak anyone into the apartment complexes. If it’s too late at night then tough or they weren’t granted access for whatever reason, then tough. Trust me, it is not worth it to have them over for the night if it means you are putting yourself or your roommates at risk

Have a Zip-A-Dee-Do-Dah-Day!!!!!

Monday, September 28, 2009

Quiet on the set, roll the Links, and ACTION!

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Let me start this post off by saying that these are by far my favorite of the links that I have posted so far. With that being said, On With The Show:

Over the past week I have talked to three different people, all of who said that they would love to work on the Great Movie Ride. And why not? There is a fun spiel, there are two potential story lines, you can be a ride operator or a thug or even a bank robber, and of course there’s that great movie montage at the end of the ride. So I was inspired to post this link which was put together by a fan of the attraction and which features the many different movie montages The Great Movie Ride had featured over the years. Enjoy!

http://prettygoodmovieride.com/

This next couples of links are commercials but stay with me on this one. These are what I will call my top five commercials that really carry the Disney spirit with it. Enjoy!

5. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZ2KHcGksw8&feature=related
4. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RM-8SrBbOTE
3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahGsElNsaQM
2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Flrt_cs6Dms and yes that’s Dr. Taub from House
1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2KojRy5na4&feature=related

Last week I said that this week I would post what is arguably one of my favorite Disney links and here it is. Have you ever wanted to work a Disney attraction? Of course you have, it’s the most requested position on the College Program. Well now you can have a taste of what it’s like to control such rides as the Tower of Terror, Expedition Everest, and a few others including some extinct attractions like Who Wants to be a Millionaire Play It. So go to the site, click one of the simulators on the right side of the screen, and have fun. (Hint: Don’t get frustrated if you can’t figure it out right away. Just think of what the next logical step in the process is and do it).

http://themagical.nl/


Have an Actual, Factual, and of course Satisfactual Zip-A-Dee-Do-Dah-Day!!!!!

Friday, September 25, 2009

Three top five......that's like fifteen

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Last Friday I took a look at my calendar and I saw that I had a tough two weeks ahead of me that included three quizzes, three tests, and a handful of essays and papers to do. And I sit here now, in front of my desk, feeling relived that I am half way through but also looking at the week ahead knowing that I still have a few more challenges including an Accounting test to complete before I can really breathe easy again (until I have to do it all over again of course). These weeks however did help inspire my Top Five list for today. So with that said here are the three quick top five places to relax and take it easy at Walt Disney World.

Top Five Relaxing Rides (There’s kind of a theme here)
5. Ellen’s Universe of Energy (EPCOT)
4. La Gran fiesta Tour (EPCOT)
3. Tomorrowland Transit Authority (Magic Kingdom)
2. Living with the Land (EPCOT)
1. Spaceship Earth (EPCOT)

Top Five Relaxing Hotels and surrounding areas
5. Grand Floridian
4. Port Orleans Riverside
3. Animal Kingdom Lodge
2. Fort Wilderness Campgrounds
1. The Boardwalk

Activities around the “World”
5. Mini Golf at Winter/Summerland
4. EPCOT World Showcase Segway Tour
3. Rent a Surrey Bike with friends and bike around the Swan and Dolphins, Yacht and Beach Club, and Boardwalk resort
2. Rent a single person motor boat and ride around the Seven Seas Lagoon
1 Attend a campfire at the Fort Wilderness campgrounds

Have a Zip-A-Dee-Do-Dah-Day!!!

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Think About It.

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There are many good things about the Disney College Program but probably the neatest thing is getting to meet, live, and work with other college students from around the world. During my program I worked with kids from France, China, Romania, England, Haiti, Jamaica, Brazil, and few other countries. I actually worked with a student from the Netherlands at EPCOT that spoke nine languages (INSANE). Oh and this one time……wait what? My point? Oh yeah my point is this, it would behoove you to try to familiarize yourself with some different cultures before you head out. I’m not saying that you have to be able to identify every body of water in the country or to learn to speak a bunch of foreign languages fluently but just have a basic understanding of where they are coming from. Try to focus on the big countries (England, France, China, Brazil) but if you have the time explore other cultures. I tell you from experience, they do appreciate the effort to make them feel more welcome (Oh and if you are an ICP student coming to America and you think it’s weird, just humor us). So here it goes:

What you should know
-Where the country is
-What the capital and or two or three other big cities
-At least three interesting facts (good ice breaker)

Learn to say in the language (another good ice breaker)
-Hello
-How are you?
-I’m doing (good, bad, okay)
-Thank You
-I just saw a platypus highjack a blue Prius in the Magic Kingdom parking lot. (just in case)
-Goodbye

Good luck and enjoy. Oh and have a Zip-A-Dee-Do-Dah-Day!!!

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Your Zip-A-Dee-Do-Dah Tip for today

My WDW tip for today is a basic run down of the best of the best table service restaurants around the "world."

Magic Kingdom

Liberty Tree Tavern- Admittedly the Magic Kingdom doesn't have a large. The Liberty Tree Tavern has arguably some of the best food in on Disney property. My top three entrees on the menu are probably The Clam Chowder, The Chicken Pasta, and The New England Pot Roast. The atmosphere is also a definite plus in this restaurant because it has a real “welcome home” real to it with all the nautical knick knacks hung everywhere.

Hollywood Studios

The Fifties Prime Time CafĂ©- Let me first say that if you want the best atmosphere then go to the Sci-Fi Drive-in. My choice for best overall restaurant in the Studios has to be the 50’s Prime Time. As soon as you step into the restaurant you are at home……oh and you are now roughly eight years old (yes mom and dad too). Your “mother”, “father”, or “cousin” takes your order and then makes sure you wash your hands (Be warned…..they ask you what color the soap is to make sure you do). Then you watch old 1950’s TV shows until dinner is served. The food is traditional family dinners better than your mom used to make (with the exception of mom of course). The best items on the menu are probably the meatloaf dinner and the turkey dinner. All and all it’s a warm meal at a home many miles from your own.

Animal Kingdom

Yak and Yeti- All right I’m not going to go into too much detail on this one for two reasons. The first is that I have only eaten here once and the second it’s really the only sit down restaurant in the Animal Kingdom. What I will say is that the food is definitely good and if you haven’t eaten here before it’s worth a try. But there are enough quick service locations with good variety in the park that if you didn’t eat here you wouldn’t really be missing much. My favorite quick service location though is the Flame Tree BBQ (primarily the Ribs with Cornbread).

Now by far the hardest one

EPCOT

This really is a hard one because let’s face, you really can’t go wrong. That being said I have broken EPCOT into a couple of small categories.
-Best Food: Le Cellier- For those of you who don’t know, Le Cellier is the steakhouse in the Canadian pavilion. It has some of the best steak I have ever had and the pretzel bread that they give you at the beginning of your meal and it is AWESOME.
-Best Atmosphere: San Angel Inn- As soon as you walk into the Mexican pavilion it is immediately night time in a lively Mexican city. The neat thing about this restaurant is, much like the Blue Bayou in Disneyland that looks out on the Pirates of the Caribbean boats, this restaurant is right on the water that La Gran Fiesta Tour goes through. When you put this all together it leads to a great relaxing meal.
-Most Entertaining: Teppanedo- Your food is cooked right in front of you by a show chef…….do I have to say more.
-Best Restaurant at Night: The Rose and Crown Pup- This restaurant located in the England Pavillion has too types of seating. You can sit inside the pub around the bar OR you can sit outside around the World Showcase lagoon. So if you sit outside and you time your meal right you will have a breathe taking view of Illuminations while you eat.


This is only my opinion though. Everybodies taste is different and so I eat where ever you can and find your favorite place to eat.

Have a Zip-A-Dee-Do-Dah-Day!!!

P.S.
I want to try Iron Chef Cat Cora's new Greek restaurant, Kouzzina, at the Boardwalk resort so if anybody eats there then give me your feedback. I heard the Lamb Burgers are amazing.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

College Program Tip for Today

For the College Program Tip today I am continuing the piece that I wrote as my second blog article, What to and not to bring.

What you might not have brought but should consider bringing

An ID Lanyard-First off let me say this isn't really something you "need" to bring from home but it is definetly something that you will want when you are at Disney. You think I'm joking? One of the primary rules that you will have to follow when you are backstage and not in costume is that your ID needs to be visible or at least readily accessible. That being said, you don't have to have one of the boring lanyards like those that you were forced to wear in highschool. Disney has (for a fee) really cool and unique Disney lanyards for their castmembers. I personally have a Steamboat Willie, Disney villans, MKRO (Magic Kingdom Restaurant Ops), and Mickey Christmas lanyards that I still use even now that I am back in college. But whether you bring your own or get get one when you are here, make sure you have a lanyard for your ID........as Dr. Seeker on Dinosaur (Countdown to Extinction for those Disney purists) would say, "You'll be glad you did."

This is the Steamboat Willie one that I currently sport.
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What you might bring but shouldn't

A Ton of Clothes- And I say a ton of clothes strictly because I believe some people brought cases of clothes that in fact weighted about a ton......or two. As a general rule I would say don't bring any more clothes than would fit into an airport regulation suitcase. I understand that you are moving from where ever you are from to live in Orlando for several months but you really don't need too much clothes. For a majority of your program you will in fact be in your costume, in fact you may even find yourself getting dressed for work and not taking off the costume until your ready for bed only to do the same thing the next day. So make sure you have what you need. I personally brought five pairs of pants (1 pair of jeans, 2 pairs Khaki shorts, 1 pair of basketball shorts, and dress pants) and something like ten shirts (a couple polos and t-shirts and a dress shirt) and I did pretty good. I know most people need more than that but again just try to bring what you need.


I say bring what you want but consider what I say and as always......wait I can't do it today because somebody *cough* Ashlie *cough* used my outro so for this time only.....

Let me think
Let me think

Okay and so

Have a supercalifragilisticexpialidocious-day

Okay not feeling that....eh I guess I can use the original so......

Have a Zip-A-Dee-Do-Dah-Day!!!

Monday, September 21, 2009

Links, Links, and Links.......Booyah!

I listen to a lot of cover music to Disney songs and very rarely will there be a cover that is so much better than the original. Bill Joel did an amazing rendition of When You Wish Upon a Star for the movie “Simply Mad About the Mouse” and Louis Armstrong released a great album called Disney Songs the Satchmo Way with covers of songs such as Zip-A-Dee-Do-Dah and Davey Crockett in his distinguishable way. That being said I came across an acoustic guitar cover of A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Make that is absolutely beautiful.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfoaOsgWtCw

One of the greatest things you will appreciate when you become a Disney World or Disneyland cast member are the inside jokes. They are found everywhere; whether it’s the inappropriate hand gesture on Rock n Rollercoaster or knowing what it means if you say someone is a 904 (which is Disney code for something’s on fire). For some reason all of these seem to be funnier when you become a cast member, I chalk it up to loss of sanity (God bless those cast members that have to listen to It’s a Small World all day). Anyways, long story short here is a site with apparel made “especially” for cast members. Even if you don’t feel like getting anything, see how many things you can identify. I know there are about two jokes I don’t get.
http://www.mousetrapclothing.com/

This last site is one of my favorites because it is relatively practical and by practical I mean that if you are a Disney fan you will definitely find a way to use this. It is a site with many, many, many Disney World and Disney land type fonts. It has everything from Walt Disney’s handwriting to Epcot retro font and even Nightmare Before Christmas fonts. So check it out.
http://mickeyavenue.com/

As neat as these sites are, next week I am posting what is by far my favorite Disney World site. It is both interactive and fun so……

Have a Zip-A-Dee-Do-Dah-Day!

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Thursday's Post on a Saturday, Doesn't That Blow Your Mind

Why Vista Way is the best Apartment complex

Location, Location, Location- I think the biggest factor that you have to look at when you are picking which apartment complex you want to live at is what is in the surrounding area. When you look at Chatham and Patterson they have Publix and they have Walgreens within relative walking distance (you probably don’t want to be walking back with a gallon of ice cream but they are still close) and I believe there is also a Subway, McDonald’s and some Columbian restaurant in the same complex. But then you look at Vista Way it has so much more options around it. In the immediate area there is a Wendy’s, Chik-fil-a, Bennigan’s, Ci-Ci’s, Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks, Walgreens, and a pretty good small Greek Market. Then if you are up for the walk, when you under the overpass there is Crossroads with a bunch of other options including TGIFridays, Buffalo Wild Wings, and some local grocery store. And then in terms of fun things to do around the area, there is only Mickey’s Retreat by Chatham and Patterson but there are two mini-golf courses by Vista and they are pretty fun.

Bus are us- This is actually a big one and to be honest it’s a good thing that they tell you where you are working before you tell them which complex you want to live in. See there are two of the four park (I only talk about four parks because that’s where most people work) buses that stop by the Chatham area and then to the Vista and then the other two stop by Vista first and then the Chatham area. The bus A bus and the C bus stop at Vista second and these are the Magic Kingdom and Epcot buses respectively. Why is it important to have the bus come to you last? It gives you more breathing room, so if you find yourself waking up late there is some solace in the fact that the next bus that comes is going directly to the park rather than picking you up and then going twenty minutes out to pick up Chatham before going to the park. The only downside to this is at the end of the night it will take about fourty-five minutes to get from Magic Kingdom to Vista, the Epcot bus takes only about twenty minutes to get you home.

Homey Community- First of all I’m going to address the worry about parties at Vista. YES there are a lot of parties (almost one every night). YES they are a lot of fun (SO MUCH FUN). And NO they aren’t too loud that you can’t sleep so you don’t have to worry about not getting enough sleep. With that out of the way Vista is the greatest place to live. The complexes are all close together so you do meet a lot of your neighbors. Yes the apartments are smaller and more dated but for what you are doing there it really doesn’t matter. Vista just has a good feeling about it.

Plus it has it’s own theme song- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGzgwiAng7I
So just don’t count Vista Way our without thinking first. And that is the Thought for the day.


Have a Zip-A-Dee-Do-Dah-Day!

Friday, September 18, 2009

Top Five......The Key Word is Bonus

I was looking over a lot of the news and info that came out of the D 23 Expo and one of the things that I was most excited about was the release of the name of Pirates of the Caribbean 4. It’s “On stranger Tides” for those of you that didn’t know. Anyways I was thinking of the movies based on attractions that Disney has released in the past and I realized that some of the concepts worked (Pirates of the Caribbean and yes the Haunted Mansion) and those that didn’t (How awful was The Country Bears Jamboree?). So I decided to post some idea for Disney attractions that would not work well as a movie. Enjoy.

Top Five Disney Attractions that Wouldn’t Translate Well Into a Movie

1. Speed 4: Living with the Land- The movie immediately starts with Keanu Reeves on a raft in the Land pavilion passing by the Mickey shaped pumpkins and turns to face the camera and yells “If this boat goes faster than half a mile an hour then we are all dead.” Then he looks around and realizes it’s Living with the Land so they have no problem with going too fast. The end. Short sweet and to the point.

2. Spaceship Earth The Movie……in 3D- First of all let me say this is one of my top errr... something ride, it’s somewhere up there. Anyways I tried figuring out how this ride could possibly be made into an even slightly interesting movie and I got nothing. It is a slow moving, serious ride about the history of communication and the only genre of movie it sells itself to is possibly a made for TV movie on the History channel that you would only watch because you turned on the TV, lost the remote, and didn’t feel like getting up to change the channel. But on the plus side it’s in 3-D.

3. It’s A Small World II: No Way Out- The concept for this is a horror movie on the same level of the Hills Have Eyes and Halloween (the original ones and not the new Rob Zombie remakes). Once everyone has taken their seats in the theater the ushers lock movie goers in and suddenly the screen turns black and for the next five hours you hear nothing but “It’s a Small World After All.” Oh God! Imagine the movie tagline for this one, “Amongst the song, no one can hear you scream.”

4. The Hall of Presidents- Just No.

Bonus Movie (Why you shouldn't just turn an movie into an attraction)

5. Stitch’s Great Escape or That thing that I run by on my way to Space Mountain (you know, the one with the yappy blue dog on it)- Once upon a time an attraction opened in the Magic Kingdom and it was.....good. Many years later Disney came out with a movie, Lilo and Stitch, and it was.....okay. Then came the magic of synergy and the attraction, Alien Encounter, fused with Stitch......and I cried. Where once you would smell the breath of an alien as it was about to pounce, now you inhale a noxious fume that is meant to simulate the smell of a chili cheese dog.......stays in your nose for hours (no thanks). It just has to be understood that not everything translates from one media or another without the help of "some" originality. This attraction simply makes me yearn for what once was. BRING BACK MY ALIEN ENCOUNTER!!!!!!


Have a Zip-A-Dee-Do-Dah-Day!

This Isn't My Friday Post

This is simply a message begging for the forgiveness of those of you who for whatever reason you felt compelled to read my blog and for the four of you who actually found it in your heart to follow my blog:

"Charlie Brown you blockhead!"

Alas that is how I feel about myself right now. I found myself sitting in front of my computer ready to write the post when I came to the realization that I have no idea what makes up a "thought of the day." Sure it sounded cool when I typed up the schedule.....Yeah thursday thought of the day, gee whiz that sounds swell. So I stayed up for a while last night and I came up with what I think may be interesting approaches to this topic and I will post my first thursday article this weekend to make up for missing it and then all will be back to normal.

And don't worry this is obviously not my Friday blog. I will still post my Top Five list later today, so until then......

Have a Zip-A-Dee-Do-Dah-Day!

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

WDW Tip of the Day

Alright, alright, alright!

When I was on my program I worked in the Magic Kingdom, Columbia Harbor House to be more exact. Never heard of it, that's fine apparently not many people have. When I worked in there I actually got a lot of guests asking such priceless questions as: "When did they put a restaurant here?", "Is this Frontierland?" and my personal favorite "Is this the line for the Haunted Mansion?" (CLASSIC).

But I digress. This is a ride tip and a particularly amazing one at that.

It took me about two weeks into my program to realize that there is a span of about 25 minutes where you can ride Splash Mountain or Big Thunder Mountain as many times as you want with no wait......and this isn't simply by getting to the park early in the morning. Here it is. Set yourself up in either Fantasyland, Liberty Square (Mansion and CHH side), or actually in Frontierland (BTM and SM side) when Spectromagic begins. When the parade passes through that area a "magical" thing happens. The parade closes all but one entrance into the Frontierland ride area. What this does is it prevents guests from entering the area from all areas except the bridge that runs along the Rivers of America but at the same time guests already at that area know where to leave from, again along the Rivers of America. During this time you can ride two of the three mountains of the Magic Kingdom with no wait at all.

This tip allowed me to finish every night in the Magic Kingdom with a drop down Chik-a-pin hill and right into the Briar Patch. It is also good to note that at this time as well the Haunted Mansion has not wait.

Here's a picture showing the area I'm talking about. The path is marked in black. Commit it to memory and you wont have to wait in line again.
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Next week:How to get on Peter Pan's Flight with no wait, here's a hint....... It's not possible


Have a Zip-A-Dee-Do-Dah-Day!

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

College Program Tip of the Day

Before we get into all the neat secrets of the college program we are going to get the biggest topic out of the way and that is to set a limit for yourself and stick to it.

Learning how to make a budget and sticking to it are one of the biggest things you must learn to do before you get down to Orlando. With all of it’s shops, restaurants, and shows it can be overwhelming and that paycheck that you just worked your assets (we are keeping this Disney friendly) off for a week can be blown through in a night before you can even say “What’s next?” So at least two weeks before you are ready to head down to meet this mouse make sure you have some rough outline of a budget set up.

- Plan to reserve maybe 30-50 dollars for food for that week. When you go to buy your food check out both Publix and Wal-mart’s prices and look to see if they are offering any sales. Wal-mart generally will have lower prices but Publix had better quality food and tends to run a lot of buy one get one free deals so definitely worth a look. And try not to make it a habit buying from the Wallgreens by Vista, Chatham, or Patterson because although they are conveniently open 24 hours a day, their prices are normally jacked up and their food is generally subpar.

-There are so many different shows and night time entertainment opportunities that it can be completely overwhelming and you are going to want to do everything all at once. DON’T. I’m saying not saying you shouldn’t go to Cirque du soleil or Medieval Nights but try only going to one show every other week or even better, every three weeks. When you think about it, this really isn’t a tough thing to do, I mean let’s face it you have the golden key to all four parks of the Walt Disney World resort. People pay $78 a day and you are getting in for free so use this as your primary source of entertainment and when you feel like you absolutely “need” something new then see a show. The other thing to do is waiting for the discounts to come up. There are off seasons for everything in Orlando and if you take advantage of this you will see a show like Cirque go from $80 to $40 practically overnight. So just think before you go out. On a final note consider buying the Water Park and More annual pass. It costs about $140 and it gets you into both of Disney’s Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon water parks as well as Disney Quest, Disney’s multistory arcade and fun center, for the year and it gives you a lot more options for you days off.

-The only two things I am going to say on restaurants is this: 1) Try, when you can, to eat sit down meals for a lunch or late lunch and avoid dinner because lunch prices can be anywhere from $10 -$30 cheaper than dinner and trust me those savings add up. 2)Check to make sure you get a discount at that restaurant at that time because discounts don’t always apply all day and you want to make sure again that you are using as little of your paycheck as possible.

Again you are going to be working for the Mouse for a few months and it definitely feels good to finish your tenure knowing that you have made some good money when you return to college.
Next week: The most efficient way to get from here to there at the Disney parks

Have a Zip-A-Dee-Do-Dah-Day

Monday, September 14, 2009

Something Neat From Around the Web

This week I have three neat links to look at so let's get right to it

-As we all know the D 23 Expo came and went this past weekend leaving the disney community with so much new stuff it's impossible to take it in one bite. So here is a link discussing what was personally my favorite announcement, that's right the confirmation of the expansion of Fantasyland. New shows, rides, and restaurants.......it's a brand new Fantasyland

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08W5Os-Wnj0

-This next link is also to a youtube video. This is personally one of my Top 5 disney movies even though it is a made for tv movie special entitled: Muppets at Disney World. It was made in 1990 as a part of the initial bond of the Jim Henson company and the Walt Disney Company. It is definetly worth a watch. Two things about this though: It features the idea that WDW is all one park as you will see in that fact that a character will be in Frontierland one second and MGM studios (yes I can call it that because it still was) the next. The other thing is you will notice the movie is broken down on youtube into six links so when part one finishes you will have to click on the link in the youtube sidebar to get to part two and so on. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTnc3eXJU_Q&feature=PlayList&p=0E8B7737AB0EB953&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=1

-And the third I am putting in is a link to a site you will have to register for and its free just like any other forum. Once you do click on the jukebox option and ther eyou will have access to a library of over 1,000 disney songs and spiels from the parks. If that doesnt get you into a disney mood I dont' know what will

http://www.d-cot.com/jukebox?ref=nav


Well I hope you all enjoy the links and as always:

Have a Zip-A-Dee-Do-Dah-Day

Friday, September 11, 2009

Top Five Friday

Let me first say sorry for not posting yesterday even though I said that that’s when I would start. I didn’t expect that my History of Civilization essay would take me as long as it did. But here is my new first official blog under the revised format. Enjoy!

(Let me preface this by saying that these are in no particular order)

Top Five: Ways to spend your first day off

-The WDW Marathon – Let’s face it, there is so much to do and see at Walt Disney World that you might not know where to start. Do I do Magic Kingdom rides in the morning and then jump on over to EPCOT for Illumination at night? Or do I bring a sleeping bag, tent, and provisions and attempt to survive the 4 day wait time for Toy Story Mania? I say don’t overwhelm yourself on your first day. Let’s face it, you are going to be there for four to seven months. That’s why I suggest on your first day to do the WDW marathon. The marathon is what I call going to all four parks in one day. Don’t focus on hitting the rides, just stroll around the park and learn the lay of the land. Then head on to the next park and the next until you allow it to hit you: Walt Disney World is your new home and playground.

-Sleep in – Let’s face it, in a matter of one week you have uprooted yourself and moved to Orlando, Florida. You got settled in your new apartment and you’ve met a lot of new people you hope to become good friends with. You’ve finished all of you orientations and presentations. You’ve visited your job site and met the other people you will be working with and in most cases you’ve already worked a full day. IT’S AN ENERGY OVERLOAD. So on your first day off don’t feel as though you need to do something. Get into bed or on the couch (my favorite place to nap) and just sleep the day away and recharge your batteries. Then explore the parks or your housing complex the next day. If you don’t take the time to relax the program will wear you down.

-Make new friends around the housing complexes – I say this for two reasons. The first is obvious and it’s that you can’t have enough friends. Your fellow CPers, like you, chose to do this internship because they knew there was something special about it and right there you all have something in common. I made friends from all over the world most of which I still talk to and it’s because we all found ourselves united by a common goal so get to know these people, you’ll be glad you did. And the second reason is that basic logic says that if you are at the housing complex and you see other people in the housing complex then chances are you have the same day or days off and in the future will have the same day or days off. Get to know these people. This allows you to have a set of friends that you know that when you have a day off and want to go into a park you can call them up to go with you.

-Make sure you are well stocked- The last thing you want to do is come home from a long day of work at the Magic Kingdom or Typhoon Lagoon only to find out you are out of ramen or cereal. Take your first day off to compile a list that ensures that you always have a plethora of food around the house. Then take the bus (or walk depending on where you live) to Publix or Wal-Mart and stock up on food, toiletries, and anything else you might need. Keep in mind that this is Florida and in Florida we get hurricanes so make sure you stock up on batteries, bottled water, and have at least one flash light. The other thing is that it would help if you meet someone with a car because just a few miles up the road there is a Sam’s Club where you can buy your food and toiletries in bulk. (That’s what two of my roommates and I did on our first day off together and we didn’t have to worry about groceries for about two months)

-Take in a show… – …but not just any show. Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and the Magic Kingdom all have their very own night time shows. Hollywood Studios has an exciting pyrotechnic and water stage show starring Mickey and many of the Disney Villains called Fantasmic which is a must see. EPCOT has a nightly Pyrotechnic/ Fireworks show that take place in the World Showcase called Illuminations Reflections of Earth and it is by far my favorite of the three shows. But it isn’t the nighttime show I would suggest on your first day off. No for that you have to head on over to the Magic Kingdom and to see Wishes. It is a fireworks show about all the different types of wishes. The fireworks shoot up behind the castle and Tinkerbell even does a fly over the spectators. And it is while you are watching this fireworks show whether it’s by yourself or with other people that it hits you: I work for Walt Disney World, where dreams really do come true.

Have a Zip-A-Dee-Do-Dah-Day

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

I have come to the decision that this blog needs structure if it is going to survive up against the other great WDW and College Program Blogs. So from here on in I am going to have a schedule for this blog. By doing this I hope to post an article every weekday and maybe something over the weekend if I feel so inspired. That being said here is the schedule:

Monday
-Something neat from around the web
Tuesday
-College Program tips, tricks, and suggestions
Wednesday
-Walt Disney World tips, tricks, and suggestions
Thursday
-College Program thought of the day
Friday
-Top five list

I will start this tomorrow thursday September 10th So I apologize for the short post but stay tuned for some great articles.

CLOSING QUOTE: Too many people grow up. That's the real trouble with the world, too many people grow up. They don't remember what it's like to be 12 years old. They patronize, they treat children as inferiors. Well I won't do that. -Walt Disney

Monday, September 7, 2009

So I was sitting in my dorm room and I was thinking to myself: "For my first infotainment blog post should I write an article to help before arrival or when you are actually in the program?" So I decided to start a series that deals with what you should and shoudln't bring:



Things You Are Thinking of Bringing But Dont Need:



1.Heavy Jacket- I cannot tell you how many times I was in someone else's apartment and I saw a heavy jacket in their closet (One girl had four snow jackets "just in case."). Let me be the first to say to you "Welcmoe to Florida! It doesn't get cold.....even when it's cold it is not cold." For a majority of your program it is going to be warm and muggy, it's what Florida does best. On the off chance a cold front comes in during the winter it may get down to the 60's during the day and MAYBE the 40's at night. So to summarize......leave the down jacket at home, the heaviest cold weather clothing you need in a hoody.



Things You Aren't Brining But You Should Consider Bringing:



1. Wireless Router- Okay so this may be a weird item to start off with and I cant really speak to Chatham or Patterson because I dont know if they have this same design "issue" but when we arrived at Vista Way and my roommates and I were setting up our computers we came to the realization that there is only one corner of the apartment to connect to the internet. So picture six guys huddled together at one small table with six computers and wires everywhere. It got to the point where we bit the bullet and bought a router for $80 at Walmart and everything was great after that. So if you have a wireless router, bring it.

Aright to finish this post up Im going to go through a few quick hits about me. My name is John and I attend a college in Florida. I participated in the Fall Advantage 2008 in QSR at the Magic Kingdom and I worked the Food and Wine Festival at EPCOT.My favorite disney movie character is probably Peter Pan and favorite WDW character would be the Figment with the Dreamfinder though I do like Rex the robot and Dr. Seeker is retty funny too(cop out answer) . Anyways I will be running this blog as long as I can so if you have any questions you want to ask or any idea for an article leave a comment and follow my blog.

Have a Zip-A-Dee-Do-Dah-Day!


Sunday, September 6, 2009

As highly evolved (for the most part) people that we are we tend to identify people, places, things, and emotions based on color cues. If you see a piece of food in tuperware at the back of the fridge and it isn't the color that it should be then you automatically know that chances are it's no good. If you are surfing the web and suddenly your computer screen turns blue, without reading the message you already know that your $2000 laptop or desk top has just turned into a $2000 paper weight.

So what about purple?

Well chances are if you are reading this, then you are a fan of disney, you are interested in the college program, and you already know what I am getting at. The color purple is a magical color thatcan turn even the darkest day into the best day of your teenage or young adult life. The color purple will symbolize your immediate transformation from an everyday run of the mill Jane or John Doe into an anybody who's anybody. That's right you know what I am referring to:

THE PURPLE FOLDER

That's right! From the moment you open up your mailbox and realize that among the many menus for chinese take out and the notices from the housing department that you are on your 5th or 6th warning for a noise violation there is one peice of about 9' by 12' envelope with a mouse on it that towers above the rest. And as you rush to the elevator in your dorm you fight back the urge just rip it open right then and there because you know that in it lies the one thing capable of making you lose focus in all of your classes for the two to five weeks that it took for it to arrive. And as you enter your dorm room you slam the door shut and throw everything off your bed or desk so that nothing distracts you from the magical moment you are about to have. You then regain some composure and for the first inch of the envelope you use your finger to slowly rip rip so as to not disrupt the integrity of the envelope. But then you realize you still have eleven inches to go and you say screw the integrity and you shred the envelope like a lion eating it's prey and that's when you see it:

THE PURPLE FOLDER

I will be using this blog to inform, entertain, and do pretty much what I want in terms of the disney college program. This first entry was meant to serve as a quick intro for the blog and why it is called The Purple Folder. My next entry will be a short blurb about myself and some preliminary information about the Disney College Program, so stay tuned and have a Zip-A-Dee-Do-Dah-Day.