I've been trying, for a few weeks now, to update this blog with something substantial; unfortunately, I've been feeling more than uninspired lately. I know it seems surprising, since I work in the location that is, supposedly, the most magical place on Earth, but inspiration is hard to come by. Maybe it's all the yogurt and Kashi I've been consuming in the last week... perhaps it's addled my brain. Maybe the human brain can't survive on low-cal shit and needs a big, greasy, disgusting pizza every once and again. Who knows, maybe modern science has got it all wrong, and the human body needs 2,000 calories daily made up mostly of trans fat, cholesterol, and those squishy, fudgy marshmallows hiding in the pint of Ben & Jerry's Phish Food I'm so desperately trying to avoid in an attempt to maintain the thin figure I've redeveloped over the past two months away from home.
I took a nap this afternoon and dreamed my skin peeled off, leaving me as a muscled body... completely naked, of course, but the main concern here was the lack of integument, not the lack of clothing. Assuming it is completely based on my vanity... I'd say the dream spurred from my obsession with acquiring a golden glow before I fly to Fargo for the week. Don't get me wrong, I love my body... but this sunbathing fix isn't because I want to have pretty, golden skin; it's more so that when I gallivant back to the North country the idea of me living in Florida for the past two months is believable. I'd like to say I spend my time frolicking on the beach, learning how to surf, making magical memories for children and somehow finding time to pose with the nearest palm tree every day... but really? I spend at least two and a half hours per day on an overheated, smelly, overcrowded bus system. I take a bus from the Chatham bus stop (about three to four blocks from my Patterson apartment) to Vista Way, then that bus to Disney's Transportation and Ticket Center, then to West Clock cast member parking. Then I hop on a Disney VIP Castmember bus to the entrance of the Magic Kingdom tunnel system.... and I do it all again on the way home. I spent anywhere from 9-14 hours of every day inside Cinderella's Castle (trust me, it's a lot less exciting as it seems). On days I work, the time I'm not at work or on a bus I'm usually in bed, relaxing, skyping, mentally preparing myself for another day inside that castle. So the sun-kissed skin I'm sporting the past week or so? A carefully calculated optical illusion... trying to convince the masses that working for Disney, living in Florida, is the bees knees. I've carefully scheduled time to lay by the pool to create these tan lines. Alas, tis true. I am a Disney slave. My skin was just as pasty white as it was when I left North Dakota (considering I'd already peeled off my Lake Calhoun sunburn debaucle... I was pretty white).
It's amazing how when you're craving a slimy, greasy, nasty cheese pizza that nothing you try to tempt your body with to get rid of the craving is good enough.
"Here, body, try a raspberry yogurt with cinnamon KASHI! You love that! It's your favorite!"
"Hmm... no, thanks. I want a pizza. That's it. I'm going to reject everything you give me until you fill my arteries with grease. Okay, thanks."
"But, body... I've been working really hard to eat right and be healthy! Don't sabatouge me now!"
"Fuck you, Emily! I'm going to KEEP releasing negative chemicals in your brain until you give me what I want. I want pizza. End of story."
Sad thing is... that body always wins. And as if the pizza which the Ninja turtles would envy wasn't enough to satisfy me, I'll throw in some garlic butter. Just in case.
9/30/2011
In the Next Four Days.
Saturday. Sunday. Monday. Tuesday... I'm going to:
- Work 35 hours
- Clean my room
- Clean the bathroom
- Eat nothing but yogurt, kashi, and english muffins
- Be paranoid about missing my flight
- Not sleep due to paranoia about missing my flight
- Stare at the clock to make time go faster
- Pack and repack my carry on bag
- Triple check my flight
- ... then check it again
- Take a deep breath.
- Get the hell away from Disney
I can't wait. See you soon, Fargo!
Just Because I Can
I'm currently doing laundry, planning my parent's trip to Disney in December, cleaning for inspections this week, being overly excited for my visit home, and skyping with Ali and Jordon... all in my bra and zubas. Why? Because I can.
9/24/2011
Make*A*Wish
It never fails. Seeing a family in Disney with a Make-A-Wish button on always chokes me up. Today was no different.
Tonight, a gentleman came up to our podium inquiring if we had any availability for his family for the evening. As always, we responded with a resounding, "I'm sorry, sir, but we are fully booked for the evening. If you'd like, you can call the Disney dining line at 407-WDW-DINE and see if there are any openings for the duration of your stay." He, looking crestfallen, told us that it was okay, he understood, he was there with his family for his daughter's Wish and he knew that getting in was a longshot, and walked away.
I feel guilty every time I turn away a guest. Realistically, we are fully booked everyday, and we book out six months in advance. If I could, I would let every family come inside and visit Cinderella's Castle, eat with the princesses, and have a great time; however, seeing as there are only 43 tables and a capacity of 211 (including staff) this, of course, is not possible. Seeing the disappointment on little girls' faces everyday is hard to see, especially when parents blame me for ruining their child's vacation... but seeing a Make*A*Wish family walk away without being able to show their family the castle is heartbreaking. I know that, if given the chance, they would give anything to change the cards they were dealt, and these vacations are a chance for them to escape, if only for a short time.
The end of the night came, and the father came walking back up to the podium in the off chance we were able to let his family inside. As luck would have it, my coordinator told me to go ahead and take them in as a walk-in for our last turn. As I turned and told the father that we were able to take his family inside for dinner and asked for his information, he started to tear up. He profusely thanked me, sharing part of his story...
His daughter, Ella, was diagnosed with neuroblastoma. Despite numerous rounds of chemotherapy, the cancer wouldn't back down, and the doctors told their family there was nothing else they could do. She was given approximately two months to live, and sent home to spend the remaining time with her parents and big sister. Make*A*Wish granted her wish to spend a week in Walt Disney World, and seeing where Cinderella lived was the top item on her list.
While I know that I wasn't the one who made her wish come true, but knowing I was involved in a very special, very important memory for this family lifted me up and made me feel good.
Most of all, it made me so grateful for the life I was given.
Tonight, a gentleman came up to our podium inquiring if we had any availability for his family for the evening. As always, we responded with a resounding, "I'm sorry, sir, but we are fully booked for the evening. If you'd like, you can call the Disney dining line at 407-WDW-DINE and see if there are any openings for the duration of your stay." He, looking crestfallen, told us that it was okay, he understood, he was there with his family for his daughter's Wish and he knew that getting in was a longshot, and walked away.
I feel guilty every time I turn away a guest. Realistically, we are fully booked everyday, and we book out six months in advance. If I could, I would let every family come inside and visit Cinderella's Castle, eat with the princesses, and have a great time; however, seeing as there are only 43 tables and a capacity of 211 (including staff) this, of course, is not possible. Seeing the disappointment on little girls' faces everyday is hard to see, especially when parents blame me for ruining their child's vacation... but seeing a Make*A*Wish family walk away without being able to show their family the castle is heartbreaking. I know that, if given the chance, they would give anything to change the cards they were dealt, and these vacations are a chance for them to escape, if only for a short time.
The end of the night came, and the father came walking back up to the podium in the off chance we were able to let his family inside. As luck would have it, my coordinator told me to go ahead and take them in as a walk-in for our last turn. As I turned and told the father that we were able to take his family inside for dinner and asked for his information, he started to tear up. He profusely thanked me, sharing part of his story...
His daughter, Ella, was diagnosed with neuroblastoma. Despite numerous rounds of chemotherapy, the cancer wouldn't back down, and the doctors told their family there was nothing else they could do. She was given approximately two months to live, and sent home to spend the remaining time with her parents and big sister. Make*A*Wish granted her wish to spend a week in Walt Disney World, and seeing where Cinderella lived was the top item on her list.
While I know that I wasn't the one who made her wish come true, but knowing I was involved in a very special, very important memory for this family lifted me up and made me feel good.
Most of all, it made me so grateful for the life I was given.
9/22/2011
What You Missed
Technically speaking, "What you Missed" is a song by my best friend Mitch Skajewski and his band-mate Topher about a less-than-present father; however, the mood of the song is setting the theme for my evening.
The past two days have been fantastic. I had my "weekend" (at Disney, your weekend can be any time throughout the week... it just falls whenever they can give you two days off in a row, ha ha) and did it big.
Wednesday I went and played at Magic Kingdom with Logan, Ryan, Drew, Steve, Teejay, and a friend of theirs whose name escapes me... Kaitlin, maybe? (My apologies if you're reading this... I'm a little sleep deprived, not intentionally rude!) Being on the other side of Cinderella's Castle is much more enjoyable. I finally was able to meet my main man, Pluto, and my boss with the big, round ears. It was an excellent, slow day at the park... we walked on rides left and right, rode the three big mountains at MK (Splash, Big Thunder, and Space) bounced over to Hollywood Studios, rode Tower of Terror over and over... on which I was FINALLY able to strike a cheesy, serious pose, something I have never been able to do due to the bloodcurdling screams escaping my mouth as I plummet to the Twilight Zone. Being able to spend time with some friends, relaxing and reliving childhood adventures was needed.
Today I went to see The Lion King 3D with Michelle and Katie (friends from work) and a few others from Chatham Square, which was another great chance to relive the Disney magic from my childhood. I also had the chance to ride around in a convertible in the raging tropical heat, which was awesome... before the daily afternoon downpour struck the Orlando area...
Despite the great days I've had this Disney-weekend, I'm wicked homesick today. I woke up this morning, rolled over to an empty race car bed (on a side note, I'm so lucky I'm petite... I can't imagine being an average-size adult male and trying to sleep on a Disney housing bed), longing for my one and only, and it was a feeling I couldn't shake today. That in no way means I didn't enjoy my time off and time with friends, but it's that nagging feeling. Like a hangnail, that persistent, nagging pain in your thumb that doesn't rule your day but is just painful enough to bother you throughout the day... my homesick-ness was my metaphorical hangnail.
Everyday I'm away I miss the people back home. The people back home are my metaphorical hangnail. My boyfriend, my family, my friends... I'm so blessed to have the people in my life I left up north (temporarily, of course), and being away from them is hard.
I've been listening to 3rd and Main tonight, which is my best friend's band back home. His name is Mitch Skajewski, and he is always, always, always in my corner. I was watching a video recording of his song, "What you Missed" when I recieved a picture message from my cousin who is currently visiting Fargo from her internship in Rapid City, SD. Her and my brother are kicking my grandma's ass in Rummicube, an intregal part of my childhood... which was immediately followed by a Skype session with my boyfriend, and two friends from back home, Jordon and Chris... my homesickness is clearly overwhelming.
Thankfully, I'll be able to escape the tropics soon enoough... I'm FARGO BOUND in one week and five days. Yes, I'm counting.
After my weekend, I'll be going back to the castle for a 13.5 hr shift. Welcome to the Disney family, Miss Jorgenson!
The past two days have been fantastic. I had my "weekend" (at Disney, your weekend can be any time throughout the week... it just falls whenever they can give you two days off in a row, ha ha) and did it big.
Wednesday I went and played at Magic Kingdom with Logan, Ryan, Drew, Steve, Teejay, and a friend of theirs whose name escapes me... Kaitlin, maybe? (My apologies if you're reading this... I'm a little sleep deprived, not intentionally rude!) Being on the other side of Cinderella's Castle is much more enjoyable. I finally was able to meet my main man, Pluto, and my boss with the big, round ears. It was an excellent, slow day at the park... we walked on rides left and right, rode the three big mountains at MK (Splash, Big Thunder, and Space) bounced over to Hollywood Studios, rode Tower of Terror over and over... on which I was FINALLY able to strike a cheesy, serious pose, something I have never been able to do due to the bloodcurdling screams escaping my mouth as I plummet to the Twilight Zone. Being able to spend time with some friends, relaxing and reliving childhood adventures was needed.
Today I went to see The Lion King 3D with Michelle and Katie (friends from work) and a few others from Chatham Square, which was another great chance to relive the Disney magic from my childhood. I also had the chance to ride around in a convertible in the raging tropical heat, which was awesome... before the daily afternoon downpour struck the Orlando area...
Despite the great days I've had this Disney-weekend, I'm wicked homesick today. I woke up this morning, rolled over to an empty race car bed (on a side note, I'm so lucky I'm petite... I can't imagine being an average-size adult male and trying to sleep on a Disney housing bed), longing for my one and only, and it was a feeling I couldn't shake today. That in no way means I didn't enjoy my time off and time with friends, but it's that nagging feeling. Like a hangnail, that persistent, nagging pain in your thumb that doesn't rule your day but is just painful enough to bother you throughout the day... my homesick-ness was my metaphorical hangnail.
Everyday I'm away I miss the people back home. The people back home are my metaphorical hangnail. My boyfriend, my family, my friends... I'm so blessed to have the people in my life I left up north (temporarily, of course), and being away from them is hard.
I've been listening to 3rd and Main tonight, which is my best friend's band back home. His name is Mitch Skajewski, and he is always, always, always in my corner. I was watching a video recording of his song, "What you Missed" when I recieved a picture message from my cousin who is currently visiting Fargo from her internship in Rapid City, SD. Her and my brother are kicking my grandma's ass in Rummicube, an intregal part of my childhood... which was immediately followed by a Skype session with my boyfriend, and two friends from back home, Jordon and Chris... my homesickness is clearly overwhelming.
Thankfully, I'll be able to escape the tropics soon enoough... I'm FARGO BOUND in one week and five days. Yes, I'm counting.
After my weekend, I'll be going back to the castle for a 13.5 hr shift. Welcome to the Disney family, Miss Jorgenson!
9/13/2011
Boo to You!
HAPPY HALLOWEEN
Believe it or not, it's officially Halloween at the Walt Disney World Resort. I've been here just about a month and a half, and I've settled into the Disney lifestyle. I've adjusted as much as humanly possible... but seeing that there is no rhyme, reason, or sense to our schedules my body isn't exactly on a time clock. Oh well, that's working for the Mouse, I guess. My boss is a tough cookie.
Halloween time at Disney world starts, officially, on September 13, 2011 and runs through November 1, 2011. Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is the center of attention for the WDW Resort this time of year, and for good reason. As an extra ticket event, a select number of ticket-holding guests are admitted to the Magic Kingdom Theme Part, exclusively, from 7:30p until midnight. Any other guest at the park, starting at 7:00p, will be escorted out by a Cast Member until only those wearing the Not-So-Scary wristbands are left in the park. The Halloween Party has a separate, Villain-themed Castle Stage Show, a unique fireworks spectacular, "Hallowishes," meet and greets with characters who can be seen ONLY at Mickey's Halloween Bash, as well as the highlight of the show, "Disney's Boo to You Halloween Parade," which shows twice per party.
I had the opportunity to view the cast preview of "Boo to You" and it was an experience! The photo shown at the beginning of the blog is the Headless Horseman, who starts the parade by galloping down the parade route, from Frontierland to Mainstreet USA. The horse is unbelievably beautiful, which is why this was my personal favorite part of the parade.
I'm the first to admit that working at WDW has destroyed a lot of the world famous "Disney Magic" that tourists from all around the globe come to Florida to see. There are Disney theme parks in California, Paris, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Shanghai... but Walt Disney World in Orlando was Walt Disney's dream, and I've heard that there is nothing like the real thing! Despite the lack of Magical Moments in my Disney life, watching the Boo to You parade brought that Disney magic back to life for me. It's engaging, it's fun, and the character performers are so ridiculously talented!
Disney employment isn't all it's advertised and cracked up to be, I'm going to give it some time to settle and see what sort of tomfoolery Cinderella can get me into until I formally share my opinions with everyone. My job is exactly that... a job. One that consists of crazy hours, crazy guests, and a crazy over-priced menu! ;)
Aside from my job, I'm meeting new people from across the country, and they are making my time off from Disney an adventure in and of itself.
I'm heading home for a visit in three weeks (to the day!) and I'm ready for some Fargo Hospitality. I'll tell you one thing, since Orlando *IS* a tourist town the folks down here are NOT so friendly! Once you get outside the Disney bubble they are some of the most rude, inconsiderate citizens I've had the displeasure of meeting... someone needs to send them up north for a lesson in Minnesota Nice!
I've said this once, and I will say it every day until this program is complete... THANK GOD FOR SKYPE. It is keeping me connected with my boyfriend back home, and it's a lifesaver for me when I'm feeling down. My evening off tonight consisted of a hardcore study session with Mr. Ali Dhanani for an upcoming anatomy exam, and it was an excellent night off. I love being able to have a sense of normalcy and consistency in my life, and seeing his face every night before I go to bed brings me right back home.
That's all for now, I have some more creative updates stored in my memory banks... unfortunately, unlike when I'm in ND... down in FL I have seasonal allergies, and they are kicking my ass right now! My brain's in a fog, my nose is itching ALMOST as much as my eyes... and seeing as Disney housing is pretty similar to a freshman dorm's social setting, sleep is hard to come by with your neighbors slamming doors and jamming out to music at all hours. As soon as I have a minute to process my thoughts you'll hear all about the precious younglings I've met so far, the code Vs, the AFRs, the code yellows... so much to share, so little energy and brain cells.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)