Traditions and Training. Where the Fun Starts...

Friday was Traditions day! If you don't know what Traditions is, it is a class at Disney University that all new disney employees take, it is everyones first day of work at Disney.

Its all about the four keys of Disney, safety, show, courtesy and efficiency, and how we work towards these in our job everyday, and how it is our responsibility to uphold them. I don't want to ruin it for anyone, but you do take an exciting trip to a magical place around the corner.

Then we got a visit from someone very special, who brought us a present…

Our name badges! We had been wearing little sticker versions all day so we got to get rid of them and put the real thing on. And Goofy is the critter i won when our table named the most disney characters in a minute. Not bad for a day of work.

That night was the first time we were able to use our cast id's and get into the parks… FOR FREE! We of course went to magic kingdom, with a detour at the Polynesian Resort on the way.

Ive never stayed in any of the disney resorts, but we are trying to at least have a look around all of them because they are all beautiful, and the pulled pork nachos at the Polynesian are fantastic. Yacht and Beach is also my new favourite,

just look at the view.

Anyway, Magic Kingdom. We got there quite late as we came home after Traditions to get changed before we left again. So we only had time for a couple of rides and some food in Tomorrowland before Wishes! (Said in the disney employee style, if you have done the recreation class, you know what I'm talking about) Then since it was open late, we went and had a look around New Fantasyland, which is beautiful! And because it was so late everything had short wait times, so we went on dumbo and the new little mermaid ride, we also had a look around Gastons Tavern and of course went to the Tangled bathrooms.

Also, a word of warning for current/future CP's. If you want to get a bus back from the Magic Kingdom at closing time, get on at the Polynesian, not the Ticket and Transportation centre, unless you are prepared to said over an hour and a half for a bus that can actually fit you on…

The next day me and my roommate Bex had a day off so we went to Hollywood Studios for the last Star Wars Weekend of the year. I had also never been on Rockin' Rollercoaster or Tower of Terror, so i was dragged on them…twice… My face was indescribable in our picture from Tower of Terror. Its not my favourite ride. We also had a look around 'Darth's Mall' and of course went on Star Tours, then we headed back and sat around the pool at Patterson for a bit.

Then on Sunday we had our 'Welcome to Recreation' class at Disney University, where we spent most of the day doing e-learning, but we also got our schedules and things and learnt more about our costume for when we get it.

Finally today (Monday) we had our first day of Ellis lifeguard training. And i have to say, i was expecting the worst but i had quite a fun day. Apart from doing so much cpr i now have carpet burns on my feet from moving around so much. But i actually feel quite confident that if something did happen in a swimming pool i would know how to act, and i would feel comfortable doing so. And this is only after one day!

I have training for the next two days and, if all goes well, i will then be a fully licensed lifeguard! Then i have FIVE days off before i start at my location, so plenty time to play in the parks!

I thought the definition of a CP was meant to be overworked and underpaid, but just now i just feel underpaid… But i'm loving every minute of it.