Wednesday, March 18, 2020

I'm Moving!

It has been a couple months where I have been doing pretty much anything I can to save up enough money to moe out of my parent's home and back into my own apartment. I had a lot of long thinking to do about where I wanted to be and what I wanted to do.

Choosing where I wanted to live was probably one of the hardest and most trying decisions I had to make. I very much felt like the decision I made was going to be semi-permanent and was going to affect a lot of other things down the line. I was going to be in this place for at least a year, probably longer. I had narrowed the possible cities to move to Orlando Florida, Los Angelos California, or Chicago Illinois. I had roots in Orlando and had even been offered a job at Walt Disney World at my old work location. I had established friends already and I knew the area really well. It was also the cheapest place, but I quickly realized it just wasn't right and it was time to move on from Walt Disney World and Frontierland specifically. California was a really cool option. I had a job lined up at Disneyland there as well and I was looking into housing. My degree was in film and I really thought LA would be a great place to get started in my career, although this was the scariest of all the options. I would be moving cross country to a state I had never been too before, I would know very few people. Now I am all up for an adventure, but I quickly decided this was just too much and too difficult. I would need to get a new car (because they have different environmental standards), it would be expensive to get a place, and I would need a lot of money to get established there as I wouldn't be able to bring much at all, pretty much just a suitcase. It just wasn't right for the time being.



So as you can probably tell at this point I settled on Chicago Illinois. Now I am actually originally from the Chicago suburbs and have lived downtown for 4 years while I was in college. I love the city but I had reservations about moving back downtown. It is brutally cold in the winter, and my fragile Flrodia skin just wasn't used to it anymore. It also can feel really unsafe sometimes. By far the largest reservation I had about it was the fact that I had been gone for so long that many of my friends had moved away. On top of that, it wasn't a fresh start like it would have been in Cali. And yes this is still something I am going to have to deal with and learn from but overall this was the best decision for me. I am still close to my family, it's not insanely expensive, there are a good amount of jobs, and I have a lot of ties to this city.

So I am beyond excited to announce I will be moving to Lincoln Park Chicago Illinois in May! I have found the most perfect studio apartment and I am so excited to share it with you all!

Wednesday, January 29, 2020

One Year at Disney World

In 2019 I moved to Disney World as a part of the Disney College Program. This was my second time doing the program and this time I came down with the intention to stay for a full year. My role was Attractions. I moved down to Orlando in late January. For the first 8 months of my program, I lived in Chatham housing in, let's just say, not the most ideal living situation. I had two bedrooms with six girls, meaning we had bunk beds in both rooms. This honestly was awful and I think began what eventually lead to a terrible and disrespectful roommate situation, but that is a story for another post.


Anyways I quickly found out I would be working at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad! I also got trained on the parade route in Frontierland as that's where the parade steps off. In the spring I didn't work the parade route all that often, I was mainly at my coaster. During the fall when Halloween parties and Christmas parties I was working the parade route nearly every day! My work location was amazing and so much fun. I got spoiled rotten on the Frontier.

I met a lot of friends when I was living at Disney. Often I know full-time and part-time cast members tend to stay away from befriending CPs, mainly because they know we are leaving. But because I was there for such a long time I was really lucky to get close with a lot of my coworkers. We weren't that big of a location and I personally knew every single one of my coworkers and had hung out with a lot of them outside of work. When I worked as a Merch cast member on my first program there were a lot of older cast members that I worked with so I didn't get as close with them. In attractions, most of us were in our twenties so we all hung out and got very close. We went out for food and drinks after work all the time.

I got a lot luckier on my program then most people do. I had amazing friends and an amazing work location that so many people were jealous of. I loved to go to work, and I loved to hang around my coworkers who eventually became some of closest friends. Yes, there was drama here and there, as there is with all groups of young people. It is what it is and eventually, you just learn to deal with it. And yes there were long and late hours and really miserable times but overall I wouldn't trade my experience for anything else. I maybe would trade for slightly more laid back roommates 😂, but that is it. I loved my CP.

Monday, February 4, 2019

Moving Away From Home for the DCP

Well, I am a few weeks into my second Disney College Program now and I have so many exciting announcements (make sure you follow my Instagram that's where I post most of them if you are interested @_dizzyworld_). And as I watch so many people go through the feelings and emotions I did almost a year ago when I left for my first Disney College program and moved cross country (at age 19 I might add) I thought it might be helpful to hear a little bit about my story and how it all worked out in the end.

My first program was not the first time I had ever lived away from home, but it was most definitely the first time I had ever lived so FAR from home. Previously  I had always been a quick 45-minute drive from my parents and could easily get home to them if I needed to. So as I packed and prepared to move I had no initial feelings of fear or anxiety. I was just excited happy, I was moving to the happiest place on earth of course! My parents and I decided to drive my tiny little Honda Accord car all the way from Chicago to Orlando (about an 18-hour drive). And each day as we got closer and closer to Orlando I got more and more nervous. Dropping everything and moving to a completely new part of the country with nobody else you know is really scary.

When move-in day finally rolled around I spent the entire day fighting back tears and thinking about how terrified I was. I probably completely freaked my roommates out at the time, which only added to scariness. So many horrible thoughts ran through my head. What if I make no friends? What will happen if I get a flat tire or get hurt or need help? What if I am miserable? What if something happens at home and I can't get there quickly? Even after I said my goodbyes to my parents I was not ready to have them leave.

The next morning I started to have a freakout. I have never experienced anything like this before in my entire life and I haven't really experienced anything like it since. I think the main cause of it was the fact that my parents we flying home on that day. So I felt like I would officially be alone. I got in the car and called my best friend, who was back home in Chicago. I just kept saying I couldn't do it and I wanted to come home, he was reassuring but not enough for me at the time. I got called my parents in tears saying I needed to be driven back to Chicago and that I wanted to quit. I met up with them and just cried the whole day, I was completely terrified. My parents wouldn't let me quit, they told me I had to stay for a little bit at least and promised to come to visit me.

Its been a few years since that day and my mom has told me that was one of the hardest things she's ever had to do. But it was absolutely the right thing to do! Although I was scared, well more than scared, my first DCP was one of the best experiences of my life. I feel like I was able to learn and grow in so many different ways. The once in a lifetime experiences I was able to have were unimaginable and I wouldn't give them up for the world. I met my closest friends while I was there as well, people I still talk to on a daily basis who live all across the world. I have learned more about myself and about how to create and keep lasting friendships that turn into your family through the short five months I was away then from my entire twenty years.


If you get the chance to participate in the DCP, do it. Know you will work harder than you ever have in your entire life, you will get dirtier, you will be exhausted, you will be scared and sad and terrified at times. But you will love every minute of it, and once you leave you will always want to turn back the clock to the days when you spent every night watching fireworks with your best friends.

Sunday, January 6, 2019

My Ultimate DCP Packing List (For Driving)

I am officially leaving for my second Disney College Program in one week! I am beyond excited and needless to say, have been packing my whole life up into my car. Here is my ultimate Disney College Program Packing List.

Bedroom

  • Twin Sheets
  • Pillow(s)
  • Comforter
  • Mattress Cover
  • Extra Blanket (for forts and movie nights!)
  • Laundry Basket or Hamper (I have a foldable one that will store nicely in my car)
  • Wall decorations and photos
  • 3 drawer organizer (I'll but mine once I get there)
  • Hangers
Bathroom
  • Hand Towels
  • Bath Towel
  • Beach Towel
  • Washcloth
  • Hand Soap
  • Cleaning Supplies
  • Shower Curtain
  • Bathroom Rug
Kitchen
  • Pizza Cutter
  • Can Opener
  • Cookie Sheet
  • Pasta Strainer (How else will you make mac n cheese?!)
  • Toaster
  • Coffee Maker
  • Rice Cooker (a must for me)
  • Dishwasher Detergent
  • Good Cutting Knives (the ones they supply are not so nice)
  • Cutting Board
  • Tupperware
  • Lunchbox, Icepacks, Bento Box
  • Ice Cream Scoop
  • Reusable Water Bottle
Living Room
  • TV
  • HDMI Cable (To connect your tv to the cable)
  • Decorations
  • DVD Player
  • DVDs
  • Firestick or Apple TV (Some way to play Netflix or Hulu)
Clothing
  • 5 to 10 T-Shirts or Tank Tops
  • 3 or 4 Sweatshirts/Sweaters
  • 2 Pairs of Jeans
  • 2 Pairs of Leggings
  • 4 or 5 pairs of Shorts
  • 1 or 2 pairs of athletic shorts
  • PJ's (Long pants and shorts)
  • Underwear
  • Sundresses and Skirts (I am bringing link 15 but that's because I love dresses!)
  • Black Socks
  • Fun Colored Socks
  • Medium Weight Coate
  • 2 Swimsuits
  • Swimsuit Cover Up
  • Traditions Outfit and Shoes
  • Fancier Dress ( for special occasions or Formal if you are doing the Fall DCP)
  • Sandles
  • Gym Shoes
  • One Pair of Heels
  • Park Shoes (I prefer Toms)
  • Mickey Ears!
  • Purse(s)
  • Backpack
Personal Items and Tolitires
  • Medications (Tums, Advil, Cough Drops are my Go tos)
  • Shampoo, Conditioner, Soap
  • Makeup
  • Sunscreen and Aloe
  • Toothbrush and Toothpaste
  • BandAids
  • Hairbrush, Hair Spray, Hair Accessories (Curling Iron, Hair Dryer, or Straightener?)
  • Razors and Shaving Cream
  • Lotion
Other
  • Computer and Chargers
  • Computer Accessories and Harddrives
  • Camera(s) and Accessories
  • Book(s)
  • Headphones
  • Small Suitcase (In case you do a staycation!)
  • Wall Hooks
  • Scissors
  • Pens or Pencils
  • Notebook of some kind
  • Phone Charger

Sunday, November 25, 2018

Dining on The Disney College Program

So we all know of the Disney College Program money is tight, we are still college kids of course, but there are so many experiences and good food options that are expensive and difficult to pass up at Disney World. Eating out every day can add up fast and I do not recommend that at all. Pack your lunch and bring it to work with you, the cafeteria food isn't really that good and not worth the money. In my opinion, the right time to spend your money on food is when you are out at the parks or when you plan and reserve dining at a resort or park restaurant. Listed below are my favorite meals and snacks at Walt Disney World that I ate on my program.

Snacks
  • Festival Food - anything from Food and Wine. My favorite is the Beer Cheese Soup from Canada. I am sure the other festival foods you can pick up in the booths around Epcot are just as delicious.
  • Mickey Pretzels- As Far as snacks go this is my all time favorite and I feel as if I am getting more for my money then the other salty snack options
  • Ice Cream Sandwich - If you want a frozen snack this is the way to go. Much easier to carry with you and eat than anything on a popsicle stick.
  • Chocolate or Caramel Covered Fruit- These are located in any of the confectionaries or candy shops. Heres a little secret tip though, each location has a different recipe for their caramel. My favorite is at the Candy Cauldron. While these snacks are on the pricer side of my snack list they are still some of the cheaper things you can buy at the candy shops. Pro Tip: You get a discount at these shops as they are considered Merchandise!

Quick Service
  • Be Our Guest - Breakfast is crazy expensive and not worth your money. Lunch, on the other hand, is amazing and a great price point. Although it is quick service you still need to make a reservation here. 
  • The Friar's Nook - the menu here is frequently changing but usually always has hearty delicious homecooked food. Its got less seating then Pinocchios which is across the way but it also usually has a lot smaller line and cheaper meals as well. 
  • Pizzafari - This is kind of an odd one, but if you are at Animal Kingdom and you want to pick something up fast this is a good cheap option for Cast Member. You get a discount here so don't forget to mention it. 
  • Satu'li Canteen - Again in Animal Kingdom. The food here is very food and a welcome change from most of the fried and greasy food in the park. I suggest getting a kids meal, they are pretty big and a lot cheaper.
  • Katsura Grill - Not many people actually know this is here. Its located in the Japan Pavillion in Epcot and is always empty (as far as Disney standards go). Great Japanese food like Ramen, Sushi, and Bento Boxes. An entire meal here is much cheaper than buying things from the Festival Booths and is a good alternative option. 
Full Service
  • 50's Prime Time - As far as full service places this one is on the very cheap side yet the food is delicious and the atmosphere is so much fun, especially with a big group of DCPers. You also get a discount if you go before dinner time!
  • Sci-Fi Dine in Theater - Another Hollywood Studios restaurant, its decent food but cheap and a really fun experience. Its also not too difficult to get reservations here and again you get a discount before 5pm. 
  • Trail's End - If you are on the DCP you've probably been told about this one already. Cast members get amazing discounts here! You can get a big breakfast buffet for like 15$ which is amazing as far as Disney prices go. 

Friday, November 23, 2018

Buying a Universal Annual Pass on your DCP

I have a few new videos up on my youtube. Make sure to check them out and Subscribe by clicking the little red button on the top right of my blog! I have something really fun starting in December you won't want to miss!

Sunday, November 11, 2018

Things Nobody Will Tell You to Bring to your DCP

It can be a nightmare trying to pack what seems like your entire life into the trunk of your car (or even worse suitcases for a plane) for the long haul down to Orlando to start your Disney College program. Along with you everyday regular items there are definitely a few things you should bring that nobody tells you too, but you will most definitely use.
  1. Space Bags
These will be your best friend when attempting to pack your life into just a few bags. Although to sue them on the way home you will need to rent (or bring) a vacuum. Sometimes the housing complexes have them to use, but not always.
  1. Command Strips
This is not a new one for anyone who has ever lived in a dorm or temporary housing before. You can’t make holes in the walls so to hang decorations up opt for some command strips and hooks.
  1. A winter Jacket
Contrary to popular belief it does get cold in Orlando (sometimes) in December in January. You will be thankful you have a heavier coat when it does.
  1. A Lock
Every Apartment comes with a personal locker in the closet. If you have anything extremely valuable or are unsure about your roommate bring a lock to put on it.
  1. An Umbrella and Raincoat
It rains -a lot- in Florida. So if you happen to be going to work or the parks, or maybe you just need to go grocery shopping you’ll be happy you have this. Besides being showing up to work soaking wet isn’t Disney Look.
  1. External Phone Charger
Great to have for those days that you go straight from the park to work or vice versa.
  1. Black Sunglasses
If you have an outdoor location having sunglasses is a very smart idea.
  1. Black Socks
Again not always necessary, but technically Black Socks is Disney Look. if you don’t wear black socks with your costume though most people won’t notice.
  1. Pasta Strainer
Okay Let's be real, we are all College Students and Live off of Carbs. This one very important thing they do not provide you with at the apartments.
  1. Lunchbox, Tupperware, Reusable Water Bottle
You will be working very long shifts sometimes and will need food. Buying food adds up quickly so it's best to bring your lunch (or dinner).
  1. Power Strips
Necessary to charge everything with the few outlets you’ll have to share a room.
  1. Going Out Dress and heels (or flats)
You will likely use these items at least once on your Program (whether your 21 or not). Some bars and clubs let under 21s in. But otherwise, you will probably use it for Formal -in Fall- or for some other event like Dapper Day. Better to have it with you.
  1. Coat Hanger

Storage Space is limited, especially drawer space. You’ll have a total of three drawers provided. But there's always lots of closet space!

I'm Moving!

It has been a couple months where I have been doing pretty much anything I can to save up enough money to moe out of my parent's home an...