Suzette's birthday was the other day, December 15th... 25 years old!
We started the morning off by eating breakfast and beignets at Port Orleans French Quarter. Then we celebrated at The Magic Kingdom. I've posted just a few pictures below. Maybe Suzette will update this post with some of her photos.
At The Magic Kingdom
Move It, Shake It, Celebrate It! Can you move it like this?
Woody wanted to join.
The back-side of water!
Colton, Jesse, Me and Suzette on The Exotic Jungle Cruise
Pluto and Jesse. Best buds.
In other news.....
Below I've attached a photo of my application statuses in comparison to the previous post.
Our scheduled departure date for the program is January 3rd, but we're hoping to leave on the 2nd. The planned route, as of this post, is to drive through New Orleans, Amarillo, Flagstaff, Bakersfield, then Visalia. This route could change depending on the weather. If it does, we'll be driving from Walt Disney World to Disneyland.
Hopefully, I'll be able to get everything set up so you can follow us along our journey.
I don't want this post to be totally depressing, but I thought I'd update you on my status/progress.
Today is our graduation day, I'll post pictures of it later. If we have any. We're making it a quick grab 'n go, because I need to go to Casting and talk to them about opportunities in California.
As you may have guessed already, I was rejected from my last internship, and will now be jobless when I move back.
Above is the most recent screenshot of my application statuses as of 12/13. I did apply for some regular, non-intern, roles like Account Manager at Yellow Shoes, Disney University Ops (Seasonal), and Interview Partner (Seasonal). I have no idea when, or IF I'll ever hear from those roles.
I did apply for the Ops Manager-Resorts in Orlando, but didn't even know I was rejected.
To prove that I was, in fact, offered a Professional Internship, I've attached a screenshot of my offer letter below.
My role would have paid $11.60/hr and been 40 hours a week.
It's unfortunate that I had to turn down the offer, but my managers and future managers have been understanding through the entire process. They say it's not uncommon for certain unavoidable situations to occur causing someone to turn down their internship.
I'm trying to look on the brighter side, that maybe I'll find something more permanent while in California and Suzette is locked in her contract. My mangers are even helping me try to find something suitable, but it is difficult since the job market is very small. I am still very thankful for their help and support.
Finally, it's Suzette again. I've been very busy working many hours at the Magic Kingdom since May. It's been a difficult 7 months so far, but the struggles seem to have brought a reward.
It seems like it wasn't long ago that Alex and I moved to Florida. And now, with just less than a month until our College Program is officially "ending" I've gotten word that I've been accepted to a Management Professional Internship at Disneyland.
That's right... DisneyLAND back in California. The place we moved from and weren't sure that we'd ever see again. I am thrilled for the opportunity and potential for advance within the Disney Company. It's going to be a crazy journey (again) and will definitely come with more struggles. Struggles that we're going to be facing with this opportunity is that Alex (as of today) does not have a position in California. He is still in the running for one or two positions at Disneyland, which we're crossing our fingers for.
A little background to the whole situation.
Alex was offered a professional internship with the YES program at Walt Disney World about a month ago. This position was a facilitator position in the parks from January until May of 2012, with no guarantee of a job after his internship was through. I was also accepted for an extension of the program that I am currently in, Custodial at Magic Kingdom (not guaranteed set hours, and no promise of any position afterward) He applied for several other internships both in Disneyland and Walt Disney World and has been denied from most of those other positions since. After many long discussions before and after receiving our acceptances for each program, we've decided that it is in our best interest for me (Suzette) to take the Management position in California and for Alex to move with me and look for a position (with Disney or not). We're taking this chance because the internship I was offered has a lot of promise for remaining in management after I am finished and the term of this internship is from January to September, not January to May like the others would have been. This is also a one time shot kind of thing, because with the "College and Career Start Program" that Disney has, you can only be in a college program or internship for a full calendar year. So, since we started in May of 2011, we can only go until May of 2012 with these programs Disney has. (The exception to why mine is until September is because from January to May 2012 I will be taking classes at Disney University and shadowing a fellow "leader" or manager learning how the operation of, in this case, Disneyland Custodial works, and then once I finish that on May 12th, I will transition into a "T.A. or Temporary Assignment" in that same area that I trained in, as a leader/manager, until mid-September. After September I can possibly stay in that area if a position opens up because I will be in a pool of candidates to be chosen from since I did this internship.
I'm sorry if that's drawn out, and a long explanation, but it's justification for why we feel that us both moving to California is the best decision for us. We're excited for the new journey, and are hoping and praying for something to come through for Alex before (or shortly after) we move back to California.
In other news, Heather and Sean (my sister and brother-in-law) came to visit Thanksgiving week. It was great being able to see them and spend time with them. We did a lot of theme park visiting while they we're here and I think they had fun. I wish that we had more time to spend with them (since both Alex and I had to work a few days they were here) but it was great either way. Here are some pictures from our visit with them.
Test Track at EPCOT
EPCOT
Disney's Animal Kingdom
Also, last week Alex and I decided to take a day (since we were still unsure if we were going to be coming back to California or not) and go to Universal Studios here in Orlando while we still had the chance. We ended up just going to Islands of Adventure (part of the Universal resort) and had a really fun day riding rides and exploring the park. My favorite was the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. (It was recently announced they're going to bring something similar to Universal Studios in Hollywood, CA and I am super excited. Universal has some great technology up their sleeves. Here are some pictures of our visit at Universal.
Me in front of of Hogwarts
In front of Dragon Challenge
Alex told a joke
Alex and Marmaduke
Me in front of Jurassic Park entrance
This picture is supposed to be turned horizontally, so it looks like Marmaduke is pulling me, so just turn your head. :)
Frozen Butterbeer. Yum!
The Butterbeer after Alex mixed it together, it made a pretty design.
Hogsmeade
Alex and I in front of the ride "Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey"
It was awesome!
That's all that I have for an update for now. More decisions are going to be made in the near future, and hopefully a job will come up for Alex before we begin our trek back to California.
We miss all of you Californians and hope to see you soon!
There has been so much that has gone on, and I just haven't had the time to type a decent blog. However, this blog has been much needed.
Quick rundown of what has gone on:
PGA - Golf Classic
Suzette is now trainer
I was offered a Professional Internship
Suzette was accepted for an extension
My parent's visited
We celebrated our two-year anniversary
The golf classic is an annual event held at The Walt Disney World Resort (Shades of Green). The caddies, media, and cast members, for the event, park at the TTC. So, Magic Kingdom parking attendants drive vans from their lot to Shades of Green. This brought many hours including one day that I worked 21 hours and another day that I worked 19 straight.
Suzette is now a trainer. Comes with a dollar raise whenever she's training, which is quite often. For an entire week she was actually paid to walk around the park taking note of trash cans, supplies, and other custodial things. She gets more hours, but most of them are in the mornings/afternoons, and my hours are still late afternoon/evening/late evening. It gets very difficult not being able to see each other as much as we'd like.
I was offered a Professional Internship as a Youth Education Series Facilitator, but I'm not sure exactly how I feel about it. The internship will start Mid-January and end in May. I'd love to go back into working with youth groups, but I'm concerned about how far the internship will take me.
After my audition for the facilitator role, I asked one of the managers what kind of outlook there was for me after the internship. Her exact words, "If you're looking for management. We [pointing to the other managers] love our jobs, and the only reason to take one of them is for us to win the lotto or die, and we know neither one is going to happen anytime soon."
Suzette and I both had interviews for the Disneyland Management Professional Internship, and we're still "in consideration" as of this post. As for my other application statuses:
Suzette and I are still talking about what will happen with our offers. We still have until the first week of December to hear final decisions. So far, we've decided that she will take the Disneyland Management Internship if she gets the offer. We're hoping that we'll both get the same offer to go back home to California.
Suzette was accepted for her extension, which means she'll continue as a college program participant from January until May if she doesn't get an internship offer. Since she's a trainer, she'll be training most of the now program participants that come in January.
My parents came to visit about a week ago. We absolutely loved seeing them and hanging out for a short time they were here.
Pa and I went Zip-Lining and the three of us went on an Airboat ride. I really wish Suzette could have come, but she needed to work. It's kind of what things will look like next week when Heather and Sean come to visit. I'll be working, while Suzette gets to have fun with her family.
Suzette and I celebrated our two-year anniversary on November 14th, and we decided to take a trip to Bonita Springs, Ft Myers, Lover's Key, and Treasure Island near Saint Pete.
I had an interview the other day. This interview was a general screening for all the Internship positions that I applied for, including the Disneyland roles.
The interviewer started the questions by having me indicate my top choiced roles, and why I feel qualified for each top selection.
Below are the top "ALUMNI ONLY" roles that I chose, and three reasons of qualification:
1. YES Facilitator
- After-School Leader
- Church Camp Leader
- Public Speaking Experience
2. Event Ops
- Planned New Events
- Organized Scope & Timeline
- Set-up/Tear-down of Events
3. Youth Sales
- Organized Student Travel Docs.
- Partnered with Student Leaders & Faculty
- Some Experience in Indirect Sales
4. College Program Event Ops
- Planned After-School Events on a Budget
- See Above
- See Above
5. Downtown Disney/Magic Kingdom Projects
- Works well in a fast paced environment
- Meeting Minutes Notetaker
- Minor knowledge of Building Construction
There was one question I stumbled on: "How do you keep differences civil at work?"
Overall, I think I did pretty well, but I won't hear anything until the beginning of December. They did say that I could hear something sooner, but it depends on the manager within that specific area.
Suzette will be having her training the trainer sessions soon, and she'll receive her trainer pin after her last session.
I'll try to post a video of her doing a water mickey. In the meantime... here's a little video with me as the speiler that a friend of mine found on YouTube.
Suzette hasn't lost interest in the blog. She's just VERY busy, but I still wanted to update everyone on the progress of our College Program. Since we are exactly half way through our program.
Previously, I let you know that Suzette was being recommended for a Trainer status at her location. She was praised by many managers, and she was interviewed a few days ago. Today, she was told that she earned the Trainer status.
This isn't her pin, but it is something she'll receive soon.
(More about this story will be updated soon.)................................................
Professional Internship positions were posted a few days ago right about the end of the first week of September. I think they waited until the new Disney Careers website was live before posting all of the roles.
This screen shot was taken the day after I applied.
You can see the positions that I applied for: 3 positions are in Disneyland, 6 positions are at Walt Disney World.
This screen shot was taken a day later.
I have scheduled my first interview for Monday 9/12 in the morning. I'll keep this updated as it develops. For now, I'm thinking the interview is for the College Program ALUMNI ONLY positions, but I obviously won't know for sure until my interview.
In other news. The Magic Kingdom has been decorated in Halloween!
And... The Ticket and Transportation Center is getting a makeover with new signage. So, in respect for the new changes, I took a picture in front of of my favorite pal Pluto. His lot will soon be donated to Simba.
The first section of the Pluto parking lot.
You might be able to tell in the picture, but it seems as thought I've lost a little weight. The picture below displays it a little better.
The second hole from the right is where I was when I started the program. Now, I'm in the third hole from the left. I've gone down three waist sizes.
I'll keep updating this post. So, keep checking back over the next few days to see some changes.
I know we haven't posted anything for quite awhile, but there's been good reasons.
There have been a lot of things developing for both Suzette and I, and I wanted to wait until things played out a little more. Some of the things I'll be posting about later: Suzette possibly becoming a trainer (she needs to have her interview first), opportunities with Youth Education Series, and future Professional Internship positions.
This post however will be more about my birthday smash with Rock 'n' Roller Coaster.
I set a personal goal to ride Rock 'n' a total of 26 times for my 26th birthday, and do this in one day. On Tuesday, August 23, 2011 the Hollywood Studios park was open from 9am-10pm. I arrived closer to 11am, and immediately began tackling this task.
My 1st favorite photo.
My 2nd favorite photo.
This was actually ride 25.
This was actually ride 23.
My 26th ride. Suzette, Ryan, and Meaghan riding with me.
The only problems I had...
Picture 2: The lady wouldn't let me take a photo of my photo. Even after I told her about my mission.
Picture 23: I accidentally showed "2 5" on my hands... So, I switched them in this blog. Picture 23 is actually 25, and 25 is actually 23.
I only used a Fastpass twice. Rides 4 and 19.
During the 24th ride a friend of mine, Meaghan, was riding with a really nice guy in the front car. After telling him my mission, he assured us that he was going to "work some magic at the end of the ride." He sure did!
He went to the ride attendant, told him what I was doing, and we were escorted to the front car for my last two rides of the day, 25 and 26. Not only that, but at the end of our 26th ride, he escorted us to the photo merchant to give me the last photo for FREE!
What an awesome time we all had. Thanks to everyone for your Birthday Wishes.
