Check-In Day

Tuesday, May 27th 

Yesterday was my check-in and first day of my program. I enjoyed three amazing days in the parks with my family prior to check-in. We stayed at the Art of Animation resort and went to Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and Epcot. The highlight of the trip was experiencing Star Wars Weekend for the first time and riding Seven Dwarfs Mine Train for the first time in the front row!

I woke up at 6:00 am to get ready for check-in. My amazing Dad also woke up to drop me off at Vista Way. We arrived around 7:15 am and there was already a line forming at security. I waited about ten minutes until they took us back to check-in. 

Once at the building where check-in is I waited about twenty minutes before getting into the building. They gave out program guides and temporary name tags during that time. The first stop was to find out where I was working. I found out I will be working at Beaches & Cream Soda Shop at Yacht and Beach Club. Ahhhh!!! I almost cried I was so happy! 

My next stop was to find out where I was living. For the next seven months I will be living in Chatham Square in a three bedroom apartment with five other roommates. Then I took a picture for my housing I.D., received my apartment key, then picked up my housing I.D. 

After that I waited in another line to receive my itinerary for Casting, and the Housing Meeting. I ended up having Casting at 9:30 am that day and the Housing Meeting the next day at 8:00 am in the Commons Clubhouse. 

After receiving that itinerary you are called in groups of four or five to speak to a representative that will go over that itinerary. They stress how important it is to arrive to all of your classes on time dressed in appropriate dress. Casting and the Housing Meeting are casual dress, unlike Traditions and Training which require professional dress. 

The last stop was Safety. Then I grabbed a snack they provided and sat on a bench to wait for Casting. I had about an hour to kill, but it didn't seem like that long at all since I was getting to know a few girls. The entire check-in process took about an hour and a half. 

Casting was amazing and stressful at the same time. My biggest advice for Casting is to bring a folder for all of your important documents they need to see and for all the papers you receive. 

After Casting I was able to head back to Vista Way where my parents and sister were waiting for me. They were so excited about where I was working!  We went to Earl of Sandwich for lunch before heading to the apartment to unpack. My Mom and sister helped me unpack until they had to leave, which was about two hours. We left to take them back to the resort to get on the Magical Express. I hated saying goodbye to them. :( 

From there my Dad and I went to Wawa so he could teach me how to pump gas, because Jersey girls don’t pump gas! We then headed to the Super Target to pick up apartment things and groceries. After we went back to the apartment to unpack more and put my groceries away. For dinner we grabbed a bite to eat at the Panera which is right down the street. 

We were both so exhausted from the busy day we had, my Dad wanted me to take him back to his hotel, All Star Music, so we both could get some sleep. As soon as I dropped my Dad off at his hotel my car started making the weirdest noises. I turned right around and had my Dad come back out to look at it. To make a long story short we had to wait for Triple A to come tow my car to the AAA Care Center in-front of Magic Kingdom. The tow truck didn’t arrive till 11:40 pm!!! We went into the lobby to ask the front desk to call me a cab, but I ended up asking if there were any buses that would take me back to Chatham Square and there was one that was coming in twenty minutes. Whew! I got back to the apartment at 1:00 am and had to be up at 6:00 am for the housing meeting. 

I will update about the following day(today) and the housing meeting tomorrow.