Guest Interactions

It's crazy to think I've been here for more than a month already!  It seems much longer, yet I know it's going to fly by even faster.  With that said, I can start to share the buildup of the laughable moments I've had at work with the guests in small, scattered stories.

Interactions

• When I was ringing up a guest, they gave me their discount card.  It looked a little different so I looked at it closer and saw that they worked for ABC.  I commented saying how it must be cool to work for such a big, well-known company.  He looked at me with a strange look and replied, "You work for Disney...."  Still hasn't clicked in, I suppose!

• Next, I am SO thankful that I took 3 years of Spanish in high school.  Seeing I was not planning on going to a Spanish-speaking country any time soon, I doubted it would really come in handy.  I just had always thought it'd be fun to learn the language.  But after being here for a month, I honestly feel like I've been all around the world!  Not just speaking of Epcot, but I didn't really realize how many countries would be represented here.  I just try to chime in with the "de nada (thank you), por favor (please), lo siento (i'm sorry), un momento (one moment)" etc. phrases because if they ask me if I speak Spanish and I say "un poco" (a little) then they rattle off like a firework and I cannot understand anything past the first word; therefore, I learned my lesson that way.
• I realized also that Portuguese and Spanish can sound very similar.  Some guests do not know one lick of English, which makes me wonder how they even got here or if they even know what the heck they are doing.  Therefore, they will continuously talk in their language when I clearly respond unknowingly of their wants.  One incidence a man talked Portuguese (I think) the whole time I was checking him out (and by that I mean ringing him up..),  and at the end I smiled and said "Buenos noches!" (Have a good night in Spanish), and he laughed and walked away... oops.

• However, some guests seem to still hold truth to the core American beliefs, if you will.  One dad I rang up came rushing in and got a 6-pack of beer and a toothbrush.  He commented saying, "You only need the essentials on vacation!"

• An odd occurrence happened when I saw that a fellow co-cast member was from Michigan.  I asked whereabouts in Michigan she was from.  She answered South Haven and I perked up and said I was from Grand Rapids.  Strangely enough, she asked where that was.  I showed her on my hand, as it's a Michigan thing, that I go to school on the opposite side of the thumb.  She gave me a puzzled look and asked what I was doing with my hand.  She's lived in Michigan her whole life...interesting.

• One of my favorite tasks to do at work is to stock!  Most people don't seem to be quite fond of it; however, I crave it.  Any job I've ever had I've always loved to stock because it makes you feel like you did something and made a difference.  You can physically see that the store has products to offer, is easy to find, and isn't slacking.  Who cares how clean your store is?  Obviously you don't want it to look like there's dust bunnies who have hourly parties there...but if there's no products out, how are you going to make money?  Even if your store had some dirt here and there, it's not like it's going to prevent those who need a product from buying it.  
• Speaking of stocking, filling the coolers is one of the jobs if you do floorstock.  (which people will pay over $30 for a 6-pack of coronas! Even Epcot knows this as they have beer holders in their hoodies. They are serious about their beer..orrr just have kids).  The only downfall when filling the cooler is the anxiety that overcomes me. Knowing that the temperature is 26 degrees and that there is an emergency handle in case you get locked out frightens me just a tad.

• I lied. 2 downfalls.  This one may even top the former downfall.  This is the awkward moment when you are filling the cooler and someone on the other side is getting a drink out.  You see them, but they cannot see you.  You calmly just pause, waiting for them to finish.  If you really want to have fun, you will stock something that's really empty like the milk or water (#1 seller in Disney), so that your arm reaches all the way to the front as you await the yelp from the guest.  That is always fun.  And to top that off is when you make eye contact with them from the other side and slowly disappear...

• I probably am the jumpiest person out of anyone I know.  With that said, one of my co-cast members thought it'd be fun to stick his hand through the cooler and wiggle his fingers around onto something I was just about to fill.  Not only was I terrified by a wiggling hand from inside the cooler, but to look up and to see his bugged eyes looking at me created a slight fright, I would say.

Lastly, I also was just asked to be in Port Orlean's Mardi Gras parade, since that is our theme.  I was very excited and didn't know what to expect since I've never been in one before.  One of my fellow workers shared this link with me that will show you a glimpse of what it looked like.  It was, obviously, a smaller parade since it was just one resort and not Magic Kingdom, but still cute to see the little golf carts!  We were in the red golf cart, with the theme of the Great Movie Ride in Hollywood Studios (former known as MGM).  We had Indiana Jones, Mary Poppins, Wizard of Oz, and others presented.  I was asked to be the Wicked Witch.

This is me trying to practice my scary face.   
It didn't work out so well, but at least my eyes match!

The after-effect...freaky, I know

This is me with my cute Dorthy.
They didn't have a green hand though :(

Coming in March, I will be having a total of SIX (favorite #) different visitors at different times so I will be super busy and am super excited!! :) Good thing I'm here during Spring Break, huh!

Last week I watched Cinderella for the first time in years.  Despite not remembering what exactly happens, I came to the conclusion that Cinderella is a lot like Tom and Jerry..or in the beginning of the movie at least..which I love!

INTERRUPTION!

I just posted a new blog, but this a special edition! We had a special visitor come to Magic Kingdom yesterday and I got some great footage..or so I'd like to think.  It's on my facebook, but for those reading this without, here is a small clip I put together.  It is of Eli Manning, the MVP of the New York Giants who won the Super Bowl this past weekend.  I hardly know 2 facts about him-- and that is the previous statement, and that everyone likes Tom Brady better.  However, he still is famous and this was a rare opportunity.  And he also was the MVP before..so this isn't new to him!

Port Orleans Resort

Now that the anticipation is over, here is the rest of the info! 

My job is to work in merchandise at the Port Orleans Resort in the gift shop. 

I had more training than I could have imagined!  I assumed it was going to be very organized, since there are over 70,000 employed Disney cast members, but it was pretty much overkill.  The first week I worked was 43 hours, followed by the next week of 44 hours.  Definitely something I wasn't used too. Thankfully the hours decreased to around 35, which freed up some more time to enjoy the parks!

There are 2 different sides to Port Orleans: Riverside and French Quarter.  They are both extremely different on the outside, but the individual rooms look identical. Riverside was built in a way to reflect the classic plantation style mansions from the south. It was originally named Disney's Dixie Landing Resort, but was shortly changed after.  When my GPS came up with "Dixie Land" as the search results, I thought I'd for sure get lost again since I didn't know what that was !
French Quarter was opened a year earlier and was built to replicate New Orleans.  It only can host about 1,000 guests, whereas Riverside hosts double.  Because of this, RIverside is extremely, extremely busy and French Quarter is not at all.

Riverside has multiple activities that guests can enjoy.  There is a fishing hole stocked with blue gill, catfish, and bass.  There are boats and bikes guests can rent out for their enjoyment.  And every night there is also a big screen TV outside that will play a movie, followed by jazz music on weekdays that are extremely popular with guests.  Lastly, you can also take a carriage ride around the resort!

Next, French Quarter is my favorite to look on the outside, as you can see in these pictures.  I love how distinct the doors look since they are all different colors.  When we were on one of our many tours, they said that the architects painted them differently because of the close replication to New Orleans.  Since there is so much partying in New Orleans, it may be hard to find your door at night.  This way, you can just remember having a bright yellow door, by visually seeing it, instead of remembering a set of numbers. (pretty smart, I'd say!)  

In addition, they also print the names of the streets on the sidewalks, so it's easier to find home.

As most people know, Disney wants everything to come to life as part of their show.  So since Mardi Gras is the theme, they have multiple ways to show this.  Here are just some examples:

 

 

But then you also have creepy pictures like this that are approximately 428x your body weight that will scare the kids... (and me)..

But I do have to admit, they do have a really sweet pool for the kids at the French Quarter!

We also hand out beads, as beads were very popular for Mardi Gras, which I will show in future posts, because I am learning to make designs out of them!

And lastly, here is another video showing the resort live and in action!  This video is worse than the others...mostly because I'm not sure if I was allowed to take videos in my costume, so I just did them really quick and in disguise!

Next update will be about what we actually do at work and guest interactions...pretty humorous!

If anyone would like to send special life-sized bubble wrap over here, that would be greatly appreciated. One of my roommates has bronchitis, one has a sinus infection, upper respiratory infection, and mild bronchitis, and another one that lives in my room sounds like coughing is her laugh.......help!