Days 2 and 3

Day 2

Last Tuesday I had a housing meeting at 11:00 in the morning at the commons.  The leaders just talked about some of the rules and regulations regarding housing.  They talked about weapons you can't have, how to go through security, visiting hours, not being stupid,  etc.  It was ok but nothing really fun.

After the meeting I went back to the apartment and finished unpacking and made a list of things I needed for the apartment.  Later on my roommate and I took the bus to Walmart to get some food and those things we needed.  The bus to Walmart is kind of annoying because it is a long ride and then it makes stops to Publix too and everyone has shopping bags with them.  But that's what I get for not having a car. :(

Day 3

On Wednesday I had the day off.  In fact all my roommates had the day off except for Shauna who had to take a French language test. But that was early in the morning so afterwards we decided to visit some resorts. 

We all went to the Animal Kingdom Lodge (except for Kristin because she spent the day with her family).  We got dropped off by the cast entrance in the parking lot so we had to find our way to the lobby.  We eventually found it and began to explore the resort.

The lobby was beautiful with a high ceiling,  lots of comfy chairs, and lots if African art.  There was a big glass window at the far end looking out over the back toward the savanna.  There was a bridge on one of the upper levels that led across the lobby.  I fell in love with all the African decor and how it just transported me to another place almost instantly. 

We walked around outside and saw parts of the savanna.  We didn't see too many animals.  We saw a deer-like creature and I think a zebra from far away.   The outside looked like a nice place to relax if wasn't so hot.  There was a nice spot where there were rocking chairs around a fire. 

We went back inside and walked past the restaurants Boma and Jiko.  Then we went outside to the pool area and walked around the pool and saw some more animals.  Mostly it was just flamingos and other birds.  We saw a really big yellow spider between a couple of trees but I don't think that was part of the exhibit.

We went to the Mara, the Animal Kingdom Lodge's counter service restaurant.  I got a bbq chicken pizza and the famous zebra domes.  The pizza was really good and the zebra domes were amazing.  I don't know how to describe it only that it reminded me a little of tiramisu because of how creamy it was and how it tasted like it had coffee liqueur.

We looked around some more and then browsed the gift shop before going on the bus and monorail to the Contemporary Resort via Magic Kingdom.  At the Contemporary we browsed a couple of gift shops and walked around very little.  I also went to the Contempo Cafe and got a red velvet cupcake.  It was pretty good, though not my favorite.  Then we got tired and took the bus back home         

Check In Day!

I'm sorry I haven't posted anything this week.  I've been really busy this week with everything going on but I do want to update everyone.

Monday August 11th was my check-in day.  I woke up super early because I was excited and wanted to get there early.  My dad and I went to IHOP for breakfast and then at 7 am we got to the gates of the Vista Way apartment complex for check in.  We couldn't go in yet and we had to park in the lot across the street.  Soon I started seeing people line up outside the gates so I went to join them.  By 7:30 the leaders let us in, and the check in process started.

I met my roommate Erin on the line.  We didn't have to wait too long since we were early.  While on line a guy gave us our program guides.  Then we had to put on name stickers.  After that the line split into last names A-L and M-Z so we could receive our work locations.  Erin and I stayed on the same line because I'm A and she's B.  I was super excited to know what attraction I would get.  Erin got The Enchanted Tiki Room in Magic Kingdom and I got Animal Kingdom theater attractions ops which means I will either get Festival of the Lion King or Finding Nemo the Musical.  I'm really excited about this job because Animal Kingdom has the best hours since it closes early and the theater attractions seem fun and are in air conditioning! :)

After finding out my work location we were told where we were going to live.  We got exactly what we wanted, a 3 bedroom in Chatham Square!  We also received our keys.  

We got our picture taken for our IDs and were then given our IDs.  Then we had to fill out an I-9 form and we received our itineraries for the next few days.  I found out that I had casting at 8:30 and then a drug test at 10:45.  

Someone explained to us how the itineraries worked and then someone explained to us about events and classes. (There was a lot of moving from station to station). The last thing we got was a swag bag with some stuff and snacks.

Then I had to board the bus to casting to casting right after we finished check in. The bus ride was fun; our leader on the bus told lots of corny Disney jokes.  Finally we got to casting and I got to see the special Alice in Wonderland door knobs which were really cool.  We waited in the rotunda decorated with golden statues of characters which were held up on pedestals. 

Once casting started it was just station after station again. It involved signing papers,  getting my weekend schedule, and getting fingerprinted.  After that I took the bus back to Vista Way and waited for my drug test.
After my drug test I was done for the day and went to pick up my luggage from the welcome center to pick up my luggage and finally move in to the apartment.  I boarded the bus going to Chatham and it took me there.  I dropped me off pretty close to my apartment and we are on the first floor so I was very lucky.  I moved all my stuff into the apartment and went to go pick a room.

The apartment is great.  We have 3 spacious bedrooms with 3 full bathrooms.  There is a large walk-in closet in each room with plenty of room for all our stuff.  There is a nice kitchen (although we didn't have a lot of the supplies we needed and the things they do give you kinda suck).  There is also a living room with a little patio out front.

I unpacked and met my roommates who are all very nice.  A few of us went on a quick trip to Wal-Mart to pick up a few things and then later on in the night we decided to visit the Polynesian Resort.  We hoped to get dole whips but unfortunately the machine wasn't working.  Also what kinda sucked about the resort was that they were doing a lot of construction, so when we went to the beach there were parts blocked off and cranes in the way.  But the beach was kinda nice and we watched the Electrical Water Pageant which I had never seen before.  It's basically like a parade on water where the floats are all lit up.   It was very pretty and I liked the Little Mermaid music it played.  I wanted to stay and watch the fireworks but everyone else was tired so we left early and went back home.  The bus ride was long (as I've come to learn about the bus rides).  When we got home we crashed because check in was the longest day ever.  

Just Around the Riverbend

One week from tomorrow I will be checking in. I can't believe it's almost here! 

Now I'm on vacation in the Outer Banks in North Carolina. I'll be in N.C. for a week and then on Saturday I'll be taking a plane down to Orlando.

I've been a bit frantic this past week because I've had to deal with packing and trying to make time to see friends before I left. Packing was really difficult because I'm flying down unlike people who can pack up their entire car. I made good use of space bags and I have pretty good packing skills. I actually stayed up the whole night before we left packing. But you shouldn't do that. I'm just a really bad procrastinator. At least I got to sleep on the long car ride.

A few days ago me and my roommates registered for housing with DORMS. It was very easy. One of my roommates was the leader and collected all our id numbers and then linked us all together.  Then she put our room preferences in order. You have to rank your top 7 picks. Our first pick is a 3 bedroom- 6 person in Chatham Square.  Then the rest of us got an email and we just have to fill out some information and agree that we want to be with your roommates and are okay with the preferences and that's it. Then you just print out a form that you have to take to check-in.

I'm so excited to meet all my roommates.  I'll be living with 5 other girls and I think we're gonna get along great. We talk a lot on Facebook and I've skyped with a couple of them once.

Just so you know you find your roommates on Facebook.  There were different groups for the check-in dates and you join that group and find roommates from that group. Our check-in date group was for people arriving on August 11th.  (I think now they may have changed DORMS so that you must have the same departure date rather than the same arrival date). You fill out a survey telling people about yourself and post it on the page and then you just try to find people you would be compatible with and have things in common with. 

Me and my roommates had some interests in common, we all wanted Chatham, and most importantly we were all wellness (housing for people under 21). For a long time it was just 5 of us, but a couple of weeks ago we found our last roomie and we were super excited because she is great and the search for the last roommate was getting annoying. We've all had a great time getting to know each other on Facebook and I can't wait to meet them and go to the parks together.

I've been waiting since February and I can't believe it's almost here. I'm a little apprehensive about being away for so long but once I'm there it will be fun and exciting.

Next time I blog I'll be in Florida and let you know how check-in and everything else goes. But for now I'm going to enjoy my beach vacation :)