...And Another Month!

Alrighty.

So last I updated, I told everybody how I was tres malade and was interested in working for The Mouse.

In the past month I have been working on an art project that my teacher didn't give me an extension for. I thought I would take one anyway. I also planned a "cheap" trip to Orlando with my Dad. It would've been inexpensive had it not been for the zillion taxis we had to take. Oh and the hotel switch.

The first hotel we booked SPECIFICALLY because the website said it had public transportation. TWO different kinds, to be exact.

What a bunch of BS.

We went to check in and could hardly understand a word of what the concierges were saying. Way to make things SUPER confusing....
Then they said "You want a Disney ticket?"
Dad: "No, no. We're only here for a short time. Unless, you want one Emma?"
Me: "Yea, why not? A free ticket? Maybe we could go to EPCOT and you could go on Soarin'?"

I actually didn't say anything about EPCOT but that's what I was thinking. So after offering me a ticket for ANY park, the non-english speaking guy doesn't give me one.

Um???????

So we find we have NO internet, NO transportation, besides a guaranteed $20+ taxi ride, and the floors shake when someone runs down the hall.

Oh yea, and you had to hold down the lever on the toilet for like a minute until it flushed.

Nevertheless, my dad and I try to make the most of the situation and stay optimistic. We head to Downtown Disney (did I mention the website also said that the hotel was only 2 miles away from WDW? Another lie.) where we figure out where the "Casting Center" is. We found it and talked to the security guard driving around because the building was closed.

I hoped that the security guard wouldn't notice the bar in my ear, and I held my hands together in front to look professional and to hide my tattoo while my dad explained that I had an interview the next day.

I absolutely loved the fact that the door handles into the Casting Center were the talking ones from Alice in Wonderland. I don't think I would have been surprised of they actually talked.

So then we went back to Downtown Disney, just a block away, and had dinner at Portebello's(sp?) which was an amazing Italian restaurant. My dad had this wonderful thought that since it was Father's Day AND my birthday, we should eat wherever we want, not worry about price. He has some pretty great ideas sometimes.

The food was great, the service was great, the atmosphere was great, AND we got to color on our table cloth with crayons! Wicked fun stuff. Ohhh and the dessert...mmmmm.

Next time I'm down, I am eating there again!



Next on our list is to explore for a little bit, then go back "home."

I need to get ready for the next day because my interview is at NINE AM. I'm not exactly a morning person. I decide to re-iron my nice collar shirt, and iron my long, professional brown shorts and shirt to wear underneath.

I've ironed a few times in my life, so I'm not horrible at it. I DO know what I am doing. So I tested the iron on a towel to make sure it wasn't going to stain my clothes. Nothing. Awesome, good to go. I get my pants/shorts done with no fuss. I move on to my undershirt, a cute tanktop with hearts all over it that my mom suggested I absolutely NOT wear. Well, things went well for the first half of the shirt, then it started to turn brown. THANK god I have my Tide-to-Go!

So I'm super pissed about the iron but still have my OUTSIDE shirt to do, which is, of course, white. I get most of the stain of my hearts shirt and then try to blow dry it so it doesn't get that nice wrinkle effect.

I get through most of my white shirt with no problem, BUT get BROWN on the FRONT!!!
I'm about ready to freak out. Right, Tide-to-Go. Always a good thing to have. I use most of it on the shirt, create some nice waves of texture and realize I would have to flatten that out. No way am I going to use the iron. So hair dryer to the rescue. I hang everything up and hope no one notices how much of a spaz I am. But my outfit was all brown hues anyway, sooo, what a great color to have!

I jump in my bed, which squeaks like a banshee (ewww) and sniff under the quilt to make sure the sheets actually might be clean. Smell like bleach to me! Sleep comes and I remember I had weird dreams, when we get up the next day I learn that apparently my dad had weird dreams too. Must be the room...

I have to hustle, I have an interview and want to be extra prepared and ON TIME, something that I'm not so good at on my own. Before I shower, I notice BUGS crawling around the sink.

Yummy.

So I tell my dad. He acts like its no big deal, but while I took a shower, he not only got breakfast from Dunks (which there was like RIGHT across the street, I didn't even know they had DD in Florida!), but he also got a room at the hotel next door. Which we have to move into....now.

That got me anxious, because I'm already hurrying, and now I have to pack and then unpack and continue getting ready. I have to carry a gillion things and try not to wrinkle my outfit which I carried across my arm while holding two drinks.

Making a long story short, Quality Suites Inn was a thousand times better. I told my (lawyer) dad that he should try to get his money back. Which he did (try) but the company has to do that, not the actual hotel. I guess they sounded surprised that we were checking out a day early.

Whatever, free internet next door. And breakfast. And two TVs, plus free drinks at happy hour.
It all just seemed.... less shady.

*****************************************************

My interview went smoothly. I have no experience whatsoever. But I got a "skill code" which I'm told means I'm a STRONG candidate. I think I got a job. I like the way my friend puts it: "so technically you got the job. They just don't have an opening for you right now."

I was offered a job. Working Main Street Magic Kingdom, with two weeks in which I had to pack, leave home, find a place to live, be bombarded by people when I don't know what I'm doing...

She noticed I was hesitant. I told her I was up for anything, I'm willing to try, but she told me if it doesn't work out, they have to start over and turnover costs Disney money... Not like they have a lot or anything....

But there weren't many openings because they just hired a bunch of people in May for the 4th of July season, AND because of my "tattoo..." (that's how she said it, "your tattoo..." like it was a trashy unwanted thing. Well, at Disney it IS unwanted, I wasn't going to tell her about it, but she asked, and my attempt to cover it with makeup failed miserably. I told her I could get the patches, but "Disney doesn't allow those.") I have even limited possibilities because my costume needs to be long sleeved.

So my jobs opportunities are working merchandising at Fantasyland in MK, or World of Disney in DTD. Both are fine with me. I just can't wait to start something new and work at Disney. I get paid next to nothing, but it's not like I have a family to support.

She also said I could work foods, but she didn't really want me there. I've read that Disney discriminates pretty hard, and they want "pretty" people out front, interacting with guests, while less attractive people work behind the scenes. Since I, thankfully, fall under the former category, I get to mingle. And pin trade!

I'm really apprehensive because they said if they get an opening, they will call me, but I've interviewed for other jobs with no call back. On the other hand, they ARE always hiring, and I think I did pretty well in the interview.

I am such Disney material, I know it, people in Orlando know it, I am bound to get a job. My favorite part of the interview was when she was explaining all aspects of merchandising and trying to make it all sound horrible, but it sounded just fantastic to me. She talked about stocking merchandise, labeling prices, security tags, occasional sweeping...
...she even told me that I might have to be all alone at my own kiosk. "Is that alright with you? being all alone?"

My answer seemed to be spectacular based on her response.

"Yeah, that's fine, but I won't be alone. I'll be surrounded by the guests!"

She kind of sounded pleased when she said, "Yes! Thank you." It was as if I said something I was supposed to say, but something different and refreshing. After she said that, I felt much better about how I was doing.

I truly hope to get a call soon because I really can't wait to go back down to gorgeous sunny Florida, get all the benefits of free park admission, ride the rides, possibly get a motorcycle (I really don't want my nice New England car there, but I HAVE to have reliable transportation. A motorcycle would be easier to maneuver through traffic and much easier to park.)

But what I'm most excited about is getting discounts on merchandise and getting more Mr. Potato Head pieces to add to my new collection that I started last week!