Monday, March 18, 2013

Downside of Working in a Dungeon

I was standing outside last night talking with some friends when something wet fell on my head.  I looked up and it to figure out where stuff was dripping from.  I was surprised to find there was nothing above me but the sky.

It took me a good solid ten seconds to remember what rain was.

I've been living underground far too long.

Monday, March 11, 2013

Things I Love About My Job

For Valentine's Day last month Disney went around asking people to give a reason why they love their job.  I couldn't pick only one...

1.     You’d think working at Disney would make you feel like a number, but I’ve never felt like that.  From my first manager who drastically improved my resume writing skills to my more recent managers who support me in every role I want to pursue, I’ve always had an excellent experience with my leadership teams.
2.       The “above and beyond” attitude just fits in with what I’ve been taught my whole life. It may be partly due to the church I was raised in, or because my dad was a teacher, but I’ve been taught since I was young about the difference between getting the job done and actually putting forth a good effort.  You can get A’s in school, but if you don’t actually learn anything does it really matter?  You can get a decent job, but if you don’t love what you do you’ll never love your life.  I love being pressured to always find new, creative ways to make things not just good, but incredible!
3.       Getting to dress as a manager and walk through the tunnels is always fun.  People think I’m a manager and straighten up as soon as they see me coming.  Sometimes they even ask me questions as if I know what I’m doing!
4.       It’s a Small World After All.  Seriously, despite the fact that tens of thousands of people are employed by Disney World, and thousands are CPs who come and go every few months, I still find myself running into the same people again and again.
5.       Going upstairs to watch shows, fireworks and parades on my lunch break are one of my favorite parts of the job.  I don’t think there’s any job anywhere else in the world that provides that.  I literally hear the fireworks every single night!  Days off aren’t half bad either.  “Hey, I’m bored… what do you wanna do?”  “I dunno… should we go to Disney World?”  “Eh, I guess so.”
6.       Everything is always themed.  Even backstage.  There are Mickey posters everywhere reminding you to be safe.  When they show pictures or videos in classes we take of people doing things the “wrong” way it’s always a character like “Maleficent.”  Timon and Pumbaa I’m pretty sure were the characters of some of my training videos.
7.       I love fixing things.  It makes me feel so accomplished.  My favorite calls are the wacky problems where people tell me, “This weird and ridiculous thing happened… can you help me?”  And then we figure it out!  I also love that I’ve been here long enough that I can help teach other people stuff.  “Oh, you don’t know how to make that change in CDS?  Let me explain it to you.”  I still don’t know everything.  And I still make mistakes.  But for the things I do know, I really love it.
8.       The old couples who work here.  I love it when a man from ESPN calls me on the phone to change his time and says “And can I change my wife’s time too? I know her number!”  So cute!  I love seeing the old couples walk through the tunnels holding hands on their way to work.  And if I see their matching last names in CDS I always try to make their breaks at the same time.
9.       Disney World is famous.  I’ll admit it, that gets kind of fun sometimes!
10.   Themed cast parties.  I love them!  Piles of free food.  Leaders serving you.  Raffles.  Prizes.  Free food.  Desserts.  Music.  Food.  Characters.  And all the while there are unknowing guests just chilling in the parks. And did I mention piles of free food!?
11.   The Cast resources we have.  Libraries where you can check out books and even Disney movies!  Computers and other learning resources.  And also discounts around Orlando.  Nothing super great, but it’s always nice to be eating out at a random restaurant and then realize you get 10% off the tab!
12.   Disney lingo.  ER.  FT. TA. MNSSHP.  MiSiCi.  DTD.  FOLK. DAK. DAAR.  DHS.  ST.  NCNS.  ADO. BOG.  I could go on forever.
13.   I auditioned for a teaching job on Friday.  Disney is the only place I know of that makes you audition for things like this.  I was given a script to memorize and everything.  Smart idea, though.  Everything is themed and everyone is part of the show.
14.   Every single thing at Disney has a story.  Every. Single. Thing.  Everything is so detailed and there’s a reason for all of it.  The Imagineers are artistic geniuses!  And I love getting to learn the stories behind everything.  Look for the ring stuck in the pavement by the Haunted Mansion next time and learn the story behind it.  Ever notice in the ceiling of the Sir Mickey’s store in Fantasyland, how it has what looks to the be the fingers of a giant lifting it up?  Pay attention to the detail on the roofs of buildings, especially in Animal Kingdom.  It just blows my mind.
15.   I’ll be honest.  As sad as it is that my office has no windows, I kinda like telling people I work in the dungeon of a castle.

Friday, March 8, 2013

Disney Audition

I guess I should start off by clarifying that while I did indeed go to an audition today for Disney, it was in no way, shape, or form an entertainment audition.

Last week I went to the info session for ILT (Instructor Led Training) and basically encompasses a LOT of the training classes that are taught here at Disney World.  However, I will specifically be teaching the CDS class (the computer system that is used most in my department) (assuming I actually get the job).

In the info session they mentioned we'd have a script to memorize for the audition.  They told us not to worry, that the script would only be 23 pages long.  Immediately, I was reminded of Safaris.  "Oh good," I thought to myself, "I think the Safari script was more like 28 pages..."  Then I realized they were only joking.  The script was two pages. Also, I'm a little bit blond sometimes.

So, I memorized the script and practiced on my roommates and today was the big day.  The audition part went well... at least that's what I'm telling myself.  I didn't expect to make them laugh as much as I did.  Part of me was grateful that they were so entertained, but part of me was worried because my audition was a lot more relaxed and "silly" than the two girls who went before me.  Theirs were well rehearsed, but much more formal. I have a lot of trouble coming across as all business-y.  I take comfort in the fact that I don't think Walt Disney was a terribly serious man.

Anyway, then we did the panel interview part.  They sent us all out in the hall to wait and then came and called us one at a time.  I felt like I was in a doctor's office.  After the first two went in, it was my turn.  "Dianna?  We're ready for you."  Just like a doctor's office.  As I went in, I kid you not, the main interviewer told me, "Don't worry.  This will be quick and painless."  I couldn't help but just start laughing.  "Oh no, I am at a doctor's appointment!"

They asked me about CDS and quizzed me on random system questions.  They listened to how I explained priorities and rotation bumps.  Then they asked some general teaching questions. 

"What would you do if the computers suddenly broke on you in the middle of class?"  Well, would I have a white board and marker?  They said yes.  I'd draw stuff on the board and explain things the best I could that way.  One of the interviewers  responded, "Orrr, you could try to get the system running again, right?"  "Oh yeah.. that..."

Her answer was so much better than mine I just wanted to melt.  Then I just had to tell them, "Well, in my defense, I just came back from teaching English in China.  When my computer system went down there, I couldn't get it working cuz it was all in Chinese.  And I had to improvise because I had 40 six year olds who would start running down the hall if I looked away from them for a second!"  Then they laughed.

Ah well.  I hope it went well.  Now for the waiting game!