TOP 5 List // I'll take a pass...

My last Top 5 post featured my dream work locations, or the cream of the crop of my favorite attractions at Disney World. On the flip side, there are a handful of attractions (even some I may love experiencing as a guest) that would make me question my sanity if they became my work location.

5) Ellen's Energy Adventure at the Universe of Energy - Epcot

Rawr! if you love energy!

I have to state up front that I actually enjoy this attraction. I will never forget that I once saw a Disney World commercial when I was 5 that featured the dinosaur scenes from this attraction and how excited it made me when my mom told me that when I graduated high school, she'd take me to Disney World to see those dinosaurs.

The attraction is a bit different now, as it features Ellen DeGeneres and Bill Nye the Science Guy as the "hosts" of the show. It's still an educational and entertaining show/ride about the world of energy. However, if I don't do this ride first thing in the morning, it becomes a huge, moving napping couch to me.

Yea it's interesting, but it's also soothing in the movement department, has air conditioning and lasts 45 minutes. After spending hours in the Florida sun, sitting for longer than 10 minutes = automatic nap. While I appreciate the attraction, I don't want to spend my days working in a gigantic napping arena that happens to include dinosaurs.

4) Chester and Hester's Dinorama - Disney's Animal Kingdom

Step right up!

I enjoy Triceratops Spin here, and actually adore the themeing (it's intentionally tacky in that good ol' American road side tourist trap way). I appreciate that kids of all ages enjoy midway games and carnival-esque rides. Heck, I love those! The area does a good job of what it sets out to be.

But, to put it simply: I didn't apply for the Disney College Program to work at a carnival. Yea, it's a Disney level carnival, but it's still a carnival.

I would much prefer to work at an attraction that is more immsersive, where I can really get into character. Chester and Hester have built a nice place to visit, but not live day to day.

3) Studio Backlot Tour - Disney's Hollywood Studios

The Michael Bay demonstration area

This tour was cool once. Back during the brief era that DHS actual housed buildings involved in production of their shows and movies. The pre-show is decent and involves the audience. There's a costume shop and some other points of interest that you could actually see in operation. There's also a pretty neat collection of props from popular Disney and Paramount films that you get drive by and check out. There's also a little demonstration featuring an earthquake, flood and crashing semi (a la Universal) that is pretty good entertainment.

However, the days when this back lot was actually "real" are long gone. (It's the same story for the big sound stages that are gathered in the far corner of DCA in California). It's basically just a shell of what it used to be, and you can drive by old buildings and be wowed by what was formerly housed there. The props are neat of course, and it's always fun to watch a small semi blow up. Last time I was there, at least there was a fun and interesting Cast Member serving as tour guide.

So why wouldn't I want to be that tour guide?

Oh, that's right. Because they don't exist anymore.

Yes, the Cast Member is still on tram with you. But they don't spiel. You listen to pre-recorded voice overs. This thing literally exists now just to suck up a lot of guests at once.

2) Fantasyland - Magic Kingdom

When I started working at Disneyland, Fantasyland there made my list of places I didn't want to work as well. Not because I don't utterly adore Fantasyland, because I love it. I just didn't want to work on the teacups or Small World, mostly. Still, the Fantasyland attractions are beautiful, tell wonderful stories and are a ton of fun. The architecture is some of my favorite in all of Disneyland.

Please explain.

Which brings me to one of the main reasons I don't want to work in Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom. For whatever reason, nearly every attraction here is inside a facade that looks like a circus tent. No cute little village here. Even Small World, which (even if you don't like the ride) looks super impressive from the outside. That facade is inside a circus tent - like building. I have no idea why. Also, the first word that comes to mind every time I walk into Florida's Fantasyland is "concrete."  Which is usually followed by "sun."  Granted, this Fantasyland is a lot newer than DL's, and the trees haven't had the time to grow into the aged beauties in California. And yes, a big expansion project is going on that looks to be fantastic when completed. But still, what is with the circus tents?

I do love those rides inside the circus tents and enjoy eating at Village Haus, however.

1) Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin - Magic Kingdom

When I first found out my work location during my last program, my excitement came with just a teenie tiny bit of disappointment, as I'd been hoping for Adventureland. Throughout my program, I grew to love my "little Buzz ride" and greatly miss my boss man Mr. Lightyear. I worked with wonderful people, loved the attraction, and wouldn't trade my Space Ranger experience for anything.

That said, I'm looking to try something different in Florida, rather than be a Space Ranger again.

However, this goes a little bit deeper. 

Space Ranger Spin does not come close to matching Astro Blasters at Disneyland. The blasters are attached to the cruisers, and though that's probably nice for the Cast Members at the end of the night, it sure makes the game a pain to play. The queue is "meh." The scenes inside aren't as well done. They're also out of  story order in the middle. And to top it off, the characters don't have the same voices as the DL ones (which happen to be the original film voices. There might be a valid reason they're different in Florida, I just don't know it). 

LIAR!

That's not my boss man. That's an imposter and I don't want to work for him.

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That concludes another round of "Top 5 List!" Are there any attractions you think would bring your sanity into question if you were a Cast Member working on them?

Q&A // Putting in Requests and Housing

On my last post,  I received a comment with a few very good questions. I responded to the comment on that post, but I thought I'd make a post with the questions and my response as well, since it would likely be helpful to those interested in applying to the DCP or those who will be arriving soon.    

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Hi there - I'll also be arriving for WDWCP September 7. Question, how did you "put in a request" for your top attraction? Also, just out of curiousity, what ride did you work at Disneyland?

This has nothing to do with the post, but because you've gone through it before, how does the whole housing situation work? I feel like that is the one thing Disney is so vague about before arrival. If you don't come with a roommate, or aren't matched up with someone in the roommate matcher system, do they just put you with whoever may be standing in line near you? How does that work? Thank you so much! 

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Hi there! :) To put in my request, I called the 1800 number (the same one we called to schedule our phone interviews), let them know my arrival date and that I'd like to put in a work location request. They mentioned that it wasn't a guarantee, of course, but that they'd consider it if it all possible. I worked on Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters and Disneyland :) I adore my little Buzz ride! The WDW housing is a bit different from the DL housing, so this will be my first experience with it as well. However, from what my sister (who checked in for her program back in June) has told me, if you don't have a room mate you'd like to request or weren't matched through the matching system, exactly what you posted above happens: you are placed with the people in line around you. So, if you want to do a two bedroom in Vista, and a person of the same gender in front of you requests the same, you'll be together. (likely the person behind you, as well - it will continue that way until the room is filled). My sister said people arrive super early on check in day, so I think it would be good to get there early and get to know some of the people hanging out and waiting - you can get to know some there and potentially get in line together when check in opens! I hope that helped out some :) If you are on the WDW group on Facebook, feel free to find me and add me! Hope to meet you in a few weeks! :)

TOP 5 LIST // Dream Work Locations Redux

As some of you may remember, I put together a list of my top 5 dream work locations at Disneyland before I started my program there. I thought I'd do the same for Florida, now that I have just around a month and half left before I check in! I'll once again be working Attractions for my role, and I'm pretty excited!

1) Kilimanjaro Safaris - Disney's Animal Kingdom

 This is the dream, folks. This is the Jungle Cruise in a truck and with animals without the robotic innards.

This is an attraction in a park that is rarely open past 9 pm. No clock out times of 1 am.

Did you get that? Let me say it again. No clock out times of 1 am.

In terms of theme and details, Animal Kingdom is a star amongst a family of parks known for being the best themed and most immersive in the world. While some dislike the park's general lack of attractions compared to WDW's other 3 parks, I have always seen Animal Kingdom itself as an attraction. While any Disney park is designed to make you forget where and when you are, it is quite easy to really believe you're in Africa or at the base of the Himalayas, depending on which section of the park you're in. Altogether, I adore this park and fully believe Walt is beaming with pride over it somewhere.

The Africa section of Animal Kingdom is anchored by Kilimanjaro Safaris. You get to tour the Harambe Wildlife Reserve on a truck and check out animals native to the continent of Africa, and possibly stop a group of elephant poachers along the way.

The role includes lots of memorization and spieling as you drive the trucks around the reserve. I could spend every day driving a beast of a truck, using my memorization skills (that haven't gotten a workout in awhile) I learned in Job's Daughters, and probably be home before 10 pm every night. I have put in a request for this attraction, so we will see what happens.

2) Tower of Terror - Disney's Hollywood Studios

I want the bellhop costume. Is that enough reason to want this location?

If that's not enough, it is one of my favorite attractions. I do love the California version, and there are a few effects from Cali that I wish the Florida version had, but if I had to pick a favorite the DHS Tower wins. You get to actually move forward through the Twilight Zone in your elevators, and the outdoor queue is beautiful. Once I discovered the creepy/awesome use of sublminal messaging that this ride uses on my last trip (hint: ever wonder why you feel a little shaken up after the ride is done? It's not just the drops. Pay close attention to what's in front of you as you're dropping - you aren't imagining things.), my awe of this ride went up to like a 30 out of 10. Also, I'd get to act creepy.

I am considering calling and adding this to my request list, but I haven't as of yet.

3) Expedition Everest - Disney's Animal Kingdom

This is Disney's single best roller coaster and possibly one of the greatest attractions Disney has done altogether. It's big, bad and thrilling and the queue even tops Indiana Jones' in California and does a spectacular job of setting the story for the attraction. Disney is not really known for major thrill rides, and Everest satisfies the needs of any adrenaline junkie.

Sure, there's the controversy over "Disco Yeti" and it does make me sad to see that beauty of an animatronic not moving the way it used to, but it is still an impressive part of the ride experience.

4) Star Tours - Disney's Hollywood Studios

It's Walt Disney World's newest attraction (well technically, it is an update to an old attraction) and I do love the Star Wars series. I liked the costumes when I was there a few months ago. Its a pretty popular attraction, which means I'd be busy  and on my toes at work, which is the way I like it. It's also a great attraction for re-rides, as you can get a different experience each time you go on. That also makes it a great attraction to become a part of the story as a Cast Member.

Also, I don't know if it would be possible to make my mom any prouder than if she could tell everyone her daughter sent people on flights to Endor every day.

5) Spaceship Earth & American Adventure - Epcot

Next to the castles, Disney Parks most recognizable icon has to be the Epcot centerpiece, Spaceship Earth. It is a nice smooth ride through the gigantic inside of the globe, and is entirely focused on my college major: Communications! I have found it utterly fascinating every time I have been on it, and it really showcases Walt's dream of education intertwining with amusement at Epcot. Disney already looks great on a resume, but how awesome would it be to tell a potential employer, "Not only did I work for Disney twice, I worked on an attraction focused on the history of the field I want to work in." Also, as my sister is currently working Main Entrance Operations at Epcot, she'd likely be within waving distance while I'm out at the greeter position.

While Future World, the section of Epcot that Spaceship Earth is located in, is awesome, World Showcase is close to my favorite portion of any Disney park I've been to. The individual countries are beautifully detailed and all the Cast Members hail from that individual country. Meaning, as much as I love all the countries there, I only qualify to work in America. The American pavilion isn't as extensive as some of the others (because, I'm not sure, but WDW guests may actually already be in America just by being at Epcot), but the building housing the American Adventure show is beautiful and the show itself definitely rouses the patriot in you. While it's not the most exciting attraction, I would certainly love to be front and center in World Showcase everyday and chat with guests about my home country just like Cast Members in the other pavilions. There's not any great restaurants like the other pavilions have (America's food choices consist of burgers, turkey legs, funnel cakes and Budweiser - welcome to AMURICA), but they do have the Voices of Liberty, a small choir dressed in period clothing who are awe inspiring enough to be their own attraction. I also think working so closely with people from all over the world would an invaluable experience.


Honorable Mentions

1) Magic Kingdom Attractions

You may have noticed nothing on Magic Kingdom made my list. While I do love Magic Kingdom, out of the 6 state side Disney Parks, MK has a pretty firm hold on 6th place for me. It is a wonderful park, but seeing as I was already a Disneyland Cast Member, working there would honestly seem like a watered down version of what I've already done. (And if I get placed on Buzz in WDW, my sanity will likely not be coming home with me in Janaury - but that's a post for later) WDW has a ton to offer, and I want to branch out and try something unique to Florida.

If I do get placed here, though, I would be very happy on the Magic Kingdom Railroad, Haunted Mansion, Splash Mountain, or Jungle Cruise. 

2) The Great Movie Ride - Disney's Hollywood Studios

This ride is another great opportunity to spend my days at work spieling and flexing my memorization muscles. Set inside a replica of Grauman's in Hollywood, you board trams to take a tour of some of the world's most classic movie scenes. There's a bit of a twist during the tour involving your tour guide, and it's one I've thought looked like a ton of fun to do every time I've experienced the ride.

As the tour guide for the ride, you get to act and slip into your role in a way that other attractions don't always offer. You can certainly play your character no matter where you are in attractions, but The Great Movie Ride offers the opportunity to really be a part of the show.

My room mate Ellen put in a request to work at one of the theater shows at the resorts as well as The Great Movie Ride. With her major, these would both fit her to a T!




That wraps up this edition of  "Top 5 List". What do you think of my choices for locations? Did I miss anything you'd love to work on?