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?

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?

TOP 5 LIST // um, not so much.

As much as I adore everything about the Disneyland Resort, there are just certain locations I'd prefer to avoid earning my keep at. All of the rides listed below are ones I greatly enjoy visiting and riding, some even multiple times in one trip. In fact, even if one of these turns out to be my work location for the semester, I'll take it with an enthusiastic smile and enjoy every minute. I appreciate all of them for what they are, and wouldn't really want any of them to change - but I'd like to offer myself to the Disney Gods right now with a very polite, sweet "Please....no."

#5 // Tarzan's Treehouse

I love the movie Tarzan. This is a cute little walk through, and I really love the music that's piped into the attraction,  as well as the fact that it's in Adventureland. But small spaces, narrow walkways, that music for 8 hours + a day, and small children running and screaming back and forth through aforementioned small spaces and walk ways? I'll pass.

#4 // Mickey's Fun Wheel

The first time I rode this, I thought you had to make the gondolas swing if you wanted them to, and experienced a pretty rude awakening when I got loaded on to one of the swinging ones and quickly found my face sliding straight forward toward the lagoon the Fun Wheel is on. It turned out being pretty fun, but I don't want to spend my program working on rides I can find at a carnival - no matter how much better done they are. This also goes for the other attraction on Paradise Pier, with the exception of Toy Story Midway Mania and California Screamin'.

#3 // A Bug's Land

Okay, so this one is an entire mini-land. I can honestly say, the only time I have ever been disappointed at Disneyland was when I got off of Hemlich's Chew Chew Train. I do like It's Tough to be a Bug!, the 4-D movie, and some of the theming of the area, but that's about it. If I'm on a trip to Disneyland, I honestly don't even notice if I miss this area.

 #2 // Fantasyland

To start off, I'd like to point out that I adore every inch of Fantasyland. It has Walt's original touches, and it's literally the foundation of what Disneyland is. I also know you work in "routes" here, or multiple attractions, and the costumes are pretty cute. But this goes back to small screaming children in hordes and small spaces, and my #1 fear - working on Dumbo. There are some redeeming things here, like Storybook Land Boats and the Matterhorn, but neither are enough to make up for the possibility of Dumbo.

But, I'd least like to work at...

#1 // Toon Town

I like a short visit to Toon Town when I'm at Disneyland. I like to take a peek in Mickey and Minnie's houses, and enjoy Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin. But I will readily accept any of the previous 4 locations on this list if it means avoiding working in Toon Town. I wouldn't even be able to work Roger Rabbit - it goes down for a refurb soon after I arrive and stays closed most of my program. So that leaves me with a tiny roller coaster, a ball pit/treehouse, and a bouncy house in addition to the character's houses. I'm really on my hands and knees here - I'll even take It's a Small World! Just please....not Toon Town!

So hopefully, there won't need to be a sad post stating I've been assigned Toon Town, or hopefully any of the others on this list. Still, I will take any of them without (well, maybe minor) complaints and enjoy the experience for what it is either way. But still - keep your fingers crossed!

TOP 5 LIST // dream work locations

It's officially 24 days until my check-in for the Disney College Program!

One of the most exciting parts of this whole thing is that I still have no idea what my work location is. There are so many different possibilities in attractions! However, there are some I would definitely like to work at over others! I'll really be happy with the opportunity at any of the attractions, but I do have a "top 5 dream locations" list, and one runner-up. Those on my list were chosen for a variety of reasons - the costumes, the land the attraction is in, the ride itself, etc. Here's hoping the sheet I get at Traditions (the 8 hour orientation of sorts I go through on day 3 or 4 of my first week) has one of these on it!

Runner-up // Jungle Cruise

I think every attractions cast member aspires to be a Jungle Cruise skipper at some point. It's a classic ride, you get to crack bad jokes all day, It's the ultimate opportunity to be in a performance role outside of the entertainment department. You can truly become a part of the show. Still, I know becoming a Skipper is more of a process; you aren't just assigned to it as part of your rotation like other attractions. Hence, why it's only my runner up. Still, working the ride even without being a Skipper would be great!

 #5 // Splash Mountain

 I love the little costumes with suspenders, I got to see the backstage area when we were evacuated off the ride once, and how could you not be happy hanging around the Briar Patch and hearing "Zip-a-dee-do-dah" all day? I also particularly love this area of Disneyland at night, and would love hyping everyone up before they take off in their logs, and making jokes with them once they're back. Also, it's one of my favorite rides in general, and the Hungry Bear Restaurant is right around the corner - with some of my favorite cheeseburgers at any theme park!

#4 // Pirates of the Caribbean

On my very first trip to Disneyland, my parents lied to me and told me this ride doesn't have any drops so I would get on it. The Disneyland version has too short ones, and my mom likes to remind that I yelled all the way down them, "YOU LIED TO ME!" It's since become another favorite ride of mine, and I'd love dressing up every day in a pirate-y clothing. The only down fall? Being in the same building as the fantastic Blue Bayou restaurant, and having to smell the food I'm not enjoying all day :(

#3 // Haunted Mansion

Yet another ride that made me cry when I was little, I now thoroughly love every second. Also, these are some of my favorite costumes in the park.  This is one of the best themed and detailed rides in all of Disneyland (ever seen the Mansion at night? you can see The Bride gliding through the upper windows with a candle) and I love the fact that while there are Mansions in other Disney parks, every one of them is unique and has a different back story. This is another attraction I think would be easy to get into character on and have fun with the guests! I have heard some pretty interesting.scary stories of things that have happened to cast members working this ride, but it adds to my interest! Also, New Orleans Square is my favorite section in Disneyland.

#2 // Tower of Terror

Also taking a top spot on my list of favorite costumes, this is also the only ride on my list that is at California Adventure. I would definitely prefer to work in Disneyland, as it's "the park that Walt built", but the themeing and show on this ride is incredible (as are the awesome bell hop outfits!). The queue for this attraction is also pretty fun (though the full wrap around in Florida is even more so), and it's a unique take on a tower drop ride that Disney does better than anyone else.

     
      and the top spot goes to.....

 #1 // Indiana Jones

When I very first visited Disneyland, this ride was just breaking ground for construction. It wasn't quite done on the next trip, and finally, trip #3, we were able to ride. It's a great ride all around, I love the queue, and I love Adventureland. And my days would be even better knowing that I was getting up and putting on Indy's hat every morning! They also have some pretty awesome coats that you get to wear in winter,, Adventureland has plenty of shade and the Dole Whip stand is a few paces away. What more do I need than that? :)

Only about 27 more days until I find out if one of these rides will be my new home! Check back for a post on the rides I'm really hoping I don't get - though I'll be happy with anything, there are a few that are a bit farther down on my list :)