A Claireytale

Here is my very Disney blog about my experiences as a Cast Member! I have been a Cast Member at Disneyland Paris, Walt Disney World Florida (Epcot), Disney Store, Disney Cruise Line and I'm about to head out to Orlando for my second Cultural Representative Program. Disney is my life.

[aclaireytale]

Moving Day

Today I am leaving Bridlington for good. I’m getting my hair cut in 15mins then I shall pack up my little life and head back to Liverpool.

My boss just came around with the most awesome gift. A Disney traditions ornament! I genuinely teared up. So grateful. It makes me so sad that I’m leaving the company, they are so brilliant. The most generous company I’ve ever worked for. I really hope I can go back one day. Luckily they know it’s only a one year thing and they know it’s a one-off thing  too and I won’t be doing it again so fingers crossed one day they will take me back for good.

Simon works so close to the house so we just had our last lunch hour together, probably ever! Which makes me sad. My train is just after he finishes work tonight so he’s going to leg it around to the train station so that we can say goodbye. We just had a proper goodbye then though over lunch just in case we only have a few minutes at the train station. We both knew this day would come so we’ve been pretty strong but now it’s actually happening I’m feeling so sad. He’s literally my rock. He’s the most amazing person I’ve ever met and I’m choosing to be away from him for a year. What am I thinking?!!! No we are going to be fine, he’s out in April and we will be facetiming A LOT. We know the long-term goals and where we want to be in a year’s time so we just have to keep thinking of that. He got me a card and an Easter egg. Who knows if I’ll be able to get that over to America!!! If not, it’s breakfast on the plane!!!

I get into Liverpool late tonight, 10pm. My Dad’s going to pick me up which is great as I will probably have a lot to carry! Then I have a full day of packing and then Thursday I fly!!! This is it now!!!!

[aclaireytale]

Last Day of Work

Today is my last day of work. I have such mixed feeling about this. I actually thoroughly enjoy my job and the company I work for so do feel gutted about leaving them. I couldn’t possibly turn down this opportunity in Florida though so I have no regrets, I just feel a little sad. Especially since the person who now has my job doesn’t know her theirs, theres, yours, you’res and can’t even capitalise names/words/starts of sentences :( I’m such a grammar snob!!!

So with this being my last day, it’s really starting to sink in that this is actually happening. The big move is happening in 3 days and I am completely unprepared!! Never mind packing for America, I haven’t even packed up my life here in Brid. 

Yesterday Simon and I spent a lovely day out in Beverley. We went to Patisserie Valerie for some gorgeous food, did some shopping and went to a coffee shop to make lists and plans for when he’s out in Orlando. We are going to a lovely Hawaiian restaurant tonight too for dinner which I’m so excited about. It’s right on the sea front and we always walk past saying we should go in.

I have an hair appointment booked tomorrow morning and an eye brow appointment too. Once I have done these, I can get packing and start to get my head together about the move. I might do a video about my packing, we’ll see how last minute I leave things! Stay tuned.

[aclaireytale]

Medical Insurance

This has been the ONE thing I just keep putting off and off. It feels so daunting. It’s so adult. There is so much to understand.

I went with STA last time just because we were kind of told what to do. This time there seems to be more choice. After a lot of reading, a lot of waiting for quotes and a lot of form filling in I ended up going for Seven Corners. Their policy seemed more cohesive and malleable than others. I was able to change certain things which then affected the price accordingly. For example instead of a $100/$200 deductible which you would have to pay if you make a claim, I put it down do $0 and the price of the policy only went up by $30. I’d rather pay $30 now than $200 later. So to play it safe I went for a $0 deductible. I didn’t change any other options. There were a few different plans I could choose from or change and I didn’t add extreme sports this time as I won’t be doing a sky dive again!!! If you’d like to watch a video of my skydive from my last program, see below!! My description of it is a few posts back too if you’d like to read about it in detail :).

So really, that was the last thing admin wise I had to do. Next thing on the list is to pack!!! My flight leaves one week today! One week today I will be on that plane eeeeek!!!

[aclaireytale]

Over-Thinking

When you have a long time to wait to start your program you do start to over-think and over-analyse matters. Will I make friends? Will people like me? Will I get on with my roommates? Will I get bunkbeds? Will I learn the role quickly? Am I going to be ok away from family? Am I doing the right thing?

I think your brain likes to play tricks on you. Going to bed at night imagining the worst possible outcome. In my head I’m in a bunkbed with filthy roommates in my least preferable housing complex! I need to remind myself that all these things are surely not going to happen. Maybe I don’t get my top housing preference but really in the end, they are all the same. Maybe I get bunkbeds but if it’s really bad I can pay to move. I’d rather pay the moving fee than be unhappy for a year. And even if I don’t move, all 3 of us aren’t always going to be there at the same time.

I made some of my best friends for life on my last program. When you’re all in it together (I hope you sang HSM) it’s so easy to make friends and bond so I don’t know why I’m worrying about making friends. I think though last time social media wasn’t as prevalent so you weren’t sure who was going to be in your arrival group, you couldn’t be judged by a status or see that everyone’s made friends already. I think that’s what is hard about this time, you can sort of see the groups of friends forming already. I always try not to judge people by how they come across on social media so I hope they do the same (particularly because I go on about the Jonas Brothers on social media!!!! I don’t in real life, I promise... ;D ).

I am so worried that I have forgotten everything about my role that I learned on my first program back in 2012. Plus so much will have changed. I don’t know why I am worrying so much though, Disney training is the finest training you will ever experience. It doesn’t matter if I have forgotten it, I will learn it again.

I keep worrying that the fact I am married will put up an instant barrier with people or set me apart from people. I worry that people won’t see that I am still exactly the same person single or married. I worry that they might think I am boring just because I don’t want to go to downtown Orlando as much. I worry people won’t feel like they want to chat to me about boys or feel like they can level with me. When actually I need to tell myself the fact I am married could be seen as a good thing. I made a few enemies on my last program, jealousy is an evil thing when you’re in a bubble and a good handful of girls started to hate on me when they found out I was dating Simon (even my lesbian best friend used to fancy Simon!). I should stop worrying and at least be glad that boy drama won’t happen again and that I can steer clear from it all this time. 

The married thing has another aspect to it too, I’m worried what people out there AND people at home are thinking of me for leaving Simon for a year. Simon would’ve loved to have done the program again but as he is a fair bit older than I am, he wants to concentrate on getting a future for us together which is amazing (I married a good’un ;D) So he is training to become a chartered accountant and he can’t leave his job/college. He knows I’m not 100% happy in this town and knows that Florida is my dream place. When this opportunity came up, he was never going to tell me I can’t go. I’m at the advantage that he knows exactly what it’s like out there, he knows I couldn’t not go. While we are living in this town, we can’t sort out a mortgage as this isn’t where we’d like to live in our future. Therefore we haven’t got any responsibilities here, no bills etc. So while we don’t have anything like that, this is a perfect time for me to leave, come back, move to where we want to live and eventually get a mortgage. Simon is visiting several times, his sister and his twin brother both live in America so I will always be seeing them. But I’m constantly worried that I have to explain all this to every individual so that I don’t get judged. As if I have to justify myself? Will I have to explain to everyone our marriage is absolutely fine? Why do I need to prove this to anyone? I need to tell myself who cares what people think. It’s so hard to take this advice but I just have to or I will send myself stir crazy. 

Overall I just need to pull myself together and not worry as much. I never used to worry as much as this, I used to breeze through life not thinking too much! It must come with age ;). There are always people in life who will judge you no matter what, you can’t make everyone happy. I just need to be the best person I can be, work hard, enjoy this amazing opportunity and you know.... Hakuna Matata 

[aclaireytale]

Disney Bucket List

I have filmed a video listing all the things I’d like to do and achieve while out on my Disney Cultural Representative Program.

Of course this isn’t a strict list and to be honest, I will probably have forgotten what’s on it once out there! But it’s nice to think about things and plan ahead. Especially when you’re waiting to start your program and just constantly thinking about it! If I don’t do it all then that’s fine, if I do extra then brilliant.

Sure it’s so exciting knowing you are able to get into the Disney parks whenever you want but I am just as excited about the little things too. For example having a few hours lying in the sun before a shift. Listening to Country Music on the radio. Mountain Dew Code Red. Nipping across to the outlets to pick up a Starbucks Frappuccino. JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN. If you start taking the little things for granted then the big things don’t mean as much.

[aclaireytale]

Disney CRP

It still doesn’t feel real that I will be in Florida in 10 days about to start my 2nd Cultural Representative Program.

I am so thankful to get this opportunity again and I am going to make the most of every day living and working in the most magical place on earth.

My official start date for the Disney CRP is 27th February 2017 until 22nd February 2018. There are already so many advantages of this start date than my last start date in July 2012. First of all the flight! My flight was triple the price on my last program because I had to fly in peak time. I also got there in the height of the heat in summer at least this time around I have a few months to slowly build up to that and get acclimatised better. My parents don’t tend to fly at peak times either so last program I had to do everything on my own (which is fine, it’s what everyone has to do) but this time my parents are flying with me!!! It will be so much better, it won’t feel as daunting moving to a different country as they will be there to help me. It also means I will luckily have a car in the first few weeks so I don’t have to get that dreaded bus to Walmart on my first night! The greatest thing about it now is that I don’t have to fly the same day as check-in, I can fly a few days earlier, stay with them and relax. Going in February also means getting to leave freezing cold England behind, I’m so ready to do this. My hands are currently freezing right now typing this!!! Simon has booked his flight out to come and see me in April and we are planning to go to California if I can get the time off. I’m hoping I can swap some shifts, do favours for other people and then they might be able to help me get the time off. I will also get to see my best friend Sophie in Cali :D.

End of June my other best friend Karla has booked to come and see me after her work trip to New Orleans. She will be with me for a few days. She’s not the biggest fan of Disney but I’m hoping a visit there will change her mind! Then end of August my brother is coming out with his family. I cannot tell you how excited I am to show my little nephew Disney!!! I’ve genuinely imagined taking him to see talking Mickey for months now!!! My parents will be coming out around this time too.

End of September Simon is visiting and he will visit again in December for our 2nd wedding anniversary. I’m hoping to book us into Wilderness Lodge for the night of 12th Dec as it is our favourite resort, plus dinner at Artist Point. That will be one anniversary to remember!

Then in Feb when I finish, Simon will be coming out again to pick me up and we will do some sort of trip before I leave for good!

Then just like that the whole year will be over. I have a feeling this year will go even quicker than my last program. Sophie used to laugh at me as I was always saying ‘guys let’s take a moment to remember this’. It was only afterwards that she says she now remembers the moment even better because I was there saying that. I didn’t take it for granted in my last program and I definitely won’t for this one either.

I will miss Simon a great deal in my year but as you can see, he will be visiting a lot. He has family living out there too so he’s never going to feel that far away. He has to stay and finish his chartered accountancy training so this is the best time for me to be doing this. Once I am back we will be getting a mortgage, we’ll have bills, responsibilities so this literally is my last chance. He’s genuinely excited for all his little trips to see me and wants me to make the most of it. He’s the main reason I would like to vlog too so it will feel like he’s coming along.

Speaking of vlogging, go check out my YouTube channel!! 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcWHzkTbAkbwFiXpfWxKy8w

[aclaireytale]

A Brief Catch Up

Hey Guys,

Quick little catch up from my last post. 

Last May Simon and I had the most amazing Honeymoon in Disney’s Aulani Resort in Hawaii. It was the most incredible place! So many cherished memories.  Then in August we all went on the best road trip EVER! We covered Colorado, South Dakota, Wyoming and Nebraska visiting Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse and Deadwood just to name a few. Now it is January and I have some EXCITING news!!!

That’s right I am heading back to Florida to do a SECOND Cultural Representative Program and I cannot wait!!! I know people don’t use Tumblr these days but I thought since I have my whole first program mapped out on here, I may as well do the same for this program.

Please subscribe to my aclaireytale Youtube channel if you would like to see how my year pans out. I will be filming a lot :D.

In the meantime, I hope you are all having a magical day. Keep posted for more Disney adventures!!!

[aclaireytale]

Thanks Walt

Wow. Hi guys. Hold on a sec, just blowing the cobwebs off my AClaireytale Tumblr blog.

HIIIIIIII 

Well it’s been exactly 2 years since I last wrote in this blog. 2 whole years??? That’s actually mad. Time flies by and it’s scary. 

A lot has happened in 2 years. Getting married, becoming an Auntie to the cutest little babs and lots of Disney trips just to name a few.

 Simon and I finished on Disney Cruise Line after a very difficult contract. I don’t think I can ever explain to you what #shiplife is like. If you really want to know, apply. But I would recommend that you don’t. It was a very dark time for me.

When I got back from the ship, I went to do a Halloween contract in Disneyland Paris to get my love and passion for all things Disney back. It worked.

We all booked Florida for Christmas 2014 and it was wonderful. Simon and I took a special trip to Key West where he PROPOSED!!! We had talked about it before, it was in our plans, but I didn’t know where or when he was going to do it. He was acting so weird that day, I’ll never forget it…he was SO nervous and wasn’t concentrating on anything at all. He just wanted everything to be perfect, bless him J. On our way home we stopped off at a Publix to get a Rosa Regale to announce the news to my parents with. And so started a year of wedding planning!!! Which you can follow on my wedding blog: https://aclaireytalewedding.wordpress.com

It was the most incredible wedding. Everything I could have dreamed and even more. The perfect Disney Christmas Fairytale wedding to my Prince and soul mate. 

I am embarking upon a project at the moment. More of that to come.

Meanwhile only 4 weeks until our Honeymoon!! IN HAWAII!!!!! I look forward to blog about that. So unbelievably happy. How did I get so lucky?

Dream big, believe in yourself and dare to do it.

Thanks Walt, for everything. Without you, I wouldn’t have had the best childhood memories, I wouldn’t have met my better half, I wouldn’t have the most incredible holidays and most of all I wouldn’t have a livelihood.

[aclaireytale]

Day 3 - Traditions!

I'd been looking forward to today! My 4th Traditions!

The day was pretty much how all the other Traditions have gone! Spent the first part being serious, then the second part talking about Disney characters and parks, then a really yummy lunch, third part serious again and forth part back to Disney fun!!

The only difference was when we finished there wasn't a Disney park we could go to, just the hotel. Which was a shame! But we all had a swim and jacuzzi then dinner and I came back to my room to pack and get ready for my 5:30am start tomorrow for boarding the Disney Wonder from Vancouver!!!

Really making most of my big fluffy double bed and speedy wifi!! My whole life is about to change!! But I cannot wait :). Next stop: ALASKA!!

[aclaireytale]

Day 2 - Training day

Today the first part entailed more safety and security lectures. After a short break we learned in theory how liferafts work etc and then we went next door to try it out for size!! Next door was a pool in which we were to do a few exercises. We were given overalls so we swam across the pool in those. Then we secured our life jackets and swam a few laps with those on. We were told to float so we can feel the life jacket wanting to to pull us round onto our backs. Next we got out the liferaft! This was lots of fun (obviously it wouldn't be in a real emergency!) We learned how to get it out, what is stored on it, we got into it from the pool side, then from the pool itself, then we used paddles to direct it across the pool! I'm a water baby so I loved all of this (although the pool wasn't heated! brrr) My favourite bit we were hauled on a davit up high in the pool and then we were dropped from a height! So much fun! I was on the Aquadunk all over again ;) (this symbolised the techniques a helicopter would use to save you from the sea). After the practical was our test and then we were given our certificates!!!

Tomorrow is Traditions, I'm SO excited! Can't wait to get on the ship to meet more Disney fanatics, everyone I have met so far aren't into Disney at all.

[aclaireytale]

Day 1 - First day of training

I had such a bad sleep! We haven't received that much information so I was not entirely sure what today had in store so I was a bit restless. Plus no one had arrived in my hotel room and I was told I 100% will have someone arriving! I woke up at 6am and got ready according to Disney Look guidelines. I had breakfast in the hotel and still didn't see anyone there that looked like they were with Disney! After breakfast I went to the meeting point and finally I saw definite Disney people! I heard an English voice (yay!). We all exchanged pleasantries, our group contained 6 people. 4 girls 2 boys. Me, an English girl, an Australian girl, a Japanese girl, a guy from Peru and one from Croatia. Nice mix of us! We were taken to North Vancouver where the BCIT Marine Campus is. We were dropped off but had absolutely no idea where to go! Luckily a man called security for us and told us our room number. The room was full of ship equipment. We sat down and in front of us was the student manual of 'Personal Survival Techniques' the title of our lesson. We were to have this lesson today in theory and tomorrow have the practical in the swimming pool opposite. Then a few tests!

Our teacher was a retired captain who used to take cargo from South America to Europe. He told us about how bananas go into a coma at a certain temperature (did anyone know bananas went into a coma?!)

Our lesson started with learning ship terminology and general ship information. We then went onto general safety. Basically a history of safety. It was a timeline of ship disasters and then all the changes and acts that happened because of them. For example the 1876 Plimsoll Line, 1908 SOS in morse code, SOLAS getting set up after Titanic (Safety of Life at Sea) then the 1959 IMO (International Maritime Organisation) came into force to standardise everything. The IMO is the only UN building in London, tidbit number 2 for you there ;).

After a little break and after I had got over the disappointment that there was no whipped cream for the hot choc I just bought, we were back for more. This time we were learning about emergencies. What causes them, why it happens, how to prevent it and what to do if it happens anyway. So this was a big one, concentration caps on! Hey did you know Mayday was from the French? I guess I'd never really thought about it before but it's from m'aidez which means help me (although he said that it meant 'I help' I tried hard not to be one of THOSE students though ;P "sir it's actually the imperative form of the verb as you can see it is a command" :D) So we talked about fire, ice, failures, capsizing etc. He even showed us a lovely youtube video of the Costa Concordia falling to the bottom of the ocean. Apparently it wasn't meant to scare us..... I was scared. Then the case of Oceanos where the whole captain and crew got in a lifeboat and left an entertainment coordinator and guitarist in charge of getting people to safety. Again, another not meant to scare us clip! -scared-

We went for lunch with the most incredible view of Vancouver behind us! So we posed for a few photos, ate and then back to the classroom for the next part.

This part was all about the Muster List. So much to this!! It's basically a plan for crew members during emergencies, giving instructions and accounting for people etc. Then we learned about all the different types of alarms that might sound. Finally we learned about the fire extinguishers and all the different types of drills etc. We finished SO much earlier than I thought we were going to! Us girls had a laugh heading back to the hotel. We ate dinner and had a swim and a relax in the hot tub getting to know everyone!! 

[aclaireytale]

Orlando, Vancouver, Whistler, Seattle and back to Van to start DCL!

Our vacation in Florida was slowly coming to an end and I was definitely sad about that. We spent our last few days of freedom doing a few of our favourite things. We went to Magic Kingdom where I was one of the first people lucky enough to ride the Seven Dwarves Mine Train! It was so good, the theming was fantastic, for some reason I thought it was going to be faster but I guess it is in Fantasyland after all! We also spent the day at Typhoon Lagoon, Mall of Millennia and finished the vay cay eating at a few of our fav restaurants, Texas Roadhouse and Bahama Breeze. Couldn't wait to be back in Florida already!

The day arrived, the next adventure was about to begin! Simon took me to the airport, we said our sad farewells and off I went to Vancouver!! He will only be 2 weeks behind me so that's not too bad!

My contract actually starts in Van on 29th May but one of my best friends who I met on my CRP lives over there and kindly offered to show me around her town for a few days! The plane slowly descended into Vancouver - such a beautiful sight landing between mountains and rivers, never seen anything quite like it! She picked me up on the 24th May from possibly the biggest airport I've ever seen! I got to the arrivals and saw her! So happy to see my little Canadian! I couldn't get past this Chinese family and then once I did, I tripped over my suitcase and nearly went flying. Safe to say I made quite the entrance! 

The next day we went around Vancouver city, starting off at Capilano Suspension Bridge. It was quite a long and scary bridge but lots of fun! We then had lunch at Pier 7 where we had the most incredible view of the city skyline! Unfortunately it was rather cloudy but that didn't matter. Next we went to a bridge where there were some more amazing photo ops. On our way back to Aliah's house, we drove past where my brother used to live when he finished uni 10 yrs ago, that was cool to see :). After dinner, we headed to Aliah's complex's public pool and jacuzzi and had a good ole girly natter in the hot tub :D.

The next morning (26th) Aliah drove us to Whistler!!! I remember seeing Whistler on a calendar my brother had brought home 10 years ago so I've always wanted to see it. The drive from Vancouver to Whistler was absolutely stunning! We were literally driving on, through and in mountains! With oceans, rivers, lakes and waterfalls on our way too. After having a famous Tim Hortons we arrived at Whistler and parked up near the hotel Aliah works at. I couldn't believe we were in snow!! It felt so surreal that I was in Florida in flip flops only a few days before and now I'm in the middle of huge mountains of snow!!! Aliah was able to get us cheap tickets to go on the Peak 2 Peak. This is the longest, highest ski lift in the world, it links the two mountains: Whistler Mountain and Whistler Blackcomb. We went over tons of trees and ski slopes and through the glass bottom we could see one of the biggest and brightest rainbows I've ever seen!

We went through the village to get some lunch and posed for a pic in front of the Olympics Games rings. We stopped off at a gorgeous lake on our way back to Vancouver and had another hot tub night at her complex.

The next day we got up early and got ready to go to Seattle!!! You won't even believe my excitement about going to Seattle! I was singing the Frasier theme tune all the way there haha. Once there we walked along the docks and went to their famous market. Then we went to the very first Starbucks!!! It was very exciting to see! It was really small and just like other Starbucks but this was where it all started! So cool. I bought a mug and took pics of the original sign and the inside. Then we went a bit out of town so that we could go up the Space Needle! The view from the top was lovely. Seattle is an amazing city. I'm dying to take Simon already. We went to the Cheesecake Factory for dinner! I tried their cheesecakes for the first time, just WOW.

On our last day together we went around Steveston, Aliah's hometown. Steveston is where Once Upon A Time is filmed so it had 'Storybrook' signs everywhere. It was like being on a movie set! Such a nice little town. We walked along the water to get ice cream and I'm not just doing a 'claire' here but it was definitely the best ice cream ever! We also ate at White Spot, a famous Canadian burger place. It was a good burger. Finished our day by yep, you guessed it, hot tub :D. This is the life.

The next day was a sad one saying goodbye to Aliah! She'd taken me to so many places, I am very lucky! We said goodbye at the hotel Disney were to put me up in. The Hilton is very nice. I had a little explore of the pool, gym and jacuzzi, checked out the restaurant. I was told I'd get a room mate but I'm yet to receive one! Disney are giving us a food allowance which is good of them so I had a meal in the downstairs restaurant hoping maybe someone else on the program might be there too but not a soul!!! I went for a swim in the outside heated pool as the sun was going down which was surreal in itself! Quick hot tub (standard) and then got ready for what is going to be a hard two weeks of training!!! I'm very nervous/anxious/excited!

[aclaireytale]

First Disney Cruise as a guest!!!

Simon and I decided to go to Florida earlier than the start date of our contracts since most of our families were out there. We hoped while we were there we might be able to get on a cruise as a guest so that we were able to see what is expected of you when working. Luckily enough Simon’s sister got us an amazing deal and off we went!!! It was a 4 night Bahamas cruise on the Disney Magic (the sister ship to the Disney Wonder that I’ll be on). Here is what we got up to each day!!!

Day 1 (May 12th)

We got to Port Canaveral around 2ish (and found out we could have been there since 11! Oh well!) Before the ship sets sail at 5ish you’re allowed to check out the whole ship ie kids areas, adults only areas. So we tried to see as much as we could and tried to get our bearings! It was so daunting, the ship was so huge. Even bigger than what I expected and I was expecting big!! Our room was big too! Disney really makes such good use of the space! Two bathrooms a sitting area and a bed, you’d think you were in a hotel. In fact it was way better than most hotels! We had a light snack in the buffet restaurant, Cabanas, on the 9th deck. Then had the mandatory lifeboat drill and then we suddenly realised we were moving! I could barely tell! We bumped into Minnie and Donald on our way to the broadway-style show ‘Villains Tonight’. I really enjoyed it! Then we went to O’ Gill’s for a Disney Tunes quiz! It was so much fun! I got really competitive ha. Plus one song was from Camp Rock so you can imagine my delight! We went back to the room before dinner and our cleaner had turned down the bed and made a towel animal of a crab with two choccies for its eyes!! So cool! Next to experience dinner rotation! We were on the late rotation so dinner was at 8:15 and out first restaurant on the rotation was Carioca’s! Incredible food! Our assistant server was amazing (better than our main server!) and really made us feel at ease. After dinner there was an adults only event at Fathom’s at 10pm. It was a scavenger hunt and it was SO funny to watch. It was presented by the same guy who did the quiz and we found ourselves following him around the rest of the trip! He was British and reminded us of Graham Norton. Such humour! An American couple next to us told us he should be on television!

Day 2

We slept in after a very busy day the day before! But then we looked out the porthole and realised we were in the Bahamas!!! We got some breaky on the ship and debarked at Nassau! We went through an indoor market and got a taxi to Paradise Island where Atlantis is! It looked SO stunning from the ship so I couldn’t wait to see it! Only when we got there you had to buy a pass to see the hotel for $100! We weren’t going to do that so we just had a look around the parts we were allowed to see. On our way to the beach the rain started! So instead we turned around and went right back to the boat! We found that most people had actually stayed on the boat anyway! With the rain, Disney scheduled loads more activities. We went to see Daisy and Chip n Dale on top deck and then headed to a Pub Quiz at O Gill’s. They had set out Nachos etc and Simon and I were watching the bar servers and bartenders with a keen eye looking at what we will be doing! After the Quiz we went on a Disney Magic boat tour featuring none  other than our Graham Norton-a-like, Andy. Andy told us all about the ship inside and out, it was such a great tour and helped us to get to know the ship a bit! He told us some funny anecdotes and at the end of the tour he said he was moving to the Wonder! (GREAT news for us!! Haha). We went to the theatre stopping for a picture with Mickey on the way and went to see Twice Charmed. Then was the 70s Quiz (as you can see we love quizzes!!). Then onto dinner! This time dinner was at Lumières. Such a posh French restaurant I loved it! Our assistant server remembered what drinks we wanted and along came another 4-course dinner! After dinner at 10pm was Match Your Mate. It was a bit like Mr and Mrs in the UK. Andy called onto the stage the couple that have been together the longest then the couple that have been together the least long and then a couple in between who were up for coming on stage. So just like Mr and Mrs the men left and the women answered questions then the men came back to verify the answers and then the same happened to the women. It was SO funny. I was nearly crying with laughter, there were some really good sports on stage and Andy was amazing with them! They all won a spa treatment so not bad eh?! Our towel animal tonight was a dinosaur

Day 3

We woke up at 7:30am and the view of Castaway Cay from our porthole was incredible!!! Castaway Cay is Disney’s private island. We threw on our running gear and met everyone in fathoms for our 5K Castaway Cay run!!! We were first off the boat so the island was completely empty so I got some amazing photos! This place is a paradise! A Cast Member took us to the start line and off we went!!! We slowly kind of died but it was an amazing experience! We felts good for doing it afterwards (key word here being afterwards!) At the finish line I through a bucket load of water over myself!! They gave us our Mickey Mouse medals and we headed back to the boat for breakfast! Not wanting to miss out on the beautiful day, we put on our swimming gear and headed to Serenity Bay (the adults only part of the island!) I swam in the sea for the first time since I was 6 (a fear I’ve needed to get over!) and it was amazing! Aside from there being fish at my feet every now and then. Oh and starfish! So we swam to a sandbar which seemed like it was the middle of the ocean and we sunbathed there. It was so tranquil! Unfortunately a thunderstorm came rolling so we ran for cover and the cover happened to be a huge BBQ so we had our lunch! I ate my weight in grapes ha. When we decided to come back the ship was still quiet so we managed to go into the hot tub on top deck to warm up from the storm! We also did the Aquadunk. This was possibly the scariest feeling ever!! (well one of them!) you step into a little vestibule and the floor disappears so fast so you just free fall into the chute. Oh my life SO scary. I watched Simon finish and I’ve never seen him looking so scared haha but we did it again :D!! Luckily there we had no line to wait in at all. We met Minnie on the way to the theatre and this time is was a magic show! It was amazing! I was gob-smacked. It made me believe magic was real, there’s no way he could have done some of those things! He got people all out of the audience to be on stage too to show that there was no funny business going on etc. They were called Kyle Knight and Mistie, definitely look them up they were amazing!! Next was the ultimate Disney trivia quiz, we were SO close to winning this one!! After the quiz was dinner at Animator’s Palate. WHAT a restaurant!!! You sit down and draw something and then later on it comes to life on the walls around us! It was full of your favourite Disney songs and the theming in the room was epic! It was all paints and palates and slowly everything turns to colour when Fantasia Mickey arrives. It was really something special! After dinner was the Pirates IN the Caribbean party! Everyone had made such an effort dressing up as pirates etc. All the characters too! They were on stage on the top deck when Mickey came flying down on a zip wire to set off the fireworks! The fireworks were good, not Disney Parks good but good. Towel animal tonight was a monkey! (although I originally thought it was a turkey!) And the cleaner had put my sunglasses on it for its eyes haha 

Day 4

Today was our sea day! So we stayed on the ship (obviously!) and tried to do and see as much as we could! There was a Movies quotes quiz at 9:45 so we went to that and then had some breakfast. There was a Disney fun thing to do in Promenade Lounge and then we headed to the cinema to watched Frozen in 3D. (but it was more like the sing a long Frozen!) Luckily they all fell asleep after Let It Go ;). Great to see it in 3D! There was some Jack Jack race that had been really hyped up to us so we went to check it out. When we got there, there were crowds of people watching. There was a mat out that had lanes with a start and finish at the beginning and end and on it were babies crawling to the finish line! It was SO funny. There was a boys race then a girls race then the winners of both were in a final. The final was absolutely brilliant. The girl sped off then stopped then the boy caught up then the girl finally got up, was nearly at the finish line and then plonked back down again so the boy took over. There were SO many ooh and aahs from the audience it was hilarious.

After we chilled a bit around the ship we headed to the main theatre show of the trip. It was called Disney Dreams and what a show it was! Before it started we were told it has won many awards and I can tell why! I actually cried twice!! Then was the 80s quiz and then onto dinner!

There was a farewell party where every single character comes out so if you missed meeting one, this was your chance! They all spread out across the deck and we got our pics with Mickey, Goofy and Daisy. The princesses barely had lines either but face characters scare me! It gets way too awkward ha. At 10pm Kyle Knight and Mistie did another magic show just for adults in Fathoms. Again, I was flabbergasted. After a busy few days and a lot of food, I did not want to leave!! Oh and our towel animal tonight was a dog!

Day 5

The boat docked back at Port Canaveral and we had our last breakfast! I had Krispy Kreme donuts haha. So sad to leave!! But really felt settled and it was good to get the experience as a guest. I was so bewildered when I first got on the ship not knowing where anything is etc, at least that’s one main thing I won’t be worrying about when I start as a CM and can just concentrate on my training!! All in all an absolutely amazing trip, dying to get my family on a cruise now so they can experience it too!! Next stop, Alaska on the Disney Wonder!!! I know it will be a lot different working on there than relaxing on there but I’m ready!!!! Simon made a towel animal at home so we weren’t too sad, I’ll post a pic :D. 

Some of the best Character piccies! 

[aclaireytale]

Claire's Handy Tips for Disneyland Paris

I'd like to think I know Disneyland Paris Resort inside out. I have worked 5 contracts at DLP all in different locations. (Locations include: Bella Notte, Sequoia Lodge, Colonel Hathi's, Chalet de la Marionette, Cafe Hyperion, Toad Hall, les Cartes, En Coulisse and contract just gone - Pizza Planet. Every single day off was spent in the parks and every time I finished early I would watch the night time show, Dreams, or go on a few attractions. I know the layout, the short cuts, the attractions, the restaurants and the shows like the back of my hand. After having been to the parks hundreds of times as a guest and a Cast Member, I am hoping this qualifies me to write a few tips for new guests so you can get as much out of the parks as you can! Plus some money saving tips and must-dos!!!!

Firstly to new guests who have only been to the Floridian resort, please come to DLP knowing that it's obviously smaller, the weather won't be as hot and guests tend to smoke where and when they can. I don't want you to be disappointed or to be focussing on the differences because DLP is SO spectacular but just in a different way and if you walk around all day comparing it with Orlando you'll lose completely the magic in front of you. So yes, no comparisons please :). They are separate entities.

When it comes to tips, I have many so I will just write it down as they come to me but I'll use new paragraphs so that it's a bit clearer because otherwise knowing me I'll get passionate about something and it will be mumbo jumbo!!

My biggest tip is: do not go in either before or just as the park is opening. You will be there til 10pm at night, you don't need to get up early and be there for when it opens making yourself tired and fed up by 9pm. The biggest reason why I say this though is to avoid all the crowds going through security. Everyone has to go through security so go a little bit later so you can start your first Disney day without waiting too long and without having to overhear a Spanish family holding everyone up not understanding why they have to go through security ;). Plus you can't go on any attractions until the time the park officially opens so everyone ends up standing in a non-moving line waiting for it to open. Just think that extra 15 mins you are in that long line going nowhere you could have spent in Snoozeville.

If you are there early, use that time to take pictures of the magical surroundings. Let the masses spread out.

Tip number 2. Do not eat at 1pm. That is the peak time for restaurants. Not only will there be a long queue at the till, there'll be a long queue to pick up the food and there will highly likely not be a place to sit. While everyone is eating, go do things that tend to get long lines. Go and do Big Thunder Mountain. Where you eat can get complicated so I'll split it up and give some personal favourites. Firstly Fast-Food restaurants. This is my forte. As you can see I have worked in mainly all this kind of restaurant so I know all the ins and outs. It is not cheaper to pick and choose random bits of food and drink. Buy the 'menu' the meal deal. You get more for your money, and it ends up becoming quite healthy! Buying a pizza and a drink for example in Bella or Colonel is the same price as the menu which includes the drink, the pizza PLUS a salad or a piece of garlic bread AND a dessert of fruit or tiramisu. In these restaurants, though, I would always go with the lasagne. Lasagne, salad, magnum and a drink for around €12. Great value for money. And tasty. The pasta isn't the greatest and with the pizza you have to try and cut it up with a plastic knife, good luck with that one ;). If you've got a bit more money allocated for food then definitely definitely hands down book Plaza Gardens. A buffet restaurant with such incredible food. If I were you though, book here for dinner, for after you have finished your park galavanting as you will not want to do ANYTHING with that giant food baby other than watch Dreams! I wouldn't have usually recommended this next restaurant but after working in Pizza Planet I have seen that this is the perfect place for large families or for large appetites. The kids play area is ideal for them and the price is good for an all you can eat buffet. Yes it is only pizza and pasta (a much better standard than the ones in the fast food locations) but it also has a salad bar and some delicious desserts. Plus bottomless cold drinks. What more could you ask for? Fill your water bottle with some Sprite for the rest of the day! (That's a tip on its own, take a bottle of water with you to fill up!) Because this restaurant is quite hidden in Discoveryland there is no problems finding large tables for your party. Prices for here are €20 for adults and €10 for children.

If you are eating in Studios definitely go to Blockbuster Café. The Iron Man/ Pirates of the Caribbean theming is so cool and they sell THE nicest Croque Monsieurs I have ever tasted in my life. They sell the same ham n cheese toasties on Main Street in Disneyland Park. For a more high end restaurant experience definitely eat at the table service location of Walt's which is on Main Street. Worth the money for a more classy experience and you get a good view of the parade from there if you go at the right time! (opens at 4 though so don't expect lunch!). For Pirates and sea food lovers go for Blue Lagoon! Great table service location.  Another idea if you're finding it difficult to find a place to eat, why not head out to Disney Village for lunch? It's only next door and as long as you've got your day ticket you can get back in fine. There you have the options of  Earl of Sandwich, Rainforest Café, Café Mickey, Annette's Diner, Planet Hollywood etc. 

Now that food is finished with, ATTRACTIONS! Walt Disney Studios is my favourite park for rides. Tower of Terror, Aerosmith's Rock n Rollercoaster. It is also home to my two favourite attractions of any park all over the world. Cinémagique and Crush's Coaster. You really can't leave without doing these two, I cannot stress that enough!! I am surprised just how low the metre stick is for kids on Crush's Coaster! They are more brave than I am! Little tip here: the cart holds 4 guests, two facing forwards, two facing backwards. For a much more thrilling and exhilarating ride, get on facing backwards!!! The line always says it is a 70 minute wait. However the approx 6 times I rode it I ended up only waiting 40mins so it's definitely much less than it tends to say. And anyway it's worth the wait. Cinémagique is just on a different level when it comes to entertainment. I won't say any more than that other than don't look up what it is because it will spoil it :). Just trust me, go and watch it :). Please don't get Cinémagique mixed up with Animagique. In fact your day and life  will probably go by better without doing Animagique ;).

Attractions in Disneyland Park are a bit easier: Phantom Manor, Pirates of the Caribbean, It's a Small World, Space Mountain, BTM are all amazing do everything but it's ok to not do Autopia, Buzz's Laser Blast and Orbitron ;)

Not really a tip, more an FYI. Fantasyland closes early to prepare for Dreams. When I say early I mean things start to close at 6pm and by 7 most restaurants and most rides are closed. So get this land done early, maybe even first. Walk through the castle, go and see the dragon under the castle and go up and see the Sleeping Beauty story upstairs in the castle and the little shops in there all before 7.

Now for Dreams. The best show of them all. Emotional, magical, funny, exciting, heart-warming, just everything that encapsulates the world of Disney. Not so many tips here but try and get central. Close or far back doesn't really matter but just be central. And you don't need to be standing there for hours beforehand to get a good view. Each time I watch it I go with 5mins to spare and you can squidge through the crowd easily for a good spot. Be warned though as soon as it starts you WILL have a child on someone's shoulders blocking your view, just move to the side a bit it's fine, everyone wants to see it :). Definitely try and see it each night. I guarantee you will see something different each time. Or make it a point to concentrate on something different each time. The second time I saw it I watched the fountains and lasers which I hadn't really noticed the first time. If you are going to see Dreams a few times please try and view it at least once without taking ANY pictures. Really delve into its majesticness. 

To leave the park go straight down either side of Main St under the arcade, again another way to avoid the crowds. After Dreams don't worry about shopping on Main St, they have the exact same things in Disney Village with less people rushing around and less mess!! Knock yourself out with official Disneyland Paris merch, they have such cool stuff exclusive to DLP.

Final tip: don't start collecting pins!!! It's such an expensive hobby!! ;). Believe me, I know ;).

Hope this has helped anyone who is planning a trip to Disneyland Paris. If anyone has any questions just go to my ask box and I will answer them.

[aclaireytale]

Finally An Update...!

I feel so guilty it has been such a long time since I have updated my poor little Claireytale! 

Today that stops!!!

It's because the next post should have been 1st August, my big bro's wedding. It was such a great day and we did so much that I just kept putting it off and with it being my last weeks working at the Rose & Crown and having all my family out there, I just had no alone time whatsoever. Until now nearly 9 months later! I do love that I've been too busy to update this though, shows I've been out really living my life.

I have decided to just sum up in this post, as briefly as I can, the past 9 months without boring you! I will add a few pics too.

So following my brother's wedding I was spending all my time off in the parks getting all my family in and making the most of my CM perks. Then came my best friend Sophie and my last day at the Rose & Crown. We were SO sad! It was such an emotional day! After we finished we had a drink in the Rose & Crown as is tradition and the hat lady had made me a cake!!! So sweet of her. We then went to Magic Kingdom for our last Wishes.

2 days later on 16th Aug - 21st Simon and I went on a trip! We went to Baltimore, Buffalo, Niagara Falls, Toronto and then the best bit Washington DC. We had such a great trip. Especially DC. Simon loves American History as much as I do so we spent hours looking around the monuments and museums!! Walked up to see Abe each night :).

When we got back to Florida, Mum Dad Simon and I all went to Kennedy Space Centre for the day and then a final day at Disney World. I then went to Celebration for an interview for the Disney Cruise Line!! I got it!!! Simon and I spent my last two nights in Florida staying at Disney's Polynesian Resort and eating in Ohana's - that really was something else!!!

Mum, dad and I all came home and the next day was my brother's wedding reception for everyone who couldnt come out to Florida for the wedding. I took the whole of September adapting to UK time again, catching up with all my school and uni friends and going through the long application process of Disney Cruise Line. What a fantastic year it was to represent the UK in America. I have never felt so happy, so healthy, I met the love of my life, I had an amazing job and I managed to save a lot of money. My family came out 3 times while i was there and we did so many new things. That year will be a hard one to beat!!!

In October I got a job working at the Disney Store in Liverpool!! Knowing Simon wouldn't be back to England til January I was glad I had a job in Liverpool so that I could have Christmas and New Year at home with Mum n Dad since it had been 2 years since I had done just that. And it was perfect, one of the best Christmases ever!!! Plus my bro and sis in law had big news ;). 

Mum, Dad and I took a little over night trip to Portmeirion before our 2 night stay in the Lakes for New Year. I also was lucky enough to fly back to Florida for a week to see Simon and to see Disney all decorated for Christmas. It was an amazing trip, Simon really spoilt me! The Disney Store got me all excited about seeing Frozen and Saving Mr Banks so Mum, Dad and I  went to see them - two of the best movies ever! Simon finished his Epcot contract in Jan and came to live in Liverpool with us for a while. On Jan 10th we all went to Center Parcs for the long weekend! One of my favourite trips ever and already dying to go back! Relaxation spa, cycling, archery, golf, table tennis, badminton, swimming, the list goes on! Such a fun adventure holiday! The Disney Store asked me and only one other person from the October hires to stay on but as I was hoping to start DCL soon I said I could only stay one more month. The Disney store was such a brilliant experience and I would love to go back one day, maybe go up the ladder there. But for now I had other dreams to live!

Simon's Cruise Line application was going quickly so we decided to ask to be on the same ship. This, however, meant that we had to wait a bit longer. After we got our visas and everything was sorted all we had to do was wait. We went for a day trip to Harrogate and then I decided to do a short two week contract at Disneyland Paris while we were waiting for a DCL date. It was a tough two weeks as I was contracted to do the split shifts so I was getting up at 5am every day for the Sequoia Lodge breakfast shift then onto Bella Notte. But it was SO good to be back it had been 2 years since I was last there! I spent nearly all my wages on Disney merch! So worth it ;). On my last day, Simon came out and we had a few days holiday in the parks and seeing Paris itself. It was a brilliant trip.

After only a day back we were on the move again and we went to visit Simon's parents  in Bridlington. We were there for a week and I saw some lovely places, Bridlington, Scarborough and Beverley. Hope to go back again soon.

The next day Simon and I went to Berlin!!! We stayed there 3 nights and saw ALL the sites. We literally did everything! We then spent two nights in Dresden! Where I had lived and went to uni for a year. It felt SO amazing to be back. It was as if nothing had changed! It was great to show Simon it too, he loved it. We spent the day in Sachsische Schweiz which was definitely a highlight of the whole trip.

I sorted out a Disneyland Paris contract for Easter but I didn't book anything just in case we heard something from Disney Cruise Line.

Then on the day before my birthday, 28th March we were walking home and Simon was singing a song by Elvis that had the word wonder in it, I can't remember the song. Anyway we got home to discover we had been accepted onto a contract starting beginning June on the Disney Wonder, leaving from Vancouver!!!!! I screamed and genuinely didn't stop for a few days at least! We will be doing the Alaska cruise!!! Which then crosses the Panama Canal and does the Bahamas and Caribbean!!

The day of my birthday we went to the Lake District for the night. Mum, dad, my bro, Simon and I had a lovely day doing a walk, going to the Low Wood and  doing other favourite Bowness things. Then at night we had SUCH an incredible meal which ended with us all ordering sticky toffee puddings :D. Dad me and Simon went on a pub crawl where we ended in the Royal Albert hogging the jukebox blasting Country all night :). Great birthday.

The following week I spent catching up with friends and now knowing the date of DCL I was able to do a final contract at Disneyland Paris. Every day off was spent in the parks and I have to say having just finished it was definitely one of my favourite contracts. Much less stressful than doing the split shifts and knowing it was the last contract ever and last visit for a while I really tried to soak everything up and take everything in.

Now it is today, 29th April and Simon and I are off to join our families in Florida the day after tomorrow with our Disney Cruise Line adventure starting 29th May. SO much to look forward to!

What a year! Hope I've kept this brief enough!!! I'll add a few photos now, thank you for reading :)

To travel is to live.

My big bro's wedding!

Mine and Sophie's last day!

Carol the Hat Lady made me a cake!

Trip to Washington DC

Our Center Parcs trip!

February contract Sequoia, Bella

Germany Trip

Pizza Planet, Easter contract

[aclaireytale]

Day Three Hundred and Seventy Two

I was very much looking forward to this. I had purposely not done this my whole year as I knew Mum and Dad wanted to do it for their anniversary!!

We all arrived at Downtown Disney, got a Ghirardelli's drink and then headed down to the dock to hire a boat!!! Cast Members get 50% off so the price was amazing! I didn't know it was going to be that much off too so that was a nice little surprise for us! It was the perfect day too, the weather was glorious and we had such a laugh. Simon was the driver first and then we all had a go! We steered across Downtown Disney, past Saratoga Springs, Port Orleans and then turned around at Old Key West. We were on the boat just over an hour with Country music radio on!!! It was a definite "This is the life" moment. 

After the boat ride Mum, Dad, my Aunt and Chris went to Captain Jacks for lunch but Simon and I had to go to work!! All in all a lovely fun day and a very memorable boat ride :)

[aclaireytale]

Day Three Hundred and Sixty Five

One whole year living and working at Walt Disney World Florida and what better way of celebrating than with the arrival of my Mum and Dad. 

I had luckily been moved from Commons to Patterson for my last 3 weeks of my program for consolidation purposes which was ideal in every respect. It is such a great accommodation and it was were Simon was living so no more curfews! 

I was a pm so I met Mum and Dad that morning and we headed to Downtown Disney! Mum had seen me tweeting about my favourite spot in Downtown Disney so we all ordered ice creams from Ghirardelli's and sat there before giving me a lift to work :).

Over the next few days, my Aunt arrived and then a few days after that my brother and his wife-to-be arrived and then her family arrived too (The main purpose of the trip for my family was for my brother's wedding!) I got them into all the parks and I was able to join them in the mornings or evenings depending on work. This all worked out so well too that I was extended as it meant that I could get the Cast discounts and the main gates so that everyone could really enjoy their trip :). We went to Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, Epcot and Magic Kingdom numerous times. If I wasn't working, I was at a park! Really making the most of my Cast privileges. We also went to Sea World and Busch Gardens a couple of times too :).