A Cup of Tea CRP

Just another CRP blog

[acupofteacrp]

Week 2: Less confused. Still sweaty. No globe pic yet.

On-the-job training underway and it’s already a lot of learning, a lot of smiling, and a lot of steps logged.

Globe badge selfie coming soon but for now here’s a pic of the home park

[acupofteacrp]

Main quest unlocked: The Name Badge

Completed my first Universal Studios induction today.

New mission: Learn where anything is.

Side quests: Find the best lunch spot, avoid dehydration, survive in the heat.

Character class: British Export

Alignment: Chaotic Good

See you on the map.

#UniversalBrew #ococircusboy #ThemeParkRPG #FirstDayUnlocked #SummerInOrlando #myyummystory

[acupofteacrp]

Delays & Mickey Mouse: My Unexpected First Week in Orlando

I landed in Orlando ready to jump straight into my new job at Universal Studios. The plan? Touch down, unpack, start training, and get fully stuck into theme park chaos.

Reality? Slightly different.

Apparently, the universe had other ideas.

✈️ A Soft Launch Into Florida Life

Despite arriving on time and ready to go, a couple of unexpected hiccups in the processing chain, nothing too dramatic, just a short delay, but enough to throw off the nice little “first week at work” vlog I had planned.

I’ve attended my local orientation (tick ✅), settled into my housing (double tick ✅✅ and a whole story on that later), and had a bit of time to explore Orlando before the grind begins. If anything, it’s been a calm before the Universal storm, and honestly, I’m not mad at it.

🎡 A Familiar Detour: Disney Resorts

In a very unexpected turn of events, my first week working for Universal has been spent visiting Disney.

Yep. I’ve now officially been to two Disney resorts this week, purely recreational, of course. And walking through those grounds again brought back so many memories from my Cultural Representative Program days. There’s something very full-circle about arriving for a whole new experience but accidentally starting with a throwback.

I couldn’t help but compare the two, the visuals, the music, the sheer commitment to theming. It felt like catching up with an ex you’re still weirdly fond of. You’re not together anymore, but you still know their favourite song and where they keep the snacks.

🌴 What I’ve Learned So Far (Despite Not Working Yet)

Let’s call it a soft launch into chaos. Here’s what I’ve already discovered in just a few days:

• Florida humidity? Still undefeated.

• Americans really don’t get the obsession with proper tea.

• Orientation is a bit like the first episode of a reality show, you’re just figuring out who’s going to be chill, chaotic, or secretly an icon.

• Ducks are still running the theme parks (see: the mysterious reappearance of Fred, more on that soon).

But more than anything, I’ve remembered that no matter how tightly you plan, life’s going to do its own thing. And sometimes, that ends up being even better.

🎢 What’s Next?

Work officially begins this week and I’m genuinely buzzing. I know things will get intense, sweaty, overwhelming, and brilliant all at once. And I’ll be sharing some of it here: the shifts, the chaos, the team member (not cast member) moments, but NO behind-the-scenes glimpses for you.

This might not have been the week I expected, but it’s definitely the one I needed.

Bring on Universal.

[acupofteacrp]

🚨BREAKING NEWS: FRED. IS. BACK. 🦆

For those who don’t know… Fred was a local legend at the UK pavilion. A feathered menace. A beaked icon.

Allegedly exiled (or worse) after allegedly biting a guest…..but today, in a shocking twist worthy of Disney+, I spotted him… alive and waddling in Magic Kingdom.

Same strut. Same vibes. Same “I’ll bite you if you look at me wrong” energy.

The king has returned. Long live Fred. 🕊️👑

[acupofteacrp]

✈️ Somewhere above the Atlantic… on my way to Orlando for the next 3 months 🎢🌴

I’ll be working at Universal Studios this summer. new park, new role, same me.

If you followed my Disney journey, welcome back. If you’re new here — hi, I’m Obi, and this is your backstage pass to theme park life 🇬🇧➡️🇺🇸

Let the chaos begin 👇

[acupofteacrp]

✈️ PACKING… with a side of panic

A few years ago I was making “A Cup of Tea CRP” while working at Disney.

This year? We’re switching it up. New park. New role. Same lad, same brew.

🍵 Introducing: A Cup of Tea – Universal Brew

I’ll be in Orlando all summer sharing what it’s really like to live, work, sweat, and sip tea at Universal Studios Orlando.

Follow for chaos, nostalgia, and some British sarcasm 🇬🇧🌴

#UniversalBrew #UKToUniversal #ococircusboy #SummerInOrlando #ThemeParkLife #myyummystory

[acupofteacrp]

The End

You send off your application...you start the waiting game. You check your phone emails constantly...You've done it - you've passed the paper sift…...you have a group interview....time to prepare to show yourself.....it's a long road but can see the light!

You step into the group interview, all looking around the room unsure. There is a buzz in the air!

You're all not sure what it is but you know that you have found your people. Everyone is a mix of nerves and excitement. You interview and hope it went well..

Some more waiting

and waiting

and then that email…..CONGRATULATIONS!

Time for the final interviews - with Disney themselves.

You get up out of bed nervous. It is time. You walk in, see those familiar faces from group interviews.

You go in and tears immediately. Disney show you videos and excitement that change you - even though you've not got the job yet.

You step in. It's a blur and finishes quickly...did I do okay?…..did I come across well?…...did I say something silly?

.....

You're all nervous but that's it...nothing more you can do........

Some more waiting

and waiting

and then that email

again...CONGRATULATIONS!

Sleep is non-existent as you wait to set off.

You constantly check your phone. Are my alarms set? Will I sleep through? What if I miss my flight?.....

You double check your packing list and supplies as you listen to the Disney soundtracks! Time to go to the airport. You say goodbye to loved ones…..you tell yourself "it's only a year".

You've spoken to everyone from the Facebook groups but now you'll meet them for real and hope they like you in person as much as they seemed to like you online. You wonder if it would be weird to tell someone you recognise them from YouTube or instagram.

Time to breathe - this is what you've been dreaming of for as long as you can remember.

This moment. Right now. The adrenaline. The excitement. The magic. You look at the countdown clock on your phone one last time. It seems like just yesterday, it read: '200' days. Now, you stare at the giant number 'one' next to those words:

"CRP Check in day!"

You finally close your eyes.

You open your eyes.

You stare blankly at the CDS screen and prepare to put your PERNER in for the last time. How did this happen? Why will I miss the message on CDS every day telling you to have a magical day.

You'll miss the excitement of that CDS slip coming towards you from another cast member, am I getting a rotation from the position l'm not fond of? am I going on break? am I getting to "create magic" for 15mins? am I going to click on CDS and bump back into the same position I just had?.

Surprising how quickly I can enter my PERNER now....day 1, l could barely type it in whilst looking at it from my ID and now I can do it without even thinking.

Someone else just turned up to get their rotation.

You snap back into reality and realize you have yet to clock out. A line of US and CRP cast members have formed behind you, eager to go home after another normal, exhausting, magical day of work.

It must have only been a few seconds that you were staring at the screen, but it feels like an eternity. That rapid pace in which you so very often entered your PERNER before seems foolish in this moment, and so you don't speed through.

You salvage the time you have left, pausing in between each number. You finally get the courage to press enter - the lump in your throat must be visible as you try to swallow. You tear off your assignment slip one final time. So many of these receipts destined to the trash can next to the manager's desk. But not this one. This one goes straight to your wallet!

Now, you stare at those words:

"It is time for your bump out."

[acupofteacrp]

When a guest writes in.......ahhhhh

[acupofteacrp]

Just a little thing called Playlist Live - Orlando 2016

[acupofteacrp]

Today was a good day ! I get to join the ranks of the others to welcome and train the new cast members

[acupofteacrp]

Just a little move across the Atlantic

[acupofteacrp]

Traditions !

[acupofteacrp]

It's very strange to be sitting here in the airport. A year ago today I had my second round of interviews - pre-screens ! And now I'm sat here ready to board a plane to spend a whole year away in WDW. It's a weird mix of emotions. My mum has come with me to the airport and I've said my "see you later"s to everyone. Now I'm sat here in anticipation for the flight. Thank you to everyone who put up with my non stop talk and helped me get here ! The next time I post, I'll be doing so from the other side of the Atlantic ! See you on the flip side !

[acupofteacrp]

A year ago today I was waiting (the day before) my pre screen interview for Disney ! Now it's less than 24hours and I'm waiting again. This time for my flight to Orlando, Florida !

[acupofteacrp]

Only 4 days left !

[acupofteacrp]

So close

18 days until I fly. Wow this is coming up really quickly now. Looking forward to the next few weeks

[acupofteacrp]

So close...

39 Days until that plane leaves for the US ! So close yet so far