Allie's Adventureland

Hi my Name is Allie and I recently accepted a Role with the Disney College Program in Walt Disney World in Florida as a PhotoPass Photographer! I'm so excited to continue my Adventures with the Walt Disney Company in a Role that allows me to be a goof and have fun with Guests from around the World! I Check-in on June 4th, 2018 and I am so excited to go back!

[alliesadventureland]

January 16th, 2017

As I sit here waiting for the next round of Disney College Program applications to drop I am thinking about the things I would Love to do if given another opportunity to work in Walt Disney World.

On my last program I put a pretty good dent in my Bucket List, there are few things left to check off.

I’ve been thinking about what I would want to do this time around given the chance. 

I think If I get to go back to Disney My New Bucketlist will contain the following (for starters... after of course watching Wishes and My Captain again)

- Take at least 1 day in each park to just walk around and take pictures.

- Take a day to actually seek out characters for meet and greets (the ones without listed waittimes that just pop up, I’ve met almost all the ones with designated wait times)

- Resort Hop (on my last program I didn’t really do ANY resort hopping until the last month and I tried to cram a bunch in and it didn’t really happen)

- Make Magic. - I tried my best to make guests days brighter when I could, but there are a couple of times where I feel I missed an Amazing opportunity to make someone’s visit THAT much better and I still regret those moments today.

- People Watch.

- Just take time to soak up the magic. (I spent a lot of time rushing from one part of the park to another to avoid lines or crowds... or parades) I would like to take the time to walk slowly and soak it all in, look for details I didn’t notice before.

- Look for Hidden Mickeys... I mean, I bought the friggen book, I would like to actually take a day and look for hidden Mickeys like I said I was going to (but ultimately made a B-line for Pirates and Captain Jack... my Kryptonite... I need to learn to venture outside of that little corner of Adventureland....)

Given the opportunity to return to WDW this summer, along with the networking I plan on attempting this time, I would love to take time to accomplish some of these things. They’re “The Little Things” you don’t think about until you get home and think to yourself, “I wish I had more pictures of this place where I spent a year of my life” or “I wish I had met more characters” when you’re sitting looking at pictures of the same 6 characters.. I mean, Goofy is one my favorite Characters and I only have 2 pictures with him! I never even met Snow White or Sleeping Beauty or Belle. I walked past Merida almost everyday and Never Once stopped to try to meet her. 

If you plan on doing a DCP or you are currently on one. Don’t skip the small things. Unless you can get a job there and stay after your program, you’re gonna miss the little things. Its fun to go on all the rides, but in the long run, its the other stuff that you miss. 

[alliesadventureland]

January 11th, 2017

I’ve been having Major Disney withdrawals since getting back home in May. 

I’ve had depression, Anxiety, and I’ve gained weight.

Not anything you wanna come home to after being away for a Year.

On the plus side though, I am further along in my schooling toward my film degree, and I have upped my game and am now going for 3 degrees. 1) Digital Film & Cinema Production, 2) Film & Media Studies, and 3) Television Production. I got a 4.0 this semester and my next semester starts Tuesday (Monday is Martin Luther King Jr. Day- No School).

The First day of 2017 I decided I was going to find a way to keep Disney in my Life this year. 2014 I had an Annual Pass to Disneyland, 2015 and 2016 I worked in Walt Disney World in both Magic Kingdom and EPCOT. I was thinking (and still kind of am) about trying for a short term job with the Disney Cruise Line for the summer, to break away from my current job, and take a breather and a much needed Disney Break. 

But today. Today I was reminded of the existence of the Summer Alumni Program. This semester of school I am about to begin, ends on May 17th. The Fall Semester Starts at the end of August. I am SO Hopeful that They do the Summer Alumni Program this year and it fits within the window between semesters. I would LOVE to go back and get my Disney fill and try to Network Further now that I have more of an Idea for what I want out of my future. If I could do the Summer Alumni Program that would be the most magical thing. It’ll stink when I have to leave, but I’ll feel better knowing how much closer I am leaving this time than last time. If they offer the program and I get in, I’ll have about 4 or 5 classes left until I’ll have 3 degrees in Film/Television production. 

I am hopeful and Excited. Especially since so many of my friends are going back THIS MONTH and I’m not. I would SO LOVE the opportunity to go back.

[alliesadventureland]

July 4th, 2016

One of the coolest things about Pecos was when there were fancy fireworks going off (meaning, fireworks other than Wishes), the Leaders and Coordinators would come out and tell you, "Go out on the Backdock and watch the Fireworks. GO! NOW!" and that is one of the reasons I'm glad I got to work there. It wasn't the Best view, but we got to watch Disney 4th of July Fireworks. I miss that.

[alliesadventureland]

June 22nd, 2016

Today I got a response on one of my letters.

I’ll say that again: Today I got a response on one of my letters.

I was NOT expecting this to happen at all. I figured, best case I would get a letter thanking me for reaching out but so-and-so is a very busy person but we wish you the best of luck with your future.

What I got was the complete opposite. 

The letter I got asks for more information on my intended area of film so they can look into getting me connected with someone in that field. I have no idea how to respond. I don’t know what area of film I want.. thats partly why I wrote the letters to begin with. This is crazy and I don’t know how I am going to respond, but I am so Glad I wrote those letters. 

I am also so thankful that I got the opportunity to do the Disney College Program because I feel like I might not have gotten such a response if I hadn’t included the DCP in the letter. I don’t know though, maybe I would have. I need to get thinking on a response. This is so bizarre and crazy and I NEVER expected this in a million years!

[alliesadventureland]

June 18th, 2016

In my hands I hold a stack of 6 envelopes destined to some pretty powerful people. I'm hoping they reach their intended recipients and I get the replies I am looking for. If they do not make their marks, or I do not get a single reply, at least I can say that I tried. Which is more action than I’ve taken up to this point. I am already planning my next round of recipients to reach out to when I get more stamps.

Writing is not my strongest area though, and I figure At BEST I will get a “thank you for reaching out unfortunately . . .” but still. You can’t go anywhere in life if you don’t try. So I’m shooting for the moon on this.

[alliesadventureland]

June 17th 2016- side note

On Wednesday during my Orientation they had a watch a video of a former Disney leader and that made me miss working at Disney SO MUCH. Its a constant struggle to Not apply to Disney, especially now that I know someone in Disneyland who offered to give me her perner for a recommendation if I applied there. I still have loads of people in Florida with offers to let me stay with them, and I’m only 5 hours from Disneyland... this is so Hard. I miss Disney so much. 

[alliesadventureland]

June 17th, 2016

Yesterday was my first day at my new job. The very first thing that was said to me as soon as one of my new coworkers heard my name was, “Oh You’re the DISNEY GIRL huh!” I have no idea how she knew that or who told her, but as I was meeting new coworkers, I kept getting that same reaction. My First day and I’m already “The Disney Girl.” 

Then when my trainer was taking me down to show me where the garbage goes we got stopped at the elevator by a very excited Chef with a plate of steak. He was really excited about what he had just cooked and told us to try it then just as quickly as he appeared, he ran away. It was Bison and it was Good.

Its only been one day on the job and I still have 2 more days of training (tonight and tomorrow) but I’m not sure how I feel about it. I am not guaranteed to get the job until I have my gaming license thing, so we’ll see if I’m meant to stay or not. In the mean time I’m doing my best at this job. Its kind of boring compared to what my last year has been but that’s not news or anything, its not Disney. I’m going to keep my eyes open for other jobs that could be more interesting to me, or you know, just in case I Don’t get my gaming license and have to leave. 

Its only my first week though, so we’ll see how this goes.

[alliesadventureland]

[alliesadventureland]

May 10th, 2016

Here at the International Space Training Center, We Choose to Go. I, for one, would rather choose to stay. I am not ready to leave my ISTC crew at Mission: SPACE. I’m not ready TO GO. I was blessed with such a welcoming cast for my first ever attraction. I also got really lucky with my first ever role with the Walt Disney company as a cast member at both Pecos Bill’s Tall Tale Inn & Cafe and Tortuga Tavern. I will miss my Pirates, my Cowboys, and my Captain. For Someone like me, no location could have been better when it comes to Food and Beverage Locations. I am going to miss this life i have Everyday.

Unfortunately, I am unable to stay in Florida and am forced to return home to California or be a homeless person or worse, a mooch. So here I am reminded of what Walt himself said:

“Around here, however, we don’t look backwards for long. We keep moving forward, opening up new doors and doing new things... and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.” -- Walt Disney

I will keep moving forward. I will return home and finish school and hopefully continue down the path that will lead me to where I’m meant to go. (Hopefully something in film, possibly back here to Florida) Until then though:

Tomorrow is my last day to play in these parks I’ve come to know as my home for almost a year now. 

[alliesadventureland]

May 10th, 2016

Yesterday I went to Hollywood Studios with a bunch of my coworkers for one last time to hang out. We went on Toy Story, and Star Tours, we watched The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular. We Solved Riddles from a cast member in Backlot Express. I was the Rebel Spy on Star Tours and two of our group were picked to be Extras for Indiana Jones, that was perfect because one of them said “I’m gonna be an extra for Indiana Jones today” and she was.

Today is my last shift at Mission:SPACE and also my last shift as a Walt Disney World Cast Member. Its bitter sweet. I don’t want it to end, but i also don’t want to be working in a theme park my whole life. Its for the best, its time to go back home and actually finish school. 

Tomorrow I have a “Graduation” for the College Program, then after that I’m going to go to Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios one last time.

Thursday I check out of my Disney Housing and fly home around 3 in the afternoon. I’ll have a layover in North Carolina then straight to California. 

This college program has been one of the best things I’ve ever done with my life so far.   

[alliesadventureland]

April 27th, 2016

I applied to go Full Time and ONLY Full Time earlier this month. I still have not heard anything back on the subject, but I also just found out yesterday that I have to call casting to set up an interview for one of my role choices. I, of course, forgot to write down the phone number and I have to be on a network computer to get said phone number so I guess I’m not getting it until tomorrow. I didn’t know exactly how to check the status on my transfer until I saw a friend check his last night, so yeah, that’s why i didn’t know I had to call them.

I elected to ONLY apply for Full Time because that gives me an ultimatum. If I get Full Time I can Probably afford to stay, if I don’t get a Job offer I’ll go home. 

I’m nervous either way this turns out. 

For now though, I’m packing non-essentials up and sending them back home to California just in case I end up going home. The Less I have, the better. I still have a few things left on my list of things to do before I’m done here (assuming i’m going home) that I hope to accomplish next week. Trying to have fun.

I’m impatiently waiting for the news.

I’ll keep you posted.

[alliesadventureland]

March 23rd, 2016

My Program ends in a little over a Month (I guess from right now its closer to 2 full months) and I’m not okay with this.

I still have so much I want to do, I’m still so conflicted on whether I want to stay or leave. 

I’ve decided to apply to, or at least apply for information from, schools both here in Florida and back home in California. Since you know, its just so hard for schools to tell you a cost per unit because you know, that might scare you away from overpaying for school...

I’ve been enjoying my time in EPCOT and I like my roommates and friends and i don’t want to leave. Going home means no more seeing my Pirates whenever I feel like it or just going into a park just because I can. No more magic. I’m not ready for that. 

Ideal for me, from here (assuming its impossible to stay in Florida) would be to go back to California and get a job at Disneyland or something like that, I mean even just a community college in LA is better than a community college in Sacramento (When you’re a Film Major anyway). I don’t want to go home and have my schooling and life go out the window for things I can’t control. Mostly the LA thing though, (higher-up) people here have told me the best advice they can give me (since i’m studying film) is to go back to California and try to get into contact with people there because thats where the Disney film industry is (”oh you’re from California? thats perfect”) so yeah. 

I’m not ready for this to end.

[alliesadventureland]

March 2, 2016

I was thinking before my Heritage class today (my teacher looks like Bruce Willis with Hair btw). I was thinking about Disney College Program Housing in Relation to the different Parks.

I came up with this List: Chatham Square: Magic Kingdom- Hosts all the Big Parties (Housing Parties, Graduations, etc.), Exciting.

The Commons: EPCOT- Mostly ICPs 

Patterson Court: Hollywood Studios- Quieter than the others, yet tries to compete with Magic Kingdom for excitement.

Vista Way: Animal Kingdom- Confusing Layout, Set Far away from the other 3 complexes.

Part of me is Thinking about making drawings surrounding these ideas. 

[alliesadventureland]

February 29th, 2016

I’ve been working at Mission:SPACE for about 2 months now. 

Flower and Garden festival starts in a Couple of days

Leonardo DiCaprio won an Oscar (just like I dreamed he would).

I met Baymax for a Second time Last Week and he patted my head when he hugged me, and then gave me multiple hearts saying he loved me and my Disneyland Sweatshirt.

On Valentine’s Day I got picked to join Captain Jack Sparrow’s crew and bought the Perfect Shirt for me

And according to everyone I’ve told, I’m basically Famous because Marty from Pirates of the Caribbean liked two of my pictures on Instagram. lol. For those who don’t know.. Marty is This Guy.

So apparently I am “Famous by association” lol

One of those two pictures being this one with my Valentine and Captain:

I also got to See Deadpool on Valentine’s Day so that was a pretty good finish to the day. It was hilarious, Ryan Reynolds did a great job, and I highly recommend it, to appropriate audiences.

So My February was pretty good.

[alliesadventureland]

I’ve tried to post this one thing like 3 times and every time I do the internet stops working, So I will try again later.

[alliesadventureland]

January 25th, 2015

Since the last time I was on here, I’ve started my new job at Mission:SPACE and I actually really like it; I’ve Moved into a new apartment with 3 new roommates: Brittany, Leah, and Miranda; and I’ve just realized tomorrow marks 1 year since one of the best Life Changing decisions of my life so far.

Tomorrow marks exactly one year since I applied to the Disney College Program. Its one of the best things i’ve ever done. Really.

[alliesadventureland]

January 10th, 2016

Today was my fourth day of training. My trainer says I’m getting pretty good with all the stuff. Its still kind of stressful because there’s so much to the Safety side of this attraction. Its nice to know that if something happens the computer can USUALLY find it and/or fix it or do something to prevent too big a problem, but there’s still that little voice in the back that just says, What if. So I don’t think I’ll ever be completely relaxed and comfortable in this attraction, but I am getting better with dealing with the stuff I have to do and knowing how to do or say what I have to do or say. I’m trying to be more of that Bubbly cast member who can be loud and happy when talking to guests in the attraction.. but I’m not comfortable enough with all the things I have to think about to be able to get too far into that character just yet. I’m still thinking a lot on the “what do I have to do now, Is there someone back there? are the doors closed? there’s still someone in that capsule” to be able to clear my mind enough to be loud and bubble in the bay yet.

All that said, I am starting to like my attraction more. The Mission:SPACE cast members are all really kind and awesome. Its fun to jump into a place where everyone is pretty easy going and easy to get along with. I’m starting to like this place, and working in EPCOT is making me really want to go into the park for food and adventures more. I haven’t been into EPCOT as a guest though since last week because I’ve been going in so early that when I’m off I just want to come home and go to bed. I’m thinking about going tomorrow or Tuesday because I have the next two days off. I met the guy who is going to be doing my assessment today. My assessment is on Thursday or Friday I think, my trainer said the guy is good at his job and is easy going so I hope that means I am not Stressed out by his presence when trying to answer his questions on how to do things and then mess everything up. I guess knowing who is doing it does help a little, but in the moment it just felt like, “Oh, you want me to say hello to the snake before I let it bite me...” I’m just nervous because there’s just so much to remember, I think I’ll be okay though. 

I really am enjoying this attraction.