What Dreams Are Made Of

Cheryl's Disney Cultural Exchange Program 2017

[cheryldcep2017]

Universal Studios Orlando Trip

The new Diagon Alley was great! I couldn’t figure out where the entrance was at first 0.0 I’m such a failed wizard (I actually walked halfway and u-turn because I thought it was the exit for the train) But that new Escape from Gringotts ride is AMAZING! So new technology~ so wow!

That chicken and waffle sandwich was soooooo good!! (Bring me back there now ㅠㅠ) One of the team members asked if I wanted a gigantic donut. I told her that I came alone and she said “You could make new friends with that donut!” Haha that was great! (And I really did make great friends during my program ❤ ❤ ❤ )

Because of the awesome singer rider lines, I was done with both parks earlier than closing time so I went to the bus station to wait for the earlier hotel bus shuttle. That was when things went so wrong! It started pouring and it was super cold! Luckily there was a lovely couple beside me from the hotel and we chatted for a bit. After 30 mins after the shuttle bus timing, the bus was still not here and I was shivering from the wind. Turns out, the shuttle never came...and another family called the hotel. After 15 mins, the hotel drove cars to pick us up and the lovely couple told me I should go first because I was alone ❤. I thanked the wife of the guy who called as we were both in the same car because thank goodness! I would have just been stuck there just waiting for the shuttle bus -.-...

[cheryldcep2017]

Islands of Adventure trip

So I went to Universal Studios on my second day here. My hotel had a shuttle so that was nice ^^! Bought an annual pass for like additional $200+ USD (It was suppose to be like $300+) which would cancel out if I go another time or so. Got a Cat In The Hat first time visit button hehehe and bought a hello kitty lanyard (Screams)

The rides are shakier then I remembered tho but it was still fun! Of course I had to sit The Hulk first because it’s just there and I missed that ride!

Side Note: Their lockers here are so tiny I can’t even fit my backpack in properly 0.0! Like towards the end of the day, I HAD TO RENT TWO LOCKERS FOR MYSELF!!!!!

Anyway yeah, I skipped all of the rides that I know had fire in them >-< which is like some shows and stuff (But I sat the mummy *Cough* Being Brave) And the new Kong ride because uncertainty and I have no one to hold on too 0-0

AND BEING ALONE HAD ITS PERKS! I finished both parks and some rides the single rider queue was just empty!! EMPTY!!! I just went straight to ride them ^^ It was like continuous fun weeeeee!! 

If you just want to see the lands • 1:35 - Marvel Super Hero Island • 3:08 - Toon Lagoon • 3:37 - Skull Island • 4:01 - Jurassic Park • 4:28 - Hogsmeade (Harry Potter) • 10:03 - The Lost Continent • 10:21 - Seuss Landing 

PS. Why is my camerawork so shaky?!?! I’m such a noob...I tried...haiz PSS. I’m still editing the other videos 0.0 It’s pilling up!! PSSS. I still feel awkward filming myself ><

[cheryldcep2017]

Hotel Room Tour

Staying at Crowne Plaza Universal Orlando for 4 days 3 nights before moving to Patterson Court which is where I will be staying with Disney. It is a pretty nice hotel! The bed is really really really comfy and the view is pretty good too.  

The breakfast wasn’t very nice tho :(  There is a game room but it didn’t have a lot of machines so I didn’t play. There is a gift shop as well which I brought a banana for $1.50 for breakfast one day.

Things that are new

• Some traffic lights talk to you 0.0 (Stop, please wait, etc)

• You pull a cord to stop the bus (Like a silent alarm 0-0)

• There are gift shops almost EVERYWHERE (I was walking along International Drive for like 3km)

• Met a sales person who like BTS and we chat about Kpop for a while

• Ate at a authentic Japanese restaurant because the food here are all so high in calories and I really want something light and soupy :(

[cheryldcep2017]

Flying to Orlando

Wow 20+ hours of flight is no joke! I kept waking up and sleeping again. ANA flight was good tho. The dashi soup thing was so comforting. United airlines well...let just say they don’t greet you as much as ANA or smile as much. (I guess it’s the culture)

But I’m finally here. Feels so scared to be by myself but I’m doing well! Can’t wait to meet more people.

And I finally tried Shake Shack! It was pretty nice. The burger is so soft and the fries are awesome. But the food here is really such a big portion especially the drinks 0.0!!

Things that are new

• The cars here don’t have car plates in the front

• The coins are so confusing

• Tipping is confusing and stressful

• There is so much lands and the shops are all like separate

• Had to google Fahrenheit to Celsius to adjust my aircon

[cheryldcep2017]

Starting The Journey

The Very Beginning

If you tell the 5 year old me who was sitting in the library reading books about Walt Disney World that she will be spending 10 weeks there in the future, I would probably think that you are out of your mind. If you tell the 18 year old me the same thing, I would probably say “They won’t pick me one!”. And yet, I can’t believe that I’m actually going to do it for real next month O.O!

According to Disney, “The Program provides you with the opportunity to spend your school break working at Walt Disney World® Resort...be immersed in different cultures from around the world, connect with industry experts and build lifelong relationships " and I have done a lot of researching about this program way before I even signed up for it. Previous participants all said that this is an experience of a lifetime and I can’t wait for my own adventure to start! And I will try to document as much as possible so I won’t forget anything (TRY is a very big keyword!)

My Assigned Roles

As for what I will be doing at Disney, I wanted to be a character performer (I mean who doesn’t) and the interviewer wanted me to be one as well (Since she learnt that I’m an acting student) but...I...Am...Too...Tall...Too...Tall (ㅠ-ㅠ) I kind of knew that would happen but one can still hope haha! So she asked if I want to be in costuming and I kind of didn’t want that because I’m very much in theatre in school and I wanted something different! In addition, the costuming for Disney is not for their stage shows but for cast members so I won’t be in the park and I didn’t want that because my very main purpose is to talk to people and learn their stories. So she suggested how about custodial (which is like cleaning the park and stuff) because that’s the role with the highest amount of guest interaction and of course I was reluctant and I caught myself because a job is a job and no job is lesser than other. One should try as many things as possible right (since I has retail and greeter experience) so I said yes. After google-ing, people said that custodial is actually a great role as I’m able to walk and explore the park and it has a lot of freedom so that’s great! Always try something new!

My Wants

I’m looking forward to doing all sorts of things in the park! (Will be doing a bucket list soon!)

• Going there every day and things like that haha! 

•Going to Universal (For their really great roller coaster)

• Meeting new friends (Because I’m kind of going there alone)

• Hoping my roommates won’t hate me >-<! 

• Trying new food! 

• Living a different lifestyle! 

• Travelling alone! 

• Being independent and stuff! 

• Wearing formal clothes (I don’t look forward to this part -.-). 

• Meeting Jolene (Who is so awesome and coming to visit me!)

• Most importantly, A DISNEY NAME TAG WITH MY NAME ON IT

Let’s Go!

I will be starting the program on 5th June 2017 to 10th August 2017! So excite and so unbelievable and I can’t wait to start! But I’m also really scared at the same time (But being scared is good) So I hope this would really turn out to be an awesome adventure before my awesome adventure as an actor starts!