#bridgetgoesdisney

[bridgetgoesdisney]

January 12th, 2016

It’s been a week since my program ended and all I can think about is how sad I am. I’m also rather upset with myself that I left. That place has taught me a lot about myself and what I value. Yes, I value my family, but I also value my freedom, friends, and figuring life out along the way. I realized a little too late that going home really wasn’t the best idea, but luckily, Disney isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

Guys, I wanted to write about my time on the program. I really did. But I don’t even know how to put it into words. So if you have questions, feel free to send them to me and I can answer them from there. 

And until I find some pixie dust to get myself back there,

see ya real soon. -b

[bridgetgoesdisney]

December 29th, 2015

A blubbering mess I’ve been the last few days. It’s hard knowing that this time next week I’ll be driving back home to Nebraska. I don’t know if I’m ready. It’s so bittersweet. Part of me has been wondering if I made the right choice going home instead of staying, but I know that I won’t know that until I go home. This kingdom will always be here. I’m pretty sure Disney isn’t going to go bankrupt anytime soon. I know I can come back and be greeted with welcoming arms. 

I’ve had to say some goodbyes to some cast I know I won’t see again before my last shift on Saturday. It’s been so hard. I actually even had my last photo support shift tonight. It was hectic and I had a lot of things I had to take care of, but I don’t think I would’ve wanted it to be a calm night. I like when there are things I need to be called for. Just... not as many dumb reasons as there were tonight. But it was my last support shift. I had amazing coordinators around and leaders, and I teared up getting my gear because three coordinators put a special message inside my bin and it was just making everything way too real. 

I have two more shifts of my time here in Magic Kingdom. 

I don’t even think I can describe everything I’ve learned while being here. I’ve had some of the happiest times here that not even the worst guest experience can overshadow. I just can’t believe it’s already almost over.

There’s nothing else I can even say before having to stop and well up with tears. So I’m going to stop before it gets worse.

<3 I’ll post soon.

[bridgetgoesdisney]

December 11th, 2015

Oops. I neglected my blog. I’m not surprised... 

I have a little over three weeks left of my program, so I’ve been trying to do as much as I can in the little time I have left. I decided not to go PT/FT right now because I really want to just go home and be with my family and try to save more money in a place that is cheaper for me to live in.

I don’t know if that means if I won’t come back or if I will, I’m going to see where the will-o-wisps take me. 

I want to make this post all about magic, but I just can’t find the right words or structure to make this post eloquent enough. But I have a few words I want to just type out.

I haven’t been feeling the magic lately. I have only ever scheduled my specialty (photo support) and Main Street shifts since I got my specialty back in September. Don’t get me wrong, I’m lucky I have that specialty and that I’m a CP and got a specialty (that one especially) at all. I appreciate it. But, I miss having the other half of the park. I miss shooting with characters. I love Tinkerbell, but I don’t get to photograph her as often as I like when I am on Main Street. 

Last night, a coordinator of mine posted on Facebook saying that DPI was short staffed in several areas of the park for the party. I had finished doing laundry and all my other responsibilities (it was my day off) and I was just sitting on my bed playing Sims 4. I decided to call deployment and see if they needed me. Of course, they did. My coordinator gave me the choice between a North shift (circus and grotto), or PFTH (princess fairytale hall). I picked the Hall, because I only have so many days left here and I haven’t been in the hall in at least three months, let alone have a shift on a party night there. 

I had no idea what kind of night was in store for me. First, I spent most of my night (from 6-10:30) with Anna & Elsa. That’s not a bad way to have it, especially when they were having so much fun and the attendants were fantastic. 

After my last break, I was assigned to go to Cinderella & Rapunzel. Mind you, it was a Christmas Party night, so they had their princes with them. I was the photographer for Rapunzel and Flynn. I was having the time of my life for the rest of the shift. 

So, in short: I came to a conclusion last night. You can’t expect magic to be given to you. You have to go after it yourself sometimes. And sometimes it’s the best magic you can get. 

<3

[bridgetgoesdisney]

9/8/2015

This past week has been a rough one. My weeks usually go Friday-Tuesday. Friday was good, as I spent my night at Princess Fairytale Hall. I love being the photographer of so many beautiful and wonderful princesses.

Saturday-Tuesday I was on Main Street each day. Which... can get kind of frustrating. Don’t get me wrong, I like Main Street, but I like the variety in my shifts occasionally. Everything went pretty normal, until yesterday.

On Tuesday, I got a phone call at about 11am when the start of my shift started at 3:30pm. It was from base saying that I was supposed to be schedule this training and it wasn’t on my schedule. They were asking if I could come in by 2:45pm so I could go to it and they would adjust my time accordingly. 

Of course I said yes! And they also told me what training it was.

PHOTO SUPPORT TRAINING.

Photo Support rarely, if ever, trains College Program kids. I think the Summer Support Team had one CP on the team... and he was benched (so like in case anything happened to the other team members, he would step in but that never happened). 

Basically, if you don’t get it by the name, Photo Support goes around and makes sure everything for the photographers is going smoothly. We change batteries, get water, bathroom breaks, etc. We care about the photographers who are shooting. 

After a long week, finding this out was a complete and utter joy. I feel so honored that I got chosen. I had applied for it just to even see if I’d get it, not thinking I would. 

I’m just so honored, and this just proves, once again, that anything can happen and even magical moments can happen for cast members.

[bridgetgoesdisney]

8/24/2015

Sometimes, you are given opportunities to prove why you are here and do what you do. Sometimes, those are one in a lifetime magical moments that you get the opportunity to photograph for guests.

Sometimes, you make mistakes during those moments.

And all the time, Disney will be able to fix those mistakes.

When these things happen, you may become flustered and upset. That’s okay. It’s important to feel your feelings. Just remember to breathe in, breathe out. Everything will be okay. 

Breathe in. Breathe out.

[bridgetgoesdisney]

3 months.

What’s insane to think about is that 3 months ago, I was starting my adventure from Omaha, NE to Orlando, FL for the College Program. So much has happened in these three months and it feels like it’s been a year. 

With half the program still left to go, I’m so excited to see where it will take me. 

[bridgetgoesdisney]

7.23.2015

Today is my first day back to work after three days off. My aunt and uncle were in town so I got to take them to EPCOT. Having these three days off has been nice, but I’m starting to miss some of my photo pass family. Thank god I picked up the shift I did for tonight, otherwise today would have been another day off. 

NOTE: If you want your photos off the Photo Pass website, there is now a watermark on all of them. This is as of this morning.

[bridgetgoesdisney]

07/03/2015

Time of that update!

A LOT has changed in the last few weeks. I’ve gotten to explore the parks more, I’ve spent time with roommates, I somehow got a boyfriend, and I got sick with what they said was mono (I was only out four days and I’m feeling completely better now... so I don’t know how it was mono, because otherwise I’d still be dead to the world).

Also, last week I was Night/View Station trained. This means I can photograph at night and go help guests in the view with their photos. I’ve only had one shift like this because I was out sick, but so far, I really like it. The training was rather dull because that night it had stormed like crazy over Magic Kingdom. 

During that one shift I had (which was Tuesday the 30th), I also received two four keys cards. Four Keys Cards are very good things. They are the way for you to be recognized for your work. Both of mine were actually guest feedback, and that makes me really happy that the guests are taking the time out of their vacation to go to management and tell them, “Hey, this Bridget girl here, she’s doing something right”. That’s just unreal to me. 

Tomorrow, I get to work the busiest holiday of the summer in Magic Kingdom: 4th of July! I don’t work that rough of a shift, thankfully. Hopefully, on this next schedule drop, I will be character trained (I HOPE). 

The process for DPI training is a very long one. It tends to take a month to two months to be fully trained, sometimes longer. It really varies. I just can’t wait to work with characters soon!

Overall, I can’t believe it’s been ONLY A MONTH here, and I’m going to be posting some pictures here soon, stay tuned!