FROM: Amber Earns Her Ears Published Mondays

Disney College Program Diary, Week 2

How many readers are jealous of Amber's dream gig as a Cast Member in Disney's College Program? Everyone? I thought so. This week, Amber tells tales of her second week making magic for others in Disney World, including an inventive use of Crush.

- Amber Sewell, June 6, 2011

"I love my job."

That has been the constant refrain for the last week. Despite being tired most of the time (125 hours without a day off, anyone?), my work this year is far more energizing than the work I did last year at the Electric Umbrella during my time in Disney's CareerStart Program. At the Umbrella, I loved being in the kitchen, interacting with my fellow Cast Members. I did not regret in any way that there was no guest interaction while I was scooping French fries or putting trays through the dishwasher.

While I still miss 'EU', especially after I met up for dinner recently with some of the people who had worked there with me, I severely underestimated the fun of guest interaction.

Of course, there are the drunken guests, or the parents who don't seem to understand that to get a good picture of all of the kids flying around the Castle with pixie dust, they should snap it at the beginning of the trip, when everyone has had enough sleep to be amiable. I have dealt with a few of the screaming children who did not want to take pictures, I have forgotten to push the 'start over' button and screwed up at least two pictures for guests, and I forgot to give a family their receipt for package pickup.

I crash when I get to the bus stop, I smacked my head into a shelf on Saturday, and one of my trainers managed to make me feel like an imbecile in front of guests.

Amber Wears a Silly Hat and Twirls a Saber

On Friday, I directed stroller traffic with another trainee. We wore silly hats (she wore a Viking hat, and I put on an old school crown with red velvet and fur trim), used stunted lightsabers to point the way, and spoke in obnoxiously fake British accents. About ten guests stopped to take pictures with us that night; our trainer gave us Great Service Fanatic cards for being the only people she's ever trained who were asked by guests to pose for pictures. It was one of the most fun nights I have ever had at Disney.

Earlier in the week, I got to train on the glow cart, which was so much fun. I swear, when I'm working in merchandise I get paid to act like a little kid. I had a normal shift at Image (Journey into the Imagination with Figment's gift shop), which was dreadful. We were understaffed, and I can never seem to do things correctly there. But when training for glow cart came around, three of us (my trainer, myself, and another trainee) pulled out the cart and pushed it in front of the Land to start selling.

As soon as the cart came to a halt, I was in with the toys; I put the light-up tiara on, tried (and failed) to get my Michael Jackson glove to work; and pulled out a lightsaber to twirl. The best part? You get praised for doing that kind of thing! Sadly, none of the children that ventured over to the cart wanted to duel with me, but it was still immensely fun. I got to pin trade, give directions and recommendations, and chat up Guests who were having the time of their lives.

Amber Has a Crush Dress-up Party

It feels as if the beginning of the day is the longest. Depending on the work location, my first break will either sneak up on me, or I'll have a ghastly amount of time to watch the minutes tick by. I find it ironic how quickly times flies at my least favorite work location, but at Nemo, where I have spent the last two days, everything moves at a glacial pace. But toward the end of the night, without fail, something ridiculously fun will happen that ensures a good mood for the end of the shift.

Sunday, for instance, was incredibly slow. I was working at the Seas, and while I was having a blast, the day was dragging by. Only three people typically work there; we had time to stock everything, straighten the plush as soon as it was messed up, and I spent an absurd amount of time playing with the bubble gun. (Have I mentioned that I get paid to act like a little kid?).

When I felt like an hour had passed, I would look at the register to realize only a quarter of that time had gone by. I made innumerable runs to the stock room, swept up spilled sugar powder, and chatted with as many people as cared to pause in their day.

Toward the close of my shift, I found a poor Crush doll that had lost its voice. A little delirious from exhaustion, I decided to give Crush a pink Mickey head bracelet, strap on a Disney Conservation button (because Crush wants everyone to donate to help save his fellow marine life), and sit him on my shoulder with one of his fins looped around my neck.

Eventually, other accoutrements were added (including a shark tooth necklace, because Crush eats sharks for breakfast, dude), and I quite enjoyed the strange looks I got from children and adults alike as I ran around for an hour with a twelve-inch turtle perched on my shoulder.

Amber Creates Some Magic

Fifteen minutes before my shift ended, a family of four walked in, and I started talking with the two little girls. Both of them were overjoyed at the fact that they were in Disney, and the youngest was practically bouncing off the walls with excitement. I knelt on the floor and started talking turtle with them (as in 'dude' and 'wicked', often!), and we went over everything: where they were staying, how long, what their favorite color was, what they were most looking forward to, what their favorite movies were...

For at least ten minutes I sat there and talked with these girls, and when it came time for them to leave, their father came up and shook my hand, thanking me for managing to keep his girls entertained while he and his wife had a conversation with a custodial Cast Member. As they left, and I got ready to do the same, they promised to come look for me later this week, when they go ride Figment (the eldest's favorite ride).

I feel, at this point, as if I have been down here for ages, rather than about to embark on my third week. Although I'm still waiting on certain aspects of my routine to establish themselves, I feel I'm fairly confident about most aspects of work, and have felt at home in my apartment since the second or third night.

I can already see the drastic difference between my two roles, and while I can't determine which of the two is my favorite, I can definitely say that I have every hope that my experience will turn out to be just as phenomenal as it was last year.

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