I've been busy but I made it to Orlando alright.

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

That is a full day! All the best! Sounds like you are enjoying it!!

[Shorty82]

That is a full day! All the best! Sounds like you are enjoying it!!

I'm loving most every minute of it. When I got out of training yesterday I was ready to get out of the tunnels but not ready to go home. I found my locker and hung my costumes in it then hopped the bus out. I did visit the Cast Connection and Property Control store by the cast lot to look for a watch but didn't find anything that I liked.

I had two "WOW!! moments yesterday. The first was walking into Costuming and seeing the rows upon rows upon rows of costumes. I knew it took a lot of costumes to keep the MK running but to actually see them was something else. Of course what they have at Costuming doesn't include what people have checked out so there are actually a lot more costumes than what they had in there.

The second was walking into the locker room. I knew it had to be big but to actually see it was something else, let alone trying to find my locker in there. I had a little trouble finding my locker at first. Later on today when I go in to change into my costume I'll still have to look a little bit but it won't be quite so hard, I know approximately where it is. Soon enough I'll be able to get to it without even thinking about it. I was talking to my uncle when I got in last night and he still remembers approximately where his was and he hasn't worked in the Kingdom in probably 15 or more years.

[ktulu]

Hey Shorty, reading about your adventures is just as much fun as reading Wombat's trip report! Keep it up, there are some of us living vicariously through you right now :)

[Shorty82]

I'm going to head in now, I'm tired of sitting around the house. I'll go people watching or something until time for me to get into costume. I probably won't be on again until tomorrow afternoon because of the turn around shift I'm working.

I work in the Confectionery tomorrow morning and am looking forward to my first day on stage.

[Whazzup]

Hey Shorty, reading about your adventures is just as much fun as reading Wombat's trip report! Keep it up, there are some of us living vicariously through you right now :)

Oh yeah!! More! More!

Hey Shorty, email me a picture of you in costume. I promise I won't post it. :)

Wombat had me in tears when he described leaving WDW on his last day there. I know that bittersweet feeling. At least he wasn't headed home, but on to the second leg of his adventure - a Disney cruise! :D:

[ktulu]

I'm going to head in now, I'm tired of sitting around the house. I'll go people watching or something until time for me to get into costume. I probably won't be on again until tomorrow afternoon because of the turn around shift I'm working.

I work in the Confectionery tomorrow morning and am looking forward to my first day on stage.

WOOHOO! Man, I need to get back to WDW soon (and DLR).

Probably not for a year or two, unless I go to LA for a conference in Oct, and then my wife said no DLR without her. But if I go back to Tokyo this year, I told her I WILL go to Disneysea :)

[BRWombat]

Hey Shorty, reading about your adventures is just as much fun as reading Wombat's trip report! Keep it up, there are some of us living vicariously through you right now :)

Even more fun for me, 'cause I don't know what's going to happen next!!! :D: :D:

Very cool and entertaining writing, Shorty! Looking forward to more! :)

[Shorty82]

Oh yeah!! More! More!

You want more? I'll give you more!

Hey Shorty, email me a picture of you in costume. I promise I won't post it. :)

You're not the only one who wants a picture of me in my costumes. Might be a while though as I'm not bringing them home, pictures can't be taken backstage at all, and I can't have a camera with me while onstage.

Even more fun for me, 'cause I don't know what's going to happen next!!! :D: :D:

Very cool and entertaining writing, Shorty! Looking forward to more! :)

Thanks!

Yesterday was a long but rewarding day. As you know I left for work early and I just wandered the park, mostly Fantasyland and Toontown, people watching and train watching. I was hanging out at the end of the Toontown train station (near the smoking area) watching the trains some and the people some. I saw this family, a mom, dad, and two girls in a stroller head up towards the dead end and start looking at their map. I could tell they were lost so I offered to help them. They were looking for Ariel's Grotto. I gave them directions there then decided that as I wasn't busy I'd lead them there. As they didn't have a times guide I grabbed them one and pointed out a few things on the way.

After that not much happened until I headed down to change. As I'm changing I notice my suspenders was missing 2 of the 3 little leather straps that attach to the buttons in the pants so I had to bus out to Costuming to get another pair. I happened to run into the guy I'm training with on the bus ride back to the tunnel. He gets changed and I get my suspenders on and we go meet up with our trainer. She shows us how to use the CDS and then starts showing us around. Passing by her office we run into one of her fellow trainers who didn't have anybody today so she came along to help out. That was wonderful as it allowed them to give actual one-on-one and they both would know things the other didn't so they not only taught us they taught each other.

We wound up going all over Main Street. From Town Square all the way to the cart near the Hub. We checked out the registers in the different areas we'll be working and actually rang up a few customers. Found out that the Firehouse is a part of Main Street East even though it is on the west side of the street. We also were shown the different stock rooms we'll be dealing with.

I wasn't planning on getting into pin trading just yet, if at all, but apparently it is required (though I noticed a number of CMs without lanyards). We barely got out of the door coming onstage in the Confectionery, our first time onstage in costume, before being approached to trade. More than once the guests said they loved having four CMs to trade with at once.

After some more showing us around we wound up by the Pin Cart when the music for Wishes started. Our trainers decided to have us all watch Wishes so we moved out onto Main Street itself (the Pin Cart is in Town Square by the Chapeu (sp?)). Couldn't beat that, getting paid to watch Wishes. After that it was time for us to go home. We clock out, go to the locker room to change and then head out.

It's about time for me to head in for work, we're training in the Confectionery today. At least the pin lanyard isn't part of the Confectionery Costume. I'm getting into Pin Trading but I think I rather would have waited until I've earned my ears and was given a choice.

[glendalais]

I'm responding to this in reverse order, which is why it seems like I'm going backwards.

I wasn't planning on getting into pin trading just yet, if at all, but apparently it is required (though I noticed a number of CMs without lanyards). We barely got out of the door coming onstage in the Confectionery, our first time onstage in costume, before being approached to trade. More than once the guests said they loved having four CMs to trade with at once.

....

It's about time for me to head in for work, we're training in the Confectionery today. At least the pin lanyard isn't part of the Confectionery Costume. I'm getting into Pin Trading but I think I rather would have waited until I've earned my ears and was given a choice.

Vis-a-vis Pin Trading, it's just one of those things that all of us Disney CMs have to do at one time or another, regardless of Department/LOB.

It can be annoying sometimes (particularly when you're doing 6 things at once and also have 3 guests who want to trade); and it does produce some interesting SGTs. However, seeing someone's face lightup and knowing you made their day by having a certain they were looking for does tend to more than make up for it :) .

Mind you, Pin Trading isn't as big in Foods as it is in other LOBs (Attractions and Stores here at the DLR tend to issue individual lanyards to each CM, my location only has one lanyard, which we issue, whenever we can find it, to whoever is greeter). If I worked in Stores or somewhere where it was a bigger thing, I might hold a different opinion.

After some more showing us around we wound up by the Pin Cart when the music for Wishes started. Our trainers decided to have us all watch Wishes so we moved out onto Main Street itself (the Pin Cart is in Town Square by the [Chapeau]. Couldn't beat that, getting paid to watch Wishes.

I did that during my training too (replacing Wishes with R..DCT, of course, lol). Best $8.32 I've ever made :D: .

I had two "WOW!! moments yesterday. The first was walking into Costuming and seeing the rows upon rows upon rows of costumes. I knew it took a lot of costumes to keep the MK running but to actually see them was something else. Of course what they have at Costuming doesn't include what people have checked out so there are actually a lot more costumes than what they had in there.

That was my reaction when I saw DLR Cast Costuming for the first time, too :D: .

Good luck with the rest of your training. From your posts, you seem to have the right work ethic. Just remember that our aim as CMs is to, within reason, do all we can to satisfy our guests and try to make their visit with us as special as possible (yes, even the SGs :p :) , and you'll be fine :) .

[ktulu]

Shorty, awesome report! I love that you helped the family out! That is something I would end up doing if I worked there and could play in the parks as much as I wanted.

If you find yourself too busy to work on your server and need a place to host some stuff let me know, I have space :) I can even host a domain name for you, just pay for the domain name (I can get them for $8.95/yr, my cost) and I'll host it for you.

Keep up the reports!