Dinsey, what is it?
Arrival Experience at Walt Disney World
Welcome to Walt Disney World! That was the first I heard when I left the bus. I couldn’t believe it. Everybody’s dream was to work for Disney, especially myself.
I was busy. On the one hand, I was excited because it was the beginning of something new, but in the other, I was frightened, because it was the end of the time at California. This meant that I could possibly never be with the same roommate again or sharing so much time with all the people met at Riverside.
Change is scary, but without it life wouldn’t be very exiting. I tried to convince to myself that this was true, but my brain could find any reason to not being sad.
Then the most anticipated moment. Finding out who roommates were going to be. This was definitely a horrible experience. I was so nervous and trembling.
1311. This was the number of my apartment. Yes! It was the same of my roommate in Riverside, who was also one of my best friends. It was great! After some hugs and a celebration, we went together to find out the rest of our roommates. One of them is from Costa Rica and three from Mexico. First I thought, “What a pity! No English speakers in my apartment”, but now I would never change them. I will introduce them: Arturo, from Mexico works as a concierge; Jose Manuel, from Costa Rica is one of the persons more funny that I ever met and he works in Magic Kingdom in the role of food and beverage; Fernando from Mexico is a lifeguard; Jose Ángel also from Mexico has his job in Cirque du Soleil
This was the start of something new, something great.
When I met all of my new flatmates I was ready to start my new, short but new, life. The beginning wasn’t easy. I had to organize all of my stuff as well as myself. But some thoughts were still running around my head: my job. Not knowing anything about the job that you will have for six months is frustrating.
It was annoying me because all I knew was that I was going to be a character attendent, But I didn’t know the salary I would get. To add the list of things I didn’t know… The location? The working time? Schedules? Days off? Or even which character attendent I would be!
I had put my faith in Disney but I was afraid. I didn’t want to risk, and not enjoy the job at all. But, what could I do? Just wait.
Wait, that was all. And then, one day I went to the first class (a special one just to let you know) and I was told about my role in Disney.
Tall, funny, black, smiley, cool, huge, cute…can you imagine? Yes! Goofy, this is my character. I am so excited to be with Goofy because everybody knows who Goofy is. Goofy is the funny character that everybody laughs with. And who doesn’t love Goofy?
Well, I knew my job, I knew my roommates and luckily all my Spanish friends that met in California were in the same residence as me. I couldn’t complain,
Next step: have fun. This part of my job is not very difficult, but the other part, making guest happy, I didn’t know how to do. So how did I learn? Training. The training consists in the acquisition of knowledge, skills, and competencies as a result of the teaching of vocational or practical skills, so to me the training was good and a lot of fun, but also hard at times. Despite the fact that it was hard, we discovered faces of ourselves that were hidden. But the most important thing we learned was how to make people happy.
But as I said, even though it sounds happy and fun, it is hard too. Getting up at six o’clock AM five days a week and not coming back home till six PM is really tiring. But this time for fun had finished, the real work had come, and I’m so proud of myself.
Now working is easy. I’m having good shifts and I making some new friends. At the very beginning it was difficult, I mean. We are a lot of people working in entertainment, so knowing all of them is difficult, and even more if you don’t speak as good as them. But now I feel more comfortable with English and breaks are being real funny.
Talking about my experience I have to say that everything is going on perfectly. No really big problems and a lot of new friends from all over the world. With my new multicultural life, I’m improving my English but the most important thing; I’m enjoying myself at the same time.
Time is going so fast, so I don’t want to waste my time. Being here you realize all the things that you miss and all the things that you really don’t need, but you have. So, my purpose is just live life each moment and be myself.
