The Most Magical Job on Earth

Well, I have officially started working here at the Magic Kingdom. Right now I am still a trainee but Monday I will take my 4 hour assessment and hypothetically "earn my ears". Though, we don't earn ears, so I don't know why they call it that. Maybe I will have to buy myself some ears. I am working at the Prince Charming Regal Carrousel (not to be confused with King Aurthor Carrousel at Disneyland) and Mickey's Philharmagic. Once it opens, I will also be working at the Princess Fairytale Hall.

The Carrousel (also not to be confused with the Carrousel of Progress) is pretty easy but it's typically a one person job unless it's busy then you have someone to help load everyone up. I was really worried about getting sick just watching it go around and around all day, but once you actually focus on watching the people, it's not too bad. Mickey's Philharmagic is a 10 minute 3D experience that takes Donald through some beloved Disney Classics. This job is slightly terrifying. While greeting people at the front (greeter) and bringing people into the theater and finding them places to sit (theater) are not too bad working the line and making sure everyone gets in is fast pace and demanding. Our theater fits 486 people and 10 wheelchairs, so you have to be careful not to let more people than that in. Of course, my first time doing it myself, I did let too many people in. Working at Philharmagic is much more involved and there are a lot more jobs through the day so I'm excited to get going on all of those. I also have one more job that is secret, but I want you to know that it makes me smile and reminds me why I work at Disney.

Mr. Incredible pulling me away from Frozone

Before I started working, I had plenty of time off and days off in between some of my different training. I used this time to visit the parks, but I also tried to focus more on the stuff that would help me out. People may not believe me, but as much as I love meeting the characters, I'm also using it to study. While waiting in line I do watch how the characters are responding how the characters are reacting to the different guests that come to meet them. Everything from the a guest with a disability, to the kid in line who won't stop trying to say hi when they are with another family. I've noticed they treat kids coming to meet them different then me, the adult woman who is coming to say hi alone. I've had Baloo try to take me on a date, Rafiki who wouldn't stop kissing me, and several different characters who I've been impressed with how in character they stay, though they tend to have a more adult conversation. I've also found it my fun challenge to try and have conversation or interaction back that is character relevant. When Mr. Incredible kept trying to pull me away from Frozone, I told him that I wasn't Elastigirl, I made him sad, and then I cheered him up by saying I was sure she was waiting at home for him. When Pocahontas asked me what was in my pouch, I told her that I had money for trading and a map so I wouldn't get lost while exploring. I think this gives them more for them to go off of, and more for me to observe.

Many different types of puppets

I've also started watching shows and parades since I've come to Walt Disney World. While I pay attention to the show, I find myself watching for more of the technical side of things. While watching the Festival of the Lion King, I was amazed by the lighting design of the show and how expansive and intricate it was. At Finding Nemo The Musical, I found myself watching the puppetry and how they made all the different sea creatures work, while also integrating them with their human counterpart. Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage was just pure gold. Both the on-stage and back stage performance was spectacular. I said on Facebook that one day I'm going to go watch all 5 showings of it one day, and I will. The lighting was awesome, the costumes were amazing, the quick changes were impressive, the lip singing of the minor characters had me thinking they were really singing, the singing of the main characters (mainly Belle and Gaston unless the Beast is singing inside the suit) had me very impressed. The only part it lacked were the transitions from the Prince to the Beast and vice versa, and I can see why they didn't focus too much effort on those, because I'm sure the untrained eye pays very little attention to them. I'm sad this show is going away because I would love to be apart of it. Dream Along With Mickey was also really entertaining.

Dream Along With Mickey

This didn't have as many technical elements, but I do believe it is the only place in Walt Disney World where Mickey Minnie Donald and Goofy actually talk (don't quote me if I'm wrong). I guess what was impressive about this was the script or the plot line. The transition between parts of the story was pretty seamless and the lead ins were pretty fun. I like to watch the Fab Four perform because it gives me a great idea of just how animated you have to be to be a performer. Intimate meet and greets and watching the face characters aren't the same as performing to a crowd who could be watching from any distance. This is especially true for Fantasmic! which I don't like as much here, but the theater can seat up to 10,000 people, and you want all 10,000 people to have the same experience. I will definitely be going to that a lot more to study the performance.

I'm really excited for my classes to start, though they aren't starting for another month, and I will also be getting 'Wishes' trained soon which means I could be on crowd control for the fireworks show. I may not have been to happy about my role placement to begin with, but since I am in Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom, I get to interact with a lot of children, I feel like interacting with them will help me to become more comfortable with interacting with them when I'm not myself. I also found out that I might be able to shadow a character, so I'm going to look more into that and hopefully doing that once or twice. I've already taken off the day of the entertainment department networking event so that I can go to that and see what connections I can make. So there is a lot coming up, and I am definitely just getting started. I am looking forward to everything that will unfold and the weeks go by and I can't wait to see what is next in my Disney Future!