One Month Until Check-in!

Since it is exactly one month until my check-in day on Monday, May 20, I thought I would give an update!

First and foremost, thank you to any new readers and welcome!

Received an email in regards to "Preparing for Your Arrival" which details the required paperwork and forms needed during the check-in process at Vista Way and Casting, linking to the Disney College Program Onboarding website. The main form that this concerns is the I-9 form and document(s) that establish identity and employment authorization. An excellent example of this would be a passport, as it establishes both identity and employment authorization. In addition, any medical forms requests (optional as-need basis) need to be brought to check-in for processing. Those that are bringing vehicles are required to bring current vehicle registration from the state, a proof of insurance in the driver's name, and a valid U.S. driver's license.

As of recently, I have put my two weeks' notice into Target, and my final day of work will be May 5. The very last day of class is on May 9, being the week of finals. These ten to six days will allow me enough time to fully pack my entire room, and to take care of last-minute needs. We are scheduled to leave on May 15, and plan on beginning our drive that morning dependent upon several factors.

I've been updating "The Magical Packing List" post periodically, on an as-needed/completed basis. I have several other wonderful ideas for posts, which I will be putting together when I have the free time!

Thanks, and Have a Marvelously Magical Day!

Onboarding Paperwork & Update

Received my Onboarding Paperwork on Tuesday, April 16th to complete on the New Hire Portal. The process is pretty typical, as I've gone through it previously, since I'm not really a "New Hire". The process begins with reviewing previous information, then corporate policies, then finally formal papers and signatures. Thankfully the whole process is online, but I decided to read most of the paperwork again so it took approximately 45 minutes to complete everything. The New Hire Portal site works best through Internet Explorer, which I copied my two emails from, hence why it took a bit longer. Another note is that the site has links, such as the IRS Allowance calculator that it links to that will open up blank. If it happens to close the browser, or freeze you'll just have to start from the beginning and press "Next" as it still retains all information.

It was definitely a wonderful time to review everything, but I also happened to get some entertainment out of it all, in good humour. My favourite out of the entire Cast Member policies booklet would have to be, "Fighting, regardless of who started it, may result in termination of the parties involved." It also included cases such as,"To not insult or argue with guests, as they may not always be right, but they will always be our guests." Lastly, an honourable mention would have to be, "Gambling and Sleeping while on duty are not allowed". You know there's a story with some of those, that required those rules to be written.

In other news, I've finally received the Title and Bill of Sale to my new car which I'll be going to get the plates situated tomorrow morning. The main case at the DMV will be deciding between purchasing new license plates or transferring plates from my older vehicle, whichever is more reasonable in the end. After I've handled the license situation, I'll just have to get my new car cleaned and maintenanced before I leave for Florida!

Things are most definitely coming together!

Have a Magical Day!

In a Month's Time

In exactly a month's time I will be getting ready to leave for my road trip to Florida, on May 15th. It's definitely the perfect opportunity to give a brief glimpse into what needs to be done within the next 30 days! Without further ado, the wonderfully semi-organized to-do list:

To-Do Immediately:

1. Follow-up on Road Trip stops
2. Purchase all items; Purchase online items sooner
3. Organize with Roommate who's bringing what
4. Spend time fixing/cleaning Dodge
5. Transfer plates, sell Dodge (waiting for title)
6. Open/Transfer Bank Account(s)
7. Order Gift(s)
8. Decide upon Halloween costume/cosplay
9. Decide upon Disney on Ice: Rockin' Ever After tickets

To-Do After May 5th, Last Day of Work:

1. Last Day of Work: Decide upon "Gifts" and Thank you cards
2. Clothes Shopping
3. Chrysler Oil Change and routine maintenance (Charge, Fluids, Battery, Windshield Wipers-- Grease Monkey)
4. Fix Bumper/Entirely Clean Chrysler
5. Burn Donate work clothes

To-Do After May 9th, Last Day of Classes:

1. Pack room, decide upon what I'm keeping/selling/taking/donating
2. Clean out closets
3. James Arnold Taylor's letter
4. Sam's Club run
5. Doctor's appointment
6. Finalize route taken for trip
7. Follow-up on budgets and reimbursements

Prior to Leaving:

1. Double check everything is packed and completed
2. Finalize any required forms (State Forms and Hire Paperwork)
3. Positively make sure to have all required forms, identification, and paperwork
4. Souvenirs trip list
5. Last minute items/preparations (windshield wipers, washer fluid, change for tolls)

Created: April 15, 2013

The Magical Packing List

This is a continuously running list of things I'm planning on bringing with me to Florida and buying in advance for the Disney College Program that I will update on a regular basis!

To Pack:

1. Films
• Treasure Planet
• Peter Pan
• Meet The Robinsons
• It's a Wonderful Life
• Love Actually
• Despicable Me, Star Wars, Disney/Pixar Films (Maybe)
2. Books
• The Complete Sherlock Holmes
• The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
• Harry Potter (Maybe)
3. Personal Planner
4. Lightsabers (Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Maul, Episode I)
5. Stuffed Animals to take to the Parks!
• Star Wars Build-A-Bear (with Han Solo outfit)
• Jingle the Husky (Maybe)
6. Clothing and Jackets

Technology:

1. Photography Equipment
• Nikon Camera 
• Nikon 55-80mm f/3.5-5.6 Nikkor Zoom Lens
• Pentax Film Camera w/ equipment and bag (Maybe)
2. Compaq Presario Laptop (Possibly Macbook Pro)
3. iPod & Phone
4. Vizio 22" LED Television
5. Xbox 360
• Games: Bioshock, Batman (Ask Roomate)
6. Playstation Portable 
• Games: Kingdom Hearts
7. Nintendo DS/Gameboy Advance SP (Maybe)
8. Nintendo 64 w/ Games (Maybe)
9. Respective Charging Cords, Cables, and Attachments

To Buy Beforehand:

1. Personal Portfolio with "Business" Cards (Purchased, 4/14)
2. Disney Pins/Lanyards (Large eBay lot) (Purchased 25 Pins, 4/24)
3. Space Bags (Purchased 5/7)
4. Mickey Mouse Watch, fix current
5. Lightsaber Covertec Belt Clip (Maybe)
6. Halloween Costume (Deciding)
7. Magazines for the drive down
8. Technology:
• MacBook Pro
• Nikon DSLR Bag (Purchased 5/7)
• Sigma 30mm f/1.4 Lens (Purchased 4/28)
• Rapid DSLR Sling Camera Strap (Purchased 5/1)
• Point-and-Shoot Camera (Decided Not)
• Wireless Router
• Nikon DSLR Filter
9. Car Accessories
• Sun Visor (Purchased 5/6)
• Cover/Blanket
• iPod/Phone Chargers (USB Car Charger) (Purchased, 5/5)
• Stereo Jack/Tape (Purchased 5/5)
• Key Ring (Purchased 4/22)
10. New Phone and iPod Cases
11. Bluetooth (Purchased 4/16)
12. Headphones
13. Jedi Knight Outfit from Build-A-Bear
14. Custom Disney Autograph Book with metallic sharpies (Purchased 5/4)
15. Postcards/Postage (Purchased 5/6)
16. Locker and Luggage Locks (Purchased 5/7)
17. Work and/or Park Bag
18. Work Undershirts and Shoes (Purchased 5/6)
19. New Clothing (Purchased 5/5)
20. Rain Jacket/Poncho/Windbreaker (Purchase 5/6)
21. Sam's Club Run

Wonderful Things/Ideas:

1. Molly's Marvelous Gift (Purchased 4/23)
2. Mail Dani, preferences, costume
3. James Arnold Taylor's Letter/Autograph (Mailed 4/29)
4. Roommate Gifts (Maybe?)
5. Decide Upon "Gifts" and Thank You cards before leaving (Purchased 4/22)
6. To-Buy upon Arrival List
7. Budget for Traveling Trip/Trip List/Souvenirs
8. Encompassing To-Do List (Completed 4/15)
9. Apartment Complexes
10. The Car "Situation"

Revised: May 2, 2013

Introduction

Hello, and welcome to my Disney College Program Blog! My name's Josh and I'll be your Tour Guide, Skipper, and everything else you might be needing during your stay here.

Onto introductions, shall we? The name's Josh, and I am currently an undergraduate student working towards my double degree, double major in Engineering and Biology. I'm working towards my dream job, which is to one day work for Walt Disney Imagineering! Besides being a full-time College Student, I'm currently a Cast Member at The Disney Store (TDS) and Team Lead at the retail corporation Target.

As of February 18, 2013 I have been accepted to the College Program at Walt Disney World for the Fall Advantage 2013 season into the role of Merchandise. The purpose of this Blog is to serve as a tool and a reference during my time at Walt Disney World, documenting my day-to-day life as a Cast Member, as permissible. In addition, this Blog will coincide with the Adventures in Walt Disney World Tumblr. Between my Blogger and Tumblr blogs, I hope to document my entire time as a Cast Member while on the Walt Disney World College Program through photographs, text, stories, pictures, and other forms of communication.

My College Program will begin on May 20, 2013 at Walt Disney World where I will be spending my everyday at The Most Magical Place on Earth! It's been a dream of mine to work at Walt Disney World for a long time, and I'm glad to have finally accomplished such a goal.

In the meantime, this Blog will be used for planning purpose and related stories leading up to the Disney College Program at Walt Disney World.

Have a Magical Day!