Too Much Stuff Not Enough Space...In this Title

Ok, so since I've last updated I have been through Traditions, Custodial Core training, Discovery Days, my location training, and finally MY FIRST WEEK OF WORK! A quick rundown on the terminology I just threw out there:

Traditions: Orientation into the Walt Disney Company. Required for every new employee. This is where I got my nametag and company ID, and it was my first paid day as an employee of the Walt Disney Company! It was very magical, and I got these little characters for my class participation:

Custodial Core: This is exactly what it sounds like. Some general information training on the custodial role at Disney parks. Simple, but crucial bits of info like “take off your pin lanyard when you go to clean toilets” and “wear gloves when you use chemicals” were doled out here.

Discovery Days: My induction into the EPCOT family! Included background information on EPCOT as well as a very special welcome during our tour of the park. J My favorite part of the EPCOT backstory is that to Walt, EPCOT was “the most exciting and by far the most important part” of the Florida project. It was “the heart of everything” he would be doing with the land. Now, when I really don’t feel like going to work, or wish I had gotten a job elsewhere, I just think of how special it is to work in a park that meant so much to our founder.

I also received my costume on this day!

Location Training: This is where I actually learned how to do my job and got to practice in my future work areas. I trained one day in Streets and one day in Restrooms, then on the third day I had my assessment. It flew by! For a dirty job, nothing was really that icky. Also, after my assessment I got my pins and lanyard so that I could trade with guests. The top two are my favorites so far: 

After assessment I had two glorious days off before my first day of work. It’s a good thing I got my rest because that first step was a DOOZY. During the week most of my shifts are somewhere between 6 and 8 hours long. On my first day I worked from 2:30 to 1:00 in the morning. That’s 10 HOURS.

Welcome to it, right?

The whole day was pretty high paced. From my CDS (Cast Deployment System) not working that afternoon, all the way down to thunderstorms and drunk people that night.

A big part of my anxiety going into work has to do with not knowing my area beforehand. I work in Future world every day, but Futureworld is divided into different areas. There are definitely some areas that get very busy very quickly, and it can be hard to keep up. The first floor bathrooms in The Land are one example. Soarin’ over California puts a lot of traffic through that area so it’s always crowded and that can make it difficult to keep the place stocked and clean. Mission Space is another of those busier spots. If you haven’t had to clean up vomit before, some kid on Mission Space Orange will probably give you that opportunity.

Luckily, my first day of work was in the Universe of Energy area. After 7:00 all of the attractions in that location close for the night, so traffic drops dramatically and most of my trash cans cease filling up. The only cans worth checking after 7:00 are the four in the East Breezeway. They normally get pretty full when people are leaving the parks. They get extra full when people take cover in the breezeways from rain. On Wednesday, there was a 30 minute thunderstorm and the Breezeway FLOODED.

I got called to come push the water away with our super cool broom sized squeegees and it took like an hour to fully clear the area. By the time we finished, our regular guests were on their way out of the parks, and disposing of 100s of ponchos as they went. In a matter of minutes it seemed like EVERY trashcan in the park was overflowing, even though it was just the stupid ponchos. But I got my first 4 Keys Fanatic card for helping push water!

As we were rectifying the poncho problem, the private party keeping the park open till midnight showed up.

Let me start off here by saying that being at work late at night is never that fun. You’re tired, your feet hurt, and it gets a little chilly. But when there are families around thanking you for the directions, or kids are coming up to you to trade pins, the time goes by pretty fast. When it’s a private party full of adults and alcohol, the same cannot always be said. I spent a good 20 minutes squeegeeing a giant puddle by the entrance to a conference area so that guests wouldn't ruin their shoes, and many of them either complained about another puddle a few feet away or made comments about how pointless my task was. I was happy to keep on doing my job for those guests who were thankful and the grumpier bunch alike, but that certainly wasn't my favorite part of the day. For the record, if you see a cast member working their butt off in the rain, saying “that job really sucks tonight” can only make it worse. Be one of those people that says “Thank you!” instead.  

Once my puddle was cleared, I spent the rest of the night helping out with the trash run at Mission Space. The combination of alcohol and G forces meant a lot of puking guests, and that got in the way of taking out the trash. Not to mention, everyone had to throw out their alcohol to get on the ride, so every trash can within 20 yards of the entrance was full of beer. With two people on the scene, the task became possible again. Plus, it was nice to be able to talk to someone since my area was completely abandoned.

Eventually the day was over and we all went to clock out. I feel like I got closer to my fellow CPs just by getting through the last 5 hours of that crazy shift. After that, the rest of the week was nothing!

I think my favorite part of the week was when I was in the area near the international fountain. Pin Central was close by so lots of traders came up to me to look at my lanyard, and I got to wave goodbye to the guests after the fireworks. Plus, my area was moderately busy and it was Valentine’s day! I always had something to sweep or pull, and there were so many sweet families and couples to talk to. I also pulled a full trashcan for a nearby area and got my second Fanatic Card! It was such a great day that I didn't even mind staying for the Extra Magic Hours. 

I almost ruined that great day by forgetting to clock out, but I remembered and sprinted back to the office in time to avoid the reprimand. All in all, it was a pretty decent week. Can’t wait to see what the next one has in store for me!