Literally I haven't posted any real content in almost a year. I guess my priorities have shifted away from this blog.
A lot has happened in the past 9 months. When I posted all of my Celebrate the Season pictures in January I was in a very different mindset. I was very hopeful that CTS has opened a door for me and that I would hopefully be trained in more things. I was also confident that I would finally be getting that full time call. I thought it and so many other opportunities had to be just around the corner. Things didn't pan out quite like I thought they would. Not that that is surprising, life rarely does what you think it will.
I was scheduling a re-audition or SECPS/Color coding in February where my animation and movement codes stayed the same. But I was excited and hopeful about being scheduled since I was part time and didn't have to be scheduled one. I got in contact with Entertainment Casting in March and set up a phone call to discuss some things but mainly to get feedback and hopefully a feel on what sort of plans they had for me. I ended up finding out that Casting felt that I did not "pick up choreography cleanly or quickly" and really wanted me to work on that and go to another SECPS to show them my progress. Basically until I worked on my dancing, they didn't feel comfortable training me in anything.
At that point I made a life decision, partially based on that information as well as other things going on in my life, and decided that my time with Disney was coming to a close. A few weeks later in late March/Early April I was contacted about helping Mickey at this year's Star Wars Weekends. Unfortunately I had to turn down the offer because I would be back home in Houston getting my wisdom teeth removed on an important day. I don't have any regrets in turning down the SWW offer. I spent 2 wonderful weeks with my Mom and of course getting my teeth removed.
At some point in the April/May time period I decided that I was going to move back to TX at the end of September. I got a call in June for a very special training that I got to do in July. I can't say what for as it has still not gone into operation but I will come back and post about that as soon as it does officially open. As a result of getting chosen to be a part of that training I finally got a call I had been waiting on for 2 years. On July 28th, I finally became a full time cast member. Almost exactly 22 months to the day after I put my name on the full time list. Finally getting full time, not getting trained in the super secret project I can't talk about, was what made me decide to push back my moving date till the end of November. End of November is an odd time to move when you are so close to the end of the year, but it is when my lease is up so that is when I will move.
I was cast in the super secret project and hopefully it will open by mid October. Sadly that means I will probably only have a month to perform in it but I am very much looking forward to moving forward with my life. I love Disney and my job, but I love it less than I did 2 years ago. I can look back at this blog and just feel the excitement oozing out of my posts. I honestly don't feel that anymore. It is sometimes there, but my role that so many other people covet, has just become a job. Also two and a half years in characters has really broken my body down. I go the a chiropractor every other week, or really just as often as I can since I work so very very much. I go to bed every night laying on ice packs to reduce the pain in my upper back and neck so that I can actually fall asleep.
I am so ready and excited to move to the next chapter in my life. I am so excited to take my passion for interacting with people and all of the skills that I have honed while at Disney and combine it with the things I learned in school to create a new path for myself. I am applying for jobs without a clue what I am really looking for. I am sure I will find something and I hope that it will make me as happy as Disney did.
Who knows, maybe one day my path may wind back to the Walt Disney Company.
-Marion
ºoº A journal of my seasons living, working, and playing in the happiest place on earth ºoº
Sunday, September 22, 2013
Friday, January 11, 2013
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Holiday Season at the Mouse House
So I have some news that I have been meaning to share. Back in the beginning of September I got a call with the awesome news that I will be helping out some Teddy Bears this holiday season as they perform in Celebrate the Season (the holiday castle show). And as can be assumed by that statement, I have chosen to leave Guest Relations to go back to Entertainment to be a part of the Magic Kingdom's holiday entertainment.
It was both a hard and an easy decision to leave Guest Relations. It was hard because as much as I love performing, I know that in the long haul it isn't something my body can do forever and Guest Relations experience will serve me better in the long run. But there is a feeling I get when I am hanging out with one of my Disney friends and a little child hugs you that just can't be matched. There isn't another job in the world that will ever equal the feeling I get when I perform. So it came down to do I do what might be best for my career or do I do what makes me truly happy. I called my mom to get advice and she told me "You know what you want to do. Follow your heart." So that is what I did.
Because of the time commitment I have to give to Disney for the holiday season I have sadly had to resign from Seaworld. Seaworld's peak period is the holiday season and especially Christmas (surprising right. You thought it was summer time). As much as I wanted to stay working at both places, I simply couldn't be two places at once.
So that brings me to where I am now. I just started rehearsals for Celebrate the Season (CTS). Although I don't have much to compare this experience to as it is my first trained role, this cast is absolutely amazing. As I have mentioned before it is a goal of mine to work with articulated characters. This show has several characters who talk and watching their friends is an inspiration. It is also something of a challenge. I know I have the ability to do what they are doing and watching them perform fuels my desire to get myself there.
Thats all for now. I will post pictures at the end of the rehearsal process. :)
-M
It was both a hard and an easy decision to leave Guest Relations. It was hard because as much as I love performing, I know that in the long haul it isn't something my body can do forever and Guest Relations experience will serve me better in the long run. But there is a feeling I get when I am hanging out with one of my Disney friends and a little child hugs you that just can't be matched. There isn't another job in the world that will ever equal the feeling I get when I perform. So it came down to do I do what might be best for my career or do I do what makes me truly happy. I called my mom to get advice and she told me "You know what you want to do. Follow your heart." So that is what I did.
Because of the time commitment I have to give to Disney for the holiday season I have sadly had to resign from Seaworld. Seaworld's peak period is the holiday season and especially Christmas (surprising right. You thought it was summer time). As much as I wanted to stay working at both places, I simply couldn't be two places at once.
So that brings me to where I am now. I just started rehearsals for Celebrate the Season (CTS). Although I don't have much to compare this experience to as it is my first trained role, this cast is absolutely amazing. As I have mentioned before it is a goal of mine to work with articulated characters. This show has several characters who talk and watching their friends is an inspiration. It is also something of a challenge. I know I have the ability to do what they are doing and watching them perform fuels my desire to get myself there.
Thats all for now. I will post pictures at the end of the rehearsal process. :)
-M
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Monday, September 17, 2012
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
A Guest Relations Update
Hey loves! Sorry it has been a while but I am back to update!
I have been in Guest Relations a little over a month now. My TA was extended from its original end date of 8/25 to 9/29. Since I got my TA in a down time I haven't worked quite as much as I would have liked which is a real pain when I'm also not getting very many hours through Sea World. (waah waaaaaah)
Over all it has been a good experience. At first I was always anxious and dreaded going into work. That sounds horrible but I think it was really because I felt like I didn't know what I was doing. I still feel like I don't really know what I am doing but I am more comfortable than I was. Unlike what most people think, guest relations isn't really all about helping unhappy guests. A lot of what we do has to deal with Tickets (lost tickets, demagnified tickets, adding days to tickets, selling tickets, etc.). We also help make dining reservations, are in charge of lost and found, and do all sorts of other things that have nothing to do with unhappy guests. To be completely honest I prefer those things so much more than unhappy guests because I get far more anxious trying to make things right again for our guests.
Outside of the work aspect Guest Relations has been really awesome. My coworkers are a really great bunch of people. They are all super helpful always willing to teach me how to do things. It is such a change to actually know my managers and leaders. The coordinators know who I am and so do the managers. I have a homeroom manager who meets with me and is actually interested in getting to know me and my goals. That is such a positive change.
Overall its been pretty good. I will update again in the not so distant future as I have things in the works. :)
-M
I have been in Guest Relations a little over a month now. My TA was extended from its original end date of 8/25 to 9/29. Since I got my TA in a down time I haven't worked quite as much as I would have liked which is a real pain when I'm also not getting very many hours through Sea World. (waah waaaaaah)
Over all it has been a good experience. At first I was always anxious and dreaded going into work. That sounds horrible but I think it was really because I felt like I didn't know what I was doing. I still feel like I don't really know what I am doing but I am more comfortable than I was. Unlike what most people think, guest relations isn't really all about helping unhappy guests. A lot of what we do has to deal with Tickets (lost tickets, demagnified tickets, adding days to tickets, selling tickets, etc.). We also help make dining reservations, are in charge of lost and found, and do all sorts of other things that have nothing to do with unhappy guests. To be completely honest I prefer those things so much more than unhappy guests because I get far more anxious trying to make things right again for our guests.
Outside of the work aspect Guest Relations has been really awesome. My coworkers are a really great bunch of people. They are all super helpful always willing to teach me how to do things. It is such a change to actually know my managers and leaders. The coordinators know who I am and so do the managers. I have a homeroom manager who meets with me and is actually interested in getting to know me and my goals. That is such a positive change.
Overall its been pretty good. I will update again in the not so distant future as I have things in the works. :)
-M
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)