ºoº A journal of my seasons living, working, and playing in the happiest place on earth ºoº
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
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
More Training
So since my last post I have had an additional 5 days of training. I finished up my ATS training and then went backwards and did 2 days of general overview training.
For my overview training I was by myself with my trainer Evelyn. Without a doubt that made training interesting. I felt like I got to know her better than if I had been in a group which is nice since she will be doing some of my City Hall on the job training. The two days basically consisted of learning the history of guest relations, what we do, and some of the specific programs we use. Fun fact, Mary Poppins is the character that they say best represents Guest Relations because she is practically perfect in every way and tht is how guests and other cast members see us.
The next 2 days were the beginning of my in park/ on the job training (OJT). My first day was Tip Board and Greeter training which is basically all the outside roles. Giving out buttons and maning the tip board where the essentials of the day. It is more than that too but that is the most simple way to sum it up. Day 2 was lost and found training which basically consisted of learning/practicing how to log in all the lost things and get it all ready to go to central lost and found. We also drove the van around to the various areas that we might need to pick up guests from. Which means that my long standing 2 year run of refusing to drive a company vehicle has come to an end.
Today is my first day of city hall training. I have 4 days of that total so I'm not quite sure what all it includes. But I am sure that it having to deal with guests for the first time. I am to say the least quite nervous. I am sure I will do fine but I can't help but not be excited about dealing with guests who want something that I can't give them.
So thats all the updates I have for now. Send me good vibes tonight! I will post more soon enough.
-M
For my overview training I was by myself with my trainer Evelyn. Without a doubt that made training interesting. I felt like I got to know her better than if I had been in a group which is nice since she will be doing some of my City Hall on the job training. The two days basically consisted of learning the history of guest relations, what we do, and some of the specific programs we use. Fun fact, Mary Poppins is the character that they say best represents Guest Relations because she is practically perfect in every way and tht is how guests and other cast members see us.
The next 2 days were the beginning of my in park/ on the job training (OJT). My first day was Tip Board and Greeter training which is basically all the outside roles. Giving out buttons and maning the tip board where the essentials of the day. It is more than that too but that is the most simple way to sum it up. Day 2 was lost and found training which basically consisted of learning/practicing how to log in all the lost things and get it all ready to go to central lost and found. We also drove the van around to the various areas that we might need to pick up guests from. Which means that my long standing 2 year run of refusing to drive a company vehicle has come to an end.
Today is my first day of city hall training. I have 4 days of that total so I'm not quite sure what all it includes. But I am sure that it having to deal with guests for the first time. I am to say the least quite nervous. I am sure I will do fine but I can't help but not be excited about dealing with guests who want something that I can't give them.
So thats all the updates I have for now. Send me good vibes tonight! I will post more soon enough.
-M
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Let the Training Begin!
So today is my first day of Guest Relations training. I am starting two days after the other 4 members of the group. Two other girls are going to MK, one to epcot, and one to studios.
Day one and two for me are the ATS (automated ticket system) training days. Aka ticket and money handling. When I worked for Gap I was trained to open and close the cash wrap and store safe. That always made me anxious. The idea of handling cash and counting it back Disney style
makes me uber anxious. Secret about Marion... I'm not good at math. I count cash handling as math. I am also learning a whole ton about tickets. By the time I'm done training I will be a Disney ticket guru.
As for the trainers all 3 are very nice. I have two guys (Michael and Nick) and one woman (Jenn). Both Michael and Nick used to work in Entertainment. Michael was over in Disneyland a fair few years ago and Nick was relatively recently I believe. They are all quite nice and Nick works at MK so hopefully I will probably see him around.
Anyway that is pretty much all for day one.
-M
Day one and two for me are the ATS (automated ticket system) training days. Aka ticket and money handling. When I worked for Gap I was trained to open and close the cash wrap and store safe. That always made me anxious. The idea of handling cash and counting it back Disney style
makes me uber anxious. Secret about Marion... I'm not good at math. I count cash handling as math. I am also learning a whole ton about tickets. By the time I'm done training I will be a Disney ticket guru.
As for the trainers all 3 are very nice. I have two guys (Michael and Nick) and one woman (Jenn). Both Michael and Nick used to work in Entertainment. Michael was over in Disneyland a fair few years ago and Nick was relatively recently I believe. They are all quite nice and Nick works at MK so hopefully I will probably see him around.
Anyway that is pretty much all for day one.
-M
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Going Plaid
After my last post I got a few comments saying they were sad that I would be leaving Orlando and Disney. No worries there guys I didn't and don't have any immediate plans to leave Orlando. I just like to keep my options open.
I received some really exciting news 2 weeks ago. I got a call from one of the guest relations manager I had interviewed with and was offered a temporary assignment (TA) with guest relations at Magic Kingdom. I am very very excited for this opportunity. As of right now the TA is only about a month long but there is the possibility of extension. My training will start on the first and run till the 12th. Since my TA ends on the 25th I certainly hope it gets extended otherwise I will only get 12 days outside training. Lol.
While I am very excited about the TA it is to some degree bittersweet. I will still be a performer and I believe I will still be able to pick up shifts if I choose to. But I have no idea how long the TA will last and since I really hope that the TA will turn into something more permanent my time in Entertainment may be limited. If that is the case I will miss it. And I think I will always harbor regrets and a bit of unhappiness that I have never had the opportunity to be trained in a show or parade. I was hoping that this Holiday season would provide that but given the time period that casting happens and the fact that my TA overlaps with that I'm not sure I would get cast if I don't get extended.
But that is counting my chickens before they hatch. I haven't even started training yet! I will do my best to update this as much as possible with tidbits and stories about my new role. The benefit of Guest Relations is it lends itself to sharing via blogging a whole lot more than performing. (Downside- having to wear panty hose. Eww :) )
-M
I received some really exciting news 2 weeks ago. I got a call from one of the guest relations manager I had interviewed with and was offered a temporary assignment (TA) with guest relations at Magic Kingdom. I am very very excited for this opportunity. As of right now the TA is only about a month long but there is the possibility of extension. My training will start on the first and run till the 12th. Since my TA ends on the 25th I certainly hope it gets extended otherwise I will only get 12 days outside training. Lol.
While I am very excited about the TA it is to some degree bittersweet. I will still be a performer and I believe I will still be able to pick up shifts if I choose to. But I have no idea how long the TA will last and since I really hope that the TA will turn into something more permanent my time in Entertainment may be limited. If that is the case I will miss it. And I think I will always harbor regrets and a bit of unhappiness that I have never had the opportunity to be trained in a show or parade. I was hoping that this Holiday season would provide that but given the time period that casting happens and the fact that my TA overlaps with that I'm not sure I would get cast if I don't get extended.
But that is counting my chickens before they hatch. I haven't even started training yet! I will do my best to update this as much as possible with tidbits and stories about my new role. The benefit of Guest Relations is it lends itself to sharing via blogging a whole lot more than performing. (Downside- having to wear panty hose. Eww :) )
-M
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)