Arrival Week Part 2- Drug Test, Traditions, Meetings, Role Placement

Tuesday 14th of January-  19th of January


Hi Guys

Wednesday 14th of January 

So our rest of the arrival week all we had was meetings for Immigration compliance, welcome meetings and we were told about the Do's and Don't's and all the other important information we would need to know for the duration of our program. We had to do a drug test, which was a pee test! It was only for people who were in the role of attractions/operations. So I drank lots and lots of water the previous day and Yay I made it! I was still Jet-lagged and kept falling asleep at odd hours.  

Thursday 15th of January

I found out my work location and It was Disney's Hollywood Studios. I would be working there at Fantasmic! I got the chance to see the show before I started my training and it is such an amazing show with fireworks and water projections. I have already been here a few weeks now and I am loving every single minute of it.

Friday 16th of January

Our traditions class was on the 16th and that was like a three-hour class and yay Mickey had a gift for us we received our first mickey ears and our awesome name tags! woo! I am now officially a cast member of the Walt Disney company. The best name tag ever! The traditions class that I was in lasted for more than three hours. Our boss Mickey came to greet us in our traditions class and it was the most amazing experience ever! Traditions was a very long class and we learned about the company and It's values, traditions and culture. It was an amazing experience sitting and learning about Disney, as in the past I have dreamed what it would like to do a Disney class, so this was kind of like that, but it was part of our training session and we got paid for that!. It was a fun class. People won character prizes for answering questions. I didn't win any, as I was too shy to open my mouth. We also received our blue ID's which also could be used to get into the parks temporarily until we got our main gate pass. We also had a mini trip to Magic kingdom which was very exciting. That night when we got home me and my roomies we went and enjoyed Magic Kingdom for the first time and the first ride we ever went on was space mountain and it was even more awesome at night time. We also saw Wishes fireworks and it was amazing!

First Mickey Ears - Disney Traditions

My Name tag! It's perfect

Saturday 17th of January

Me, Lauren, Nichola and Hannah went to Magic Kingdom again and as well as Hollywood Studios. We saw Fantasmic!! It was great seeing the show a few days before I was to start training. I also tried a Mickey Ice- cream Sandwich for the first time and it was heavenly!

Mickey Ice cream Sandwich

Sunday 18th of January

18th- I had a training class at Disney University which was a seven-hour class, we learned about safety procedures and Disney values. I kept falling asleep in the class because I was jet-lagged. Every time I would fall asleep I would say to myself "stay awake" But it was an awesome experience to be sitting in a Disney class.

Monday 19th of January

19th - I had the day off so I met up with Jasmine and her roommate Lauren. We went to the outlets to get myself some work shoes and there is a discount for Disney cast members yay!

Arrival Week Part 1 - Check in Day

Tuesday 13th of January

We got to Vista Way welcome centre around 9:30 am and lined up outside the main gate entrance. It was unbelievable cold and I was exhausted by the time we got there. I think we waited about an hour before a lady came and got us and we made our way to the main office where we checked in. I had my Disney folder ready which contained all my important documents in it that we were to present during check-in. We had our photos taken from our housing ID's and it was ready and given to us right away and we were also given our Visa prepaid card. Just then my roommates Lily, Bec, Nichola, Lauren and Hannah arrived. I ran up to them and gave them a big hug. That's when I met them for the first time after talking to them for months online. It was such an exciting feeling that I was gonna be living with these girls. After all the  Check-in, there was a bus waiting for us to take us to our apartment! As soon as we got to our apartment Chatham Square we had to drag all our luggage up the stairs to our apartment, as our apartment was at the very top floor and there was no elevator, so that was a mission! We were so ecstatic to be in our apartment our new home for the next six months to possibly a year! Our apartment was huge gorgeous. Reminded me of the Tauranga house back in New Zealand. It was a bit similar to that, except it didn't have a garage where you can create your own office or park your car. It was a two bedroom apartment with a massive lounge, Kitchen and we had two fridges yay! The bedrooms were pretty big. Lauren Me and Hannah share a room and Nichola, Lily and Bec share the other. I got the single bed which I absolutely love and our walk in closet was huge!. It was like another room itself, perfect for skyping and our bathroom was huge. All I wanted to do at that time was take a shower and sleep for as long as I can, but my roommates would not let me sleep. That evening we made our first trip to the famous Walmart! As we had to buy so many items for our apartment. I think we did like four carts worth of shopping. We took a taxi back as we could not carry all those items on the bus with us. It's awesome that the buses are free for all the CP's it takes us to work, supermarkets, mall,  Disney parks, resorts, post office. Only if Auckland transport was like that!  how cool would that be? All we have to do is show our housing ID to get on the bus.

Lounge

Kitchen

Dining table

My bed

Finally, we were home and I was able to slip into a coma for good long hours. I think I slept from about 5 pm right through to the next day till 7 in the morning. Well, that was my Check in day! Hopefully, you guys have not given up on me! There is more to come! Stay tuned!

Have a  magical day

Distance to Destination

Hi Guys, Going back in time today

I apologize I haven't updated my blog in a month I know I said I would be updating my blog regularly so you all could keep up with my adventures. It's now been a month since I have been in the States. my adventure has already begun. A lot has happened since then! I have already finished my training and I am work 5 days a week. So by the time I get home, I am exhausted and most of my days off are spent, going shopping, going to the Disney parks, hanging out with friends.  I cannot believe I am here. It's crazy!  So going back to the arrival day! I departed Auckland on the 12th of January. My flight was at 7:15 pm, but I don't think it flew until 7:30 pm. It was a 12-hour long flight, I watched The Conjuring and  slept. There were times where  I would just wake up and turn on the Airshow, distance to the destination screen and would just stare it. I absolutely love looking at that. It's awesome! After a 12-hour long flight, we finally touched down in Los Angeles! Oh, boy how much I missed LA it was nice to be back, even though it was only for 10 hours. It was great. By the time I reached LA I was dead tired, I had a 10-hour long stop. When I got to the customs, they asked me for my DS2019 form, but it was in my luggage, as in Auckland I had to rearrange my luggage so I ended up putting my Disney folder  in my bag. So I told the customs officer that it was in my bag and I was taken to one of the waiting areas, so I think waited for about an hour, until they got my suitcase, seriously that one hour of wait really freaked me out, as I thought am I in trouble? am I gonna be sent home, all these horrible thoughts were rushing through my mind. Anyways when they got my bag, I was able to take out my DS2019 form and give it to them, so that was signed and I cleared the customs and I was able to go! So after that I got a trolley, dropped off my suitcase at the check-in area so it would straight go to Delta Airlines, as then I would not have to drag it around all day.

On the plane to LA Air New Zealand

Hello LA!

I headed towards Terminal 5. As I was supposed to meet Melissa as her flight was landing two hours after me. So I just sat there in the waiting area and my oh my how much the LA airport has changed since I was there, last time in 2012. It's really beautiful now, when I visited LA in 2012, some parts of the airport were being renovated and no wonder I thought it was ugly, but it is beautiful and oh how much I missed LA! it also brought back the memories of LA2012, when the super 5/8 met and we drove around LA intersections, blasting MJ out loud. Oh, those were such great times! but this time it was a little different, as I was alone and I only had a 10hour stop. So I just spent my time sitting there, sometimes I would get up and stroll around and outside the terminal. I waited at terminal 5 till about 3:00pm and then decided to head to towards the other terminal from where I was supposed to check in for Delta Airlines, but my flight was not until 10:15 pm. I think I must have walked around in circles, but I finally managed to get my boarding pass and then I finally met Melissa and few others, who were doing the program too. so we all checked in and we had about 6 hours of waiting  left, we just sat there in the waiting area and played last cards, which was really fun. At around 9:45 pm we boarded the plane. 

Waiting at LAX to board the plane to Orlando

The plane ride to Orlando was 3 hours 54 mins, well it was completely different to an international flight. It wasn't very comfortable, as it was a domestic flight. I slept most of the way, the two seats next to me were free so I was able to spread my legs. It was unbelievably cold on the plane. Finally at around 5:45 am we landed in Orlando. I was jet-lagged my ears were completely blocked because of Air Pressure, I could barely hear anyone or myself. All I wanted to do was find a bed and sleep for as long as I could. We got our bags and just waited at the airport lounge until 8 am, as our checking time with Disney was at 9 am, so there was no point in getting there very early. Yay I wasn't alone, it was nice to have travel buddies. At around 8 am we caught the Mears shuttle bus and it was an hour ride from the airport and it took us to  the Vista Way Welcome Centre, that is where we checked in.

On the plane Delta Airlines to Orlando

Orlando International Airport

I will next make a post on check in and arrival week! So stay tuned

Have a magical day!

Packing and Countdown!!

Packing and countdown

I can't believe tomorrow is the day I am moving to Florida to start a new chapter of my life. I have mixed emotions as I have never been away from home before for a very long time, but I'm mostly excited!! I can't believe the time has gone so fast!! This is so crazy and exciting!! what the hell  am I doing? A year ago I remember telling my parents that I wanted to do the Disney program in Florida, at that time it was only talks, a dream, but now it has come true and tomorrow is the day I'm going to leave New Zealand for 6 months to possibly a year to live out, my dream! I'm gonna miss my friends, family and my baby Lycan so much!! I am almost done with the packing just got a few  last minute bits and pieces and to do. My flight is at 7:15 pm. so I am going to leave for the airport around 4:00 pm. I'm flying by Air New Zealand. I arrive in LA on the same day (12th) with a 10 hour stop and then fly out to Orlando at 10:00 pm with Delta Airlines and arrive in Orlando on the 13th at 5:45 am. It's gonna be such great magical times. Next time you will hear from is when I'm in the states. So keep reading about my adventures. Stay Tuned! I have a long flight ahead of me tomorrow!

Have a magical day

Background Check, Medical Insurance, Hire Documents and Dorms

Hi guys

I'm going to make a quick post on the important stuff.

Background Clearance
About two months before your arrival date you will receive an email from Michele Harris who is from the Yummy Jobs company which is a UK based company, asking you to apply for the background check and after you receive your criminal record you scan it and send it  to the same email along with a utility bill or a driver's license, whichever has your proof of address and a copy of your passport photo page. I sent a scanned copy of my drivers license.

It is is very easy to get it done, All you have to do is pick up a background check form from your local police station and you fill it in and post it to the address provided on the form along with a copy of your photo passport page. It takes about 20 working days before they post  the criminal record back to you. I sent mine for the end of October and I got  my criminal record mailed back to me in early December and Yaay I'm not a criminal!! As you can see it takes longer, so my advice get it done early!! as possible.

Medical Insurance

Medical insurance is compulsory and you have to buy your medical insurance from the link that Disney sends you, which is the HTH Worldwide medical insurance company. You cannot get your own medical insurance plan, it has to be with the HTH. It is very simple to get medical insurance you go to the link that Disney sent you and it takes you the page which has three different insurance options plans to choose from. They are:- 

Option 1 Plan A is 79: USD 
Option 2/ Plan option 2A is 122.95USD 
Plan Option 3 is 104.85USD. 

You are free to purchase any option, but I suggest you go with whatever you think is best for you. Read the online brochures about each option and then decide what is best for you. I went with the cheapest option. To get your medical insurance plan you click on one of the options and you enroll in it and you will receive an email about your enrollment confirmation, this will also say your credit has been processed successfully. You will need to pay your insurance amount in full for 6 months. The plan cost me $474 USD, which in NZD was $630.00. After you have done that you get an email with your insurance certificate number and you use that to register on the website and then you can print your ID card! Make sure to print off the insurance ID card and they have the instructions on how to fold it. You must bring the ID card to the check in with you.  Travel Insurance is optional it's up to you if you want to get that. I didn't get one as I arrive in Orlando on the check-in day. 
You also get an email from Disney about hire documents. So make sure you print them off from the on-boarding site and sign each page, because you will be asked to bring it to the check in with you.

Hire Documents

You also get an email from Disney about hire documents. So make sure you print them off from the on-boarding site and sign each page, because you will be asked to bring it to the check in with you.

Dorms

You also get an email about housing registration. You should register  immediately as you get the email, as that way you will get your first housing preferences and the people you want to room with. I am very excited to room with my five lovely roommates. I'm so excited to meet them!! Once you have chosen your preferences. You will get an email with your housing boarding pass, make sure to print that and bring it to the check-in day. 

Have a magical day!

CEP Visa Application Process/ Flights

Hi guys!

It's been a while since I updated my blog. I apologize for being a slacker. I hope you guys are still with me on my adventure. A lot has happened in the last few weeks. Last month I got on to completing my visa application the nightmarish DS160 form, which took ages. The visa application process is a bit of a long process but to be honest the application isn't that bad as I thought it would be. There are certain steps in the visa application process: -

1) Pay the SEVIS Fee of $35.00 USD.  Which in NZD was $46.73 and make sure to download the confirmation page and print it as you will need to bring the SEVIS confirmation page to your appointment. This was the easiest part of the application process

2) Complete the DS160 form, this is a bit of a nightmare. This form took me a few days to complete even though it could have been done in a few hours, but that is because I kept  putting it off. I'm a slow poke as usual. Remember you can always save, exit and go back to your application with the application ID number. You also need your DS2019 form to complete the application! as it has your program number and all the other important details. The security questions on the form were pretty intense. but, you have nothing to worry about if you haven't committed any offense. But I strongly advise everyone to read each and every single question and go over your answer, as you don't want to tick the wrong answer by accident. I was pretty obsessive and went over those questions a million times before I signed and submitted it. YAY! The most frustrating experience was that my passport photo was not working, but in the end, I enhanced the picture and it worked WOO! You can also download and print a personal copy of your application after you've completed the form, just for your own records. You don't need to bring that to the interview. But you must download and print the DS160 confirmation page as you need to bring it to your visa appointment. Remember if your passport photo  doesn't work on the online application, you can just bring a copy of your photo to the appointment.

3) Pay the DS160 application fee and schedule the appointment. For New Zealand, you go to this website right here and create an account and enter your payment details. The DS160 application fee was $160USD  and it came down to $192NZD. After you have paid the fee now you can book your appointment. You'll be given various time slots that you can select from. You'll also be emailed your appointment confirmation page and your receipt for the payment. You must print the appointment confirmation page. 


Visa Appointment/Interview

The appointment wasn't as scary as I thought it would be. My appointment was scheduled for 8:30 am on the 13th of November. When I arrived at consulate there was a huge line, the appointment didn't take place at the scheduled time. There is security check when you arrive there, you have to put your bags through this x-ray machine and they have the lockers that you can put your bag in for safe keeping, as you're not allowed to take anything in there, except your documents. When you get there you line up at the front of those windows and they will check all your documents and you'll have your fingerprint taken. 

 These are the documents you need to bring to your appointment: -

• DS160 confirmation page
• DS2019 FORM (It's the form that was sent in the FEDEX package.)
• Passport
• Appointment confirmation page
• Student Status form and a scanned copy of your degree/ or a final transcript. (Most people didn't get asked for it, but I did. So bring them just in case. )
• offer letter

After they have checked your documents you wait in the waiting area until your name is called and you go to the interview window. I think I had to wait for about an hour and a half before my name was called. The wait was long, but the interview lasted only about a minute. It wasn't even an interview. The visa officer just asked me questions like: -

What will you be doing there?
When did you graduate from what university?

Then he checked all my documents and took my DS2019 form and passport. I didn't have a copy of my degree with me. So he just gave me the email address and told me that as soon as I send that in It'll be processed and I should have my passport back within a week.  So that was done YAY! that was very easy and not scary at all. I managed to scan and send a copy of my degree on the same day and it was all done YAY! and there is NO ISSUANCE FEE for New Zealanders :D YAY How lucky we are!


On the 20th of November I got an email from the consulate that my passport and visa were collected from the US Embassy/ consulate and were couriered back to me and I got my passport, with my visa sticker in it along with my DS2019 form exactly after a week of having my interview, to be exact it arrived on the 21st of November . YAY now I can officially enter the USA!

I 've already booked my one-way flight! so I depart Auckland on the 12th of January at 7:15 pm on Air New Zealand and arrive in LA on the same day with a 10 hour stop and then I'll land in Orlando on the 13th of Jan at 5:45 am.

Stay tuned  I'll next make a post on the background check!


Have a magical day!

Yay everything  is uploaded to DOC!

The Important Document!

Hi Guys!

Just a quick update!

Well, yesterday evening I finally received my long awaited FedEx package from the Walt Disney World Immigration compliance.The envelope pack contained my DS2019 form, Yay!!It's not a very exciting form, but this is one of the most important document ever! this is the document that I will need to apply for my visa.

On the 28th of October I received an email from FedEx shipment telling me that my envelope was set to arrive on the 31st, but I got it on the 30th, woo! earlier than the expected delivery date. The email contained my tracking number and the cool thing about this was that just by clicking on the number, you could track the progress of the package. So my package went from Memphis, Honolulu and to NSW and then from there it finally arrived at Auckland Airport! On the 30th, I got a call from the FedEx guy telling me that "we have a package for you that has just arrived and we should come and deliver it this afternoon." I was surprised it arrived earlier than the expected date. I went back and checked the progress of my package and it said the estimated delivery time for my package was about 6 pm on the 30th. I desperately waited for it all day, every five minutes I would check my driveway to see if a FedEx vehicle had come. At around 4:30 pm, the FedEx Vehicle pulled up in my driveway and I heard a guy yelling "hey hey" I ran excitedly and  finally received my package woo! I have not got on to filling my visa application form yet, but I will get on to that very soon. I hear it's painful so not looking forward to that, but got to do what I have to do. It's going to be a mission. So that's all I have to say for now. I'll keep updating as I progress further.

Have a magical day

Priya