"We're following the leader, wherever he may go."

Before we continue discussing training, a lot of people have talked to me about the stress of the first couple of days on your program. Even describing it now reminds me of how exhausting and fast paced Check Ins and moving in and the beginning of training was. BUT let me assure you that Disney has this down to a science. They don’t do anything that’s not basically perfect. So while there is a ton to do and you feel like you are being thrown so much information, they do a wonderful job of walking you through every step. They know you’ve never done this before. And most people are multiple hours away from home. For some people, this was their first time away. And no matter how many jobs you have had before or how many times you might have lived away from home, there is nothing like working for Disney. They get that. So as long as you are there and willing to strap in for the ride, you’ll be fine. Just be prepared for your first few days to be incriminated into almost seconds. But they will tell you where to be and when to be there and what to wear. Just follow the leader. On your day of Check In you will given something called a Program Guide. This little book is packed full of useful information you might need while you are on your program. It has every number you could possibly want, addresses for everything from parks to grocery stores, maintenance information for you apartment, and so much more. Read it, live by it, it’s a life saver.

Also, I mentioned my mother helping me move in. Let’s talk about the apartment complex rules specifically. You CANNOT at ANY POINT allow people to stay with you within you College Program apartments. Ever. Under any circumstances. So before you invite your best friend and grandma to come visit you, understand that they will have to stay in a hotel. Now, you are given sizable discounts on said hotel stays (which we will discuss later) but know that no overnight guests are allowed in the apartments. When friends come to see you in your apartment you must sign them in at the gate. You have to come meet them there to let them in, show your own personal apartment ID, they must show their ID, and then you have to sign them in. When it is time for them to leave, you also must go and sign them out. You are given an ID for your specific apartment complex the day of Check Ins. This is separate from your cast member ID. This ID is required for your entry into the apartment complex and your ability to ride the bus, so DON’T LOSE IT OR FORGET IT. Most people buy lanyards in which they kept both. I learned that was the easiest way to ensure I had both on me at all times.
Feel free to contact me if you have any specific questions about the Check In process or apartments or the first few crazy days of Disney!! We will pick up next week with Traditions training.
See ya real soon!!

Why Disney Princesses are in fact, perfect.

I’m going to interrupt our regularly scheduled information pieces for a bit of an opinion piece, so strap in because there is potential for this to be a bumpy ride.

Let’s talk about Disney princesses.
I will preface this by telling you two important facts about me:
1. I am a feminist
2. I am in fact, not a princess. (In case there was any confusion)
BUT I have an intense passion and belief for the Disney princesses and what they stand for.
So here are 5 myths about Disney princesses that I am here to debunk.

1. Disney princesses are brats.
Nothing aggravates me more than when people try to portray the princesses as selfish and pampered little girls that always get their way. Frankly I can’t name you one from my childhood that taught me to be selfish. In fact, more often than not they were busy showing me how to be a kind and compassionate young woman. Let’s take Belle for instance. We open this story with the most attractive man in town begging for her hand in marriage. A man that could clearly provide for her and would manage to be pretty decent arm candy. But she refuses because she is in search of something more. She then proceeds to save her father from harm, take his place as a prisoner to a Beast, find a way to forgive a man that enslaved her and stole all of her freedom, and goes on to even love him enough to soften his heart and change him forever not only saving his own soul but the soul of all the people he had hurt through his actions (the random household objects she befriends)
Whoa. How dare she teach our children to be so selfish?

2. Disney princesses are always white.
OKKKKKKK. Let’s have a quick chat about geography. There is a difference in “white-washing” and just being culturally accurate. The movie Brave is set in Ireland. The largest demographic in Ireland? Irish. These people just happen to have white skin. The movie Tangled is set in Germany. The largest demographic in Germany? German. They have white skin. And let’s not forget all of the princesses that represent vastly different cultures. Pocahontas, Jasmine, Mulan. White washing would be setting “Princess and the Frog” in New Orleans but giving Tiana blonde hair and naming her Amanda.

3. Disney princesses can’t relate to modern day issues.
The official line up of Disney princesses contains 12 women. In order of release: Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, Ariel, Belle, Jasmine, Pocahontas, Mulan, Tiana, Rapunzel, Merida, and Anna.
7 of them are raised in single parent households, either caused by death or divorce. According to the Kids Count Data Center, 35% of American children are living in a similar situation at home. Furthermore, 3 of the princesses are orphaned at a young age leaving them relatable for an estimated 153 million children worldwide.
At the beginning of “Aladdin”, Jasmine is trying desperately to escape the cultural norm of arranged marriages, which may seem silly to us in the United States but is certainly something many young Arabian girls can still associate with. Mulan is fighting against a culture that allows little ways for women to show honor other than marrying the appropriate man. This remains an issue in the Chinese culture today. And Pocahontas is forced to choose between her father and a man she has fallen in love with because her village is unwilling to accept an interracial relationship.  There are few cultures nowadays that can’t relate to that particular issue.  

4. Disney princesses are always being saved.
Does anyone else remember the time Mulan took her father’s place in one of the most brutal wars in Chinese history? Or the time Pocahontas threw herself on top of her boyfriend so her father would bash her head to pieces instead of his? Just checking.

5. Disney princess are always being swept off their feet by a prince.
This one is just humorous. First of all, more often than not, the princesses were brave enough to go out and find their own man. Like Cinderella breaking out of her evil stepmother’s house to go to the ball. Also, she barely even mentioned the prince before she went. It’s not like she was going to the club to meet a man. She does chores all day, the girl just wanted to party, let her live, geez. She happened to look really good and a guy liked her. She can’t help that. And Ariel. Bless her heart. She was so determined to be with that boy she went to an evil sea witch to order a pair of enchanted legs and traded her voice and freedom. For a vast part of the movie she didn’t even have the opportunity to be swept off her feet because she didn’t have any. Belle falls in love with her prison warden, Jasmine plays hooky from the castle one day and literally runs into the street rat, Tiana falls in love whilst transformed into a frog (which is just altogether confusing), and Anna’s “prince” tried to kill her.
Also, points to Merida because she’s an independent woman and didn’t need a man at all.

So, let’s just all accept that the Disney princesses are perfect. Please and thank you.