Dream Locations Redux!

Hey there, hi there, ho there... I feel like I haven't properly blogged in a good long time. Eek! The check-in date for May 19th people is right around the corner, too, which means it's getting closer to June 14 as well!

I'm not super sure what to blog about between now and then - is there anything you'd particularly like to see before I pack up and head down there? I don't know how much time I'll have to blog during the week leading up to my check in - my last final is June 7, I'm driving home from Michigan to Illinois that night, and then flying from ORD to MCO with my dad June 12. Not much time at all! But I am getting a Flip sometime before 7/12, so I will record my adventures both in writing and video.

Anyway, a lot of my friend's roles have been mysteriously disappearing on the log-in site, which from what I understand means they're being put in the Hub! For whatever reason my role is still there, which means I'm not in yet. So I thought that I would reiterate my top dream locations one more time, just in case any CP recruiting people are reading this and still deciding where to place me... ;)

My absolute number one top choice remains Cinderella's Royal Table...

I know I would have a fabulous time at what is easily the most magical restaurant on property. Between the amazing theming and the high volume of guests who come through there, I would love coming to work every day.

The rest of my list has gotten a bit shuffled around, however. California Grill remains a top choice, as does Citricos. I think the upscale nature of those two restaurants would be another great work experience. And, of course, there are the wonderfully themed restaurants of Disney's Hollywood Studios - 50s Prime Time Cafe, The Hollywood Brown Derby, and Sci-Fi Dine In Theatre.

However, there are some new additions to my list - namely the other (non-buffet) restaurants of the Magic Kingdom. I think Tony's Town Square Restaurant or Liberty Tree Tavern would be a lot of fun too! I wish the characters still hung out at LTT, but alas.

So we'll see where I end up come June... here's hoping it's one of the restaurants I just listed!

ps. if you, like me, saw Iron Man 2 this past weekend, you should totally check out my most recent vlog.

more formspring questions!

I feel like I should have some kind of witty April Fool's post... ah well. I'll leave that to Google.

Formspring's been wonky lately - sorry it took me awhile to get back to some of these. :P (I'm also editing a questions vlog, so look for that soon!)

Curious-what do you do as a Full Service Food and Beverage Cast Member? Is this the position you wanted. If not, what would be your dream position? 
From the job description in my purple folder: "Your responsibilities may include: greeting and seating Guests in restaurants; managing a seating chart and resolving Guest situations; utilizing a computerized reservation/seating system; cash handling - both manual and using computerized registers; rolling silverware, folding napkins, and keeping area stocked; light cleaning; multi-tasking; standing for extended periods; and working outdoors." I didn't check off anything I didn't want to do, so I'm definitely excited about this role! It wasn't my first choice though - that was attractions or character performer.

What was your phone interview like? What kind of questions did they ask? 
I had a really nice interviewer, so it was super chill, despite my nerves and excitement. I wrote a blog post about the kind of things they'll ask here: http://abbydoesdisney.blogspot.com/2009/09/info-post-3-phone-interview.html 

When does your program start?
June 14, 2010! And it can't come soon enough. :P

I'm also working on a Tips from Alumni post and... other posts. Yeeeah. 

Top 5 Dream Locations!

I stole this idea from fellow Fall 2010-er Logan. Go read her blog for more top 5 lists and general fabulousness!
Given the huge number of amazing full-service restaurants at WDW, it's kind of hard for me to narrow this down. I have an absolute favorite number one, but after that everything is kind of tied. Disney kind of helped me narrow it down - I won't be working in any non-Disney-operated restaurants (like Rainforest Cafe and many DTD ones), any restaurants in the World Showcase, or Victoria and Albert's.


But anyway! Without further ado...

Honorable Mention... Sci-Fi Dine In






Cast members here get to rollerskate - how awesome is that? I requested upscale and really intensely themed restaurants when I emailed CP recruiting - Sci-Fi definitely falls into the themed category. Diners actually get to eat in cars and watch retro 50s B-movie clips while enjoying their meals. Disney puts in so many little touches that make this restaurant super-fun - I think I still have the glow in the dark frisbee that my kid's meal was served on when I ate there way back in like 2000.


5. 50s Prime Time Cafe






Another awesomely themed restaurant in DHS - dining here is like being plopped into a 50s Sitcom, and as a seater here I'd get to play a part in that sitcom every time I worked! Servers play the parts of "mom" and "dad" and rib the guests about finishing their vegetables - or no dessert for you! And trust me, you want dessert here - delicious options like PB&J milkshakes and smores are presented on a viewfinder. Yummy and retro-cool.

4. Hollywood Brown Derby 






I feel like the Hollywood Brown Derby is the classy older sibling of all the other DHS restaurants. Modeled after the original Hollywood landmark, Disney's Brown Derby harkens back to the golden age of Hollywood and serves up delicious fare such as the Cobb salad (made famous by the original) and grapefruit cake. As a bonus, this is the restaurant where lunch with an Imagineer takes place - networking anyone?

3. Citricos 






I've never actually eaten here but this restaurant has always appealed to me. I love the Grand Floridian and this is just a gorgeous restaurant - the food sounds amazing, too. I think that working here or at California Grill (see below) would also give me good experience for a concierge role. And something about Citricos just makes me think, "Wow! I'd love to work there!"

2. California Grill






This is far and away my favorite restaurant on Disney property - the delicious food and sweeping vistas of the Magic Kingdom are a winning combination. My friend Kristin actually worked here on her CP and has nothing but good things to say about her experience there and her managers. California Grill is on top of the Contemporary Resort, which means that guests get to take a special express elevator up to the restaurant - I don't know if that counts as seating but it might be kind of fun! (Plus I think it's a popular proposal spot - I'd love to help out a "magical moment" like that!)

1. Cinderella's Royal Table





Oh my goodness, dream restaurant. I don't even care that it's constantly busy - I prefer being busy to being slow! CRT is probably one of the most difficult reservations to get in all of Disney World, which means that I'd be dealing with an incredibly high volume of guests, which is actually exciting to me. It would certainly make those longer shifts go by more quickly! And then, of course, there's the restaurant itself - set inside Cinderella Castle and overlooking Fantasyland, Disney Princesses are now on hand at every meal. And as an added bonus - the costumes here are actually cute!

p.s. - don't forget to vote in my poll! thanks!

all images thanks to google image search and edited by me in picnik

What are you going to do next?

Not much happened today. Did some homework, chatted with some people, got accepted to the FAQ program. You know, no big deal.

WAIT, WHAT?


YOU READ THAT RIGHT.

I'M GOING TO DISNEY WORLD!!!

 

I actually got TWO purple emails. The first came with the subject line "Thank You For Interviewing." I opened it, no big deal, looking for the link to take the survey again because I wanted to write more about the E-Pres and how it needs to be updated. So I just scroll right past the "Congratulations" and am thinking, "Huh. There's no survey link! This isn't the right... OH MY GOD WAIT THIS IS AN ACCEPTANCE!!!!"

And then I got another one that actually said "You're Invited!" in the subject line, so I knew it wasn't a fluke. Only 11 days after interviewing, too! Super-quick turnaround.

I was accepted into FSFB, which wasn't in my top 3, but that's okay because I'm super excited anyway! I've only heard good things about it, and with an abundance of awesome restaurants in the parks and resorts I'm sure I'll enjoy my role.

And of course, there are the auditions in March!  

CONGRATS to all who were accepted today, and good luck to those still waiting!

Have a magical day!