Disney College Program - The Merchandise Role

Hey friends!

Are you interested in the role of merchandise for the Disney College Program, or maybe you found out you were accepted into this role and want to know more? You've come to the right place! I was a Merchandise Cast Member during the Fall 2015 program. I'd be more than happy to share my experiences and tips with you.

Back to Life, Back to Reality

Hello friends,

Before I begin, if the title of this post made you think of the song "Back to Life" by Soul II Soul, I want to be your best friend. 

Now we may continue. 

It's been a whole month since I set foot back on New Jersey soil. I've kissed my days at the Kingdom goodbye, and have returned home to the motherland. While it is good to be surrounded by my loved ones and have access to disco fries again, I want nothing more to be back in my fantasy land. 

You see, it's funny, because while I was down in Florida living in this fantasy, I still craved reality. I was having the time of my life, but I was homesick. I dreamed of my days back home and how I missed having a routine, living in the suburbs, and seeing the people I loved on a daily basis. Now that I'm back home, I ache for the simplicity of being on the Disney College Program. You always want what you can't have, and right now, there is nothing I want more than to be living in Disney World again. You could say I'm in a huge post Disney College Program funk. 

November in a Nutshell

Hey there friends!

This is a super delayed post and I apologize, but the end of November/beginning of December was super busy! I still wanna get this up before December is over, because I know it's nearly January already lol. So without any further ado, here is my November in Disney!

I can't believe November is already over and long gone. I only have a few days left of my college program. Things are getting real! I am trying to do as much as possible, all while still getting a decent amount of sleep. I have finally settled in here, and by settled, I mean I am comfortable at work, I have found great friends, and I am used to the idea of living here away from my family and friends. 

Let's take a peek at all I've been up to in November! 

There's So Much to be Thankful For

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, but this year will obviously be really different. Rather than spending it watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in the morning and then enjoying a delicious feast with my big family later in the day, I'll be working at Magic Kingdom, serving guests and making their Thanksgiving a magical one. As much as I would rather be back at home with my loved ones for the day, I have come to realize since I've been apart from them that I've been blessed with so much.

This year, I am extremely grateful for so many things. I have been given the opportunity of a lifetime by working for the Walt Disney Company. But there's so much more to it than that. Since I've been here, I've been able to think deeply about all that's happened since I've moved away and all the changes I've gone through, and realized how it is shaping me as a person. 

I'm so thankful for my family, especially my parents. They have been extremely supportive of my dreams to do the college program, even if it meant that I had to take a semester off of school and wouldn't be able to spend the holidays with them. I'm also really fortunate that they will be coming to visit me at such a special time at Disney. Not everyone's parents have been as supportive of their kids' dreams. My family has been there for me through all my emotions while I've been away (me being the dramatic girl I am, they've dealt with a LOT of emotions hehehe), about being homesick and other obstacles I've faced during my program. Without their endless support, I'm not sure how I could've dealt with everything properly. 

I'm thankful for all of my friends back home. Thank you guys for doing your absolute best to stay in touch despite all of our busy schedules. At this point in our lives, now that the majority of us are done with undergrad (except for me, womp womp), it's really hard to stay in touch with people. People are going in different directions, traveling down new paths, which often means leaving the past behind them and going forward to fulfill their needs. Despite doing their own thing, I'll always be grateful that I've been able to stay in touch with all my friends back home, and blessed to be surrounded by those that have been so graciously loving and understanding during my hard times, and endlessly happy for me as I live my dream.

I'm thankful for all my friends here at Disney, and my amazing co-workers. The people that I'm friends with here are experiencing this magical life with me (and sometimes not so magical) and I'm happy I have great people to share these memories with. I'm really thankful to have people to relate to about all the things we are going through on my program, and also especially thankful that I have people I can dork out about Disney with and they actually understand! haha. Without the friends I've made here, my program certainly wouldn't be as special. 

Lastly, I am thankful for the opportunity to work at Disney, even if it's just for a semester. I'm living out my dream and it all still feels like a fantasy. I may complain a lot about the weather and talk about how badly I can't wait to go home, but I will always and forevermore be thankful to be here. The experiences I've had here are memories I will always carry in my heart, the lessons I've learned will allow me to grow as a person, and the magic I'm surrounded by each day will live on with me. 

Although I can't be with my family this year on this holiday, I'm sure that it will still be a good one. 

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! 

Love, Lindsey 

October in Disney

Oh, autumn. One of my favorite times of the year. I love the crisp feeling in the air when the weather finally starts to cool down, watching the leaves change from green to orange, yellow, and red, going on hayrides with my friends, preparing for Halloween by decorating, getting costumes together and watching Halloween movies, and finally getting to wear leggings and boots. What's not to love about autumn?

This year was kind of different if you ask me. I still got to celebrate Halloween by watching movies, eating candy, and (kind of) dressing up. But the humidity and high temperatures didn't make it feel like it was October! In fact, in my mind, it still seems like summer, except stores are starting to sell seasonal items and Magic Kingdom is decorated for Halloween.

Here is how I got to celebrate the fall down here in Florida!

Dealing with Homesickness

Woah, I'm posting something within the same week of another post? Crazy right?! I actually had a day shift today, so I have the night off and I'm taking the time to do some laundry and getting my life together.

Like I've said before, life in Florida is pretty great. It still feels like summer because I'm not taking any classes and the weather is still warm. I have the opportunity to play in the parks whenever I want. I get to live on my own. I'm meeting so many new people. The list could go on and on about how awesome things are here!

However, life here is also really bittersweet. I'm having a great time here, but I also get hit with waves of homesickness. Not everyday, but there are days when I wake up and just feel sad.

Alright, alright. I'm being a tad bit over dramatic here, especially with the sad little Stitch gif. I live in Disney World! But I am a really big homebody--I thoroughly enjoy being home. It brings me a lot of comfort and even after having fun living away at school, I always enjoy coming home for the weekend. Home>anywhere else. And the hardest part about being homesick in Florida is that I can't just go home as I please.

September Update!

Yikes, I can't believe it's been almost a month since my last post. Totally did not mean for that to happen. I guess it just means I'm having too much fun to sit down and write something. But what's even crazier is that I can't believe it's been over a month since I've been living in Florida! I feel like I was accepted into the Disney College Program just yesterday, and now I'm living the dream.