Good day and good news!

My family got back from their travels to Canada last night but I was working so didn't see them until today. So didn't get all their news until today! But it was exciting news.....

Apart from my "good news" (lol), my sister and little baby Riley came over. Can't believe he's a month old already, such a wee cute dude. My poor sister is exhausted from dealing with him all day while her boyfriend is at work so she was looking forward to my mum helping her out. My mum and stepdad took the baby to visit my stepdad's parents and then my mum took him for a walk in his pram, so my sister used that chance to actually eat something for a change. I made spag bol for everyone for dinner and when Riley woke up, he got him his bottle and then changed him into his pjs before he headed home to bed. Actually love that wee baby so much lol, was right in there getting my cuddles, taking photos and tickling his wee chubby cheeks to make him smile... eeeee!

So ok... calm myself down from my baby high (I can't help it, I'm broody and old remember?!)...

The exciting news is that my mum's cousin has bought a house to do up in Sarasota, Florida. WOOHOO!! My uncle (his dad) used to have a condo in St. Augustine that we went to when we were little and we loved it, but then they sold it. So they are talking about how my family could fly over next summer and stay there, WHILE I'M THERE!! My uncle and aunt are planning on spending 3 months during the winter there as well which means they are fairly close by as well. Now the house just needs to get fixed up in time for April so lots of family will come and visit Florida while I'm there... and make me feel popular lol! 

This really is good news as I didn't think that my mum would come over while I was there and was kind of accepting that I wouldn't see anyone for a year, so now I have even more to look forward to! Still doesn't feel real though. 

Nearly 5 weeks already!

Can't believe its been 5 weeks since I found out my arrival date. It feels longer! Was tidying up and found the Disney International Programme booklet that we all received at the second interview. It's really making me want to get the Disney Information Pack soon!! With a confirmed date so I can go back to looking at flights. Next week will be coming into August and I can't wait to find out who else will be coming out with us!  Should be about another 8 weeks before the CRB results are back at YJ and then I can breathe easy. Even though I've not done anything, you still worry!

:)

Getting older sucks!!!!

Warning... this could be a bit rant-like at times. Just because I am so mad whenever I think of it!


So almost right after I got "the email" I asked STA travel for a quote for a one way flight. I heard conflicting things and so I wanted to find out whats what. Turns out that if your older than 26 (which I am), you get a bum deal. If your under 26 or a student you can get Virgin flights for around £300 one way. For me its going to be at least 3 times that amount. Seems unfair that Yummy Travel (which seems to be a bit of STA working specifically for YJ's) can't do anything to help me out even though it says in the email sent out ...


 "What are the benefits of booking with the Yummy Travel Team? - Offer exclusive fares and products for all customers, irrelevant of age or student status"


The email I got back seemed to have a bit of a grumpy attitude so going to leave it a bit and then maybe try contacting YJ direct to ask. I was looking at maybe flying via Iceland/Belfast/Amsterdam as these can be cheaper option but that means arriving quite late. When you consider how much time I would then spent in customs before getting my luggage, getting to Vista Way and eventually getting to my apartment... its not practical. So I thought well I could go the day before, stay in a nearby hotel/motel? The latest on the grapevine is that as of 2013, we aren't allowed to enter the country before our arrival date! Becky from YJ has confirmed this to a few people. So basically I have to fork out for the mega expensive flight. I have no idea how the hell this is going to be achieveable and its making me pretty wound up! 


For now I'm trying to put it to the back of my mind until August when the rest of the waiting list should be finding out for defo about getting dates. At the moment there's just me and one other leaving on my date (although we have the same name, just to confuse people!) but I'm hoping for more people to add to our little group! Since I got "the email" theres been a few people contacted and offered jobs for this year. And even one for 3 weeks from now! Crazy! While thats exciting I really couldn't leave with only 3 weeks notice, its really not practical. Hopefully the flights situation will work out.... meh.....


In the spirit of ending this post on a happy note.... a 'lil bit of Tangled happiness! Might go watch it in my bed now... hmmmm....

Disney meet ups are the best!

Ok soooooooooo..........


The way I've started my blogging may confuse some people so I thought I would explain myself a bit. I wanted to do a blog for myself so I can look back on what I did and not forget things, but also so that I could pass on some of the advice I received.
 As I hear more and more peoples Disney story I've seen that a lot of people that now have places, had previously applied 2-3+ times and not got a place. I wish I knew this a few months ago when I was crying "why not me?!" I feel extremely lucky that I actually did get a place, and on my first try! I really did get a lot of good advice and help with the interviews so if that information can be of use to someone else then I'm happy to share!
I didn't want to start blogging until I got a place because I know that if I didn't get the job it could turn into some pretty depressing reading lol, so I kept a kinda list of posts I wanted to make. Once I found out and I felt up to it, I started blogging from the beginning of the application process and changed the dates of the posts so that they fit into the right timeline of things! I like to ramble on a bit so that took a while but tadaaaaaa...... I am finally up to date! (or I will be shortly lol, think I may split this entry as its getting a 'lil lengthy!)


The reason that I have finally got up to date with the blogging is because I have taken a two week "stay-cation". My mum, stepdad and younger brother are in Canada for my cousins wedding and some travelling through Vancouver to Calgary. I decided that this would be a good time for me to take off as I live with them and I need the peace and quiet! I used to have my own place but gave it up when I went back to college and now there's no point in getting somewhere new until after Florida! So its been me and the cat. Exciting times lol! But its given me some much needed time to just chill out and catch up with stuff. I made dinner at my sisters for her and her boyfriend (it was all a ruse so I can see the baby lol), went shopping, joined the gym, met up with a friend and got minging drunk (as much as I love tequila, it doesn't always love me back), etc etc....


But one of the most exciting things was having a little Disney meet up! Yayyyy!!! Myself and two other Scottish girls met up in Glasgow for a wonder round the Disney store (it's really difficult to not tell everyone in the shop, I literally want to grab strangers and scream "I'M GOING TO DISNEY WORLD!!!!!" in their faces, scary)... then went to a Wetherspoons for food, a drink and a lot of Disney chat. One of them is headed out in October so she had loads to tell us about  all the stuff we need to organise. Exciting if a little scary! It feels good to talk to people about the whole CRP and Disney stuff without having to explain every little thing, all the time. Sometimes I feel like I spent a ridiculous amount of time talking about Epcot lol. Oh well, better get used to it!


On a completely random note... people are reading my blog! Yay! I wondered if it would just disappear into the wonders of the web but its getting more views every day. Woop! :)

Living the life of Riley!

Ok... so I mentioned a few times that my sister was pregnant and her baby was due around the same time as the results email. I fully expected the results and her labour all to happen on the same day but it turned out that I found out on a Monday and then on the Saturday, my little nephew was born! 

Little Riley Joel... who already has more Disney toys and clothes than most kids haha! Will be really sad not to see him for a whole year when I leave but at least I have until April to spoil him!

What happens next? ... part 2

As well as the email with the check list, there is another email with important information that talks about some of the conditions, etc. The most important points are:

•  Roles cannot be changed after acceptance.
•   You may purchase medical insurance for either the full duration of the program (12 months) or for the first four months. After four months you will be eligible to obtain your insurance through the Disney Medical Plan.
• You must arrive and depart company sponsored housing on designated program arrival and departure dates. We are not able to accommodate an earlier arrival date to company sponsored housing or arrange for housing past the program end date – You must arrive in the USA on your scheduled arrival date and not before this.
• Your passport must be valid for 6 months following your program end date – if your passport expires before this period then please begin the process of renewal now.

I had to wait a few days until I could send off my CRB form as I needed to fix my paypal account as I had new bank details. I also emailed Becky as one of the forms of ID required (photocopies for the CRB) said driving license or National Insurance card. I only have my provisional license and lost my NI card a lonnnnnnnnnng time ago so I asked if a P60 or something with my NI number on it would be of use. However, Becky said that just a copy of my provisional license was fine so that was one less worry!

Its also exciting as my Yummy Jobs profile now has stuff on it haha! Before it just said something along the lines of "you have not yet been accepted for any program" ... but now there's copies of stuff from the emails as well as info about travel/flights/housing/arrival.... Yay!!! :) Now that all the CRB stuff is out the way, I just need to wait on hearing good news back from that! The next very exciting step is to receive the Disney Information Pack! This takes around 5 weeks so I'm hoping the postman is on good form and gets it here soon!

So what happens next.. part 1

After freaking out for a bit and letting the whole wide world know that I got the job :) ... I went back and read the email properly. Near the bottom it says 

"In order to accept your position please reply directly to this email by no later than ****"

So I sent back a very enthusiastic and happy yes and thank you!!!!!


Becky then sent back a short email to say that there would be step by step instructions to follow emailed to me (and the other successful applicants) on the 2nd July. So until then it was just a matter of celebrating and being in a bit of a daze. I'm not sure yet if its hit me or not??


It also says in the congratulations email, that actual dates are still subject to change so not to book flights yet. Its worthwhile reading these emails a few times to make sure you know what to do/expect!


On the 2nd July, sure enough a big email came through from Yummy Jobs. Included with this is some instructions and a big check list. It mentioned that the CRB forms would be sent out to us in the post and we should send them back with all the necessary documents, ASAP. The CRB form is basically a criminal check that is carried out by Yummy Jobs. If they deem the results to be satisfactory then its a yes, otherwise its a no. They then tell Disney if its a yes or no. The results are then destroyed, unless you want a copy. Disney doesn't find out any of the details on it, just if Yummy have approved or not. This is a really important process and you can't continue without it. They give really clear instructions on how to fill it in and tell you how to pay by paypal. 


Once you receive the form, you fill it in as instructed (and its really not difficult!) and then include photocopies of the required documents (as YJ would have seen the originals at the interviews). You also need to include a print out of the paypal receipt to show that you have paid the £60. Then you put it all in an envelope, put YJ's address on it and send it by recorded delivery (just for safety, seeing as all your lifes information is basically in that envelope!).