Graduating from Disney University

Since I have been at Disney, like every human that faces the fairy of doubt once in awhile, I have questioned if my time has been worth it… I have had some days where I realize that my job does not exploit the best of my ability to think, create and achieve. There have been days (very few of them) where I have wanted to just self term and go back to Bombay, back to my family.

The day I graduated from Disney University I said okay Tanisha before you left for Disney you made one of your “why I should go to Disney lists”... now you have 2 months to finish and the time has come to make your “Why coming to Disney has been the best decision of my life” list.

I believe everything I have learnt is not something accountable, it is something enigmatic, something untouchable and indescribable. Not a skill I can add on to my CV, but something I would have never gained had not come here … let’s just call them Intangible assets.

This was my has been my opportunity to suppress, batter and exhaust the huge travel bug that lives inside of me. I often say travelling is my passion, I love to explore, I love food and I enjoy cultures. Disney gave me the opportunity to explore America. From Las Vegas to NYC and from Boston to Miami. My travels have been with some amazing people, packed with pictures, amazing stories full of adventure and of course a couple of pounds from my most recent cruise to the Bahamas. Here I am now a year older, a year wiser and with an additional pair of ears (umm… My Mickey ears?)

The Art of tolerance does top the list. The way Disney expects you to behave and treat guests tolerance is the key to survival. I have acquired the ability to be tolerant towards ignorant guests, people from other cultures, Disney rules and of course BRAZILIAN TOUR GROUPS! (Hah!).

Living with people from 14 different nationalities (5 of which I share a house with!) has helped me to understand and absorb other cultures, to understand people from all over the world. Italians, French, Mexicans, Norwegians, UK, Thai, Germans, Brazilians, Canadians and the list goes on.

Interacting with people from all these different cultures and countries has only helped me appreciate, protect and embrace my own culture. I am the first ‘Indian’ most people here have known. It feels kind of special. At work I know I represent my country, I get to tell people what India is really about, I get to correct their misconceptions and I truly feel like an ambassador sometimes  :P and I have never been so proud to be an Indian as much as I have since I have worked at Walt Disney World.

I always tell people that when you do this program you are in this enormous Disney bubble, we live it and THAT is exactly how Disney likes it. We know all the songs, we buy all the merchandise, we love the Mickey bars, we never need a map when we go to the parks, we enjoy the parades, we know how to skip the queues for all the rides, we enjoy magical moments, when someone is talking about a country we automatically assume it refers to that pavilion in Epcot. Amidst all the fireworks and the chants like “DREAMS COME TRUE” and all the fantasy I do realize that Disney has reinstalled my faith in dreams, dreams that I want to achieve. Every Disney story is a reminder that dreams really do come true but not without struggle and of course that evil prevails.

So with my Mickey graduation ears on my head (, wearing  an ‘I love Mickey’ T shirt, my 'Commons’ housing ID around my neck, a Mickey bar in one hand and a glass of wine in the other I would like to raise a toast…

A toast to the ‘J bus’ (or Jungle bus) I take every morning at 6.57 am, to my 5 roommates from 5 different countries (Germany, Mexico, Italy, France and Japan), to all my lasses and the amazing happy Mondays, to my Italian boys and their after parties at 1532, to my only other fellow Indian here, to the 1000 boxes of wine Xanath and me might have consumed, to Bob and my rocking Saturdays family, to my amazing managers, to the incapability of my Italian and Frencie to say the ‘H’ In hungry or happy, to memories that will last a lifetime, to the great friends I will keep forever…. and of course to the Mouse that started it all.

As I tell my Dad if nothing I will come back to India knowing an abundance of random facts about Disney and my country and a lot of swear words in multiple languages.

…. I do realize it is a lot more than just that J.

Have a magical day!

Make A Wish Come True Foundation

I'm sure everybody has heard of the 'Make a wish foundation'.  It is a non-profit organization based in the United States and grants wishes to children with life threatening medical conditions. Walt Disney world is one of the main partners and sponsors of the 'make a wish foundation', this is because coming to Walt Disney World with their family is the number one wish. 

All around the parks often you will spot a family with the 'Make a wish' Buttons and t-shirts, they are easy to spot. As cast members you are expected to go out of your way to make sure their time is special and perfect. 

One day while at work I realized a family was looking in my workspace trying to figure out what was going on with all the kids sat down and colouring. I noticed the buttons and left all the guests and went to speak to this family, they were from South America and spoke very little English. They had a son maybe around 11 or 12 years old on a wheelchair, while I was talking to him I couldn't help but notice how ill this kid was because he has no hair and was so pale yet smiling. I handed them a paper asked them to write his name, wrote his name in Hindi and handed it to him asked him if he was having a good time, handed him some other things kids can take away with them (country cards, little animals the thai people make with palm leaves). As this family was walking away delighted about seeing the kid's name in another language and chatting in a language I couldn't even understand , all I could tell was that they were having a very special time.

As they walked away all I was thinking that this was probably their last family vacation and that when this kid had the chance to ask for ANYTHING in the whole world as his last wish, he picked to come to Walt Disney World, a theme park ? Just when I realized that this place is more than just a theme park, for some it is a place filled with memories, memories they will hold on to for a life time. In the case of this family, they might come back here 10 years later and think of their last vacation with their son. 

It probably wasn't very professional of me to feel a little bit upset and ignore the next 10 kids that walked up to me, but to think of it I couldn't help but feel really special to be part of such a special place.

In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun !

Part of my job gives me the authority to give 'Magical Moments' to guests. This is when a cast member goes the extra mile to make a guest feel special, in a big or small way. Like if a cast member sees a child drop their Mickey Bar ice-cream we can replace it immediately free of cost.

Disney is all about the buttons, guests are always wearing birthday buttons, anniversary buttons, I'm Celebrating buttons. With me, since I am always interacting with families and kids I can pick one family or a group of people that I want to give a Magical Moment, I usually take them to 'Expedition Everest' one of the most famous rides in WDW. No doubt that Magical Moments do make the guests feel extra extra special, for some guests it makes their day, for some kids it is something they might never forget. No doubt it makes guests feel extremely special, but some of the reactions I get are so cute that it makes my day.

Another thing you might find on my blog is a little story of all the special Magical Moment experiences.

ASHIRA: Ashira was a 10 year old American girl who was at Disney for the first time, also celebrating her birthday. She wanted to know everything about India and me in the 20-30 mins she spent with me and had loads of questions. When I asked her if she had been on Expedition Everest yet she looked really disappointed and said that she LOVES rollercoastes but she cant go on it because her parents wouldn't go on it (They looked kind of old to be a 10 year old's parents) and that if she had to ask for one wish right now it would be to go on Everest. So I sneaky-ly went to her parents and asked them if they would mind me taking her on and they were ecstatic ! they thanked me and said this is going to make her whole trip. When I gave her Magical Moment card she was like :O. So I walked her to Everest while I told her about the story of Asia (of course Disney's version). Indeed she did love the ride and she was screaming and hugging me after the ride. Finally i hugged her goodbye and was walking off and she ran back at me and said "Hey Tanisha, you know what my favorite part of Disney world was?" so I was like OF COURSE EVEREST !.. and she was like "Nope, You!". :)

It all Started with a Mouse

So this post is a little bit about what happens when you are a new Disney castmember (this is a term used for employees). Disney is also famous for its corporate culture and the jargon they use with their 'castmembers'. When I started the program, everyone in my arrival group has a whole week of orientation, one of the most important parts of this orientation involves going to 'DISNEY UNIVERSITY' ... Yes there is an actual Disney University (not accredited of-course!). At Disney University you have to attend a class called TRADITIONS.

Traditions is everything you need to know about Disney and what they expect of their Castmembers. You are introduced to a LOT of Disney terms and Do's and Don'ts. Some things every castmember comes out of tratitions knowing :

1. SafeD begins with ME. ( Disney is obsessed with safety and has million and millions safety regulations which it gives at most importance to)
2. The Disney Basics !
3. The Disney Point. (Because Americans are sometimes offended when people with their index finger Disney cast members have to use and open palm or 2 fingers like the index and the middle finger to point).
4. The Disney Look (no long nails, no crazy coloured hair, no loud, crazy hair colour, no visible tattoo's or piercings).
5. No matter what DISNEY IS THE HAPPIEST/CLEANEST/MOST MAGICAL PLACE ON EARTH.

At Traditions Mickey also gives us our beloved nametags, The identity of every castmember.

Working for 'The Mouse'

Namaste !
            So when I knew I was coming to Walt Disney World, I did promise myself to start a blog so I can share this fabulous experience with everyone I know. However, I have been here for 4 months on 12th of August 2011 ! AND ONLY JUST MADE A BLOG. shame I know, but better late than never :).

           For those that don't know I am on one of Disney's International  program called the 'Cultural Representative Program'. There are people from about 13 different countries in my program working in that part of WDW where they can represent their country. Since India does not have a specific India Pavilion (like the ones in EPCOT for other countries) I work in 'DISNEY'S ANIMAL KINGDOM' (or DAK) because one part of the park is called ASIA ! My work mainly involves high levels of guest interactions, sharing my culture in any way I want :).

           When I accepted the offer to come and do this program it seemed like I was picking the more crazy, adventurous, risky of the decisions as the other one involved staying home and working the job I had, which I loved. Spending 4 months here all I have to say that taking a random year out in my life, deciding to come to Florida and working for 'The Mouse' is one of the best decisions I have ever made.

I have definitely learned that if you are not willing to risk the unusual, you will have to settle for the ordinary.

Have a Magical day.