Abby in Wonderland

Bloglovin!

noreply@blogger.com (Abigail Nora) — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 16:42:00 +0000

For the longest time I used google reader to manage all the blogs I follow. And it's great and I still will check on it, but bloglovin is my new favorite thing! Check it out if you follow a lot of CP blogs... or blogs in general. Hopefully they're a little bit more active than this one. :p

In actual Disney news, my program is over. It has been for over a month now - sad day. I miss it a lot though, and as summer goes on don't be surprised to see some nostalgia posts or advice posts now that I'm actually an alum. I definitely plan on going back some day, but for now there's the whole college degree thing. I'm transferring to a new school, and I'm going to apply to be a campus rep starting in the Spring semester. Wish me luck!

Jambo!

noreply@blogger.com (Abigail Nora) — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 19:44:00 +0000

As I mentioned in my last post, I extended my program in an Attractions role. Well, I will be working in Africa on the Kilimanjaro Safaris! I am beyond excited!

It's definitely bittersweet though because I love my apartment and the girls I live with now, but I am the only one extending. So on January 4 I will be moving across the street to Chatham... and I have no idea who I'll be living with!

I'm Back!

noreply@blogger.com (Abigail Nora) — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 20:12:00 +0000

Things that have happened!

I live in Patterson now and I absolutely love my roommates and my apartment. However...
My program is almost over! Which means we're all going to be parting ways very soon. I'm going to miss them a lot.
I am extending until May in attractions. I did attend the end-of-season audition and actually passed it, but I'm a super competitive height range I guess. :(

I'll write about all this in more detail soon!

Ch-ch-ch-changes.

noreply@blogger.com (Abigail Nora) — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 03:00:00 +0000

Oh. Heyyy. I have a blog, don't I?

So it has officially been like a month and a half since I have updated this thing. We've gotten an influx of new CPs at Hollywood and Vine, and thankfully they're all pretty cool. It kind of makes up for the loss of some of our awesome Spring Advantage people, like Michelle and April.

Work is... work. Some days are better than others. I now know food and beverage is not my calling. Unless, of course, by food and beverage you mean coffee shops. Then it's completely my calling.

I've learned a lot about myself on this program and I'm only about halfway through. And there are a couple of things I'd do differently "next time around," whenever that may be...

Live in Chatham or Patterson in a one or two bedroom. Vista is old, and six girls in one apartment is too many for me.
Only check off roles that I am truly excited about, not just ones I think I could handle for the sake of getting into the program.
Bring a car. Granted, one must have a car in order to bring it with... whatever.

Speaking of next time around, I'm basically back to square one and I have absolutely no friggin' idea what's happening with my life after January 3. I'm definitely going to apply to extend, but three things can happen there:

I am granted an extension in Entertainment. Easy decision: I stay!
I am not granted an extension. Easy decision: I go seasonal and go home!
I am granted an extension in Character Attendant or Attractions. Decision more difficult!

So yeah. I'm applying to five (count 'em, five) schools to transfer to, but not until Fall 2011. So if my extension is denied there are a whole bunch of things I could do with those seven-ish months between the end of my program and whenever I start school.

Also, budgeting is still hard.

So, um, I guess that's kind of it for now. Anything you guys are itching to hear about?

Boring Budget Post.

noreply@blogger.com (Abigail Nora) — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 04:14:00 +0000

I am really, really bad with money, because I really, really like instant gratification. So I'm going to start writing about my misadventures in money management, both to help me stay on track and to let people know what the money situation on the program is really like.

So here's the sitch: I never really know how much I'm going to make a week... it could be anywhere from $100 to $200 dollars after rent is taken out. It gets tricky because I try to put at least $50 of my paycheck in savings, if not half of it. I would really like to transfer into Entertainment part-time or full-time after my program, which means I need to be saving so I can afford a real apartment and a car.

It gets even trickier because I'm in a fair amount of debt right now to The Bank of Mom and the Bank of Roommates. So this week I'm paying off roommate #1, then I'm paying off roommate #2 over two weeks, and Bank of Mom over the next two weeks. Which means it will take me just over a month to get out of debt.

This is why credit cards scare me.

Also, being frugal is hard.

Blog blog blog, bloggy blog blog.

noreply@blogger.com (Abigail Nora) — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 17:40:00 +0000

Um. Hi.

So much has happened in the month or so I've been down here. So we'll just do this in points.

Point A: Living. I have some pretty amazing roommates, but some stuff got shuffled around and the living situation is interesting. For one thing, we ended up in Vista. Not a huge fan. But 2am trips to IHOP and Steak N Shake and spontaneous park hopping and Beaches and Cream make up for that.

Point B: Learning. I'm taking Marketing You. It's a lot of work.

Point C: Earning. Hollywood and Vine is... a job. HOWEVER my managers and most of my coworkers are nice, which makes it so much more bearable. And the networking and opportunities I'm gaining outside of my workplace more than make up for it. I don't love my job, but I don't mind it, and I have to remember two things:

It got me down here and got my foot in the door, for which I am very grateful.
It could be worse. I could be ODF at MK.

I have so many stories and things to share, but unfortunately I'm off to work now. I will update soon, and more thoroughly!

Oh me, oh my.

noreply@blogger.com (Abigail Nora) — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 04:56:00 +0000

I will update again very soon, I promise!

I've got posts written up, and quite a lot to talk about, but it's such a whirlwind down here...

I know, I know. I'm terrible at blogging.

Part I : The Journey

noreply@blogger.com (Abigail Nora) — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 18:31:00 +0000

( written on the flight to Orlando, Saturday night )

I am writing this 30,000 feet in the air or however high planes go these days. It’s 10:36pm central time (we were supposed to depart at 8:15, thanks weather) and I am surrounded by Disney already. There’s an article about it in the in-flight magazine, for crying out loud. The guy behind me casually mentioned to the guy next to him that he used to work at Epcot. There are so many families, clearly Disney-bound, and it’s all getting me so excited. I want to compliment every little kid on their Disney paraphernalia (and ask the parents if they will be dining with the stars at Hollywood and Vine during their vacation).

Basically I just want to get up and shout to the whole plane, “I’M WORKING IN DISNEY WORLD! HAVE A MAGICAL FLIGHT!”

It’s surreal, to say the least. Despite all this it still hasn’t hit me. It kind of just feels like I’m going on vacation with my dad, like I’ll be back in a few days.

But I won’t. More like a few months.

Speaking of my dad, he is like a Gold Star Frequent Flyer (I’m sure United has a more professional term for it), so he got upgraded to first class while I ... did not. Granted, I was already sitting in Economy Plus/an exit row, which is really no big deal. But my dad, being the awesome and generous dad he is, switched seats with me. So right now he’s about 11 rows behind me in an exit row, and I am in first class feeling guilty for not eating the meal they served us and passing up the warm chocolate chip cookie. Who knew they still fed you on airlines? It’s swanky. And awesome. But my stomach is all in knots because there’s some hardcore turbulence happening right now so all I can really handle is ginger ale.

I wanted to film take-off, but there’s that rule about all personal electronics being off until 10 minutes after take off blah blah blah and I wasn’t really sure if I could. I also thought about taking a picture of my freaking in flight meal (this is a big deal, okay?) but kind of only realized it once everything was half consumed. Not very appetizing.

This probably won’t get posted for a few days, actually. Thanks to the thunderstorms in both Chicago and Orlando, we’re not going to land until about 2am Eastern Time. And I am still planning on dragging my dad out of bed to get to Islands of Adventure when it opens in order to scope out the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. We’ll see how that goes...

Then pre-check in dinner with the roomies, then I’m checking in!

I just don’t even know. So surreal.

hi blog.

noreply@blogger.com (Abigail Nora) — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 17:44:00 +0000

I'm here!

Legit update soon, promise.

Wonderland Wardrobe: Flight Patterns

noreply@blogger.com (Abigail Nora) — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 00:41:00 +0000

As of today,
(2) finals
(1) paper &
(9) days
stand between me and Florida.

Granted, while I may not be out of school or have even started packing, I know exactly what I'm wearing on the flight to Orlando:

I love this outfit - it's super comfy and super flight-friendly. I'm not wearing any jewelry, but the statement bag and bright scarf are great accessories. The cardigan is actually a cotton t-shirt fabric and helpful for transitioning from that cold plane air to 90º Florida heat.

Here's a Polyvore set based on/inspired by this look - I bought the cardigan and tank from Urban over Memorial Day and they're still available, so I included them in the set. I couldn't include my exact scarf (Forever 21), sunglasses (free from XRT at Lollapalooza last year), and bag (on sale at Target a few years ago from one of their designer collaborations) in the set, so I tried to find comparable items. I absolutely love the Coach bag in the set, but I also absolutely cannot afford it. Ah well... though I probably will snag a pair of those sunglasses...

Flight Patterns by abigail.nora featuring Coach bags

Cardigan, tank, leggings, sandals, sunglasses, bag.

These are not the droids you're looking for...

noreply@blogger.com (Abigail Nora) — Sun, 30 May 2010 02:27:00 +0000

Points:

A) I am watching a Star Wars marathon on Spike for the second weekend in a row right now, and once again I'm incredibly jealous of everyone who'll be able to experience Star Wars Weekends in WDW. Whatever. I have Rogue Squadron to reread on the train back to school. WHAT NOW.

B) I'm home for the weekend! Yeah, I'm not done yet... being on quarters basically means being in school forever, blech. I brought a bunch of stuff from school that will come to Disney with me - if you're interested, there's a vlog about it here.

C) While home, I made dinner. And did not burn down the kitchen. This is promising. I'm actually really excited to cook on the CP, especially since buying How to Boil Water.

D) Also while home, I have shopped. Perhaps a bit excessively. I now own four bathing suits... but hey, that's okay because I'm moving to Florida, right? Anyway, I bought:

A super-cute tie dye sundress and cardigany-vesty...thing from Forever 21.
A bikini from Hollister.
An embellished tank and boyfriend cardigan from Urban Outfitters (fully intend to fly in these, by the way)
An adorable vintage-inspired top from Urban Outfitters to wear to Traditions.
A scarf and some Rosebud Salve from American Apparel.

I have a bit of a confession to make... I don't really "get" American Apparel. I just felt like it was a super navel-gazing hipstery kind of store when I was in there - good for basics, sure, but incredibly overpriced basics. But my sister had gotten a gift from there and they only do store credit, and she didn't want anything so my mom was like FIND SOMETHING. Hence, $20 scarf and lip stuff.

do this!

noreply@blogger.com (Abigail Nora) — Tue, 18 May 2010 04:15:00 +0000

Summer Project?

I was thinking that this summer i should do something fun and not just for myself. I want everybody to be involved, but unfortunately i cant afford for everybody to be involved. So im going to limit this to 100 people. I am going to buy 100 disposable cameras and i want to mail them off to anybody who is interested. What you do with the camera is up to you all i ask is that you mail it back to me at the end of your summer or whenever you finish the film (27 pics per film). This is a little experiment. I just want to see what everyone does during their summer vacation.

ps. just to clarify, click the link for full details and how to get involved.

Dream Locations Redux!

noreply@blogger.com (Abigail Nora) — Tue, 11 May 2010 17:41:00 +0000

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.

Vloggy Vlog: 5 Facts!

noreply@blogger.com (Abigail Nora) — Sun, 02 May 2010 20:37:00 +0000

...Not Strictly Disney.

noreply@blogger.com (Abigail Nora) — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 04:40:00 +0000

For those of you with tumblrs, I've just started one! And you can bet some Disney-related tumbls will work their way in there, so please do check it out. :]

http://abigailnora.tumblr.com/

Info Post #12: Disney Look

noreply@blogger.com (Abigail Nora) — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 19:18:00 +0000

vintage Disney Look Book cover

So since I decided to do this info post, a whole host of Disney-Look-related blog entries have been popping up. I'm just going to go over some of the key points with a special focus on non-costumed women, since that seems to be what most everyone's worried about. (Sorry to my 5 male subscribers, haha.) Oh, and another thing - the guidelines are super-dry to read through, and there really isn't a way to make the actual guidelines themselves more exciting. However, I'll be spicing the post up with pictures and examples and fun things!

Guidelines for All Cast Members

Nametags should be worn in an upright, readable position on your outermost layer of clothing and placed on the left shoulder area.
Costumed cast must have their Walt Disney Company Photo ID with them at all times, but may not wear it onstage. Non-costumed cast must wear the ID when backstage.
The only appropriate method for concealing tattoos is opaque make-up (no band-aids).
The use of deodorant or anti-perspraint is required. (This one just kind of cracks me up, not gonna lie.)

Guidelines for All Female Cast Members

Extreme hairstyles are not permitted. If hair is below shoulder-length, it should be confined while working.
Hair color should be well-maintained, natural, and appropriate to your skin-tone. (Basically, if you dye your hair you need to look like you could have been born with that color.)
If eyeliner and eye shadow are worn, they should be neutral colors that are close in value to your skin tone. Eye shadow and eyeliner should create a natural, blended look and should not extend beyond the natural eye area or the corners of the eye. Mascara may be applied lightly in shades of brown or black.

Guidelines for Costumed Women

Fingernails should not exceed 1/4 of an inch beyond the fingertip. If polish is used, it should be complementary to your skin tone. (N.B: Polish is not permitted in any food service role. This includes quick service, full service, and some merchandise locations.)
Hair accessories are for the express purpose of holding the hair away from the face and may not be worn as a decorative addition to the costume.
Rings, earrings and a classic business-style wristwatch are permitted. Necklaces, bracelets and ankle bracelets are not permitted. (Again, in food service roles rings and wristwatches are not permitted.)
The entire footwear section is basically, "It depends on your role."

Guidelines for Non-Costumed Women

Professional options for women include dress pants with a classic style blouse or sweater, skirted or pants suit, dress with or without a jacket, and business-style walking shorts with a blouse and jacket or vest. Cotton twill pants (i.e., Dockers, khakis) are permitted only if they are neatly pressed, creased and appear to be professionally laundered.
Clothing not permitted includes polo or golf style shirts (except for Sports & Recreation Cast), cargo-style pants, t-shirts, sundresses, sleeveless tops or dresses (without a jacket), capri pants, leggings, casual shorts, wrap-around shorts, one-piece rompers and garments made of denim fabrics.
Dress and skirt lengths may range from three inches (7.6 cm) above the top of the kneecap bone to the bottom of the ankle. The length of shorts should be from the top of the kneecap bone to three inches (7.6 cm) above the top of the kneecap bone.
Fabrics should be those traditionally acceptable for business such as tweed, wool, cotton, polyester, silk, linen, rayon or blends of these fibers. Unacceptable fabrics include spandex, gauze, metallic fabrics, sheer fabrics, clinging knits, denim and chambray.
Rings, necklaces, bracelets, earrings, lapel pins and a business-style wristwatch are permitted. A pin, brooch or scarf clip in good business taste is also acceptable. Two necklaces and two bracelets in good business taste that blend with the outfit and each other are permitted. Earrings may not exceed the size of a quarter.
Dress shoes or boots in good business taste are required. Classic dress shoes are permitted to have an open toe, open heel or a slingback (strap around the heel). An important note about footwear: Someone on the facebook group mentioned that heels could not exceed 2" in height. Nowhere in the Disney look book does it specifically give a heel height limit. As long as the shoes are in good business taste you should be fine. 5" is probably pushing it, though... ;)

All of these looks are acceptable within the Disney Look guidelines, with the small exception of the bracelets on the two outer looks. They're actually one bracelet set, but it appears as though more than two are worn, which would be a red flag.

I'm at school, so I don't have a lot of my business-casual attire with me, but I definitely want to post what I've purchased as far as Disney-Look-wear goes at some point!

I guess I should say some things about the guys, too, huh?

Guidelines for Costumed Men

Rings, a small tie tack and a classic, business-style wristwatch are permitted. Necklaces, bracelets and ankle bracelets are not permitted.

Guidelines for Non-Costumed Men

Dress trousers and a short or long-sleeved professional style shirt are required. Shirts must be tucked in, with the exception of sweaters specifically tailored otherwise.
Cotton twill trousers (i.e., Dockers, khakis) are permitted only if they are neatly pressed, creased and appear to be professionally laundered.
Clothing not permitted includes polo or golf style shirts (except for Sports & Recreation Cast), cargo-style trousers, t-shirts and garments made of denim fabrics.
Lapel pins, tie bars or clips, collar bars, cufflinks, rings, a bracelet and a business-style watch are permitted.
One bracelet, in good business taste, in gold, silver or a color that blends with your clothing is permitted.
Dress shoes and socks in good business taste are required.

So that's the Disney Look in a nutshell! For the complete guidelines (which you will need to be familiar with by the time your program starts), please check out the College Program website's section on the Disney Look or go ahead and download the Disney Look .pdf.

Info Teaser: Disney Look

noreply@blogger.com (Abigail Nora) — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 20:02:00 +0000

super-vintage "Disney Look" illustration

I found a .pdf of "The Disney Look Book" (clicking will download the .pdf) while browsing the Professional Interns website, so I'm posting it here for those of you who are curious and want to read through the whole thing before we get down there. I think it's basically what's on the college program site, but it's worth checking out.

I'm going to read through it myself and do an info post of the important points soon, so be on the look out for that! :)

List: Disney Smells

noreply@blogger.com (Abigail Nora) — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 02:53:00 +0000

I thought I'd start doing Top Five/Top Ten lists here, but I wanted to do some that were a little bit out of the ordinary. So what better way to kick it off than with The Top Five Smells of Walt Disney World?

five. fresh-baked cookies on main street, usa.

a hallmark of disney's almost fanatical attention to detail - they actually pump the smell of freshly baked cookies into the air as you walk down main street! mmm.

four. the orange groves on soarin'.

soarin' is easily epcot's most popular attraction. personally, i'd be fine if i could just bottle up the smells as you fly over california's orange groves...

three. the monorail.

yeah, it smells kind of like pee, but i freaking love the monorail. it's so quintessentially wdw to me.

[oookay. someone seems to have taken offense at my trying to pinpoint the monorail smell by comparing it to pee. that was clearly a bad descriptor. i'm sorry. but it's a funky, kind of stale smell that i love nonetheless because it means i'm in disney.]

two. rome burning on spaceship earth.

one. the water on pirates of the caribbean (or splash, or almost any other water ride, really)

this smell just is disney to me. whenever i watch videos of potc or splash or something on youtube, it's almost as if i can smell the water. who knew water could have a smell - and such a tantilizing one at that? (& thanks to my future roomie jenn for reminding me of the awesomeness of this smell!)

What do you think? Are there any smells you associate with WDW? Or maybe one I left off that you think deserves to be on this list? (Anyone who suggests Stitch's Great Escape is positively crazy.)

images courtesy of the disboards, flickr, and allears.net. edited by me in picnik.

OH SNAP.

noreply@blogger.com (Abigail Nora) — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 04:09:00 +0000

Yeeeee I have 100 followers and it's still 60+ days to check-in! I love you crazy people. Seriously, you rock my socks. I'm going to have to throw a virtual party or something. But for now, have a picture of Fantasmic! Mickey...

Info Post #11: Alumni Advice!

noreply@blogger.com (Abigail Nora) — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 19:38:00 +0000

one. Florida weather is beautiful, but it can also get chilly and rainy, so be prepared for that! Pack some sweatshirts, a light jacket, and an umbrella and rain gear. It will pour, so be ready for that. Rainy days are also a prime time to play in the parks, so take advantage of them. Of course, if you get caught in a sudden burst of rain when you're already at a park you could always rock a Mickey Poncho...

two. Make sure you understand the whole Disney Look thing before you get down there, as it will make things like check-in and Traditions much smoother for you and everyone else.

Now, to be clear about this: you do not have to be dressed in Disney Look at check-in, but they will check you there for things like natural hair color and make sure you don't have any visible tattoos or non-standard piercings, etc etc etc. I think you can wear piercings to check-in as long as they can be taken out when you need to be in Disney look, but I'm not sure.
At Traditions, however, your attire needs to match Disney Look completely or they won't let you do it that day. For the full guidelines, check out this section of the College Program website. Everything you need to review before your program is there!

three. Take advantage of all the CP has to offer! In addition to taking full advantage of the parks (like going for a few hours just because you can), go to the events held for CP participants (pool parties, Grocery Bingo, etc) and special Cast Member tours (like behind the scenes tours of attractions and more) while you're down there. The special tours tend to fill up really quickly so check the Hub often. It's a great way to meet new people and just chill. In fact, check the Hub daily so you don't miss out on any of the great opportunities down there.

four. If, like me, you won't have a car down there, pay attention to the bus schedule because it changes sometimes. And always take an earlier bus! Even if it gets you to work an hour early, you can bring your costume with you and chill in the parks as a guest for a little bit. Better to be an hour early than get half a point for clocking in late!

five. If you are also like me in that you freaking love shopping and will be there for the fall program, try to hold off on buying souvenirs until the holiday discounts kick in - they go up to 50% off! There's also a merchandise liquidation sale called SALSA (Spend a Little, Save a Lot) that happens in the Epcot parking lot - get to it as soon as possible because there's always a line to get into the tent but it's definitely worth it, as it includes merchandise from all around the resorts and parks and it's not all just Disney stuff, either.

six. Network! This could mean going to an event specifically for networking (either a CP one or one at Disney University) or just establishing and maintaining good relationships with your managers. It will make your job easier while you're there and help you out in the long run if you ever want to come back for another program, a PI, or start a career with Disney.

seven. Be open and put yourself out there - don't just hang out in your apartment if you're shy. Developing relationships with your fellow Cast Members not only gives you a social life, it makes working that much more enjoyable. Almost everyone down there is in the same situation as you: new environment, new experiences, new people. Make the most of it!

eight. Go to the special events that happen during your program! For Fall and Fall Advantage, this means Epcot's Food and Wine Festival, Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party, and all the Christmas events around WDW like Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. It's worth it to splurge on international treats (and wine, if you're over 21) at the Food and Wine Festival and pay for a discounted CM ticket to MNSSHP. In fact, since my birthday is in October I want to celebrate it by going to Food and Wine during the day then hopping to MK for MNSSHP that night!

nine. Be financially wise. A lot of people break even because they'll just spend their money paycheck to paycheck, but it is entirely possible to budget, watch what you spend, and walk away with money saved. Take advantage of CM discounts at Disney restaurants, but try and cook for yourself when you have the chance, or bring your lunch to work instead of buying it at the Mouseketeria. Even cooking your own meals and saving leftovers is cheaper than buying frozen ones all the time. Just be mindful of the fire alarms when you're busting out your inner chef.

ten. If you're under 21, don't even risk it with alcohol. It's the number one reason for CP termination. One guy extended into spring and was terminated a few weeks after extending for this. It's just not worth it.

eleven. Price Management/security in the apartments can be pretty hardcore - don't hang a towel out to dry over your balcony, put a pair of shoes outside to dry, or leave your door cracked open if you're running out for a second if you want to avoid warnings from them.

twelve. You don't have to be absolute besties with your roommates. Sure, it'd be nice and make things a lot easier, but it's possible to get along with/live with someone without being best friends.

thirteen. You're working in the most magical place on earth, but it's still a job. It will have its pros and its cons, so be ready for that. Guests are sometimes grumpy and unreasonable, CPers often get long shifts, and you're on your feet all day. But on the flip side of that.... you're working in the most magical place on earth and you get to give guests the experience of a lifetime! Just be sure you go in with realistic expectations.

fourteen. Going along the lines of tip thirteen, you're working in the most magical place on earth, so have fun with your job! Talk to the guests and ask them how their trips have been going - even a simple "hi, how are you?" can put a smile on people's faces. Especially if you're working a shop at a ride exit, talk to the guests waiting for their family members to come off.

fifteen. If you will be lucky enough to have a car down there, bring a GPS!

sixteen. If you have things you want to accomplish/do on the program, like for example seeing the Hoop Dee Doo or seeing every resort, make a list before you go! You'll get so busy once you're down there that it will be very easy to lose track of these kinds of things.

seventeen. TRY A DOLE WHIP!

eighteen. Most importantly, have fun and enjoy what is sure to become an unforgettable time in your life!!

nineteen. Try a Dole Whip float (only after accomplishing seventeen.)

twenty. Go ahead and get a second pineapple-y treat. You know you want to... classic Dole Whip or Dole Whip float, though? These are the questions that haunt CPers...

Thanks to flickr for the pictures and the lovely people on the DisBoards for advice, specifically everyone who responded to my questions. :)

Audition.

noreply@blogger.com (Abigail Nora) — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 23:02:00 +0000

Let's just get this out of the way: I was cut first round.

Along with a guy who did the CP in Entertainment, which does make me feel a bit better about it. I think they were looking for very, very specific things in Chicago, and they seemed to be Mouse and Goofy Heights.

I was measured at 5'4". Needless to say, that's not Mouse Height. I had so much fun with our little across the floor - I really thought I rocked it and had great personality. And I noticed that many of the people in the non-cut group were really short and really tall, whereas my group (the sad group) consisted almost entirely of mid-range heights.

The thing I'm most upset about is that I didn't even get to experience the whole audition. I'm really disappointed. But I am by no means giving up. The plan is to do the CP now, go back to school, and return after graduation. So I will definitely keep auditioning, and I'm thinking of going to a smaller audition next time just so I get to do the whole thing!

So there's that.

80+ Followers!

noreply@blogger.com (Abigail Nora) — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 00:44:00 +0000

You crazy kids rock my socks.

THANK YOU!

And coming up soon...ish...

Top Ten Tips (& More!) from alumni! (Thanks DisBoards!)
Audition!
Freaking out about making packing lists and trying to pass it off as an informational blog post. :P

AUDITION WEEK! EEK!

noreply@blogger.com (Abigail Nora) — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 20:43:00 +0000

Sadly, I am actually really sick right now. So the hardcore audition prep has been replaced by ... napping. I am, however, getting quite a bit of animation practice in right now because whatever I have has left me with no voice whatsoever. Oh joy.

I keep going between "I'm going to rock this!" and "Oh my god I'm going to FAIL." Trying to fix that so it's more the former and not the latter by actual audition day...I also made yet another polyvore set, this one of the makeup I'll be wearing on audition day.

Audition Makeup by abigail.nora on Polyvore.com

It might look like a lot for an audition where they suggest you not really wear makeup at all, but it's actually pretty much my everyday, natural look. Just tinted moisturizer, some primer to keep the eye shadow on, and a very natural shimmery eyeshadow (with just a little white in the corners to make them pop). And Nars orgasm blush because it is my favorite thing ever.

So - if anyone's heading to Chicago a week from now, maybe I'll see you there, and to everyone else auditioning, break a leg! I'd love to hear how everyone's audition goes!

Wonderland Wardrobe: Audition Prep

noreply@blogger.com (Abigail Nora) — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 19:22:00 +0000

Upon realizing I really can't afford to buy new clothes and jazz shoes just for an audition I may or may not pass (here's hoping I DO pass it though!!), I decided to make a different set of what I will actually be sporting at the audition, give or take a few things. (Like they didn't have my exact t-shirt or hoodie, for example.)

I'll be wearing my ballet slippers I think, since I have them and I prefer dancing in them to sneakers.

Audition Outfit! by abigail.nora featuring Victoria's Secret tops

I think I'm going to do an audition prep vlog and an actual audition vlog. I can't believe it's only like nine days away! This is actually mildly terrifying...

p.s. I answered some more formspring questions but I'm having difficulty posting them here for some reason - so feel free to check those out if you so desire.