AS THE SUN SETS ON THE FRONTIER...

Hi everyone! I feel like lately all I've been doing is apologizing for not posting anything, but that ends today because I'm home from Orlando with plenty of time to kill before my friend Brittany flies in on Friday! Yep, that's right, we didn't have to say goodbye (thankfully) because I will be seeing my lovely Disney BFF/roommate in five short days :)

All I've been doing the last few weeks (well, besides working and packing and trying to spend as much time with my friends as possible and squeezing in as much time in the parks as i was humanly able) is reflecting on my time working at Disney World and how it has changed me. Yes, I am definitely aware of how cliche that sounds but it is truly the only way to put it! I know that I am not alone in feeling this way, as I'm sure that my co-workers, friends, and roommates would agree with me.

Now hate is a strong word, but when I first started my journey at Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe (whew, that's a mouthful! we all just call it Pecos buttttt that's its formal name) I was not the biggest fan of my role...I remember my first day the thought (and smell) of dealing with other people's trash made me gag beyond belief. After those three days of training I felt like I was drowning in information, struggling to find some way to remember everything that had been thrown at me. 

Let's be real here for a second: Pecos Bill is, when it comes down to it, a really well themed McDonald's. And also the third busiest restaurant in the world after Cosmic Ray's (Tomorrowland, also in Magic Kingdom) and a McDonald's in Shanghai, China. So considering these two facts, I think my anxiety was justified. But as the days went on and I spent practically every waking hour at work (one shift i was at work until 2 a.m...i considered quitting after that ordeal but i talked myself out of that one) I became more comfortable with my responsibilities and the people I was surrounded by.

The Disney College Program is unique in the way that is brings together so many different people. People from different states, different countries, different walks of life, different cultures. When I studied abroad in England, I went there to be immersed in a singular culture. Somewhat unknowingly, living in Orlando and working at Disney World not only immersed me in the Disney culture but countless others as well. I made friends from England, Australia, New Zealand, Spain, China, and Japan as well as all over the United States! It didn't take long for me to figure out the difference between Aussies and Kiwis, and the fact that the difference is everything. My Aussie friends introduced me to Tim Tams (the greatest cookie...or should i say biscuit? on the face of the planet) and explained to me how Australia is made up of states just like the U.S. is.

Weirdly enough, I would say Disney culture is arguably more exotic than any of the aforementioned ways of life. The company that Walt started way back in 1923 has become the leading force in the world of media and entertainment and has created a truly unique environment for cast members and guests alike. The mission and morals that are upheld and promoted by the company are in turn instilled in cast members and therefore the image is perpetuated by all of us who make the magic real. Working at Disney on the college program teaches you a whole new language of ER's, ADO's, and ROS's (early release, additional day off, release of shift, respectively) and probably an actual new language due of the sheer amount of people from all over the world who walk through the gates every single day. I like to think that I know a little bit more Spanish now than before...

Working at Magic Kingdom (more specifically Pecos Bill) taught me more than I ever thought possible.

It taught me how to be the ultimate team player, but also the importance of being able to be independent.

It taught me how to put others before myself, whether that be my fellow cast members or the guests we serve.

It taught me that even the smallest triumphs can be celebrated, but it's the big ones that should be announced to the entire restaurant with a chorus of cowbells and a rowdy yeehaw.

It taught me how a smile can say more than words ever could.

It taught me that even when things seem like they can't possibly get any worse, they can. And they will. But that it can get better in a split second.

It taught me how to be a better friend.

It taught me how to let the little things go, and even some big things.

It taught me that sometimes you have to get a little bit dirty, and that's okay.

It taught me how to prep hot cheese, and that I would be happy if I never had to prep it again.

It taught me that a strong work ethic will get you far in life, no matter what anyone says.

And most of all, it taught me to reach for my dreams no matter the price.

That, my friends, is what I plan to do.

until next time,

DCP 2015: A REAL WILD TIME

Hi everyone! On Saturday, I went to Animal Kingdom with my lovely roommates Kayla and Amy. The last time I went to Animal Kingdom was about 10 years ago, but even now it looks almost exactly how I remember it :) When we went to make Fastpass reservations for some of the bigger rides, the cast member that was helping us was nice enough to give us a Fastpass that we could use for whatever ride we wanted! The wait for Kilimanjaro Safari was already long and there weren't any Fastpasses left for the day, so we decided to use our freebie on that! Our roommate Brittany is training to be a tour guide on Kilimanjaro Safari and she happened to be training that day. We looked all over for her while we were in line waiting to get on the safari, and we finally found her right before we departed! She just started taking guests a few days ago and I can't wait to go on a safari with her as my tour guide! :)

the zebras were so close!

Later on, my roommates and I decided to get in line to meet Dug and Russell from Up!

They were so adorable! They are also the first characters I've ever officially met! When I was younger, I used to be scared of characters so I'm starting to make up for all that lost time :)

I met Pocahontas as well and she complimented the "stones" that I wore in my ears! ;) As a blogger who loves fashion, a compliment coming from straight from a princess is much appreciated! My OOTD for the day was a crop top from Nollie, my favorite black high waisted shorts from American Apparel, and my brown booties from DSW.

I've been getting great feedback since I've started posting about my adventures on the Disney College Program! I hope you've been enjoying my posts so far, I've had so much fun doing them. Leave me suggestions down below for any other posts that you would like to see or just say hi! :)

until next time,

DCP 2015: RESORT HOPPING, MAGIC KINGDOM, AND BECOMING AN OFFICIAL CAST MEMBER!

Hi everyone! I've gotten up really early the past 2 days (like 5 a.m. early) so I apologize if this post seems a tad bit scatterbrained! I've been non-stop busy since my last post, so let's get into it! :)

Since we couldn't get into the parks yet, Meghan, Brittany and I went resort hopping on Wednesday. First we went to the Grand Floridian which I think so far is one of my favorite resorts...it's just so classy and beautiful!

The Grand Floridian is home to the Wedding Pavilion, and we went and had a peek since the gate was open! :)

brittany proposed to me...it was magical ;)

Next up, the Polynesian! As of right now, this resort is my number one...you can't beat tropical flowers and luaus!

Wanna know what the best thing about the Polynesian is? Nope, believe it or not it is not the private beach! It's the Dole Whip...

Behold the beauty! Now, I must say that I'm not the biggest fan of pineapple...but this pineapple and vanilla swirl soft serve is to DIE FOR. Dole Whip is bae <3

Last but not least, Wilderness Lodge! I've stayed at the Grand Californian in Disneyland before, and the Wilderness Lodge is very similar in style and theming.

On Thursday, I finally had Traditions! For those of you who may not know, Traditions is a class that all Disney College Program participants (and other cast members as well, I believe!) take before they become official Walt Disney World cast members! Traditions covers the history of the Disney company and the values and culture that structure it! The most exciting part of Traditions was getting my nametag and my first pair of ears :D Oh, and getting to go backstage in the Utilidors...sorry, my lips are sealed! ;)

On Friday night, Meghan and I used our park passes for the first time to go to Magic Kingdom! We were only there for a few hours (because it closed at 9 p.m.) but we managed to ride quite a few rides before it closed :) We utilized our time wisely and rode Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (the newest ride in Magic Kingdom) during the fireworks so we only had to wait about 15 minutes! Pretty good compared to the normal 100 minute wait...

my first mickey ice cream cone <3

my new home in frontierland :)

On Saturday morning, I had a class called Welcome to Food and Beverage which basically just covered food safety and all of that jazz. This morning I had my Magic Kingdom specific orientation (Once Upon a Time is Now...isn't that cute?) which consisted of a four hour walking tour and finally getting my costume! :D My first day of on the job training is tomorrow and I am excited! I will be working in the front of house, so if you are ever at Magic Kingdom and you see me, come say hi! :)

until next time,

DCP 2015: THE JOURNEY SO FAR

Hi everyone! Wow, the past few days have been a whirlwind! I flew into Orlando on Sunday afternoon and I was greeted by sunny and warm 75 degree weather! Which is quite a shock coming from Boston where it was 10 degrees...but the best kind of shock, of course! ;) I took a bus from the airport to Art of Animation, which is the Disney resort I stayed in the night before I moved into my apartment!

There are four different themed areas at Art of Animation: Cars, Finding Nemo, The Lion King, and The Little Mermaid! As you may be able to tell by the pictures, I stayed in the Little Mermaid section! The giant characters make you feel like you are in the movie :) The room was well themed (of course...this is Disney we're talking about!) and I definitely enjoyed having the king sized bed all to myself.

this was on my bed when i walked in...how cute!

On Monday morning, my roommate Meghan and I (she spent the night at Art of Animation as well) packed up her car with all of our suitcases and boxes and headed off to check in for the program! I found out that I will be working in Magic Kingdom in Frontierland, which is what I was hoping for! :) We also got our first choice for an apartment, which was very exciting! I went to Casting right away after check in, which is where I did my fingerprinting, documentation for work, background check, and all that fun stuff!

the doorknobs on the door to the casting building, so cool!

After I was done with Casting, I finally got to see my apartment and meet my roommates! We are living in a three bedroom apartment in Patterson Court and it is really lovely! We are right near the laundry facilities and the clubhouse, so perfect walking distance for basically everything! That night we had reservations at Beaches and Cream at the Yacht and Beach Club to conquer the Kitchen Sink...what is the Kitchen Sink, you ask? It is 8 scoops of ice cream, every topping you could think of, and a whole can of whipped cream! Oh, and it's served in an actual kitchen sink ;)

I love ice cream, and I was feeling fairly confident about my eating abilities until about 15 minutes into eating it...it doesn't look that big at first but the sink itself is deep! Very misleading. We didn't finish it but we will be going back again soon to try again!

my wonderful roommates and i! next to me are brittany and kayla; across from us laura, meghan, amy

I'm all settled into my apartment now but I'm having serious issues not buying every single piece of Disney merchandise that I see! My first day of training is tomorrow, it's called Traditions and it is my official introduction to the Disney company and it will be my first time in the Magic Kingdom as a cast member! More on that later though...

until next time,

WHAT'S ON MY IPHONE?

Hi everyone! I must admit, as much as I've always tried to reassure myself that I would never become one of those people when it comes to my smartphone, I think I've failed. I love my iPhone, and I'm not ashamed to admit it! I had an Android phone (some crappy little thing, i don't even remember what it was) before I got my first iPhone and I can say with surety that I will never go back! Not only do I love my iPhone, but I love apps! They are such an interesting concept to me and so helpful in everyday life! Unless we're talking about games...in that case, definitely counterproductive. If you're anything like me, you love peeking at what people have on their iPhone...and if you are one of those people, you'll love this post because I'm going to show you what's on mine! Let's get into it, shall we?

First up, my lock screen! Surprise, surprise...it's a picture of my lovely beau and I ;) I love this picture that Mike and I took when we went ice skating, so obviously I had to make it my lock screen! Every time I unlock my phone, I smile :)

Aaaaaaand this is my home screen! If you've been here for a while, you know I love Pulp Fiction, and that it's my favorite movie! I especially love Mia Wallace, aka Uma Thurman...she's the bomb <3 I used to have a different version of this as my lock screen, but I found this illustrated one which I think is much cooler!

Here is my screen once I unlock my phone...nothing too exciting yet. All of the typical iPhone apps that come with the phone!

From left to right, the first folder I have holds all of my "social apps": Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Tumblr, Snapchat, Facebook Messenger (basically Mike and I's lifeblood, it's what we use to text each other! stupid international texting charges), Bloglovin, and Viber (what i use to talk to my parents when i'm abroad)

Next folder is my "random" folder...because I couldn't really find a home for these apps so I just decided to group them all together! In here I have: the Blogilates app (i wrote a post a few months back about blogilates and my fitness routine...click the link to read!), Pic Stitch (for when i need to make a killer collage for my instagram), Skype (a must have for anyone in a long distance relationship...let's be real!), Timehop (isn't it brilliant to be reminded of the embarassing Facebook statuses you posted four years ago when you were young and stupid? oh, and the cool stuff you did too), Shift Planning for my job, Buzzfeed (aka my one true love), MyFitnessPal which tracks what you eat every day (shoutout to Mike for this one), Netflix (duh), and The Hunt which is an app you can use to find bascially anything on the internet.

My "music" folder consists of: Spotify, Shazam, Songza, Pandora, Radio 94.7 (my favorite radio station that I listened to in California...the fact that I can stream it on my phone makes me the happiest girl in the world), BandsinTown, and SoundCloud. I listen to Spotify practically nonstop, but usually on my laptop...so my most used music app on my phone would have to be Pandora!

My "lifestyle" folder is pretty sad looking...it only has two apps in it, Etsy and Pinterest. As of late, I haven't been using either but I do like to keep them in case I ever get bored!

Here we have my "games" folder, which is significantly smaller than it used to be. I was living in England when Flappy Bird came out and my friends and I became obsessed with it! We would sit around the table at every meal and play it together, it got pretty ugly sometimes. You know what I mean if you've ever played it...it makes you want to smash everything in sight when your bird crash lands into the ground. I still play it sometimes...usually for about 5 minutes and then I give up because I get too frustrated! I also have Duolingo, which isn't really a "game" really...but it does make practicing my French fun! I downloaded Trivia Crack but I don't understand why everyone thinks it's so addicting...I usually use all my lives pretty quickly and then I forget about it.

Next up is the slightly boring "utilities" folder: Calculator (which i use way too much), Compass and Voice Memos (which i never use), Flashlight (which i also use way too much), my bank app, Podcasts, and the Square app which I use sometimes when I go to events for work (it lets you swipe credit cards and such)

My "travel" folder is pretty sparse: XE Currency Converter (so handy), and Skyscanner which searches for cheap flights.

Lastly, we have the most exciting folder on my iPhone: the "disney" folder! :) Seeing as I am moving to Florida in 3 days (!!!) for my Disney College Program internship, I thought it was only appropriate to download some fun apps that I can use in the parks! I have the WDW Lines app which tells you wait times for attractions in all of the parks and the official Disney World app which tells you anything you could ever want to know about visiting the parks!

Do you use any of these apps? What's your lock/home screen? Any app recommendations? Comment down below :)

until next time,

LIFE UPDATE: WHERE AM I GOING?!

Hi everyone! I just wanted to do a quick update for you all. Sorry I've been MIA for a couple days, it's a week and half until finals and I'm freaking out a little bit with all of this work and studying! You know how professors just love to assign projects and papers right before the end of the semester! Trust me, I would much rather be blogging instead, but it has to be done :( Anyways, I'm hoping to get a few posts up in the coming week for you guys :)

Guess where I'll be exactly 2 weeks from right now! Go on, take a guess! You don't know? I'll be on a plane somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean. Eeeek! And where am I going, you ask? To England, to see my boyfriend, Mike! Finally. I'm so excited. If you're new to Essentially Shannon and you have no clue what I'm talking about you should click here and read up! Will I be posting while I'm away on my lovely 3 week holiday, you ask? Well, that's the plan! I'm bringing my laptop and camera with me on my trip and I definitely plan on blogging while I'm in England, so stay tuned for some international posts :D Maybe I can even get Mike to help me out with a few OOTD posts ;)

Next up on the agenda: I'm moving to Florida in mid January because I am doing the Spring 2015 Disney College Program! If you're scratching your head in confusion right now, the Disney College Program is a prestigious (I mean, it is Disney so...duh) paid internship at the Walt Disney World Resort (they do it at Disneyland also) that allows college students (that's me!) to work in the parks and resorts in a variety of different roles (I'm in Quick Service Food and Beverage in case you're wondering, but there are so many possible roles) Oh, and did I mention I get into the parks for free? ;) Yeah, it's a pretty sweet gig and I'm so grateful for this amazing opportunity! I can't wait to move down to Orlando and meet my wonderful roommates and embark on this new adventure! I've always loved Disney, and the fact that they want me to work for their company blows my mind and I couldn't be more jazzed! And I mean, I'm avoiding the winter yet again and I'll probably get a tan for the first time in years so that's definitely a plus :)

So what does this mean for Essentially Shannon? Since I will be working a lot when I'm down at Disney, I will be really busy. And tired. But I am going to do my absolute best to post as much as humanly possible during my four and a half months down there! I'm also happy to anounce that I will be vlogging my entire experience! My university requires that I document my program in some way, and I chose to vlog it for two reasons. The first is that I already blog on a regular basis, so I thought it would be fun to try something different! That's not to say that I wont blog anything about my program though ;) And second, I want to have videos of my program to watch years from now when I'm feeling sentimental! I plan on getting my channel together and posting my first video (probably an About Me or something along those lines since it will be the first video I post) when I get back from England, so when I get that all set up I will be sure to link you guys to my channel if you want to come along with me on this journey! It should be pretty fun to watch, I mean it is Disney World...

Finally, I just wanted to say hi to all of my new followers and thank you! I am thankful for every single one of you and I hope you all stick around and follow me on these adventures of mine! And always, be sure to follow me on social media to keep up with me! :)

https://twitter.com/essentiallyshan

http://instagram.com/shanandoah8/

until next time,