So…I’ve only been in California for a week, but so much has already happened!

I drove from Arizona to California last Friday.  I went straight to Universal Studios Hollywood, where I got to ride the new Transformers: The Ride 3D a total of 19 times!  Although I’m trying to keep my blog focused only on Disney, I will say that Universal’s newest attraction is AMAZING!  I’d highly recommend going to see it this summer, but only after you’ve been to Cars Land at Disney California Adventure!  ;D

Over the weekend I stayed at my dad’s place and then went to Six Flags Magic Mountain on Monday and Knott’s Berry Farm on Tuesday.  And then finally on Wednesday, it was time for check-in!  I showed up at Carnegie Plaza around 8AM and was able to being the check-in process.  Honestly it felt like I had never left.  I’ve been suffering from Post Disney Depression since last August (yes, it’s real- Google it!), so getting to come back was something I was really looking forward to!

The past couple of days have been a bit busy.  Thursday was orientation.  I went through and filled out the remainder of the new hire paperwork and got my picture taken for my ID card.  They still had the photo from my last ID still on file, but they went ahead and took a new picture.  Oddly enough, I was wearing the exact same Disneyland Resort polo shirt that I had worn the first time I participated in the program!

Today was Traditions, which is not only the first day of training, but also the first paid day.  Of course, as Disney College Program alumni, this day was already familiar to myself as well as to the other participants.  But it wasn’t too bad- our instructors were able to keep it entertaining!

After Traditions, we did what most new hires do- we went into the parks!  Didn’t do a whole lot tonight…saw the fireworks, went on Star Tours and Pirates of the Caribbean, and just walked around.  But obviously I’ll have the whole summer to enjoy the Resort, even if it is going to go by so fast!

So that’s basically it for now…gotta get some sleep so I’ll have energy to hit the parks before my training tomorrow afternoon!

Thanks for reading, and check back soon for more posts!

-Tyler

The last two days of training were interesting…

Day 3 of training was the fun day.  The highlight was learning how to sweep through attraction queues…at DCA, all of the queues were built wide enough for a wheelchair to go through.  So this means that the queues are easier to sweep than DL’s.  Basically we start at the loading area for the attraction and sweep through to the entrance.  It is done this way so that the guests can see us as we’re coming through the queue and therefore move to one side to allow us to pass by.  The only time it’s done the other way around is when the queue isn’t built wide enough for wheelchairs (which applies only to DL).

Day 4, the last day of training, was a little bit tougher.  We learned how to empty trash cans.  We also learned how to sort recyclables…and that was about it.  I could go in more detail about the training, but it’s not all that exciting (at least not on the internet).  But there is one interesting thing that is worth sharing- while we were emptying trash cans in the Hollywood Pictures Backlot, there was a weird/funny moment when a couple walked up to us and asked where a smoking area was.  We directed them to the area between the Monsters, Inc. attraction and Flynn’s Arcade (which is part of the elecTRONica offerings).  They then proceeded to ask if Sulley from Monsters, Inc. smoked and if he had extra cigarettes that they could have.  Best thing I’ve heard from a guest so far, and I’ll probably hear a lot of stories that are crazier by the end of my program!

Yesterday I had the day off, so I headed to DL (where else would I go?  Lol).  Only stayed for a few hours because my new roommate, Albert, moved in and he was at the apartment by himself.  But I did get quite a few rides in…I had a Fastpass for Space Mountain, but it went 101 (Disneyspeak for “broken down”), so I just left.  One of my friends is keeping a ride count from each day, and so I decided I’d do it as well.  Here’s my ride count from yesterday (total counts over the course of my program are in parenthesis*):

Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters-1 (3)

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad-1 (3)

Pirates of the Caribbean-1 (3)

Haunted Mansion-1 (3)

Indiana Jones Adventure-1 (4)

*Ride counts are from the time I started counting…so these numbers are lower than the actual numbers.  There’s a margin of error to be factored in haha

Headed off to the parks again today, and then I’m working from Wednesday-Monday…later!

Just one detail to take care of from my last post…in my last entry, I posted a trivia question: “What city is Main Street USA based upon?“  The answer is Marceline, Missouri.  This is where Walt Disney grew up (he was not born in Marceline, despite what you may have heard/read).  He wanted Main Street to feel not only like his hometown, but he also wanted the guests to feel as if they were entering a Main Street like the one from their hometown as well.  So now that you’ve learned a little more about Disneyland’s history, let’s fast forward to the present and my current experience in the Disney College Program!

As of Wednesday, I have started on-the-job training!  I have already learned quite a bit about the different aspects of custodial, but there are still two more days of training.

On the first day, I met with fellow DCA/DTD custodial new hires (also from the Disney College Program), as well as my trainer.  We met at Harbor Pointe, which is a central check in location for Disneyland Resort Cast Members.  After some introductions, we began training.

We started by going to Costuming and getting our Custodial costumes (at Disney, we wear costumes, not uniforms).  The custodial costume is unique because it is used resort-wide.  So while a CM who operates Big Thunder Mountain Railroad would look out of place at Tower of Terror, a Disneyland Park custodial CM would blend in fine at Disney California Adventure since both parks use the same costume.  It’s all white, with a maroon belt and a bag which is used to carry around park maps, buttons, and stickers for the guests, along with the tools we need to do our job.  There are also optional jackets, sweatshirts, and hats we can wear.  Here are some examples of how a custodial CM could look (yes, these are all pictures of me haha…sorry for the weird angles- one of my roommates, Jose took these- blame it on him lol):

A regular custodial costume (just click the photo icon to view):

Here I am wearing an optional baseball cap and jacket (notice the reflectors!):

And then for this one I removed the hat and jacket and traded it for a sweatshirt:

Afterward we headed over to our side of the resort, Disney California Adventure.  There we were given some basic information about our position and an overview of what we would be doing that day.  Obviously a lot of this information is confidential, so I am not allowed to discuss it.  But anyway, after that we were given a tour of DCA and all of the backstage areas (the places the guests can’t go).  We were introduced to leads and managers of the different areas of the park as well as boundary lines for the different work zones.  At the end of the day, we worked crowd control for World of Color- basically waving flashlights to the ground to direct guest traffic in and out of the Paradise Pier area.  After we took a knowledge assessment of what we learned that day and headed home.

On the second day, things were more hands-on.  After going over information on chemical safety and touring the backstage areas of Downtown Disney, we went into the park and got our first experience in sweeping.  There are specific ways the broom and must be carried, but it is a very easy job.  Then we got into one of the dreaded parts of the job- a Code V.  A Code V is vomit.  I shouldn’t have to explain in any more detail!  So yeah, it’s not pleasant at all, but at the same time it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be.  Once you get over the fact that you’re cleaning up someone’s meal, it’s no big deal- these things happen sometimes.

Later in the day, we practiced proper mopping techniques, swept the Hyperion Theater queue area, and went over procedures for cleaning up a Code V on Tower of Terror (fortunately we did not have to clean anything up- we only went over what to do if it were to happen).  And then same as the day before, we took a knowledge assessment over what we learned.

I do have to say that one thing I LOVE about my role is the guest interaction.  I’ve already lost count of how many guests have asked me questions over the past couple of days.  I knew that custodial CMs would have to know the park inside and out, and I felt that I definitely met the requirements seeing as I have visited the Disneyland Resort so many times over the years.  So I’m glad that I’m able to help them make the most of their vacations!  Another nice thing about being a custodial CM is that you are allowed to trade pins with the guests.  Pin trading was introduced at the Disneyland Resort about 10 years ago.  Guests are encouraged to buy pins at stores at the Disneyland Resort, and then trade pins with the Cast Members.  It is very popular and has been a very successful program.  I initially thought that I would have to buy my own pins and lanyard, but to my surprise, Disney provides pins and lanyards for the Cast Members.  Of course, these pins are not mine to keep- they must be returned when I stop working for Disneyland (which will be in August unfortunately).  But it is nice that Disney is willing to make this easily accessible for both Cast Members and guests.  I myself am a pin collector (I started my collection in 2001, and it’s grown over the past decade to include over 300 pins!), but this is the first experience that I have gotten in trading.  After experiencing it as a Cast Member, I can’t wait to buy a pin set and trade for other pins as a guest!  So if you are also a pin trader, come find me in DCA or DTD and trade with me!

So that’s about it for now…sure, my role will blow (chunks) at times, and some days will (literally) be crappy, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.  While custodial isn’t the most desirable job, it is very important.  We are responsible for providing guest services as well as creating a safe and clean environment for both guests and Cast Members.  Knowing that I am helping to make the parks just as special for the guests as they have been for me makes this job worth it at the end of the day.  Of course, I still have a couple days of training to go before I start the real work, but I have a feeling I will still stand by what I’m saying now at the end of my program!