Florida Food Bucket List

A while back someone linked a Florida bucket list from a website called onlyinyourstate.com . I started checking out the site and as the name might point out, it has a lot of articles of cool things for every state! I saw a couple of food based articles and decided to combine the lists to one that includes places that I would be most likely to go (basically ones in Central Florida from Tampa to Port Canaveral). 

I've already tried two of these!
-4 Rivers-basically amazing!!! The one I go to is in Winter Garden and has my mouth watering as I type. Definitely recommend!

-Pub Sub at Publix- Only actually tried this this week. I tried a chicken fingers sub (I was told this is what I should get) and I wasn't overly impressed by all of the hype. I mean, it is a decent sub for a decent price so I am not opposed to getting one again, but I am not rushing back either.

nom nom nom. 4 Rivers!!!

Two more were on a list from some friends.
-Keke's Breakfast Cafe- My roommates swear by this place. We were going to go once together but the wait was long and Sam had to work that day so we passed. I will get there one day...

-Old Spanish Sugar Mill De Leon Springs- This one's been on an imaginary list since my first PI. If you weren't already aware, Manatees come and winter in the wonderful springs of Florida. Some friends told us about how they went at saw the manatees and got to make delicious pancakes from their table! My roommate and I tried to find our way here, but ended up at a different springs. We may not have gotten to have pancakes, but we did get to see a lot of manatees! Next winter for sure.

A couple more I recognized the name of.

-Yellow Dog Eats in Gotha- Some people at work have mentioned this place before. I can't remember any specifics, but when I came across the name I made a mental note
-Frenchy's in Clearwater-When I saw this name I remembered passing it when I went to Clearwater with Nick 2 years ago. We almost went here but went for a delicious pizza place instead. Supposedly the Group Sandwich is the thing to get here!

-Columbia Restaurant (Ybor, Clearwater, Orlando)- This one I recognize from my trip with my family to St. Augustine 2 weeks ago. We almost went to a Columbia Restaurant there (and we actually parked at it!) but went for a more local, hole-in-the-wall, authentic Cuban (and also cheaper) restaurant down the street. I'm glad we tried that one there since Columbia has a few in my neck of the woods

And then there were some that I hadn't ever heard of (which really means nothing since there is still so much in Florida I have yet to explore). Maybe I'll try and visit a handful of these in the future!
-The Beach Shanty Cafe in Clearwater
-Three Coins Diner in Tampa
-Aguila Sandwich shop in Tampa
-Wright's Gourment House in Tampa
-Brocato's in Tampa
-Pinky's Tampa
-Mediterranean Deli in Orlando
-Teak Neighborhood Grill in Orlando

Hopefully I can make it to a some of these places in the future, but I bet I'll come across a ton of other places to eat as well

Resident Summer

So in April I was lucky enough to volunteer in a Cross-Utilization capacity to be a Disney Media Representative for the National Media Awaken Summer Event (you can read a little here:  Awaken Summer).

Well, the media outlook that I worked with (105.1 WOMX Orlando's Mix) apparently didn't get completely sick of me during our Disney's Animal Kingdom at Night Preview and Disney's Animal Kingdom Broadcast the follow day. I apparently was tolerable enough for them to ask for me to work with them again for out Florida only media event for Resident Summer! I was so honored to be asked to hang out with them again (oh wait, I guess it was considered work).

This time both their morning and afternoon shows came out and it was so much fun to meet them all. They were all great people and I was happy to be able to help introduce them all to the new Town Center at Disney Springs (let's just say that I am addicted to D-Luxe Burger now...)  and all of the great new offerings this summer, including the new Soarin' Around the World video and Frozen attractions at EPCOT, Star Wars fireworks at Hollywood Studios, Jungle Book show with the new Animal Kingdom at Night, along with the new stage show at the Magic Kingdom. Some of these thing are already open, but there are a ton of things opening today, June 17th!

If I didn't have enough fun working the event,
they even gave me this yummy treat!

If you search #ResidentSummer on your favorite social media device you can probably find a lot of the things that the media posted from the event! 

I hope that I can work some of these events again in the future. I love my job in Revenue Management, but the opportunities like this to get out in the parks and interact with our guests, media ones or otherwise, really helps keep the magic alive!

Media partners CJ and Carly with Mix 105.1, Marketing Manager
Jane, and myself after another successful broadcast!

2014 Fall Presenters Stats

It's been a little over a year since my group of presenters started our internship. Since I have had a ton of time on my hands I've decided to dig a bit to see where we are all now.

-There were 29 of us in the Fall 2014 Conservation Education Presenter internship Group.

-There are currently 15 of us still employed by the company (not including the 3 that are still seasonal presenters).

-Of the 15 of us left, 10 have positions still within Animal Programs. (This is a little lie since in reality one person works with Natural Encounters, Inc which is a contractor, so she technically isn't really a cast member and isn't in Animal Programs, but it's close enough...)
-The 10 who are in Animal Programs currently hold positions as Summer Conservation Camp Instructors, Education Programs Instructors, Wild Africa Trek Guide, Pangani Trail Guide, Animal Keeper, and Wilderness Explorer Coordinator Internship (called Conservation Education Operations).
-Most of the people in Animal Programs are part time. The Conservation Day Camp Instructors are on a Full Time TA for the summer but go back to part time Instructor positions afterwards. 1 person is an intern. The one who is a contractor with NEI is full time. The Keeper at DAK Lodge is on a Full Time TA.

-The 5 of us who aren't in Animal Programs are in widely different positions from Revenue Management to Secretary to Cruise Line Trainer to Attractions Host to a position that I don't understand.
-The 5 of us that aren't in Animal Programs are Full Time or have Full Time TAs

So that's a peek into what a Presenter Group looks like 6 months post-internship completion. I loved my group and can't wait to see where Disney takes us, whether it is a life long career or a place to vacation.


As a side note, the 14 who aren't employed by Disney have a wide range of jobs too, including Museum Education Manager, part time Zoo Keeper, a couple Zoo Educators, Au Pair in Germany for a year, one still in undergrad, an Education Coordinator, one going to dentistry school, one works with the Salvation Army, one is getting her PhD, and a few that are between things (such as just moving across the country and getting married to her marine fiance, another getting married in a week or so, and a few that are a bit of a mystery to be honest after finishing their second PIs a month or so ago)

PDD (Post Disney Depression) and some Post-Disney Reflections

My time at Disney was- dare I say it-magical. I met so many friends. Had my first real relationship. Gained a lot of good experience, professional and otherwise. I got to freakin' live at the most magical place on earth for an entire year. It was amazing to not live with feet of snow and spend an hour or two at a park whenever I wanted. College wasn't always amazing for me, and Disney wasn't without some bumps here or there, but I truly was able to find myself and I was the happiest I had been in a long time.

That being said,  the first two weeks home I was really depressed. I was missing the warmth (it's been a cold summer in Michigan. When I first got home there were very few days above 80, but it has been a bit warmer the last week or so.) I was missing my cubicle at Maingate. I missed logging into SIMBA and seeing the weekly reports being updated. I missed modifying my Starbucks/DLR 60th forecasts. I missed my apartment at Falcon Square. I missed my friends. I missed (most) of the roommates I had had during my year in Florida (all 8 of them). I missed DAK. I missed the rides. I missed the resorts. I missed hearing the Sandhill Cranes calls. I missed running around Independence. I missed so many things. 

I had applied for a few positions and hadn't gotten most of the positions. When I found out that I hadn't gotten the one I was most hopeful for (and would have kept me at Maingate Merchandise) I cried. I cried a lot. I honestly felt like my dreams had been crushed. During the weeks since the bad news, I've actually had a few more interviews, including what would be a dream job for me. I found out I didn't get one position, but there is still one I am waiting to hear back on. I think I will still be really disappointed if I don't get the position, but I am beginning to be okay with staying in Michigan. If I don't get this position I might cry, but I have come to adopt the mentality that a few of my old Presenter friends who left Disney have said: Disney isn't going anywhere anytime soon. So if I don't get the position, right now I am going to hold of on applying to more Disney positions and look for some jobs around Metro Detroit. Then once I pay off loans (and maybe get sick of being at home) I can always go back with the added experience. 

I think all ex-Disney CMs should have that mentality: Disney isn't going anywhere. It's going to be there for the foreseeable future, whether or not it is just for a visit or if it is there to stay. 

That being said, fingers crossed for some good news in the next week or two. :)

Arrived!

So today has been super stressful. It was all good until we got around Disney. We ended up deciding to drive by the apartments the PIs live in. They are super nice, but we decided to get an idea how far they are from Animal Kingdom, and while we took a wrong turn or two, it seemed to take FOREVER! I am really wishing that the non-Disney housing I tried to line up had worked out. We did check to a CP at the gates to Animal Kingdom parking and she was super nice and helped us get re-directed and asked if I was starting a CP, too. Then we checked into my hotel. It is really nice and I am glad I stayed here over the Holiday Inn that a lot of people recommended since I saved $20. After checking out my room, we decided to find where I needed to go tomorrow, so it won't be as stressful. I luckily am pretty close to Vista (housing check-in) and Casting. Afterwards, we drove around property a bit more before heading toward Kissimmee. 

Tigger at breakfast at the Days Inn hotel (he is confused since it says that the Tiggers at Kansas City was postponed, when the Tiggers actually played the White Sox....)

I plan on it!

Since we had time before my dad had to go to the airport, we stopped to get my oil changed since I was due for it. It was looking good, until we got on the toll road and the check engine light came on. My dad got out and looked at the oil and it looked good. We were going to try and head back to where I got my oil changed, but didn't have time. So I dropped my dad off at the airport and headed back. Unfortunately, a big monsoon hit and I could barely see in front of me. Then my brakes started acting funny. I luckily somehow made it back to the oil change place right before they closed. They ran a diagnostic on it and said it should be safe to drive but I will need to get it checked out. After more stressful, rain filled driving, I finally made it back to the hotel and just didn't want to deal with the rain and decided to just make dinner out of the food in my car (potato chips, cookies, and muffins, ftw!). 

We made it to Flordia!

I spent a chunk of the night super stressed trying to find a car place and all the Chevy dealerships are further away than I would like. My mom found a mechanic closer to my apartment that has good reviews so I might try to call there or the Chevy dealerships tomorrow to figure out where I will take my car. Hopefully they can figure out what is wrong on my two days off before training on Saturday! After a shower and listening to music I am much calmer, but still a little anxious with having to deal with so much in a new state when I already have everything else (casting, moving in, grocery shopping, etc) going on. Despite today, I am super excited for tomorrow!

The hotel pool

Some birds by the oil change place

Made it to Disney!!!

Our hotel for the night. Tigger gets one bed and I get the other

My future workplace!!!

My apartment complex