First 40 Hours

Tuesday morning I arrived bright and early and started knocking out some of the online trainings set up for me. We have 45 days to complete them, but I wanted to get them done during my settle in, get used to my surroundings period. I was invited to go to lunch with some of my co-workers, so that was really nice. It was a chill day at the office, followed by an adventuresome night at the food store/cooking dinner with Brandon, who is Italian so the cooking process was ever so fun.

Wednesday I had a lot of meet and greets with the team. I think I had 5 of them, each lasting about a half hour. I learned what everyone does and some projects they want me to assist on. One team member wants me to help track how a soon to be promotion effects revenue. I'll also be helping track mail order sales.

I was pulled in on a meeting for the annual plan for the next fiscal year. I love just being a fly on the wall and seeing how all this works. Wednesday was definitely a busy but incredibly awesome day. Everyone was so welcoming and supportive.

Thursday I had an SAP training class in the morning, followed by more online training and meet and greets. Duranne took me to a couple conference rooms with products laid out in them. My building holds product development and such - the creative minds, in addition to us boring finance people. I had a meet and greet with the director - he is in charge of merchandise and sports finance. I was a little hesitant since we had to reschedule this and I couldn't really form an opinion of him in the meeting I sat in on.

He was awesome! He sat down real casually with me and expressed how much he wants me to do well. He said he could tell I was enthusiastic with that Disney pixie dust and everyone on the team wants me to succeed. I left that meeting feeling really energized.

Friday morning I had a meet and greet with my leader, Adam. I initially thought it was going to be me asking a bunch of questions on the annual plan meeting I sat in on in addition to the reports and presentations they gave me in a binder. (When I arrived, they made me a welcoming binder with lots of great info, including a list of acronyms which has been my savior lately). I came in all prepared and he says "let's take a walk, can I buy you a cup of coffee?" I graciously accepted and we headed down to the little coffee shop in our building.

We sat there and talked for an hour. Our meeting was only supposed to be a half hour, but he took time out of his morning to get to know me and give me advice for my program. I really like Adam, ever since that first phone call back in April. He told me he had an open door policy, that he would meet with me at least once a month (I meet with Duranne officially weekly, but talk with her everyday). He told me his background and asked about me and what I want to do. It was an awesome meet and greet.

It was someone's birthday in the office, so we had cake. I can never turn down cake! I continued with those online trainings, but my mind was numbing from being told how to make a slide in power point. Duranne rescued me by showing me some more of the building (including where the cappuccino machine is and more of the display rooms) and giving me a little project. I'm researching some other retailers and their trends over the years. It's exciting!

Overall, my first week was great. I have never felt so welcome and never felt so much support in an internship. Everyone wants to see me do well and is actively there coaching me. The office has the Disney magic too. Conference rooms are named after characters as well as the kitchens (I am by Gaston and Mrs. Pott's Kitchen). I am waiting for the day where I don't get lost going to the bathroom or exiting the building. I almost made it yesterday, but I went down a wrong way and ended up at the wrong exit haha.

To celebrate our first week, Summer (my roomie), Michael (my neighbor) and Samantha (Michael's friend) went to Epcot and then to Magic Kingdom since they were open until 12. It was the perfect ending to a great week.

Let me tell you about the friends I've mentioned so far in my blog. Corinne is my roommate who is in guest relations at Magic Kingdom. I met her on my college program - it was so weird being placed together! Fate maybe? Summer is my other roommate who is an education presenter at Animal Kingdom. Brandon is also in guest relations and the magical kingdom, I met him during check in. Michael is my neighbor who is also in finance - represent! haha Eric is also our neighbor who is doing marine animal programs in Epcot Samantha I just met last night but she is back doing a summer alumni program as a safari driver.

Today there is talks of Animal Kingdom to visit friends on their safari and then our weekly dinner with the neighbors. Tomorrow is laundry day in addition to an ice cream social they're holding here at the apartment complex. Monday is day 2 of orientation where we get to eat lunch with executives. I have NO idea what to ask. Hopefully it'll just be natural conversation. I have a training class next week, along with a couple meet and greets and team meetings.

I really like that I get to see what goes on behind the scenes - especially with merchandise. I experienced it first hand on my college program, and now I get to see the work put into it behind closed doors.

So far so good here in Orlando!

First Day

After my post on Saturday, I finally finished unpacking. I managed to fit my clothes and personal items in only half the drawers in case a new roomie comes in. I am very proud of myself. I ran to the outlet mall with Corinne to get her shoes since she is Guest Relations and needs a specific kind. During our outing, it started down pouring, ruining fireworks plans for later. Instead, our neighbors came over for an intense game of Disney Scene It.

Most people started work on Sunday, so I had the apartment to myself. I woke up early, went to the gym, caught up on my photo uploads and then became epically bored. As soon as I was about to get up and run to Wal Mart for odds and ends, it again started monsooning, so I popped in Sex and the City. One season and one disc later, I knew I was in bad shape. Luckily, Brandon, who I met during check-in, rescued me with a little Toy Story 2.

So today was my first official day on the job! My first day of orientation was in the morning, located backstage at Hollywood Studios. It was pretty awesome driving next to the Tower of Terror on my way into work. They had a little breakfast for us with coffee, bagels, muffins, fruit etc. The morning stated off with introductions and an ice-breaker with all the interns and the leaders/coaches. Each intern has a leader, coach and mentor. Your leader gives performance evaluations while you work with your coach day to day, and your mentor is from a different department that helps you with your professional career and such.

Throughout the morning we got an overview of the structure of finance in addition to what to expect over the internship, along with business etiquette and how to use our resources. I was really excited to hear about the program - they really take care of us, mold us I guess. They put us through a lot of training classes, including a class which we have to do a group presentation. The overview reminded me of the Finance class I took on my college program. At the end of the program we have to give a presentation on the long term project that we'll be assigned in our department.

Around noon, my coach, Duranne - who I spoke with several times and met on Friday at the Toy Story 3 party, picked me up for lunch. My leader was supposed to join us, but he was held up in a meeting. We ate at Olivia's at Old Key West, and chatted about the department. After lunch, we headed back to the Studio's and I got to sit in on one a talk. Every month this year they have a finance executive speak about a cause they believe in and then have some sort of fundraiser or volunteer event. The speaker was coming from CA, hooked up via video conference.

After the meeting, I followed Duranne back to the office which is right by Animal Kingdom. The office used to be a mall (how appropriate!). Maneuvering through is difficult - it will take me awhile to get used to the turns and such. I was introduced to some of the staff, including my leader Adam. I was led to my cube which had a nice welcome sign and Up! poster. I spent the remainder of my work day (which wasn't much) setting up my computer, and looking out my schedule - making sure I had everything in my calendar.

In addition to all the training classes, they set up meet and greets for me with each of the people in my area. I also have opportunities to do little meet and greets with managers in other finance areas to learn about what they do.

Overall, I am pleased with the program so far. They really want to develop us and that will be really beneficial for whichever career path I choose. Tomorrow I have a couple meet and greets, and then I'll probably work on some of the web based training they have set up for me. My first in class training is on Thursday, and day 2 of orientation is on Monday. During day 2 of orientation, I have lunch with executives and get to go on some attractions!

I was insanely nervous, I mean when I walked in, I felt completely out of place. I started wondering if this is really for me. But then during orientation, I heard the words I needed to hear. I was told that I'm never going to find that class that tells me how to do my job, that they're not expecting me to know what to do right off the bat. They'll show us, train us.

This is going to be a really good test if finance is the route for me. If it's not, then who knows!!

It's only the beginning =)

The Trip/Beginning

I'm trying to update this as much as I can haha and I'm already behind.

Let's see. Packing took epically long, I was still not done Friday night which was my going away party. That was a lot of fun, one last hoorah with my MD buddies. Saturday I packed and then went to the baseball game with my mom. Sunday morning Katie and I hit the road!

We drove down to Savannah, got a hotel and then immediately got dinner and went on a ghost tour. It was of the Sorrell Weed/Carriage House which was featured on Ghost Hunters. The guide took us around Savannah a bit and then to the house. I had forgotten the episode but they gave us a little recap. All the paranormal occurrences were not that positive, so I felt the tour was disrespectful. All the recordings that had were the spirits telling us to get out. I felt so bad!

The next morning we headed back to the historic district for a tour of SCAD after which we walked around the town. I wish we had more time there, I wanted to see more. It is a beautiful town and pretty interesting!

We hit the road to FL and arrived around 5pm, checked into our hotel and then headed to my former home of Downtown Disney. I ran into an old co-worker so that was lovely! We shopped and ate then headed back to the hotel for some exploring and pool time.

Next morning we had an amazing character breakfast at 1900 Park Fare, where I fell in love with Tigger. We were the last breakfast shift so we could relax a lot more, we were one of the lasts to leave. Normally I feel rushed but this time we stayed for over an hour haha.

We spent the day in Magic Kingdom. The day started off pretty awesome with the people mover. As we went through Space Mountain, the lights were on! AH! So cool. We did a lot of the indoor attractions including the Laugh Factory, which my joke made it into! Thanks Jason for your "dad" joke! =)

That evening we were apart of the Fireworks Dessert Party. Prime seating for the fireworks in addition to a dessert buffet. YES PLEASE. I will not lie, I freaked out when I saw our table was the best seat in the house. And I may or may not have cried during the fireworks....

The Electric Light Parade was classic as usual and we sat by some really nice people, one of which handed out lollipops!! The next morning I had some business in casting to take care of, but after that we headed to Hollywood Studios so check out the re-imagined Tower of Terror. Nothing TOO major, but it was still lovely.

Wednesday was insanely hot so we had to take a lot of breaks. One of which was waiting to see Lotso from Toy Story 3. We got in line a 1/2 hour early, making me the first in line. I was sooooo excited!! It was worth the wait. He was so soft and plushy and so huggable =P

We headed to Epcot after riding Tower one last time. We of course paid Figment a visit and walked around the world. Katie's flight was that night so we headed back to pack up.

Thursday morning I got up bright and early to move into my new apartment. I was in line around some cool people which helped ease the stressful transition. They had pre-placed us so we couldn't make any requests, but I ended up in a 2 bedroom as I wanted. AND I ended up with a friend of mine from the college program! How weird!?

After finally getting my stuff to my room, I had to head back to casting for more check in. While in line I met my old recruiter from my campus rep days. I harassed him through email a lot haha. It was really great to meet him in person!

Check in was quick and easy since I was still active in the system and had gotten my fingerprints done the previous day. There was a little finance meeting which I ended up staying at for a couple hours, talking with my fellow interns - one of which, Michael, is my neighbor!

I started the unpacking process and soon found out my bedroomie had to leave because some of her paperwork would not come in until next month. I was so sad!! Carol seemed really great. At least she will be allowed to do the program next session. See you then Carol =)

That night, my roomies (Corinne and Summer)and I went to dinner and got a couple items at the food store. It was a nice bonding adventure. I don't know how I lucked out AGAIN with roomies. The apartment is really nice, pictures will come soon. After everything is unpacked hahaha

The next morning I got up bright and early to go to a Finance Premiere Party for Toy Story 3! Coolest first day of work EVER. I met my coach and a few member of my team. Everyone seems really nice. Of course it was a little awkward since I was the only intern so I was totally out of place, but that;s the typical transition into a new environment. The party had a breakfast for us, raffles and trivia. It was really nice, and the movie was amazing.

After my morning of "work" I headed back to the apartment to change, had lunch, a quick nap and then back out to get my new ID. After my adventure I had to go to the housing meeting (woo....).

Then we all went to Wal Mart to get food and supplies to cook dinner. Michael made us dinner for helping him with his stuff during move in. He made a fabulous vegetable lasagna and we brought the sides: salad, garlic bread and ice cream. It was a lot of fun bonding with our neighbors, we're hoping to do it weekly.

Today is my day to catch up (ie this post) and finish unpacking. I officially start Monday, so I have a couple days to relax and get ready. Orientation is Monday morning and then I go to lunch with my coach/leader and then head to where I will be working.

I am insanely nervous since I don't know EXACTLY what I'm doing, but it will be an adventure and a good test to see what I want to do in life.

AH!

I feel like I JUST posted in this - time has flown! I hit the road in 6 days! I am no where near packed - I'm still in the organizing my disaster of a room phase. It'll get done, though I realized all the errands I have to run now.

They changed my apartment complex, but it is a hop skip and a jump away from where I was previously living, and thus a hop skip and a jump away from my old CP friends =). The place seems really nice!! I get my own washer and dryer - yay no more paying for laundry!!

I got a call from my coach again and she is trying to go through the procedures so that I can attend a premiere party with Merchandise Finance for Toy Story 3 - SO COOL!! I'm starting to get insanely excited, though nerves are still there.

I decided if I end up hating this, I'm just going to start heavily training for the Festival of the Lion King show.

Aaaahhh savenya....