A sad week

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/orl-bk-disney-world-layoffs-032620090,0,3479231.story

Even Disney isn't safe from the recession. It's a weird time to be working at WDW. Everyone is very anxious and on-edge and reasonably so. I have a lot of conflicting emotions about the layoffs occurring, which are affecting all of us. I feel so awful for those with families, especially since many of these workers have been here for 30+ years. Alternatively, at a time like this, I almost feel like it may become a case for survival of the fittest, and possibly companies can take this challenge as an opportunity to alleviate redundancies.

Hopefully, everyone who has been let go had some previous indication to begin preparing. Most of those laid-off have been middle-management positions, but a lot of these people are leaders we answer to on a daily. Thankfully, none of my managers have been released, but one of my favorite leaders has been transferred to another Disney resort to cover deficiency. This week has definitely changed my view on the company, but I suppose such is life once you are on the inside of such a large conglomerate.

March 19

This week, all the college program interns at my location had a "round table" discussion with two members of cast services. It was a chance for us to give feedback to our leaders about training, housing, transportation, work conditions, and anything else we wanted to see more or less of. I thought it was a really nice gesture that made us feel like the company really does want to make sure we are getting the most out of our internships. It was also nice to have a session like this where it is only interns, no managers or permanent employees because sometimes they may influence the free flow of ideas, or our need to vent!

I am realizing how quickly time is going by here, and there is still so much in Orlando I want to experience! My family is here this week visiting from Idaho, and it has been so fun to show them everything I have discovered during my time at Disney World!

2 months down!

Time is flying by in Orlando, I can't believe I've almost been here for two months already! My cousin and her boyfriend from Phoenix came to visit last week, and it was really fun to have some familiar faces around and to show them all around the parks, now that I'm a pro!I love so many things about this internship, but there are others that I could definitely live without. Today we had an inspection of our apartment, and they are notoriously strict on the condition of our apartments and have very clear rules and regulations. I understand why it is necessary with such large numbers of students living in the complexes, but it is also frustrating. As 6 young women living together, all over the age of 21, it is frustrating for us that we have to adhere to rules we haven't since high school! We cannot have visitors past 1 AM, we cannot hang anything on the walls except one bulletin board per tenant, etc.

Work is going well and I was trained on a new position as the front desk runner this week. It is a fun position because you get to be away from the desk and all over property. I mainly put together character cards and amenities for guests with various celebrations, which was really fun knowing I was helping make their time at Disney World a little more special. We are in the middle of a quiet time for the next two weeks, and then spring break hits and it is supposed to be a mad house until the end of the summer! I have a feeling the time is just going to go by even faster once peak season truly hits!