Mermaid Photography

“In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun.”

Do you know where the above quote came from? If you do then you probably know your Disney trivia. Julie Andrews first spoke those words in Disney’s Mary Poppins. I was always amazed by that movie and as the years have gone on my fascination has grown. Being the first movie in existence to really combine both animation and real life people together truly is a fantastic undertaking. Anyway I never really had a quote that stood out to me until I heard that phrase for about the 6th time during the Magic Kingdom’s show, The Magic, the Memories, and You. I can truly say that my job always has an element of fun to it, even when I have to work 14 hour days. Then again, what else is be expected when you consistently work with Donald Duck and Minnie Mouse? 

I consistently get to work in c-spot, or character spot, with Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy. It is very rare that I work with Mickey or Pluto and that’s just more because of the reason that it doesn’t come up in my rotation much. I love it though and I will say that while I didn’t have a favorite classic character before there are several characters now that I absolutely adore because of their mannerisms while working with them. Ill warn yall about Donald now, he can be a pretty cheeky duck sometimes. =)

Anyway, same old things have been happening, I have worked in every Disney Park as a photopass photographer already but I can honestly say that I love Epcot the most and I really do appreciate all the work our coordinators do. I work myself silly some weeks, consistently trying to push my hours in overtime but its worth it. I received my first applausogram which is filled out by a guest stating what a good job you did. That was exciting, its great to know that the work your doing is paying off. I love interacting with my guests and I absolutely love how ridiculous I get to be. The best is when I’m working with Donald, Minnie, or even another photographer and we can put on an even better show for the guests, sometimes things become even more ridiculous then they already are! If you can believe that anyway. 

Personal life updates. Aurora, my roommate had to self term herself because of family issues, so now I’m on my own and I miss her terribly. I also ended my relationship with Andy and have been dealing with that for the last couple of weeks. Its what is needed though because I think I want to stay down here. I even put my application into UCF, University of Central Florida! What else is there going on with me? Not much more then that really. I am trying to keep on top of this blog but thnigs just get away from me. Thankfully still have over 50 followers. I  hope I can still try to gain a few more. 

Ariel - mermaid photography. 

An update…..

So I must apologize, I totally have not been keeping up with this blog at the moment and its for the simple fact that I am truly not on my computer as much as I used to be, especially this past week. Speaking of this last week it has been absolutely ridiculous. I worked 57 hours in order to make sure I would have enough money coming in after Andy comes down this week. Yeah that’s happening. Andy, my boyfriend, is coming down here and Im nervous and excited all at the same time. Things are definitely different between us but I think once we are in the same area things will be the same. Doesn’t mean we aren’t going to be having a serious talk while he is here. Truth is the longer I am down here the more I realize that I don’t ever really want to leave. I love it down here and I honestly have loved every minute of my time so far working with the Disney Company. Before I left I didn’t know what I wanted to do and well being down here has really helped with that. I have always loved talking to different people, and I am good at it, plus I have always loved a fast paced atmosphere and well, while working down here you get both so its a total plus. 

Since my last post I have finally become character trained which means I get to work with Mickey and the gang, its been absolutely fabulous working in character spot with Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Goofy and Donald. I have also been able to work with a few princess’s, mainly Mulan and Belle but this upcoming Wednesday I will be working with Snow White in lovely Germany. I cannot wait. Finally a world showcase shift! College Program people rarely get world showcase shifts unless its International gateway bridge and thats because the world showcase is on a bid system. The longer you have been here the more you get to work back there. Also I think it depends on the quality of your photos as well and if you have rover training which means your able to take candids of people. Speaking of candids I was able to do that this week a bit by picking up a shift at the Magic Kingdom. I wound up working there on one more magical day, which was the 29th. I had a shift from 5:30am to 3:15pm. Man that was a long day. I was soooo nervous working at Magic Kingdom. I mean when you think Disney you think of that park first and therefore there is a lot riding on working there. It was so scary to here all those voices, probably like 10,000, counting down till the park opened. Working on main street was fun though and definitely different. I got to wear the knickers and cap costume and also get to take candids of people during parades and side street shows that would happen. Man the excitement that came with working at Magic Kingdom is  a lot like the excitement of seeing the Castle for the first time. At least thats what it felt like for me. I still love working at Epcot though, its my favorite park and continues to be as such really, but you can definitely be well assured I’ll be picking up another shift there sometime soon if I can. 

Other then that, nothing more to report. I am still loving my time down here. Every day I walk away from work with such a high of euphoria its a bit ridiculous. I haven’t really had a day yet that I didn’t like being here and honestly I don’t see that happening. I am going to keep working hard in order to make a firm foundation for a more permanent stay here. Also I have come to the conclusion that I think I want to extend my program and then become seasonal if I can that way I continue to at least be a part of the company. I need to start thinking long term about my future. I don’t want to settle down but also this has been a dream of mine forever. I have always loved this company and what it stands for now I want to make it a career. Hopefully things work out in the future. 

Mermaid Photography - Ariel 

I wish I had something more to say….

I haven’t really posted within the last week and I am sorry for that. This last week has been a lot of the same thing and I feel that if I am going to blog about something it should be about something fun and exciting and not just the regular old stuff. In order to at least keep y’all interested though I figure Ill do a bit of an update. Within the last week I have become familiarized with “the hub” the disney employment website. The fact that I am becoming familiar with this really allows for me to go and pick up some extra shifts in order to make a bit more cash. There is also helpful information about what is going on in the parks as well. Speaking of which, fun fact, Michelle Obama will be on Disney property sometime in the next week. So now we have had both Barack Obama and Michelle Obama come down here, which is definitely a bit exciting. 

Anyway other then that I have been working closings at epcot. Not only am i taking photos but I am also developing them now at the view station. The last and final part of training for me is character training. I can’t wait for that it should be fun. I also have attended a welcome party here at the apartments which was a lot of fun. I have some photos of mickey and minnie dancing away at the party that I will upload as soon as I transfer them to my computer. Other then that dealing with a lot of personal situations as well but it seems to be going ok at the very least. I am handling everything. I don’t know what else to say but as always share the love and help make this blog a bit better by showing your friends. 

thanks all

Illuminations: Reflections of Earth

If you have not seen this fireworks display make sure you get the chance to as it will be going away in a couple of years. Illuminations is my absolute favorite fireworks display here at Disney World. I saw it when it first came out in 1998 and I honestly thought it was fantastic then. This show takes place in Epcot around the World Showcase Lagoon. The beautiful thing about this show is that you literally cannot have a bad seat. Since the World Showcase encompasses the lagoon 360 degrees the fireworks are able to be seen from wherever. This is not why this is my favorite show though, I am especially inspired by the music. I have absolutely loved the music for this show for at least 10 years now. I actually even have it in my car and on my MP3 player. I believe Illuminations is one of the best shows that links music and fireworks together. I got to see this show the other night with my roomies as we spent the afternoon/evening down in Epcot 2 nights ago. Its a good thing that I did this because I wound up getting my night shot photography training in last night. 

Its not that night shot training is any harder then day shot photography but it is a bit different. You have to worry about someone not seeing the tripod, you also have to worry about people moving during the shot. Since this photo is now taken at night the camera is put on night time portrait mode. This mode allows for the camera to have a slower shutter speed so any movement the guest does is going to be seen so it is terribly crucial that they don’t move. A slower shutter speed allows for more light to be captured in the photo which allows for the family to be lit up but still allow for spaceship earth (or the giant golf ball as people call it) to still be illuminated quite nicely at night. Personally I like night time photography more due to the fact that the objects are lit up very nicely. Since your in a different mode on the camera it allows for all the colors to really pop and it quite beautiful.

I wasn’t just trained for night time photography though I was also trained to work at the view station. The view station is where families can view their photos on there photopass card and potentially buy photos. Now this is possibly the toughest part of the job for me just because of all the different elements there are to work with. There are several different main options and then from there, there are even more options then that. Its quite ridiculous and can truly make your head spin. For the first 3 hours of my training all we wound up doing is listening to our trainer talk and point out all the different aspects of the view station. It was tough to stand through but I think i learned the majority of the information, and for the things I missed I am able to ask my fellow cast members for help, which is totally an added bonus. =)

I am still loving it down here in Florida. I truly love working for Disney still. A friend of mine once asked me what I wanted to do in life and even though I am majoring in urban planning I have no idea what I want to do. I responded to her saying just that, and then came to the conclusion that one of my biggest passions in life is Disney World. Coming here since I was 2 and being in the parks so many times in my life has really allowed me to appreciate the magic that happens here on a day to day basis. Some of you might just be like “yeah well they are a corporate juggernaut” and although that might be true you cant help but admit to the fact that what happens in Disney World 365 (or 366 this year) days a year is nothing short of pure magic. No matter the person, the age, the race, the gender, people still find something truly different like nothing else while they are down here and honestly that is something that I am truly proud of to be a part of. 

I thank yall for reading. Photosets shall be up soon too. As always please spread the love by liking and rebloging my posts. Thanks everyone! 50 followers!!!! =D

Ariel - mermaid photography

Beginnings at EPCOT

After my first initial training day at Epcot I finally got the opportunity to work by myself at the front gate for opening. I have never been present for an opening for any of the Disney parks, at least not to my knowledge. So to be present finally for the opening of a park, let alone my favorite Disney park (and no, I am not kidding about that part), really was truly something special. At Magic Kingdom they go through a big routine to open the park but at Epcot it is more simplistic. In every park though they have one family enter the park early to be the first family of the day. This is truly a cool thing in my opinion. Anywho as the music started to play and the announcer came on welcoming everyone to the park I found that that same surge of pride came to my chest all over again. I mean its kind of ridiculous I have gone to Disney World so many times in my life but I find that at least right now I am not at all tired of the idea of working here. 

Anyway since my first day I have taken a slew of photos, some of them good, some of them only mediocre, and some leaning towards fantastic (at least in my opinion). I can honestly say though that with each couple or family that comes over and take a photo with me I am just so happy to be apart of their experience. There is not much else to say then that. I would write more but this post seems to be escaping me and I cant seem to be able to focus to much.

Definitely more tomorrow night, going to EPCOT tomorrow to go as a guest and have some fun, finally going to be able to watch illuminations! I cannot wait.

Till then thanks for watching and please share the love. Like and repost my blog, I only need 2 more followers till 50!