New (Temporary) Home

Ahhh, just sitting down from the day!

I toured around the park twice today, snapping pictures of different reference sites. Basically cataloging for a project I'm doing. But it's in Disneyland!! I have field work in Disneyland. Which, may I add, just for your information, just because one may have an official Disneyland Resort ID AND an "off-stage" door access key-card for the back lot of Disneyland, does NOT mean it's any easier convincing people you can access through the main guest entrance. Wow! I had to trek from one side of the park, under and over, and through and then over again to get anywhere near my side of the back lot. And then I had to go over a bridge behind an attraction which makes sounds/revibrations like the world is ending. There is truly nothing else like working for Disney. It's an adventure which at the end of the adventure, requires you to creatively perform at the end of it!

AWESOMENESS! So blessed!

More good news: I just signed my half month's rent and security deposit to a wonderfully sweet lady named Connie. I will be living in a town house with Connie and her recluse daughter (a very focused student) and a possibility of a second renter for the smaller room. It's a cute, safe-seeming community. With a pool, free utilities, free wi-fi and washer/dryer in the unit! The one thing I could ask for is a gym inside the complex. But no worries ladies and gentl... (well, probably just Juan and Matt), I am yelp-researching both 24/Hr Fitness and Fitness Planet. What is really cool is that the 24/Hr Fitness is in Garden Walk right next to the park!! I will walk in there Monday night and hopefully get a tour and free day.

Those are my updates! Sleep is in need, tomorrow 6:30 AM I have a private-ish History Tour down Main St, Disneyland. Ready to meet the rest of the employees crazy enough to get up that early! (tehehe, I'm used to it, kudos Starbucks Partners!)

New Chapter

Now, what you have all been waiting for....

Monday July 12 - Official Start Day!

Disney has their act together! Let me tell you what, you must have clearance for everything! Apparently, I am currently privileged with the ability to drive up to my "office" in the back lot of Disneyland since all other full-time employees are permitted to parking in the parking structure and then bike to their offices. It was the oddest thing to see hundreds of bikes and several bike stations on the back lot of Disney, but the back lot is huge and if you can only drive to a certain point, then it only makes sense that the Company would provide employees with other means of transportation to their respective offices in the back.

Disclaimer: Disney may very well be the only company that makes decisions that actually make sense for employees as well as customers/guests! It's exhilarating!!!

However, I must also warn you that due to the nature of the Company policies, there is very little I can tell you all. The Company is very smart in ensuring the safety and security of physical and intellectual property.

I started the day out with a walk in The Park, looking at the different kinds of signage, "show" (attraction) fronts, and vendor displays. We headed back to the back lot for a meeting of an attraction in development. I was sent out to take a photo for a photo shoot. Came back, took a tour of Disney's California Adventures. And then back to the office for practice with scales and graphic sheets.

By the way, even before I arrived, I had my own cubicle, supplied with a desktop computer, ergonomic chair, side work bench, movie concept posters and my name on my name plate with Mickey already fabricated to my cubicle! Not that I'm trying to gloat or anything! :)

Today I started out in Glendale with an official sign-in process of paperwork-signing, badge gettin' and tourin'. I also went into Mickey's Glendale (which I believe may be an employee's only store), where I also received a free copy of Walt Disney Imagineering book, second ed.

Headed back to my office in Anaheim and started my "fall back" project.

I don't know what else I can do to convey how much I LOVE THIS!!! I am finally working a job that involves my degree that almost killed me to complete! I am surrounded by brilliant, creative, unique, welcoming, intelligent, out-going, fun-loving, happy, respectable people who are always willing to answer questions! Plus I'M AT DISNEY!!!

I'm happy.

I do want my friends and family with me. Though I may be lonely, I do have a full schedule of a traditional work day complemented with a full night's work of organizing a place to live for the next three months. Which, by the way, I still haven't found one. Well, that may be a lie, I found a great place, just not sure if I will make an offer yet or not. Ah, the decisions I must make as I start on my journey in the New Chapter of my life!

The chapter before this

Hello,

As I say goodbye to college, my part time job at Starbucks, and apparently Fresno, I say Hello to WDI Graphics Internship, to Anaheim and to living away from everything I've known.

From Bakersfield to Fresno, and from elementary to college, my life was leading me toward a goal. Graduate college! My parents instilled in me this most important objective, "No matter what you do, get a college degree!" And thus, I got my college degree. I flip-flopped from Psychology, to Biology, to Graphic Design. As of December 18, 2009 I was certificated with a Bachelors of Arts Degree - Graphic Design Option. Throughout college I created handcrafted beverages at Starbucks. I loved my boss, the actual work and the flexible hours (I'm talking 4am-11pm flexibility!)

But during the time between my graduation and July I had been applying EVERYWHERE. There was nothing I wanted more than to have a job in the field for what I had spent the last three and half years crying and bleeding over. I worked so hard to graduate, I had worked so hard for my A's and it was just not making sense that I couldn't even get a call or response about even having my resume reviewed. I had entered Disney ImaginNations Design Competition with my friend Michael, however we never went passed the first round, so we both counted it as a great learning experience and moved on. I continued creating wedding invitation packages for friends, as well as applying to invitation companies considering my profile was growing in that kind of design.

Maybe I should explain something about Graphic Design.

There are many disciplines within Graphic Design (which doesn't even include DESIGN as a category itself). Graphic Design in its most simplest form is visual communication: getting a point across, communicating to a viewer through use of graphics, images, pictures, typography, layout, color and medium. Graphic Design breaks down into print media, digital media and interactive media. As a designer, one could create websites, brouchers, annual reports, movie posters, dvd title screens, signs, business collateral, stationary, invitations and still be titled a Graphic Designer. So understand that Graphic Design means visual communication.

Anyway.

About two and a half weeks ago I received a call from a recruiter at Walt Disney Imagineering. I hadn't applied to anything with Disney and she had informed me that my group entry for Disney ImagiNations Design Competition was how she found my resume. With in two weeks I interviewed, completed new hire documents and accepted an official offer from Disney to become a Walt Disney Imagineer Graphics Intern!