SO I made this bucket list over 6 months ago… (feels like just yesterday)

Lets see how well I did during my program :) I included pictures when possible…

1. Spend a full day in each park ~ i had this one done within the first few weeks haha

2. Ride EVERY ride ~ I came really close to this one… Never rode carousal of progress for some reason…

3.Take over 4,000 pictures by my departure date ~ Did this one easily

4. Collect over 25 pins ~ HA my collection has over 300 pins….

5. Make a families/child’s day ~ I was able to do this several times <3

6. Eat at “Be Our Guest” ~ Ate there twice!!

7. Go to the parks in the rain for a photoshoot ~  Never went specifically to take pictures on a rainy day, but i did take pictures in the rain

8. Go to an Orlando nightclub ~ went to several…. House of Blues, Roxy, Boss, Falafel….

9. Try the food in every country in Epcot ~ This would be rather expensive now that ive been there… I managed to eat in China, Japan, France, and a couple others….

10. Take a picture with EVERY character possible ~ I got pictures with every single main character… I met Mickey over 15 times :)

11. Vista Way… enough said ~ Never hung out at Vista way unfortunately… to dangerous haha

12. Ride the DCP cast member party bus ~ Did this once…. i dont regret it, but i dont think id do it again…

13. Ride space mountain at least 20 times ~ Lost track, but i can almost guarantee i managed it :)

14. Go horseback riding in Orlando ~ Never had the time :(

15. Go to Harry Potter World ~ Did this the last week!

16. Go to Sea World ~ Never got to :(

17. Attend a star wars event ~ I was there for May the fourth be with you!! Also got chosen to be in a video that they are playing during star wars weekends :)

18. Do something crazy with allll my roomates ~ I was only with ALL my roomates about 2 times during the whole program… but i definently did some crazy stuff with a few of them

19. Visit the Haunted Mansion at least 20 times ~ I managed about 10

20. Spend a day in the park with someone from home ~ Spent FOUR days in the parks with my mom, Ben and Lauren!

21. Buy DCP merchandise… personalized shirt ~ Oh my goodness, I got a t-shirt, sticker, folder, hat, mousepad…. need i say more?

22. Perform or at least audition for the Night Of Stars ~ Didn’t get to do this, but instead went to a character audition :)

23. Make a friend from another country ~ My coworker, Sasha!!

24. Pull an all nighter ~ Nope, i was always to tired haha

25. Disney movie marathon with the roomies ~ Watched movies with some of the roomies :)

26. Try a Dole Whip ~ Fell in love with Dole Whip… had it at least 10 times

27. Go to an Ocean beach ~ Coco beach! 

28. VoluntEAR ~ 3 times, at Give Kids the World

29. Earn my ears ~ Took me 3 days!

30. Memorize the underground tunnels ~ Only got to go in the tunnels 3 times… I didnt work in the Magic Kingdom, so this one wasnt really possible

31. Take a roomate photo in front of the castle ~ Nailed it

32. Find a majority of the hidden mickeys ~ There are soooo many, but I definitely found ALOT

33. Ride expedition everest ~ Did this about 10 times….

34. Get picked for a show ~ Festival of the Lion King!!!

35. Find the Talking trash can, Push ~ Never got to meet him :(

36. Go to Universal Studios ~ Done

37. Stay in all the parks until closing time ~ Did this with all of them excpet Animal Kingdom

38. Get personalized Mickey Mouse ears ~ <3 ill treasure them forever

Managed all of them but 10…. some of them that i set were a little unrealistic, now that i have been to all the parks. But I feel accomplished for the ones that i was able to complete <3

The Return to Civilization

Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end... as of a few days ago, I returned to Michigan. And I found coming home to be one of the hardest things I have ever done in my life. It didn't hit me until i finally got to the GR airport that I had left my home.... I feel as though Michigan is now some foreign place, and all I want to do is go back to Disney...

the last few weeks of my program where honestly incredible. I had some of the best days of my entire program... From the Starlit Splash at Typhoon Lagoon to participating in Goofy Con, everything was so incredible. I also had many days off my last week, which most CP's dont get, but i was fortunate enough to receive. I spent every day in the parks, including going to Islands of Adventure at Universal one day. I saw Fantasmic at every chance I got, because i fell so deeply in love with the show <3

Graduation was an emotional event, filled with catered food, characters in graduation outfits and receiving our diplomas. I was able to go with all 5 of my roomates, it was one of very few times during the entire 4 months where we were all available to be together. After graduation I was even able to attend an rare event that filled up within the first few hours of being posted with Meg Crofton, president of Disney. She shared her story of how she got to her position, and this brought me to tears with the thought of my future career with Disney, and where I may go... 

This Disney College Program is honestly the best thing that has ever happened to me. It allowed me to find my place in the world, and I truly believe that is with Disney. I cant wait to finish my final year at GVSU, and receive my diploma in May so that I can head back down to Disney on a Professional Internship! Im still waiting to hear back on wether or not I got the Campus Rep position, I should be hearing back within the next week or so....

For now Im trying my best to fit back into reality... I return to work at Tractor Supply tomorrow, and its going to take every fiber of my being to not refer to little girls as princesses and say "have a magical day!". It is wonderful to see my family and friends again... I just wish I could take them all with me down to Disney so my life could be complete <3 

I miss Disney so much, and its only been 4 days... Im hoping to keep myself together by watching Disney movies and staring at all my pictures from the program. And hopefully learn how to not feel so sad when i see Mickey Mouse or a Disney commercial... I think it may take some time.

I will never forget these last 4 months.... they were the beginning of my incredible future with the Disney Company.... and I am so grateful for the opportunity to be apart of the DCP.

     

 ~Disney College Program Spring 2013 Alumni <3