81 years ago today, America's favorite Mouse was created and voiced by the man who started an empire and whose legacy lives on in each of us today. Although its been a long time since Walt Disney's death (and a short time since Mickey's most recent voice Wayne Allwine)
), it can be assumed that Mickey Mouse has became one of the most recognized symbols in the world...and a big part of my heart.

Happy Birthday Mickey Mouse! Though you're 81, you don't look a day over 50! (Also thanks for paying my bills...you rock for that as well.

(VIDEO: 1928's Steamboat Willie - Although this isn't Mickey Mouse's first animated film (the first being Plane Crazy in 1928) this is the short that the lovable mouse is most recognized for.)

Since Walt Disney World's Theme this year (and next) is all about celebration...it only seems fit to give Mickey a present for his birthday...so...how about lighting up all of Cinderella's Castle in a bunch of sparkling magical lights!

Do you want to know how this is done? Thanks to the Disney Parks Blog you can!

“Dipped in sugar” is how Cinderella Castle appears to Walt Disney World Entertainment’s senior show director Alan Bruun. And if you’ve seen the castle’s 200,000 holiday lights, it’s hard to disagree with the description — it’s a must see.

But how the Castle transforms for the season is just as remarkable. It takes about six weeks and involves hundreds of hours of manpower. Cranes are brought in overnight to place the LED lights around the castle and reach the highest spires. Here’s video showing some of the behind-the-scenes work that goes into lighting the Castle each year:

The Castle lights are also attached to more than 40,000 square feet of fisherman’s net dyed to specifically match the colors of the castle. There is blue net for the roof tops and gray for the walls. After the lights are hooked up on the nets, they’re programmed and tested and then written into lighting cues for the shows, according to Bruun.

To bring the lights together, 18 miles of electrical cable is used. And it’s all run on the amount of power that it takes to run three clothes dryers — it’s extremely energy efficient.

I've never been able to experience this in person myself, but I have seen videos sent from friends and over YouTube of how miraculous this event is. A lot of my castmember friends will be able to experience this and to tell the truth...I'm sort of jealous. If you know me at all, I'm a Christmas fanatic. This event not only looks beautiful and magical, but something to be shared with your entire family. If you get to make it to the parks this holiday season, I would suggest making your way over to the Magic Kingdom to see it in person!

(If you're viewing this on Facebook, you are not able to see the videos embedded in this post. To see the post in it's entirety, click here)

First off...I'M BACK! I apologize for not updating almost 2 months after I said I was going to start updating more. School has been an experience, especially since I'm graduating in a little over 2 months! But that's neither here nor there. You didn't come here to listen to me ramble about my life. Lets get to something Disney!


I finally took a breather from life and sat down this fall break weekend to update my resume and apply for a few Disney Professional Internships! Now please don't yell at me...I know I'm a little late in the game - after all the deadline is 2 weeks from now on October 23, but I wanted to make sure I had everything in order before applying (i.e. graduation, credits etc.) instead of just applying for the sake of applying. But now that everything is all set, I took the time to try to further my career with the company I love.

NOTE: The person in the photo to the right is not me (hopefully you would know that), but rather it is the person I soon hope to be. To be specific, there are two types of internships I applied for: College Program Alumni Specific - meaning these internships are reserved solely for alumni of the college program. Non Alumni Specific: those internships open to anyone. Here are the list of internships I applied for:

College Program Alumni Specific:

• Cast Special Events
  - Providing programs, activities and event planning services for Cast, Crew and Imagineers
  
• College & International Operations - Event Planning
  - Planning, marketing and executing all events for the Disney College & International Program participants (i.e. Night of Stars, Volunteer Activities, Speaker Series, Networking Events etc.)
  
• College Recruiting
  - Maintaining student files, special projects, communicating with recruiters, students, faculty, campus representatives, etc.
  
• College & International Coordinatinator - Magic Kingdom Park
  - Assisting DCP Specialist at Magic Kingdom Park to ensure that program participants working at the park have a successful 'Earning' experience.
  
• Guest Relations

Non-College Program Alumni Specific:

• Social Media & Marketing Internship (Weddings/Youth Marketing)
  - A member of the marketing team focus on new/emerging social media (Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and others) supporting two lines of business (Weddings & Youth Group Programs) from a social media & marketing perspective.
  
• Public Relations Internship
  -PR Outreach supporting WDW Group and Convention business and the Disney Institute

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
So that right there is a good 7 internships I applied for. From past experience as a campus representative, they've usually told students not to apply for more than three (or else it looks like you're not interested in something specific but rather an internship period). But the good thing about the CP Alumni Specific Internships is they work just like a role-checklist. To those who have done the college program before or at least applied, you'll know a role checklist is simply a list of roles that you would be considered in performing. During your interview you're asked about which one sparks your interest most.

Speaking of interviews...I have to call on Monday (tomorrow) and set up an interview for the CP Alumni Specific and hear back for the other ones if the feel my qualifications apply. If I'm accepted, I'm really excited about this opportunity for two reasons.

1. It gives me a chance to further my career with the company that I love.
2. I'll get to move back to Orlando not 4 months after leaving - and permanently for that matter.

To those who wish to do the same and apply for a professional internship, you should know this wasn't an easy process for me. I wasn't able to just sit down and apply and then go eat some pizza to celebrate.

The process is for the dedicated. You must create a work profile at http://www.disneyjobs.com/ with your personal and contact information. Then you must upload your resume and any documents pertaining to your internship. After doing so, this next step is optional.

I haven't written a cover letter in quite some time (2008 I last believe), and writing one for the internship that could make or break my future wasn't an easy task. It took me an entire weekend to make sure my cover letter was reflecting the desired qualifications and role description listen in the Internship Profile.

After completing my cover letters and submitting them to my profile, I applied for the internships, filled out an online application and took an assessment for each internship. IT was a lot of steps to go through but most definitely worth it. I can't wait to see what opportunities await me in the future with this company.

While I'm still considering the option of applying for the College Program, I'm going to wait and see which road the Professional Internships lie for me. I don't want to bite the hand that feeds me per say and apply for both and get none. Unfortunately I'm putting all of my eggs in one basket with this decision - but its a risk I'm willing to take for the company I love. Here's to hoping I upgrade my graduation ears to a more corporate pair!

How about you guys? Has anyone else already applied for or plan on applying for Professional Internships for this upcoming season? If so leave your experiences or tips in the comments!

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In other news:

• I'm uploading my vlogs I've made in the meantime so that you can catch up on my Campus Representative life and what I've been doing since completing my Summer Alumni Program so look out for those.
• I'm looking daily for good Disney News on my twitter feed ...I've missed out on a lot but it's no use to put them here now being old news. When I hear an interesting story or something I feel you guys would enjoy I'll update it. It helps now that Disney Parks has a blog so keep posted.
• I'm also looking for someone to redesign my blog. If you or someone you know is interested shoot me an email at will.alphasig@gmail.com

See ya real soon!

So a little birdie told me that by calling College Recruiting and getting your Personal Number and then calling Casting that you could find out your location before your arrival date.

*Sidenote - I wouldn't advise doing this if you like surprises or If you feel
you're going to be dissapointed by what you hear...*

Well I did that today (which I really shouldn'tve have because I'm technically on Vocal Rest and I shouldnt've made any phone calls), and found out where I'm working for the summer...

...which is EPCOT Towers and Glow. If you're not familiar, Glow is a section of Merchandise which is my role - where you either walk around a park dressed in glowy tubes selling them to children and adults for usually $5 when it gets dark (usually before a parade or fireworks)...or you're stationed in a section of the park with a cart where you sell glow toys and you get to play with them. Another part of the job description is during the day you get to stand outside selling squeeze-breezes (the squirt bottles with the fan) or other water dispensing objects and in my case I would also get to work at The Two Towers - which are the two merchandise stations right before you entire World Pavillion.

When I first heard I was working at EPCOT I was on the fence. Let me explain...as some of you know, EPCOT isn't my favorite park. In fact it's my least. I particuarlly dislike Illuminations - the fireworks show at the park - and becauuse it's a learning pavillion i didn't spend as much time there as the other parks on my first program. Now that's not to say I dislike the park entirely. There are some aspects of the park I like. World Pavillion, Soaring, The Seas with Nemo and Friends and Space Ship Earth will always be favorites of mine, but as a whole i do feel the park is pretty boring.

So its safe to say when the lady told me over the phone that I would be working EPCOT Towers and Glow I was at first dissapointed.

But then I thought something...

When I was deployed to Glow in the Magic Kingdom on my First program, I had the time of my life! I loved walking around as "Glow Boy" and entertaining guests, dancing, performing and interacting with them, being in the parade and making people smile. That put a smile on my face and joy in my heart to know I was a part of something that great!

In addition to that, this might give me a new appreciation for the park and I'll get to see it in a different way than I did as a guest. I'll meet new people, interact with guests the same, and there's more to do on the program outside of work!

Plus...I won't have to wear long sleve shirts, slacks and a vest to work every day...that's always a plus. In addition, this will encourage me to pick up more shifts at other parks for the summer and get more money.

Here's what people had to say about Glow and Epcot in the Summer Alumni Facebook Group:

"Glow, is you stand around with a cart full of glowing
objects to sell to people, but glow is fun you can like play with the toys to
get peoples attention. Plus the bus rides to EPCOT from the Housing Pavillions
are short. Magic Kingdom busses take like an hour."

"I was just reading about this glow stuff, and it sounds
awesome, you'll be like a walking Raver. lol. Maybe you could add some funky
techno to your cart, and you'll have a one man party. Oh the
possibilities."

"Glow is awesome at epcot, everyone always wants a toy.
You get to wear them all crazy like and if you're lucky, you can ride a segway
with them. =D Just depends who your manager is."

" I got deployed to glow for a week when i was on my
program. it was at mk though. it really want bad at all... you get put in a
location and your out there by yourself which can kinda sound boring but it was
actually a lot of fun... I was kinda sad I was only there for a week. I did
squeeze breeze during the day too which was not so much fun bc it was superrr
hot outside!!Im not sure if it's the same at epcot though... but it def. sounds
like your doing so sort of glow. "

"Remember...no location is final until you're actually
there..."

That last one stuck with me. Nothing is final until 12 days from now when they hand me my sticker sand say you're working (INSERT LOCATION HERE). So I could've been working myself up over nothing. The Magic Kingdom will always be my favorite park, but it'll be nice to work somewhere else and get a different experience.

Cause as the songwriter says:

"Life's what you make it...so lets make it rock!"

...not in the way you might be thinking however.

I recently stumbled upon this website through a friend of mine called Castmember.com , an interactive web community specifically designed and operated by Disney Cast Members past and present.

It's operated entirely almost the same as Facebook where users can interact with other cast members around the world through wall posts, group discussions and photo upload capabilities. It even has a user feed just like Facebook that lets you know what your friends are up to and what groups have been updated.

What I find most interesting is being a social networking site itself, it encompasses a lot of other social networking sites within it like Twitter, Facebook, Myspace and more all in their own database so that friends can browse their friends other social networking sites without even leaving the website.

There's also a "CastBlog" feature (mirroring Facebook's "Notes" function) where cast members' blogs can be read by other members of the site - leaving opportunities for others to make friends and get to know them.

 I haven't been able to explore the website fully but I joined on Monday and I have one friend so far, my future co-worker Jaime. I don't know how popular this will be on my list of websites to visit every day but it looks interesting none-the-less. 

Have you guys heard about this website? And if you're on it please be my friend...being the Social Networking fiend that I am, I can't stand not having online friends. I just won't stand for it. 

So I did two Vlogs last night and since YouTube onl lets you put up 10 minute videos at a time, I had to do two (that's right two) videos for you guys! Just updates on what's goig on with me and my program (30 DAYS =P), Shoutouts to other future CP's CS's and Vloggers, and my life as a Campus Representative for my school.

I want to make a questions vlog sometime so send me your questions either here, on the videos or on my twitter --> "@willalphasig".

Stick ound because there's even a Bonus Feature on the second video for you guys featuring one of my favorite characters! Enjoy!

Part One


Part Duex

So I know it's late, and I have to be up for our school's Dance Marathon tomorrow morning (GO DM!) but this was on my mind. I recently got a Campus Rep Email concerning Cast Member's maingate passes. Basically, they're cutting out giving Temporary Cast Members and theirMaingate Passes unless they work one shift (6 hours first). Here's part of the email I received...

Due to a recent company-wide effort to maintain consistency with issuing Main Entrance Passes (MEP), all Casual Temporary (CT) Cast Members are ineligible to receive a pass prior to having worked a paid shift. Now, all Cast Members must first work one paid, on-site shift to be eligible to receive a MEP. As a Campus Rep who is statused as CT, you will need to work a paid shift at the Walt Disney World Resort. To schedule a shift, please follow the process outlined in the Campus Rep Handbook. Contact the Campus Rep Inbox if you have any additional questions regarding this process. Please note that all shifts will be available solely based on business need at your former work area. Once you have worked your shift, a MEP request will be submitted for you. The pass will be mailed to your permanent address two weeks after you completed your shift.

They said they're doing this to maintain uniformity and such, but part of me is wondering if the recession is partly responsible. I know myself, I haven't been down to FL since I left almost two years ago, and I've received 3 MEP's, 2 of which I haven't used yet. They might be doing this to cut down the costs of sending out MEP's to CT's who might not even use them in the at all. Could this be a reason why they're purging some seasonal members as well?

This really doesn't affect me because I'll be a CP in May and I'll have used my MEP for the year by the end of my term, but this does affect my other friends who aren't doing the Summer Alumni Program and who aren't full time cast members (i.e. Campus Representatives, Seasonal, etc.)...

What do you guys think? What's the real deal? Remember, If you're looking at this on Facebook, make sure to visit the original post this came from at http://willsfantasmicjourney.blogspot.com/

In other news...54 Days until i move to Florida for the summer! I'm so excited! I've already begun packing!