I have an ID and a name badge! :D

So today we had Traditions, which is the orientation for new cast members. We had to catch the bus at 6:45a so I got up at 5a after going to bed around midnight-1a. So I was not the brightest light bulb this morning...BUT I still made it to the bus stop early and arrived at Disney University at 7:15a. Traditions was interesting, we learned about the heritage of the company and the business practices along with the in's and out's of being a cast member. At the beginning of Traditions, we received our ID's, the cards that officially say we are employees :) At the end of Traditions we received our name badges, making it all the more real.

Wednesday during Check-In they gave us our orientation schedules for our locations. I have to be at work Saturday at 7:15a- meaning I have to get up at 5 to catch the bus. I had no intention of attending any of the parks after 9 so I could get more than 5 hours of sleep....

After Traditions, my roommates and I were debating on heading over to the parks- now that we are cast members. After a lot of discussion, we headed over to Magic Kingdom (MK) around 8p- arriving around 8:45. Once we get there, we have to go through the gates like everybody else, except we can use our ID's to get in for free. YET when we get to the turnstile, it tells us that we are invalid and must head over to Guest Relations, so all 15 of us head over to the Guest Relations windows hoping to get this mess fixed-- Apparently we needed our ID's activated before we entered the park and no one thought to tell us that. So after waiting in ANOTHER long line, we got to the window only to be told we didn't need to be activated. SO we head over with our ID's and show them to the turnstile attendant, who then lets us in. This whole process took about 30 mins, so it is now 9:30p and we FINALLY entered MK. Upon entering, we came to realize that:
1. We chose to arrive during a parade, thus making it impossible to navigate Main Street.
2. It was Friday, which means Extra Magic Hours
And so all in all the park was PACKED, with no room to move, let alone walk. Lauren and I decided that it was time to leave around 10- since both her and I had to be up around 5a tomorrow. So we headed back to the bus stop. We arrived at the stop RIGHT after the bus left, meaning we had to sit and wait for 20 mins until the bus arrived, then we sat on the bus for 45 mins. So Lauren and I finally ended up back at the apartment around 11- a whole hour after I wanted to go to bed.

So here I am, 11:54p, and just NOW getting ready for bed. I think sleep and I are not going to get very well acquainted this program. Joy.