My last day of work has come and gone. It was a very weird sensation to clock out for the last time and realize I wasn’t going to clock in again for seven weeks. Even weirder to turn in all my uniforms and close down the old crew account. I guess the real kicker, though, was walking down the gangway with all my luggage and looking back at the towering hull of the ship only to realize I didn’t have to get back on today. I’m not gonna be standing on Wash late into the night, or telling rambunctious children not to climb on Rex’s back or tail. I’ve finished my first contract. I made it.
So I guess the big question is what have I learned in my four months on board?
Potty Accidents and Protein Spills Happen... Every Day
No matter what goes down, or comes up, the most important thing is to make sure the kid is ok. Even if the sweet, little angel has DPA’d all over the magic playfloor, thrown up in your hair, or let loose enough pee to fill an entire room of those tiny plastic cups. You clean it up, call the parents, and move on. Even when it’s really nasty.
If you need a refresher on the level of nastiness I’ve dealt with on board the Disney Dream, please review previous posts. If those tale’s aren’t enough for you, take me out for coffee and I’ll tell you more. I have loads... no pun intended.
Every Child Deserves a Magical Moment
These little encounters are what makes a Disney vacation so special. At some point, something extraordinary should happen to a child which will stand out in their memory forever. It could be anything from interacting with Stitch in the hallway to finding all the plastic fish in Monster’s Academy. It could even be as simple as a counselor making a point to learn their name and interact with them every day of the cruise. My favorite magical moment has to be The Bobs. I met two concierge girls named Bailey and Emma. They were BFFL’s on vacation together, and they were full of giggles and bouncy energy. On the first night of the cruise I was stationed in Andy’s Room waiting to be bombarded by children when these two walked in. As the room filled, I quickly realized I wasn’t going to be able to remember everyone’s name so I named everyone Bob. Emma and Bailey were the first two in the room so they were christened Bob1 and Bob2. All other children entering the room became things like Batman Bob (he had on a Batman shirt), Purple Bob (she was wearing a purple dress), I’mThreeBob (cause he told me seventy times he was three) and one of my favorites, Ninja Bob (because she rolled around on the floor like a ninja to get around the room). While some of you may find this impersonal and a little lazy, please know that the kids LOVED it. They loved it so much, in fact, that the next day I was presented with Bob Flags, Bob Banners, and a construction paper crown with “Bob Master” written in glitter paint across the front. All made by Bob1 and Bob2. Every single time they saw me during the cruise they would shout out and run up to hug me. It was amazing. The last night, I delivered something special to their rooms after I got of work. I had taken two of our standard blue prize backpacks and decorated them with all kinds of customized di-cuts and badges. I hope they liked them. I know I will always remember The Bobs.
Teva Sandals are the Devil
If I could’ve thrown some gasoline on them and struck a match I would've in a hot second. Blisters galore every single time I wore them. However, I will still need them for my second contract, so they are shoved in a bag under the far corner of Elise’s bed waiting for me to return. Sorry, kids. You won’t get to see them on me in person.
The Ocean is Amazing
After gazing out at the horizon at least once a day, every day, over the last four months I have come to gain an even greater appreciation for the Ocean. It is equal parts terrifying and beautiful. The vast expanse of waves cover an entire ecosystem that we are only beginning to understand. One of the fun facts we like to tell the kids on board is that the scientific community knows more about the Solar System and outlying planets than it does about the ocean. Of all the possible knowledge to be gained from its watery depths, we know about 7%. That means over 90% of what goes on in the ocean is still a mystery to us. It is an amazing creation.
Awkward Lunges Bring People Together
My friend Alexis had this very amazing thing she would do in random situations. It started as a slight lunge forward whenever she was feeling awkward (which was a lot of the time), but morphed into the most ridiculous thing you can ever imagine. Yet, despite its silly nature, everyone started doing it. All of YA, some of the Tech guys, we even managed to get a picture with Goofy and Max doing it. Everyone unites in their silliness. When you see me, ask me to show you the awkward lunge. Its splendor cannot be captured in written words.
I am Blessed
Being away from home taught me some very important things. My friends and family are some of the most caring and wonderful people on the face of the earth. Without them, I would be nothing. Their love and support has made me who I am. On top of that, I feel so grateful to have grown up in a place where those values of family and love are honored in every day society. Kentucky is beautiful, from the bigger cities to the dirt roads, this state is amazing and I miss it so much when I’m gone. It’s funny, because before I left, all I wanted to do was get out of here. Once I was gone, all I wanted to do was come back. This place is a part of who I am. I am blessed to live here in this community with these people.
So those are just a few of the things I learned during my first contract. I’ll be taking a break from the blog for a while, since I’m at home. But keep your eyes peeled for my return. I’ll be going back to the Disney Dream as a Youth Entertainment Host at the end of April.
Until then, (and because we never say "Goodbye" at Disney) SEE YA REAL SOON!
