So one of the members on the Lab Team was medically debarked for this last cruise. She tore her ACL during a program and now she’s gone home to merry England for recovery. This means we were down a person for the last cruise. When this happen in Ent Host land, everyone picks up the slack. In one day’s time, I was in every major program and (with the exception of Detective), played every major character. Now, kids are usually pretty slow on the uptake about who is really playing who. But when you’re in every program... they tend to get wise.
One little boy, bless his heart, stared at me for a full five minutes trying to figure it out. A few others would call me by my previous character’s name. It’s gotten to the point where I’ve decided to borrow an idea from our Teen Host, Tiffinie, and have all of my characters dislike each other, but especially dislike that silly nincompoop Allyson. That way is any kid is like, “Hey, are you so-and-so?” I can reply, in character, “No you scurvy dog, and don’t speak of that green haired freak to me again!” or “What? No, no, no, I would never be a smelly pirate. A kitchen is no place for such trash!” or even, “Little Detective, what use would I have for French cooking? Is too much.” And if any of them call me Allyson.... “DO NOT SPEAK TO ME OF THAT WOMAN! We are not friends.”
All of this planning, however, has led to a slight problem. My multiple personalities are starting to get the better of me. I’m worried I’m gonna do something silly on one of the minor programs, like Piston Cup, and say, “Let’s race some cars, you scallywags!”
It’s like I’m getting to the point where the characters in my head will start talking to each other... Lord, help me.
Speaking of characters... Stitch is quite possibly my favorite character in the whole of Disney. We have a program called “Stitch’s Adventure Squad” where we have living character interaction and Stitch calls us from space so we can talk back and forth and play games. I’m just as excited as the kids to do this. Like legitimately fumble over my words to talk to Stitch because I am so excited. I am the Queen of Nerdom and the children have no idea. No shame, friends. No shame.
There are so many things I would really like to say and funny stories I would love to tell you, but I can’t. It sucks, yes. Kinda like the whole picture thing. I am contractually not allowed to take pictures. I know everyone wants to see pictures of my super cool friends, but I can’t take them. They are very camera shy, if you know what I mean.
I’m hanging out with Professor Make-O-Mess this whole cruise, so I’m sure there will be some fun and exciting science times going on. Maybe I’ll get some stories I can tell you! :)
Until then...
See Ya Real Soon!
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Monday, May 21, 2012
Costume Shenanigans and Friendly Acknowledgements...
So when we last left off I was telling you all about my training. Well, training is over and I’m doing everything for real now. It’s been crazy, ridiculous, hectic, stressful, and wonderful all at the same time. I’m having a blast, but there have been plenty of moments when I’ve wanted to walk into a tiny room, all by myself and let out a very loud scream.
The main issue has been my with my costumes. They all came in and then a majority of them needed to altered, re-ordered, or were the exact same as someone else’s (looking at you Pirate Costume). So this left me without costumes and unable to do my programs. Obviously, I was frustrated, to no end. I knew my scripts, I knew my blocking, and I HAD NOTHING TO WEAR! I was just setting up, cleaning up, and running Magic Playfloor. It was driving me crazy. We worked through these issues and I ended up be able to do more programs as my costumes were sent up after alterations and now I have all of my main costumes (Pirate, Chef, Detective, Professor) and I’m just missing bits and pieces of some of the others (Coach, Guinter, Whale Dig, etc) and tomorrow I’ll be getting to do my very first Super Sloppy Science!
Now, my Pirate Wench costume is it’s own special story. You see, no two pirates can be the same on board the ship. Why? Because if a Pirate Wench sees another Wench in her clothes, a brawl will break out. Pirates don’t like to share, and Disney dosen’t really approve of brawling. Obviously. So it was a very big deal when I got my costume and realized it was EXACTLY THE SAME as Sarah’s. (Sarah is one of the other Ent Hosts on my team.) I brought this to the attention of our Costume Tech and her solution was to never been seen together and never have both of us be Pirate on the same cruise. Well, that’s all well and good, but when there’s only four of us on the team and one of us gets injured (one of our other Ent Hosts fell and has possibly torn her ACL), it gets a little tricky! But tonight, thankfully, I was called to the Costume Department to pick up my brand new Pirate costume - and it is GORGEOUS!!! I think I might love it.
Now, I’ve made some very exciting new friends on this contract, and I’d love to tell you about them! So here ya go:
Rosie Blackwater, the finest pirate to ever sail the seven seas, hails from the cold seas of Ireland. She’s sailed around the world fighting sea monsters, ghost pirates, and chasing down Jack Sparrow after he robbed her blind at a grand ball. Her life goal is to become more famous than Captain Hook, her favorite pirate.
Professor Winifred Penelope Make-O-Mess, III is the world’s greatest and sloppiest scientist. She enjoys explosions, the color green, Sheldon Cooper, and making enormous messes. In a tragic, yet completely exciting turn of events during an experiment, her hair was forever turned bright green after Flubber exploded out of its canister and fell on her head.
Chef A La Creme has come to the Disney Dream from the world famous Ratatouille Restaurant in Paris, France. She is part of a very special Kid’s Food Team who are in charge of creating sweet treats and delicious meals just for kids. Her favorite things to make are cookies and cupcakes with her petite chefs.
Detective Ivanna Clue was born in the wilds of northern Russia where she grew up in a family of secret agents and spies. Her father taught her everything he knew and left her enough money to start her own detective company, which she christened “The Top Deck Detective Agency”. She is the original Super Spy and is currently training a fleet of elite attack ducks to be her secret weapons in the fight against evil. Her newest recruit is named Boris and he lives in her coat pocket.
See what I mean? Very fun people to know. Now it’s about time for this little lady to get to bed. So until next time - See Ya Real Soon!
The main issue has been my with my costumes. They all came in and then a majority of them needed to altered, re-ordered, or were the exact same as someone else’s (looking at you Pirate Costume). So this left me without costumes and unable to do my programs. Obviously, I was frustrated, to no end. I knew my scripts, I knew my blocking, and I HAD NOTHING TO WEAR! I was just setting up, cleaning up, and running Magic Playfloor. It was driving me crazy. We worked through these issues and I ended up be able to do more programs as my costumes were sent up after alterations and now I have all of my main costumes (Pirate, Chef, Detective, Professor) and I’m just missing bits and pieces of some of the others (Coach, Guinter, Whale Dig, etc) and tomorrow I’ll be getting to do my very first Super Sloppy Science!
Now, my Pirate Wench costume is it’s own special story. You see, no two pirates can be the same on board the ship. Why? Because if a Pirate Wench sees another Wench in her clothes, a brawl will break out. Pirates don’t like to share, and Disney dosen’t really approve of brawling. Obviously. So it was a very big deal when I got my costume and realized it was EXACTLY THE SAME as Sarah’s. (Sarah is one of the other Ent Hosts on my team.) I brought this to the attention of our Costume Tech and her solution was to never been seen together and never have both of us be Pirate on the same cruise. Well, that’s all well and good, but when there’s only four of us on the team and one of us gets injured (one of our other Ent Hosts fell and has possibly torn her ACL), it gets a little tricky! But tonight, thankfully, I was called to the Costume Department to pick up my brand new Pirate costume - and it is GORGEOUS!!! I think I might love it.
Now, I’ve made some very exciting new friends on this contract, and I’d love to tell you about them! So here ya go:
Rosie Blackwater, the finest pirate to ever sail the seven seas, hails from the cold seas of Ireland. She’s sailed around the world fighting sea monsters, ghost pirates, and chasing down Jack Sparrow after he robbed her blind at a grand ball. Her life goal is to become more famous than Captain Hook, her favorite pirate.
Professor Winifred Penelope Make-O-Mess, III is the world’s greatest and sloppiest scientist. She enjoys explosions, the color green, Sheldon Cooper, and making enormous messes. In a tragic, yet completely exciting turn of events during an experiment, her hair was forever turned bright green after Flubber exploded out of its canister and fell on her head.
Chef A La Creme has come to the Disney Dream from the world famous Ratatouille Restaurant in Paris, France. She is part of a very special Kid’s Food Team who are in charge of creating sweet treats and delicious meals just for kids. Her favorite things to make are cookies and cupcakes with her petite chefs.
Detective Ivanna Clue was born in the wilds of northern Russia where she grew up in a family of secret agents and spies. Her father taught her everything he knew and left her enough money to start her own detective company, which she christened “The Top Deck Detective Agency”. She is the original Super Spy and is currently training a fleet of elite attack ducks to be her secret weapons in the fight against evil. Her newest recruit is named Boris and he lives in her coat pocket.
See what I mean? Very fun people to know. Now it’s about time for this little lady to get to bed. So until next time - See Ya Real Soon!
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Flubber, Jokes, and Flying Ducks...
The time is fast approaching when I will actually matter on the schedule. At the moment I sometimes don’t have a line, or there’s just a blank box where my name should be. I am considered an appendage to Nicole, my trainer. We are the same person. I pretty much feel like I’m stalking the poor girl everywhere. It’s all good though, because she is teaching me a lot of things I definitely would not have known other wise. It’s called training for a reason.
I did have to do the most nerve wracking thing ever last Saturday - a mock run through as Professor for Flubber in front of the rest of my new ent host team and Sophie, the assistant stage manager (and former YA Ent Host extraordinaire). Lord, have mercy! I would rather have been in a room with 300 children than in front of those five people making imaginary flubber (since we weren’t going to waste materials on me alone). Kids expect me to be a crazy hot mess of a person. My peers expect me to perform a program to their standards and taste. So I went out there and gave it my best, and discovered my professor has a bit of an eastern european accent - kinda Borat meets Boris & Natasha. I had not originally planned this, it just sort of happened. But I like it, and so did they! I was all over the place. I mixed that imaginary flubber like my life depended on it and did everything as I would’ve done for the kids. I wasn’t perfect, but I felt good about it. One week from today and I’ll be doing it for real! Yay!
I’ve seen pretty much every program now and I’ve decided that “Open Mike Night” is my favorite. The premise of the program is that Mike Wazowski and his monster friends end up getting sick and can’t make it to their comedy show so the kids have to put it on themselves. The jokes that come of out the kids are absolutely ridiculous. You never know what they are going to say. Sometimes it’s innocent like Carlos from Miami who’s joke was , “Knock-Knock! (Who’s there?) Pizza! (Pizza who?) Pizza Chicken Face!” And then we have Sarah from Brooklyn who started her joke with, “Yo mamma’s so fat...” and we quickly pulled the mic away from her mouth. Other kids just make silly noises. One little girl blew spit bubbles. It’s amazingly funny and I cannot wait to do it. So excited!!!
In other news, while I was setting up for Cupcakes the other day I was informed I had to report to the Cruise Director’s office for a meeting. There are very few reasons one gets called to the Cruise Director’s office and most of them aren’t good. So I’m starting to spaz out a little bit. Then I find out that four other YA Counselor’s are going to Clayton’s office as well. Soon, we learn that we have been chosen to be part of a special preshow dance number to take place before the crew-only showing of Believe. The best part? We got to ride the trap door lift and dance on the stage of the Walt Disney Theater!
So there we are in our blues and yellows, holding armfuls of Admiral Donald plush toys to throw into the audience and rising from the smoke to “I’m Sexy and I Know It.” Because honestly, who doesn’t feel sexy in a YA uniform? Anyhow - we had to get the crowd pumped up and dancing to Party Rock Anthem. This entailed doing the Running Man. I cannot do the Running Man to save my life, but I faked it to the best of my ability because there was no way I was passing up dancing on that stage. It will probably be the only time I’ll ever get to ride the lift, so I definitely wasn’t going to let my lack of dancing ability keep me from doing it. In fact, the moment Clayton told us that’s how we were going to enter, I sort of zoned out. I was on board for anything at that point. He could’ve told us to perform a Russian ballet or the Bottle Dance from Fiddler and I would’ve been down for it. Why? Because I got to ride the lift!! It’s the simple things in life which make me happy.
The reason all of this dancing occurred is because the Disney Magic and the Disney Dream were docked together in Nassau. The special showing of Believe was actually for the crew of the Disney Magic, but all us Dream folk could go too. We were also allowed to go and visit the Magic if our schedules allowed. Mine didn’t this time, but we’ll be docked with the Magic again soon and hopefully I’ll get to go visit then. I’m hoping to see my friend Mitch from the interviews in Chicago. He works on the Magic in YA! If we do get to meet up, I will definitely post some pictures or something. It would be amazing to see him again. And if Bekkah is back on the Magic, I’d love to see her again too! She also interviewed with me in Chicago, and we ended up in Traditions together as well. We shall see what happens!
My only other news is that my first request to extend my contract and my vacation was denied. I kinda figured it would be, but I’m still working on it. I’m going to try and switch contracts with someone to get a later debark date. As for the vacation time... well... working on that too. Hope is not lost! Have no fear!
Sending everyone my love!
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Where Everybody Knows Your Name...
When I arrived at the ship for my first contract, the sight of the Dream as I came over the top of the causeway was something I will never forget. The same feeling of awe and appreciation washed over me again this time as I saw the familiar red smokestacks crest over the horizon. Just like a relative who hasn’t seen you for a year, I said to the girl next to me, “I swear, she’s gotten bigger.” I’ve only been away two months, but I feel like Mickey pulled a Sorcerer’s Apprentice and added an extra twenty feet to the aft of the Dream. She’s huge! Of course, the fact she was docked next to one of those measly Carnival ships helped her look a lot bigger two.
Sidebar. Just like majoring in theatre has made me a theatre snob, working for a cruise line has made me a ship snob. Disney’s ship are styled so elegantly in an effort to bring back the glory days of sailing that they become titans of beauty. When pulled in next to a rusting, dirty, gaudy thing from Norwegian or Carnival, we make them look bad. I feel bad for people sailing on them.
Anyhow, coming back the Dream was a lot easier than I expected it to be. When I came on as a New Hire, it was so overwhelming that I was just dog tired my entire first week. This time, I know exactly where I’m going, what I’m doing, and who everyone is. It’s very nice. Another nice surprise? Somehow, I managed to get a single room. It’s temporary, as the bright orange sticker on my ID declares for all to see, but still - for one glorious week it is mine. A single room is absolutely unheard of for anyone ranking below three stripes. Luck of the draw? You betcha. I shall enjoy this time alone and use it to memorize scripts in peace. I’ve already put in a request to move in with Abbey (my former roommate before Elise, last contract) on Sunday. She lives in one of the rooms on Deck 3A affectionately called “The Narnia Rooms”. These rooms are in the forward most corners of the ship and concealed underneath the desks are little crawl spaces which lead into cavernous chambers formed by the narrowing sides of the bow. You can use it for storage, or you can fit roughly twenty people in there. Your choice... FOR NARNIA!
My Ent Host duties won’t officially start until my trainer, Nicole, leaves on May 13. Then I will take over her line in the Lab. Until then, I’m shadowing her and learning everything I need to know so I can do it on my own. So far, we’ve been on Scientist duty. I’ve seen three of the four Super Sloppy Science programs and I am so looking forward to being friends with Professor Make-a-Mess. It will be legen - wait for it - dary!
Speaking of legendary things, some of you know about my epic encounters with wardrobe and Chinese Laundry last contract. Well, they haven’t forgotten me. And once again, we’re not off to a good start. I went down to collect my uniforms on day one and almost got into a shouting match with the girl because she tried to give me the wrong sizes, again. Last contract she tried to give me Lex’s clothes, since we both cam to YA on the same day. Lex is about 5’6” and roughly 130lbs. Lex is also a boy. This contract she tried to give me Ally’s clothes. See, there were two Allyson’s coming back the day I did. Both of us are Youth Entertainment Hosts. We are differentiated as Ally(her) and Allyson(me). Some things to know: Ally is 5’3”, a size 6, and works in the Club. I’m 5’10”, a size 16, and work in the Lab. So there I am, holding several small shirts and pants that are only 28” long. My inseam is either a 32” or a 34”, incase you were wondering. The lady refused to believe I wasn’t Ally. She kept telling me, “the other one” picked up her clothes already and these were mine. I kept telling her she had written the same sizes down for both of us and she needed to give me proper clothes. She didn’t agree, and we did that little back and forth for about ten minutes. I finally told her that if she didn’t give me properly sized clothes I would just go to work in my Disney Look stuff and when I got yelled at, I would give my manager her name and country and let them sort it out. She begrudgingly gave me pants and a polo. I stupidly didn’t check the size and went back to my room.
I put on the shirt first, and then pulled on the pants. They were still only 28” long. The woman essentially gave me capris. So I went back to costuming, in my capris, stood by the side door and called her name. She came around the corner and rolled her eyes at me. So I went back to the Seamstress’s door and pleaded my case. The guy back there was much friendlier and gave me longer pants. I’m pretty sure he got them from my friend up front though, because they had been ironed in such a way that the flap over the zipper gaped open so it looked like my fly was unzipped all night. Good times. I have since gotten proper, non-gaping pants. But I feel my battle with Costuming is not over... not by a long shot. Why they believe me to be short is beyond my comprehension. I have this same argument every time I go down there. You think they would, I don’t know, change my file? Nope. Too simple. Let’s just duke it out every time over pant length. Blarg.
I don’t know what’s gotten into the Mess, but the past two nights we’ve had decent food for dinner. My first night on board they served a grilled fish (shocker), but it actually tasted nice! Tonight we had grilled chicken breast, and I’m pretty sure it was actually chicken. If these gestures of good food are just a harbinger for dark days ahead, I will survive on the fruit bars and baked lays in my room. I did it all last contract, I can do it again. But, if this is a permanent change, I may actually enjoy going to the Mess this time around! Fingers crossed!! (Keep in mind this was just for dinner. I had the customary salami sandwich and banana for lunch... again. They haven’t completely changed their ways.)
We had our first Crew Drill today, and my mother will be happy to know I am no longer stranded up on Deck 10 where certain deaths awaits should the boat actually sink. As an Ent Host, I don’t have a drill duty! Win! All I have to do is go stand next to my life raft and wait to get in. I’m still not important enough for a lifeboat, but I’m not above resorting to my old plan of grabbing a child and ensuring their safety... next to them in their lifeboat. :)
I’m being taught the “Hoedown Throwdown” at some point over the next few days. I’ve already learned the dance for “Baby”. Anyone wanting to learn the dances may sign up for tutorial lessons to take place in October when I return. We shall pump it up, become Beliebers, and put our hawks in the sky. You can also learn the “Hawaiian Rollercoaster Dance” and “The Platypus Walk” if you like. Special customers will be taught the proper way to Mousercize. Yes, Mousercize. Finally, you will become certified in all the ways of “The Cupid Shuffle”. We are experts, here on the Dream. EXPERTS.
More stories are soon to come! And since it’s summer, anyone who finds themselves in the Port Canaveral area on a Sunday or a Thursday that would like to come visit me, let me know! I can get permission for you to come on board as a guest and look around! If you can’t make it down to Florida, let me just remind you how much I love mail. It is one of my favorite things ever to see on board. Just saying. Do what you want with it... Letters are amazing. As are touches of home. And care packages. Love those care packages. ;)
Much love to all!
Sidebar. Just like majoring in theatre has made me a theatre snob, working for a cruise line has made me a ship snob. Disney’s ship are styled so elegantly in an effort to bring back the glory days of sailing that they become titans of beauty. When pulled in next to a rusting, dirty, gaudy thing from Norwegian or Carnival, we make them look bad. I feel bad for people sailing on them.
Anyhow, coming back the Dream was a lot easier than I expected it to be. When I came on as a New Hire, it was so overwhelming that I was just dog tired my entire first week. This time, I know exactly where I’m going, what I’m doing, and who everyone is. It’s very nice. Another nice surprise? Somehow, I managed to get a single room. It’s temporary, as the bright orange sticker on my ID declares for all to see, but still - for one glorious week it is mine. A single room is absolutely unheard of for anyone ranking below three stripes. Luck of the draw? You betcha. I shall enjoy this time alone and use it to memorize scripts in peace. I’ve already put in a request to move in with Abbey (my former roommate before Elise, last contract) on Sunday. She lives in one of the rooms on Deck 3A affectionately called “The Narnia Rooms”. These rooms are in the forward most corners of the ship and concealed underneath the desks are little crawl spaces which lead into cavernous chambers formed by the narrowing sides of the bow. You can use it for storage, or you can fit roughly twenty people in there. Your choice... FOR NARNIA!
My Ent Host duties won’t officially start until my trainer, Nicole, leaves on May 13. Then I will take over her line in the Lab. Until then, I’m shadowing her and learning everything I need to know so I can do it on my own. So far, we’ve been on Scientist duty. I’ve seen three of the four Super Sloppy Science programs and I am so looking forward to being friends with Professor Make-a-Mess. It will be legen - wait for it - dary!
Speaking of legendary things, some of you know about my epic encounters with wardrobe and Chinese Laundry last contract. Well, they haven’t forgotten me. And once again, we’re not off to a good start. I went down to collect my uniforms on day one and almost got into a shouting match with the girl because she tried to give me the wrong sizes, again. Last contract she tried to give me Lex’s clothes, since we both cam to YA on the same day. Lex is about 5’6” and roughly 130lbs. Lex is also a boy. This contract she tried to give me Ally’s clothes. See, there were two Allyson’s coming back the day I did. Both of us are Youth Entertainment Hosts. We are differentiated as Ally(her) and Allyson(me). Some things to know: Ally is 5’3”, a size 6, and works in the Club. I’m 5’10”, a size 16, and work in the Lab. So there I am, holding several small shirts and pants that are only 28” long. My inseam is either a 32” or a 34”, incase you were wondering. The lady refused to believe I wasn’t Ally. She kept telling me, “the other one” picked up her clothes already and these were mine. I kept telling her she had written the same sizes down for both of us and she needed to give me proper clothes. She didn’t agree, and we did that little back and forth for about ten minutes. I finally told her that if she didn’t give me properly sized clothes I would just go to work in my Disney Look stuff and when I got yelled at, I would give my manager her name and country and let them sort it out. She begrudgingly gave me pants and a polo. I stupidly didn’t check the size and went back to my room.
I put on the shirt first, and then pulled on the pants. They were still only 28” long. The woman essentially gave me capris. So I went back to costuming, in my capris, stood by the side door and called her name. She came around the corner and rolled her eyes at me. So I went back to the Seamstress’s door and pleaded my case. The guy back there was much friendlier and gave me longer pants. I’m pretty sure he got them from my friend up front though, because they had been ironed in such a way that the flap over the zipper gaped open so it looked like my fly was unzipped all night. Good times. I have since gotten proper, non-gaping pants. But I feel my battle with Costuming is not over... not by a long shot. Why they believe me to be short is beyond my comprehension. I have this same argument every time I go down there. You think they would, I don’t know, change my file? Nope. Too simple. Let’s just duke it out every time over pant length. Blarg.
I don’t know what’s gotten into the Mess, but the past two nights we’ve had decent food for dinner. My first night on board they served a grilled fish (shocker), but it actually tasted nice! Tonight we had grilled chicken breast, and I’m pretty sure it was actually chicken. If these gestures of good food are just a harbinger for dark days ahead, I will survive on the fruit bars and baked lays in my room. I did it all last contract, I can do it again. But, if this is a permanent change, I may actually enjoy going to the Mess this time around! Fingers crossed!! (Keep in mind this was just for dinner. I had the customary salami sandwich and banana for lunch... again. They haven’t completely changed their ways.)
We had our first Crew Drill today, and my mother will be happy to know I am no longer stranded up on Deck 10 where certain deaths awaits should the boat actually sink. As an Ent Host, I don’t have a drill duty! Win! All I have to do is go stand next to my life raft and wait to get in. I’m still not important enough for a lifeboat, but I’m not above resorting to my old plan of grabbing a child and ensuring their safety... next to them in their lifeboat. :)
I’m being taught the “Hoedown Throwdown” at some point over the next few days. I’ve already learned the dance for “Baby”. Anyone wanting to learn the dances may sign up for tutorial lessons to take place in October when I return. We shall pump it up, become Beliebers, and put our hawks in the sky. You can also learn the “Hawaiian Rollercoaster Dance” and “The Platypus Walk” if you like. Special customers will be taught the proper way to Mousercize. Yes, Mousercize. Finally, you will become certified in all the ways of “The Cupid Shuffle”. We are experts, here on the Dream. EXPERTS.
More stories are soon to come! And since it’s summer, anyone who finds themselves in the Port Canaveral area on a Sunday or a Thursday that would like to come visit me, let me know! I can get permission for you to come on board as a guest and look around! If you can’t make it down to Florida, let me just remind you how much I love mail. It is one of my favorite things ever to see on board. Just saying. Do what you want with it... Letters are amazing. As are touches of home. And care packages. Love those care packages. ;)
Much love to all!
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