Category: General
For those that remember, I have always had a love for the Space Program and the Shuttle. From visiting Kennedy Space Center as a child to going to Space Camp I really have always loved space. One thing that Florida has other than theme parks is the Kennedy Space Center and the Space Shuttle Launch Complex. Now, I have not been to Kennedy Space Center or the East Coast of Florida since I was a kid but I still watch the Space Shuttle launch either at work or at home.
This launch was different because while I was watching the launch live on HDNet on TV, I happened to look out the window and caught this:
Space Shuttle Atlantis Ascends to the heavens. June 8, 2007
I think it is truly amazing when one thinks about the true power and engineering marvel that the Space Shuttle has. It will be exciting to see what comes next. Till then, bring on the launches. How about next launch in July we head to the cape to watch?? Anyone interested?
Permanent link to this article: https://www.webbyaquatics.com/archives/2007/06/space-shuttle-launches/
Well, as most people know, yesterday was Cinco de Mayo so what else to do other than head to Epcot and celebrate. Seriously though, that’s what everyone does right? Yesterday my friend Brandon from the college program and I went to go enjoy Epcot and the International Flower and Garden Festival as well as enjoy the Cinco de Mayo festivities in Mexico. First on our visit, a really cool Peter Pan topiary. Wait, is that the Travelocity Roaming Gnome? Wicked!
Photo from the Travelocity ➡ Roaming Gnome Blog
After enjoying the cool Peter Pan Topiary (Everyone knows I love Peter Pan right?) I thought it was time to go meet the Roaming Gnome in person. So here you go folks, Tom meets the ➡ Travelocity Roaming Gnome!
Finally, after meeting the Gnome, it was off to Mexico to begin the Cinco de Mayo celebration and Brandon’s first time being able to drink around the world. Here is one more picture from our visit in Mexico of me with the Three Caballeros, José Carioca, Donald Duck and Panchito Pistoles.
After leaving our friends in Mexico, it was just a nice stroll around the World Showcase with random run ins with several of my friends. It really does amaze me with a Cast Member base of 58,000 how many people I really do know. It is actually kind of scary. So that was my fun Cinco de Mayo? How was yours? Till next time. See ya!
Permanent link to this article: https://www.webbyaquatics.com/archives/2007/05/cinco-de-mayo-epcot-style/
Well, it’s been almost a month since I have moved in to my new place and I couldn’t be happier. Everything is finally all together as far as furniture goes and I am almost done unpacking the remaining boxes. I have been doing a lot more cooking now that I have a nice size kitchen and overall, I am enjoying just relaxing and hanging around my new place. I’ve even hosted a couple of dinner parties with some friends! Since I moved, I am also saving on my gas for my car and can now go almost two full weeks with out a fill up thanks to moving closer. Something to be said about a 12-minute commute to work.
Speaking of work, work is going just fine. I have elected to work some additional hours each week so I can save a few extra dollars for bills so I am averaging 45-50 hour work weeks these days. I still have my two days off of Friday/Saturday to get things done which is a bonus. Things are going to be picking up a lot in the next few weeks with the Easter Holiday arriving and Spring Break in full swing. Possible new roles on the horizon for me but I don’t want to get in to too much details until they are all finalized.
Well, Joe is on his way over and we are just going to relax at the pool or watch a movie so I’ll update everyone later this week on the new roles then.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.webbyaquatics.com/archives/2007/03/life-update/
Ok, so it just took me an hour to get back home. Something that usually takes 15 minutes. I guess I timed my drive home with the same time that Epcot closed. Oh well. So, I am back in Florida after a full yet enjoyable two days in Minnesota. I got a chance to see my friend Anna and then got the chance to see all my family, first at Grandpa and Grandma’s party on Friday night (Thank you again Grandpa and Grandma) and then over at mom and dad’s house before I hit the plane back to Florida. I also got my first chance in three years to celebrate Christmas with my family, even if it was a day or two early.
I think it was waiting at the airport in Minneapolis yesterday that I realized that this is going to be a busy week at work. For those that have never been to Walt Disney World the week of Christmas/New Years, it is busy. We close at capacity at least once each day. So, it was while waiting for my flight to board that I looked around and saw all these families with small kids and realized that they are all going to the same place, Walt Disney World and the Magic Kingdom. My sold out flight was all following me home to Orlando. This is going to be a fun week.
Well, it’s time to head to bed and wait for Santa Claus to come. I’ve gotten most of my gifts so far but I still have a few waiting under the tree till tomorrow morning. Off to go dream of a white christmas
Permanent link to this article: https://www.webbyaquatics.com/archives/2006/12/waiting-for-santa/
Well, I am clocked out for the day and at home packing the final gifts in to my bag. That’s right folks, I am off to the artic tundra of Minnesota for two nights and spending some time with the family for Christmas. I will be back on Sunday for all the rush in the parks but it will be nice to be home for the family Christmas Party after not being there for three years. Can’t wait. Time to hit the airport.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.webbyaquatics.com/archives/2006/12/ill-be-home-for-christmas/
Well, it has been an exciting last week here in Orlando, FL. First, I had a nice visit with my Parents and Grandparents the other weekend with Mom and Dad coming in from MN and Grandma and Grandpa Swanson coming up from Naples, FL. It was nice to spend some time with the family and have some time off from work even if I was still in the parks with them. Had some great meals out and even enjoyed seeing a few of the segments being tapes from the Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade that will be airing on Christmas Day including American Idol Finalists and Michael Bolton. Speaking of Christmas, thanks to Mom and Dad, I finally have a Christmas Tree. For the first time in two years I finally have my own tree with all the decorations on it complete with a monorail around the base. It really is feeling like the holidays finally.
Needless to say, the three days off was a blessing having been so busy at work and dealing with issues involved with my posting for a coordinator role here at the Walt Disney World Resort. Speaking of that coordinator role, I did finally get the role after getting all the stuff at casting sorted out. I will be staying on Main Street, USA for at the least, six more months before I am eligible to transfer again. This is the next step towards a full-time leadership role with the company and I look forward to more professional development opportunities that may surface with the new role including posting for a leadership position this spring.
Leaving work for a bit, last night I finally got to sing my first show this year for Candlelight. I did the late pair with Brian Dennehy as the narrator. I have to say, I really enjoyed his style after looking back at the past two years worth of readers I have sung with. I am scheduled for next Wednesday and Thursday nights with Mareen McGovern and then shows with Neil Patrick Harris and Marlee Matlin later on in the month.
Other than the new role, there really isn’t much else to report. Hope everyone has a great weekend. I’ve been training all week and I can finally sleep in tomorrow. Yay!
Permanent link to this article: https://www.webbyaquatics.com/archives/2006/12/family-new-role-and-holiday-time/
Well, I am just getting back from a great, but brief, trip to Naples, FL to see my Grandparents and Cousins for Thanksgiving. This is my first holiday off in three years so I figured that I would take the time off since I wasn’t scheduled. It was nice to see everyone since it has been a while especially us cousins with Lisa working in Washington, DC; Stephanie in Boston, and Stuart still at college. I got at least one nice day at the beach and used the other day to help get Grandpa set up on high-speed internet for his WebTV and get the wireless internet set up for all the visitors.
Back here in Orlando, things are work are just as busy as always. Yesterday was just “one of those days” out of the book with a lot going on and me staying very busy as coordinator dealing with lots of issues that had me walking around the train tracks several times. No, I will not be going in to detail on those as I can’t for work reasons. Let’s just say that I was happy to clock out yesterday when I did.
Today though was much better. I had a nice group for training today consisting of a husband and wife that are down from TN for a year. They are going to be great to work with and should be bringing a great deal of fresh energy to our area. For those that don’t work on Main Street, our cast is split in to the following categories; either the 15+ year club (the majority) or the <5 year club (the minority). Those that are in the 15+ club are all about the old way of things and nostalgia while the <5 year group wants it their way. It really is interesting to see the interactions throughout the day as we bringing in all these newer cast members.
After work I headed over to meet up with some friends for the kick off to Holiday's Around the World at Epcot and the Osborne lights over at Disney-MGM Studios. I love the holiday time around our parks and look forward to enjoying it more once I finally have more time to commit to singing on candlelight as a stand-by on the nights that I am not scheduled.
Well, that's all for now. Time to get rolling on those Christmas presents.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.webbyaquatics.com/archives/2006/11/holidays-begin/
it is with a mixture of emotions that I announce my return to Main Street, USA at the Magic Kingdom. Effective this coming Sunday, I will be leaving my TA in Guest Relations at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and returning back to my home on Main Street, USA at the Magic Kingdom. Why am I giving up the job I have tried so hard to get for the last two years? As hard as it is to give it up, I have to move back to Magic Kingdom for financial reasons.
At Disney’s Animal Kingdom, the park hours a far shorter than Magic Kingdom and the average hours per week I was scheduled was about 32. Now, back at Magic Kingdom, I was on average getting 45-50 per week. Even with the pay raise that I received when I went over to Guest Relations, I was ending up making less money than I was before. I could not survive the remaining 4 months of my TA on 32 hours a week.
Aside from financial reasons, my long-term goal with the company is to move in to leadership as an Attractions Guest Service Manager. Moving back to Main Street, I will be a coordinator which I feel gives me more leverage for the Leadership Casting Call coming up in the next few weeks and in the spring. I will be going to the information sessions coming up and deciding if now is the time for me to post or if I should wait.
So that is what has been going on in my little world the last few weeks. Some tough decisions that I had to make. What may look like a step back, seems like it will in reality take me two or three steps forward in the long run. I will miss the Guest Relations role a lot but, Disney’s Animal Kingdom was just not the right park for me. Feel free to shoot me a message or a comment if you have any advice or feedback you wish to leave for me.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.webbyaquatics.com/archives/2006/10/heading-back-home/
Looks like all the boredom at work paid off. I sent an e-mail in to Disney Newsreel answering a trivia question about Kenai in Disney’s Brother Bear and I am now the proud owner of Brother Bear 2 on DVD. Pretty cool considering how slow things are at work.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.webbyaquatics.com/archives/2006/09/i-won/
So I haven’t been too great about posting to my blog lately. I am still getting used to a new Role in a new park. Disney’s Animal Kingdom is so much different than Magic Kingdom. It’s much more laid back and more relaxed. Not to mention a lot less busy. This week is also the start to the Candlelight Processional season with rehearsals beginning tonight. Should have more time to post later this evening.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.webbyaquatics.com/archives/2006/09/still-around-3/
