Two Weeks To Go!

I can't really believe it, but as of tomorrow, it is exactly two weeks until I fly out!
I think it really hasn't sunken in.. still! Even with some participants already in the states, and more people flying out in the next few days, somehow it still doesn't feel real!

Today was a bit exciting because I went in to see my travel agent, Stephen at Flight Centre. He had called to say that my finalised flight itinerary and Contiki travel documents were ready to be picked up! I have been anxiously awaiting the arrival of my Contiki documents more than anything! They came in a cute little travel wallet, and came with a luggage tag, a information book, my detailed itinerary, the actual 'Ticket To Ride' and information about Contiki's calling kit.



Anyways, after doing a bit of research on the 'free' sim card that you can get through Contiki, I've decided agaisnt it. I'm going to stick with my original plan, and get a sim through Simple Mobile for my iPhone. Their prepaid plans seem really good, and they have quite cheap international calling, as well as unlimited local and global texting. So it sounds like the best way to go!

In terms of things for my trip, I think I am all sorted:

• Flights (all of them!)
• Visa
  
• Insurance (Travel/Medical)
• Pre-Disney Accommodation
• Universal/Island of Adventure Tickets
• Universal Studios Express Passes
• Post-Disney Accommodation
• Los Angeles Accommodation
• Contiki
• Prescriptions/Medication
  
• Letter from my doctor
• Travel Card (with USD on it!)
• Luggage
• Contact Lenses (6 months worth)

Got all that covered. Plus probably a few other things I've forgotten to write down. But yep, pretty much all sorted and ready to go. One more payday before I go to get whatever last-minute things I need.

I've put all my paperwork (and there is actually a LOT) into a document folder. Good idea so I don't lose anything!

I know two weeks is going to fly by so quickly.. at the moment I'm still really excited, but I know as it draws closer I'm going to be freaking out.. actually, I'm going to be terrified! And I'm REALLY not looking forward to the airport, and the dramatic crying scenes thats going to occur when saying goodbye to my family =/
I suppose thats inevitable really! Eeeeek!

Disney Stuff!

Well, here I am, 25 days out from Disney. It still doesn't feel real haha. I'm sure it won't until I'm sitting on the plane about to leave.

Anyway, I'm stuck home on a rainy Saturday night, and I'm getting my fix of Disney. I pulled out my Lion King video and watched it. I still cried when Mufasa died.. Disney shouldn't make their movies so sad!

Then I got into Disney mode, and decided to spend some time on the online Disney Store. I cannot wait to visit the huge World of Disney store at Downtown Disney, and with a 10% discount, I know some of my paycheck will be going straight there. Buying some classic movies on DVD will be my first priority, since most of them you can't buy here for some reason. The Disney jewellery also looks amazing.. some of it is pretty expensive though!

Continuing on with my Disney obsession this evening, I started looking into Disney Cruises again. A Disney Cruise is a must-do for me. It's even on my Disney Bucket List. If I come away from Florida without having done a Disney Cruise, I will be VERY upset. So I'm going to make it my mission.

Anyway, the cruise that I have my heart set on doing is the 3-Night Bahamas Cruise on the brand new Disney Dream. Take a look at that ship - it looks amazing! It has a water coaster on board! Awesome!!

Another awesome thing about this cruise is that it visits Nassau.. which is the home of the famous Atantis Resort (you may have seen it in movies before, I know I have!). On-shore activities while the ship is at the Nassau Port includes the Aquaventure. This is the huge waterpark at the Atlantis Resort.. one of the waterslides goes through a lagoon filled with sharks.. how cool is that?! Its pretty pricey though, so a cheaper yet also cool option is the Atlantis Beach Day.

Cast members at Disney can get up to 80% off cruises. So I am hoping that I'll be able to get that discount on this particular cruise. We aren't quite sure how the cruise discounts work, but we know that we sign up for them on the Hub at Disney, and I've heard they get snapped up quickly! Unfortunately, we'll have to wait until we get there to find out about it.. but as soon as we can get on the Hub, we'll be looking to book this cruise!

Just over 3 weeks to go now! Eek!

Harry Potter Fever!

I have Harry Potter fever!

Tickets for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 came on sale the other day, so Keri and me were keen to buy them, because we were sure that they would sell out, especially cos we are going on the 15th July, which is the release date of the film.

After many attempts, the website finally loaded and Keri was able to purchase our Harry Potter tickets.. in 3D! Yay! We booked at 8.40pm at the AMC Theatre at Universal Citywalk.

Friday the 15th July is going to be long and tiring, but very fun! We have a very early morning; we have to be at the park by 7:45am in order to make our 8am reservation for breakfast at The Three Broomsticks. Speaking of breakfast, I found an image of the breakfast menu online.. it sounds amazing! Take a look: (hopefully it's not too hard to read!)



I think it will have to be an American breakfast for me - totally unhealthy, but totally yum. Plus, my justification will be that it will get me ready for my long day ahead... bacon, eggs, sausage, potatos, croissant... *drool*

In other news, I finally got around to emailing my arrival details to Disney. The responded by telling me to relax on the morning of the 16th (my check-in day), and aim to arrive at Disney around 12 noon. We have to check out of our hotel at 11am, so we will probably just head straight to Vista Way after we check out. I think being the first to arrive in your apartment would be pretty awesome.. get your choice of rooms haha!

Disney have also sent another email out to participants regarding education courses. Of course, I did not receive the email because Disney STILL have my email address wrong. Luckily, a link to the email was posted on facebook so I was able to read it. The information about the available courses is the same as is available on the Disney International Programs website, but it did also include a link for the online registration form for classes. I haven't registered yet, but I am going to sign up for the Exploring Marketing course. I was considering the Corporate Communication course because it would be super helpful for the career I want to get into, but it has exams, and homework, and assignments and I just don't think I want to spend my time off doing homework! The Exploration Series courses on the other hands do not have any homework or assessments, and the classes are only 2 hours long rather than 4 hours, so I'm going with that option. Some people are opting against classes, but I know that it will look so good on my CV, plus it will be a wasted opportunity if I don't take one!

The only downside to taking a Disney course is the fact that they are scheduled on your day off. Luckily, my course is from 8.30-10.30 so it leaves most of the day free (no sleep-in though haha!).

Not long to go now.. the weeks are speeding by!
Til next time!

Los Angeles

So, being the super-organised person that I am, I have already started tentatively planning my stay in Los Angeles in January after I finish at Disney.

I may have mentioned in a previous post that due to a cancellation of a tour by Contiki, I will be spending four days in Los Angeles before my Contiki starts on the 11th January.

So far, this is what I have decided that I want to do:

• Warner Bros. VIP Studio Tour (Click here)
  Apparently this is the best tour to potentially spot a celeb, as it's a real working studio. Also, the museum sounds fab, especially the Harry Potter exhibit. Sounds like you only get about half an hour in the museum though, so thats a bit sad!

• The Deluxe Grand Tour of Los Angeles and Movie Star's Homes (Click here)
  This tour sounds awesome! It's 7.5 hours long, so will fill up one of my days in LA. It encompasses everything that is a must-see in LA, as well as Movie Star's Homes (you know thats a must-do when in Hollywood!)

• Disney's California Adventure Park (Click here)
  I had a hard choice choosing which theme park in LA to do. Magic Mountain was out as soon as I youtubed some of the rides - far too extreme for me! Universal was a contender, but I'll be going to Universal Orlando and its meant to be better than the LA one. Then it came down to Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure Park. Apparently California Adventure Park is far better, and judging by the photos/reviews/ride videos on youtube, it looks like it is. So thats my choice! Check out some of the photos below.
  Hopefully, I won't have to enjoy the magic by myself - Jason may come along with me, but if he doesn't I'm sure I'll find someone to! I wouldn't want to miss the World of Color by having to leave before dark (cos I'm not going out after dark alone!)

Is it weird that I'm so excited for things that aren't even going to happen for another 6 months!? Probably. Just like its weird that I've already planned my entire trip out. Haha. But oh well, I like to have it all planned out. Plus planning it all out is fun!

Pre-Departure Information

So I have been meaning to post because STB emailed us our Pre-Departure information.. But I have been working and [attempting] to study for my exams of death that I have next week, and am trying not to let the internet distract me. But I've decided that I deserve a break, and thus will fill you in :)

So STB emailed us with all the information we need to know before we arrive at Disney. There was a 24 page Powerpoint and a very long Word document detailing every aspect of the ICP.

It included information about the Housing Assessment Fee (which I managed to pay a couple of weeks ago - some people still haven't been able to log onto the website yet), education, housing, insurance, taxes, income.. even a suggested packing list. It was so much information that I think my brain barely took any of it in. But I printed it out, so perhaps after exams are out of the way, my brain will be able to focus better on it.

One of the major things in the powerpoint that I missed in my first reading is the On-Boarding Paperwork link. Luckily, I was distracting myself from study by reading Ashley's blog which had a post about it, otherwise I may never have discovered it!

The link not only has the forms we must download and print out, it also has information about traveling outside of the U.S whilst on the program (helpful, as I plan to do a Disney Cruise), our payroll card, Disney Look, our Disney discount and our Main Entrance Passes (which I won't be needing since no one will be coming to visit me while I'm there). The website is available here for anyone that is interested.

The payroll card sounds great because I'd really rather not set up a bank account in the states since I will only be there for 6 months. And getting it put into my own bank account from NZ would be a stupid idea cos then you get hit with conversion fees. Plus I'll be able to use my payroll card when I go on my Contiki too.

Meanwhile, everyone on the Facebook group is getting very excited. Some people are leaving in as little as 3 days! For me, it's still 35, but if time keeps going as it is, July 12th will be here before I know it! I am getting excited too - at the moment, I'm more excited for my pre-Disney adventures than I am about Disney I think! Los Angeles is the first stop, with Ashley's family offering to take us anywhere we want to go while on our stopover. Santa Monica is DEFINITELY on that list, especially because it will be summer, and I probably won't get a chance to get to Santa Monica when I'm in LA by myself in January. Also very excited for Universal Studios/Wizarding World of Harry Potter, as well as our planned shopping day at Walmart, Florida Mall and Premium Outlets. Not to mention the final Harry Potter film!

Can't wait! I just gotta keep pushing on with saving so I have enough moolah to enjoy it all!

xx

Universal Express!

I've been posting a lot lately! But it's getting so close now, so a lot of exciting things are happening!

My last post was just a quick video about the Walt Disney International College Program for anyone who stumbles across this blog and wants to know more about what I'm doing :) The video makes me even more excited!

Today Keri and myself were discussing our two days at Universal Studios and Island of Adventure (AKA Wizarding World of Harry Potter). We are going in the middle of July, so crowds are going to be at maximum. We discussed the pros of getting Express Passes for each of the days we are at the parks. Unlike the Fast Passes at Disney, you have to pay for the Express Passes at Universal. Because we're going in July, the price goes right up. They also only have limited passes available for each day.

Basically, the pass allows you to skip to the front of the line for nearly all the rides and shows (some of the most popular rides are not included however). You can use the pass once for each ride. We decided that the passes are worth the price - it means we will get to ride every ride in the parks at least once, and rather than possibly being stuck with randoms (if we went in the single rider line), it means we get to ride together!

So me and Keri have purchased our Express Passes online. Hopefully Ashley and Jessica will be keen to buy them as well, otherwise they will be standing in lines all day while me and Keri will be skipping past everyone! The passes are going to be great because we will get to do all the rides, leaving more time for looking around, and shopping, and going back to rides we really enjoyed!

All up it cost me just over $95USD, but I am sure that it will totally be worth it.

Bring on July!!

Disney International College Program