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

Bring on July!

Hey readers!

So with my visa interview completed, I though that I had everything for America and Disney paid for.

Until I was casually scanning through the Disney Checklist that came in the Welcome Email (which remember, I never received. But someone gave me the link for the checklist luckily). Anyways, the Checklist mentioned a non-refundable Housing Assessment Fee of $100USD that has to be paid before we leave for America. A quick email to STB confirmed that we had to pay this, so today I jumped online and managed to log on to the website (a few other people haven't been able to log on yet). I wanted to get the fee paid as soon as possible, since I have everything else sorted, and today the exchange rate hit an all-time high so the timing was perfect!

After entering my passport number, flight details and arrival time into Orlando as well as my credit card details for payment, the website brought up this confirmation:

Dear JESSICA:

Greetings from the Walt Disney World Resort!. You are about to embark on the journey of a lifetime with International Programs. We hope you are as excited to join our team as we are to have you!

Thank you for your Program Assessment Fee. This is your official confirmation that an apartment and position have been reserved for you!

That last sentence makes me so happy! Like, it is actually real, and they are really expecting me! There is no turning back now (not that I would be turning back anyway!)

This weekend I'm going to pull out my suitcase and carry-on suitcase and start chucking things in there that I want to take but don't need at the moment. I need to write a list of things I still need to buy and a list of things I'm going to take with me. I can't believe tomorrow is June! Time is flying by so fast!!

Hopefully my passport and visa will arrive back in the next few days :)

Til next time,

xx