Four Crazy Months

I've completed yet another Disney College Program, and it was life-changing as always! A lot has happened since I last blogged, so how about a quick refresher?

I went on a cruise to the Bahamas with the ODF crew.

I road-tripped to Key West and Fort Lauderdale with the MK ODF girls.

I worked the Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween parties!

I went to Disneyland! (Friends, take advantage of this while you work for the company. It's only $200 round trip if you book plane tickets at the right time, and you get in for free!)

I visited old friends in Utah.

I graduated from the Disney College Program (but missed graduation because my schedule hates me).

I flew to Scotland (what?!).

Then Ireland.

Then England.

Thailand, anyone?

 

 

Bali is paradise.

Hello, Singapore!

South Korea has the best airport (though it doesn't make for good pictures).

I returned to Seattle after being abroad for five weeks.

Then I left for Florida once again (I think I'm addicted!).

10 days until I leave for Hawaii!

Month 4: Tonsillitis, Halloween, and the Bahamas!

Time to recap my September adventures! To start off the month, I came down with a nasty case of tonsillitis. It was one of the most painful things I have ever experienced, and I ended up missing almost a week of work as a result. On the bright side, I didn't have to get my tonsils out; they simply put me on antibiotics. Thank goodness that's over with.

I have also picked up a few shifts at ESPN this month! It was a ton of fun, and made me miss the people there that much more. There was a men's softball tournament going on the weekend I worked, and there were a lot off EHH working the event. (Note: EHH are people who don't normally work in that location, but picked up the shift through the Extra Hours Hotline on the Hub). The leaders often put me in charge of various concession locations because I actually knew what I was doing, which I enjoyed!

It is officially Halloween season at Walt Disney World, as Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Parties have begun. Though the shifts go late into the night, I love working these events. The costumes are adorable, the parade is to die for, special Disney character fill the park, and the perimeter fireworks are jaw dropping. Plus, I was never able to work the Halloween parties on my last program since Pinocchio Village Haus only does the Christmas parties, so this is all a new experience for me!

During the last week of September, I had the opportunity to go on an impromptu cruise to the Bahamas with a group of my coworkers at ODF! I had never been on a cruise before, so I had no idea what was in store for me. The boat was absolutely gorgeous, there was unlimited food and drinks, a casino, a pool, a rock wall, and like 10 different bars throughout the boat. The first island we stopped at was Coco Cay, which was paradise. The second island was Nassau, which was a lot different. It was heavily populated, very dirty, and the poverty level was very high. We weren't able to make it to the beach in Nassau, but we did spend some time haggling at the straw market, which was a blast. I can't wait to go on my next cruise!

 

How I Afford To Travel The World

I've finally completed my string of international flight bookings for my travels in December. When I tell people about my plans, the most common question concerns how I am able to pay for this trip. Sometimes this question suggests a negative connotation, sometimes it is just genuine curiosity. Regardless, I have decided to break everything down financially. I hope this answers these questions, as well as help others who are planning to travel in the future.

Before I make any purchases, I spend hours looking at flights on Kayak.com. This is literally what I do in my free time and what I consider "fun". I change every variable to find the cheapest flight possible: nearby airports, number of layovers, date of departure, etc. After doing this for every single flight, I make a timeline of my trip and my price range. For my trip in December, I planned out $1,800 for all my flights.

Next, I purchase the flights, one by one. I can't afford to purchase all the flights at once, so I buy one flight every other week when my paycheck comes in. I have purchased five flights total, and have been in the process of doing so since the beginning of August. I use an excel spreadsheet to track how much each flight will cost, paycheck amounts, planned dates of purchase, and my remaining balance.

Here is a breakdown of each flight purchased*:

Orlando, Florida to Glasgow, Scotland - $370
London, England to Bangkok, Thailand (BKK) - $515
Bangkok, Thailand (DMK) to Bali, Indonesia - $95
Bali, Indonesia to Bangkok, Thailand (BKK) - $135
Bangkok, Thailand (BKK) to Seattle, Washington - $635

Total: $1,750
*These prices include the additional foreign transaction fees, when applicable.

Additionally, I know people in the destinations I am traveling to, which will help to cut down on hotel and transportation costs. That is one benefit of working for the Walt Disney Company - you get to know and work with a very diverse group of people.

"I'd rather travel and be poor than be rich and never see the world."

This quote sums it all up. I am not rich; I am a broke college student living paycheck to paycheck. I completely eliminate excess spending, including shopping, alcohol, eating out, etc. I try to spend exclusively on experiences. I work my butt off to earn the right to travel - I usually work 60-70 hours during the weeks preceding a vacation. The effort I put into earning these trips makes them that much more worthwhile.

Month 3: Goodbye ESPN, Transfers, and Seattle!

Is it September already?! The Halloween decorations are all put up in Magic Kingdom, which means it is officially fall. August has been a very eventful month, so let's hope I can remember most of what happened!

First of all, I had my last day at ESPN, and all of my friends are gone. This is what absolutely sucks about extending your program. Although I've made new friends in my new location, it's nothing compared to the summer full of memories I have with my ESPN family. However, there is a bright side to this situation. I have officially decided to travel after my program to visit some of my friends abroad! I will be going to Scotland, England, and Thailand so far. I have not bought a plane ticket from Bangkok to anywhere else yet, as I can't currently afford it. But once I save up, we'll see where I decide to go next!

 

I completed my training at ODF (outdoor foods) in Magic Kingdom, and it's not half bad. I mostly do mobile vending, so I'm that person with the food cart that walks in front of the parades. It's a very independent job, so I don't interact with my coworkers as much as I did at ESPN. I do like it though, because there is a lot more guest interaction. My time at ODF has definitely helped me to improve my guest service skills, as well as my ability to communicate across language barriers.

One of my seven costumes at ODF!

In mid-August, I took a week and a half off to visit my family and friends in Seattle! August is my favorite time to visit home because all my friends are actually home from college and in the area. Plus, I was able to see my best friend who just returned from his mission in Brazil! It was such an amazing week, and I miss it already! Luckily, we all have an excuse to get together again next summer, as my other best friend is getting married! July couldn't come any sooner!

Green Lake Park in Seattle

I also had the opportunity to go to Universal Studios. It was so much fun, as I had not been there in over a year. Hogwarts and Diagon Alley was just as amazing as I remembered it to be. And boy, did I miss actual thrill rides! Disney rides are great and all, but they do nothing to appease my craving for a full-on adrenaline rush. The Hulk, on the other hand, does just that.

The next day, I ended up going to the doctor and finding out I had tonsillitis. This was probably one of the most painful things I have experienced. They put me on antibiotics, I took three days off work, and I am just now starting to feel normal again, almost two weeks later.

Other than this, not much has happened. Its been a busy month, so I haven't spent much time in the parks. I have some big plans in store for this month, though, so stay tuned for my Month 4 update!

Dear 21-year-old-self,

On my main blog, All Roads Lead To Nowhere, I recently wrote a post entitled "Dear 21-year-old-self." It's a short piece explaining the reasoning behind my decision to take my senior year of college off to travel. I know it's not Disney related, but it is definitely applicable to college students everywhere!