Thursday 21st September
Tonight me and my roommates Hayley, Wakana and Fumiko went out for dinner so we could get to know each other a bit better. We went to a chinese restaurant, it was a really nice evening! Wakana and Fumiko were teaching us Japanese. I've learnt the essentials, I can now say drunk, greedy and hangover! haha! When we were outside we decided to practice our Disney points again! 

Tuesday 19th September
Today was first day of training and as you can see I got my costume!! (I can hear you all laughing! but I quite like it hehe!) I love my job, everything we do is so cute! If we see a little girl in a pretty dress or tiara we have to call her princess and ask for her autograph! Every so often the managers will tell us to 'make magic' for an hour. We can take a football outside and play with the children, or put on toy police hats and run around blowing whistles telling guests off for not smiling! hehe! My favourite section of the UK pavillion is kidcot, children get masks or books and they go around to each country getting them stamped and signed by someone in each pavillion. In the UK we have to write 'Welcome to the United Kingdom home of Robin Hood and Mary Poppins' In Kidcot we have Winne the Pooh, Alice and Mary Poppins there all day to have their photos taken with guests. Some of children get so excited, its so cute to watch!

That night James and Beth took us to their favourite bar; Jellyrolls which is on Disneys Boardwalk.

Jellyrolls is a bar which has duelling pianos. Its just like the type of bar you see on 'Friends' or 'Ally McBeal'! Everyone stands around drinking beer and shouts out songs, and the guys on the pianos play them and everyone sings along!! They were typical Americans songs aswell like 'Sweet Home Alabama' and 'Viva Las Vegas' It was so much fun! 

The 'Disney point'! When we are giving directions to guests, we have to point with 2 fingers because pointing with 1 finger is considered rude! So here they are practising! hehe!! 

Monday 18th September
Monday nights are cast member nights. Every nationality has a party in one appartment for the girls and another appartment for the guys. Our group is called 'UK lasses' and we have to wear black tops, UK lads wear white, the French guys wear blue, Norweign girls wear pink etc etc. At midnight everybody meets up and goes to Pleasure Island to the clubs! It was our first one tonight so us 'newbies' had to stand up and introduce ourselves and drink a shot. It was a fun night, but we went home at 12 cos we have training tomorrow at 8am! We'll probably go to pleasure island next week though. 

Sunday 17th September
Today all the new food & beverage cast members had their training; so the new merchandise people had the day off. So us merch girls; me, Diane, Vikki and Jenna had a quick trip to Walmart and then spent the afternoon at the Commons pool!! 

Saturday 16th September
Today we had 'Traditions' at the Disney University. We learnt about the history of Disney and how it all started. We watched some videos which played songs about dreams and wishes coming true. They showed clips of childrens reactions the first time they see Disneyworld and Mickey Mouse, some of those children were disabled or terminally ill. It was so emotional, me and Jo were nearly in tears! It just made us realise what we are all here for; to make sure the children and guests are happy and that they have an amazing holiday!
We also got our name tags. Mines says 'Natalie, Hertfordshire England' and our cast member IDs which means we can go to any Disney Park (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, MGM and Animal Kingdom) free whenever we want!! Taking full advantage of that we decided to head straight for the Magic Kingdom that evening! Here we all are on the monarail feeling very excited!! 

We met up with some of the French people from our arrival group and we all watched 'Wishes'. First Tinkerbell flys from Cinderella's Castle showering everyone with pixie dust and then there is a huge firework display whilst music from the Disney films play. Was so lovely! Felt quite emotional!! 

Friday 15th September
Today was our first day off so we all went to Universal Studios! We all paid £80 for annual passes which means we can now go whenever we want for the next year!! Whoo hoo! 

We split into 2 groups as some of us wanted to do the original studios park and some wanted to do the new 'islands of adventure' park. Me, Jo, Mike, Diane, Hayley and Meg went to the original park. Had a great day! Went on my old favourites; Jaws and Earthquake. The mummy ride was my favourite! Me and Jo looked so funny in the picture! We looked terrified!! 

Outside Universal Studios the staff were warming up the crowd for a band. They got everyone in the street to do the 'cha cha slide'!! So here we all are strutting our stuff! Everyone who took part were given some beads, mine are now hanging up in my room! 

After dancing in the street we all went to the Nascar cafe for a typical American dinner. A huge burger, fries and a milkshake! Here we are; the whole of the UK 12th September arrival gang along with my lovely roommate Hayley (who actually arrived 2 weeks before us!) This will be the last time we will all have dinner together because when we start work we will all be on different shifts between 8am - 1am. Left to right Dominic, Chris, Mike, Vikki, Meg, Jo, Diane, me, Jenna, Colin, Kerri, Lucy and Hayley. I love our little gang!!xx 

Wednesday 13th September
Our first full day! We all turned up for training at 8am, looking exhausted after only about 5 hours sleep! In the afternoon we went to Walmart (are you jealous mum?!) and we found some 'lucky charms' ( I took a picture just for you Uncle Dave!) Mike hadnt got used to the American cars and driving on the other side of the road yet. In the taxi ride home, whilst driving down the freeway, Mike thought the driver had got out the car! The picture above is the view Mike had from his seat hehe!!

We decided to go out for a meal on our first evening here. All of our arrival group plus Jilly, James and a random cute French guy called David went to the House of Blues for dinner. Me and Jo had just one cocktail each and they were so strong! They went straight to our heads and we spent the rest of the night in fits of giggles! When we came outside Jo took a photo of our gang, (see above) Colin did a star jump and landed on Jillys foot! Then when we saw the photo, look where Mikes hand is! We all couldnt stop laughing!

After dinner we all went to Pleasure Island to a few clubs; first a gay club with a revolving dance floor! (don't think it would be a good idea if you're drunk!) Then we went to a club called Motion. Every night at midnight everyone does the 'cha cha slide' while the video plays on the big screen! It was so cheesy but so funny!! 

Tuesday September 12th!!!
Leaving day! 13 weeks ago I found out I was going to work in Disney World in Florida, and the day had finally come!! Mum, Nan and Stewart came to Heathrow airport to wave me off. I met up with Jo, Colin, Meg, Kerri and Emma. Chris came down to see Jo! aw! so he is in our photo trying not to look too jealous I think! (He'll be out here with Jo and the rest of us soon though!) On the first flight to Washington DC we met Jenna, Lucy, Vicki and Dominic.

Here we are at Washington DC Airport drinking our Starbucks (are you proud Lucy?!) frappacino's waiting for our connecting flight to Orlando! Whoo hoo!!

Here we all are: just arrived at Orlando Airport, 13 hours after we left Heathrow! This is all the 12th September gang who were on the flight from London (apart from me cos I was taking the photo!) Left to right; Emma, Vicki, Dominic, Colin, Meg, Jo, Kerri, Lucy and Jenna.

We were picked up by two Disney representatives and taken to our new home 'Gables Commons Drive' in Orlando. Our friends Beth, Gemma and James (from Wales) met us at the bus stop and helped us check in to our new apartments! I am living with my disney friend Hayley who I met up with in Birmingham! yay! and 2 lovely Japanese girls called Wakanna and Fumiko. I will post some photos on at a later date but it's a really lovely apartment!!
James (not from wales!) had thrown a welcome party in his apartment for us all! We met up with Mike and Diane who had flown in earlier in the day from Manchester. We were all so tired and I met so many people! Eventually I managed to get to bed after being up for almost 26 hours!

My last nights at home
On the Sunday night me, Mum, Nan, Stewart and Nicole went out for a chinese meal. Unfortunately the stupid batteries died in my camera so I only managed to get one photo of Mum and Stewart! So on the Monday night in between packing and visiting friends; I took some photos of my last night at home! Didnt get to bed until after midnight and had to set my alarm for 5am!! 

Leaving do with my Friends!!
Last night was my leaving do! Me, Clare, Lucy, Anna, Katy, Gary, Natalie and Marc went to Cafe Uno in Hertford. Had a lovely meal and lots of wine! Was lovely to see Nat and her bump before I left! Next time I'll see the bump she will over a year old! I'll be sending Nat and Marc lots of little Tinkerbell and Minnie Mouse outfit from Disney! hehe!

After dinner we all went to the pub to meet up with my friends Charlie and Mark. Was really nice to see them both. I hadn't since Charlie since her leaving do in January, before she went to Australia!

Me, Lucy, Clare, Anna, Charlie and Mark went onto Elbert Wurlings for some cocktails and a boogie! Look at Mark and his manly pink cocktail! 'Legoman' was there again! haha!! Tried to get some good pictures of him for Lucy but gave up after a while cos I felt like a stalker! Had a great night! Going to miss all my friends so much!!xxx

My last weeks
A few weeks ago I met up with my friend / gossip buddy (hehe!) Justine. We went to a pub in Hendon (North London) with some of her friends, for a kareoke night. Was lovely to see her before I went away! Jonathon from X-factor regularly goes to this pub and sings on kareoke nights but unfortunately he wasn't there! I was like a proper groupie, waiting with my camera for him to show up! haha! Never mind, it came in to good use with me and Justine spending most of the night messing around pulling silly faces and posing!
On my last Friday night at home; me, Lucy, Anna and Kay went to the good ol' 'Salisbury' and 'Faces'! Not been to either in ages, so was fun to go there before I left. Anna's brother and all his friends met up with us and we had a really good night. It was the last time me and Kay would see other until next year!:( Streetboy from kiss 100 (London radio station) was the guest DJ but he didn't invite us to any parties this time!!

Marconato's
A few weeks ago me, mum, my brother Stewart, his girlfriend Nicole and our family friends Sandra, Tony, Leigh and Anne-Marie went out for dinner. We went to my favourite Italian restaurant 'Marconatos' which was a having a Grease themed night. It was a really fun night! The waiters were so sweet! They forgot my dessert, so when they eventually brought it over they had written an apology and smiley faces in chocolate and strawberry sauce!

Sian and James' wedding.
On 26th August my friends Sian and James got married. I went along to the evening reception. They both looked gorgeous!! (Sian I want your dress!)

Amanda, Kay, Caroline, Alex, Lucy, Katy, me and Emma

Had a lovely evening! Caroline & Alex looked gorgeous as Sian's brides maids! Tonight was the last time I would see Sian & James for a year! It was also the last night I would see Caroline & Aron (cos we went out for lunch a few days later!) Will miss you guys!!