Within 24 hours I left my job, my boyfriend, and life behind to go work for Walt Disney World!

[NewRVLady]

And I'm shocked your parents just let you jump in a car and take off without checking the basics to make sure it would actually make it to Orlando. That's a pretty far drive for an old car.

The OP is 21-pretty sure many that age are 'on their own"
However, that would have been the prudent thing-to check out car before a long trip

 

[sunnyday123]

In her defense related to her hair and tattoos... She has the job already and worked there before I would guess she is aware of these rules.

I thought she worked there in college....and assumed that meant before the colored hair and tats. My mistake.

 

[NJlauren]

I thought she worked there in college....and assumed that meant before the colored hair and tats. My mistake.

Very possible, but she did interview just a few weeks ago. But my only point was she probably knows these rules regardless of if she had the tattoos or dyed hair in college.

 

[MKMomma]

I'm going to piggy-back on Emom's anti-cheerleading;

You do know Disney has very strict guidelines concerning appearance for their castmembers? I think it's great that you're your own person and someone obviously spent a lot of time on your hair color, but that and the visible tattoos just won't fly with Disney.

And I'm shocked your parents just let you jump in a car and take off without checking the basics to make sure it would actually make it to Orlando. That's a pretty far drive for an old car.

She wears a wig to work at Disney.

 

[NewRVLady]

She wears a wig to work at Disney.

mnnnn....That must be hot!

 

[disneymom3]

I am having math trouble ...three taxis at $50 each, two nights in hotels and renting a Uhaul truck. In addition to gas and food. I just can't see how that $300 is lasting so long?

And I'm curious how you were able to visit the MK on May 27th.

Call me cynical, but things don't add up.

 

[Dentam]

I am having math trouble ...three taxis at $50 each, two nights in hotels and renting a Uhaul truck. In addition to gas and food. I just can't see how that $300 is lasting so long?

I was wondering the same thing...

I must have missed the part about visiting MK on the 27th?

 

[chartle]

And I'm curious how you were able to visit the MK on May 27th.

Do you have another source besides whats posted here or did I miss something?

 

[zendisney]

Hello Everyone and welcome to my new, crazy, and exciting life! (And first ever trip report...eh.. life report? )
You read correctly! I did it! I did what I've always dreamed of doing!!! Okay well.. I'm only 21 years old.... but I've still thought of it every day since I stepped my foot in the magical land of WDW!
Well then... Lets start with my past so we can move on to the present!

Hi!!!! My name is Khalee and I am 21 years old. If you can't tell, I'm silly and I love vibrant hair! The perfect way to describe me is "Metalhead meets Disney Princess." haha. I am from a suburb right outside Boston, Massachusetts. I have been going to WDW since I was 8 years old. My mother and I were on a big family vacation, and we decided to go off on our own since we were with younger children who didn't want to do everything. I remember it like yesterday. My mother and I ran off into tomorrow land, and walked right on to Space Mountain not knowing what it was. We walked off that attraction as different people. We were crying so hard we were laughing! We had such an exhilarating time exploring magic kingdom and not knowing what was next! It was truly a land full of adventure and magic! We got the Disney bug, and within a week of being home my mom had booked our first of many many mother daughter trips. From then on, as you all can relate... if we weren't in Disney, we were planning our next trip, on the dis, or listening to the dis unplugged to get our Disney fix. Here is my mom and I back in the day! (2008ish)

Fast forward to 2013, where I lasted one week in college before applying for the Disney College Program. I has an amazing time working in Disney's Animal Kingdom as a photopass photographer for Feb-Aug 2013. As much as I wanted to stay with Disney, I was signed up to start another passion of mine that I did not want to let go of - cosmetology school.

I went through hairdressing school and loved the company I was with so much I was hired to work for them and eventually teach for them! Which FINALLY brings us to the present! Don't get me wrong - I LOVE teaching hairdressing. It fits my personally so well. I LOVED being able to watch others grow as artists and become inspired by the world around them... but there was something in my life missing. As happy as I was with my current life, I still missed the magic. Here is a photo of me as a student in hairdressing school! This photo was on the day of the fundraiser I organized for Give Kids The World!

Ever since my college program, I often found myself logging on to disneycareers.com just to dream and see what was available. It was the end of April this year, and I was laying in bed at around 2am on my Iphone and decided to see what jobs where available.....and there it was... "Disney Photopass - Seasonal" My heart dropped. OH MY GOD. Without even thinking I applied. I instantly got an email to take the online quiz, and after that I was booking an appointment to go in for an interview. I couldn't speak. All I could think is "WHAT DID I JUST DO AND IS THIS REAL LIFE!?!"

Luckily I had a mother daughter trip planned to go to WDW in the first week of May. This would be the first mother daughter trip we were able to afford to go on after a 2 year hiatus! What are the chances I found this opportunity with a trip just around the corner?!

My interview was booked for May 6, 2015. I was so nervous. I knew that having done photopass before, I had a good chance of getting this role... but what did "seasonal" mean? I thought that meant working 150/hrs a year in WDW. Would this even be a possibility with my (good paying) full time teaching job? I didn't think so. Would it be worth leaving my amazing job at home to work for Disney seasonally? Would it be worth working an okay job at home to be able to make magic at WDW a few weeks a year? I went into this interview, excited but also an emotional wreck. If I got the job I would be depressed about having to leave my fulfilling job of teaching hairdressing.

On the other hand, if I didn't get the job with Disney my hopes and dreams would be crushed, and it's back to day dreaming for me! I wasn't sure what to expect or what to set myself up for emotionally. I went into this interview just to see what my options where. Little did I know that the "seasonal" job was for the summer.... (You'd think that idea would of crossed my mind?! rotfl)

It was May 6th. I was at Disney casting. "Khalee?", I heard my name being called by a smiling face of a cast member named Matt! I walked into his office shaking, trying to maintain my cool. Twenty minutes later, I was shaking his hand accepting a role to work as a photopass photographer in the Magic Kingdom for the summer.... oh and I start in one week.
OH. MY. GOD.
I didn't give it a second thought. MAGIC KINGDOM IS MY HOME FOR REAL! I walked out of casting and decided to quit my life in Boston, take a suitcase, my old 2000 Toyota Corolla and the $300 I had saved up, and move to Orlando for the summer at least but hopefully for good!

Hopefully that wasn't TOO wordy?! I apologize! Wish me luck - and I hope you all enjoy following this new adventure I've embarked on!

This is an amazing story. Dreamy! Looking forward to hearing about your journey.

 

[DreamLikeWalt]

Hello Everyone!

There are a few questions, comments, and concerns here I'd like to address.
The first thing I will address are those of you wondering why I would do this without getting my car checked out and why my family would let me even think to do this. The day I got the job offer from Disney I called home to have someone drop my car at the shop for me to get it all checked out and the AC fixed for a safe trip to Florida. By the time I got home to pack up and leave, my car was checked out and I got the okay for a cross country trip. I understand your concerns of me driving my beat up car, but this is the risk I was willing to take, and I did get it okay'ed before I left.

As far as my family allowing me to do this, first of all, I am 21 years old. I don't mean to say this in an "I'M TECHNICALLY AN ADULT AND I KNOW WHAT'S BEST FOR ME!" type of way. However I have been financially independent and own my own for a few years now. Do I have a savings? No. But I did make enough to live. My father was and still is not happy with my choice to do all of this, and as "immature" or "dumb" of a decision you may think this is, I would appreciate negative comments kept to a minimum. I do have my own personal reasons I have chosen this path, but the reasons behind are personal and a whole other story. If I ever meet any of you lovely people I'd be happy to tell you more about my life, but that's not for the internet.

Those of you asking about the money I spent vs. what I said I had not adding up, well I did get a bit more from a family member to be able to rent the Uhaul.

I did not mention anything about my car staying at the shop in GA and the details of that because I see this as me telling my story. In my opinion, what is going on with my old car seems like a boring detail that does not add to the story. I am assuming that most of you are asking because you care from a "parent" type of perspective, and I both respect and am grateful for that. So you all know, everything is all set and taken care of with my old vehicle. Thank you for your concerns.

Yes, I was in the MK on the 27th for one of my training days. You must be friends with me on facebook to see that? My report is a mix of live/a few days behind.

Lastly, I am fully aware of the Disney look. My fairy godmother helps me change my look when I need to.

I have gone to a few days of training and am still doing so! I am so happy to be down here. My car situation is still up in the air. The family I am staying with is AMAZING. They have been so beyond helpful. They have let me exchange doing their hair and babysitting for letting me stay here. This would not be possible if it was not for them. I am forever thankful.

Last night was a lot of fun! My roommate from my college program just arrived here. She will be doing a professional internship. I got to see her for the first time in years. It was awesome seeing a friendly face.

For now I am getting by. I can't wait to be done with training so I can work more hours. I am constantly battling between being overly excited and happy to be in Orlando, and being down and depressed about the car situation. I know everything will be okay. I am grateful for the few friends I have down here to be taking me out and having fun.

Sorry I do not have too much of an exciting update. I promise I will soon, and I'll post of pictures of my adventures too!

I feel like a lot of the recent comments are negative. I hope that they are just people concerned about me and not trying to put me down. I very much realize the risk in what I did, but though it all I still regret nothing!

Thank you again for every positive thought and comment. I wish I could just group hug you all!!

 

[Disneylover99]

This is your report. Don't let negative posters bring you down.

 

[NJlauren]

Just wanted to say I hope you keep sharing your story and working towards your dream.

 

[Dentam]

Thanks for posting an update and clearing up some things! I think most people are simply concerned. Others may be a bit cynical based on past experiences... I've heard about people making up stories on these boards and then asking for money before the moderators were able to check them out and delete them for being false. Anyway, glad all is well and best of luck with your new life!

 

[DreamLikeWalt]

Ahhhhh!! I rarely even lurk on the boards to be honest, so I wasn't aware of this! This makes much more sense now, thanks for letting me know! I am much to proud to ask for money from any of you! Haha. Like I said before though, I will accept all donations of positive thoughts&pixie dust! <3

 

[jandlinz]

Hi Khalee! So glad to see you've updated and things are going well. I'm so sorry you have received some negative comments. I hope you can focus on the positive. There are many people rooting for you and giving you best wishes. I'm so glad you were able to meet up with an old friend. I bet it was just the medicine that you needed. I can't wait to see pictures of your adventures. Good luck and keep us posted.
-Lindsey

 

[Dentam]

Ahhhhh!! I rarely even lurk on the boards to be honest, so I wasn't aware of this! This makes much more sense now, thanks for letting me know! I am much to proud to ask for money from any of you! Haha. Like I said before though, I will accept all donations of positive thoughts&pixie dust! <3

Sending a generous donation of positive thoughts and pixie dust your way!

 

[kandb]

I wish you lots of luck and hope everything works out for you. You seem very determined and I am sure you will reach your dreams. I was concerned for you reading about your trip down but glad you made it OK. Let us know where you will be working in August. Our family will be down for a summer vacation and I would love to say hello to you. Good vibes your way!

 

[TheUndercoverDISer]

Can't wait for the training updates & pics!

here's some extra pixie dust!

 

[snowmanlover]

Wishing you nothing but the best! Sending you an extra big dose of .

Hope and pray ALL your dreams come true!!

 

[RDawn]

Hi Khalee,
I'm happy that everything has been explained (on all parts) and that you still have your spunk & great attitude to see you through this adventure. Thanks for the updates. I look forward to many more