what was your first day like?

[migitmouse88]

hey cast members.... i was just wondering and i thoght this was a pretty nice topic... what was your first day as a cast member like? (by the way... what an awsome board!)

[Ortizmo2000]

The memories of my first day are hazy, as it was 15 long years ago. I recall the pretty blonde who was to train me on Captain EO that day, the awkwardness of the costume (and that silly pink turtleneck they made us wear), my first lunch at DL as a cast member being a mozzarella burger at the Inn Between employee cafeteria, learning how to operate the cleaning machine for the 3-D glasses, and being incredibly nervous my first time at the theatre PA to address the audience.

Oh, and I also had Michael Jackson's voice burned into my head. That was the one downside of the whole thing.

[PirateMunkee]

Wow, I don't even remember my first day but I do remember orientation day as clear as a bell. I remember how I used to think that Cast Members were something real special until my first time backstage. I saw a few cast members (Out of uniform) wearing Ozzy Osbourne concert T-shirts and that just blowing me away. I was thinking how the cast members were just like me. I remembered how cool it was to finally walk onstage while the park was open and I was wearing my name tag for the first time. Guest were looking at us like we were special and that was when I realized how important it meant to be a cast member. Now I want to go back but not onstage but backstage sitting at some desk and drawing my off.

[Sam the iPod]

First day out of training? Scary, for me. I didn't know where anything was, didn't know what we carried. I had to ask everyone where everything was.

[migitmouse88]

thanks for your answers

[snappy]

First day on the job!

First day on the job was filled with excitement and nervousness. I was assigned to popcorn next to city Hall. My first change over a mad house. Still think change over's need to be modified to get closer counts. My first guest experience was neat. I got paid to talk to people and give them popcorn and drinks. I made use of the courtesy cups and put a lot of smiles on guest..Eating at the Inn between was very cool. (I'm such a geek) Ate the mini burgers, yum, yum,,,,and got my free soft drink! (Benefit of ODV)

[Scream162]

I was 15 minutes late to my OJT at Pirates. Not a good way to start off! My training started at 6:00 AM so I was tired all day long.

[HMMaid2001]

Back in 2001... as a new hire, I was trained on Space Mountain..but there was a mix up on trainers.. but this one b*tch of a trainer (her name was Kristy) told me that CMs that are here longer are supposed to get Space, not new hires..so Michael, who was another trainer, trained me on certain things, but I was soo uncomfortable being around that chick, that I didn't want to get signed off.. So, for a few months, I was a 'old school' Fantasmic, until I got the Haunted Mansion..which I consider my first attraction..and everyone there welcomed me... everyone there and still is, there to help one another! From there on.. I worked the "Walt Disney Story" which was nerve racking cause on the first day, I had to somewhat memorized the office and theatre spiel and use a microphone!! Then, on to the Disneyland RailRoad..where I have great friends there, and just LOVED the trains, and still do!! and, at The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh..where its such a diffrerent and calm place to be..away from the craziness of Haunted Mansion Holiday!!

[CMandImagineer]

Like all guys over age twenty hired into Tomorrowland Attractions, my first day of training was on Subs. My beginning was not auspicious. I was warned by my trainer that you shouldn't stop a sub so that either of the hatches were under a waterfall. The pressure of the water pounding against the hatch would pop the latch and allow a torrent of water into the sub and soak any guest sitting under it. So, guess what? On my first solo trip around the lagoon with a sub-full of guests, I stopped under the exit falls, too far back, and the rear hatch opened. It soaked two women and put 2 inches of water inside the sub. That evening, an hour or so after my shift ended, I noticed my eyes kept running. By the next morning, I had a full blown eye infection, my eyes were glued shut, and I had to call in sick for what would have been my second and final day of training. I figured my DL career was over before it began. Luckily, I was wrong.

[Flint]

I remember my first day as just a blur. The dress rehearsal in the park two days before (from 1am-4am) however, I will never ever forget. What a great experience! :-)

[SoSirius]

First day of training, or first day on my own? First day on my own- Christmas Shoppe in the Castle, crowded as Heck! I was alone in the shop. My mind went totally blank when I had to run a credit card through (Duh! - well in my defense, it was my first job) I was seriously scared. When I was in training someone asked us 3 trainees if we could pick up her shift and I said OKAY. That was not smart... but what a crash course in learning the register quickly.

[Guest]

One week before the grand opening of WDW. I had just been cast as a Jungle Bunny. The first thing they did was got me into costume and rushed me over to the castle forecourt to be photographed, with about a thousand other CMs, for the cover of Life Magazine. I don't have that magazine anymore, but if you ever see it, and can spot the brown hats of the Jungle Bunnies, I'm the one with his elbow propped up on the ramp bannister that leads up to the castle entrance; I did that, just so I could pick myself out. After that, I don't remember anything....

[Gwyren]

You all make me slightly jealous. I wish I had a good memory on any of the days of my last position.

[Tinkerbell]

Well, my first training days were a lot easier because I was mostly in the calm and serene West Side. Why on earth I chose Main Street to be my area of choice I do not know, probably a love for the architecture. But wow. You don't know hectic till you've been thrust into a closing shift at the Emporium as I was on my first day out of training. I had a register and a line from here to kingdom come and the person at the register next to me was getting a lot of my stupid inexperienced questions. I cannot, however, emphasize enough the beautiful feeling of seniority you feel even the very next week when the new new-hire comes to work in the store with you! :lol: You're not the fresh newbie anymore!

[mrmainstreet]

Closing Emporium too. That place is always a mad house. I remember getting all the most complicated transactions, and questions as to where some obscure piece of merchandise was- and I didn't know. The Emporium has THOUSANDS of different items, and guess what, someone on their first day has not memorized there price and exact location!

[Tinkerbell]

Closing Emporium too. That place is always a mad house. I remember getting all the most complicated transactions, and questions as to where some obscure piece of merchandise was- and I didn't know. The Emporium has THOUSANDS of different items, and guess what, someone on their first day has not memorized there price and exact location!

How true that is! And of course, their descriptions were always "Well... it's got Mickey on it, and Disneyland is written on it too, I think."

[Disney Analyst]

lol.. well a mickey and disneyland on it hmmm. There will be about 3,000 objects like that, keep looking :P

[Cousin Orville]

Day One. 12:42pm first shift.

I was really selfconcious about my lederhosen. They kept falling down. My nametag was crooked too. Every guest looked at me and stared a bit. That talking rock was driving me nuts too, so I started lip syncing it. When I'd seat the guests and press the red button to dispatch they looked at me funny and asked how old i was... I responded in Austrian,handed out maps and yodeled to the kids to shut them up.

1:35pm..Someone from security came up and noticed the loose stiching on my homemade Matterhorn costume (2 flowery guitar straps as suspenders) and the cardboard nametag. It was curtains. I thought, "this isn't fair...just because I'm 12, they can just stop me, i was doing my jooooooob". They didn't buy that and confiscated the cardboard tag and the straps.

I went to Acapulco, this mexican place across from the park and did Mescal shots and ice cream till I felt better. Saw some of those same guests, but i was trashed and yelled "HAPPY NOW?????" and fell off my stool. 4:47pm

That's what it was like....the first and last day.

[RonNYC]

I remember my first day as just a blur. The dress rehearsal in the park two days before (from 1am-4am) however, I will never ever forget. What a great experience! :-)

Hey Flint..

Your post has my curiosity piqued. What was your gig?

Thanks!
Ron.

[Flint]

*chuckle* The All-American Marching College Show Band!!