Last few days of training then hi ho, hi ho it's off to work we go!

This is when I wish I had kept a diary as I cannot fully remember everything about these few days now as it is all one big blur. However, what I do remember was that there was lots of information to take in and I had the classic new job jitters so it made for an overwhelming few days, but thanks to my fantastic colleagues, my trainer Louise, the co-ordinators and leaders it wasn't that scary and ended up being lots of fun!

Tier 3 Training - 1st August

Ahh so first real on-the-job training begins! We were scheduled for 10am-6:30pm.

We started with our first morning meeting and leader Tracey informed us all of any important updates that we needed to know with regards to our role or the park itself. 

Let's do this, let's make this dream a reality! Never been so keen to start a job.

Then I'm not too sure what we did next as such, we may have wondered around the pavilion again to get familiar with the shops, but I can't be too sure. However, I do remember training on the till with our trainer Louise. There is one merchandise location in the pavilion which is only really used during peak times and this was the register where we would begin putting into practice what we had learned at our Merchantainment class. After being made familiar again with the layout of the register our trainer got us involved with doing a bit of role play. Our trainer placed our register on training mode, which allowed us to quite literally 'play shops' placing transactions through, getting familiar with the currency (because American currency is very confusing because their 10 cents/Dime looks like our 5p and their 5 cents is very similar size to their 25 cent/Quarter coin and their notes are all the SAME colour and size - nightmare!). 

Then after some role play our trainer had confidence in us that we knew what we were doing and it was time for us to try out some real life transactions. Dun dun dun duuun. So leader Jesic got us set up with our logins for the registers then we could practice for real.

I think it all went pretty well but I was definitely ready for bed when the time came. Being new is tiring having to use your brain as a sponge trying to soak up all the new information/reinforcing information - but hey I WORK IN WALT DISNEY WORLD and life legit couldn't feel any better. Excuse the cheesiness but wearing the costume and being on stage for the first time was quite emotional. I've wanted this once in a lifetime opportunity more than anything and for it to now be here and real is really overwhelming and I do not take one second of it for granted. 

Tier 4 Training - 2nd August

Work Schedule: 13:00-21:30

Tier 4 training allowed us to try out each register in the pavilion and get a sense for what each store is like and what some of the common questions you might get asked by guests within them. For instance, in our Sports shop you guessed it, people will ask what's your favourite football/soccer team? or Why don't you have any of ____ football team merchandise in here? Or where can I find___? and you soon discovered which shops were the busiest and which ones are the quieter ones e.t.c. it was a really insightful day.

Then park closed at 9pm and this was our time to be trained on how to cash up. As with anything new thing, there was lots of information to take in but thanks to my amazing trainer Louise, she provided me with some very helpful notes to take home with me so I could have them in case of emergency, as if anyone doesn't know me that well I can be a bit of a Dory at times and I need new information to be repeated to me at least 3 times before I fully grasp things. 

So after all that fun at work it was time for my first throw out experience which is obviously the opposite to a 'Throw In'. It is a weird occasion as it's both happy and sad. Happy because you all get together as a UK Merch fam and you might be able to take home some goodies with you but sad as it means people are leaving and it signals the start of them leaving. So very mixed emotions throw outs are but I loved my first experience of it nevertheless. 

First Throw Out Experience

Tier 4 Cont Training. - 5th August

Work Schedule: 11:00-19:30

Last Day photo tradition in Christopher Robin's bedroom <3

Yet again thanks to my Dory memory I can't remember what order things happened on this day as such. However, I do know that we started our day saying our goodbyes to those who were leaving our pavilion and taking photos with them. I got to go to Christopher Robin's bedroom for the very first time in my life and just wow is that room special, it has been so wonderfully fitted out, any Winnie The Pooh fan would be wowed by it, I was in awe. 

When it was time to open the shops, I feel Kim and I got to practice again on registers for a bit then we went for our test which I am pleased to say I passed which meant I was/am fully trained and qualified to start my role and go into rotation - YIPEE!!!. My first rotation/assignment was for me to go on cart (our only outdoor position we have) which turned out to be a girl called Sarah's last ever bumpout which was crazy. Her program was coming to an end whereas mine was just beginning. 

About half way through being on rotation it was time for Kim's and mine leader engagement, which is an opportunity for us to not only meet a leader on a one-to-one kind of basis but also allowed us to ask any last minute queries/questions we had about our role and for us to be updated on expectations and guidelines we will need to follow.

Again another splendid day in the UK Pavilion finally making this dream a complete reality now as a fully fledged, fully trained Merchandise Cast Member for DISNEY! So so blessed to be able to have this opportunity.