Money makes the world go 'round.

Sorry I haven't posted in quite a few weeks. Since I have been accepted, payed my fees, and gotten everything in line, nothing new has really come up.

I did register for one class through Disney! I initially wasn't going to but I figured I needed to get my program to the full potential. I signed up for Marketing You - apparently one of the most popular classes they offer. From the syllabus on the website, it's all about how we can market ourselves to future employers and how we can use Disney to our advantage. I'm really hoping this class leads to some awesome networking opportunities and could open up some doors for the future...

In other news, I am ready to get down there and get the ball rolling. However, I must admit I am a bit nervous about my money situation. Right now, I'm not making too much at Macy's - just enough to cover my bills (which is good, right?). And even though I make $8.50 an hour, I'm going to take a hefty paycut at Disney at $7.31 an hour. And I will have to pay rent, bills, and go grocery shopping. So needless to say I'm getting a little bit worried about this.

I talked to my grandma and she said that if I needed money, I knew I could call home and they would help me out as much as they can. But I don't want to be a burden on them. This is MY program and I'm choosing to do it. I could very well stay at Macy's and work for more money, but I know this is what I want to do. So I don't want to stress them out by me needing money.

For Christmas this year, I'm forgoing any type of present. Seriously. I just want gift cards to target or the Visa ones you can spend on anything. Those will help pay for groceries, thankfully.

I do plan on saving some money by couponing while I'm down there. It's a little bit of a time suck, but I find it relaxing and it will help me with my money situation, at least a little bit. So I'm thankful I know how to do that. I'm also saving up all my "Macy Money" that I have gotten from work. That way, if I need anything at Macy's, I'll be able to use that money to save at least a little bit.

I just can't wait to get down there and get everything going. Planning is hard when you have really no idea what to expect.

'Ohana' means 'family' and 'family' means 'no one gets left behind.'

I don't have too much to update anymore, since I have been accepted [thankfully], paid my fees, and have done all necessary paperwork that has been made available to me thus far.

But I got to thinking today. Tomorrow marks another week of waiting for some of my DFam (Disney Family - get it?)... some of them going on to their 5th week of waiting. And I can't help but realize how blessed I am that I found out when I did. If you knew me, I was going INSANE. I think I was stressing everybody out with how impatient I was growing.

But I can't help but still feel that tinge of anticipation and worry while I wait for the rest of my DFam to make it in. I know, it sounds weird, since I've never even really MET these people. But Disney seriously brings people together. The Facebook groups for the program seasons are booming with people and can be overwhelming. But each time I've applied (the two times, I guess I should say), I've been able to find my niche with some amazing people for both seasons. People which I truly consider some of my best friends. And I'm going to be seriously so sad if some of them don't get in and won't get to share this experience with me.

But I must keep a positive outlook. I know they're amazing people who are capable of getting in the program, and most likely WILL. I just hope that they hear back soon so I can stop stressing for them.

For with each dawn, she found new hope that someday, her dreams of happiness would come true.

Wow. It has been a whirlwind these past few days (in the Disney world, I mean). I'm still having a hard time believing this is actually real life. I'm not being facetious, nor am I being dramatic. I'm being 100% honest.

Last time I blogged, I was still in a weird Disney limbo, despite being accepted. I had a hot-mess of a letter - taking me to Disneyland, etc.

Well. I called on Tuesday and got everything straightened out. I waited on hold for over an hour, but that's okay, since I listened to a ton of Disney songs while on hold. Finally, I was put on the phone with a very nice cast member, Kevin, who I told all my woes to concerning my letter and my acceptance. Finally, he was able to figure out a few things... but then my iPhone dropped the call.

Thankfully, Kevin was a nice soul and called back. He said that he figured out I had been sent a Disneyland letter, and that I kept getting reminder emails (I had FIVE) concerning my Disney World email - which I never received. So he put it in the system to send me a new one and get everything figured out. He said it would come either that night or the next morning.

Not even 30 minutes later, I received my 'CONGRATULATIONS' email. And even though I knew I was in the program, I was SO GIDDY when I saw this. It was just too much to handle. So from there, I was able to accept my role, pay my dues, pick my date, etc. etc.

So I can say, without any hesitation or questions, I am moving to Florida and will begin my program on January 18, 2012.

I. Can't. Wait.

IT'S OFFICIAL!

Oh, stuff and fluff!

So I've been to Disney World two times thus far. But each time, I leave with things that I've always wanted to do... so I'm going to solve this issue by making a WDW to-do list for my program. So this will be the place for me to write it down and add to it. In addition to this, I'll put it on an actual page on here so I can mark it off during my program.

I present to you THE LIST.

If you keep on believing, the dreams that you wish will come true. ~ Cinderella

Yes. You do see that correctly.

I was accepted today for the Walt Disney World College Program, Spring Advantage 2012 program. :)

Words cannot express how excited I am. I am seriously so happy.

I received my email at 1:30 my time. It wasn't the normal "CONGRATULATIONS!" email, however. It was basically the email saying that they had invited me, but I hadn't accepted yet and time was running out. So I was like WHAT DO YOU MEAN I HAVEN'T ACCEPTED YET? THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE HEARD ABOUT THIS. So basically, it was a glitch I didn't get my first email. And I wasn't able to log on and see what role I had - but I was okay with that. I was IN!

Finally, though, a super nice girl [thanks Jenna!] sent me the link that was in her congrats email and I was able to log on to see my role offer. I logged on, but all that was listed for my role was some weird, glitchy text. But then I got to reading further and the role description was that for a character attendant! My absolute dream role!

So on Monday, I have to call and figure out what is going on. But that's okay --

I'M GOING TO DISNEY WORLD!

A dream is a wish that your heart makes.

Well. No news again today.

I know that when I called last week, she said, "No news is good news until you hear good news." While I appreciate she was optimistic - what exactly is that supposed to mean? I'm officially at day 21 of waiting. It's getting harder with each passing day, not knowing whether I'll be down there in January or not.

The stress this is putting on my body is insane. I can't really eat, sleep, or function. I'm continually on edge - waiting to hear my phone go off to alert me of an email. And every time it chimes, letting me know I have an email, I have a mini-heart attack. Then I see the email is from Chili's and I get annoyed (seriously - they send so many coupons).

I sincerely hope I don't have to wait too much longer and I receive that email with the coveted "CONGRATULATIONS!" subject. Ugh, I don't even know how I'll act if I get that. I've been a Negative Nancy for entirely too long.

Sorry this is such another negative post. But it's getting harder to stay positive - even for me.

Oh, and the moment I went to post this - I got an email. It was from McDonalds. I cried a little bit.

Waiting, Waiting, Waiting.

I've always heard that writing is a good method of stress relief. So, I figured I'd try it.

I'm currently on week 3 of waiting to hear back about the Walt Disney World College Program. This is my 2nd time applying, having declined it for the Fall 2011 program, unfortunately. This time - I'd accept it in a heart beat. And go figure, they're keeping me waiting and I'm stressing out beyond all belief.

It's incredibly hard to watch everyone get accepted while I'm just sitting here with no news at all. Since they've changed how they do it, we have a "dashboard" where we are able to see our progress. Since day one, I have been "in progress." I've had no emails about pending or the such. And believe me - I am beyond thankful for that. But I'm just struggling with staying positive this go around.

Hopefully, I hear soon. Tomorrow would be beyond grand. Then I can really kick into blogging full force!

Until a later day,
Katelyn