So as per request of my mother, I'll give you all an update of the actual goings on of my job. Today I was trained specially for Candy Palace, but I will get to that later. After being trained there I have come to love being at the Emporium. I missed it when I walked through it today.
I can't talk too much about what goes on backstage, but we do have a check-in right before we go onstage to catch us up on new Disneyland news, trivia, and the nightly hours for our shows. Then we get an assignment and are either sent to give someone a break or pickup a shift. You can either be assigned a register, merchantaining, pins, or go-backs. There are a few other random things you might get assigned, but that's rare (I love retrieving all the hangers).
To be honest, my favorite is register. You are usually pretty busy and when it's dead you can find things to do around your area. Merchantaining and go-backs can get pretty repetitive. Oh I should probably explain that merchantaining is basically when you go around and guest service your area. Like asking people if they need assistance and what not. A lot of people can get creative when it comes to using merchandise too. I, for example, one night was wearing the Mickey snap bracelet around my wrist and waving at little kids and another night I carried a Mickey plush around. They love it! Some cast members carry different plush around with them and put ears on them. It definitely makes it a little fun.
I've had quite a few magical moments so far. I mentioned in an earlier post that I got to be a part of The Good Night Kiss, which hasn't happened again unfortunately, but I've had some more personal moments with guests. One lady I approached was near the pins and I asked if she had any questions. She said she was just buying a pin that she lost on Radiator Racers in DCA. It was a special 60th pin that she had just purchased earlier that day. I walked back and asked my lead if it'd be okay to give her an NSA (No Strings Attached) where I could give her the pin free of charge to her. They OK'd it and I went back to give her the pin and she was incredibly happy and grateful. She thanked me (and to be honest, she went on about the other pins her family had lost and I was like "Sorry, I'm just doing the one" ). Well I didn't say that, but I wasn't about the give her ten free pins. It was one special moment and I am incredible happy that I got to do that.
I've also had a lot of fun moments with kids. Whether it's listening to an 8 year old talk meticulously about trains or asking a girl in a princess dress to twirl, their eyes light up and it brings just as much joy to me as it does to them. I try to make as much magic for adults as I do for kids.
But let me tell you...those buttons will be the death of me. Birthday buttons, happy anniversary, first time, I'm celebrating. People ask constantly for buttons and usually, because I'm nice, I'll scour the store for a particular one. It drives me insane because now so many people ask for them, I feel like they're not as special any more. Some people have the audacity to ask for a button and when I ask "which one" they say they don't know and they just want to see which ones we have. We're handing them out like we give out our plastic bags. It's getting ridiculous.
But now for Candy Palace. Most people love or hate working here. I haven't worked there long enough to firmly pick a side, but for now I'll say that I don't love it. It's manageable, I'm just not a fan of handling other people's food. And that hair net!! :( I'm sure I'll get used to the inventory we have, it'll become as comfortable as the Emporium. But for now I will love the Emporium every single shift I have.
