Over the years I have prided myself on being a professional homebody. 

I love staying at home, being inside, doing nothing all day. Like one week during university I legitimately did not step outside for a week....(I was living on residence, but still)

But since Disney, I've been finding it SO HARD to stay in all day. I'm blaming this on Disney, but maybe i'm just getting older and more mature? 

I mean, there were VERY few days this summer I stayed inside - even the days where I wanted to stay in and binge watch the office or sleep all day I either had to work or I would convince myself to get out to a park, even if it was just to see Festival of Fantasy or to get a Mickey Pretzel and watch Wishes. 

Coming back to my small town, with nothing exciting to do.....staying inside kind of sucks. And that's when the post-Disney depression sinks in. 

What is Post Disney Depression? "It is a condition suffered by diehard Disney park fans after coming home from a Walt Disney World or Disneyland vacation. Feels like something is missing and real life is depressing. There is only one cure; planning another trip, and if that cannot be done the phase will last several weeks, either immediately after arrival home or a short delay after." (Urban Dictionary)

So how do you combat the PDD? 

1) Get outside: 

2) Try Something New: 

If you're sitting in your house (bonus points if you still live with your parents like me), trying to get through another semester of school, and torturing yourself by reminiscing about disney, you're going to go crazy. Find something that catches your attention - try a new hobby, make something, pick up running, start a YouTube channel, or blog about you Disney experience - anything to help you move forward. For me, after I got home I somehow really got into watching beauty youtubers and experimenting more with makeup...which was something completely new to me because I legit never ever used to wear any makeup. I've moved into a new chapter in my life, so trying something new has been a great way to take the confidence that I had gained on my program back into my "normal" life.

3) Make Some Magic: 

If you ask anybody who has ever been to disney (but especially DCP-ers or former CMs) they will no doubt tell you the best part of Disney is their special brand of magic. And the best part of being a Cast Member is getting to make that magic yourself! So when you're going about your day - whether you're still in school, or working like me, find a way to spread a little magic every day. Since I work in a store that attracts a lot of kids, and I volunteer in the kids programs at my church, I get to take the magic I learned at Disney and bring it home with me. It's the next best thing to being a Cast Member again!

4) Keep in Touch with Disney friends:

Let's be honest. On your CP the friends you make are a special kind of friends. Between your roommates who drove you crazy, yet were the best support system and funnest people to play in the parks with, and your work friends who kept you sane, picked up for your slack on your off days,  made late night trips to iHop with you, and got to know you at your worst and weirdest. 

And on the days that you're missing Disney the most, the ones who left with you get how bad it is, and those who are still at Disney can keep you updated on your crazy coworkers and everything happening in the parks. Keep that group message going strong, snapchat like your life depends on it (and be jealous when they're at MNSSHP and MVMCP), keep up on instagram or twitter or whatever social media outlet you prefer to use. 

And if all of these tips fail:

4) Plan your next disney trip

Of course, living in the most magical place on earth for a few months doesn't mean you're sick of it...in fact, you get homesick for it! Whether you're applying for another program or are just going back for a vacation, planning your next trip will definitely help ease the sting of Post-Disney Depression. And when you get back, read this post again! Haha!

love + pixie dust, 

sarah

love + pixie dust (one last time),

sarah

I recently saw a post about what they "don't" tell you about the Disney College Program.

But what don't they tell you about being an INTERNATIONAL college programmer?

They don't tell you that America is weird. I know what you're thinking, "Canada isn't that much different...you barely count as an international person". Wrong, my friends. America is both wonderful and terrifying. It is a land of endless mcdonald's sweet and sour sauce and super cheap groceries. I mean, I've watched enough american television (that's basically all we have in Canada, right?) but I just assumed that TV was full of stereotypes. I, apparently, was wrong.

They don't tell you how much you'll love your coworkers - until the inevitable day comes when your visa says you have to go home and they all get to stay. The last two weeks are spent crying with your other international friend who have to leave and saying goodbye to your American friends who get to stay another 6 months AND can extend after that. These weeks consist of trying to convince them to marry you so you can stay in the US longer, and - if that doesn't work - plotting ways to steal their identity so you can complete the rest of their program for them. 

They don't tell you how much it sucks that some of your favorite people literally live on the opposite side of the globe and "see ya real soon"s quickly turn into "oh my gosh i may never see you again in my entire life" which quickly turns you into a puddle of tears because crap these are my people.

They don't tell you that despite cultural, language, and personality differences, you will bond with the most unlikely people - and they will become your best friends. Whether it's because of a disgusting unfortunate incident in a restroom, a difficult guest, or those late night iHop/Steak n' Shake/Mcdonalds trips after closing out Magic Kingdom, you're going to get close. These friends will see you at your worst - in all of your disney costumed glory, after working a twelve hour shift, into the wee hours of the morning. They see it all. Also - they probably won't recognize you when you're in real clothes and without a nametag for the first time. 

They don't tell you how attached you can become to a "nighttime fireworks spectacular" - especially when you get to watch it every night.

Most of all, they don't tell you how the magic changes. I always joked that ICPs are only at disney for three months - not long enough to become jaded or frustrated - and we get to leave while we're still in the "honeymoon" phase. But, as a cast member, (i think at least) you get to see what makes the parks tick. You get to see through the pixie dust to see how things work and appreciate the people who make the magic. 

Thousands of people come together every day to make the magic. And for a short amount of time, you get to be a part of that. Sure, I know some who are just there to make pay, but I also know countless cast members, coordinators, and leaders whose top priority is to make magic in any and all ways possible. These people make it their prerogative to help even more people leave their cares and worries behind, creating magical moments of guest interaction.

And, to me, thats the real magic. People coming together to make the dream of one man a reality. 

And as I'm sitting in the Atlanta airport, waiting to board my (delayed) flight, dressed in my magic kingdom shirt and my MonstersU hat, writing out my thoughts in my minnie mouse journal, and listening to the Wishes soundtrack, this is the magic i miss the most. 

That's what they don't tell you about the ICP. The magic isn't made just by a mouse named Mickey - the real "magic" of disney is it's people.

"You can design and create, and build the most wonderful place in the world. But it takes people to make the dream a reality." - Walt Disney

love + pixie dust.

sarah

Here it is...our last week. How insane is that? It feels like a combination of we've been here forever and have our established schedules and habits, yet it feels like we just got here and have done nothing!

One thing that we as roommates (aka the RCKLSS CRU as meagan dubbed us early on in our friendship) decided was to head to Tampa for a weekend away. Well, we FINALLY got to do it! We all managed to get the same two days off, packed our bags, and hit the road!

(and by that i mean they picked me up after my shift ended at 12:30am and got free pizza at 7-Eleven, and arrived at 3 in the morning)

We had a great couple of days with Cora's mom eating and soaking up the ocean.

I am honestly the most thankful for these girls - I've heard so many horror stories about roommates on the Disney College Program, and it's been almost three months and we don't hate each other (most of the time)

We spent the day at the beach, and went to get ice cream! This place totally reminded me of somewhere my parents would take me as a kid on our summer camping trips...they would have loved it!

We also went to this totally adorable french cafe for lunch - Cafe Soleil - and it was incredible! I had a marcel sandwhich and an iced latte. The Marcel was chicken, grilled zucchini, and fresh mayo and it came with a little side salad. Soooo good.