Anyone starting end of Nov???

Hey Jules and any other of the Nov/Dec contingent,

I am studing law and science... not really doing enough study though and am about to cave in with all the work that I have to do, my own fault for putting it off I guess, but the next few days promise to be sleep deprived and painful!! It's all good... I'm just whinging!

Goodluck with all your work and stuff... it's annoying to be stuck studying when the weather has been so great.

I only decided to go about 2 weeks ago, I was debating it...

I will be in Merchandise, I hope there are a few of us in there.

Nadia and Jules, you are going a hell of a way round,
is it cheaper than the group flights? I have had no time to look around for a flight so have just taken the group ones... I was wondering if I was getting a bad deal or not... but whatever... I have flown Japan Airlines before, they are pretty good. The Air Hostesses are nice, and it seems that they speak for about 1 minute in Japanese and the English translation is like 5 words long. It's quite funny, and they stick little notes to the food tray in front of you letting you know that you missed a meal, which I have never had with any other airline.

I am over 21 too Nadia, I was beginning to wonder if the Aussie contingent were all going to be very young, I was talking to the group flight organiser lady and the way she seemed to be talking implied people were 18ish but I am not sure.

@Mandy

Sorry I didn't tell you I got in, hadn't been on the forums in weeks, and was also deciding whether I could afford it etc... It will be great to go and meet so many people.

Cheers

Jay

 

Hi guys!

Did anyone get the email about the new housing complex - Treehouse villas? I was wondering if they sent it to me cos that's where they'll be putting me, or if they're just sending it to everyone? It looks really cool! but I think I'd rather be in the apartment complexes cos I want to meet heaps of people. Oh well, either way I'm sure it'll be the best experience of my life!

If anyone lives in adelaide Julia (Jules) and I would love you to come to our farewell party so we can meet you and party together before we go over! It's on sunday 20 Nov, 8pm, at my house - 9 Wellington St, Glandore. The dress code is Disney (of course!).

Hey true blue - cool you're working in full service food and bev - we might be together! I was born in sydney and lived in blacktown til I was 5. Blacktown wasn't the best area back then - our house was vandalised or broken into about once a month, and people tried to set fire to our house 3 times (Luckily we had perceptive neighbours who noticed the fire before it destroyed our house!)! But apparently it's an expensive area now - is that true? I lived in Bathurst until I was 12 - have you been there before? Most people in Adelaide have no idea where Bathurst is, even when I say Mt Panorama car races, but I'm guessing you'd know where it is! Sydney is such a cool city - I've been back there lots since I moved.

Hey Jay! Cool, there's another person over 21! Yeah it does seem like all the aussies are young- a few of Julia's international studies friends know people who are going and they're all 18-19! I guess it's cos by age 21 most aussies are either finished a 3 year degree, or are doing honours the year after (as my friends are) and don't want to go anywhere cos they have to prepare for theses. But I met a lovely girl at my US embassy appointment yesterday, and she's over 21 too! She's going to be a character - how cool is that!
I know what you mean about having so much to do - I'm studying psychology at Adelaide uni and I have 4 assignments still to write (about 8,000 words still to go!) and 5 exams! I'm starting to get stressed! But as you said, it's my own fault for leaving it all to the last minute! I'm trying really hard to focus but there's just so much to do for this disney job, and sooo much to daydream about!
Where do you study?
Yeah our flight is much cheaper than the group one - it ended up costing us about $1400 to fly to LA return (without tax). That's thanks to Jules' bargaining ability tho, the flight was originally $1550 but Julia bargained it down by emailing/calling travel agents and asking them to beat the price. Then when we got email confirmation of the lowest price, we took that to flight centre, who beat it by $20!! Tax was about $550 I think. And we got a one-way flight to Orlando for about $200. All in all, our medical insurance, flights, taxes, free stopover in Osaka, and paid 2 day stopover in tokyo on the way back came to about $2800, which is only $200 more than the group fare but we're seeing more of the world and getting medical insurance!

Good luck to everyone with your exams and preparations for Disney!

 

Has anyone had their US embassy visa interview yet? If not, read this- it might save you time! I had mine yesterday in Melbourne because Adelaide doesn't have a US embassy. And luckily I arrived at the embassy about an hour early because I had the wrong size photo (I had an Australian passport size photo, thinking it'd be the correct size, but it isn't), so I had to trek 3 blocks to get another photo. Apparently that photo shop does a roaring trade as most people have the incorrect photo size so the US embassy sends them all there!
When I got up to the interview place, the lady asked me to fill out another form - DS158 (I overlooked that on the checklist) which is just like the application form that we had to do for disney (previous work history etc) but also you have to put names and contact details of parents and siblings, and names, addresses and phone numbers of 2 people (not relatives or family) who can verify your identity. I had a bit of trouble filling that out on the spot because I couldn't remember everyone's numbers and exact addresses (especially previous employers!) and you aren't allowed to bring your phone up, so I couldn't call anyone either. The lady said it didn't matter tho, so hopefully it'll be ok!
Then the lady told me I had to pay another fee, the "reciprocity fee" - this isn't the MRV application fee of $130. So I went on another adventure to a post office to get this - it has to be a money order of $136.50 payable to the "U.S. Consulate General". Most people who I'd seen at the US embassy were at this post office too, lining up to get their money orders!
So make sure you have the correct size photo (5x5cm), make sure you do the DS158 as well as the DS156, and pay your reciprocity fee when you go to the post office to pay your $130 fee and get your express post envelope (and keep all your receipts)!
I took everything else on the checklist but all they looked at was the DS156, current passport, letter, visa form and sevis receipt which disney sent us, and my bank statement. (Still bring the other stuff just in case!)
Good luck! Hope your appointments run more smoothly than mine!

 

thanks for the tips nadia! i never knew that we had to pay a reciprocity fee. grrrr.....evil money making bureaucracies with no concern regarding poor student budgets!

its true that blacktown is becoming pricier, but so is the rest of sydney, so its all really relative. but there are now heaps of new developments near blacktown. blacktown used to be on the fringe of sydney suburbia, but now the urban sprawl has widened heaps.

oh, i remember bathurst! hehe. its always so popular for primary school camps to learn about the gold rush and gold panning. and on the subject of mt panorama and car racing, daytona beach is in florida! it would be cool to check that out when we get there!

i don't think you are too old nadia! i mean, look, we are all going to wdw, so there must be this kid at heart in all of us! hehe. oh, and i turn 21 in december, so im kinda young and kinda not myself ???

Hey Aussie, i study law as well! but I'm studying Economics/Law.

 

Hey all!
Yeah I totally agree with Nadia that the embassy appointment is such a hassle. My advice to you is give yourself loads of time especially if you're travelling interstate. I arrived in Melbourne today at 8am for a 10.30am appointment and I still found myself running around the city like a bat out of hell, trying to find the highly elusive 5x5 photos, and consequently was slightly late and highly stressed to my appointment (and I'm not one to usually stress). Was not fun! But now I'm home in one piece and all is well.
I think we're all in similar boats in terms of workload to get through before we leave. I've been so busy lately that I've been depriving my body of sleep, and now I'm really starting to feel run down. Can anybody empathise? But gotta keep my eye on the prize right - just must get through next few weeks. We're going to have an awesome time! Going to Melbourne today just sought of made Disney seem more real. Before it was just sort of this adventure that I'll probably do in the future. But I guess the future is now kids. Woohoo!

Jules

 

Thanks for the info
I've got my visa interview next week, so I will read through what you've said the day before so that I can be as vaguely organsed as I ever am.
Yeah, I can't believe it is less than 3 weeks until we go... well approximately 3 or so weeks until all the Aussie contingent is there
Is Thanksgiving on the 26th or the 27th?, we'll have to do something for it... It should be fun!

I am from Adelaide also... I study out at Flinders though...

I am sure we all do have the same workload... And it'll be fine...

I agree, I am finally beginning to get excited about going, it's beginning to seem real..

Better get back to it

Cheers

Jay

 

Hey Jay! So you're a flinders boy hey. Awesome! You should so come to our (Nadia and I) bon voyage party. You're more than welcome to come. It's on the 20th Nov, 9 Wellington St, Glandore (off Anzac Highway) from 8pm. It's a disney themed party so much dress in disney best. Nadia and I shall be going as the tinkerbell twins - teehee. Yeah so come - it'll be good to meet you beforehand. I think Nadia already put up a post about our party. So if there's any other Disney adelaideans, you're also more than welcome to come to our party.
Yeah I'm not too stressed about Uni anymore. I have faith that'll work out one way or another- somehow at uni, everything eventually just seems to come together (usually several sleep deprived nights later however). Well good luck with everything - don't worry, you'll be right. Btw, are you planning on travelling around the states afterwards?

Jules

 

hey there!! Im going to Orlando end of nov. , we'll be arriving on the 30th!! cant wait!! less than 3 weeks.. Im from Argentina.. and i'll be doing Student program as well , ill be doing quick service food and bev. ... and yes i have receive the email about the new place .. it looks nice but the only thing that worries me is that we re apart from the other complexes , or it seems so.. but other than it looks fine.. and if you Aussies r going to be there .. then it'll be great .. because ill always wanted to meet australians!!

 

@Jules
Haha, I got an inkling a little while ago that people on these boards thought I was a boy... but I wasn't sure... Now that you've called me a flinders boy, I know!!! Damn unisex names... I guess having my nic as "Aussie" doesn't help either, but it was the first one I thought of being 'international boards' and all....

It's the second time this week, that people have mistaken me to be a boy due to my name.. I had never noticed before..

It's all funny though

I will see if I can make it to your party, it will all be pretty crazy once I finish exams so I will let you know.

I am not at present planning on travelling very much, more because this decision was so last minute that I didn't have the opportunity to save much money, will see how I go, I got a 3 month ticket so I can if I have the money... I want to visit a friend of mine in San Diego and perhaps go down into Mexico for a few days but will figure that out when I get there..

2 years ago I went to visit a friend of mine in Arizona and we travelled to the Grand Canyon, then up the coast of Cali on a road trip so I have seen a little bit of the States.. The coast of California is awesome, we camped in some awesome national parks aswell...

Just 3 more assignments and 2 exams to go and it's all done for this year... I know it'll all figure itself out.

 

I LOVE THE GRAND CANYON...my< hostfamily and i hiked down half way.................its so amazing...the sunset, sunrise...we also had snow and hail and rain and......omg...i loved it.........

 

Hey Nico! Cool, I've never been to Argentina or anywhere in South America, but would love to go there someday. Jules and I want to learn spanish at uni next year! What are you studying? I guess you know all about the life of Evita Peron - have you seen the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical "Evita"? I LOVE it - I used to know the words to all of the songs!!!

@ Jay - hehe that's so funny, I thought you were a guy too! Jules and I were like "this Jay guy seems like a good catch, seems nice, intelligent, wonder what he looks like!" how funny is that! Good luck with your uni work!

@ Mandy - Btw - Ich spreche ein bisschen Deutsch! (nur ein bisschen). Ich habe deutsch fuer zwei Jahren bei die Universitaet gelernt! (sorry I don't know how to type umlauts!) Wie lange hast du Englisch gelernt?I've pretty much forgotten German now tho, my grammar is shocking, but I want to go on exchange to Germany second semester next year so I can become semi-fluent! Hey so did you camp at the Grand Canyon? I'd love to go there! I guess it'll be too cold (& snowing?) when we're over there tho

 

anyone starting 6th dec

hey guys
is anyone starting 6th december if you are would lave to hear from you
a month today until we leave i am so excited
lots of love
natalie

 

eyy Nadia .. im studying to be English-Spanish translator , so i guess i can teach you girls some spanish! jaja , as regards Evita i dunno everything about her as im not very into politics , but it is very interesting her life though..

Hope we can meet each other down in Disney!!

 

hey nadia
, ur german is pretty darn good ...well, those 2 sentences ......i feel kinda proud whenever i hear soemone trying to talk german cuz i know its a freakin hard language *lol*...so never ask me about grammer....i dont know it in german, english or russian *lol*.......dont worry about ur language skills....during my exchange year i had spanish and i forgot almost all of it which sucks, i think cuz i really liked speaking in spanish
oh, and the umlaute only exist in germany...i wanted to by me a laptop in america but since they dont have umlaute its not worth the money :-(
anyway,
i gotta go

 

So I am finally beginning to get excited, all at the wrong time though - because I can't concentrate.. I was going with the group fare, but I thought I had better have a quick look around for other flights and I found a better deal.. And booked that instead, so now it feels concret it is hard not to get excited..

When I went we camped at the Grand Canyon (at a campsite nearby of course - as we did not do the whole hike). We hiked part of the way in... Is so awesome, and all of the tourists who passed me and my American friends thought it was weird that I would want to take photos of squirrels..

@Nadia: I guess I forget that my name is both a girls and boys name. I was almost felt guilty for not being a boy... but thems the breaks But it's all good.

 

Hi Jules,
I'm from New Zealand and really want to work over at Disneyworld & join all of you guys & girls!
I can't find much info however on the net about how people from Australia or New Zealand apply.
How did you apply to work at Disneyworld?
Any info you could give me would be great.

Regards,

Guy

 

Hey Mandy,
thanks! but unfortunately those are about the only 2 sentences I can remember! So the rest of my german is pretty bad (or non-existant!). I can understand alot of German cos my mum speaks German with her siblings and her mum, although over the years more and more English has crept into their German convernsations - they speak a mix of English and German now, eg they create past participles by adding ge- to an english verb! It's so funny! But for some reason I've never been able to speak it myself (except for simple sentences)!

@ Jay - don't feel guilty - we still can't wait to meet you, but in a different way!! lol Yeah, I'm so excited I'm finding it hard to concentrate too! We're leaving in 2 weeks! Aaah! so so sooooo excited!!!

 

@Nadia:
Just wanted to say thanks for the info about the visa, it helped... I was one of the only people there who seemed to know about a recipricocity fee, I wouldn't have had a clue, if it wasn't for that post, and I hadn't read the thing about bank account details either (I am way too disorganised - so you saved me another trip there aswell)
My photo ended up being too big instead of too small, I told the photo shop 5' 5' so they gave me 5.5 by 5.5 or something... anyways it was okay in the end, they said they'd cut it down or something... I look like a criminal from way back in m photo... and when they took my fingerprints I felt like one, for some reason I didn't think they took fingerprints, so I looked at the guy like he was nuts when he asked me for mine... So he lifted up his left hand and showed me the index finger (must have thought I was a little slow...) Ah well...

Anyways, not long now... I am finally beginning to see just how close it all is, it has all just happened so fast. I hope all your work is going well

 

hey nadia,
thats cool that some ppl in ur family speak german ....cool, i love it *lol*....so now i have to watched out what i say when ur around...cuz u'll kinda understand me *lol*.......
gottago,
mandy

 

Hey Guy,
Yeah I came across it on mycareer.com(i think) totally by chance. I was searching for something or other and the ad for Disney jobs came up instead. It sounded cool so quickly applied and before I knew what was what I got offered a job and now I leave in a week. Unbelievable! So apparently they also advertise through Uni (although I never knew about it), so perhaps ask at the student centre if you're a student. Otherwise I think you can apply online at Disney's official website (search google) - employment section. Sorry I don't think I've been very helpful. I think your best bet would be to enquire about it at Uni. Yeah its just as I said, I came across it by chance on a jobsearch site so I'm probably not the best one to ask.
@ Aussie
How's all the studying going? Had my economics exam yesterday which didn't go very well because I totally verestimated how much I thought I knew, so left study to last minute only to discover that I really didn't know that much at all. Oh well, I think I at least passed which is the main thing I guess. So now just have one more essay to complete and then I am good to go. So excited! Good luck with uni - hopefully you can see the finishing line.
@ Nico
It would be awesome if you could teach Nadia and I some spanish while we're over - it'll give us a headstart for uni next year.

Anyway, better go and work on that essay.

Jules