FROM: Amber Earns Her Ears Published Mondays

Amber Moves into Her Disney Apartment

Now in Orlando, with a car, three roommates, and lots of closet space in her new apartment at Disney World, Amber Sewell prepares to begin her dream of a very young life-time: working as a temporary Cast Member in Disney's CareerStart Program!

- by Amber Sewell, March 14, 2011

It was Florida. Florida is not supposed to be cold.

Well, clearly, I was wrong. On check-in morning, my parents, sister, and I were some of the first people to gather inside the security tent in front of Vista Way. Luckily, as the early arrivals, we were able to commandeer the space next to the heater.

Rather than socialize, my timidity and I stayed near the space heater, observing people from a safe distance. I pointed out my roommates: "That girl with the Mickey Mouse jacket is one of them," I told my mother, wrongly. Even though I had pointed out the wrong girl, my statement still was rather prophetic.

Paige, my real roommate, and I had been texting throughout the morning. She didn't show up until it was almost time to begin check-in. It appeared that a lot of people had made connections at the introductory dinner the previous night, which I had skipped. Little clusters of future Cast Members formed, despite the rather cramped space.

I began to get a little anxious about my socializing ability; shouldn't I be over there, with the other applicants? But my concern wasn't enough to cause me to leave the heater and join the conversation.

Eventually, another girl noticed that I was standing in the warm orange glow and came to join me. We struck up a conversation, discussing our roles and where we hoped to live. She was a 'friend of Tigger', and neither of us really knew or cared which complex we lived in, as long as it wasn't Vista Way.

After a while, as the sun began to shine more brightly and the tent had filled to the point of bursting, it was time to head toward the check-in building. I waved goodbye to my parents and sister as they went to the parent's tent to wait for me and drink some hot chocolate.

Amber Hooks Up with Paige

Just before we started to move, I heard a squeal and was taken completely by surprise when I found myself on the receiving end of an enthusiastic hug. Paige had made it! We joined the throng of people slowly moving farther into the complex, and on the way struck up a conversation with two girls whom Paige had met at last night's gathering, Jenni and Leah. The air of excitement was tangible. We didn't know what we were about to do, we didn't know where we were going, but we were definitely excited.

I honestly can't say I remember the order of events from that cold February morning.

It was a blend of paperwork, trivia questions, and loud chatter. I remember standing in line to go into some building or another when Jenni and I overheard someone talking about nametags. We immediately flew into a frenzy, wondering if we were able to get our official Disney nametags already. It turns out they were merely talking about temporary sticky ones, but we were ecstatic all the same.

We moved into a more open area with a DJ set up in front. He played music, but in between songs he asked trivia questions, giving out little prizes for those who answered first. We filled out some paperwork, then moved into the building where the main activity seemed to be taking place.

The first thing we did upon entering was decide who we were going to room with, and where. Paige took control of our little group. The two girls she and I had agreed to room with before arriving were lost in the sea of people. Jenni and Leah, however, didn't have anyone else to room with, so we made a spontaneous decision to room together.

It was quite possibly the best decision I made for the entire six months.

Amber Lucks Out with Chatham

To further our luck, Vista Way wasn't an option for the latest arrivals. Chatham or Patterson were left, both of which were wonderful choices. After a minute or two of "I don't care," "me either", Paige told the person with the clipboard that we would room in Chatham. As we waited for confirmation, we chatted with a group of boys that we had all talked to before arriving. They shared our excitement.

After we had been assigned to a two-bedroom apartment in Chatham, we received our keys (cue more beaming!), and then sat down to take a photo for our complex ID. These little plastic cards were our keys to getting past security at the complexes, and they had a big red banner stating 'UNDER 21' beneath the picture.

Once outside, I spotted the table for car registrations. Jenni and Leah had forgotten their insurance information, so they headed back to their cars to get it. We all agreed to meet up at the apartment when we were done with everything.

I stayed at the little desk and struggled to understand the significance of the different papers in my folder. There was some question as to whether my name was actually on the insurance, but after a moment's digging, I unearthed a page with my name on it. I received a sticker to put on the lower left windshield of my car and two sheets of neon orange paper (one for my car, one for my parent's car) that would enable us to get past security and move everything into my new apartment.

I rejoined my parents at the tent and we walked back to the parking lot, climbed into our cars, and followed the directions to Chatham Square.

Amber Looks Over the Room

I was the first to arrive. Up on the third floor, at a building at the back of the complex, I wandered through the rooms and chose the one with the biggest closet (naturally). Then I began the many trips back and forth, up and down the stairs, carrying large plastic bins, paper bags, and suitcases. For the most part, I just stacked everything up in the room to be put away later.

The other girls started to arrive, and I helped them carry in their things while our parents chatted in the kitchen. Finally, when everything was moved in (I thought I had brought a lot, but Leah arrived with a U-Haul trailer in tow, though admittedly, she did drive a Bug), we sat down on the couch and took our first roommate picture.

Our parents dispersed with many hugs, and then we set about to unpack and get to know each other a bit before walking over to the Commons for our first housing meeting. A rather dull seminar (as most are, despite efforts to make it entertaining), we learned all of the basic rules that we had read over a few times before. Then we walked back to our apartment, where I met my parents, who had returned to take me to Wal-Mart to stock up on groceries and other necessities.

By the time we reached Wal-Mart, however, I was exhausted. The excitement of the morning had worn off, leaving me sapped of any energy or thinking ability. As we meandered the grocery aisles, Mom kept suggesting things to buy, and I kept giving noncommittal answers. I'm sure it was frustrating, and looking back, I realize that I really should have made more of an effort to buy food, but at that point in time, I was just thinking about my bed in my new home.

At the end of the night, my parents dropped me off at the apartment with my scant groceries, and I said goodbye - at least for a little while. They were staying until I got my assignment and learned what kind of shoes I would need.

I'd get that information, and more, in a few days at Traditions.

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