Last week I had one of the most amazing experiences I have ever done while working here at the Walt Disney World® Resort. For those that have visited Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park, you know that there is an attraction called Kilimanjaro Safaris. This attraction takes you on a “two-week” adventure through the Harambe Wildlife Reserve where you get to see lots of animals up-close in their natural habitat from the comfort of a safari vehicle. Up until this year, that was the only way to experience Kilimanjaro Safaris. Now enter in the Wild Africa Trek.
Disney markets this unique experience as part of the Tours and Special Experiences that are offered to Guests who would like to explore more in to the parks than the usual Guest. The description for the Wild Africa Trek is:
Join the ultimate animal adventure! Journey deep into Pangani Forest on a thrilling, privately guided expedition featuring close encounters with exotic wildlife species. Get closer than you ever dreamed possible to Nile crocodiles and massive hippos. Venture on to a VIP safari across an open savanna teeming with native African creatures!
This experience truly is a VIP Safari. Our trek started us through the Pangani Forest where our amazing Guides, Andy and Devin, talked more in depth about some of the animals that are in the walking trail area of Pangani Forest. After walking through the forest, you come up on the hippo pool but this is where the experience really changes than what the average person sees. We exited from the walking trail in to the forest which is part of the Kilimanjaro Safari attraction and got to meet up with several trainers who were feeding the hippos who told us more details about them.
The next stop on the way to the savanna was a walking tour over the crocodiles on a rope bridge. Talk about a unique view and perspective! After crossing this step, it was time to board our VIP safari truck and head out to the savanna to view the animals. Along the way, we made a stop a a private outpost where food was served and yet another unique and VIP viewing experience for the animals in the savanna before returning back to the village of Harambe.
The total experience lasted just over three-hours and costs $189 on top of regular park admission. Included with the price is an exclusive Wild Africa Trek water bottle, a Disney’s PhotoPass® CD with all of the pictures your guide takes on your trip, and a light meal while out on the savanna. If you are looking for that unique experience or are looking for something new and exciting to do while at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, I highly recommend this experience. Below are the rest of my pictures from the experience:
Well, yesterday marked my last day in Ticketing after three years in the role. I have learned a lot and grown a lot while working at Walt Disney World Ticketing. I’ve moved from Park Operations to Finance, expanded from Walt Disney World to Disneyland and Hong Kong Disneyland and met a lot of really great people along the way. It has been a please working with all of you.
Tomorrow, I will embark on a new role for the first time in three years. I will be moving over as a project coordinator to Global Park Operations. This is a role that is right up my ally with my background in main entrance, Guest Relations, ticketing and attractions. I am looking forward to the new start and new direction I am heading now in my career with The Walt Disney Company.
Before I close though, I thought I would share the really great parting gift my team at Ticketing gave to me at my going away party. For those that do not know what it is, it is a Vinylmation which is a new collectible custom figure from the Art of Disney. Thank you all again and I have to say, I love the vinyl.
So here we are almost two months down of 2010 and I’m fianlly getting back to posting on here. Things have been pretty hectic for me the past few months with my return to Magic Kingdom® Guest Relations and then my return back to Ticketing last month. Lots of exciting new opportunities back at Ticketing which makes the future look bright.
Anyways, work aside, I am finally on a kick to get myself back in to shape. I took the time to join the YMCA Aquatic Center and have made it a goal to go every day after work. So far, two weeks down and I’ve done it every day! I’m starting off with a mix of gym, weights, abs/core classes and swimming laps. I didn’t realize how much I missed swimming and the water so it’s nice to be back in a routine and back at a Y. For those that are new to following me on here, I’ve worked at two YMCAs and was a lifeguard and swim instructor for close to 8 years.
Well, laundry is almost done and I can put the last bit of stuff in my suitcase for my trip tomorrow. Here’s to hoping it warms up and that the weather is nicer in the Bahamas!
So it is finally September and fall appears to be here as I was so reminded at my morning Starbucks run when they changed their menu to add the “fall” drinks on the menu like the Pumpkin Spice and Carmel Apple Spice. September is also my one year mark with Walt Disney World® Ticketing. Work has been busy for me as I have been working with several projects that involve not just Walt Disney World® Resort but also Disneyland® Resort. This has been a nice change for me and gives me a chance to expand my network to another state and business unit in the company.
Today is finally a day off with no real plans. The last two weeks I had several meet and greets set-up with various leaders in the Transportation Line of Business about possible leadership opportunities there for the future. I guess one can say I am keeping my options open. As for the day off, with Hanna around off the coast, it is a nice rainy, windy and cloudy day. Only thing really on the docket is going to Epcot® to pick up my music for Candlelight which starts rehearsal next week. Yes, Christmas in September.
Home is going well too. I have finally gotten to the point where I am officially making my condo mine. After a year here, I am finallygetting pictures hung on the wall and personalizing things more and making the place mine. I even had my first dinner party with friends the other night with Luke and Casey coming over. Though, getting settled in aside, this is the first year that I have been here with several major storms coming our way. Fay and Hanna seem to be non-issues here but, Ike is still coming this way. I guess there is a good reason to be living inland instead of on the coast.
Looking forward to October as well. Dad will be coming down in the first week and I am also looking at a long weekend to Naples and a weekend at Eckerd again. Till then though, I’m heading back to the morning coffee and The West Wing on Bravo.
So it has been almost two weeks since I was back in Minnesota for my cousin Sarah’s wedding and visiting family and friends back home. I have to say, it was nice to get away from Florida for a nice long weekend for a change. The wedding was very enjoyable and we couldn’t have asked for a more perfect weekend weather wise for the event. Sitting on the hsoores of Lake Minnetonka brought back many memories of growing up and lifeguarding. I miss it to a point even though I have an ocean somewhat near by, ok an hour and a half away. Also, we officially welcomed Justin, Sarah’s husband in to the cousins group. Here is the new Webster Cousins:
Wedding aside, the weekend home was also a nice chance to reconnect with some old friends from Hopkins. Ryan, Pete, Paul and Scott, it was great to see all of you at home. For those that I missed, I will have to catch you the next time I am home.
Back in Florida, this past Friday Sawyer and I went down to St. Petersburg for something different to do. We started the morning off at teh Salvador Dali Museum downtown near USF and then spent the rest of the day at Eckerd where I gave Sawyer the full tour and met up with some of my old mentors and friends before attending the Ceremony of Lights for the Class of 2012. Can I just say I officially feel old now that the new Freshman class was all born in the 1990s!
This week is just a slow week around the office. My main manager in on vacation and there really isn’t much going on with distribution being completed. Not much planned for this weekend other than a few meetings and appointments I have with the doctor and dentist. So that’s all for now folks.
Well, this weekend went by too quickly. I went down to Eckerd this weekend for a great evening and to visit some old faces/friends. I had a great time at Kappa Karnival on Friday night with Mark and Aaron. It was great to be back in the swing of things and taking a trip down Memory Lane. Philip, it was nice to run in to you as well, sorry we didn’t get to catch up too much. Thank you to Fred, Jim, Lova and Campus Activities for a great time. Saturday morning came too early though (for those that know Kappa Karnival, you will know why). My main goal Saturday was to teach another Lifeguard class at Eckerd for a few more pool staff that missed the last round. That went by quickly and I want to thank Blake, ECOS President for 2008-09 for taking me around campus, lunch and hanging out for the day. It was a great relaxing day. Lova, sorry I couldn’t make it down to Sarasota for your CD Release Party. I wish I could have stayed longer
Back in the office today. Things are crazy this weekend. Not So Scary and Very Merry Tickets are on sale and everyone is booking them in fears they are going to sell out. So files are way above what they normally are. Just lots of longer days coming up I guess. I’m still working hard on the networking for Leadership Casting Call. I really feel that this time is my time. I really hope it works out. I’m ready for the next step.
Well, I think I’m going to crash for the evening. If anyone wants to do something this week, let me know. I’m free evenings and Friday/Saturday. Cheers!
Well, it’s been a crazy week with lots of “fires” that needed to be put out at work. Projects/deadlines that I was never made aware of being thrown at me with the expectation of a final product instantly. Always fun. I’ve also started to look more in to my career with Disney and setting goals for what I want to do in the long term.
Work aside, things are going well. I have started on a work out routine that includes a plan to go at least 4 nights a week and have set a goal to work on getting in to shape and working on my general wellness more. Disney has set up a program with WebMD Health that not only gives me a credit on my insurance (hey, it’s a free $100) but it also gives you a personal assessment that is tied with your doctor on the disney health plan to help create a tailored plan with coach to help set goals and work out a plan to achieve them. Its pretty nice and I’m hoping that it will help me loose the few extra pounds that I want to shed.
I’m also taking a long weekend this week with a personal holiday on Sunday so that I can spend the whole weekend with my cousins Lisa and Stephanie here at Disney. I’m looking forward to it as well as the extra time off. My next mini-vacation will be to St. Petersburg and Eckerd College in a few weeks for the 50th Anniversary Convocation with Elie Wiesel, Nobel Peace Prize Winner and writer of Night. Sounds exciting and will be a nice excuse to go back to Eckerd for a night.
Other than that, I’m just doing my thing. Catch everyone later.
So a lot of you might be wondering why I have been AWOL for a good month or so with a few random updates here and there. It’s been over the past several months that I have come to learn a lot about myself. Who I am and what I strive for in my career and what will shape me to what I want to do with the Company. When I accepted my current role with Ticketing, it looked at the time as what I saw as following a passion I developed for tickets. It’s over the past few months that I have come to realize how much of a Guest Service person I am. I no longer have any contact with Guests and find myself finding excuses to get back in the park just to have that “one little spark” with our Guests.
Over the various jobs that I have held since high school, Guest Service and customer interaction have always been an integral part of my job. Be it as a lifeguard or swim instructor, member services or Guest Relations, Guest Service has always been there. It’s taken a lot of thinking and bouncing ideas of my mentors but I have come to a decision that I know will be the right one for me.
This morning, I reapplied to go back to the Dream Squad on another temporary assignment. This is just the start of another casting call process similar to the last time I applied and Guest Relations. I feel that taking a step backwards to a role such as Dream Squad will help me get the balance of Pixie Dust and Guest Service back that I have missed so much working in an office. Our Guests are the main reason that I work for The Walt Disney Company. To see the pure happiness in their eyes when you do something as simple as smile and wave or just saying a quick hello. That is why I work where I do. I miss creating that extra special magic for so many wonderful people and I hope that this step backwards will be the beginning to a great journey forwards.
Just as Walt Disney said himself, “we keep moving forward”. My experience at Ticketing has been one with a lot of learning. Learning that I know will help me down the road when I do decide to apply for Leadership Casting Call. I am glad to have had the experience but I also know when I need to make a decision that is best for myself. I will keep everyone posted over the next couple weeks on my decision to move back to the parks. Feel free to shoot me a line or leave a comments. Thanks everyone for your support!
Well, things are finally going back to normal for me. I’ve been fine the last few weeks despite what my last posts may have lead to believe. I have been busy with work and Candlelight Rehearsal so I have been in and out a lot. I am just catching up on some e-mail, Facebook, and general computer cleaning while Adam is practicing his piano on his keyboard. Adam is a good friend of mine that is staying with me for a bit which isn’t that bad since it is nice to have someone else around the house at times.
Mom, Dad and Aunt Sue came to visit this past weekend from Minnesota. It is always nice to have visitors and Mom, Dad and Sue, I had a great time sharing my home and time with you this past weekend. I look forward to seeing you again at Christmas time but this time, in Minnesota!
Things at work are picking up a bit. I am just getting things finalized to kick off our rather large distribution for the entire Walt Disney Company Cast Member Complimentary Ticket and Main Entrance Pass Distribution. My team and I will be producing close to half a million tickets between now and mid-December. So needless to say, I will be somewhat busy with work the next few weeks. Anyways, that’s all I have for now. Look for more updates soon, I promise.
I’ve come to the conclusion that we live in a pretty strange world. The past two days have been a real eye opener for me and how I look at life. Taking a step back a few more weeks, a friend of mine was recently admitted to the hospital with a severe case of pneumonia and has been there ever since. While he is slowly getting better, he still remains on a respirator and they don’t know how long it will be till he is fully awake again so they can take him off the respirator.
Fast-forward to this past Thursday, I had picked up a shift at Magic Kingdom with my old area, Main Street, and was doing a quick re-certification on my steam trains so I can keep picking up shifts. Shortly after leaving the train to go help with other things, I am paged out to Frontierland along with a manager for a guest who had passed out while in the que line for the train. Upon arrival, CPR and AED were in progress and once back stage, the guest was pronounced DOA. For anyone that has never first hand witnessed a sheet being pulled over someone’s head, it is pretty moving but death doesn’t end there.
Last night while picking up Adam from work, I was made aware that a fellow Cast Member from Steam Trains who had been in the hospital for a week had past away. Marie Belasthon had been working with Main Street and Trains since 1992. She could always been seen opening Frontierland Train Station every weekday. She was also a single mother of 3 with the youngest still in high school.
So as I am sitting taking in all that is going on, this week alone I have personally witnessed one death, had a co-worker pass away and still have another friend in the ICU fighting for his life. What a strange world we live in.
Welcome to Webby Aquatics! This site will give you a look in to the life of Tom Webster. For more information, please visit About Webby or one of the social networking sites above.
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Last week I had one of the most amazing experiences I have ever done while working here at the Walt Disney World® Resort. For those that have visited Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park, you know that there is an attraction called Kilimanjaro Safaris. This attraction takes you on a “two-week” adventure through the Harambe Wildlife Reserve where you get to see lots of animals up-close in their natural habitat from the comfort of a safari vehicle. Up until this year, that was the only way to experience Kilimanjaro Safaris. Now enter in the Wild Africa Trek.
This experience truly is a VIP Safari. Our trek started us through the Pangani Forest where our amazing Guides, Andy and Devin, talked more in depth about some of the animals that are in the walking trail area of Pangani Forest. After walking through the forest, you come up on the hippo pool but this is where the experience really changes than what the average person sees. We exited from the walking trail in to the forest which is part of the Kilimanjaro Safari attraction and got to meet up with several trainers who were feeding the hippos who told us more details about them.
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