I can't actually comprehend that 2 weeks today I will be heading out to Orlando. If you have been around for a while I've been applying for this program for years, desperate for my dream of working for the Walt Disney Company in Orlando to come true and it is finally happening.
So 15 days days ago I had my visa appointment, we turned up at the embassy at 8 for our appointments at half past. We joined a queue outside the building where a woman checked our passports and signed our DS 160 forms. We joined another line outside for more women to check our DS 160 and passport. We then entered the building and went through security, the security guard asked us to open an app on our phones probably to check that they weren't fake devices. After security we walked up to the main building and joined a queue to get in where our DS 160 was checked again and it had a sticker with our number on. Once that was done we were told to head to the first floor so we got the elevator upstairs. We headed to the right hand side of the room and sat down waiting for our number to be called. After maybe half an hour I got called to a window and gave over my passport, DS 160 form, my photo and my I-797 form. I was only asked when the photo was taken and then I had to give my finger prints. He then handed everything back inside a folder and told me to wait again for my number to be called for the second stage. The interview is held across the other side of the room and again after roughly half an hour my number was called where I gave over the folder. He asked me what I was going over to do, what I plan on doing after completion of my program, and what my last visa was for. I was maybe there 5 minutes max and then he said "That's you approved, you can track your passport online it should be with you within 3 - 5 days." And that was it! It was no where near as scary as I thought it would be it was so chilled, our appointment was at 8:30, we didn't get inside until 8:45 but we were out by 9:45.
My embassy appointment was on the Thursday and my passport had been posted back to me and arrived by the Tuesday. I then photocopied the front cover of my passport, my passport page and my visa to take with me. You also need to upload a scan of your passport to the Disney DOC system.
I have to admit its not been the easiest couple of weeks. News broke that Thomas Cook were going under and that was who our flight was with. After a stressful few hours and lots of flight searching and phone calls, we managed to get a direct flight from Glasgow on the same day that gets us in just a few hours after our original flight. It was also the only flight which was direct and didn't cost an arm and a leg. We have booked a hotel at Glasgow airport the night before however the one for Manchester is non refundable but it's not the end of the world. We can't book extra luggage until 24 hours before our flight so we'll be doing that on the Thursday. This time around we are flying with Virgin so we get better luggage allowance, free movies, free alcohol & better food. The real hero was the woman on the phone from STA who who saved the day with finding an amazing deal that I couldn't get online. So the plan is to still head to Glasgow on the Thursday as originally planned but I no longer have to head to Manchester. I called my insurance to make a claim for the cancelled flight so hopefully that gets sorted. I phoned Disney to get our magical express changed but that is everything sorted again and we are officially on our way!
I got my housing selection email exactly 3 weeks before check in, I've prioritized Commons and bunk beds over Vista as I'd rather be near my friends and bunk beds don't bother me in the slightest.
I got my last pay packet before I head out so I have transferred the last of my money onto my revolut card to exchange into dollars. I also exchanged some money into dollars in cash so I have some just in case.
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