In the Fall of 2006 I received a letter in the mail that changed my life - I had been accepted into the Disney College Program! I knew it would be a great experience, but one I thought would only last for 6 months. But my mother knew much better, dare I say, she was right yet again. As she left me alone in my first apartment a long way from our home in Michigan, she said “Court, you will be here for life.” And she was right. I haven’t been living in Florida since my internship ended in May of 2007, but my heart has remained there ever since.
I had to come back home to finish school and I have family obligations, but I know one day I will somehow find my way back to Disney. But while my residence may currently be in Michigan, I still Live The Dream everyday.
I take several Disney trips per year, because even in the 6 months where I lived and worked at Disney, I still haven’t experienced everything there is to offer! In addition to visiting my Disney friends who are lucky enough to still work for the mouse, I try to visit during different times of the year to experience some of the special events such as the Food and Wine Festival. Even with the several trips, my Disney checklist seems never ending! I one day hope to stay at all 27 Disney hotels before I die, and of course visit Disneyland in California, which I have yet to do.
And now, one reason for starting the blog - my new appreciation of running. Yep never in a million years would I ever consider myself a runner. Until 2011, I had never even ran around the track. I was a dancer - and am still very proud of my dance background, and dance at every opportunity. However, since hanging up my ballet shoes, I noticed a few pounds that I needed to get rid of. I had no clue how to lose weight or workout at a gym because I never had to.
Then while planning my annual ESPN the weekend trip, I found they had a 5K. I was like hm, that sounds interesting and will allow me to experience something I haven’t experienced at Disney - a race! My friend Brittany agreed to run it with me - it was our first 5K and my motivation to hit the gym. Well I crossed the finish faster than my training time, got an awesome medal, and the raced though Disney’s Hollywood Studios - my work location while on the DCP, a course I had walked many times before. I had officially caught the running bug after completing my first race ever at Disney World! How do you top that? Run another Disney Race of course. And luckily, there are many Disney Races, and I hope one day to have run them all (as I add this task to my elusive Disney “checklist”).
And now I have blog about it - all of my Disney experiences in one place. And a outlet to talk about my Disney obsession with other Disney fanatics whenever I want, and who knows what else. So who’s ready to runDisney with me? I know at least my friend Brittany is!
-Courtney
