By Steffanie Martinez |Staff Writer| Be Our Guest is one of Walt Disney's World Resorts most recommended dining locations in all of their parks. Guests are encouraged to make reservations 180 days in advance to guarantee a table in the restaurant regardless if it's breakfast, lunch or dinner. Breakfast and lunch are quick service experiences, this means guests will order their own food via touch screens. Dinner is a table service meal—which is what I attended—the experience starts as soon as you walk up to the castle. The first thing you see is a bridge leading you into the castle with statues of gargoyle's in the path. Once we were all checked-in we waited for a … [Read more...] about Disney Dining: Be Our Guest
Experiencing Florida
By Steffanie Martinez |Staff Writer| There are vast differences between Florida and California. Firstly, the thing people comment the most on is the weather. Whenever I meet guests while working my shift, and they find out I’m from California, their first comment is always, “What are you doing here? Why would you leave?” I never realized how great California actually is until I got to see it from an outsiders’ perspective. Many of my friends tell me that California is “the dream.” The humidity and constant tropical rain is not something I would like to take back home with me. Yet living in Orlando in particular, has so much beauty that it is hard to allow the weather to … [Read more...] about Experiencing Florida
Welcome to Disney’s Animal Kingdom
By Steffanie Martinez |Staff Writer| On Earth Day in 1995, Disney’s Conservation Fund was established to accomplish a meaningful mission to protect wildlife, wild places, and connect people with nature. Now, 20 years since it started, the fund has contributed $40 million in forms of grants to support hundreds of nonprofit organizations, according to Disney’s newsletter. This has resulted in them being able to protect more than 400 different species. In celebrating the 20th anniversary, they are unveiling a new initiative to protect the planet. “We are working with leading conservation organizations on this effort to develop and implement a comprehensive, measurable strategic … [Read more...] about Welcome to Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Epcot Flower and Garden Festival
By Steffanie Martinez |Staff Writer| Walt Disney World’s Epcot is displaying their annual International Flower and Garden Festival. The 2016 Garden Festival began March 2 and will continue on until May 30. Visitors to Epcot have all access to the garden festival, which include a view of all the mini gardens, world showcase, the garden rocks concert series, outdoor kitchens, and a look at the intricately designed topiaries of favorite Disney characters. According to Disney’s blogs, “30-million blooms, 240 floating flower planters, 700 gardens, nearly 100 Disney character topiaries, 30 flower towers, and one beautiful butterfly tapestry of flowers all culminate in an incredibly … [Read more...] about Epcot Flower and Garden Festival
Outside Disney University
By Steffanie Martinez |Staff Writer| The Disney College Program is a paid internship that offers participants the opportunity to advance their strengths and interests, meet guests and cast members from around the world and take part in educational opportunities as part of the Disney company. Students get to choose if they would like to take part in the Disneyland or Walt Disney World Resort. Once that decision is made, students go through a rigorous interview process that includes both telephone and online interviews. Although the process is time consuming, both fellow and former cast members have described it as a resume boosting and unforgettable experience. Once accepted … [Read more...] about Outside Disney University
Experience: Opportunity of a lifetime
By Steffanie Martinez |Staff Writer| Growing up, the idea of working for Disney seemed like a far-fetched dream, hearing about the Disney College Program was the first step to making that dream a reality. As a communication major, having the chance of working with Disney, one of the best known media and entertainment companies in the world, seemed like an unbelievable opportunity. They have associations with ABC Television Group, ESPN, Walt Disney Parks & Resorts, Lucas Films and Marvel Entertainment, meaning if I pursue a career after graduation with the company, there are countless routes I can choose to take. Once I heard of the Disney College Program, I made it a goal to … [Read more...] about Experience: Opportunity of a lifetime
Textbook Expenses.
By Steffanie Martinez |Staff Writer| Finals week is here again. You’re probably looking around realizing you’ve spent hundreds of dollars on all these textbooks you didn’t once open. All of this could have been avoided had our professors researched the “open educational resources” alternative. I might have been able to get a quality text book from $10-$40 in comparison to the textbook average that begins at $60 all the way up to $200. Open textbooks are written with the understanding that they will be free to print or read online. It is a beneficial option that has been proven to work at some universities; it would be a great alternative for schools because it would save … [Read more...] about Textbook Expenses.
Pursuing Higher Degree Education
By Steffanie Martinez |Staff Writer| Tough choices have to be made after obtaining your college degree—a huge one in particular: choosing between attending graduate school or going straight into the workforce. This is not always the easiest decision to make, as there are many factors to take into consideration. Graduate school is not an extension of your college life—there are big differences. “From studying to socializing, you’re entering a new world. But if you choose to go to grad school to study something you’re passionate about, you’ll likely find it much more rewarding than college," stated Dr. Melissa Boone Brown of Columbia University. Speaking to recent grad school … [Read more...] about Pursuing Higher Degree Education
Diversity On College Campuses
By Steffanie Martinez |Staff Writer| Our nation is one of the most culturally diverse; embracing this diversity is important not only during college but essential for our future. Diversity isn’t only about race, ethnicity, gender, and religion. The conversation also includes sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and age. As we grow older it’s important to embrace the differences of others. According to the American Council on Education, diversity enriches the educational experience. “We learn from those whose experiences, beliefs, and perspectives are different from our own, and these lessons can be taught best in a richly diverse intellectual and social environment,” … [Read more...] about Diversity On College Campuses
Pursuing an education is valuable
By Steffanie Martinez |Staff Writer| A college diploma seems useless when all you need is one viral video to earn you millions of dollars, right? Not so much. Media influences our lives now more than ever, whether we choose to accept it or not. It has introduced us to a world where being successful doesn’t always begin or finish with a college education. The term “internet celebrity” denotes any YouTube, Vine, and Instagram star who makes a living out of posting content on social networks—jobs that require no sort of diploma. They make it seem simple, when the reality is that fame is not easily accessible to anyone who has a social media account. People like Steve Jobs, … [Read more...] about Pursuing an education is valuable