Speaking of places that make me happier than Earth, now is a good time to remind you that I will soon be transferring to a new role as Retail Vendor in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge! After many months of waiting, I will finally be receiving four intense days of training over the next two weeks. Before starting work in mid-July, I will first be outfitted in a Batuu-style costume, receive a refresher course in Guest Courtesy, practice story-telling the history of Batuu, build my character's identity, learn how to operate sales terminals, memorize the land's layout, and familiarize myself with merchandise.

     When Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge first opened on May 31, the entire Resort braced for a massive influx of guests. Instead, what followed was a dramatic decrease in park attendance. This unfortunate result seems to be the result of several interrelated factors. To begin with, many guests are postponing their vacation trips until the second, flagship attraction opens later this year. In addition, ticket prices have risen significantly, making Disney less affordable. Finally, 14 new acres of Galaxy's Edge provide a lot of room for guests to spread out into, causing Disneyland to feel less crowded.

     Lower attendance rates aren't necessarily an undesirable thing, however. With fewer guests in the park, the overall experience is greatly improved. Less crowding means less claustrophobia, shorter attraction wait times, and better Guest Service. The tiny, cramped stalls of the Black Spire Marketplace especially benefit from the more scattered groups of visiting Guests.

     Galaxy's Edge is supposed to be Disney's most immersive land ever, and it almost manages to pull off such a monumental feat. However, even though the Cast Members who work in Galaxy's Edge have fantastic costumes, park guests are subject to a multitude of clothing restrictions. They are not permitted to dress in robes, costumes, or clothing resembling cast member garb! Although there is a good reason for this policy, many guests have become frustrated at their inability to "join the adventure" and become part of their own Star Wars story. I strongly hope that these policies are loosened to allow park guests to completely immerse themselves in this new land.

     You may not be able to find the perfect t-shirt at Disneyland, but you can certainly find Toy Story 4 merchandise everywhere! I noticed this unexpectedly adorable (and edible) decoration in the Main Street Candy Palace window when I was walking by. When you empower Cast Members to make magical moments for Guests, amazing things happen like this all of the time.

     Although the Emotional Whirlwind attraction is a perfectly fine addition to Pixar Pier, two very different additions were recently introduced with great fanfare and much excitement. To begin with, the much-loved "Soarin' Over California" flight simulator has returned for the entire summer! It temporarily replaces the current film, which is called "Soarin' Around the World." Also, the brand-new 5,000-space Pixar Pals parking structure has been opened as well, as pictured below:

     Just today, I had the incredible honor of touring Walt Disney's private apartment, which is perched on top of the Main Street Fire Department building. The best thing I learned is that a fire pole used to run from the second floor down to the first floor, until one day when a bold guest climbed UP the pole and interrupted Walt's nap. Today, you can still see where the fire pole was cut off.

     At the Disneyland Resort, the most important priority is Safety. This may sound like a straightforward goal, but the safest course of action is rarely the easiest or the most obvious. For example, black widow spiders often hide inside cabinets at the outdoor vending location near Autopia. To stay safe, I must use a flashlight before reaching inside to get something. Even though I often faint during vaccinations, I bravely got my Measels/Mumps/Rubella shot in order to keep guests safe from disease.

     A much nastier surprise affected half of our apartment building this month. For four days, we did not have any hot water. This meant we couldn't wash the dishes, run the laundry, or take showers. I resorted to showering in the changing rooms at the Disneyland Resort! Then, when the maintenance crew fixed the thermostat on the hot water heater, they turned it up too high, resulting in scalding-hot water! I still haven't decided whether I prefer hypothermia or third-degree burns!

    A far better surprise was a trip into the Walt Disney Studios Archives in Burbank. Not only did I get to tour the famous campus, but I also held a genuine Oscar!

    When I haven't been working at the Resort or catching up on sleep this month, I've been volunteering my time with a variety of different ministries. As a member of Disney VoluntEARS, I helped with a massive diaper drive that was held at Angel Stadium in Anaheim. For an entire morning, I directed traffic and unloaded boxes of diapers from trucks bringing in the donations.

     Then, an opportunity arose at Saddleback Anaheim. The director of the church's Small Groups ministry was interested in starting a monthly email newsletter (of which I have some knowledge and experience). We collaborated on a project that just launched  very successfully.

     Also at church, I joined the facilities team. Each Saturday night after the final service, I help drain the baptismal, put away traffic cones, gather signs, and fold up umbrellas. All three of these service opportunities have been very rewarding, and I am excited to see what the Lord has next for me!

     Just like this bird's-eye view of the Resort, I have been following developments back in Eugene from a distance. Of note: Hayward Field is well under construction for 2021 completion, and the City of Eugene is growing its own Hall's Aster seeds, because the current price is $1000/pound!