I will admit it. Working anywhere in Walt Disney World is pretty darn cool. While I lived in Orlando and worked for Disney, I took advantage of shift exchanges and worked in a few different locations throughout Disney World, but nothing compared to Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. Because of this, I thought I'd share with you a few reasons why I (along with so many other cast members) love the Grand Floridian.

1. The Grand Floridian is Disney's "flagship" resort.

It doesn't really get any cooler than saying you get to work at Disney's flagship resort. Originally called the Grand Floridian Beach Resort, the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is a beautiful Victorian-themed deluxe Disney resort modeled after the famous Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego, California. Cast members who work early morning shifts have the most breath-taking walk into work because they get to see the sun rise over the hotel.

Photo Credit: Tom Bricker, www.disneytouristblog.com

2. "Location, location, location!"

Honestly, the Grand Floridian has a pretty awesome location. Seated on the monorail circuit that wraps around the Seven Seas Lagoon, the Grand is one monorail stop from Magic Kingdom and two from the Contemporary Resort. The Grand also has water transportation to the Magic Kingdom as well as the Polynesian Village Resort. It's almost too easy to people-watch in Magic Kingdom before a shift or hop on over to the Poly for a Dole Whip after work.

Photo Credit: Attractions Magazine

3. Closing shifts call for fireworks.

Things light up at the Grand! If you work outside or next to a window, you get to see fireworks from Magic Kingdom every single night! Not only do you see fireworks, but there's also a water pageant on Seven Seas Lagoon! Nothing is more magical than working in a place where you might accidentally catch yourself watching fireworks. If you get off work early enough, you may even be able to sit and watch them with the guests on the boat dock!

Photo Credit: Mike Belobradic, www.magicalmouseholidays.com

4. The place smells as fancy as it looks!

...if you're on stage, that is. Walking into the backstage (employee-only) areas of the Grand Floridian, it can smell pretty rancid. Once on stage, however, it truly smells amazing! Some guests will even inquire about the signature smell, asking if it's because there's a soap shop inside the hotel. To this, cast members happily share, "No, we actually pump the scent in through the vents!" The guests' reactions to this information is truly priceless! Leave it to Disney to do something like continually pumping a scent through the air vents of a hotel. Although we may not know what exactly the scent is, we do know that if it was in a candle, we'd be burning it our homes!

Photo Credit: The Walt Disney Company

5. The place is full of character!

The Grand is not your average Disney hotel. While you may find Goofy greeting guests at the Contemporary, you'll find royalty at the Grand. Guests come to have afternoons teas with Aurora and dance their way into the evenings with Cinderella and Prince Charming. Character dining is available with favorites like Winnie-the-Pooh and Tigger, as well as Marry Poppins, Alice, and even the Mad Hatter! During holidays, the Grand is even visited by the big mouse himself! And, while guests may think cast members don't care about the characters, the truth is that we do. We all rush to open the door for princesses, and we all fangirl over Prince Charming. These things don't cease just because we work at Disney! In fact, I think it worsens...

I just passed Aurora in the hallway... What even is life?

The Mad Hatter is getting coffee next to me. I repeat, the Mad Hatter is standing beside me, making coffee, right now.

Wow, I wish I was a guest right now. I wish I wasn't working. I'd go right over there and be like, "Charming, would you like this dance?"

We've all had those moments.

Photo Credit: Adam McCabe, www.insidethemagic.net

5. The Perfectly Princess Tea Party is the cutest thing you'll ever see.

At the Grand, little princesses (and princes) have the opportunity to join Aurora and her friend, Rose Petal, for a lovely afternoon tea. The best part of the day is when Rose Petal sings some Disney classics for the kids, including 'Let It Go.' While we all could probably live the rest of our lives, happily, never hearing that song ever again, we can't deny how adorable it is when every single little girl decides to scream-sing along with her. After they sing, they all are taken on a parade around the lobby and up the "Grand" staircase. We all live to wave at these little girls as they pass by. It's seriously the cutest thing ever.

Honestly, it's so cute, that it gets three photos in this article.

Photo Credit: The Gentry's Journey, www.thegentrysjourney.com

6. Activities abound!

Having a perfectly princess tea party is not the only activity the Grand has to offer for its guests. Children can complete pirate-themed scavenger hunts across the lagoon or attend a truly mad tea party with Alice and the Mad Hatter. Things are always happening at the Grand (for children and adults alike), and being a part of those magical experiences that guests get to have is truly amazing. We aren't shuffling families onto amusement rides; We are creating moments in their vacations where they can slow down and make truly lasting memories with each other, whether it's a special dinner for two or a family afternoon at the pool, and that is really special.

Photo Credit: The Walt Disney Company

7. Brides. Brides EVERYWHERE!

On my first day of orientation in August of 2014, there were (I kid you not) SIX brides in the Grand Floridian that day taking photos! You may or may not know this, but Disney's Wedding Pavilion is conveniently located adjacent to Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, which means that cast members and guests at the Grand see brides pretty frequently. Nothing made me and my co-workers more giddy than to see a bride taking photos in the lobby or to catch a glimpse out the window of a white, horse-drawn, Cinderella carriage transporting a beautiful bride to and fro.

Photo Credit: Russell Martin Photography

8. The Grand is a celebrity hotspot.

We all love celebrities, and the Grand is frequently visited by them. Nothing is cooler than trying to keep your cool because you're ringing up merchandise for Whoopi Goldberg (like I did, once upon a time) or you're making reservations for Prince Harry (because someone had to do it). As cast members of the Grand, we are honored to serve them, but we also must find the balance between treating them like "normal" people and giving them the service they (as celebrities) expect to get. It's more difficult than you might think! But, hey... you get some pretty neat stories out of it!

Photo Credit: @Lauren_Culbreth on Twitter

9. Live music is the best music.

As a music enthusiast and a Jazz singer myself, the music at the Grand topped my favorites list. In the evenings, the Grand Society Orchestra and a pianist take turns, every hour, entertaining guests with beautiful, live music, from classic Jazz standards to Disney show tunes. Nothing beats getting to work while listening to live music! Not only is the music awesome, but so are the band members! They are some of the nicest folks you'll ever meet, and if you make friends with them, they might even give you a free CD!

Photo Credit: www.uscitytraveler.com

10. Christmastime is the best time.

At the Grand, Christmastime is truly the most wonderful time of the year. Why? The Grand builds a life-size gingerbread house inside the lobby every year! Yes, that's right. It's made of real gingerbread, and the whole entire lobby ends up smelling like it, too. My co-workers and I all had the privilege of getting to work inside the gingerbread house, selling gingerbread treats to our all guests, and I couldn't imagine a better place to work on Christmas Day.

Photo Credit: www.mousesteps.com

11. Our guests are truly "Grand."

We love all our guests, from the Florida natives to the Europeans "on holiday." At the Grand, we come in contact with guests from all over. Since there's so much to see at the Grand, we serve more than just those who stay in the hotel, and we love them all, including Lynn, the Teddy Bear Lady. And, while some guests may demand a bit more attention than others, it's those sweet, friendly guests that we meet that make every shift worth it.

Photo Credit: www.collinsrace1.wordpress.com

12. The cast members are even more "Grand."

At the end of the day, it's the fellow cast members that make working at the Grand truly magical. I couldn't have asked for a better team to serve while on the college program than that of the Grand.

So, here's to all the cast members creating and maintaining "The Grand Difference" every day. You're the real MVPs.