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Mousetrapped: A Year and A Bit in Orlando, Florida
 
 
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Mousetrapped: A Year and A Bit in Orlando, Florida [Kindle Edition]

Catherine Ryan Howard (Author)
4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
Print List Price: £9.99
Kindle Price: £2.03 includes VAT* & free wireless delivery via Amazon Whispernet
You Save: £7.96 (80%)
* Unlike print books, digital books are subject to VAT.

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Product Description

Product Description

The bestselling travel memoir by the author of Backpacked: A Reluctant Trip Across Central America

Three big dreams, two mouse ears and one J-1 visa.
What could possibly go wrong in the happiest place on earth?

When Catherine Ryan Howard decides to swap the grey clouds of Ireland for the clear blue skies of the Sunshine State, she thinks that all of her dreams (living in the United States, seeing a Space Shuttle launch and, um, owning a Starbucks card) are about to come true. Blissfully ignorant of the realities of moving thousands of miles away from home - and woefully unprepared for the logistics of setting up a new home once she gets there - Catherine trusts the Orlando of her daydreams will be waiting for her just as soon as she steps off the plane.

But not long into her first day on Floridan soil - and not long after a breakfast of Mickey Mouse-shaped pancakes - Catherine discovers that amongst Orlando's baked highways, monotonous mall clusters and world famous tourist attractions, park tickets are overpriced, pixie dust is hard to find and thick, wavy hair is downright impossible to straighten . . .

PRAISE FOR MOUSETRAPPED:

"A unique book by a brilliantly witty, instantly loveable author. I couldn't put it down."
--Trashionista.com, Top 10 Reads of 2010

"[A] unique story that proves that dreams really do come true."
--WanderlustandLipstick.com

"Catherine writes with such honesty and humor that this is one of those books that you just keep reading and reading until you find you have finished it . . . A very entertaining bit of escapism."
-- D. Jones, #1 Top Reviewer and #1 Hall of Fame Reviewer on Amazon.co.uk

See also More Mousetrapped: A Little Bit More From That Year and A Bit (e-book only)

PLEASE NOTE: To avoid disappointment, readers should note that Catherine worked for a global hotel chain at their property in Walt Disney World; Mousetrapped is NOT a memoir about working for The Walt Disney Company.

About the Author

CATHERINE RYAN HOWARD is a frequently over-caffeinated twenty-something from Cork, Ireland. As well as working in a hotel in Walt Disney World, Catherine has been a student journalist, administrated things in the Netherlands, cleaned tents on a French campsite and established a handmade card company. She is currently daydreaming of a US Green Card and wants to be a NASA astronaut when she grows up. www.catherineryanhoward.com www.mousetrappedbook.com

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› Visit Amazon's Catherine Ryan Howard Page
Catherine Ryan Howard
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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Mousetrapped 27 Oct 2011
By D. Jones #1 REVIEWER #1 HALL OF FAME
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
The author, Catherine Howard, was at a bit of a loss as to what to do with her life. She didn't feel old enough to settle down to a traditional job and relationship and she knew that there were still plenty of experiences and fun to be had before she had to grow up. With this in mind she applied to work for a year at Disney World, Orlando. Catherine was offered a job at a hotel (not actually owned by Disney), packed her bags and went over to America.

Unfortunately, things didn't go according to plan and she spent the first few weeks waiting for her work permit to be sorted out. Couple this with having to share a flat with some very strange and slightly scary flatmates and you have the makings of a great book.

During her year working in Disney World Catherine encountered a variety of frustrations and also many delights. She was based in a hotel on the outskirts of the park so we don't get to hear any fascinating secrets about what goes on in the main areas of Disney World. However, she still has plenty of amusing stories to tell and she describes in detail what it is like to live in Orlando effectively as a gap year student.

Catherine is fascinated by NASA and a good chunk of the book is dedicated to her visits to the Kennedy Space Centre and her long wait to see a live shuttle launch.

There isn't a lot of depth to the writing or the content. However, Catherine writes with such honesty and humour that this is one of those books that you just keep reading and reading until you find you have finished it. For anyone who enjoys fly-on-the-wall accounts of real life experiences then this is a very entertaining bit of escapism. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I have also learned a little about what life is like for the many hundreds of British teens who go out to work in Orlando.
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Mousehooked 3 Oct 2010
By RobinPG
Format:Kindle Edition
I picked this up on my Kindle (first paid book too!) because my love of all things NASA and all things Disney World my Amazon recommends section marked it out as a recommendation (Amazon, you know me all too well..)

I started reading it half heartedly with other books on the go, and I soon found it almost impossible to put down, wanting to know what happened next in Catherine's "Duck and Tuna" adventure. I was captured by the author's mesmerising writing style, which took me back to my first experiences of both Disney World, but also the stupendous description of a shuttle launch which was pitch perfect within the context of the book and the author's experiences.

All in all, a great book which captures an experience perfectly, my only criticism is that I'd liked to have read more! Can't wait for more works from Catherine.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars Don't upset the Disneyphiles! 20 Dec 2012
By S. L. Quinn
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I am currently one week into a two week Christmas bring in Orlando. I, like many other Brits (and I suspect the rest of the world too) like all things central Florida and Disney. I'm no great reviewer, my critique being no more valid than the next persons but I did find myself over the past few days in Starbucks in Celebration, Raglan Road, outside Jelly Rolls whilst at The Boardwalk - glancing over to the Swan and Dolphin hotel complex which looked like they had a Duck and a Fish on their respective rooves;-)

I think a lot of the loyal army of Florida/Disney lovers will read and recommend ANYTHING on the subject. I also understand trolling and haters which may explain low-star reviews.

I personally believe the religious chapter could have been left out, and perhaps more controversially, the whole NASA and KSC thing was way over-done for my liking. Having said that, when I went out that way, it was for Merritt Island and the bird reserve as birding is my thing as opposed to space. I'm sure Catherine would not be in the slightest interested in my hobby/obsession, but fair play - I understand the author's obsession )it is way beyond a passion) with the subject matter and when all said and done, it is her book.

I think the whole car thing was blown out of all proportion to be fair. Anyone who has been to Florida will relate to the roads and journeys mentioned. Especially the 528 out to NASA - Florida's "Roman Road". I enjoyed the read, but less so it's sequel, as perhaps I fall into that category of Disneyphile or Florida nut too! At times I found myself playing mouse trapped bingo in that I ticked off every place, road, mall, store, park mentioned in the book. For that alone it is is worth having and worthy of my three star ramble.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars A let down.
I read Backpacked, the story of Catherine's trip in Central America that she did after she left Orlando and really enjoyed it. Read more
Published 7 days ago by BB
5.0 out of 5 stars Cracking read!
Really enjoyed this and have purchased other books by the same author.

If your interested in working in the US, it's well worth a read. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Mr. David C. Baxter
5.0 out of 5 stars Thoroughly enjoyed this book
I thought this was a great read before my visit and a great insight into life living and working in Orlando
Published 2 months ago by Lisa
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book
This book gives a true insight to a person working in Disney with many ups and downs along the way.
Published 2 months ago by Sandra Potts
4.0 out of 5 stars Good read
I thought this was a good read and having had a few holidays in the land of Mouse recognised many of the places she talks about. Read more
Published 3 months ago by hoppipolla1
5.0 out of 5 stars couldn't put it down
im a huge Disney fan and i couldn't put this book down absolutely loved it i would recommend this to everyone
Published 4 months ago by tia
5.0 out of 5 stars A Very Entertaining Read
For anybody with an interest in either Walt Disney World or Kennedy Space Center, this book (together with More Mousetrapped) is a must. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Mr. John A. Hilson
5.0 out of 5 stars Easy going, funny page turner
I loved this book - I wish I had had the gumption to do what Catherine has done in working abroad - I did manage a 3 month stay at a children's summer camp in the USA but that's... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Bookworm
4.0 out of 5 stars Good pre-holiday read
I bought this book prior to my family's upcoming 2nd Florida trip and I was not disappointed.
It is an easy read, entertaining and funny. Read more
Published 7 months ago by I love holidays
2.0 out of 5 stars Highlights the problem with self-publishing?
I was tempted to read this as we'd just come back from a family holiday in Orlando and I thought it might provide some interesting insight into working for Disney. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Philtrum
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