Festival of Fantasy and Crazy People

My hair is finally long enough to put into a high ponytail/bun! Small victory. I have been in Florida for exactly a month and for the most part everything is going great. I have been in a weird mood lately and even the smallest problems at work have almost ruined my day. A few days ago, I don't know what was going on but guests were rude to me left and right. What usually happens is if I am nice to people, they are nice to me. But that wasn't happening as much as it should have been. I try to have a positive look on the day, which makes everything go smooth, but this past week there were days when I could really say that I hated my job. I don't even like saying that because it really isn't that bad. And most of the time it's fun! Some days are insane though, and I guess this week had more crazy days than most. Someone made fun of "how knowledgable I am for working here" because I didn't know how long it would take her to go through the FastPass line. An older lady stuck out her tongue at me and the same day an annual pass holder told me that he was going to email his friend who is the head of marketing and complain about how inconsistent we are with FastPass entry, which was a lie. I told him to add my name to the email because I knew that I was just doing my job. People are crazy. I am trying to be less sensitive though, so this could be good practice?

My days off on Monday and Tuesday were really fun! Mary Holland, Chelsi and Rachel (Chelsi's roommate) went to the mall, a fun restaurant called Roco's Tacos, and then ended the day at Target.
The next day I planned on going to Magic Kingdom and Chelsi was able to meet me a few hours later. First thing, I met Tinkerbell and then started playing a game called Sorcerers of Magic Kingdom where I get to collect different cards every time I go to the park and check in. I got to see the Festival of Fantasy parade for the first time and it was so good! I sat right in front of the castle and the nicest families sat around me. I scooted over so three little girls could sit front row next to me and we talked about the princesses as they came by in the parade. They asked me if the dragon from Sleeping Beauty was real, and of course I said yes. The only thing I didn't like about the parade was that Princess Aurora was not in it because she's my favorite.

First row seat

Waiting for the parade!

Tinkerbell again

She's not flipping off the crowd..

Snow White!

Fairies from Sleeping Beauty

I saw Cinderella's step sisters walk out to meet guests and I ran into line to meet them. I was so excited and if anything makes me feel like a kid, it's meeting characters. Chelsi met me just in time to get a picture with them too. They were so funny and spent a good amount of time with each guest. I asked them where Cinderella was and they told me to stop asking dumb questions. Loved it!

I had never been to Gaston's Tavern in the Beauty and the Beast themed part of MK and that was one of the main things on my agenda for the day! I got the specialty drink "LeFou's Brew", frozen apple juice with mango and something else) and a cinnamon roll.

We went onto the Little Mermaid ride and sang through the whole thing. Chelsi loves Stitch so we went onto the Stitch ride and then to Monster's Inc. Laugh Floor! It was like a comedy show where the characters from Monster's Inc. talk to the audience and tell jokes. It was my first time doing that and it's now one of my favorites. Then we had some bad luck with rides. Haunted Mansion and Space Mountain were both down for technical difficulties. But since we both work in attractions, we were pretty understanding. We wanted to do one more ride, so we ended the day with a classic, the teacups. Right before we got on, it also had technical difficulties. We only had to wait a few minutes and it was back up. So we ended with some good luck. The park closed early because there was a Halloween Party  and it was open for guests with a special ticket. As we were walking out, we saw so many cool costumes! People went all out for the party.

I had a couple great days off which lead to some stressful days of work. I'm working on making this next week as enjoyable as possible because I have several very long shifts. Tomorrow is my Friday! And I would like to end this work week on a positive note. Fingers crossed!
xx

Mom's Here! {pt. 3}

The middle of my mom's trip here was spent with my grandpa for his birthday while I worked. Before she left to go visit him, we got to have lunch with Chelsi and Mary Holland, and then the two of us did some grocery shopping for me. She came back to Orlando for a few days before she flew home and we got to have lunch with my Grandma Mickey and her good friend Adele. It's always fun meeting up with them! Later that day we walked around Downtown Disney and ate at Wolfgang Puck's restaurant. It was so busy because it was a Friday night so it was difficult not losing each other. I love the Lego sculptures at Downtown Disney and the huge merchandise store there. We also went into a soap and bath salt store that I knew my mom would love and have been wanting to bring her to forever! On our way to our car, we stopped to listen to an amazing saxophone player and some guy dancing who was covered in sequins who we thought was a part of the show. It turned out that the sequins guy was just having a good time dancing to the music! People started to dance with him and take pictures of him just because of his cool outfit, but then the whole crowd actually ended up dancing to the saxophone music! We listened and watched for a few more songs and then had a tough time getting out of the parking garage because of all of the construction. We got back to the hotel and I applied to extend my program until May. I won't hear back for a few more weeks, but I am keeping my fingers crossed that it all works out. The next day was her last day in Florida and it was so sad to say see you later. I can't wait til she's able to come back because we just had so much fun!

Mom's Here! {pt. 2}

Epcot!

After our Hollywood Studios adventure, my mom and I spent the whole next day at my home, Epcot! The first thing we did was ride Spaceship Earth (of course) and met some of my friends. Not everyone I wanted my mom to meet was there yet, so we had to come back again later. Next we went onto Soarin' which is one of my favorite rides at Epcot. You feel like you're flying all over California complete with the aroma of oranges and the beach. I think my mom liked it! Living with the Land is a boat ride that goes through Epcot's green house and I have been wanting to ride it for a while. They grow plants using a very "green" approach and uses the produce in the Garden Grill which is right next door. Then, we went onto Universe of Energy which is a show that Ellen DeGeneres is the spokeswoman for and it was recorded in 1996 and it was funny, but really outdated. WE LOVE ELLEN so we didn't care that it was almost 20 years old. I remember going on that ride the first time I came to Epcot when I was 11so it was kind of cool that it hasn't changed since then. Then we went onto Test Track and did some shopping at the huge merchandise shop called Mouse Gears. Below is the very good looking car that my mom created in the design lab at Test Track.

Living with the Land greenhouse 

 We got a snack, some popcorn and an ice cream  Mickey bar, and went through the VIP entrance to Spaceship Earth and rode the ride again. The first time I took her on there, I didn't really talk through it because I wanted her to get the real experience, but the second time, I showed her where all the hidden Mickeys are and pointed out some emergency exits. We finally found everyone that I really wanted to meet my mom and of course they loved her! Someone said that she was famous that day and everyone wanted to say hi to her.

Spaceship Earth takes your picture, and shows you your future! Apparently, we will have a flying car some day. 

We had dinner reservations at a fancy restaurant in France, so we made our way to the World Showcase. There are 11 countries around a small lake in Epcot and it is a 1.2 mile walk all the way around the circle. We looked at most of the items on the menus for the Food and Wine festival, but saved our appetite for our reservation. I did get a grapefruit beer from the South Korea booth though and it was delicious. As we were walking by China, a show was about to start, so we found a front row seat and watched the acrobats. It was scary watching them flip in the air and hold each other up, but it was really fun to watch! And we got lucky that we were able to sit in the front. We walked by Snow White on our way through Germany and then got to listen to a few songs from Smash Mouth who was there performing. We made it to France about a half an hour early so we went through some shops and then sat and people watched. Cinderella was in the garden by the bridge and it was fun to watch people meet her too. Our meal was delicious and it felt like we were close to being in France again! There was a chalk board on the wall with numbers on it, written just like it would be in Paris. I got the best ice cream I have ever had (coconut and white chocolate chip) and we made our way to exit the park before the big rush.

I loved showing my mom everything about Epcot because that is where I am almost every day! She met my two Disney best friends, Chelsi and Mary Holland, and was finally able to ride Spaceship Earth. We always have fun together but Disney World was especially a good time.

Mom's Here!

 My mom came to visit!!!! I have been so excited for her to get to Florida so I could see her of course, but also so I could show her everything at Disney and all about my life down here! I made dinner reservations and FastPasses a week in advanced so we could get right on my favorite rides. I also bought us cheap rain ponchos (a Florida essential) and gave her a bracelet that matched one that I have. The first day she was here, we went shopping at the outlet mall and got foot massages! We visited almost all of my roommates and then we stayed in the hotel across the street from my apartment complex.

Our cute ponchos came in handy

The next day, we went to Hollywood Studios. We needed those ponchos because it was misty/raining all day and we put them on in the car before we even parked! I made a FastPass for Tower of Terror but told her that we didn't have to go on it if she was too scared. She was a good sport and we went on it! She made sad whimpering noises and held my arm through the whole thing. I was crying because I was laughing so hard! We went on Great Movie Ride, which is one of my favorites, and it was a little different from when I first rode it. We also went into almost every shop and checked out the snacks at almost every cart. We got great seats to the Little Mermaid show and we loved it! I heard that it was corny, and I guess it was, but there was a black light which made the neon colored fish so bright. Then we went to a stunt driver show called Lights, Motors, Action and one of my friends works there so I had to watch it. It was a little scary but really to cool to see the behind the scenes of how they film car scenes are filmed for movies. We got some good people-watching in while waiting for our last FastPass and also later while waiting for our dinner reservation. We got right into Toy Story Mania which is a target practice and a ride all in one. I love that ride especially because the building is so themed, it feels like you're a toy too.

My sweet apartment-mate, Amanda, working at Hollywood Studios

Outside of the Toy Story ride. love!

We had dinner at The 50's Prime Time Cafe and the whole restaurant looked like my Grandma Johnson's house. The entire thing was decorated like a house, there were just many kitchen tables. The waiters and waitresses would tell the guests to eat their vegetables and not put their elbows on the table. I apparently have a tough time keeping my elbows off the table because our waiter made me STAND IN THE CORNER, like timeout, for putting my elbows on the table 3 times. I thought he was kidding and then he made me count out loud and everyone was laughing and staring at me. It was really funny and really embarrassing. We saw a family later in the night and they remembered me as "the lady who stood in the corner." My mom was loving it! She was trying to get pictures and then chatted up with the waiter who sat down in my spot. It was so fun though. The Disney theming is really what I like so much. When we finished eating, we had just enough time to walk over to watch Fantasmic, the fireworks and character show. That was the first time I got to see it and I'm glad it was with my mom! A lot of people say that it's their favorite night show at Disney and I can see why. It was fun to see the characters and how so many movies were apart of the show.

Some decor at the restaurant

Cutie at Prime Time!

These last two aren't great pictures, but it's fun to see the characters at the end of the show!

We had a fabulous time at Hollywood Studios! My mom was the perfect park buddy because we are both down for almost anything. And because neither of us really like Star Wars so we didn't have to spend time on anything Star Wars related. I wish she lived closer so we could have more fun days at Hollywood Studios!
xx

First Week of Food and Wine

The Food and Wine festival started this week at Epcot! I went one day before work to have lunch and everything was so good. They set up little booths of different places from around the world all around the World Showcase and each place sells 2-4 appetizer size food options and around 5 drink options. Everything is themed to that country and from what I've heard, it's authentic. People go nuts over Food and Wine. I had never heard of it until I moved here, but this is the 20th year that it's been around. The merchandise for the festival is really cute. Since the portions are so small, there is a little plate with a drink holder that would have been nice to have, but Food and Wine would be the only place I'd use it.

I first went to "Hawaii" and got a pork slider and it was sooooo good. It had a sweet and sour sauce on top with pineapple chunks. Don't be fooled by the picture, it was way smaller than my palm. Then I went to "South Korea" and got a lettuce wrap and an alcoholic banana milk shake. Both of them had a ton of ginger in them. I wouldn't have thought to put banana with ginger, but I liked it! I'm glad I tried something new. I usually would have never chosen to eat something at South Korea, but my roommate Leanne works there! I went to say hi and she recommended the milkshake.

Hawaiian pork slider

South Korean lettuce wrap and adult banana milkshake

Epcot has been a little crazy since the booths opened and we have had a lot of intoxicated guests at Spaceship Earth. Sometimes that means it is harder for them to get on/off the ride. 

Another out of the ordinary thing that happened this week, my sweet friend Chelsi was having chest pain while we were at work and as it escalated, the paramedics were called to take a look at her. I was really worried about her. They told her that she had a panic attack, which resulted in both of us getting released early from work because I had to drive her car home. Poor thing!

I went to Epcot today on my day off with my roommate, Amanda, and we ate at the Mexican restaurant there. We rode Spaceship Earth, of course, and I introduced her to some of my friends. We wanted to get dessert at one of the Food and Wine booths, but we were so full that there was no way. The festival is at Epcot until the middle of November, so I'll have plenty of time to try more food! I just can't stay away from Epcot.

XX good night!

Food and Wine Mickey in the background

For some reason, there was a cranberry pond in the middle of the park. I don't know the real name for  it, but it was cool!

So many pictures of Spaceship Earth!

Hollywood Studios

On our day off, Mary Holland and I went to Hollywood Studios! We missed the exit on the way there, but has a lot of fun once we finally found it. I had never been there before so MH was kind of like my tour guide for the day. We went on Great Movie Ride and it was so cool. Slow moving ride that had show scenes of classic movies. We went through "The Wizard of Oz" which is one of my favorite movies ever. That might be my new favorite ride! I love doing something at Disney because I get to be a guest again.

Great Movie Ride!

Next we went on Rockin Rollercoaster and Aerosmith stuff was everywhere. The cars were a stretch limo and it took off really fast. Then we went on Tower of Terror and made some friends in line. Everything was so themed and detailed, it was so cool! The cast members were all really into character which made it even more fun.

Rockin Rollercoaster

After the ride we found a stand selling raspberry coladas and since MH isn't 21, she had a frozen lemonade. Both were delish! While we finished our drinks, we watched a group of "directors" find random people on the street that they confused for celebrities and interviewed them! They even met Beyoncé and Jay Z and asked the power couple about their new song that's coming out. The guests went along with it and of course loved being told they looked like celebrities.  There are also "people of Hollywood" all over Hollywood Studios that are straight out of the 40s and 50s. Everything is so themed and that's why it's my new favorite park!

We saw the Beauty and the Beast show and honestly, I thought it was kind of corny. It was a shortened version of the movie and they had all the great songs in there, but I guess I was just expecting more. It was fun to see Mrs. Pots and Gaston though. On the way to the Toy Story ride, we went to the little Walt Disney museum. They had a bunch of history about the program and also models of many of the icons of the parks. MH posed next to the Spaceship Earth sphere, our home! 

MH and mini Spaceship Earth

Sleeping Beauty's castle in Disneyland Paris :)

We ate at Pizza Planet (from Toy Story) and then went on the Toy Story ride. I loved it! I see why the line is always so long. We took a selfie with the green army man from Toy Story and he blew a kiss to Mary Holland when we left. We had a really good day at Hollywood studios! I am excited to go back soon and do the Great Movie Ride again and  maybe get another raspberry colada.

That night, we went to a Disney Cruise Night at a housing complex that was just for DCP's. We got snacks, there was a DJ and everyone got a little sailor hat. I met up with some friends and we danced til the DJ left. It was so hot and humid, even at 10 at night. I had such a good day off! Mary Holland and Chelsi made it even better!