Some very special friends :)!

Day 15 - We had a nice relaxing start to the day with heading to the pool, and then deciding to headto MK in the morning with Elio, Alex, and Steff before we started work. We went to Tomorrowland on the people mover, stitch, space mountain, and tomorrowland speedway. I’ve never been on the People Mover before, so another ride checked off!  We ducked back into the tunnels, had a quick dinner with Elio and Alex in the mouseketeria and then ran to work. I got my first visitor - Elio - at Peter Pan - and have had a few more since, woo! - and finally finished work before midnight. As always, A and B buses are awful, and we got on it late, but at least we got home before midnight.  I also met Tia on the bus, who works with Amy, who was really interesting. It was my Friday, so I headed to the pool, and then due to some friend’s moods, we decided on having a baking party, so we ran to Walgreens at about 1-2am, and then made the first cream cheese brownies of the summer :)! I got to bed around 4ish, but it was an awesome night!

Day 16 - After a very late night/early morning, we got up and headed to Blizzard Beach before our free passes expired. We hopped into the Fast-Moving River of Sow Motion Fun (lazy river), while some went to Summit Plummet, and hopped out with some of our group left, and headed to the wave pool with Steff, Pierre-Luc, Eddy, Steven, Elio. We went on the Family fun raft ride, where I cut my knee again, after not realizing the depth and accidentally rolling on the floor, oops! We headed back to the wave pool and then went on some racing tubes which was pretty fun. We met some of our initial group after, including Jeremy who had been fantastic and brought a UV shirt, and was insanely nice and let me borrow it which gave my shoulders a little reprieve. Some of the guys went back summit, and we headed to family run raft again - thankfully no cuts this time! We headed home after as we knew the park was closing relatively soon, and met back at the pool. After a couple of hours we did a quick change for spark in the park, which was a welcome event for a new batch of CPs. We danced, had food, and played games and overall had a pretty interesting time! We headed to the clubhouse pool after, and then because there were SO many people, headed to the other pool, complete with ice-cream. We also met the guys who apparently lived in our apartment a year ago, odd!

Day 17 - My Sunday! We headed to AK with Amy and Madeleine, but we were a little late, so took the bus to Polynesian, and hopped on the bus from there. We went on primeval whirl (first time again), and met a 9 year old whose parents didn’t want to go on so made her go on by herself, so she came with us. We went to see Elio being friends with someone at boat dock which was very magical! We headed to dinosaur after - with me hiding again - and then met with erin. We’d seen Dug and Russell before we saw Elio, so we went back to see them and it was AMAZING. We saw Elio and Chris in line, so we had a quick chat, and then met Russell and Dug, and it was so CUTE! (Pictures to follow). Erin wanted to see Elio, so we headed back, but the group in front of us was the last one so we just missed him, but we met Chris with a special friend. We went to visit some other characters as well, including Donald, and then headed to the Festival of the Lion King, which is incredible! It then started chucking it down, so we decided to go home since we were soaked, only we’d told Steven to meet us at Hollywood an 1.5 hour earlier on facebook and he didn’t have a phone, so we posted messages to him, but we found out later that he hadn’t got them, and had Disney security asking him why he was wandering around the Fantasmic Hat, oops! So, we had a laundry party/brownie baking party/coloring party to apologize, and waited for him to come home. Elio arrived shortly after, at which point I accidentally bashed him with the door, continuing my trend of being clumsy. We decided to go to Hollywood Studios, and met up with Pierre-Luc and Marie-Eve in line to see Woody and Buzz, which was so nice of the character attendant! We headed to Rockin’ Rollercoaster which is one of my favorite rides, and then they decided to go on Tower of Terror - which is most definitely not - so I wandered around with Erin, met up with others and found Jenny after she’d decided not to go on and we didn’t know. We went to see Fantasmic, which was pretty good, but Wishes is still most definitely my favorite, and I still haven’t seen it fully yet :(! We caught the bus home, quickly chatted with some friends and headed for coke slushies. We were home for about 30 minutes at home when P-L texted, and we heard a knock and opened door to see all of them, at which point they crashed in our bedroom which was kind of funny. We chatted for a little while, Steff arrived, and I made mac n cheese for some peckish people, then they went to sleep and our roomies came in and crashed with some of the originals, at which point Eddy came, and then Alex came and chatted as well. Everyone left around 3:30ish, and I finally got to bed at 5ish, and as you can probably imagine, I was SO tired, but most definitely worth it!

Day 18- Has been the weirdest day of the program as of yet.  I got up relatively late as I’d gone to bed at 5, and headed to lunch with Stephen, where we met Jenny and Shawna. Jenny let me know that a College Program bus had set on fire, and we headed to the Dollar tree where we saw this really odd cloud, and found out shortly after that it was a 5-acre brush fire.  Some bad things happened with some CP’s families back home which we then found out. I found Steven’s card that he’d been asking me about when I tore apart my bedroom, and then I headed to work. I got something in my contact lens at the beginning of my shift, and had to ask people to cover me twice so I could go wash my eye as it hurt a lot, took it out during my break, and then my eyes were streaming because of it again, so I had to get a release of shift as I couldn’t keep my eye open and eyes watering is not exactly disney look. I got home looking like Darth Maul but about 10 minutes after it was out it started to cool down a lot. So glasses for the next two days! We headed to Walgreens to get electrical tape so I could tape my glasses so they were Disney look, then headed to the pool to meet a few people.  We headed to Stephen and Elio’s apartment for a little bit, and then I headed to Applebees with Allysen which was AMAZING. As much as I’m enjoying this program, I’m still somewhat nostalgic from last year and definitely missing people from my last program :(! I almost got home, and then was side-tracked to Wendys with Alex and Steven, and then chatted for awhile with Jamie and Vicky, and finally got to bed around 3/4ish.

Day 19 - Another late morning after late nights - life of a CP, woo! I headed to Cici’s with Pierre-Luc, Steff, and Alex around 1ish, then quickly back, and headed to Cast Connections where I got a DVC tshirt and money box for $10, woo! We headed to the Utilador were I read before my shift, then started work.  It was honestly the WORST day for guests, most of them were so rude! I had so many of them grab my shoulders, and then I’m pretty sure one of them complained about me.  I’d just taken over front load at Small World when a row of people exited saying they’d been in line with a screaming child the whole way and refused to go on the ride with them, and I said I hadn’t heard but please step to the side and we’ll get you on the next one. We loaded the next boat, and I got them back in the same row and one lady came back and asked my name in quite an off-tone, so, I guess we’ll see.  We also had some guests arguing with other guests in line, which was interesting! It was an amazing night though because I made some friends at work - always awesome! - and was greeter at Peter Pan at 10, meaning I got to see Wishes! I absolutely love it, and haven’t seen it fully yet, but it was magical just being able to see a little bit, and hear most of it! Peter Pan also broke down right after for a little, which was really funny as no one was moving and the fastpass line was HUGE. I also got a bumpout which is the first I think ever, as I’m always closing. Definitely putting it on the board! I got home just after everyone left for Cowboys, so sorting out some emails from back home and trying to put the finishing touches on an essay, and waiting for them to get back. 

And updates DONE!

While I was at Pan Unload, a lady and her son got off and ran back to me and peered at my nametag without saying anything to me.  When she read it, she turned back to her son (while we’re on a moving belt), punches him in the arm and goes, “See, I TOLD you she was from Ontario!” I didn’t know what on earth to do, and it was just so ridiculous I started laughing, while trying to get my other guests off, woops! 

I also had another family who came up and went, “OH! You’re the girl who was driving the boats in Small World!” I was in Tower from 6:30-7 (where you wave people off for the cruise), and they’d said that was when they saw me. It was just really cute that they remembered me, and I was quite flattered. It’s also kind of hilarious how many pictures/videos people take of us while we’re in Tower. I’m probably going to be in quite a few people’s holiday photos/videos, oops! haha

I’m really, REALLY glad I’m keeping this blog, because it’s getting really hard to remember what I’ve done from one day to the next!

Yesterday-ish was Wishes training which was pretty amazing.  We learned some more things about the fireworks themselves and the show, mostly the roped-off areas. Alexandra and I were partnered together - Skyshow for life! haha - and we had Alicia/Giselle kind of with us too. It was pretty amazing getting to see it, and some of the fireworks come out of the roofs on Fantasyland so it was intriguing seeing part of the show. On one of my nights off this week I’m DEFINITELY going to see Wishes. It was slightly sad after because I was the only one to join rotation, but it wasn’t too bad.  

We finished training at 10:30, so I took my 15, but CDS wouldn’t let me join rotation until 11, so I had to wait until then to join, and was immediately given my break, so I pretty much had an hour off. Rotations went well though, we had an auto emergency stop on Pan, so I had to call maintenance, but didn’t realize that we had to call the managers as well, from what I’d understood, maintenance would let them know - but all was cool! I closed Pan unload, but thankfully had someone else help me with it so I didn’t have to do walkthrough by myself, woo! I also had to do lost and found, so walked by myself through the utilador with no-one else around which was really creepy. Thankfully Alex and Mike popped up in L+F after, so I walked back with them, and got a ride back with them and their friend which was amazing! 

Today was a pretty fun, jam-packed day. Elio and I headed to MK around 12ish, and then realized there was an Open Mouse at the Art of Animation (new hotel), so we headed to Pop, and after talking with front desk, got a shuttle to AoA, and took a tour. It looks really nice, and the tour itself was pretty fun! We got to play most of the arcade games for free, so spent a good 30-45 minutes in there (I won one game, woo! haha), and then got our celebratory Art of Animation Open Mouse pin. We headed back to Pop after, then MK, then to the Mouseketeria for an early dinner, and then saw him off home, then ran into everyone in the locker room (Kara and Steff), and chatted with them until our shifts started.

CDS was broken tonight, so we had to wait 15 minutes to get our assignments and I tasked for 30 minutes, then joined rotation. Honestly, I love my role. I was a little uncertain the first couple of weeks because it is kind of stressful and so different from what I’ve done before, but it’s been amazing! I’ve started to get to know a few more people over the past few days as well, which really helps! I closed Pan Unload again tonight (BLEURGH walkthrough!!), but thankfully I met an amazing girl, Elle, who ran (yes, we actually did run/quick walk) through it, and then she gave me a ride home, which was just phenomenal.  I’ve seemed to have met a lot of phenomenal people over the last week, which makes me REALLY happy! Haha. 

I got home just after midnight but was definitely too wide-awake, so headed to Walgreens to buy Aloe for my lovely suntan/burn, and because I wanted to be outside. I met up with Alex and Lindsay there, and we decided to do something because we’re just getting adjusted to these lovely late nights! So, Alex, Steff and I ended up at the front of the Vista Way library chatting until about 2am, and then finally going home. It’s now 3:36, oops! Haha. And while I was typing this, a couple of people were getting really loud outside and someone came out their apartment and asked them to be quieter, and they did! 

And so begins my summer of not getting home before 1am! Last night I worked by myself for the first time, 6:15-12:45.  I always take the early bus just to be on the safe side, which is good because so many people over the last few days have racked up points because of buses breaking down or just missing them.

It was pretty fun working by myself! I accidentally (stupidly) went to the wrong spot initially because for some reason I just ignored one thing, but sorted it out pretty quickly. I walked into an argument with wheelchair greeter and a guest, but thankfully I got it sorted out and the guest walked away happy. I got the line moving pretty quickly after as well, so that helped a lot. I switched to strollers which was pretty fun, then Tower, where I’ve honestly never waved so much! My arm was honestly aching. I had to hit a station stop for a child that was standing up, and got that sorted, but forgot how to silence the alarm. Luckily Felicia ran up and helped me out, so all good, and now I definitely know :)! Haha. I went on my break, which was pretty quiet - I was the only one. 

I switched to greeter after, and quickly saw Steff and said hi to everyone. Then, right at 10, I went to front load greeter so I missed Wishes sadly :(! Although I did get to hear some of it! It went well and all guests were happy, so awesome! My last position was Pan Fastpass return which went well, and I helped with the wheelchair line, then closed.  It was a pretty good first night, and I met a few really nice people.

Tonight is 7pm-3am. I get trained on Wishes - which will be awesome - but we’ll see how the 3am bit goes…but, at least I still have my two days off! I woke up at 1pm today after going to bed about 4:30am-ish, so definitely need to get in a routine for that. I went to the pool with Steff and Pierre-Luc this morning which was fun though, laundry this afternoon, then we’ll see what else before work :)! 

Stormtroopers at Hoopla, Dinosaur, Everest, and Tree of Life :)!

And yup, the daily updates stop thanks to jam-packed days, which I definitely have no problem with :)! 

Thursday was my lovely second day off, and we decided to head to Animal Kingdom.  We met up with another group on the bus and went to see the lovely Pierre-Luc, then met with Stephen, Will, and Elio coming off Dinosaur, and so went on it with them for their second time.  It was definitely…interesting! Haha. I may or may not have been hiding for the majority as I was sat right on the end of the row.  We went to the Nemo show after which was pretty amazing, and it’s interesting to see how some actors changed, but others haven’t. We headed to Dino-Rama land to join some others, with Alicia, Mike, Romain, and Dylan arriving about 10 minutes after.  We headed to Expedition Everest which has definitely become my new favorite ride! We split up after because some people wanted to eat, and so we headed to Tough to Be a Bug, with the extremely snazzy glasses.  

We headed back on Expedition again and whoever had been on before me had eaten something very sticky and had it all over the bar - yuck! The group wanted to go on Kali River Rapids but I wanted to keep some stuff dry, so I waited with Alicia and Steff, but got some great pictures :)! We got to the Jungle Safari for a two week safari expedition and saw hippos and elephants along with other amazing animals. We had about 8 minutes to get to the Festival of the Lion King so booked it across the park, and arrived with about 30 seconds to spare, and it was AMAZING. We headed back after since it had been a LONG, extremely hot day. We decided to head to the pool, so quickly regrouped back, and then headed to Cicis for some dinner with singing party’s along the way and in Cici’s (I’m sure to everyone’s delight, haha).  It was also the Building 20 party, so we headed down as a group and met up with some other Canadians, and it was pretty fun! We left after about an hour and headed to Elio’s apartment and sat around and chatted about anything and everything, including our new favorite 3 things game. We finally left at about 12:30, because I had my assessment at 9 and slightly needed some sleep! haha.

Having done the program last year and seeing the state of buses this year, I always build in 2 extra buses in case anything happens, because I really DON’T want to be late, and lucky thing.  The first one was late, so a girl was panicking and asking the bus dispatch to write her a note because of it, and another just flat-out missed hers. I got there at 8:13, to start at 9, but it was pretty relaxing, which was really nice because I also had my assessment. Bobby was my assessor, and I did both written tests first which were really oddly-worded, but I passed.  He assessed me on Peter Pan first, then Small World and I passed! So, officially earned my ears! I didn’t get to last year as we just had to pass our lifeguard test, so now I can say I’ve officially earned them :)! Haha. We had a really long lunch as our trainers had no official lunch and wanted a break - not that we minded at all - and then talked to our manager about the role. Rotation was also pretty full, so he asked if we wanted an ER, and since it was the start of Hoopla, it was most definitely a yes!

I got home around 3, and definitely crashed.  I waited until Amy got home so we could go together, so just sat reading for a couple of hours trying not to sleep, haha. So. TIRED. Amy got home, and we skyped home, and then headed out at 6:33, meeting George, and then met up with some others when we got there. It started pouring rain though, so we headed to the Great Movie Ride with Erin - gangster - and then headed to ABC Commissary for some food. George got an RD-D2 mousse and burger, and Erin got a Darth Vader cupcake - sense a theme ;)? 

We raced to hoopla and it was AMAZING. They’re honestly some of my favorite weekends! I’m debating whether to go right now…we’ll see. Today is a relaxing day, so, we’ll see! We went on Star Tours after (Woo!), then the Muppet Ride, and finally home after an hour bus ride, and then quickly to the pool. I accidentally fell asleep with my contact lens in so my eyes are Darth Maul this morning, and around my laptop (which amy thankfully took away before I dropped it down the side of my bed). And we’ll see what today holds :)!

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Me on rollercoasters ALL the time.