Wherever You Find Love, It Feels Like Christmas

'Twas the week before Christmas, and I have been keeping busy.
I was off Saturday the 15th and spent most of the day sleeping in and packing an excessive amount of stuff in preparation for the visit of my lovely friend Angela (whom I hadn't seen in far too long). I popped over to our resort, Pop Century (I did that on purpose) around 5 in the evening, waiting for Angela's plane to land and her shuttle to arrive. We checked out Pop Century's food court for dinner and had a early bed-time for the next day. We went to Islands of Adventure the next day, spending the vast majority of our time at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, as per Angela's every wish on Earth. We thoroughly checked out every single shop and went on all the rides - Flight of the Hippogriff, Dragon Challenge and Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey - as well as getting lunch from Three Broomsticks.

Angela's debating quitting life and running away to Hogwarts. 

We meandered a bit around the rest of the park just to see what there was (we totally met the Grinch!), then ended up back in Hogsmeade for another round of Butterbeer at the Hogs Head Tavern before heading back. That night, we went over to the neighbouring resort, Art of Animation (I previewed it here), to see what their food court - Landscape of Flavors - had to offer. Another early bedtime for another early wake-up, as we were up just after the sun for our trip to the Magic Kingdom the next day.
We had a surprisingly warm-for-December day, in jeans and tees we wandered about Magic Kingdom until 7pm, making magic and trying not to twirl into other guests. We went back to Pop Century for a quick breather and returned at 9 for Extra Magic Hours, in which we got on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, watched the Electrical Parade and did some necessary shopping.

Angela and I at Gaston's wonderful fountain in New Fantasyland.

We weren't back until rather late, so slept in a bit the next day for our continued adventures at Hollywood Studios and Epcot.
With a little convincing, I made my triumphant return to Tower of Terror and got Angela on Rock'n Roller Coaster. Success! We were able to get Fast Passes for Toy Story Mania and actually had to line up for Muppet Vision 3D before taking the FriendShip boat over to Epcot for the necessary stop by the United Kingdom for tea and Canada for general sight-seeing. We rode The Seas with Nemo and Friends and watched some manatees eat some lettuce before doing some shopping (it was hoodie time and they were left in the resort) and going back to Hollywood Studios for Fantasmic and the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights.

Angela and I with our new friends Phineas and Ferb.

Back to Art of Animation for a different lovely dinner of build-your-own pasta (so good!), to Pop Century to get all packed and a brief snooze before Angela's shuttle came before the sun rose. I thought I worked that day, so went home and took a nap before going to work, only to realize I had been given another day off (ADO), so I went back home and took the opportunity to rest and relax.
After my closing shift Thursday, the merchandise cast members of the Canada pavilion, aka my work family,  got together at Lindsay's apartment for a spectacular and complete Christmas dinner, featuring one perfectly cooked turkey and about twelve pounds of mashed potatoes. There were fourteen of us there, and still food enough for fourteen more.

Lindsay and I are totally festive. I did help a little!

On the 21st, I went to the Mall at Millenia with Rhys and Laura. Laura and I ended up getting haircuts just in time for Christmas at a salon near the mall offering a discount for cast members, and my stylist used to work for Disney (she was friends with a few princesses and danced in parades). We had lunch at the Cheesecake Factory, complete with Peppermint Bark Cheesecake for dessert. That evening, we got dolled up and went to the Orlando Ballet Company's production of the Nutcracker (on which we also got a discount). Next year, National Ballet of Canada, I think.

Rhys and Laura's pre-Cheesecake Factory snack

I'm in the midst of a rather long work week, for merchandise, so this morning I woke up early and went to Downtown Disney for a bit of last minute Christmas shopping before going to work for 11. Tomorrow and Boxing Day (which isn't really a thing here), I'll be working about 12 hours a day. And I'll be merry about it.
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.

TTFN,


Note: Please don't ever come here for Christmas. It's so busy. Magic Kingdom reached its capacity at 11:30 this morning. My prediction for tomorrow is 9:30.

Thanks to: Angela, for making the journey from Winnipeg to come see me and that one family from Lanark County who hugged me when they found out I was from Perth.