The Weather is Good, the Fishin' is Fine. What Do We Do With All of our Time?

First things first, readers who aren't living in Orlando: Epcot is not currently engulfed in any kind of major tropical storm/hurricane/tornado/monsoon and I'm certainly not writing from a makeshift shelter in the basement of Spaceship Earth...yet. No, but seriously, we're just supposed to get a lot of rain and a lot of wind, which will make being down on the promenade fun, to say the least. If anyone dares to steal my rain gear, I will come after them.

Important life events of the last week include another lovely day of princess fun with the lovely Rhys, a (short) visit to the Holy Land, and ways to make wearing a costume so much more fun.
My days off were back to their regular selves this week, so Thursday and Friday. I spent Thursday day running random errands (Jen, expect mail soon!) and Thursday evening at the Board Walk (which you may remember from this post). Rhys and I bussed it to the Board Walk, grabbed deep-fried goodness at a random stand near the Board Walk Inn and headed to the bakery for cheesecake brownies. We walked in and there were six. We walked out and there was one remaining. No, we did not buy them all, but our praises certainly sold them all. Board Walk Bakery, you can pay us in (obviously) baked goods. We took our cheesecake brownies to go and headed to the beach of the Yacht & Beach Club, where they play a nightly Disney movie at 9:00. Tonight's selection was the remake of Escape to Witch Mountain. I even remembered bug spray. I'm getting so good at this permanent summer thing.

The Disney Vacation Club Villas on the Board Walk.
DVC might have a spot in my future. 

Friday, we headed to the Mall at Millenia for minor shopping for me and major computery-type shopping for Rhys, topped off with "lunch portions" (ie dinner in Canada) at Cheesecake Factory. Since it's located so close, we decided to check out the Holy Land Experience (theme park?) right across the street. Sadly for us, it was already 4:00 and the park was closing at 6:00, so rather than pay for two hours, which had a ball taking pictures in the parking lot instead. We then headed back to Disney territory, grabbed our tiaras and headed back to Magic Kingdom for more princessy fun.

I never actually went in the park, so I haven't burst into flames...yet. 

We had to wait out some rain for MK fun,
but look how pretty! And magical!

Tips of the week to make costumes slightly more fun: Earlier this week, Lindsay and I got absolutely soaked attempting to close the cart efficiently, thus we had to return to costuming to be more show-ready. Since I'm the single most popular size among female lumberjacks, naturally there weren't any culottes in my size left. I elected to wear a size bigger and...wait for it...had to safety pin my shirt to my culottes for the rest of the day to make sure they weren't going to fall down. Yes, this was an actual concern. Costuming fun this week means princess hair all week long for me. I did Belle hair two days ago, Rapunzel hair yesterday, and today...well, stay tuned.

TTFN,

Note: "Beaches" on Disney property are a bit of a misnomer (eg Yacht and Beach Club, Caribbean Beach). There's sand, and there's water, but there's absolutely NO swimming in the water. Eewwwww.

Thanks to: The higher than usual number of Perth families visiting, my roommate Gaia who's program ends this week and the random guest who offered me a loonie this week after hearing that I hadn't seen one in awhile. Touching.

Like a Bolt Out of the Blue, Fate Steps in and Sees You Through

I was mislead about Floridian summers. I was under the impression that August is on the homestretch to Fall. Nope. It's still quite hot, and culottes still contain quite a bit of fabric.
My weekend this week was slightly different days, which means for once I got a whole day of bonding with the charming Rodi! We went to Target and got things we didn't necessarily need, we tanned by the pool at the Commons, and she helped me dye my hair back to a uniform, non-Florida-sun-bleached-out colour. It's called Cocoa Bean, and Rodi did a fabulous job. Thursday was a very adventurous day out for Sam, Bailey and I, starting with another huge American breakfast at Perkins and becoming an enormous retail adventure. We managed to do varying amounts of damage around various stores at the West End Loop, including but not limited to Kohl's, Bath & Body Works, Ulta and Menchie's, where you pay by weight for your frozen yogurt and toppings.

Total daily caloric intake in an innocent-looking cup: Achieved. 

Bailey and Sam lost in a sea of suitcase choices.

Friday morning was Epcot's Quarterly Awards reception, an adorable and efficient little gathering in the Norway loft (above Maelstrom, I think), in which the other most magical cast members of the quarter and I were presented with our awards and sufficient photo opportunities with Erin Youngs, VP of Epcot, Beverley Martin, GM Merchandise of Epcot and my manager, Tom. There's a group shot out there somewhere. The cake was fantastic, and it turns out that being magical is worth movie tickets! Woo material rewards!

Beverley Martin and I in the Norway loft.
She gets to wear a dress everyday. Me, not so much.

Saturday after work, I put on a lovely new dress and a tiara and headed to the Magic Kingdom with Rhys, who was also dressed appropriately. We had a magical princess evening, complete with a viewing of Wishes from halfway down Main Street, a carousel ride, a hidden Mickey in Rhys' flatbread pizza, and glitter. So much glitter. Michael from Castle Couture, there's a Great Service Fanatic Card heading your way. I'm still washing glitter out of my hair, and I'm quite alright with it.

Me,  glitter-gifter Michael and princess Rhys at Castle Couture.
I think we're all equally thrilled to be here.

Tonight, I had a lovely dinner at Carrabbas, close to housing, with the lovely Linzi Farries. We have an exclusive club now for people with the same name as us, born in the same month of the same year. We're twins and special like that.

Scottish-Canadian twinsies (Linzi and Lindsey).

TTFN,

Note: The 30th anniversary of Epcot is approaching in October, but the 30-day countdown begins at the end of the month. I saw a picture from the 1986-1987 cultural representative class...the Canadian costumes are exactly the same.

Thanks to: Dave and Adam, two leadership cast members who will be leaving World Showcase West way too shortly for roles in Storybook Circus and New Fantasyland, respectively. I'll miss you tons, gentlemen.

A Voice Keeps Saying, This is Where I'm Meant to Be

Did you know that, when I go too long without blogging, I have to check facebook, my journal, my photos and the calendar to piece together what's gone down over the last week? It's a darn good thing I'm keeping track, cuz even if all seven of you stop reading, I'll apparently be in desperate need of this documentation when I'm back in Canada.
The highlight of my weekend was my reunion with Lesley Rebry at Olive Garden. We consumed too much bread, boxed up our entire meals, then judged the non-Le Cellier timing of our server. I was also reminded that our favourite CP at Star Tours was probably leaving soon, so we should probably go to Hollywood Studios to see him again. Ummmmm, no. Already gone. Epic Lindsey and Lesley sad faces. Darn you, terribly temporary Disney programs! Luckily, Great Movie Ride had a short wait, and that always cheers us up. As did Rhys' newly implemented Sunday-movie-and-pj-time. Who's seen Fantasia lately? This girl!

Lesley wandering around 50s Prime Time Cafe while I got a consolation milkshake.

On Wednesday, Epcot followed Hollywood Studios and experienced a tragic mass exodus of CPs, meaning pretty much all cast members younger than 23 who aren't cultural representatives just up and left/ went back to real life like grown-ups. The magical moment of the day was when Ben, one of my fave custodial CPs, read "Making the Moose Out of Life", a book sold in the pavilion with a matching plush moose, out loud onstage. I'd say it was for the guests, but there were none around. Still magical! It was also my first closing shift in months, so there was a lot wrong about that day.
Thursday was merchie bonding time with Bailey, Anastasia, Sam and I. Cracker Barrel, the American standard, for breakfast (Sam was overwhelmed, she'd never been before), followed by general laziness poolside at the Caribbean Beach Resort. It's ridiculously hot here, but to out in in context/ make you all hate me a little more, it was literally too hot to get out and dry off. Stay in the pool. Always in the pool. Also, there was a waterslide.

We're Canadian! We can't handle these portion sizes!
Oh wait, yes we can. 

Friday was one last Universal Studios trip with Lesley and Bryce. Lesley and I can go again, but Bryce has to be a grown-up and go back to school, so he's leaving us. BOO. On the plus side, name-dropping still worked to get us on Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, I was convinced to go back on Rip Ride Rockit (in the rain, even), we saw a magic show representing the epitome of merchantainment and had this awesome picture taken:

Admit it: if it weren't for the child photobomber, this would
be the best group shot ever. 

During morning meeting of my Monday/ actually Saturday, I was pretty stunned to be presented a Magical Merchant Quarterly Award. That's a pretty solid way to start out the week. I'm not really sure what it entails, but I do get to go a reception Friday morning. I'm going to wear a dress and hope that there's cake.

Pretty sure I was born to do this job. 

TTFN,

Note: You know what's not safe in the rain? The roof of the Contemporary. That's all.

Thanks to: Rhys, who listens to me whine (wine?) and Ashley, for calling me the Michael Phelps of Disney awards. That made my day.

Opportunity Knocks Once, Let's Reach Out and Grab it

Happy August! My five-month anniversary with Disney is coming up in a few days. The time has gone by scarily fast.

On Monday before Games, Megan and I went to Walmart to fulfill my random VoluntEar duties for my pavilion. The entire property has been raising money to purchase school supplies for children, and World Showcase West merchandise just barely managed to pull everything together in time to actually contribute. Luckily, everything in America is ridiculously cheap, and on sale due to students returning to school as early as Monday, so we were able to pull together a massively huge Walmart bag full of (heavy) school supplies. That makes us good people for the week, I think. 

On Tuesday, Megan and I, in our week of apparent bonding, went to Magic Kingdom for just enough time to get flatbread pizza, ride Pirates several times, ride the Magic Carpets of Aladdin for the first time (the line was short so we did it twice), get dessert and watch Wishes from what is no longer my favourite viewing spot (we got covered in fireworks ash, really unpleasant). In an attempt to avoid the Main Street Electrical Parade route and get to Liberty Square, we got hopelessly turned around and just ended up in Adventureland...fifteen minutes after attempting to leave it. It was a sign, telling us to ride Pirates a few more times. 

On the plus side, our "detour" led us to Tiana and Naveen!
He crushed a cockroach for her. It was romantic. 

On Wednesday, fellow Canadians Amanda, Briana, Sam and I attended the extremely fancy-sounding Tomorrowland Terrace Fireworks Dessert Party at Magic Kingdom. I had to book it a few weeks ahead of time, back when August felt like a long time away. Basically, up to fifty people are given access to all-you-can-eat-and-then-some desserts and drinks on a balcony in Tomorrowland with a beautiful view of Cinderella Castle (and of course, Wishes). The desserts are tiny but deceptively rich, so trying one of each resulted in a lot of pain. Buffet dining and I really need to take a break, but the evening was magical.

Not all for me, I swear. Well, everything in front of the cup is. 

I'm smiling, but my pancreas is not.

Yesterday I spent some quality time with the love of my life (me, duh) at my favourite American destination, Target. In the evening, a good number of the Cast Members from World Showcase West merch got together at (wait for it) McDonalds to bid adieu to our professional intern, Cecilia, who's program ended yesterday. I got home surprisingly late, considering all my company was working the next day...suckers. 

A very small selection of the incredibly attractive WSW merch cast.

TTFN,

Note: It's come to my attention I owe an epic shoutout to Angela, one of my BFFs on the planet, for being an adult and getting married almost two weeks ago. HOLLA! You owe me pictures of your matching bride and groom Mickey ears. 

Thanks to: Cecilia, for being a magical leader and for my newest random pin:

Now here's an interaction I don't remember at all.
Nor should I, it's from June.

As well as everyone who helped reestablish my contact list from the great blackberry reset of last weekend. 

This is Real, This is Me, I'm Exactly Where I'm Supposed to Be

My holiday of lasts with Jen is over, and I had to go back to work full swing this week. I drove Jen to the airport Friday to the sounds of Magic Kingdom (Four Parks, One World CD available at a Disney merchandise location near you) and we were very sad pandas.

I came in Saturday to my first ever Applause-O-Gram, up on the bulletin board just backstage of the store. An Applause-O-Gram is what happens when a Guest approaches Guest Relations to talk about Cast Members who made their day extra special. Apparently, I did that for an anonymous family. Thanks, family! You're special, too!

This is why I wear a name tag...
And also why I'm magical all the time.

My first round of trainer training was Sunday. It was an afternoon spent in costume in the training trailer learning how to teach and how people learn, then we had to split up and teach each other things. I think if I successfully taught my group American Sign Language, I should be good to go. At the end of the class, all the trainers-in-training received our new trainer pins, the only other pin allowed to be worn on our actual costumes. It was very special.  

That's a non-tradeable pin, Guests.
Stop asking.

Yesterday was my full day of wearing dresses. I was in a trainer training class all day at Epcot, requiring business attire due to a teaching excursion onstage at MouseGear. We were given an extra long lunch, so Anastasia and I took the Friendship boat across World Showcase Lagoon to Germany to get cookies. It was that, or stop by Canada.....ummmm, no. 
In the evening, I put on another dress to finally redeem my Amazing Race (leg 3) prize, tickets to Hoop De Doo Musical Revue, a dinner show performed at Community Hall at Fort Wilderness Campgrounds. As well as my Race partner (and manager) Chase, Jason and Jodey from Canada were also in attendance. It was an awesome two hours of (literal) buckets of fried chicken and mashed potatoes, strawberry shortcake, bear puns, singing and dancing...and sangria. Did I mention this was my first time taking the bus since May?

Jason, me and Chase coming back from Fort Wilderness.
Chase is bummed cuz I forgot to wear my Amazing Race Ears.
Too much plaid, Chase!

Tonight, I am off to another throw-in for the newest bunch of Canadians, as well as those who arrived a few weeks ago. 

TTFN,

Note: The store in Canada sells the infamous coon-skin hat, but Hoop De Doo Revue clearly states that Davy Crockett is from Tennessee. What's up with that?

Thanks to: Jen, for being an awesome friend and for the title of Governor General of Games.

Tale as Old as Time, Song as Old as Rhyme

A short work week for me, as I booked two additional days off in order to complete some final activities with my friend Jen, who departs for the airport tomorrow. Her (first?) goodbye and congratulations dinner at California Grill atop the Contemporary was just lovely. We watched Wishes from the table and ate what was probably the best food on Disney property. Yeah. I recommend.

We put on dresses like proper ladies...
then threw confetti at each other. 

Tuesday, Lesley, Jen, Kyra and I woke up indecently early to watch Magic Kingdom open. I know all the opening songs and needed to see them actually perform. Main Street USA townsfolk sing until the train arrives, bearing Mickey Mouse and the other characters of the park. 

Characters arriving at Magic Kingdom.
Unlike us, they do not sleep on the WDW Railroad.

Once you get in the park, they sing some more, unless you hope on the horse-drawn buggy to Cinderella Castle, like we did. We had lunch at Crystal Palace with Winnie the Pooh and friends, and ate until we were obscenely full. We managed to tackle almost every attraction, even though it rained, and we found the best rides on which to take naps (TTA Peoplemover, anyone?). We were there for almost 15 consecutive hours, which, if you've ever been, is no mean feat. So much magic!

Jen, me and Lesley jumped off our of buggy into what I can
only assume is a Main Street USA barbershop quartet. 

Yesterday, we said goodbye to two merchies (Dana and Arden) in the typical merchandise way - a huge group of managers, coordinators, costumed and uncostumed lumberjacks clap and stand in a circle, temporarily forgetting we care about guests, followed by handprints and boot-tossing. 

Canada merchandise cast, July 2012.
The goodbye girls are holding blue folders.

It was also Jen's last day at Le Cellier, and their tradition is a somber singing of O Canada in the restaurant. Afterwards, a bunch of us went to Hollywood Studios, where, as is the tradition, we rode Star Tours multiple times (and I had the best chicken curry quick service meal ever). 
Today was a rare second day of spending a day off at Epcot. Sam, Bailey and I went for lunch the Via Nappoli, the pizzeria in the Italy Pavilion, before catching SouthBound and Company, the Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute band performing as part of Epcot's Sounds Like Summer concert series (get it? Sounds Like? Cuz they're all tributes?).
I have one more day off, which I plan to use to recover from my days off, then back to work, with three days of trainer training! Woo?

TTFN,


Note: Don't wear Toms in Florida during hurricane season. Just...don't.

Thanks to: Jimmy and Jami at Star Tours, for doing their spiel in unison by request.

It's the Truth, It's Actual, Everything is Satisfactual

It's been a busy week of celebrations at the happiest place on Earth!

On July 3rd, some of the Canadians headed to the beach at the Polynesian Resort in hopes of seeing the trail run of the Independence Day fireworks at Magic Kingdom. It epic rained, as per usual, so we got Dole Whip (self-serve, word) and headed to the Magic Kingdom, where we disembarked from the monorail just in time to see the fireworks all around us. It made me feel very patriotic, and not even about Canada. Sam Eagle would be proud. We had some time to eat, ride some rides (Woooo Splash Mountain) and dance with Stitch, Chip and Dale in Tomorrowland before calling it a night.

Briana, me and Megan enjoying Dole Whip on the Polynesian Beach,
Who needs fireworks?

July 4th at Epcot was probably a bit of a letdown for the actual Americans during the day, as it rained for a good part of the day. On the plus side, I got to continue living my dream and participated in not one, but TWO flashmobs. Not even in Canada, not even in World Showcase. I got to dance with other Canadians (and so many other Cast Members) in costume in Future World (the other half of Epcot). Once inside Club Cool (like I said, it was raining) and once just in front of the Fountain of Nations. The Heartbeat of Freedom, the fireworks set off just after Illuminations, were really stunning and really loud. Yet another swell of patriotism. Nice work, Disney. 
On July 6th, I headed to Universal with my friend Jen, who's program is sadly ending soon, and fake Canadian Bryce. Since it was Jen's last, we enjoyed the entirety of the park, all the way from Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey (in Islands of Adventure) to The Mummy (twice, over in Universal Studios). It was a very long, tiring, but awesome awesome day. We spent most of it soaked due to our decision to ride ALL the water rides (Dudley Do-Right Ripsaw Falls, anyone?). 

What Canadians wear at Universal Studios.
Substantially cuter than culottes.

I opened Canada on the 7th and had no idea what to do with my evening after. Luckily, Briana and Amanda were headed to Magic Kingdom for the evening, which is always a fantastic plan to me. My new favourite meal at Magic Kingdom is flatbread at Pinocchio's Village Haus eaten while waving at Guests boarding it's a small world...which is why we did it again three days later. 

Me, Amanda, Briana and Sam generally being magical.

I'm off to get ready for dinner and fireworks at the Contemporary Resort. I'm coming back to Canada poor, FYI. 


TTFN,

Note: I've been invited to Trainer training! Nothing like merchantaining on the floor of Mouse Gears in business attire.

Thanks to: The disenchanted Team Members of Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, for letting me namedrop and skip the 60-minute wait.