Faith, Trust and Pixie Dust

Wednesday 2/4

Today was Traditions. We all had to be at the bus stop at 6:55. So it was a way early morning. We made it to Disney University (which is located behind MK). We first gathered into the big cafeteria and waited to be divided up into our groups. So after we were finished making fun of this really grouchy boy (who ended up being in my group) who was mean mugging every one in the room, all of us were separated with the exception of me and Kristy. In Traditions, we just learned about the values of the Disney Company. We also played the how many disney characters can you name in 2 minutes game. I won my table some "critters" or basically just small disney characters. So I am still undefeated in that game haha. We won with 39. We got out of Traditions around noon and went back to the apartment to change. Then we all went to Magic Kingdom to play because we were officially cast members after Traditions so we get in free. Kristy had only been to MK when she was 4 and didn't really remember it. So I videotaped her seeing the castle for the first time. She screamed and almost started crying. It was precious. 

We ended up riding Space Mountain, and The Haunted Mansion and then just walking around. We stayed for WISHES, the fireworks behind the castle, at 8. We were right in the front and it was fantastic. I got goosebumps so many times. And then Tink flew out of the castle and the fireworks were with the music and it was just incredible. Afterward, I tried to teach Lindsay how to Waltz in front of the castle to the music. But if you ask her, I was waltzing and she was stepping on my toes. haha Then we were walking down Main Street and got distracted in the shops. We ended up finding these charm bracelets and we decided to buy them and then if ever someone was having a bad day or we wanted to be nice we could buy each other a charm. Just a little small roommate bonding. 

We didn't realize it was getting so late and thought we had missed the last monorail back to the TTC, but luckily we didn't. While waiting for the monorail, Matt showed up in a Peter Pan hat with his name embroidered on the back. We have been working on his crow for when he and Peter are friends and got him to do it on the platform. People thought we were crazy, but it was really funny. 

So Disney has this bus system for Cast Members that has good intentions, but is quite annoying. You have to the catch the bus a hour before you have to be at work even though where you were is only 20 minutes away. So it is rather annoying, but anyway. We ended up waiting on a bus in the freezing cold for about 45 minutes. Then there was only standing room so we (Kristy) took the opportunity to put our butts in peoples faces and then quote Dumb and Dumber with Bart and Nick. 

Thursday 2/5

Today I had the day off. Lindsay, Matt, Jess and I all went to Hollywood Studios. We mainly just walked around. We were waiting on Kristy to get off work to ride the big rides like Tower of Terror and Rockin' Roller Coaster. We walked around and tried to figure out what we wanted to do. We eventually camped out a spot to watch the new High School Musical 3 show.  It was pretty good. But the best part was when Matt got pulled out to participate in the show. He got a top hat and cain and did some sweet high kicks (check out the video on Facebook). I laughed so hard I cried. Then we had a little play date on the giant ant in the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids playground - or also known as the place where Mom took advantage of my trust, but she would rather think of it as me having a fantastic imagination*

*Side note for those who don't know the story. Last time Mom and I were at Disney and this movie had just come out, I wanted to go play. Well, Mom told me that after I went through the gates, I would actually shrink.....and I believed her. I was freaking out on the inside because I was afraid that I wasn't going to get back to normal height and that I was going to get eaten in a bowl of Cheerios. But luckily, I survived. 

So after being kids again, we decided to give the new Toy Story ride a try, which was supposed to be awesome. When we got there, the wait line was huge and there were no more fast passes available. So we just started talking to the other cast members and said that we were brand new CP's and the nice guy named Joey escorted us to the front of the line. And the ride was AMAZING! You wore 3-D glasses and you shot things - it is kind of like Buzz Lightyear but a million and half times better. Then we went and rode the movie ride, which was a lot less scary than I remember, but still freaked out the little girl in front of us (thank you Alien). 

Finally, Kristy, Brian, Laura, and Corey met up with us. We went straight to the Tower of Terror. Kristy, Brian and I had never rode it before so we were a little bit nervous. It did not help that we saw a family of rats in the bushes while waiting in line. For those of you who have not rode it, they start by taking you in this room and showing you a video of the Twilight Zone. Then it ends with this huge clap of thunder. Well, Lindsay and Matt have come here so often they know all the tricks. Matt screamed right on cue - I thought it was supposed to happen and then Kristy screamed because she was scared. The ride was awesome. Our group of 7 took up the front row. Matt screamed the whole time and Kristy and I screamed and laughed. By the end of it, I had tears rolling down my face I was laughing so hard at Matt. The people in there probably thought we were crazy. Our picture was priceless though, which is why I bought one. 

We then headed to the Rockin' Roller Coaster, which is indoors and blasts Aerosmith. After some more sweet talking and saying we were CP's we were able to get through with the fast passes. We all rocked it out for the picture, which I also bought. Then after walking around some more, we decided to go over to MK and watch WISHES!! and the Spectromagic Parade. We were able to catch a ride on the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad before hand. Everything was awesome as usual. But it was absolutely freezing outside. 

Friday 2/6

Today I had to get up and be at Disney University at the butt crack of dawn. Lindsay and I were in the same class so we hung out. We ended up getting a tour of the park around 8am so we were in before the crowds and it was weird seeing Main Street deserted, but the castle was really pretty because the sun was still rising. We learned some interesting tidbits about the park and what to do and don't do. The detail Disney puts into everything is incredible. You might think things are the way they are out of chance, but no. Everything at Disney is done on purpose. They have thought of things that I would have never even dreamed of being an issue. Not like this is an issue, but an example is that where the first aid station is there are red and white umbrellas because the international symbol for first aid is the red and white cross. No where else in the park will you find red and white umbrellas. Oh, and the area (by Casey's Corner on Main Street) just happens to be sponsored by Coke. We walked around and toured the whole park. They even let us ride Buzz Lightyear, which I did much better on than the first time when I rode it with Dad, and the Haunted Mansion. We exited Haunted Mansion the cast member way and then started the back stage tour. It is the weirdest experience. But then we got to go into the utilidor, or the "tunnels" underneath MK. But they are not really tunnels. Tunnels are underground and you can't really do that in Florida. What you walk on while in MK is actually the 2nd story. So the "tunnels" are just the first floor. 

We got shown where the Disney Learning Center is, where we eat lunch (called the Mousekateria haha), and all sorts of other fun stuff. Then we got split off into our individual roles and placed with a trainer. All the BBB girls went together and had to do 3 1/2 hours of pointless computer slideshows about safety and hazardous chemicals. But before that we got to go to costuming! We finally got our costumes and I surprisingly like mine. I feel like I should be going to a Renaissance Festival. I wear a long lavender skirt and then a puffy, silky, pale pink shirt with a dark purple vest thing over it. I make it sound a lot worse than it really is, but I definitely have one of the better costumes. We were finally free to go around 4. 

We all got together and went back to Hollywood studios to watch Fantasmic, which was fantastic! The things Disney creates are simply amazing. There really are no words to describe it. You just have to experience it. I was crying by the end of it. By the time the show was over we were all starving and decided to go to Down Town Disney for dinner. We tried to find a place that wasn't overpriced and eventually settled on Planet Hollywood. Things got interesting from there. Multiple, multiple drinks were ordered. I ended up driving Lindsay's car home. It was so fun though. It was like a big welcoming party. We ate and laughed and drank and had a blast. 

Saturday 2/7

I got up and went with Brandon to take his roommate to work at Animal Kingdom. We ended up just running into the park and getting a fast pass and riding Expedition Everest. It was pretty cool. You go backward and forward and the whole thing is pretty crazy, but way fun. Then I came back and chilled out. Lindsay and I eventually went to DSW and the mall to find shoes for work and buy pantyhose which we unfortunately have to wear to work everyday. When we were finished we ran buy Publix and bought some groceries. 

A little while after we got back we all decided to head down to Mickey's Retreat and play a little bit of sand volleyball. Before the game could even get started, Nick decided to do a bicycle kick and when he did he landed wrong and broke his collarbone. So then we had an unplanned trip to the hospital. He should be fine, but he has to go back on Monday and make sure that he doesn't have to have surgery. So after that exciting adventure, I came back to the apartment and cooked food for the week and then headed to bed.

Sunday 2/8

Today and I got and was at the bus stop by 7 so I could be at work by 8. Me and Stephanie met our trainer, Margarita, who is from Puerto Rico. She showed us where we clock in and then got us set up on the Hub and printed out our schedules for next week ( I am off Friday, Saturday and Sunday! Woo Hoo!) Then we were shown where we enter to get to the BBB from the utilidor, which consists of going up about 3984732 steps. Then we have to make sure we always go right and get to the BBB because if we don't we will end up on the castle stage. 

We were taught the ends and outs of the BBB today. While we didn't actually work on any girls, we did everything but. We learned how to build castles (their outfits if they purchased the Castle package), how to do an outfit reveal, work the check in system and how to escort the princesses to their chairs. It was so much fun. I worked 10 hours and I felt like was only there for about 3. The little girls are precious. Granted, sometimes they get a little fussy, but most of them are so excited to be there they can't stand it. Another lesson learned today is that Pixie Dust gets EVERYWHERE!! I didn't have to mess with it today and came home with it all in my hair and on my clothes, but I guess there are worse things. I am excited because tomorrow we will get to start learning the hairdos and practicing on mannequins. I got off work at 6:30 and came back to the apartment. I really wanted to go to the House of Blues, but I just collapsed in my bed. My feet hurt so bad and I am wiped out. Plus, I have to be at work at 8 in the morning again. So its a shower and then bed!