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!

Forgotten Adventures

I forgot to mention one of the other many adventures today. The first being that Jess and I started to set up the router. We for sure thought that it was going to be super difficult because I didn't set it up in BG (thanks Jenny). But we soon found out that all you had to do was plug it in...go figure. Then when we moved in yesterday we realized that we had no pots and pans. Kristy's mom found an inventory sheet and it turned out we were missing a lot more than that. We didn't have a tea pot, cereal bowls, cookie sheet, spatula, and like 8 other things. So when Jess tried for the second time to get her parking decal (the first failed attempt was this morning when she didn't have the right registration), I handed in the list thinking it would be a week until we got anything. Turns out he gave everything to us right then. We carried two mail crate things worth of kitchen stuff back to the apartment. When we took the bins back, Jess had her third attempt, which also failed. They were out of parking decals and he told her to come back later. (When she came back later they were closed and she went to security who then told her to come back later as well. Today was not a good day for Jess and parking decals. I, however, was able to get one). 

It is crazy to think that I only met these people yesterday. I feel like I have known them so much longer. And it feels like we have been here about a month. 10201 is probably the best apartment ever....just in case you didn't already realize that! haha

Yes I Really Can Make All Your Dreams Come True

It has been a crazy few days!!

Brian and I left Bob's at 7am yesterday (oh my gosh that was only yesterday) and got to Vista Way around 7:45 after paying another billion in tolls and dealing with traffic. They wouldn't let anyone into the complex until 8 so we chilled in the parking lot across the street. While I was standing next to Brian's car, another girl came up and said "you look normal. let's be roommates." So that girl was Kristy, the first of my 5 roommates. She is from Madison, Tennessee and played softball at Goodpasture. Go Figure. She saw that I was from Nashville because I was wearing a Preds hoodie. So once we were able to get into the complex all three of us kept together. Kristy had meet another girl named Lindsay and her brother Matt, who are from central Louisiana. It worked out that all three of us girls were able to room together. We got our room in Patterson Court, which is the newest and nicest and strangely the cheapest of all the complexes. The last step of the check in process was getting out parking decals. But Disney has this stupid rule where YOUR name has to be on the insurance card - not your parents. So I had to call dad and have him call the insurance company so they could fax proof that I am an insured driver. In other words, it was stupid.

Kristy, her parents and I then made our way our apartment and made first claims on the beds. Then we realized that we had totally skipped a step and had to go back and have our background checks and be fingerprinted. So we left her parents to unpack her room and tried to find this place and ended going to the wrong area, but it was an adventure and we finally made it. Mom was a little nervous about my background check haha. But don't worry we both cleared. Brian was behind us in line and we chatted for a bit before heading back to our apartment. Oh, Brian is in the same building as us (building 10 at Patterson). I have yet to decide if that is going to be a good thing or a bad thing. 

When we were back at the apartment, they helped me unload my car and the somewhat get things situated. We were mainly waiting for our 3 other roommates to show up. Then I got a call from Brian saying that he met one of our roommates in line named Jess! She is from Woodstock, Georgia and is fabulous. Really the day was filled with waiting and unpacking. 

A few hours later, our fourth roommate showed up and her name is Angelica (yes, like from Rugrats) and is from Puerto Rico. All I could think about was Ramos. Her english is not as nearly as good as his, but she is so cute and trying to learn. It turns out she is 28 and is married and has 2 children and is here to help her family. She came here knowing hardly any english and just after a day I can already see a difference. She is just precious. She is also trying to teach us spanish, but that is not going so well. Especially with all of our southern accents. 

By this point we are STARVING! We went to Subway and met some other CP kids that were character performers and lived in our building. They were pretty cool, but we eventually had to get on our way. We finally made our way to the dreaded Wal-Mart. It was a madhouse. Imagine the Wal-Mart in BG on Christmas Eve and multiply that by 3 and that equals the hell we were in. We had about 4 carts worth of stuff. Lindsay, Matt and I cheated and checked out through the Garden Center so it did not take us too long. But poor Kristy and Brian had to wait 45 minutes to check out!! Absolutely ridiculous.  But we made it back and continued to unpack. 

Brandon came over later and we went to the Ale House to meet some of his friends and watch the St. Louis/Detroit game. We came back and just hung out the rest of the night.

This morning we had to be at Vista at 8:30 to fill out our I-9 forms and get our roles. I was put into a separate line and then asked if I did hair and make-up. The question caught me really off guard, but I just said that I had in the past. Then this woman asked me to follow her and she took me to talk to this other guy. It was really nerve wracking because I was escorted to the front of the line and I kept getting menacing looks from all the people in line. That is when this guy told me that I was going to be a Fairy Godmother at the Bibbi Bobbidi Boutique! My role is to turn little girls into freaking PRINCESSES!! How freaking cool is that? The rest of the time spent there was waiting in line and trying to figure what was going on. Since me and another girl, named Sam, got moved we had to wait in another line to get our training moved around. But, then paperwork got mixed up and we were sent on a wild goose chase for a non-existent piece of paper. But anywho here are how the jobs go for the rest of the apartment

and friends

Kristy - Magic Kingdom in Mickey's Toon Town

Lindsay - Magic Kingdom in Fantasy Land at  food stand thing (the only place in the park that serves pizza)

Jess - A "Friend" of Mickey and Minnie Mouse

Angelica - Key West Resort Housekeeping

Refilwe "Fifi" Maimare - Animal Kingdom Lodge**

Matt - A "Friend" of Peter Pan

Brian - Hollywood Studios Merchandising 

** I forgot that Fifi came in late late last night. She is from South Africa and has the coolest accent ever. She has been living in Ohio as an au pair for a family. 

So it is pretty exciting that we all know what we are doing now. We all have Traditions tomorrow, which is like the orientation class and when we officially become Cast Members and we finally get our free entrance to the parks. Kristy, Lindsay, and I all have the early class (We have to be at the bus stop at 6:55am in business attire....blah) but on the plus side we get to play in the parks for the rest of the day. I am so excited that I finally get to see Wishes! (the fireworks at Cinderella's Castle and Tinkerbell flies over the castle!!)

Everything is going great so far! I could not have gotten a better group of people in the apartment! They are just fantastic and so much fun. This whole program seems like it is going to be great. Let's hope I still say that when I am dealing with bitching parents at the Boutique. But I am sure for every one bad experience I am sure that there will be 5 good ones to make up for it. 

Finally Here!

Brian and I left Atlanta this morning after eating some scrumptious panqueques prepared by Aunt Anne. I was able to go jump on Elizabeth and get her out of bed with the promise of panqueques, which I sang to her in a lovely song. Then we packed up our stuff and hit the road, but not before it took me about 3 tries to back out of the drive way. It looks straight, but really its not and most people know that I am not the best driver when it comes to driving in reverse. 

The drive was not all that exciting. Bon Qui Qui said it would be 6 hours to get to Bob's. We ended up making it in about 7 when you add in all the stops and such. The only down side to the drive is the 8 billion tolls on Florida roads. But we made it to Bob's and watched the Super Bowl. Then we just hung out for a little while. 

Tomorrow is check in and I am a little nervous. We are getting there pretty early in hopes that we will get our first choice in housing. We shall see! 

Lebanon to Knoxville To Atlanta

Brian and I finally began our adventure to Florida!!

 

Our adventure began Friday when we packed up and left Mom’s house a little later than expected and made out way to Knoxville. Yes, I know Knoxville. While I can’t stand the school there, I pretty much love one of the students there…the amazing Sarah Craig. We pulled into Knoxville around 6ish and Sarah showed us to her dorm room. Brian and I were amazed that we could basically just walk in without having to show ID or give our IDs up, but then you did have swipe your ID to get an elevator, which I though was pretty nifty (and see Mom they are safe). And speaking of dorms, WKU should definitely invest in the same type of moveable furniture that UT has. Granted the beds are a little high, as I am sure Sarah can attest to, but the way you can set up the room is really neat and the desks are pretty much awesome compared to the crappy things you get in WKU’s dorms. Anyway, after sitting around and catching up, which took a while, we decided to sit around and talk about what we should do for dinner, which took equally as long as catching up because of our lovely tangents. Finally around 9, we decided to head to the Tomato Head for dinner. It was delicious.

 

We headed back to the dorm to figure out our plan for the rest of the night. While figuring out what to do, Sarah decided to make me her personal Barbie Doll and do my hair and make-up. I must say I looked fabulous, but I don’t think I have ever spent that much time on getting ready – what can I say I guess I didn’t really inherit the hair and make-up gene or at least not to the extent of most girls. As far as outfits go Sarah and I looked great in our almost the same Forever 21 sweater dresses and Sarah thanks for letting me borrow those awesome black boots! We braved the cold and headed to the strip.

 

We started out and this place called RT’s. Sarah had friends at the place across the street called Hannah’s, but after standing in line for 10 minutes and freezing, we decided we would not get frostbite and go back to RTs. We went upstairs and it was just a big dance party. So we danced the night away! I am pretty sure the highlight of the night was the strob light when a guy randomly appeared next to Sarah haha and we managed to avoid the creepers (except maybe Mohawk guy) and also on the plus side Brian found a half dollar while doing the Cupid shuffle on stage. Woo Hoo!! By the time we left we were burning up so the outside actually felt good. Sadly, some stupid person stole Sarah’s coat while she was in the bathroom and she better watch out because if Sarah finds her she is going to get a beat down. Exhausted we made our way back to the dorm and fell asleep around 3:30.

 

We woke up the next morning around 12:30. I jumped in the shower because you know unlike most people I don’t love that ashtray smell (thank you smokers!). We got our stuff and went to Panera for some breakfast/lunch. Then we said goodbye to Sarah and began our journey to Atlanta.

 

We made it to Atlanta around 5:30. Surprisingly, the drive from Knoxville to Atlanta is not nearly as long as you would think. When we made it to the McGlamry’s, we caught up with Uncle Mike while waiting for Aunt Anne to get home from Elizabeth’s mock trial scrimmage. Elizabeth went out to dinner with her mock trial team, so Brian, Aunt Anne, Uncle Mike, and I went to a restaurant, I can’t think of the name now – atkins park or something. It was delicious. Some of the best chicken and dumplings I have ever had (but don’t worry Jenny Granny’s were still better but they were really really close).

 

When we got back from dinner, Elizabeth was home and we hung out watching the Bourne Supremacy and chatting. Then we decided to rock out to Rockband. We played a couple songs and then decided to hit the hay.

So Close!

Disney is so close! Brian and I leave on Friday. I decided Mom  is not going to go to Orlando. So it will just be me and Brian. The plan is that we will leave Friday and make our way to Knoxville to visit Miss Sarah Craig. Granted Knoxville is a little out of the way we just figured why not. Then from Knoxville to Atlanta. We will stay with Aunt Anne and Uncle Mike for a night. Then on Sunday we will go from Atlanta to Orlando and stay with Bob at UCF. That is the plan, but of course Mother Nature decided that this would be a good week to hit us with an ice storm. Brian is still stuck in Louisville and a tree fell on some poor girl when she was walking to class at WKU. Crazy! I can't wait to get away from here and get to the sunny warm weather of Florida! 

So I have started getting my stuff together. I know that once I get packed everything is going to go by so slowly! So I have kind of been putting it off. And thanks to my plenty of experience of packing it is not going to take me that long to get everything together. So Close!!!!!! 

3 DAYS until the road trip begins and 6 DAYS until check in!!!

Hurry UP!!

February 2nd is entirely way to far away!! I want to be there now! OK so I am just being impatient, but all this waiting is killing me. I think mainly because I have no idea what to expect once I get down there so I am coming up with all these crazy scenarios. 22 days!! The plan is Brian and I are probably going to leave on the 31st and stay with Aunt Anne and Uncle Mike in Atlanta. Then get up on the 1st and drive to Orlando and crash for the night with Bob. I am still debating if mom should come or not. I know she doesn't want to stay with the McGlamry's or Bob because of the whole awkwardness factor. And I don't think there is much for parents to do on check in day. I will have to see