Sunday was our first roommate bonding adventure and we packed up our sassy side bags and headed off to Magic Kingdom! We did all the good stuff that I remember from my first times there like Splash Mountain (complete with our sexy bright red ponchos), Haunted Mansion (a little less scary than my 4 year old nightmares remember) and even the Country Bear Jamboree which was the one thing I made my parents sit through several times as a youngin'.
We made it a full park experience and stayed for the Main Street Electrical Parade and Disney's spin on a light, music and fireworks show, Wishes. I would be telling y'all a boldface lie if I said I didn't get a tad bit teary as photos of families were projected on the castle and sentimental music was playing in the background. I loved seeing all the families together trying to see if they would make it up on the show! Plus, the things they did with the effects and the castle was legit the stuff dreams are made of!
It was so awesome to get to see that Magic Kingdom was just right where I left it. The rides were still just as fun and I may or may not have produced a high pitch squeal at the sight of Princess Tiana herself. Though I've changed a lot since my last visit (let's be real... have I really?), I still got the same butterflies in my basket walking around the parks that I did then.
Check back soon for an update on my first week :) Meanwhile, here are some videos from the parades so you can check them out as well! DISCLAIMER: Seeing these videos does not disqualify you from hearing me whine incessantly until y'all all come down and visit me and see them for yourself! kthxbyee.
For this one to seem real, I am going to need y'all to follow these simple steps:
1. Turn the heat on in your house to around 113 degrees.
2. Find a group of at least 10 friends.
3. Squeeze together, bunch up and push each other, step on each other's toes and informally invite yourself into someone else's personal bubble.
3.Be creative! Do you have a stroller? Do you have some sunscreen you could spray for effect? All these will make the experience that much more accurate!
(All joking aside though, the parade and show is MORE than worthy of the amazing crowds it draws each and every night!)
THIS one... is truly breathtaking in person. Firstly, you will come visit. Then, you'll laugh, you'll cry... If you don't cry with me the first time then we can sit and watch it every night until you cry. Loveya!
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Saturday, June 25, 2011
"...Life has just been sort of a dress rehearsal and we are just getting started"
"I just want to leave you with this thought, that life has just been sort of a dress rehearsal, and we're just getting started. So if any of you start resting on your laurels, I mean just forget it, because...we are just getting started"
-Walt Disney
Today began bright and early at 6am! We were due at Disney University for our Traditions class. This class was all about learning the history, values and methods behind this MEGA company. It really hadn't set in to most of us yet that we are a part of a multi-billion dollar corporation that owns everything from TV channels to comic book characters (why don't YOU try bossing the Incredible Hulk around, huh? We OWN him.)
One of the coolest parts (besides that our teacher was Prince Charming... No, like, literally.)
was getting to go to Magic Kingdom and see what we were learning in action. Disney is world- renowned for its AMAZING customer service and we got to spy real life situations happening on the fly!
The main thing we learned from our tour was that the magic of the characters and stories are to be kept alive at all times in the parks. This even means that there are vacuums in the tunnels to suck the trash out of the trashcans and transport it off-site to keep it from stinking up in this glorious Florida heat.
At the end of the day, the boss himself... MICKEY! Came in to hand deliver our name tags. Though our feet were a little sore and our stomachs were a little rumbly, the day was so great and educational! Here are a few pics from the day!
The outside of Disney University! Cast members can take classes here in everything from marketing to costuming. I am dying to take a broadcast journalism class, but I'm not sure if it will fit my schedule or if they even offer it. Once you finish, you earn either your "Mouseters" degree or your "Ducktorate" (ya'll know my obsession with puns!)
Cute little characters popped out from ceiling tiles all over the school!
One of the coolest parts (besides that our teacher was Prince Charming... No, like, literally.)
was getting to go to Magic Kingdom and see what we were learning in action. Disney is world- renowned for its AMAZING customer service and we got to spy real life situations happening on the fly!
The main thing we learned from our tour was that the magic of the characters and stories are to be kept alive at all times in the parks. This even means that there are vacuums in the tunnels to suck the trash out of the trashcans and transport it off-site to keep it from stinking up in this glorious Florida heat.
At the end of the day, the boss himself... MICKEY! Came in to hand deliver our name tags. Though our feet were a little sore and our stomachs were a little rumbly, the day was so great and educational! Here are a few pics from the day!
The outside of Disney University! Cast members can take classes here in everything from marketing to costuming. I am dying to take a broadcast journalism class, but I'm not sure if it will fit my schedule or if they even offer it. Once you finish, you earn either your "Mouseters" degree or your "Ducktorate" (ya'll know my obsession with puns!)
Cute little characters popped out from ceiling tiles all over the school!
All of our name tags once Traditions was completed :)
Friday, June 24, 2011
4 Things Florida Has Taught Me... Today.
1. STORMS. Ya know those storms that you get, like, once a summer and you probably leave Piggly Wiggly in deadly conditions even though you shouldn't, end up having to pull over and even your brain feels drenched? Yeah... Those happen twice a day here.
2. Traffic. Where I am from, traffic can get held up on our two lane highways, sure. Often its for a family of ducks to cross the road or because someone left their lunchbox on the school bus. Here, all the highways have 18 lanes and people help themselves to the three inches of space that exist between you and the car in front of you. Those aren't yours. I did not invite you over. I am becoming a very defensive driver, though. Fast.
PS. My phone/GPS (Henceforth referred to as the Nimbus 3000) is programmed to predict traffic. So when she tells you that going somehwere 4 miles away will take 22 minutes, she isn't stupid and she isn't kidding.
3. Errands. Anything and anywhere you think you might need/want/ever wondered if it existed is within a 10 minute drive of our apartment. If you would like to shop somewhere and you simply cannot find it nearby, then you probably made it up in your head. This makes errands highly distracting when you need contact solution and see 5 J. Crew Outlets.
4. I am not that strange. I know what you're thinking. All two of you who read this blog (hi, Mom and Dad!) know me and know that I am that strange. But in Orlando, I have competition. It's okay that I take off my shoes and walk barefoot 700 feet in the parking lot of Ross Dress for Less (see #1- STORMS.) because men here wear capris and women here have rat tails. The end.
Little darlin', here comes the sun and I say, it's alright
Well, I survived my first day and night in FLO' RIDA!
Yesterday began bright and early saying adios to the awesome staff at the Fairfield here in Orlando. Packed me up a little nanner for the road and set off to drive to my apartment complex to check in!
We were first shown to the MOVIE THEATER to have a housing meeting (THE. MOVIE. THEATER. Where am I?!) We learned the lay of the land and got some important info for where we will be living. Despite popular belief and lots of neck craining and shoulder peeking, we did not find out our roommates yet! I did, however, make 2 new friends which was awesome!
After that meeting, I ventured back to my apartment where 2 out of 3 roommates were already moving in! We hit it off instantly which was a huge relief.
Once I got settled a bit and made some plans, it was off to Casting for us! Another brief check in and rundown of information, and we were free to go! It was nice to get our special notes from our offices and mentors telling us who to meet when and where to go.
Once we returned from casting, I ran to meet my friend who is doing the College Program for lunch and check out her apartment. I loved meeting her roomies and checking out the differences in all the complexes.
When I got back, I finally met my roommate! We got along great from the second we met, down to admitting how glad we were that the other brought her stuffed animals and had several big, pink bags.
The day was filled with more flying clothes, plastic shelves and moving things from drawer to drawer but I must say that the place is shaping up quite nicely! Our room is a great size and we may have to rent out our bathroom/closet to Sea World because I am telling you now that Shamu could fit in there.
Last night we headed out to the Orlando Ale House with some girls from our complex for a Professional Intern meet and greet! Everyone was SO friendly (I am learning this about Disney), I could recite my job title in my sleep and my face literally hurts from smiling! It was such a great time and I'm so glad we made it out of our cozy twin beds to head over there!
All of the PI's have today off and I've heard of people doing everything from shopping to parks to going to Cocoa Beach! I will most likely just hang with the rooms, finish unpacking and settling in and track down this mythical SuperTarget! A little time spent by one of our pools would not break my heart either ;)
Tomorrow morning bright and early will be our Traditions class, so stay tuned!
Yesterday began bright and early saying adios to the awesome staff at the Fairfield here in Orlando. Packed me up a little nanner for the road and set off to drive to my apartment complex to check in!
We were first shown to the MOVIE THEATER to have a housing meeting (THE. MOVIE. THEATER. Where am I?!) We learned the lay of the land and got some important info for where we will be living. Despite popular belief and lots of neck craining and shoulder peeking, we did not find out our roommates yet! I did, however, make 2 new friends which was awesome!
After that meeting, I ventured back to my apartment where 2 out of 3 roommates were already moving in! We hit it off instantly which was a huge relief.
Once I got settled a bit and made some plans, it was off to Casting for us! Another brief check in and rundown of information, and we were free to go! It was nice to get our special notes from our offices and mentors telling us who to meet when and where to go.
Once we returned from casting, I ran to meet my friend who is doing the College Program for lunch and check out her apartment. I loved meeting her roomies and checking out the differences in all the complexes.
When I got back, I finally met my roommate! We got along great from the second we met, down to admitting how glad we were that the other brought her stuffed animals and had several big, pink bags.
The day was filled with more flying clothes, plastic shelves and moving things from drawer to drawer but I must say that the place is shaping up quite nicely! Our room is a great size and we may have to rent out our bathroom/closet to Sea World because I am telling you now that Shamu could fit in there.
Last night we headed out to the Orlando Ale House with some girls from our complex for a Professional Intern meet and greet! Everyone was SO friendly (I am learning this about Disney), I could recite my job title in my sleep and my face literally hurts from smiling! It was such a great time and I'm so glad we made it out of our cozy twin beds to head over there!
All of the PI's have today off and I've heard of people doing everything from shopping to parks to going to Cocoa Beach! I will most likely just hang with the rooms, finish unpacking and settling in and track down this mythical SuperTarget! A little time spent by one of our pools would not break my heart either ;)
Tomorrow morning bright and early will be our Traditions class, so stay tuned!
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