The past month

So yesterday was my one month anniversary of being here in Florida. I have been super busy but having lots of fun. I guess I will try to pick up from where I left off....and try to continue writing in this thing.

Tuesday August 4 - I had my first day of training at Epcot. The first thing we did was go and get my costume! The oh so beautiful culottes! We then went over to Canada. It was a lot of web based learning (aka boring) but I spend some time on stage. I was really nervous having to interact with guests. Mainly because I was being watched and didn't want to do anything wrong.

Wednesday August 5 - I had merchantainment at Disney University. This is basically a Disney word mixing merchandise and entertainment. Because Disney is first and foremost and entertainment company. We got to play around with the cash registers trying different transactions. There were only 4 people in my class and I was the only international person. The other 3 were just new cast members. Two of the people were older guys and really annoying! I got an earful of all of the annoying Canadian jokes. I think I got more in those few hours then I have gotten at work since then. After lunch we had to do more web based learning. There was a HUGE thunderstorm going on, but luckily it stopped just before I had to leave.

Thursday August 6 - More training at Canada. I got to do some actual transactions and spent more time with guests.

Friday August 7 - Basically the same again. But this shift I was closing. As most people know Illuminations (the fireworks at Epcot) are my favourite. It really sucks closing though because as soon as the fireworks start we hurry to put the flaps down on the cart and get inside. I was really bummed because I could hear the fireworks but couldn't watch them.

Saturday August 8 - I had my Discovery Day at Epcot. This is a day that all new cast members have to do. There is a little bit of info in a class room then we headed out to walk around the park and learn more. We walked around future world a bit and rode Spaceship Earth. We then got on a boat to get the quick tour of World Showcase. I love finding out all of the info about the park. There are so many little details that most people don't know about or even notice. That ended at noon so I headed back home for a little bit. I then went back to Epcot to meet Alex after she finished work. We wandered around a little bit. Stopped in the American Adventure to get a funnel cake! Yum! Then got a spot to watch Illuminations. Since I had heard the beginning the night before I really wanted to watch it and luckily Alex agreed. We were in Germany to watch it and spoke to some guests while we were waiting for it to start. I've never watched Illuminations from that side of World Showcase but I really enjoyed it. We had a really pretty view of Spaceship Earth and Canada. Of course I bawled my eyes out while watching them.

Sunday August 9 - The first half of the day I finished my training. The second half I was on my own and in rotation. I loved finally being on my own because it meant there wasn't anyone watching my every move.

Monday August 10 - I worked 4 - 10. I can't remember what I did in the morning.

Tuesday August 11 - I was off!! Jo and I had enrolled in Mickey's Magical Milestones tour at the Magic Kingdom. It was an adventure getting there because the bus to MK doesn't come to the commons (the complex I live in) so we took a bus to another complex but when the bus came there it wasn't labelled right so we didn't get on it. We caught the next bus and made our way to guest relations as fast as we could. Luckily the tour was still outside so we didn't miss it! It was a really fun tour talking about how walt and Mickey have similarities and some of the different backround stories that are a part of Disney World. It was lots of fun and I would do it again because the differnt tour guides probably have different information to give. Also it is Free!! After our tour Jo and I played in Magic Kingdom. I finally got to do Jungle Cruise! I love that ride! We also watched the parade. We sat on the curb waiting for it to start and I seriously thought I was going to burn my bumb. It was so hot! That night a few of us went to Downtown Disney.

Wednesday August 12 - I had another day off so a bunch of us went to Animal Kingdom. It is such a fun park. We did everest, festival of the lion king, some people did tough to be a bug, lunch, dinosaur, everest again, finding nemo the musical and the safari. It was crazy hot outside but lots of fun. We also met a bunch of different characters when we first got to the park. Riding Dinosaur was lots of fun. We had a car to ourself and planned to all do the Disney Point for the picture. It came out really funny because of some people's reactions to the ride. My favourite was Sian who was practically in my lap. About half of us left the park early because we were so tired and they all worked early the next morning. On our way out I stopped and got some popcorn. The best popcorn in the world!

Thursday August 13 - I worked at 7 pm so it felt like I had another day off. I went to property control in the morning. For people who don't know, property control is where damaged or lost items go and cast members can buy for really cheap. I bought a cook book that is normally $40 but it had a rip on the cover so I paid $10. Next to property control is cast connection where they have discontinued items for really cheap. I bought some pins there and 4 lithographs (1 for each park) for $1!!! Jo and I got a ride to Epcot where we did Test Track! And Maelstrom, a boat ride in the Norway Pavilion. I didn't do much else, just lounged around the pool. It was extra magic hours so I finished at 1am. It was really late but I enjoyed it because it was a relaxing close, not frantic as soon as the fireworks started. I could also pay a little bit of attention to the fireworks as they were on.

August 14, 15, 16, 17 - I worked until 9:30-10ish all three nights. I can't remember what else I did. I know Friday I went to Bennigans with some of the UK people. That's about it.

Tuesday August 18 - I had an early shift and finished work at 4. I think I went over to Jo's that night and we watched a League of Their Own. It is such a good movie! I then went to a throw out after that. I got a book about Disney World because I am the coolest person ever. We also had new people arrive that day so I am no longer the newbie!!

Wednesday August 19 - This was Becky's 21st Birthday!! We went to Hollywood Studios! We missed the bus *cough* Jo *cought* So we took the bus to Epcot and then the boat to Studios. I sat next to a girl and her mom on the boat and we talked about pin trading. We did Tower of Terror, had some lunch, watched the block party bash parade (which is lots of fun!) did the back lot tour. We were going to trick Becky into doing it since it was her birthday and her first time at studios but she knew something was going on and wouldn't do it. So Jess, Michelle, Jo and I did it instead. It was lots of fun. I never get tired of doing it. We then left Studios because we were going to Outback for Becky's birthday dinner. After we got a cab to the Boardwalk to go to Jellyrolls. A dueling piano bar that is tons of fun. As we were walking on the boardwalk to get there some random guy started talking to us going on and on about how much he loves people from the UK. I said I was Canadian and he went on and on about how much he loves Canada. It was really creepy and I'm pretty sure he was a little drunk. We then went into Jellyrolls where I asked them to play any classic disney song for Becky's birthday. The guys brought her and 3 people (me, Sian, and Alex) to sing and dance to a song. The one that keeps adding things to a tree and the tree was in the hole and the green grass grew around. If that makes any sense. I knew the song from camp but it was pretty funny to watch the others who had no idea what was going on. They then played When You Wish Apon a Star for Becky. Tear. We had lots of fun and I can't wait to go back to Jellyrolls. The only thing that sucked about that night was that we had gotten new people and their throw in was that night.

Wednesday August 20 - I had the day off again and Karri, Louisa and I went to Hollywood Studios. We got there nice and early to get fast passes to Toy Story Mania!! We had some breakfast before going over to Tower of Terror, which was too funny listening to Karri screaming and holding on for dear life. We were then going to muppets but our time came for our fastpasses so we did that. That was my first time doing Toy Story Mania and it was amazing!!! I don't know how imagineers come up with these rides. I can't wait until it isn't as busy and I can do it again. We then planned on going to the animation class where you learn to draw a character but as we got there I saw that the characters from Up were there so we waited in line to meet them. we then headed over to Epcot where they were having a cast appreciation thing going on. They had free food, including some that will be at the food and wine festival. There were characters, people giving out free stuff. And the best part was they had an area with cheap merchandise!! I spent $50 but saved over $120!!!! And some of the stuff I bought is still in stores! It was lots of fun. I also won a basket of organic vegetables from the land for going up on stage and being the happiest vegetarian. They were really good veggie, and a nice backet too! That night Matt, Fiona, Jo, Becky and I headed back to Studios to watch Fantasmic. We managed to do Rockin' Roller Coaster before! I was good and didn't cry while watching this show! I was proud of myself. (Even though it was touch and go at some points)

August 21 and 22 - I just worked. Nothing too exciting that I can remember.

Sunday August 23 - I finished work at 7:15 so I met people at Magic Kingdom where we did Philharmagic, met Ariel, and saw the Hall of Presidents. That finished just as Wishes started so we made our way through the crown (and got some mean comments) up to the top of Main Street where we watched the ending. As soon as they were over we hightailed it out of there and managed to catch the earlier bus.

Monday August 24 - Jo and I went to do the behind the scenes tour of the Haunted Mansion at Magic Kingdom!! The tour started at 7am and since there isn't a bus from the commons we left at 5:45ish to walk to Chatham to take the bus from there. We then had to go through the tunnels to come up by Liberty Square. I'd been in the tunnels before and knew that they are labeled pretty well so I wasn't too worried but it was kind of nice because there were some other people just ahead of us that we followed. The tour was the most amazing thing that I have done here so far! We walked through the ride with the lights on. The lady who was taking us through has work there since 1983! So she definetly knows what she is talking about. She told us some really neat things and we got to touch some of the props or part of the building. It was really cool and I will enjoy the ride even more now. After we walked the whole ride we went outside and then back into the basement, through the control room and into.... the ballroom!!! I knew how it worked but it was still really neat to actually be in the room to see everything. We then got to ride the ride with the lights off. I would definetly do that tour again. It was supposed to go from 7-8:30 but it went until nearly 9 (I didn't complain). When we came out Liberty Square was empty. I've never seen Magic Kingdom like that so it was kind of creepy. But at the same time I loved it. We saw the crowd of people waiting to get in, and as soon as 9 hit they swarmed in. Jo and I made our way against the crowd to the front of the park to catch the monorail to the contemporary. From there we got the bus to Typhoon Lagoon to meet Uncle Mike, Auntie Mary, Lisa and Jennifer. We went in and stayed for about half an hour. From there Jo and I tried to make out way to Epcot since I worked at 12:15 and she worked at 12:30. It was very difficult and we had to take a bus to downtown Disney, then to Riverside and finally to Epcot. We had time to run to Oddesy to grab something to eat before heading off to work.

Tuesday August 25 - I made my way to be at Magic Kingdom for 8:30 to meet the family and play for a bit. It was fun since I have only done bits and pieces of MK. It was weird because on the monorail I always look at the train station as we get to MK. This time it looked different because over night they had added orange and brown banners to the station and all along main street. There was also a big crane putting stuff on the castle. Halloween in coming soon! The first thing we did when we got in the park was go on Pirate of the Carribean. Then we went to Splash Mountain (my first time doing it since I've gotten here). We then did Haunted Mansion where I pointed things out to Lisa and Jennifer. Then Peter Pan and Winnie the Pooh. We went to tomorrowland and did the race cars. Then back to Liberty Square for some lunch. We did Jungle cruise somewhere in there. I think that may be it. We left the park as they wanted to go back to the hotel for a bit and I had to be at work for 4. I got to Epcot fairly early so I did the Finding Nemo ride and wandered around Innoventions for a bit.

Wednesday August 26 - I went to Epcot early. I went straight to the break trailer to drop off my work stuff then went to the front of the park to meet the family again. As soon as the park opened Lisa and I went to Test Track to get fast passes, we then met the others at Soarin' and rode that. We rode Test Track then did Mission Space. That was my 2nd time doing that on the green level and I think I may be brave enough to try the orange level. We then went for lunch at the Seasons Cafe in the land. I think that may have been all we did. We left Epcot around 1 and went back to their hotel where we rented a boat for an hour. It was relaxing to sit in the boat and go to Downtown Disney and back. After getting a snack and some drinks in the cafeteria Uncle Mike drove me to Epcot where I had to work at 4 (surprise, surprise). It was a good shift, even though it was pretty constant rain.

Thursday August 27 - We had a merch meeting with all of France, UK and Canada at 8:30 (yuck!) Some security people came and spoke to us, including the K-9 unit!! We got to pet one of the dogs during a break, he was so cute I could have played with him forever. There were then little skits with themed greetings and conversations for each of the countries. The meeting was over at 10:30 and I took the bus home. Our locks had been changed on Tuesday but since I was out of the house from before 8 until nearly 11 I hadn't been able to get knew keys til Thursday. I threw my costumes in the wash before having a nap. I then had to go to work for 4. It was a pain to close that night because the machine we use to deposit the money broke so we had to manually count every single bill.

Friday August 28 - I got to sleep in!!! It was my day off and Uncle Mike, Auntie Mary, Lisa and Jennifer were taking me to Target to go grocery shopping! It was definetly needed. They dropped me off and I put my groceries away, cleaned a little bit and then went to sleep for a few hours. I have had a huge lack of sleep the last few days and definetly needed that. I got up and made some dinner, talked to mum on Skype (who I hadn't talked to for nearly 2 weeks), looked at a few things online, talked to Alex for a bit and went to bed.

Saturday August 29 (today) - I'm off again so I slept in until nearly 11, I read for a little bit, had something to eat and have been typing out this super long blog. I promise I will try to stay on top of this more often. It is such a pain to add pictures to this thing so go to my facebook to look at them. bye!