Like Painting a Masterpiece, it's a Work of Heart

Hello long lost friends! I have returned with more adventures but no news about my housing situation. When I know, I'll share.

This will be a highlights reel post, since too many work days have passed and I can't recall all the fun at this moment. The non-work days though, those I remember.

On Thursday March 3rd, Sarah and I planned the Magic Kingdom open-close day we've been wanting basically since we met. We woke up bright and early with a change of clothes in tow (it had been getting cold in the evenings) and arrived at the park for something obscene like 0830. We caught the show which opens the Magic Kingdom and brings all the characters in, then followed behind the hoardes wanting to either see Anna & Elsa or get on Mine Train, laughing all the way. We got on Splash and Big Thunder Mountain with minimal waits, and met Woody in Frontierland. We popped in for early lunch at Be Our Guest (which actually opened during my last program). I had never been there for Quick Service lunch so that was new. By the time we left, there were huge lines to get in. We went under the sea with Ariel in New Fantasyland (the ride, not the meet & greet) and visited Dumbo in Storybook Circus.
We were joined by Justine and Dan for awhile, and we completed the FOF challenge, in which you watch the Festival of Fantasy parade once in Frontierland where it starts, then you race down to Main Street to watch it again. We got onto Pirates in Adventureland and we did Philharmagic and somehow we got a relatively short wait for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. I had never seen the interactive queue before and I had never done the ride during the day so that was new and exciting. We also chilled on the People Mover, before taking in the Main Street Electrical Parade, Celebrate the Magic and Wishes. MK actually closed early for a Disney Vacation Club event to which we were not invited, so I think in total our day was just under twelve hours. I've done fifteen.

Beautiful, serene Splash Mountain...

Five seconds after the first picture...

We are the princesses of Splash Mountain

Such a charmer. I'm obviously talking about me.

On Friday March 4th, the four merchies supporting the bottom of the totem pole had plans for Hollywood Studios. We got a little split up at the beginning, but (spoiler alert) we all end up together for fireworks.
Myself and Kevin, the youngest merchie (I am indeed the oldest, what a surprise) started off our day with the Frozen Sing Along, which was awesome and magical and snow-covered. We then checked out Path of the Jedi, which is basically a supercut of the first six Star Wars films and a bit of the newest seventh. Now we know. We went on Star Tours twice. I have no idea how I did this ride so many consecutive times on my first program. We met Sully and Mike from Monsters Inc (and it was awkward) before going on Great Movie Ride in which I FINALLY got to experience the infamous cowboy scene instead of the standard gangster scene (it was a goal of mine to see it), before meeting the rest of the crew, Shellby and Shane with special guest Shane's dad, who was visiting. We had FastPasses for Rock'n Roller Coaster and we visited Star Tours again before breaking into smaller groups again for Voyage of the Little Mermaid and reunited for MuppetVision 3D before Kevin and went to Fantasmic. We also met Kylo Ren and Chewbacca (generally Kylo Ren was unimpressed at our level of laughter). We all got back together for the wonderful Star Wars fireworks, Symphony in the Stars, before Shane and his dad turned in for the night and Kevin, Shellby and I went to Steak & Shake and met fellow two-time merchie Kathleen for Deadpool at Disney Springs. It was a long, full, day people. And it was awesome!

Waiting to watch Voyage of the Little Mermaid.

Kylo Ren is super unhappy with us. 

Chewbacca is more chill. 

This past Thursday, the 10th, Laura and I went to Epcot to explore some of the Flower & Garden Festival. We also had a cast scavenger hunt-style thing we were wanting to complete, and we'd decided to get some Duffy Bears to get signed all around World Showcase. I'd like to say it was for better product knowledge of out own park, but really it was just for fun.
We rode Spaceship Earth with our FastPasses then went off to Living with the Land before finding the Fantasia topiaries of Future World, along with the cacti section and Cars topiaries near Test Track. We tried violet lemonade, and a potato and cheese biscuit with salmon tartare, as well as a chocolate raspberry macaron. We picked up from very special Duffy bears courtesy of our friends in the Canada attraction. We intend to do a sequel day, as only one half of the showcase was experienced this trip. Good thing we're here all year!
I actually went to Cast Connection later in the afternoon, and to Magic Kingdom for just a bit in the evening. It was supposed to be a quest for a specific pair of earrings but then I met Sarah and fun ensued.

The new view in Future World

Laura and I are beautiful butterflies, too!

These topiaries are outside the Canada pavilion.
Thumper wants my violet lemonade.  

On Friday the 11th, I went to Blizzard Beach with two wonderful merchies who both had traded their day off to get a Friday off, Morgan and Kimberly. We had an amazing day of sun in the lazy river (Cross Country Creek), the wave pool (Meltaway Bay) and the slides, the most famous of which is Summit Plummet, of which I am not a fan. Collectively we had brought quite a picnic, and we arrived right at open to get our first pick of hang-out spots, which we were called "camp" all day. We were very sunsafe, multiple layers of sunscreen all day, and the park was practically all ours. Neither had been to Blizzard Beach ever and it had been years for me, but we had an awesome time!

I got out of the lazy river to take this picture.
That's an "I'm Celebrating!" temporary tattoo, btw.

Goodbye, Blizzard Beach, see you real soon!

Today (yesterday now!) was Nicole's birthday! YAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY NICOLE! We went to 1900 Park Fare at the Grand Floridian Resort for brunch. 1900 Park Fare is a Victorian carousel-themed buffet, BUT you get to meet an assortment of characters. We met Piglet, Winnie the Pooh, Mary Poppins, Alice and the Mad Hatter. Those that can talk gave us some excellent conversation, and those that cannot gave us some unforgettable interactions. I was able to nip off to Magic Kingdom with the rest of the squad for just a few minutes before I had to go to work.

Sarah, Pooh bear and I!

Justine, the Mad Hatter and the birthday girl!

Our whole squad together on Main Street!

It's getting hot here, friends. This is a warning for future visitors.

See you real soon!

Lindsey

Magical Moment: This wasn't my magical moment, but it's still magical. Today, Nicole met a princess at the Grand Floridian. Princess Quinn was also celebrating a birthday. Princess Quinn had recently gone to Bippity Boppity Boutique and therefore had too many tiaras. She gave one to Nicole, her fellow birthday princess. Parenting done right, over here!

Pixie Dust to: Angela and Mary, thank you for the mail. Sorry no one else has my address. I'm trying to make it very temporary.