Probably Getting Gorgeously Tanned in Summer

Hello friends!

I have a week's worth of adventure days to catch you up on.

My lovely friend Lesley (whom you may remember from the 29-time-on-Star-Tours day) was visiting this week. I knew she was coming and that she was coming to see me at Epcot after she arrived, but she still managed to surprise me while I was at the bar. Therefore, pictures were necessary. In retrospect, I regret not getting any of the two of us while I was in costume, but she's coming back in October so more fun will be had then.

Happy to be photographed, so-so about serving alcohol. 

We stayed at Pop Century resort and made a hard commitment to sleep in as frequently as possible. We made it to Hollywood Studios on our first day in time for our Rockn Roller Coaster FastPass at 12:15. It was also May the 4th, aka Star Wars Day ("May the 4th Be With You"... get it?), so Hollywood Studios was the place to be. It was also drizzly all morning so the park was not as full as we were anticipating. We were able to ride Star Tours with a minimal wait, we experienced Muppet Vision 3D, and just before we attended the Frozen Sing Along, we were able to have a surprise meet and greet with Olaf! It was one of his very first days in the park and we were able to see him with, again, a minimal wait. Sticking it out during rainy days has its rewards, people. Also, looking super cool in a poncho is its own reward.

Ponchos are totally rock and/or roll. 

We only stuck around til 3, because we felt a nap was necessary. When we returned, it was to Magic Kingdom, as we felt we needed to conquer it. We arrived when it was just bucketing down rain, meaning we made straight for Emporium to purchase and mail some postcards (to wait out the rain), and find my former coordinator and now leader at Emporium, Dave. We were at Magic Kingdom from 7pm until 1am, the end of Extra Magic Hours, in which we did actually all the attractions one needs when attending Magic Kingdom on vacation - Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, Monsters Inc Laugh Floor, Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise, Pirates of the Caribbean, Mickey's Philharmagic, Voyage of the Little Mermaid and Mad Tea Party (we don't spin in the tea cups, we just sit in them). There was probably more. We felt very accomplished. And very hungry. So we made an emergency trip to McDonald's near the All Star Resorts, since everything else was closed.

Lesley, Ariel and I taking a "shellfie".
See what I did there. 

We obviously slept in hard the next day, then finally rolled into Epcot in the early afternoon. We had a leisurely day of wandering around World Showcase in our matching Epcot 30th anniversary shirts, checking out the the new band in Canada (they're called "Alberta Bound"), eating an entire baguette in France (and telling people where they can purchase said baguette), getting our own private boat for the Gran Fiesta Tour in Mexico, and generally having a wonderful day. We ended the day by going to Disney Springs for a late meal at House of Blues (despite all the eating, we were starving) and some shopping at World of Disney.

Cheers from the American Adventure!
See Spaceship Earth behind us?

Baymax selfies! 

Friday was our Universal Studios day. We had many adventures at Universal on my last program, so this park deserved its own day on our vacation. We were able to get there for 11, even though it closed at 6 (whyyyyyy though), we still got all the money's worth of fun. We started in the Universal Studios half with The Mummy, Transformers, ET Adventure, Men in Black and finally lunch in Springfield. We were evacuated off of Kang and Kodos Twirl & Hurl, although it never actually started so it was less of an adventure. But we were given an Express Pass (Universal's FastPasses) to use later in the park, so no big deal. Then we explored Diagon Alley and escaped from Gringott's Bank, before taking the Hogwarts Express to Islands of Adventure.

Clowning around with Krusty in Springfield

You have to pay for a picture with ET. Nope. 

We started with a quick single riders trip through Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, then moved along to Marvel Super Hero Island to use our Express Passes for Spiderman. Our passes were never taken from us, so we used them again in Seuss Landing to board the High in the Sky Seuss Troller Train Ride (that's the real name of the ride). We also did the Cat in the Hat ride before circling back through Hogsmeade to board the Flight of the Hippogriff before we had to leave. Universal Gradventure was that night, so there were tons of elementary school grads from across the country in their matching tees and it was terrifying.

Unmatched shirts today.
We're lucky no one got lost. 

Hogwarts Express, and somehow the Hulk coaster.
#badshow

Mandatory castle picture. You can kind of see the castle...

We went back to our hotel, dined, then changed into our newest matching shirts and went to Hollywood Studios at 9, which had extra magic hours until midnight. Basically we're park champions. We met Olaf again, watched the Star Wars fireworks, rode Star Tours again, braved a stampede for Great Movie Ride, rode Rockn Roller Coaster again and ended our day with a small wait for Toy Story Midway Mania, already showing signs of expansion (another track is happening soon-ish).

We match Olaf's carrot nose!

It was fantastic times, and my Fitbit steps were through the roof. Vacation is the best exercise there is.

See you real soon,

Lindsey

Magical Moment: Our new friend Hayden at Rock'n Roller Coaster totally played along during the preshow and personally asked Steven Tyler for backstage passes "for the girls in the orange shirts". Thanks bro! Also to that one American Adventure CM who IDed me and did a double take at my birth year. I don't care if you do that every day, it made me feel awesome.

Pixie Dust to: My mom! For making sure Lesley's Magical Express info got to her in Woodstock, although it was mysteriously sent to Perth.

EDIT: Lesley made a video of our brief but memorable vacay. You can see it here!

Together Again. Gee, It's Good to be Together Again.

Hello friends!

I believe some catching up is in order. I had sat down much earlier to do what would have been a shorter post but I didn't do it, so short novel it is.

On Thursday the 23rd, Matt and I had very much wanted to go to a water park, but rumour had it we were blocked out due to multiple simultaneous Spring Breaks, so we went to Animal Kingdom instead. It was actually very crowded due to said Spring Breaks, so we went to It's Tough to Be a Bug and Festival of the Lion King (which I hadn't seen on this program yet), ran into Tarzan and his gorilla friend Turk before going to Hollywood Studios, which I feel has a bit more surface area to accomodate more Guests (DAK space is for animals). We decided to make it a show day, so we saw Disney Junior Live on Stage (my first time) and it was adorable. Puppets everywhere. We also got on Great Movie Ride and we saw Lights, Motors, Action, a car stunt show which has since had its last run. We were joined by Matt's husband Mike and we went to the Frozen sing along, to which Mike and I were singing before it had even started. We met Kylo Ren, who is never impressed with anyone, and when we left it was raining, which impresses and surprises no one. We managed to run into Voyage of the Little Mermaid to avoid the rain but ultimately decided that our park day was over and consoled ourselves with TGIFriday's.

My ears do not belong in this park. 

I'm very comfortable with all of this.

Leaving Lights, Motors, Action with a view of Backlot Tour.

On Friday the 24th, I parked it up with Amanda and her mom at Epcot and Hollywood Studios. We met for a Mission Space fastpass (we can book FastPasses as a group when we're all here together), then went to meet Baymax, and Minnie, Goofy and Mickey across the way at the character spots. We decided to do Living with the Land, since everyone's a fan of calm boat rides, but unexpectedly got stuck due to rain, so we had lunch at Sunshine Seasons until the weather let up enough to allow us to sneak over to The Seas. We rode the Nemo ride and visited some dolphins, fish and manatees before heading into World Showcase to watch...wait for it.. THE VILLAGE PEOPLE... who were performing in Epcot as part of the Garden Rocks concert series associated with the Flower and Garden Festival. It turns out they're very passionate about making sure everyone does the YMCA correctly. Chances are, you're doing it wrong.
Then we took the FriendShip over to Hollywood Studios. We went to the Frozen Sing Along (twice in as many days for me... still fun!) and met Kylo Ren. With Amanda by my side, I finally gathered the courage to ask him how he keeps his hair so nice under his helmet. His response: "It is naive of your to think I would reveal such a secret." Oh you'll do it. If you're keeping track, I met Kylo Ren four times in the month of March. We saw the Star Wars fireworks, then got dinner and brought it into Fantasmic, then called it a day (quite rightly).

Waiting to prove we know all the words to Frozen.

When everyone else is watching Elsa, I'm watching Kristoff. 

Princess Kylo, Princess Lindsey and Princess Amanda

On Wednesday the 30th, I had an additional day off and therefore had some much needed downtime during the day before meeting Amanda and our former lumberjack colleague Sam for dinner at the Polynesian Resort. We took the monorail to the Grand Floridian to check out its decadent and gorgeous chocolate Easter Egg collection (I took many pictures, a few of which were decent) before getting back on and going to Magic Kingdom, where we met Lindsay Wilson and avoided Wishes in Tomorrowland on the People Mover, the Carousel of Progress and at the Tomorrowland Dance Party until I had to turn in. I had to fight a disgusting amount of people to get out though. It was gross.

Now we're Polynesian princesses.

That night, from the cold cold depths of Winnipeg, my lovely and not visited frequently enough friends Angela and Randy arrived in the humidity of Orlando with their very new baby Juliet. I met them the next morning at All Star Sports. Angela visited on my last program right after her and Randy got married. We decided to take a run at Magic Kingdom, the four of us, for as long as we could. Juliet was a fan of the bus that took us to and from the park. It was hot and Magic Kingdom was crowded but dammit we are park champions anyway. We were able to ride Journey of the Little Mermaid, It's a Small World, Mickey's Philharmagic and Enchanted Tiki Room. We got some drinks at Gaston's Tavern (of the Lefou's Brew variety), lunch at Columbia Harbour House (if you eat there, go upstairs. So calm.), and then went back to the resort for swimming and relaxing before heading back out a few hours later. We had a dinner reservation at the Skipper Canteen, the Jungle Cruise-themed restaurant in Adventureland, and it was so wonderful - the company, the food, the skipper/server, the atmosphere. So many puns and so much Jungle Cruise joy. We had a great time. When we left, we had time to find a place for Wishes (Juliet didn't love it but Randy did!) then everyone headed home for the evening, myself included.

Angela and I recovering from puns at Skipper Canteen.

On Friday the 1st (happy April!), we started out a bit earlier and went to Hollywood Studios after a hearty All-Star Sports breakfast. We did some shopping and went to Muppet Vision 3D, we were able to get a Rider Swap for Star Tours, and we got some lunch at Backlot Express. We decided a boat ride to Epcot was a good choice, and when we arrived we met Pocahontas and Ariel at International Gateway! How lucky and what good timing by us! We took a very leisurely stroll around World Showcase wherein many snacks and drinks were consumed, we did a little more shopping, Randy decided the German pavilion is his jam now and we headed out the front of the park, because the Shanks' Florida vacation continued that evening.

A Citizen of Hollywood expressing interest in Juliet.

Enter Epcot, find Pocahontas. Such luck!

It was very sad to see them all go, but I got to see more of Sam and Amanda that evening at Wilderness Lodge, where Sam was staying, and Disney Springs, where we had delicious dinner. But Amanda had to leave too, as she's got a classroom of children waiting for her in Dawson Creek. Visiting friends are the best, but when they leave it's the worst. I was glad to go back to work yesterday.

See you real soon!

Lindsey

Magical Moment: Amanda and I were queuing for Kylo Ren. I decided this was prime time to bring out a Star Wars joke for the Cast Member attending the queue. It turns out we've spoken before, and I was recognized by my puns.

Pixie Dust to: Anyone who wants to send me mail! I have a legitimate and permanent address (until January 2017) and will resume my mail activities shortly.

I Got Friends on the Other Side

Good news everyone!
Nicole and I have moved from Vista Way to Chatham Square. We'll be staying here for the foreseeable future and all is well. Do let me know if you'd like my address. I know I owe mail to many people, and you shall indeed receive some.

Let's catch up!

On Tuesday March 15th, I went to my second viewing of Zootopia during the day (have you seen this movie yet?!) and went for groceries at Publix which is the newly rediscovered love of my grocery-shopping life. I had switched for the day off so I could attend an event at Hollywood Studios in the evening with Micayla, Kristin and Becky. It's an extra ticketed (ie paid) event called Club Villain. We did get a discount (as we should).
It was an evening of celebrating the bad guys hosted by Dr. Facilier from The Princess and the Frog, featuring a DJ (who was clearly a fan of Canadian music) and a super talented cohost named Kanzo. There was so much food (the Disney World website calls it "New Orleans-inspired") and desserts and AND two open bars. The desserts and drinks were themed around the four villains with who Guests were invited to mingle and meet - the Evil Queen, Maleficent, Cruella De Vil and the Queen of Hearts. Also we were handed champagne as we were waiting to enter so it's a good bet that the Fiesta was safe and sound in housing. We were given scheduled times to meet each villain, and we got time to take pictures in their empty thrones/backdrops. It was an amazing time and I recommend it to anyone whose jam is Disney Villains, since they're notoriously hard to track down.

Maleficent didn't catch ME in her throne.

Cruella's hangout had puppies everywhere! 

A magic mirror, a throne and fans? The Evil Queen has it all. 

On March 16th, a few of the merchies and I celebrated Kathleen's birthday with buffet breakfast at Trail's End at Fort Wilderness. I'll be perfectly honest. I was still so full from the night before that I did not to justice to that buffet. I did get a little hangry in line though when some dude broke the line and stole all the Eggs Benedict. Don't stand between breakfast and I. Just don't. Two of us had to work thereafter but it was a wonderful and magical start to my Wednesday.

We're happy as long as we're fed.

On March 17th, Laura and I finished our tour of World Showcase and the Flower & Garden Festival which we had started earlier this month. We had a few more snacks (basically I didn't starve at all this week) and we saw a few more topiaries and we finished our super special Duffy bears! Laura had to work but we had finished what we started so it was still an excellent day. Oh and it was St Patrick's Day! hahah so much green everywhere.

Only one of us isn't appropriately in green. 

The Jungle Book sand sculpture is AMAZING. 

One princess, seven dwarfs, one tough photo. 

No spaghetti for the topiaries?

On March 19th, after work I joined Micayla and Kristin for another round of late night Magic Kingdom. I got a lot more respect than normal due to my awesome Captain America hoodie. Magical. In less than two hours, the three of us did Under the Sea, Barnstormer, Dumbo, the People Mover and Carousel of Progress. I also ran into former Canada coordinator now MK leader Dave in the Emporium on our way out. Talk about efficiency.

There's a great big beautiful Tomorrow(land).

Thursday was also the day I found out there were spots for Nicole and I in Chatham Square. We moved out of a first floor apartment into a first floor apartment with only one pit stop in between - one night in a temporary/emergency/fore & flood unit in Chatham. It was huge and hella gorgeous and ours for one night only. We are safe and sound and healthy and happy. As I hope you all are.

See you real soon!

Lindsey

Magical Moment: I gave a Han Solo pin to a one half of a newly married couple, congratulating her on no longer being solo. Being both delighted and intoxicated, she just thought I was the bee's knees.

Pixie Dust to: Anyone and everyone who listened to me rant and rave and whine about housing. I may have some control issues. I just like to be in control.

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.