For a whole year. You may not be aware of this because I'm probably the world's worst blogger. However I am somewhat of an amazing taker of photographs with my telephone. This being said I don't have a computer of my own currently. So herein lies the problem. I would love to post all these incredible photos as it is a lot easier for me to update you with photo updates than with all these silly words in a huge block of letters....
...I am in the midst of receiving a computer. My friend has an old one and for however much it costs to get all of his stuff off of it I'm going to have it. Yay! However it's a wee bit of a process. So just a bit more patience... if I even have readers anymore.
I'm also going to be diversifying the blog a little bit. Obviously I love Disney and Disney World and I live about 10 minutes from it and frequent it often. However I'm not a cast member anymore. I do however have many incredible friends who are that allow me the privilege of going all the time! I also have a SeaWorld pass (Sorry Carrie) until the end of the year and a Universal pass until next November. In general I'm going to broaden my Orlando view point a little bit. I also am attending this little thing called University! and will be talking about that a bit as well.
So we can look forward to some future posts about:
I'm done a lot of dining out so we're going to do some restaurant reviews both on property and off.
Updates on Harry Potter World expansions
Updates on Fantasyland Expansions (yes I've done the Enchanted Storytime with Belle that is in test phases/soft opening)
Updates on the Beauty and the Beast Restaurant (I bet I knew about the alcohol being served there before you did...and that it's only beer and wine and 3 of the bottles are over $17/glass. And it was Tom Staggs idea!)
Interesting things I learned in class today: Such as why Burger King started advertising with that creepy King mascot.
Running!!! You got it, Kate is getting back into the world of running in circles. And since I've become a stagnant non-mover it's going to be ROUGH and SWEATY (thank you 80-90 degree weather) and we're going to suffer through it together!
I have an intense love of PINTEREST ...so look at my pinterest, follow it, love it!
Random photos of random fun/awkward/hilarious (to me) things!
Super deep thought provoking posts which cause my family alarm. (Just Kidding! I'm honestly doing awesome, self reflection is wonderful ;) )
So in general...anything I want that fits into these subcategories of my life:
Parks/Orlando
Ramblings
Dining
Health
Learning
And of course the Bucket List! Which will be expanding to include so many more things. Like hot air balloon, who doesn't want to go hot air ballooning?!
(This post obviously falls into 'Ramblings' in case you couldn't tell ;) )
This isn't something I would have said when I was 16. Or probably anywhere between the ages of 12-18. My family? Yes. My house? Yes. But home, meaning Courtenay and the Comox Valley? Nope.
Why? Because growing up in a small town you always want to get out and explore. Everywhere you go someone knows you, your parents, your sisters (if you have highly talented incredible ones like mine) and they like to know what you're up to. As an angst ridden teenager I wasn't such a fan of being on everyone's radar constantly. I wasn't a fan of having to choose between staying home, going to a movie or partying in bushes, because that's pretty much all there was to do at night.
Don't get me wrong, I had a great time the majority of my teen years. I played pretty much every sport under the sun, captained basketball teams, ran student government, had the most amazing group of friends and did lots of fun things. However I still got that itch to get away and discover myself and the world outside the constraints of being Kim and Carrie's little sister, Kate the basketball player, Anne's daughter (my Mum honestly knows every single person ever) or any other such categories I fell into. As soon as I graduated high school I moved across the country to Kingston, Ontario for university.
I had always heard about Canadian winters with their 24/7 snow storms, 6 ft high snow banks and freezing so cold you never want to get out of bed weather. Then I lived one. It was dreadful. I really appreciated our hovering around zero degree winters where we really really wished for White Christmases but more often than not woke up to green grass (and one year a donkey sleeping in our front yard!!!!).
I thought living on a lake would be beautiful. And it was. However there were no waves, no mountain backdrops, it was pretty, but it wasn't an ocean. Call me spoiled (I would too) but I grew up a 7-10 minute walk from the ocean with vast mountain ranges in the background. Driving past it every day to school, sports and friend's houses, it seems like another obstacle having to go over bridges and all the way around the bay to get to the other side of town. But without it, when you're thousands of kilometres away throwing rocks in a grey lake, you really appreciate that ocean breeze, those scary big crabs, those barnacles that torn your feet apart as a child (I don't actually miss those), and the calmness that comes over you sitting by the sea.
After leaving university a year and a half later, I moved to Disney World in Orlando, Florida! No one knew me and I could create any persona for myself. Many of my friends did seem to recreate themselves down there, but I found myself having to continuously back track on stories to explain who the other people in them were or why I was where I was - and where exactly that was. I missed the small town effect of everyone knowing what Vanier is, where you go tubing, what Hornby and Denman are, the epicness of toga parties growing up, the differences and similarities between Cumberland, Black Creek, Merville, Comox, Royston, Union Bay etc are, and everything else related to home. Every short story or small quip became a dragged out explanation. Standing in a bar or pub and only knowing the one or two other people you came with when the place is full of hundreds of people can be super fun - it can also make you feel faceless in a crowd.
I thought making new friends from around the world would be amazing. And it is! I know people all across Canada and some of my greatest friends live on other continents. They are incredible friends and I am so very lucky to call them that, friends. This is probably not so much a leaving home thing, as much as a growing up thing, but when people enter your life in your 20s, you weren't there for their childhood or teens and vis versa. They don't know why October 18th is a bad day for you or why you use silly shorten words like 'strawbs' or 'sangy.' I love all of my friends, don't get me wrong, and I'm so excited to meet more new people that I will hopefully know for ever, but being home means those friends that don't need back stories, that know your family dynamics, the name of your dog and that you gave a speech on Disneyland in grade 10 English class.
I moved back to Muskoka, Ontario after leaving Florida and from there to Vancouver. I also lived in Alberta for a month when I was 18. You see, I've left home many many times. And Wednesday morning I will be leaving home again, for at least a year but more likely 4 or 5. And this brings me back to my original sentence.
I love home.
I love my house, I love my bedroom, I love my yard, I love my pool (spoiled alert again!), I love my cul-de-sac that we use to draw the most incredible chalk creations on and play road hockey. I love the flowers that line the streets through town and that at the end of 5th street (aka Main Street) there is the most magnificent view of the glacier (Queneesh!). I love the smell of the ocean, the farmer's market on Saturday mornings and how you can drive two minutes or walk 5 and be in the middle of a forest. I love the friendly way everyone you pass says Hi and how when someone asks how you are they really do want to hear an answer. I love the community feel, the festivals and markets, and that wherever you drive you almost always see deer! I love driving along the dyke and being able to count over 16 bald eagles within seconds. I love the friends I grew up with that know me so well and the hilarious conversations we have and the things we do and have done. I love my family so incredibly and fully. How many kids are lucky enough to have their grandparents move to their town when they're little and attend their performances, sporting events and graduation? I love my parents and sisters who inspire me everyday and have always been there for me. I love Goose Spit, Saratoga and Gartley. I love Edible Island and the movement for all things local lately. I love that there is a Bicycle Farm tour! I love that you can sit in the back yard and look up at the stars with no big lights to detract from the brilliance above.
It's a tough place to leave these days. I never really appreciated home until I left it. Throughout the past four years more and more I've discovered how much I treasure home. Sometimes when my visits extend a little too long there are still things that erk me about the place, but whenever it's time to leave, it's often too soon. My love for BC Ferries extends to the fact that when taking them it often means I'm almost home. When going through town there are so many places that bring back a wave of memories - both good and bad - which have formed who I am today.
Yesterday I went out for brunch with a few of my friends who are still in or home to the Valley like me. It was hilarious and so much fun. These are the girls I was talking about when I said they know you so well you can say anything and they'll still love you. A lot of the conversation revolved around the heat which led to many many sweat jokes. The food was fabulous! The Atlas Cafe is a locally owned restaurant with incredible food, great service and fair prices. If you're ever in the Comox Valley check it out, and then find out what all those other things I mentioned are ;)
I feel so incredibly lucky and proud to be from Royston, which was a regional district (apparently it now just 'is') of Courtenay which is one of the two main towns that make up the Comox Valley (there are many little towns/districts).
To be super dorky here is a quote from the Valley Tourism website, which shows I'm not the only one who likes this place:
There are places on Earth with an almost mythic capacity to draw us in, to inspire us, and to evoke a quality of spirit and creativity that becomes a part of us. The Comox Valley, on Vancouver Island British Columbia, is such a place where the sights, sounds and attractions convey - this is a destination like no other.With rich culinary bounty from land & sea, over 50 arts, music and sporting events & festivals a year, and stunning alpine to ocean resorts & spas; this place lends itself more easily to inspiration and exploration than others.It’s a place of supernatural beauty that offers rich cultural and outdoor experiences, and perhaps most importantly, it is a place for flat out fun...this is the Comox Valley.
Bazinga! How's that for an introduction! To sum it up, it's a valley surrounded by pristine snow covered mountains and vast blue oceans (with whales!) filled with friendly locals, friends and family I love and the majority of places I formed my memories. How could I not love home?
Comox Valley - I'll miss you. There I said it. I love you and I'll miss you. Not just my house and family, but the whole darn place. I want to soak up every little bit of you that I can before I leave. That is the morning after tomorrow, bright and early. And I still have to pack.
I know. Last minute. However I do have all my clothes picked out, it's just the actual putting them in the suitcase, as well as all my electronics and other odds and ends. I also have to photocopy all my paperwork - weeee!
I am SO excited to move to Orlando. I am SO excited to meet new people and make friends! I am SO excited to discover new places and things to do. (Yes I am aware of the ocean/gulf in Florida, I frequent them as often as possible). My heart is split across the coasts - home and family on one side, my dreams and hopefully future on the other.
5. My own space! I’m not going to lie, it’s hard going from living alone (or with roommates) to living with your parents again. I love them to death and am so excited to see them, but it is an adjustment.
4. Earl of Sandwich, Panera Bread & Café Tu Tu Tango! I didn’t go often, but having the chance to go if I really wanted to made me happy! They’re soooo good!
3. Sunshine! I know it’s going to be warm eventually in BC (it’s warmish, just cloudy) but I will miss walking out the door and feeling the intense warmth on my skin
2. School! I loved going to RosenCollege so much and I cannot wait to return!
1. Disney! Could number one be anything else? I cannot wait to start again! I love love love my Mouse boss!
Top 5 Things I won’t Miss about Orlando:
5. Humidity! When you walk outside and automatically look like a hot sweaty mess
4. Thunderstorms! Mainly while wearing white
3. Tourists! It’s nice having a little break from some certain tourists who overwhelm Orlando in the summer
2. Thin Walls! Yelly noisy music at 9am isn’t my opportune wake up call
1. Skype! It’s an incredible creation, but I’m so excited to get to see my friends and family IN PERSON!!
Top 10 Things I’m excited about in Courtenay:
10. Being in Canada! I’m so excited to not have every time I say ‘eh’ pointed out to me and not have to explain to people that Canada is NOT always cold!
9. Running Outdoors! It has been way too hot in Orlando, so I’m very eager to hit the pavement in Courtenay because treadmills just don’t cut it.
8. Farmer’s Market! Courtenay has a fantastic farmer’s market that I absolutely love!
7. Weddings! 3 weddings in 4 weeks? Yeeeyahhh buddy!!
6.Canada Day Weekend!! My family plus some family friends will all be together for the whole weekend to hang out, swim, laugh, drink and have a merry ole time!
5. Wedding Planning! I’m so excited to get waist deep in planning, organizing, and creating for Kimmy!
4. Relaxation! I’m so exited to lay out by the pool, bake, cook and read.
3. Kona and Lily! A German Shepard and a Pug walk into a room – Kate’s heart melts.
2. Friends! I have the most amazing friends, the more I travel and live far away the more I realize just how incredibly rare a connection like ours is from a young age.
1. Family! Oh course!! These people make my life complete <3
It’s my goal to also try and learn the Canadian Anthem in French while I’m home, and try to put together some ‘Canadian’ things for when I’m down south. Here’s hoping for some mad huge Canadian garb discounts after July 1st! This is my first time in 3 years not celebrating the Fourth of July. Last year I got to set off fireworks with my fantastic cousins in Muskoka which was fun! I also just recieved this email from Kristen at Yummy Jobs:
Greetings!
We here at Yummy Jobs would like to wish you a wonderful Canada Day tomorrow!
And just think… next year you will be able to join in the celebrations at the Canadian Pavilion on this special day for Canada.
We hope you have a great holiday and are looking forward to being your country’s ambassador for Walt Disney World and being able to share with the guests of Disney why Canada Day is special!
That's right, I finally booked my flight to Orlando!!!
Yes, I am currently in Orlando, and that may be why it took me so long to book my flight back down, because I sort of forgot I needed to until yesterday. I wanted to arrive midday on the 16th, so I leave Vancouver around 11pm on the 15th, have a lay over in Houston, and then arrive in Orlando around 11am! Perfecto! Last time I flew down for the program I got to fly down with Heather, who I had met at the interviews! This time it's all me by myself. Tamara, who is actually from Courtenay as well (well Comox, and we've never met!) is flying out a few hours earlier and arrives earlier in the morning I think, so we're perhaps going to try and do our Walmart shop together! Yes I know people on the program already, but I'm excited to meet my arrival group and do all the fun things at the beginning with them!!
It feels good to have my flights booked! Now just insurance, the visa arrival and the assessment fee! ....for the Program anyways!
7 Random Facts I learned from Ron Logan this Week:
Ron Logan enjoys driving up beside those kinda sketchy cars with blasting hip hop beats, roll down his windows, and blast jazz. He said usually the guys laugh and give him a thumbs up
Hitler as well as Mao's wife, use to put musicians in jail for not writing heroic music which is very brassy and strong sounding
The baritone singer in the Voices of Liberty group in The American Adventure does many on the operations announcements on rides (ie: Please stay seated)
Tokyo Rose was a broadcaster in Japan during World War II who tried to get American soldiers to pack up and go home by telling them it's what they wanted. She was later tried for treason.
So much precision was put into Illuminations:Reflections of Earth that all Don Dorsey would go through the music and find one beat in one bar and change it from 3/4s to 4/4s so that it coincided perfectly with the fireworks
The Globe in Illuminations was originally going to be 3 cranes (a mum, dad and child crane) but even after spending $3 million on them, they decided they didn't work well and trashed the idea
It costs $15,000 per day to put on Illuminations, however it has been credited with $80 million in profit for Epcot!
Bonus: Toni Braxton sings 'We Go On' in Illuminations, and the Show won "Most Spectacular Show in the World 5 years straight! (Including 2010!!)
Double Bonus: The reason there is a countdown at the beginning of Illuminations is because Don Dorsey liked the countdown at Hockey Games! (when everyone slow claps, then it gets faster!)
Clearly our last class was about Illuminations ;) If you haven't seen this show it is absolutely breath taking. It's in three acts: The Creation of the Earth, Modern Day, and the Future. Professor Logan absolutely loves Illuminations (I'm pretty sure he said he was the most proud of it...but that could have been the Wild West Show in Paris), and I absolutely love it as well! We use to walk out of work at Le Cellier and be able to conduct it. I couldn't believe when I first started on the popcorn cart that we got to watch Illuminations! Incredible! It's no where near the same as seeing it in person, but here is a link in you want to check it out!
The Canucks won last night (2 MORE!! - as if everyone didn't already know that!) and I got to skype both my sisters and brother in law, and my Parents and Grandparents!! If you don't have skype and are far away from your family/friends, or going to be, GET SKYPE! It's free and you can video which is so, so nice! It was a pretty fabulous evening, especially because I had been feeling a bit homesick/overwhelmed earlier in the day with decisions. I was missing my family a lot and then had about an hour long chat with my Grandma and she put me in the best mood ever! She has such an incredible knack for that! What a lady! I love her to bits!
I have a 615 workout and then 8am class tomorrow morning so I'm going to hopefully make it a pretty early Sunday night!! Hope all is well in your worlds as well, I almost start to feel selfish being so darn happy :)
You didn't think I forgot that I start WORKING AT DISNEY WORLD in just 2 months and 15 days did you?! I think about it pretty much every second of every day....I'm. SO. EXCITED!!!
In my spare down time I've been a huge geek and looking up vegan trip reports. I clearly have not been very vegan while at university (hello Jimmy Fallon ice cream!! Alright, besides that I haven't been so bad) but I find it really interesting all the incredible signature dishes chefs will make you if you're vegan. I did just find out my favourite chef ever, and a favourite to pretty much any Disney vegan who knows what's up, is Chef TJ, and he is now at the Grand Floridian at 1900 Park Fare and the Grand Floridian Cafe instead of Ohana. He was the main reason I loved Ohana, as it's a hugely meat-entric meal, so we'll have to see next time how it goes. BUT all this food talk is not the reason I'm writing about the CRP, this email is:
Greetings!
In the next 2 weeks we will be mailing your visa documents to you, at the same address that we sent your welcome pack to. If your address has since changed please do let me know by Thursday, June 2nd at 11am EST (8am PST).
As a reminder as you hold a Canadian Passport you will not need to attend an embassy appointment. Instead when you receive your visa document from Walt Disney World, you will be all set! When you travel to the US and go through the US immigrations at the airport or border, at that point you will receive your visa stamp in your passport. You will just need to present your visa documents, white I 94 card (included with your visa document) and Disney Offer Letter and politely inform the immigrations agent that you will be working in the US.
If you do have any questions regarding this, please do not hesitate to ask.
Have a Great day!
Kristen Thornton
Yummy Jobs
Hot diggity it's all so real!!! I didn't tell you all, but I received my Welcome package at my house in Canada and my Dad opened it over the phone and told me what was inside. It sounded pretty identical to my first welcome package, but I'll snag some photos when I return home in July. I'm so excited to have my visa, and this email makes me feel like if there was a problem they would have already told me, so as soon as it arrives we should be all set to go!
Honestly it has been a little hard being down in Orlando and not being part of the Disney Community. Not in the sense of missing living in the Commons, but when people talk about Disney I swell up in pride, and then realize I technically probably don't count as employed by them as I have a contract, it just hasn't started yet. I miss being able to just stroll into the parks and people watch, see the construction change daily and watch fireworks/parades. I know I'll be doing all of that soon enough, but it's like there is a HUGE WALL, and I use to have access to the ladder, and I will soon again, but right now I'm left at the bottom hopping up and down trying to peak in. I.Can't.Wait!
I got this email last week:
Greetings Kate,
Many thanks for your police check.
Have a Great day!
Kristen Thornton
Yummy Jobs
So that is all taken care of as well! Now I just need to book a flight, buy health insurance and mid-July pay the housing fee. YAY!
The flight from Vancouver went well. I was sitting in the bulk head (front? Right behind the rich people where they constantly were making sure the see-through curtain was closed?) which meant no where to put my bags..but more leg room! The two men beside me were talking a lot to each other about the most bizarre things.The middle gentlemen was older and had packed sooo many snacks! It was pretty cute!He offered me nut mix and those little cheese and cracker kits with the red sticks? I took some nut mix because he wouldn't take no for an answer. I know I know, never take food from strangers, he did offer candy at one point even…The older gentlemen was also from Victoria and use to vacation in Comox at a cabin with his family when he was young. He now lives in Vancouver. Usually I really don't like talking to people on flights but this guy was pretty nice.Plus I only talked to him once I had to take off my headphones.
The Phoenix to Orlando leg was about 4 hours.I was in the same row but the other side of the aisle and there was so middle person to that was nice. I just slept a bit and read.
Stepping off the plane in Orlando always feels so good. The rush of humidity and warmth that hits you is only second to landing in Hawaii, because they also have the incredible smell of tropical flowers.
Trips to Orlando only seem real once I get on the monorail (sky train? Tram? I’m not even sure what they call it at the airport), its when I feel like I’ve really arrived. Although walking out to a Harry Potter Universal Store, a Sea World Store and of course, A Disney Store also helps.Luggage took a bit of time and then I went downstairs and outside to catch the shuttle to Payless Car Rentals!I’ve never rented from them before (I’ve done Budget a few times and Dollar) but they were a lot cheaper than the other ones because it was off airport property so they were the choice of the day.When myself and a few other younger people got on the shuttle the driver made sure we know where we were going, and another lady said I should be flattered I don’t look old enough to rent a car…. It was kind of awkward. Haha
The rental lady was super nice though and the process was easy for pick up.I’ll let you know if there were any secret evil fees or anything when I return it tomorrow night!!
I drove away in my beauty Kia Forte SX
It's a pretty decent car! Vroooooom!
and headed for Downtown Disney!I am staying with my dear friend (and old manager Yelitza) until Sunday morning when I move into housing! However she didn’t get off work until 1230am so I went to DTD for a little stroll about and to see Water for Elephants! I bought the book after the love of my life this nice guy I met in Winnipeg when I was blizzarded (it’s a word…) in recommended it.It was an amazing book, I, just like him, couldn’t put it down!! I would highly recommend it to any and everyone, and if I hadn’t given my copy to my Mum I would have given it to you!The movie was pretty good, although they changed a few details…like cutting out the guy who actually ran and owned the circus Al I believe his name is…but overall it was good.The book was leaps and bounds better, but I dare you to tell me a movie that is better than the book it’s based on.
Yelitza and I from my Disney Grad!
After the movie I headed over to Yelitza’s and after a little mix up on apartments (whoops!) we chatted a bit and headed to bed. It was a long travelling day!!
Wednesday I just used as a day to get things together. I had a great catch up with Yelitza before heading out and getting a cell phone organized. I also went to UCF to drop off proof of health insurance so they would take their block off my account.I walked around a bit and the excitement crept through me again! I couldn’t stop smiling thinking this is all real.I also checked out the exact building I’ll be living in. Looks like typical residence, it’s only 6 weeks, I’m not worried!I met up with Ashley later on and it was a bit surreal being signed into the Commons! We caught up for a bit and then went to Oscar and Kristin’s (where we stayed on our road trip) and picked up my suitcase! It was sooo nice to have clothes again! My suitcase I just brought down was pretty much all bedding and towels so it’s nice to have something to wear.Ashley is spieling her menu this week so she was practising in the car.Some of the meals are the same as when I was here before (besides the obviously cheese soup) so that’s pretty nice, some of it was coming back to me!I’m going to try and steal a menu off Ash before I head back to Canada pre-Disney post-school to study study study!
Today I had International Student Orientation!I arrived around 830, signed in and we started at 9am.The people who put on the presentation were really friendly and actually made boring visa/immigration/taxes information seem interesting.We played a few games including Jeopardy!The lady asked if anyone had watched the show before and I said yes, as I thought everyone had, but I was the only one! That made my team (our table) decide to name our team Team Kate which added no pressure at all. Haha. Luckily we ended up winning due to pure genius on our part and I didn’t let down my fellow Canadian, Alex Trebek.We won a UCF USB 2GB stick so that was pretty sweet. We played Bingo at one point too but I didn’t win which was sad because the prize was a cool UCF penchant for the wall…and we all know how I enjoy branding myself with whatever I’m doing at that point. Haha. See I can be honest about it.
I whipped back to the apartment to see Yelitza before work and then went suntanning at the Polynesian!I wanted soo badly to go to a park, but I feel too guilty asking a friend to use their main gate (except Ashley who offered once she gets hers and I’m sooo excited!), so instead of a park to feed my Disney itch I parked at the Polynesian and walked around.It was a beautiful day, there were tons of kids in the pool splashing around and dancing with a lifeguard, parents and drinks everywhere.I borrowed a few towels and went to the secret beach on the side of the Polynesian. It’s the greatest beach on property and so under utilized. I use to go here a bunch on my last contract and there were never people there.As I was laying out Dream Along with Mickey could be heard over the Seven Seas Lagoon, it was pretty great.I even fell asleep for a little cat nap under the shade of a few big leafy tree bushes! I strolled around the shops at the resort checking everything out (I think I found a birthday present for my Dad! And a dress I could wear to two of my weddings this summer!) and then made the best decision ever…and got Dole Whip!!! So far this vegan thing is a total fail not going as well as planned, however I made it very clear from the start that Dole Whip resides above everything else in the food pyramid.I also may have checked out the other MK resorts a bit J I miss Disney World.
Tomorrow morning I have regular new student orientation at UCF and I should be registered for classes by the end (thank goodness!).
Check this picture out:
The quality isn't too good...but I think you get it.
This is how we spent the 8th of April!Getting some sun and sand! It is hard to describe the incredible feeling you get lying in the sun after so many months of being cold! I know a lot of you can agree!! We went to Cocoa Beach, looked around Ron Jon (Ashley picked out all the things she'd like to buy!), then went to tan and swim for a bit. It was in the high 20s -low 30s (Celsius) while we were in Orlando and sooooooo lovely! I can't believe we swam in the Atlantic Ocean in the first week of April!
I got a little too much sun though and ended up totally burnt somewhat rosey!
The next day April 9th (Happy Birthday Jenn Pye!) we hung out with my friend Doug and his buddy Kyle. We went to a UCF baseball game!! It was super HOT and I was burnt so it was good when we found a little shade to hide in. A few of Doug's other friends were there too so it was nice to meet more friends.
Go Knights!
After the game we decided to go mini-golfing...and I got to feed these guys! Good ol' hot dog on a stick.
They kept moving really suddenly and it freaked me out. Mini-golf was Congo themed and super fun. We had to do a scavenger hunt while we were golfing and we didn't quite find them all but got to do the scratch and win anyways! We only really won 5 or 10% off a t-shirt so it wasn't that big of a deal. We had dinner at Chili's afterwards. The sunburn caught up with us and we were way too tired to go out. Went home and watched Weeds with Oscar and Kristin though. Fun day :) Sunday April 10th Ashley and I met up with two people arriving with her to Disney that she had chatted with on WDWIP. Emily is from the UK (F&B) and Diego is from Mexico (Merch!) and so we picked them up from their hotel on I-Drive and went to IKEA! It was fun to look around and see all the pretty things. I would love an IKEA kitchen...one day ;)
After IKEA we went for lunch at Panera Bread and drove past the housing complexes to show Emily and Diego where they were going to be living!! Then we went and got them all set up with cell phones before going home to get ready for a night out at Howl at the Moon!
Nick, Me and Ashley
Ashley and I switched friend's houses and stayed with Nick, who is a chef in the kitchen at Le Cellier. We all went to Howl at the Moon! I was so excited because we use to go to Howl every Sunday when I was a cast member. One of the main reasons we loved it was because the drinks were 3 for 1, and buckets were $18!! Now the drinks are only 2 for 1 and a bucket was $27!! Ridiculous! It is a fun duelling piano bar, and they sing hilarious made up songs as well as requests! It's super fun, but they need to bring back the 3 for 1s.
Ashley, Gonzalo, Me and Oscar
Monday April 10th was the day I had been waiting for! Nick, Ashley and I headed to EPCOT!! I obviously had known for a while that we were going to go, and was excited, but as we arrived it really hit me that it had been 9 months since I had been in 'my park' and I couldn't wait to get inside!
Ahhhh! I had butterflies!! Yup, I'm a little dorky...but I loveeee it!
These 3 use to live in the Canada Pavilion..now Bambi has his own Butterfly Garden
At least I wasn't excited about the engagement ring replicas! Yay Royals
After riding Spaceship Earth (yay!) and venturing through the butterfly garden we went to Canada and saw Linda (the f&b manager) and Francis (the assignor)! It was so so nice :) Familiar faces are so great after long absences. We also bought a couple Mooseheads from the Canadian Popcorn/Beer Cart! It was exciting using my ID in the pavilion as I was underage during my first program! Then we headed over to the UK to see Yelitza!! We caught up a bit and then made plans to meet later as we were again hoping houses and staying at Yelitza's!
We travelled to France and they had some great Beauty and the Beast flowers! My favourite ;)
They also had this guy!! HOLY! He is doing a hand stand on top of a jumbo champagne bottle on top of a huge stack of chairs! He also held his body straight out parallel to the ground which I found insanely impressive! I never stopped to watch before, but now I will again for sure.
We also got to see the Japanese drummers!
and the Koi pond! Fun!! No saki though, I've learned my lesson. Well, Ashley said no... :) hehehe
I <3 Jessica Rabbit!
I'd never seen these chocolates before. They had a bunch including a super cute Pinocchio box.
I love Duffy. Nick is not a fan. I don't think Ashley cares either way...Duffy opinions?
Group shot...those were everyone's cups not just mine!
I wanted to do this to Clodagh.
We went to Germany to check everything out and started talking to a cast member named Susannah. She was super nice and we were talking about Christmas and this guy with a big white beard came up and said he couldn't help but notice we were talking about him. He told us all about why and how things are done at the North Pole...for a very long time. Ashley and Nick backed away slowly and then tried to get me to leave too but I felt bad, for both just leaving and for Susannah and so eventually cut in well enough to say goodbye to "Santa" and write Susannah a guest service fanatic card - patience is a big virtue at Disney!
Mulan and I had a great conversation about her friendship with Giselle and how they like riding horses together. I like when the characters talk to you about random things like this. Good show! We also watched the movie in China which I had never done before! It was really pretty and I'd like to see it again.
We had a great stop in the Mexico Pavilion's tequila shop. We sat beside a hilarious lady and her husband who kept telling us about all the trips she goes on with her girlfriends and leaves her husband at home. Guests are so funny.
The End.
Well sort of. It was the end of our day at Epcot and we headed out for dinner at a yummy Mexican restaurant. Then we grabbed our car and headed to Yelitza's for some television and girl chat before bed.
Tuesday April 12th was Ashley's Cultural Representative Program start date!! We woke up, had breakies (Nutella...YUM!) and then Ash took me to the airport for my 12:45pm flight! I got through security really fast which was nice. My flight was to Montreal and I watched the King's Speech and slept. It was a really good movie!! If you haven't seen it you probably should - there is a reason they won Oscars! After a jaunt through customs, getting my bag, delivering my bag, and going through security again I boarded my next flight from Montreal to Vancouver. I finally got to the skytrain outside of YVR around 10 and arrived home to meet my niece around 1115pm! It was a long day! But Clodagh is gorgeous and wonderful and so tiny and incredible. She slept all nuzzled up in my neck :) Perfect.
Disney Challenge Day 12: Favourite Villain Song
This was my original thought, especially with that Hitler-esque scene with the Hyenas all marching past Scarm however...
The following song gives you chills. It is so creepy, he doesn't even think he's horribly evil! Hellfire from the Hunchback of Notre Dame sang by Frollo. Even when I meet him as a character at the parks it creeps me out
as you can see from these two photos taken over a year apart...
At Mickey's Not So Scary (except for Frollo) Halloween Party 2009
I didn't want to touch his hand and was SO uncomfortable. Disneyland October 2010
Disney Challenge Day 13: Least Favourite Song
This is actually really hard. I can't think of my absolute least favourite song, as I clearly don't listen to it very often. My dislike of bugs could make a difference, but I'm going to say this one :
Disney Challenge Day 14: Favourite Kiss
This was a choice between a kiss that created fireworks, a kiss that changed two frogs into people, a kiss that you aren't completely expecting and two kisses, one that woke up one lady and one that woke up an entire country. These two take the cake for me:
Disney Challenge Day 15: First Movie I Saw
I don't know the answer to this. I tried to ask my parents but they weren't sure either. They said we use to watch The Little Mermaid a lot, and I use to watch the Lion King on repeat, and of course Beauty and the Beast. I'll see if there is anything in my babybook... Sorry!
Disney Challenge Day 16: Favourite Classic
Fantasia
Lady & the Tramp
Peter Pan
I love all of these. Jungle Book is pretty high up there as well except for how scary the end is with the Tiger and fire! Fun Fantasia Fact: I never knew there was a Ave Maria scene until 2008. I always got so scared by the Night on Bald Mountain scene with the devil that we turned it off when that started and I just believed it was the end. I was watching a television special about Disney and they showed a clip of this people walking through a forest from Fantasia and I thought to myself No way, that's not in that movie! I finally sucked it up, put in Fantasia, and watched the whole Night on Bald Mountain scene (and it still freaked me out!) and then finally got to see the Ave Maria scene..and it was beautiful.
Disney Challenge Day 17: Least Favourite Classic
I don't have anything against Dumbo himself. The reason this is my least favourite is because I just feel so sad and embarrassed for Dumbo the whole time it makes it hard to watch. I know the moral of Dumbo is to overcome adversity and 'fly high,' however it just makes me too sad to see him seperated from his Mummy and then made fun of so harshly.
