Disney means you are the exception to every rule

So when I first started working here I came across a pattern... nobody listens because they think they don't need to.

Guest: What do you mean I have to take my kid out of the stroller and fold it?! He's asleep!

Me: I'm sorry ma'm but I don't want to risk your child rolling off the side of the tram when we turn a corner

Everyone also thinks that they deserve better service than the people around them...

Guest: Can I find a parking space closer to the front? I have kids with me

Me: (Thinking to myself- So does everyone ELSE in this WHOLE place?!)... sure, help yourself (because Disney won't say no unless they have to)

Plus, isn't there a favor that we as one person to another could do?...

Guest: I just REALLY want to go see the castle

Me: well if you have your ticket, you just enter the park and it'll be right past the train station. Do you have your ticket?

Guest: well no, but I just REALLY want to go see the castle, even just for five minutes!

Me: I'm sorry ma'm but you need a ticket in order to enter the park...

Those are pretty much the same conversations that I have multiple times a week. Needless to say I have a newer found respect for every cast member who has to deal with these excuses and so forth. So please read this and remember it the next time you ever go to a Disney park. Follow the rules because they're there for a reason and even though their name is printed on a tag and they're dressed like any other no-named face there, they're still people and they have to deal with hundreds of other people who don't see them as human beings. In my case, they just think of me as a human pylon cone...

Becoming a Creature of the Night

My internal clock is hating me right now. Work has been really screwing with my mind.

Since I work nights, I don't get home until 2 or 3 at night. At which point I make myself a dinner and watch a show to wind down before I'm able to go to sleep. So then I really don't get to bed until 4 or 5 am to which end I have to take Advil PM in order to fall asleep since I'm still so wired from work. THEN that means that I won't wake up until 1 or 2 in the afternoon!

I'll admit that when I was a teenager I would take full advantage of my youth and saturdays and sleep in until my mother came to wake me up around 11:30 in the afternoon, but my body had gotten to the maturity where I couldn't really sleep past 9:30. I had "sleeper's guilt" for wasting so much of the day.

But now I have it ten fold! When I wake up, all I have time to do is eat something, usually a breakfast item even though it's way past lunch. Pack a meal "lunch" and get ready for work before I run out the door to catch a bipolar bus that's usually too early or extremely late. And because of the undependable buses, I have to take the bus that will get me there 45 min to a half hour before I actually start.

So let's do the math:

A Normal Day with an 8 Hour Shift

Wake up at 1:30

Work at 5:30

Bus at 4:15

___________

leaves me 2 and some change to get shower, cook lunch, and get ready

Work until 2

Bus home at 2:10

Bus doesn't come until 2:35

Bus arrives home at 3:10

Fix dinner and eat at 3:30

Bed by 5

Asleep by 5:45

Wake to repeat cycle at 1

_________________

equals 8 hours of restless sleep

I need to go to bed... But I just needed to explain the lack of blogging.

Soon to come: Star Wars Weekend

Happy Birthday Dad!!

Here's to 21 years of you being in my life!! We'll go by my age so you don't feel so bad about being so old ;D. Just kidding!!

I love you!!

- Beads

Biking in DC

Kind of looks like Captain Kangaroo, but I love you no matter what fashion choice you choose!

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, Disney proudly presents...

the Main Street Electrical Parade!

So they were bringing the Electrical Parade to the Magic Kingdom this summer. And before they opened it, they showed it to all the cast members first for the official Cast Preview. Luckily I had work off that day, we showed up to the back lot of MK (aka: Magic Kingdom) and they bused us over to Toontown, where they crowded us in like sheep in a pasture.

Then they had to wait until the park was completely emptied of all guests before they could let us loose. We were then herded by cast members through the park and literally lined up down Main Street. That was actually pretty nice because we were actually able to get a seat to watch the parade right in the middle of Main Street.

When the parade started, I could not pick a better crowd of people to be around! Everyone was crazy cheering! They were so excited for the people in the parade and they were so supportive. Everyone clapped and cheered, even though some people messed up steps or lights on costumes or floats stopped working. Even on one occasion when a float stopped moving and they had to bring a tractor to pull the float out, every one clapped and cheered the driver on. We cheered so loud for the tractor and cheered on the driver of the float. As they were bringing the float out, a lady in the Float yelled, "Oh you guys are so cute!". It was exciting

It was so much fun to do that with my roommates and it was so great to be surrounded by that overly positive energy that only Disney can make. I'm seriously in my element. Time is moving WAY too fast here.

Trysten, Kristy, Katie, Myself, and Kendall

Tinkerbell leading the parade

Alice actually talks!

Poor Bee, he broke down RIGHT infront of us

Worker checking on Bee to make sure he's ok

Bee is being hauled out by the superstar tractor, everyone cheered more for the tractor than anything else

Synchronized Riding

A couple of us had the day off the other day. We decided that we would go play at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Right off, we got fast passes to Areosmith's Rockin' Roller coaster. Then we hopped in line while the wait was short. After that, we went over to the Tower of Terror. For the picture, we posed like we were all talking on our phones or texting. When we got out, we saw that the line was only 10 minutes. So we hopped back on and thought of another pose. After one more ride after that, we decided that we would try to see how many times we could ride it. Each time we thought of poses... thinking seriously, YMCA, Seductive, Creepily Crouching over the children in front of us, Glaring at the person next to us,... stuff like that.

The lines started getting long. We saw that the Bellboys in the front of the line were actually CPs (College Program kids), so my roommate Kendall went over to the more attractive of the two and started talking with him... very closely... and softly ;)... needless to say, we got four fast passes for that ride. We went on it a couple more times, then went and got dinner over at the 50's Prime Time Cafe (a MUST-do if you go to Hollywood Studios).

We used our fast passes for Rockin' and then went back to Tower of Terror. But the line was getting long again! Luckily, the two guys were different, but this time I went up to them. I asked how long the line was, and were they CPs? Why, me too! What a coincidence! Us? Why we're just trying to see how many times we can ride the Tower of Terror in one day... *sigh*, but it looks like the lines are getting long... What? Fast Passes? No I couldn't... Why thank you! You're so sweet! ;) BINGO!

On our last ride of the day we all held up our hands showing how many times we had ridden... two hands... ten fingers! By the end of the day, our stomachs were in our shoes but our egos were high and we had conquered the Tower of Terror, memorized the spiel in the beginning, calmed three different nervous children, flirted for 8 fast passes, invented a new sport called "Synchronized riding" and ridden the Tower of Terror 10 times...

"And the rain, rain, rain came falling down..."

So I am accustomed to the rain. I love puddles every bit as much as the next Seattlite. But I'm beginning to think that Orlando could give Washington a run for it's money!

For the last week, the day starts off beautiful. The sun is out and shinning, and it'll be warm. Not too hot... but then again, I've finally become accustomed to the heat, so 85 is warm but not hot. Then a few clouds will come along, nothing to worry about, they even block the sun abit, lowering the temperature another ten degrees. But the next minute you turn your back on those innocent harmless clouds, they will open up the wrath of God on you that you've only heard about in the Old Testament (aka: Noah)! Next thing you know, you're completely soaked and you smell like acid.

The rain here isn't refreshing like in WA. It's warm water that leaves you feeling oddly sticky, and makes the air so thick with water, that it's almost like you can't breath without swallowing a cup of water. It looks cool at night, the yellow lights in the parking lot glow and there are these clouds of steam rising off the ground. Another weird thing about it is that the rain evaporates SO quickly here, that it could rain while you run to get your rain coat and then be completely dry by the time you come back out.

Along with our outrageously yellow costumes, we also got even brighter yellow rain coats (complete with yellow overalls). If it's warm and sunny out, don't be fooled, you'll still have to take it with you... But along with the rain comes the thunder and lightning. It's pretty much always to be expected. Those who drive the tram remain safely inside dry, and with their air conditioning. While the person who normally stands on the back gets to sit in the back row of the tram under the covered area. This is ONLY if there's thunder and lightning. Because that covered area doesn't protect you from rain, because unlike the rest of the world, it rains sideways in Florida.

We're expecting rain and thunderstorms for the next 10 days... but then again, the 10-day forecast only goes 10 days so there could be more... Best go grab my Giddy-ups (Parking-lot talk for rain gear)!!

The TOWER OF TERROR!!!!

It was my roommate Alyssa's birthday a while back and we both had the same day off. So we decided that we'd go play at one of the parks. We went to Disney's Hollywood Studios (aka: MGM Studios). We went on rides like the Rockin' Roller Coaster and ate at one of my favorite resturants, The Sci-Fi Drive-in. It was a lot of fun just hanging out. Then she told me that her favorite ride in the whole world was Tower of Terror, but she didn't want to make me go on it since she knew I was kind of a ride-chicken. But I sucked it up! I declared to her that for her birthday, I would go on it with her for the first time, as my gift to her.

It's called the Tower of TERROR for a reason which I understand now... Even the lobby to the ride was frightening. Not to mention the black and white introduction video telling you the story of how this couple, an elderly lady, a small child and a bell-boy all disappeared on an elevator when it was struck by lightening. That sure was soothing...

To get to the line, you walk through this really creepy boiler room where you're greeted by solemn looking bell-boys (or girls) which would give Haunted Mansion a run for it's money! They load you into an elevator and make you sit. Granted, the whole elevator looks rusted over and you have to share this short rand rail with the person next to you.

Alyssa thought my panic was hilarious, even though I was trying my best to suppress most of it for the crying child next to me! She told me that she would warn me before it fell so I could brace myself.

Then the car starts to move... it takes you to one floor where it opens up and you see a floor with Hotel rooms on it, then the Ghosts of the unfortunate riders show up and creepily beckon you forwards. Then they get all lightning-y and the whole floor turns into stars with a creepy window breaking in the background. Then those doors close and the elevator takes you to another room, the car starts to move through, the "Twilight Zone" including giant creepy eyes and ghostly creepy things. At this point my inner-self is freaking and wondering how I could escape without looking like a chicken to the child who's crying next to me.

Then a door opens and things are completely black. It's hot, so you can tell you're right near the out-side and clicking is warning you that the elevator car is hooking up to the shaft of doom. Just then, Alyssa laughs and says, "Don't worry, I'll tell you wh.... AAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

My muscles TIGHTEN! To the point where I feel like I will never move and the whole car erupts in this high pitched squeal that echos the rises and falls of the elevator. I honestly couldn't tell you which part was worse, the rising or the falling. All I know is that normally, I can scream. And when I say scream, I mean scream... but on this ride, I could honestly not make a SOUND! I eyes WHERE(!) open! So I wasn't completely chicken, but I also think I didn't take a breath during that whole ride.

By the time the ride ended, I was still gripping on the handles like death itself. Alyssa enjoyed the ride thoroughly, and turned to me laughing about to ask me what I though of it, but her laughed stopped abruptly and she asked "Are you ok?" In my mind I was thinking I thought you were going to warn me? But the only words that could come out were "YOU LIED!"

Needless to say, I survived and once I got off and started walking, I realized I could survive it one more time. I needed to ride it again so I didn't have that tramatized feeling whenever I was faced with the opportunity to ride it. But it still took me 5 more rides before I could scream, and 7 more rides before I could not hold on.

But when they named it Tower of Terror, they were NOT kidding!

I look incredibly nasty in this photo, but it was really hot and I had just been on a ride where I thought I would die

He can sing and dance, but now he can talk and blink?

When you were little, did you ever wonder why Mickey Mouse never talked to you? He always just moved around, overly expressive but silent with that same stupid grin on his face! I mean, since he IS that same world famous Mickey, then he should be able to talk to you like he does on every Silly Symphonies we've ever seen.

Well now Disney has remedied that problem. Last week in Anahiem California, in Disneyland, they brought out the world's first talking Mickey. He actually communicated with a 5-year-old girl. Answering her questions, calling her by her name, all the while blinking and moving his lips *gasp*!

Although it is going to be a while before that technology can spread to other characters and other parks, Disney has brought a form of it to Disney World's Magic Kingdom. Down on Main Street in front of the castle is a show called "Dreams Come True". It features Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy as they discus how dreams can come true in the Disney's Magic Kingdom. Of course girls can be princesses and boys can be pirates. This was demonstrated with the typical presentation of dance numbers and overly expressive dancers and a clean set of friendly pirates. But the kicker was that Mickey and his little gang actually blink and move their mouths to the audio. It was so strange! So exciting that even at 20-years-old, I still found myself saying "WOW" "Look-it!"

So years from now, when I bring my in-the-FAR-future-children, I'll say, "you know I remember when Mickey couldn't talk..." I can already hearing them say "oh Mommmmm..." with an eye-roll attached.

PROOF! She can blink, and he can sing!!

The Indiana Jones Stunt Show

So today was my Sunday, meaning that I had today and yesterday off (and yesterday was my saturday). Three others had today off so we decided to go to Hollywood Studios and see the shows they have. We saw the Voyage of the Little Mermaid and then the Beauty and the Beast show... both incredibly cheesy and short. We watched the Pixar Block Party Parade and then we saw it... The Indiana Jones Stunt Show!! Kendall had told us all about how they choose people in the audience to act as extras, so we decided we'd try it. We actually got a really good seat in the third row up front. The show was starting and they were all acting like they were filming for an Indiana Jones movie, including fake cameras and cheesy directors. Then they asked for volunteers over the age of 18. The four of us cheered like crazy!!! But only two of us were chosen, me and Kendall. We had an introduction part where they asked for our names and made us act as "Gigglers". Then they sent us to costuming for some overly-starched robes. It was SO much awesome, I even got picked to play my own death scene!! Plus I got to shake Indiana's hand!!! SO much fun! The videos are down on the bottom, sorry the order's backward and some are long, but it was hilarious...

Kendall and I, the famous ones!

Indie shook my hand!!

Second one on the left is kendall, I'm the third on the left

Getting excited in front of over 200 people!

That's right, we rock the Indie look

Part 3 (sorry it's out of order, the download thing confused me)

Part 2

Part 1

I love my Job

So it's 4:00 in the morning... because my clock is so screwed up, 4 AM is my 8PM. So instead I'm just adding in a new blog post. Below I've listed several reasons why I love my job. I know I may complain about my hours but I really do love my job.

I have 20 new grandpas

I don't have to worry about sun burns at 9:00 at night

it's not as hot when it's so late

the people are too tired to really scream at you

I can get more breaks than most Disney cast members and longer too

Early Release-- given to those who request to go home early if they're not needed

less crowds at night

air conditioned tram cabs or breezy back of tram

a quiet dark apartment to come home to but not creepily alone-- Holly-wind-down time

SLEEP IN!

time to play with roommates at parks before work

my messed up clock saves on groceries because I don't need more than one meal and one snack a day

I end up missing most of the ten-minute downpours

my costume's not so bad, it could always be worse... I could wear the neon full-body hammer-pants for Dino land in Animal Kingdom!

Five after 4AM and time for dinner... oreo cookies and milk? Why not... I work where Wishes Come True ;D