Blue Martininis!

16/8/12

This evening after Busch Gardens a load of us went out for Pauls birthday to Blue Martinis, a cocktail bar at Mall of Millenia. It's the first time we've been out to a dressy place and was actually so nice to all get dressed up for once rather than the usual shorts and t-shirts at cowboys! I only had one drink so I made it a Blue Martini which comes with a glow stick and it was really nice but their drinks are so strong I didn't even finish it. In the taxi home everyone was up for going to McDonalds but then only me and Megan ended up there at half 3 in the morning!

17/8/12

Heard some more amusing things at work today. We have a shop with lots of 'Keep Calm and Carry On' merchandise which I am always explaining the origin of. Then today I hear a man tell his wife 'Oh this is the motto for the Olympics' ?!? Pretty much every other guest at the moment is a Brit and I met some people from Woodley for the first time since I've been here. Was funny as their son mentioned names of a few guys I recognised from working at Sainsburys.  Then later I met a girl and guy from Wokingham and it turned out they were in the year below me at my secondary school!
In the closing meeting our leader showed us an autograph book that a child had lost and in the front is a message to the child from his/her mother about the upcoming trip to Disney and how she can't wait to hear all about it which is so cute and there's a few autographs in it. As the child has written part of the address in the front they are going to find out where he lives and post it to him. However, as it's Disney we're not just doing that. Our leader is going to get autographs from all of the characters that he can and we are all going to sign it and take a picture with it and then write a story to the child about how all the autographs got in the book! This is exactly what I love about Disney!

8 Weeks Down and I Finally Leave Disney!

15/8/12     Busch Gardens!

So I have been here for 8 weeks and finally I've done something outside of Disney! Me, Kate and Nathan got up early and headed to Busch Gardens which is a first for me as I've never been there. We got a coach from outside Publix that turned out to be free although we expected to pay $10! It took just over an hour to get to Tampa and the coach driver was so nice and she played movies. I now have an annual pass to Busch Gardens and Sea World as once you've paid to go to each park once you've spent the cost of an annual pass and I will definitely go to Sea World quite a few times.

It's mainly a coaster park and we started off on Gwazi, the Southeasts largest and fasted  wooden rollercoaster that was soo bumpy my head hurt when we came off. Then we headed to SheiKra which is 200 feet up and has two 90' drops with no floor. Not gonna lie I was absolutely petrified at the top! I find the Tower of Terror drop hard on the stomach so I thought this would be worse but as you go fowards it feels way different and I loved it! It's just when your hanging off the edge and it holds you for ages its horrible! We did the log flume where I got soaked so then we did the Congo River Rapids as we figured we may as well get soaked now and dry off in the sun. We got drenched! I swear my shorts were still wet on the coach home. The next rollercoaster was Kumba which was a pretty standard looping coaster. We then headed for Cheetah Hunt which was a triple launch coaster. Definitly one of my favorites as it didn't loop much and just kept launching you really fast. The last coaster was Montu, one of the worlds longest inverted coasters and it was the smoothest coaster I've ever been on. By this time it was like 4pm and we'd had lunch so we'd gotten on way more rides than I thought we would. The park seemed really emtpy which is strange for August and the longest we queued was like half an hour. We went on the Skyride to get some views of the Animals which was nice and it reminded me of when Magic Kingdom had one.  When we got off we were right by SheiKra  and as there was no queue we thought we'd do it again. When it got to the top i did think why am I doing this again?! But after the drop I loved it and I'm so happy we did the front row both times. We caught the train which goes around the park and the section with all the animals and we saw some zebras and giraffes. Then we got off to do the Rhino Rally but as we were in the queue it closed as if there's lighting within 5 miles all the rides closed, and as it's pretty much all outdoor rides everything closed! By this time it was 6.30 though and the park closed at 7 so we did pretty well to last this long without a storm. It was such a fun day out and was nice to get out of Disney although the whole day I was thinking 'they wouldn't have that at Disney!' Like the staff looked so bored and not happy to be there plus there was noone controlling you at a lot of the queues. Makes me realize just how much Disney go above and beyond in everything they do!

Another Week Gone!

8/8/12

I have had a cold for the past couple of days so been feeling absolutely rubbish. Spent today sunbathing with a box of tissues which is very strange feeling so ill when it's so nice and hot! Opened up a bank account this morning then sunbathed in the afternoon at the Polynesian with Hannah. The resort is amazing and I'd love to stay there but it's incredibly expensive. There's a Spirit of Aloha dinner show that I want to do sometime with hula dancers and stuff. There wasn't the usual afternoon storm so we sat by the pool until around 7pm which was nice for a change! We watched some electric light boat show thing on the lagoon and roasted marshmallows, then sat on sun-loungers watching Toy Story until Wishes started.

                                                      Grand Floridians Wedding Pavillion

                                                                Roasting Marshmallows

9/8/12

Back to work after my two days off was hard with such an annoying cold. I kept going out the back whenever I needed to blow my nose! Was good though because I spent most of my day in the Crown and Crest where it's pretty quiet, I picked up the bump for there at 12 and after every one of my breaks so I pretty much did my whole shift in that store which can usually get pretty boring. I got told again that I sounded Australian but because of my cold my voice does sound different. I met some people who live in Earley and I knew the road so that's the closest people to me I've met so far! I also got told that I was a lot nicer than the girls in France as I was happy to chat to guests for ages so that was nice! I also came across some guests who had no idea we have a firework show?! so I gave them tips on good viewing areas and then I had a lady who after buying drumsticks with the Union Jack on realized that this wasn't the USA pavillion but the red white and blue colors on the drumsticks were good enough!?
Today was Clares birthday so after work me, Kerry and Nathan jumped on a bus at Boardwalk to Magic Kingdom to meet her for Wishes. Due to a thunderstorm they ended up canceling wishes but we did get to  watch 'The Magic, The Memories and You' show that they project onto the castle whilst lighting lit up the sky so we had fun.

10/8/12

I've now developed a cough which sucks but my blocked nose isn't so bad so hopefully this cold won't last much longer, I hate feeling crappy at work. I spent the morning on toys and kidcot which was fun and then closed in Sports where it was insanely busy. I had to deal with my first lost child and it's like argh! what's the procedure! But his Dad found him before my co-ordinator got back to me so it was good. He was so sweet though and looked like he was about to cry so I just kept him chatting to him as I phoned my co-ordinator. A lot of people were heading to the cinema after work but I didn't want a late night and needed to get some more medicine so Becky walked to Walgreens and Publix with me. There's a part of the walk where it's dark and there's lots of bushes and we were both stomping our feet really loudly to scare off any snakes, was so funny. I haven't seen any here yet except for a dead one near the bus stop that had been run over by a car. It was gross. Apparently a guest saw one at work on the bridge to France the other day. And a guy posted a pic on facebook of security taking away some deadly snake near the bus stop the other day. I got myself some Dayquil which is so good and then some gross cough medicine, I'm fed up of spending money on medicine but at least it's cheaper than a $300 doctors visit!

11/8/12

I felt better today but still have a stuffy nose so skipped Cowboys tonight as rest is the only thing to get rid of a cold! Work was quite fun. I was on Toys, then Kidcot and a little girl said to me' your hairs falling infront of your eyes', then she brushed my fringe out of my eyes but it fell back again and then she goes 'its fallen in your face again why is it infront of your face?' in a really angry tone?! I closed in Queens and was there for three hours but it was fun as Sherry our perfume rep works in there and you always have fun with her. She also brings in lots of food like brownies and crisps that we can munch on out the back it's great and today she gave some of us a lift home which was incredible. Left Epcot at 9.15 and was back at the Commons by 9.30, first time Ive been in a car since I've been here and I miss it! At the end of the night a couple came in with the cutest girls in strollers, one was like 2 and the other 4 so as it was empty I crouched down and had a long conversation with the 4 year old she was just too cute! She was so happy to chat to me and really impressed that I came from London as the Olympics are there. She told me she came to Disney on a school bus?! That's the one thing I love about this job you can just chat and have fun with guests for as long as you want when it's quiet.

12/8/12

Today after work we caught the end of the closing ceremony in the clubhouse with free drinks and popcorn. Missed most of it though it was the Brazilians onstage and that was kinda rubbish! But I want to watch it all online as so many people said it was good but bizarre! I came out here thinking I'm happy to not be in London for the Olympics and I don't really care about it but seeing pics of people at the games and how Team GB did their best for years made me want to be there! Also sooo many Americans have told me that London did such a great job and they thought the Olympics were done really well by us Brits and we should be proud! So go London!

13/8/12

Today on Kidcot Tigger stole all of my stamps so I couldn't do the kids Duffys or passports. I had to tell my line of kids to wait whilst I demanded Tigger give me back the stamps as he had hidden them all, was so funny.

Standard Lasses tonight after work and there was rumours it would be a Lads Takeover, where the Head Lads come over and run it and the Head Lasses go to Lads. After about half an hour of being there the Head Lads came storming through the door with pitchers of alcohol yelling you drink it or you wear it. So I got to experience my first Lads takeover and it was hilarious, although if I'd been at work the next day no way would I have stayed! We went to a International party after and I came home with a grass skirt and some hawaiian necklace things, plus I managed to get in for free whilst everyone else paid so it was a good night!

14/8/12

The first day of my weekend 'Tragic Tuesdays', we always spend sunbathing somewhere and we did the Grand Floridian again. Then in the evening I joined Megan, her brother and Charlie at Hollywood Studios for Megans last Fantasmic as she leaves this week. She extended for a month so it was nice getting to know her over the last few weeks as shes lovely and one of the first people to leave that I'll miss! I'll also never watch Fantasmic the same way again after she pointed out 'fire blanket ariel'.

Attempted to take this Tot pic with my phone as ride photos are too expensive! I'm on the left, second row!

Kitchen Sink time!!

1/8/12

After work me, Becky, Clare and Amy walked to Fantasia mini golf which is at the Swan and Dolphin hotel just behind Epcot. Had such a fun time I haven't played crazy golf in so long and it's a really fun course. I came in third so not too bad considering Clare was taking scores and we weren't allowed to cheat which I usually do! After we headed to the Yacht and Beach Club Resort to the Ice Cream Parlour 'Beaches and Cream' where we met Kerry, Chloe and Nathan as we were going to have the Kitchen Sink. It's this massive ice cream concoction containing loads of diff flavours, brownies, cake, oreos, bananas, sauces and a WHOLE can of whipped cream! If someone orders it they have lights that flash and they announce it to the room and it comes in an actual kitchen sink! We had our whipped cream on the side though as not everyone wanted it. Then afterwards we ended up going to Maccy Ds which sounds bad as we ate all that ice cream but there was 7 of us sharing it and we hadn't eaten all evening!

                                                        I can't make this video the right way up!

2/8/12

Went to Jellyrolls at the Boardwalk Resort after work and it's my new favorite place!!! It's a dueling piano bar where you write your request on a napkin with a tip and leave it on the piano. Unfortunately they didn't play our request (tipping $1 when others tip $20 doesn't work!).The songs they played were great though, they know absolutely anything. A lot of US songs we'd never heard of but then some N*sync 'Bye Bye Bye' and The Divinals 'I Touch Myself' which made me think of my 21st as we were always singing that song! When they played A Part of Your World us girls were singing every word it was such a great night, You get free popcorn too and the special offer drink is huge. Def gonna be going back there!


6/8/12

Today I had a 4.45 finish which I've never had and prob won't get again as I'm on closes all next week. As Clare finished then too we decided to walk to Hollywood Studios and I got a funnel cake which Ive always wanted to try. So good but soo filling, especially as I had it with strawberrys and ice cream. All the rides had ridiculous wait times, can't wait until September when there's not so many tourists!  We watched the Indiana Jones stunt show and was full up but we got the front row, def gonna sit there again it's the best place to check out the guys in the show! Then we used our fast passes for Star Tours and since the rides been updated its amazing. You can get a different sequence each time and we had the best one I've seen. You either get to go to Tatooine, Hoth, or the wookie planet and on my last ride I did the pod racing on Tatooine and Clare went to the wookie planet so it was pretty cool this time to go to Hoth and fly through the AT-AT battle. Then we had the Princess Lei hologram which is so well done but apparently you could also get yoda. Our final scene we got Naboo and the underwater city with Jar Jar Binks. Such a good combo and I love how it can be different each time. When we were done we met Kerry and did the animation studio where you learn to draw a character. I can't believe I've never done it before it's so much fun although we drew Buzz Lightyear and we didn't really want to draw him. I also have a stinking cold and could not stop blowing my nose all day so I've been going to bed early and trying to eat healthy. I spent loads in Wal-Mart on Sunday so I'm gonna try and not buy too much food out anymore as it's too expensive!

                                                                                  Buzz?

Came home to the best note from one of my housemates!

7/8/12

I slept in late as my cold is so bad and I felt rubbish. My roomate Mars has also caught it now so I feel bad! Decided I needed to get some fresh air and I haven't sunbathed in two weeks so I headed to the Boardwalk to sunbathe there. My tan is fading I really need to try and sunbathe for an hour in the morning before work. The bus I needed never came so I ended up meeting Amy, Becky, Kim, Dan and Kate at the Grand Floridian. Last time I met them there it rained as soon as I arrived but luckily today we sunbathed till 5ish then a storm came.

                                                    A bride and groom holding our bus up!

Weekly Update!

26/7/12

So after my start to the day with the bus breaking down the rest of the day was fine. In the evening me and Kerry helped Clare and Amy move from Patterson to Commons as they had ridiculous been placed in a one room apartment with 3 beds shoved in the room in a new trial by housing which definitely doesn't work! We got carts from security and hauled all their stuff down the road at about midnight after which we got take out Pizza Hut. $10 for a large cheese with 5 bread sticks and 10 cinnamon sticks, bargain! So now I've helped four people move appartments I def know who to call on if I ever move!

27/7/12

So today was my brothers birthday and he put a pic up on facebook of his cake and presents on the lounge table, it's really strange seeing pictures from home knowing you won't be there for ages! Me and Clare had the best start to the morning ever as we discovered Cast Connection and Property Control! Behind Magic Kingdom are two huge buildings. Cast Connection has old Disney merchandise that's not sold in the parks anymore because its out of date (like anniversary or year specific items) or just old stock. And it's all on sale at such good prices we had so much fun buying stuff! I got a Duffy bear for just over $6 (they retail at $30) just because it had clothes on from MKs 40th. Then next door in Property Control they sell all damaged stock and lost and found at 75% off!! Some of it is badly damaged and crap but you can definitely find a bargain in there. I got an autograph book for $2 as a kid had scribbled on one page! And Claire bought a load of stuff like Mickey ears and plush's that were just slightly marked. It's my new favorite place to go and even better you can take family and friends into Cast Connections so will def be taking mine their to find some bargains! We then took the monorail to work which is so much fun to say you can do!

After work we saw The Dark Knight and its amazing. Very long, we didn't get out till gone 2am but def worth seeing!

 
                                                                      This is wear I work!

28/7/12

Saturday was time for Cowboys again. They had some sort of competition going on involving guys taking their tops off which is always good. I def want to learn to line dance whilst I'm here though as it looks like so much fun and it's crazy trying to join in when they're all so good you just get trampled on! Some of the new guys came out with us so it was good to meet them.

29/7/12

Actually had to call 911 for the first time at work today. I knew it would happen sooner or later but its so stressful when it does! It's just Disney's own 911 team that you call but as soon as you do security and paramedics and leaders are on the scene straight away. Basically a young woman with special needs had been stung by a bee or wasp or something and was in distress and her sister asked for help and all you can really do is point them in the direction of first aid which is really far away as you can't help out yourself or call 911 which I did.

Apart from that I met some people from Lower Early in Reading which is the first time I've met guests from near where I live.

30/7/12

Lasses time again, this night we met up with the Mexicans and everyone said we had to go as noone parties like the Mexicans. They were right, it was one of the funniest nights Ive had out here, just sooo happy I wasn't working the next day!

31/7/12

Most of us Merchies have been put on a 6 day week so this was my only day off. I didn't make it out of bed until about mid day so met up with some people sunbathing at a resort. It rained not much longer after I got there so instead I introduced Amy to my new favourite place - Cast Connections! They had some good stuff in there again, including Ipad covers at 75% off as the packaging was damaged. In the evening we just got dinner at Taco Bell at the Outlets across the road and did some shopping. First shopping Ive done since I got here! Got some tops and shorts, now I'm gonna try and save some money as theres a really nice shop there with some cute dresses and skirts I like.