This summer was the most fantastic journey I've ever been on. I cried like a baby when I got there and when I left, both because I loved it there so much. I met Mickey and Belle and Beast. More importantly, I met fellow Canadians, Mexicans, Lithuanians, Europeans, Australians, Americans, Chinese, Japanese, Taiwanese. People from all over the world united by an enormous love for all things Disney.
Things I learned while working at the happiest place on earth:
- Every workplace is less glamorous than you think it will be.
- Pointing with only one finger is rude, and its extra magical to use your whole hand.
- Nova Scotia is next to Russia, and English is not our first language.
- People do stupid things.
- You're never too old to be young.
- Space mountain is terrifying with the lights on.
- Lifelong friends can be made through a mutual love of sitting on the ground in the rain.
- The grey stuff is, in fact, delicious.
-
Dealing with heat and humidity really is just mind over matter.
- 50 Frenchmen can't be wrong.
- Hakuna Matata means no worries for the rest of your days.
- Safe-D begins with me.
- Encouragement gets you so much farther than anger.
- Mexican cooking smells and tastes incredible.
- Mexican culture is social and loud.
- Tower of Terror is terrifying, but also oddly fun.
- You can make friends with anyone just by smiling as asking how they are.
- Once a cast member, always a cast member.
- Wishes do come true.
-
I am capable of anything.
And so much more. Thank you to everyone who made this summer more than wonderful and an absolutely magical time!
August 03, 2013
August 02, 2013
Thank you.
Every day for 75 days I have written a post. Every day for 75 days I have written down the boring, the exciting, the happiness, the sadness, the friends, the rides, the wonder. And every day for 75 days, I knew that you would be reading.
Some days I wake up and re-read the post from the day before just to make sure that 3am-exhausted-can't-keep-my-eyes-open Stephanie has not mistakenly written that the roller coaster went up in flames or something equally ridiculous. Some days I didn't feel like writing one at all; all I wanted was a cup of tea and my bed. So on those days I made some tea, got in bed, and wrote anyway.
This blog was important to me so that I never forget what I did and who I met and how much fun I had. So that I remember every minute of every day of this adventure. But I wouldn't have had the motivation to do it if I didn't have people that were expecting to see it every day!
So thank you! Thank you for believing in me, for loving me, and for being interested enough in my life to want to know what I'm up to and how I'm doing. This summer was the most amazing of my life, and I couldn't have done it without your support.
So I know that my parents and grandparents come here to look every morning, but I don't know who the rest of you are! If you read my blog every day, every week, or only looked at it once over the summer, please leave a comment so that I know who you are!
Thank you for everything!
Love, Stephanie
Some days I wake up and re-read the post from the day before just to make sure that 3am-exhausted-can't-keep-my-eyes-open Stephanie has not mistakenly written that the roller coaster went up in flames or something equally ridiculous. Some days I didn't feel like writing one at all; all I wanted was a cup of tea and my bed. So on those days I made some tea, got in bed, and wrote anyway.
This blog was important to me so that I never forget what I did and who I met and how much fun I had. So that I remember every minute of every day of this adventure. But I wouldn't have had the motivation to do it if I didn't have people that were expecting to see it every day!
So thank you! Thank you for believing in me, for loving me, and for being interested enough in my life to want to know what I'm up to and how I'm doing. This summer was the most amazing of my life, and I couldn't have done it without your support.
So I know that my parents and grandparents come here to look every morning, but I don't know who the rest of you are! If you read my blog every day, every week, or only looked at it once over the summer, please leave a comment so that I know who you are!
Thank you for everything!
Love, Stephanie
August 01, 2013
I will be back.
Today started out with an early trip to Magic Kingdom - of course. Where else would I spend my last day?!? I traveled there with Eduaro and Ornella; new friends from Mexico and France that I worked with all summer. We went to Be Our Guest from brunch, because I knew it was one of the things I wanted to do once more! I had the french onion soup and one of those delightful triple chocolate cupcakes! Ornella had never been, even though she's a fan of Beauty and the Beast; and she's french and said the french food was quite good, so I'll go ahead and trust her on that!
We shopped around in Belle's Village Shop for a few minutes after that, while I waited for Emily to arrive. When she did, I said goodbye to Eduardo and Ornella and promised that if I was ever in France or Mexico, I'd look them up. :)
Emily and I went to Storybook Circus tent to have our grad ears personalized! Instead of getting "ICP 2013" like most of the folks did, I actually put "Class of 2013" since I missed my real graduation! Once they were finished, we wore them with pride for the rest of the day!
We wandered and met up with Kevin - a friend of Emily's from work. Emily had a fastpass for Peter Pan, and so while she did that, Kevin and I did Philhar Magic! He'd never done it, and clearly I was going to do it before I left! It was brilliant, and Kevin thought it was quite good as well!
When we met up again, we all headed to Tomorrowland and all of us got fast passes for Space Mountian... except that Kevin had to go to work during the return time, and Emily needed to go back to housing during the return time. So I got theirs as well as mine!! We hopped on the people mover (Kevin thought it was pointless. Emily and I told him to shuttit) and it was wonderful. After that, I left to head to Epcot for my final goodbye!
I got on the monorail and had a whole car to myself; so I enjoyed the sights and the air conditioning and the view of the Epcot ball as we arrived. One at Epcot, I didn't do very much - a little bit of shopping in Mousegear, went to the Italian pavilion via the boat to get a souvenir for Mom and took a picture with Snow White for Tanya! I tried to find a couple coworkers to say final goodbyes, but I needed to go back to MK to use the three Space fast passes. I sighed as the Epcot ball faded in the distance as I took the monorail back. It was a wonderful park to work in!!!!!
I arrived back at MK and headed right to Space. Not only did I have a fast pass, but I was a single rider, so I got pulled to the front of the line for both of the first two fast passes... by the same cast member. She thought it was awesome that I'd managed to get more than one fast pass from a friend. The third time, I asked to wait to have the front seat - my favorite spot on my favorite ride! So worth it :)
When I got off the rain, the rain was pouring! Because what kind of day trip to Disney would it be without a massive thunder shower?! :) To get out of the rain for a bit, I headed to Main Street where I spent a couple hours in and out of the shops and enjoying the atmosphere of Main Street USA! Emily and I met up again when she got back and spent a few more minutes making sure we weren't forgetting anything important that we'd wanted to buy. Any last minute souvenirs? No takers? Okay, we were off to Liberty Square! We found a couple girls from Emily's work that she said goodbye too, and then met up with Ellie and Mandy and Mandy's friend, Tim. They were eating supper at Colombia Harbour house, but almost as soon as Em and I go there, they left to go do Haunted Mansion. I didn't mind, it gave Emily and I some time to hang out - Thunder was closed today so we skipped Adventure- and Frontier-lands all together, instead going back to Fantasyland by way of the Tangled tower and just strolling slowly through the streets. As we approached Tomorrowland, we decided that we had time to do the people mover once more!! So we jumped on that, enjoying the sight of the electrical parade in the distance. When we finished, we found Mandy, Ellie and Tim again for Celebrate the Magic - they didn't care if they were close to the castle... but I did!!!! Tim came with me and we watched it from right up close. Wishes too! Em, Mandy and Ellie watched from pretty far to the right, but I had a perfect view right up front... and I cried like a baby. We were next to a family who's little girl had never been to Disney before. She was probably 6 or 7 and dressed like Ariel, and when she saw me crying, she started to too!
I sobbed. As soon as the Hercules song started, I was done. And then when it ended I went over to the rest of the group and they started crying too. I said goodbye to Ellie and Keshia and Mandy and Tim and told them to look me up if they were ever on my side of the country. Then I left to find Natalie and we cried too.
All I can say about Natalie and Emily is that I wouldn't have been able to ever leave my apartment if they didn't live in my province. Saying good bye to Em was hard enough and we're form the same town. As in, I'll see her when I'm back in the city. I was so blessed and lucky to meet such wonderful people.
Natlie left to go do Space once more with her roommates and I went to find a spot for the second CtM... The plaza was practically empty and I sat, by myself, right on the pavement right in front of the castle. I composed myself... and started to cry when the lights went out. Aka, before the music even started!!!!! I cried through the whole thing, tears streaming down my face and barely able to breathe.
When it was over, I wiped my face and just sat there, memorizing every inch of that castle - and promising to be back. I left via the middle of Main Street. The lights and the sounds and the smells and the castle... I will be back.
I got home via the bus, saw Andria on the bus, booked a cab for the morning, and finished packing. I said goodbye to Marlenn and Sam, ate Emily's chocolate ice cream and went to sleep.
The memories begun, they never stopped, and they will be with me forever. I can't wait to be back.
We shopped around in Belle's Village Shop for a few minutes after that, while I waited for Emily to arrive. When she did, I said goodbye to Eduardo and Ornella and promised that if I was ever in France or Mexico, I'd look them up. :)
Emily and I went to Storybook Circus tent to have our grad ears personalized! Instead of getting "ICP 2013" like most of the folks did, I actually put "Class of 2013" since I missed my real graduation! Once they were finished, we wore them with pride for the rest of the day!
We wandered and met up with Kevin - a friend of Emily's from work. Emily had a fastpass for Peter Pan, and so while she did that, Kevin and I did Philhar Magic! He'd never done it, and clearly I was going to do it before I left! It was brilliant, and Kevin thought it was quite good as well!
When we met up again, we all headed to Tomorrowland and all of us got fast passes for Space Mountian... except that Kevin had to go to work during the return time, and Emily needed to go back to housing during the return time. So I got theirs as well as mine!! We hopped on the people mover (Kevin thought it was pointless. Emily and I told him to shuttit) and it was wonderful. After that, I left to head to Epcot for my final goodbye!
I got on the monorail and had a whole car to myself; so I enjoyed the sights and the air conditioning and the view of the Epcot ball as we arrived. One at Epcot, I didn't do very much - a little bit of shopping in Mousegear, went to the Italian pavilion via the boat to get a souvenir for Mom and took a picture with Snow White for Tanya! I tried to find a couple coworkers to say final goodbyes, but I needed to go back to MK to use the three Space fast passes. I sighed as the Epcot ball faded in the distance as I took the monorail back. It was a wonderful park to work in!!!!!
I arrived back at MK and headed right to Space. Not only did I have a fast pass, but I was a single rider, so I got pulled to the front of the line for both of the first two fast passes... by the same cast member. She thought it was awesome that I'd managed to get more than one fast pass from a friend. The third time, I asked to wait to have the front seat - my favorite spot on my favorite ride! So worth it :)
When I got off the rain, the rain was pouring! Because what kind of day trip to Disney would it be without a massive thunder shower?! :) To get out of the rain for a bit, I headed to Main Street where I spent a couple hours in and out of the shops and enjoying the atmosphere of Main Street USA! Emily and I met up again when she got back and spent a few more minutes making sure we weren't forgetting anything important that we'd wanted to buy. Any last minute souvenirs? No takers? Okay, we were off to Liberty Square! We found a couple girls from Emily's work that she said goodbye too, and then met up with Ellie and Mandy and Mandy's friend, Tim. They were eating supper at Colombia Harbour house, but almost as soon as Em and I go there, they left to go do Haunted Mansion. I didn't mind, it gave Emily and I some time to hang out - Thunder was closed today so we skipped Adventure- and Frontier-lands all together, instead going back to Fantasyland by way of the Tangled tower and just strolling slowly through the streets. As we approached Tomorrowland, we decided that we had time to do the people mover once more!! So we jumped on that, enjoying the sight of the electrical parade in the distance. When we finished, we found Mandy, Ellie and Tim again for Celebrate the Magic - they didn't care if they were close to the castle... but I did!!!! Tim came with me and we watched it from right up close. Wishes too! Em, Mandy and Ellie watched from pretty far to the right, but I had a perfect view right up front... and I cried like a baby. We were next to a family who's little girl had never been to Disney before. She was probably 6 or 7 and dressed like Ariel, and when she saw me crying, she started to too!
I sobbed. As soon as the Hercules song started, I was done. And then when it ended I went over to the rest of the group and they started crying too. I said goodbye to Ellie and Keshia and Mandy and Tim and told them to look me up if they were ever on my side of the country. Then I left to find Natalie and we cried too.
All I can say about Natalie and Emily is that I wouldn't have been able to ever leave my apartment if they didn't live in my province. Saying good bye to Em was hard enough and we're form the same town. As in, I'll see her when I'm back in the city. I was so blessed and lucky to meet such wonderful people.
Natlie left to go do Space once more with her roommates and I went to find a spot for the second CtM... The plaza was practically empty and I sat, by myself, right on the pavement right in front of the castle. I composed myself... and started to cry when the lights went out. Aka, before the music even started!!!!! I cried through the whole thing, tears streaming down my face and barely able to breathe.
When it was over, I wiped my face and just sat there, memorizing every inch of that castle - and promising to be back. I left via the middle of Main Street. The lights and the sounds and the smells and the castle... I will be back.
I got home via the bus, saw Andria on the bus, booked a cab for the morning, and finished packing. I said goodbye to Marlenn and Sam, ate Emily's chocolate ice cream and went to sleep.
The memories begun, they never stopped, and they will be with me forever. I can't wait to be back.
July 31, 2013
Day: last.
My last day of work!! How has it come so quickly?!
Today I was a cool post day, which is beautifully air conditioned, wonderfully bee-free, and marvelously not busy. It was a very slow day, I had unlimited root beer and I had a good person to work with. Kaylen is form Hong Kong and she is a riot. She's leaving next week, and so understands my sadness. She also did a 10-week program and is sarcastic and witty and hilarious to hang out with! I'm so glad I got a good person to work with; it would have been a very long 12 hours without her!
I watched bits and pieces of Illuminations as I cleaned up, and when I got back to base, I was in no hurry to leave. I banked out, Evan let me have a Mickey Premium ice cream as a goodbye, and then we sat and got talking with Evan, Joey, Karen, Jackie, Kaycey and Kaylen for almost an hour and a half. I miss them all already! We laughed and talked and made fun of Kaylen's accent and made fun of the Canadian 'eh' and made fun pf the Texan 'howdy'. We told stories and laughed and joked and it felt like a family. One that I was desperate not to leave behind. So I stayed as late as I could. But when every one else started to leave, I had to too. Kaycey, Kaylen and I left together, all headed for the bus. I hugged Jackie goodbye and waved to everyone else. I changed out of my costume and set it down the laundry chute. For the last time! Strangely both liberating and saddening! :(
The bus ride home was great - I don't know how I managed to not know these girls until the last week of my program (way to go, Steph) but they are fantastic and I will miss them! The rain was pouring beautiful and warm, and I made plans to see them both tomorrow for at least a hug goodbye; but I think Kaycey and I are going to ride Space Mountain together because we found out that we both just giggle uncontrollably the entire time! ;)
So, now I'm home. Making plans to see everyone I want to hug goodbye. Eduardo and Kaycey and Hudson and Sam and Emily and AHHHHH. So many people that I don't want to say goodbye to :(
And now it's time to pack. Get everything together so that tomorrow I don't have to.
One day left! Make it count!
Today I was a cool post day, which is beautifully air conditioned, wonderfully bee-free, and marvelously not busy. It was a very slow day, I had unlimited root beer and I had a good person to work with. Kaylen is form Hong Kong and she is a riot. She's leaving next week, and so understands my sadness. She also did a 10-week program and is sarcastic and witty and hilarious to hang out with! I'm so glad I got a good person to work with; it would have been a very long 12 hours without her!
I watched bits and pieces of Illuminations as I cleaned up, and when I got back to base, I was in no hurry to leave. I banked out, Evan let me have a Mickey Premium ice cream as a goodbye, and then we sat and got talking with Evan, Joey, Karen, Jackie, Kaycey and Kaylen for almost an hour and a half. I miss them all already! We laughed and talked and made fun of Kaylen's accent and made fun of the Canadian 'eh' and made fun pf the Texan 'howdy'. We told stories and laughed and joked and it felt like a family. One that I was desperate not to leave behind. So I stayed as late as I could. But when every one else started to leave, I had to too. Kaycey, Kaylen and I left together, all headed for the bus. I hugged Jackie goodbye and waved to everyone else. I changed out of my costume and set it down the laundry chute. For the last time! Strangely both liberating and saddening! :(
The bus ride home was great - I don't know how I managed to not know these girls until the last week of my program (way to go, Steph) but they are fantastic and I will miss them! The rain was pouring beautiful and warm, and I made plans to see them both tomorrow for at least a hug goodbye; but I think Kaycey and I are going to ride Space Mountain together because we found out that we both just giggle uncontrollably the entire time! ;)
So, now I'm home. Making plans to see everyone I want to hug goodbye. Eduardo and Kaycey and Hudson and Sam and Emily and AHHHHH. So many people that I don't want to say goodbye to :(
And now it's time to pack. Get everything together so that tomorrow I don't have to.
One day left! Make it count!
July 30, 2013
Goodbye, HS.
Today started early with my lat trip to Property Control! I found some
good deals and left content :) I had to put some things back because I
found myself picking things up that I only liked because I knew I was
leaving. I'm already coming home with no money, lets just leave the
unnecessary things on the shelf, shall we? :)
When I got home I got ready to go to my graduation! All of my friends are going to the one tomorrow, but I work and I wanted to get my ears!! I'm going to get them personalized at MK on Thursday :) there was good food, dance music, and characters in graduation outfits. It was HOT today. Worse than I've felt all summer. Sheesh. I didn't stay long, and instead of going right home, I got right on a bus to Hollywood Studios for my last time.
When I got there, I wandered in and out of stores until it was time for my real reason for coming... One more showing of Beauty and the Beast! I was actually disappointed with the actors who played Belle and Gaston this time around, not that they weren't excellent. Just that now I have my favourites and they weren't there :( it felt a little like a best friend sending a sibling to say goodbye. Similar and heart felt, just not the same!
After that, I checked the bus schedule for getting back home... One hour. I went to check the lines for Rockin' Roller Coaster and was shocked to see hardly a line at all! In fact, there wasn't ANYONE in the single rider line before the merge point. Sounded too good to be true! I walked to the podium only to be handed a fast pass by the family in line beside me!! Their mom didn't want to ride after all!
Not only did I get on the ride faster, but I also had the option to ask for the front seat, which of course I did! The guy in line a couple spots back was also a single rider in the fast pass lane who wanted the front, so we rode together. He recongnized my hat and asked if I was a CP and when I was going home, and we bonded over making a face for the camera. He was wonderful to meet!
When we got outside, Florida was crying to see me go... it was bright and sunny and hot, with huge rain drops falling at the same time. I shopped a little bit more, got my picture taken with the Sorcerer's Hat one last time, and got on the bus home. Goodbye, Hollywood Studios. I will be back.
Once home, I went to the front desk to borrow a vacuum cleaner. They only have one with a hose that worse for vacuum bags for packing, and it had to be back within 40 minutes. I speed packed, let me tell you. I got my big blanket and more than half of my clothes into one vacuum bag and into my suitcase, and then sucked all the air out to make room for more. I returned the vacuum on time, and came back home to pack and pack and pack some more.
I was able to talk to Mom and Dad for a bit, and when Emily go home, we tore our room apart and got all our stuff together and started putting it in suitcases. I'm feeling pretty okay with the way things are looking, but it might be a tight fit!
We're headed off to bed late and I have a full day of work in the am. My last day!! How crazy is that?!
When I got home I got ready to go to my graduation! All of my friends are going to the one tomorrow, but I work and I wanted to get my ears!! I'm going to get them personalized at MK on Thursday :) there was good food, dance music, and characters in graduation outfits. It was HOT today. Worse than I've felt all summer. Sheesh. I didn't stay long, and instead of going right home, I got right on a bus to Hollywood Studios for my last time.
When I got there, I wandered in and out of stores until it was time for my real reason for coming... One more showing of Beauty and the Beast! I was actually disappointed with the actors who played Belle and Gaston this time around, not that they weren't excellent. Just that now I have my favourites and they weren't there :( it felt a little like a best friend sending a sibling to say goodbye. Similar and heart felt, just not the same!
After that, I checked the bus schedule for getting back home... One hour. I went to check the lines for Rockin' Roller Coaster and was shocked to see hardly a line at all! In fact, there wasn't ANYONE in the single rider line before the merge point. Sounded too good to be true! I walked to the podium only to be handed a fast pass by the family in line beside me!! Their mom didn't want to ride after all!
Not only did I get on the ride faster, but I also had the option to ask for the front seat, which of course I did! The guy in line a couple spots back was also a single rider in the fast pass lane who wanted the front, so we rode together. He recongnized my hat and asked if I was a CP and when I was going home, and we bonded over making a face for the camera. He was wonderful to meet!
When we got outside, Florida was crying to see me go... it was bright and sunny and hot, with huge rain drops falling at the same time. I shopped a little bit more, got my picture taken with the Sorcerer's Hat one last time, and got on the bus home. Goodbye, Hollywood Studios. I will be back.
Once home, I went to the front desk to borrow a vacuum cleaner. They only have one with a hose that worse for vacuum bags for packing, and it had to be back within 40 minutes. I speed packed, let me tell you. I got my big blanket and more than half of my clothes into one vacuum bag and into my suitcase, and then sucked all the air out to make room for more. I returned the vacuum on time, and came back home to pack and pack and pack some more.
I was able to talk to Mom and Dad for a bit, and when Emily go home, we tore our room apart and got all our stuff together and started putting it in suitcases. I'm feeling pretty okay with the way things are looking, but it might be a tight fit!
We're headed off to bed late and I have a full day of work in the am. My last day!! How crazy is that?!
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