Good Things are Sure to Come your Way

Hello friends. It's been awhile. Right into it, shall we?

It's my Sunday night which means it's Friday for real people. I started my day with a breakfast of champions at Bob Evans, where I had not eaten on this program yet. Biscuits all the way. I needed the energy to return to Cast Connection, as I had not been given a shirt I paid for, when I discovered ridiculous sales on all the RunDisney merchandise. So if you see me in a RunDisney shirt thats many sizes too large... it was very cheap and you never know. I probably have walked that distance in a day. I made a routine trip to Walmart before heading home for the afternoon to relax. Nicole and I *gasp* LEFT the Disney bubble in the evening for a performance at the Dr. Phillips Center (not Centre) for the Performing Arts by the newly rebranded Opera Orlando. Nicole is a talented opera singer in real life, so it was her idea, but as I rarely see theatre I don't already know, I enjoyed it as well. Also I felt super classy because now I can say "Oh, I was at the Opera you see...".

Even the ceiling of the theatre (theatER)
is interesting.

Nicole where she belongs... 

...And me just enjoying being there.

On Thursday I started my day with a round at Cast Connection for no particular reason other than it had been awhile and I just got paid. Let's just say I acquired enough Disney trading pins to keep me afloat for the rest of my program (... hopefully...). I made a quick trip to Florida Mall to acquire a Baloo tsum tsum (he's so cute, it was worth the trip) and chilled (literally) at home until I rewatched Star Wars: The Force Awakens with Matt and Mike (they have a fancy projector. It's fancy). I may have swooned a bit for Kylo Ren, renewing my motivation to get myself to Hollywood Studios to encounter him again.
On Tuesday at work I had surprise visitors in the form of my friend Anna and her friend, and my new friend, Tina, who extended an invitation for hangouts and dinner later in the evening at Epcot. I miraculously had a short day so obviously this was going to happen. We rode Journey Into Imagination and Living with the Land before having a mini hair-braiding party in what used the be the waiting area for Soarin'. We then checked into our dinner at Garden Grill, which was legitimately on my bucket list of things to accomplish on this program. It's a slowly rotating restaurant in The Land which serves a feast consisting of a lot of things you'd have at Thanksgiving. Oh, and you meet Chip, Dale, Pluto AND Farmer Mickey Mouse. Basically it's great. Plus the scenery changes while you're not looking (because you're spinning!). We were obscenely full but so happy by the end of the meal, as we had had the most magical server ever and we rotated twice around the restaurant. Oh, and Dale proposed to me during dinner. Chip had previously proposed to Anna at another meal at Garden Grill so basically we're having a double wedding. Clear your calendars.

Permanent Residency, here I come. 

So happy together.

Here's where I switch up my days to make things a little more understandable. On April 14, Laura and I had a big American breakfast at Perkins before a delightful round of mini-golf at Fantasia Gardens. This was also on my list of things to do this program, as I somehow never got around to it last time. I'll also get around to Winter Summerland, near Blizzard Beach. Fantasia is a wonderful 18-hole course all super Fantasia-themed, with all the music and various well-themed obstacles. Honestly, Laura and I did pretty well (or pretty well at not counting properly, whatever) and it was just unbelievably warm.

You get satyr music when you get a hole-in-one. 

Laura lamenting the adorable but annoying Hop Lo mushroom.

Have you ever seen a golf course like this? Have you? 

I'm not quite as good at golf as the hippo is at ballet. 

After golf and some packing, I went to Port Orleans French Quarter to make the most out of the time I got in this glorious resort, while keeping busy before picking up magical friend and CRP alumna Alison at the airport. We took a boat to Disney Springs (formerly Downtown Disney, if you'll recall) and spent the evening catching up over drinks and shareable appetizers at Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar. Jock Lindsey was Indiana Jones' sidekick and pilot, so there's more artifacts and memorabilia in this bar than a standard fan could handle or would notice. Theming for days. Two thumbs way up for the bar and the spelling. We tried to squeeze in some shopping but couldn't get much done in the time we had left, having missed our last boat and getting to experience the bus back to Port Orleans instead.

Well-themed and under-photographed.
My phone died. Sad face. 

Six giant beignets, s'il vous plait. 

The next morning we had a hearty Disney resort breakfast of Mickey waffles (thanks, Alison!) before packing up and moving out of the lovely Port Orleans. Alison was continuing her vacation at the Walt Disney World Dolphin resort, which is not all the way owned by Disney (you can tell cuz they charge for parking and wifi), and I was continuing my day at Epcot. I met Matt at MouseGears and we got our own private boat on the Gran Fiesta tour in Mexico. Basically, guests think we're famous now. We checked out Norway for any apparent progress on the new Frozen attraction (maybe there's a new mountain?) before heading back to Canada, where I had a schedule bid appointment and where I had to check out our newly installed wine bar. We snagged a Fast Pass for Test Track, and I snagged my preferred days off, and we explored Innoventions East and found a previously unexplored exhibit called Colortopia. Basically you learn about how colour makes people feel before getting to paint a wall with coloured lights, all narrated by Ty Burrell. It was super! Afterwards, Mike and I were slaughtered in Monopoly but we generally fine with it.

Painting with colour and light! MAGICAL!

I've had a bit of a social lull this month but it's sure to pick up now that I'm over my second cold of my program. There isn't enough vitamin C and hand sanitizer on the planet to keep me healthy in this state. Between this post and the last, my only other social activity was attending Typhoon Lagoon waterpark on April 8 with seldom seen but much loved Sarah. I had doubt about how my impending cold would affect my ability to tackle giant waves, but with some gentle enouragement I did very well and split a sand pail (all the soft serve one can handle served in a plastic sand pail) with Sarah as a reward. We also thoroughly enjoyed the lazy river on more than one occasion and defeated the Crush'n Gusher. It was wonderful times, made even more wonderful by dinner at Sweet Tomatoes with Matt and Mike.

So excited for the sunshine and the company!

We are all caught up friends. Looking forward to my next round.

See you real soon!

Lindsey

Magical Moment: Our server Patrick at Garden Grill, singing our table a Sweet 16 song he had written to the tune of You'll Be in my Heart. I asked him to sing it twice, since I'll be 32 this year.

Pixie Dust to: My mom! For sending me a fantastic Canada shirt.

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

Hello friends!

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

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

My ears do not belong in this park. 

I'm very comfortable with all of this.

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

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

Waiting to prove we know all the words to Frozen.

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

Princess Kylo, Princess Lindsey and Princess Amanda

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

Now we're Polynesian princesses.

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

Angela and I recovering from puns at Skipper Canteen.

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

A Citizen of Hollywood expressing interest in Juliet.

Enter Epcot, find Pocahontas. Such luck!

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

See you real soon!

Lindsey

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

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