An Enchanted Moment, and It Sees Me Through

Hello friends. I know what you're thinking. I didn't die, I was just very very busy. I always was terrible with the procrastinating.

Since my last blog post, I celebrated my six-month-iversary on July 25th with my arrival squad Justine, Sarah and of course Nicole. Nicole and I were able to book the day off, so we went to the Japan Pavilion to Tokyo Dining for a delicious and filling (and 50% off!) sushi lunch. We even got more sushi for dessert because we could. To walk off our fullness, we found Justine at work (we got our own boat - we know people) and Sarah at work, we visited Anna and Elsa at the Norway pavilion, we rode Spaceship Earth, and we had some Photopass pictures taken to commemorate the occasion. We collected Sarah and Justine after seeing Star Trek: Beyond and had a late celebration dinner consisting mostly of Domino's and snacks. We already have squad plans for our next month-iversary - next week. When did that happen?

Spaceship Earth and two of its biggest fans.

Squad. Goals. Achieved.

I have also been to Universal TWICE since my last post.
I went on July 29th with Kristin and Shellby for Kristin's last Universal trip (for now) and I went on August 12th with Rachel because we wanted to. This is how you win with an annual pass, people. Kristin's trip involved a very specific itinerary - lunch at Leaky Cauldron, Escape from Gringott's, train to Hogsmeade, Forbidden Journey, Hufflepuff sweater purchase, Butterbeer purchase, and home in time for dinner. We accomplished all the things.

THAT's why they call it "The Leaky Cauldron"!

On a scale from 1 to 10, how much do we love HP?
9 and 3/4. 

The dinner we couldn't miss was at probably my number one restaurant on property - Ohana. It was wonderful to stuff ourselves silly on all the protein and watch the rain fall from the Polynesian. This is the stuff you can't put a price tag on (but somehow Ohana manages). Feeling too full to move anywhere, we decided the best course of action was to mellow out with a hilariously themed beverage from Trader Sam's. Since we were so close and dinner was so early, obviously we had to end the evening at Magic Kingdom. We watched Wishes from Fantasyland such that the fireworks were everywhere and there wasn't a huge crowd wanting to leave after the finale.

We had someone take an actual photo but my selfies are better. 

Rachel and I made our triumphant return to Universal on August 12th. We have very little park time together, all things considered. We left at the crack of 9, cuz Universal busies up in the afternoon and we're efficient. We hit up the Mummy twice, E.T. Adventure, Kang and Kodos Twirl & Hurl, The Simpsons Ride (our bodies hate it), Men In Black and finally to Diagon Alley for an Escape from Gringott's, followed by Leaky Cauldron lunch, Florean Fortescue's ice cream for dessert and a train ride to Hogsmeade. Out time at Islands of Adventure was cut short by the inevitable daily downpour. We rode Forbidden Journey before hoofing it out of there only minutes before we would have been soaked. Good planning, us.

Where we're going, we don't need roads.

August 2nd was a very sad day in the Canada pavilion, as it was the last day of work for magical Canadian Cast Members Kristin and Clifford. Our day started out, as final days often do, in the UK for a little goodbye ceremony wherein certificates are presented and tears are shed before the World Showcase opens for the day. I honestly don't know how they expect us to proceed with our days after starting with such sadness. But we keep calm and carry on, as our UK friends say. Of course, not every Cast Member is an opening Cast Member, so a few of us spent time in the DVC Lounge again before lunch at Sunshine Seasons and then we started work.

Canada Merch selfie, including Micayla on the iPhone.

One more pose in plaid with Kristin.
Did you know we have been mistaken for each other?

August 3rd was Clifford's last full day on Walt Disney World property. Naturally, I was working, but I was able to join the merry band at Magic Kingdom for frolicking, character-meeting, and mad tea-partying before Clifford's last Wishes. This is why I have to see Wishes more frequently, people. I always associate it with people leaving and it makes me sad. Ta ta for now, Clifford, see you in Brockville eventually!

Minnie personally selected the gentlemen for her arm candy. 

On August 4th, I assisted moving Kristin out of Patterson Court (a very unceremonious activity, thank you very much, housing) and into Art of Animation for a few days. We swam in the Big Blue Pool while the thunder rumbled and our fingers pruned up, at which point it was time to head to Magic Kingdom for the evening with Sarah and Shellby for another tragic round of last Wishes. The next day, after a gorgeous sleep in a Little Mermaid-themed room, we headed to Animal Kingdom so Kristin could indulge in Festival of the Lion King a few more times. I think at the end she had seen it 43 times (correct me if I'm wrong). Girl. I had to nap but the party moved to Hollywood Studios later, where I joined Shellby, Kristin and Rachel for a Frozen Sing-Along, and later most of the loyal merchies for Kristin's last Fantasmic - I believe she has now seen it 31 times. Girl.

Me, Kristin and Shellby being attacked by a wild Brer Fox
at the entrance of Animal Kingdom. 

Is this Canada? Snoap, it is the Frozen Sing Along.

While Kristin was boarding her Tragical Express back to the airport, Nicole and I were rising with the sun for a very special tour - The Walt Disney: Marceline to Magic Kingdom tour, beginning far before park open. Marceline to Magic Kingdom is described as a tour that tells you how key events in Walt's life lead to the creation of particular attractions and features of Magic Kingdom. You know how I like to be in the know, so it was right up my alley. We were accompanied by fellow keeners Sarah (from the arrival squad) and Leanne from UK merch. It was so magical and just the distraction I needed from the constant stream of departing cast members.

Nicole, Leanne, our super guide Kelli, Sarah and I.
I blend in with Carousel of Progress.

This past Thursday, the 11th, I braved very early and very hot Magic Kingdom to do something I've never done before at Walt Disney World (yes there is still such a thing) - Witness the welcoming of a new princess into Magic Kingdom! Princess Elena of Avalor was warmly greeted by Prince Charming and Cinderella in front of Cinderella Castle after being accompanied around the hub by a horse-drawn carriage and many many very lucky girl scouts. Princess Elena sang for us and told us how happy she was to be here. No word yet on when actual meet and greets can occur. It was very magical. You may or may not know that I was back from my first program for about a month when Merida's coronation took place. I could not have been more pissed to have missed it. But I got this one!

Katrina is elated to have found her prince
in the crowd behind her.

Emma's totes profesh photo of our newest princess.

I meandered around Magic Kingdom for a few hours with Shellby, Emma, and official princess stalker Katrina. We sat through Hall of Presidents because Katrina wanted to, and we met Belle because Katrina has Memory Maker at the moment and therefore has access to a special meet and greet location. We were joined by my friend Anna and Anna's magical friend Marie, who were also thrilled to meet Belle in her yellow dress.

I like how we all more or less are coordinated with Belle.

I have saved the best part of my last two weeks, and definitely one of the highlights of my program so far, for last.
On Saturday, July 30th, Matt and I travelled to Port Canaveral because we had been invited onboard the Disney Fantasy Cruise ship! My new forever friend Alex (with whom Matt completed his second cultural representative program) invited Matt and a Guest (which was ME this time) to join her in the brief few hours between two of her shifts, in which rooms were being prepared for new Guests, and early bird Guests were being greeted for their one-week Caribbean cruise. Eventually I will be so lucky, but I feel genuinely thrilled to have spent any time aboard at all. After a somewhat scary security process than involved surrendering my ID, having my bag checked three times (once by a dog!), and constantly displaying a "VISITOR" badge, we entered the ship through the crew entrance and into the glorious Atrium Lobby. The Fantasy's lobby is described as being inspired by Art Nouveau, which I totally get now. The Welcome line had already started, so obviously I was doing all the clapping. Alex was able to take us through most of the onboard restaurants, bars, the theatre, the movie theatre, the children's lounge, the nursery (much to Matt's delight), the teen zone, all the pools, and even the cast mess hall, rooms, and bar. Alex very graciously answering my thousands of questions about Cruise Line life over our complimentary buffet lunch, and saw to it that Matt and I were reunited with our former leader Jamie (also hailing from Canada), who is most definitely Alex's current leader. If I wasn't vaguely considering Cruise Line life before, I'm definitely thinking about it now. Who needs a real life when you can live on a ship?! Matt and I eventually did have to disembark, as the ship had to conduct a safety drill before its departure. We sat and sadly watched it sail away without us. Next time, Disney Fantasy, next time.

Minnie Mouse is the icon of the Fantasy.
I'm smiling so hard I can't see.

Let's discuss how even the washrooms are magical.

Mandatory porthole window picture! 

This is Andy's Room, part of the kids' Oceaneers Club. 

I'm in a Bippity Boppity Bootique. AT LAST. 

This is my new best friend Alex and an almost empty pool. 

I believe this is also a mandatory cruise line shot. 

[Not sure if anyone noticed, but I'm actually wearing a Disney Cruise Line shirt I had purchased for SO cheap at Cast Connection. Now that I've been on a ship, it's not a lie.]
As some consolation, we went to Universal (for actually the THIRD time this blog post) to check out the nightly fireworks and have some dinner. Passholder privileges.

We also saw a Horror Makeup Show.
I'm good at waiting for things.

See you real soon!

Lindsey

Pixie Dust to: My new friend Alex, for being the best tour guide a Cast Member could ask for. I will send you so much mail.

Magical Moment: Before Kristin's last Fantasmic, we witnessed many magical moments. We were fantastically amused by a glow merchantainer by the name of Andrew. Many videos were taken, and we even got a group shot with him afterwards. Two PhotoPass photographers were kind enough to mark the occasion with many shots of Kristin and her merch posse celebrating her last day... they even gave her a bunch if magic shots on her own camera. This is why I work here.