Wednesday, November 2, 2016

If You Aren't Shaking, There's Something Very Wrong

Greetings friends!

Pardon the rather hastily written post, but tonight I am off on an adventure, and I felt some reading material for my fans might be necessary until my return. Sarah and I are off to the original Happiest Place on Earth, and we leave very soon, that's right Disneyland, we are coming for you! Anyway.

After the hurricane passed, Shane and I decided it was in good taste to attend the only Disney park that's allowed to mock natural disasters, Typhoon Lagoon. It was obviously still completely intact post-hurricane, and perfectly sunny for October. We were there for the tanning but unfortunately it's getting a little cold to spend the whole day in a lazy river. So in the evening we went to Magic Kingdom to buy matching shirts and watch the very last Main Street Electrical Parade with Sabrina and Eric. It's supposed to be going to Disneyland but it won't have started by the time I visit.

Shane is watching the sun set on good
weather for water parks.
I've never camped out for the Main Street Electrical before.
I guess I never will again?
On the 14th, I was reunited briefly with my favourite Fairy from the Disney Fantasy, Alex! She returned from her homeland of the UK to go back for another contract on the Disney Fantasy, so Matt, Mike and I fetched her from the airport, brought her to Chick Fil-A (not generally available onboard a ship) and brought her to the Polynesian resort, where we found other crew members, to watch HalloWishes from the beach. No pictures, but I'm sure no one wants to by photographed after so many consecutive hours of flight. More of Alex to come though!

On the 15th, I brought Nicole and Patrick to Sanaa for their first time. We obviously ordered the overwhelmingly incredible bread service, which totally won over Nicole and Patrick, as did the constant outdoor bonfire and animals. Nicole actually went back less than a week later, so it must be love.

On the 16th, I attended Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party for the second time, courtesy of Kara but with her sister Devyn, Mandy, and Louise. We took many picture with the infamous purple wall of Magic Kingdom, so this was definitely an event that was well-documented. We took in the Boo to You Parade twice, and had front row to the final Hocus Pocus Spelltacular show of the evening. We also looked totally gorgeous obviously.

So... can you guess my costume?

OH HEY BOSS we're not partying it's fine.

The most spooktacular crew around.

On the 23rd, I attended my only round of Halloween Horror Nights at Universal for the season. I didn't even have to drive, since I attended with fellow driver Mandy and Devyn. We met Nick Kush there, and he's kind of an expert and enthusiast on Horror Nights, so collectively we got through five houses I think, American Horror Story was absolutely the best. When we weren't being jump-scared to death, mine was the group screaming "YAS GAGA" in admiration of the well-done "Hotel" sequence.

Who's ready to get spoopy at HHN?

October 26th, as friends, family and fans know, was my 32nd birthday! I didn't really have much of a plan, so I gathered up some of my favourite people to do a Four Parks Challenge. Well, less of a "challenge" and more of a "things Lindsey likes at all four parks". We started at Animal Kingdom and did Festival of the Lion King and Kilimanjaro Safaris (and two Starbucks stops), then went to Epcot for lunch at Sunshine Seasons, a ride on Soarin and Living with the Land, then a quick detour to Norway to ride Frozen TWICE (which I haven't ridden since its first week), before stopping by Canada and then to Hollywood Studios. Sorry Studios, we kind of short-changed you with only riding Toy Story Midway Mania and visiting Starbucks before leaving you for Magic Kingdom, but... we were running out of time. We got to Magic Kingdom in time to experience the Enchanted Tiki Room, Country Bear Jamboree, have dinner at Pecos Bill's and ride Peter Pan's Flight (as well as pose for birthday posse pictures to be seen soon!) before heading home, because I'm 32 now and I just wanted to go to bed. It was still over twelve hours, and it was one of my most magical birthdays ever. Thanks for your company, support, and friendship, crew.

My amazing birthday crew at Animal Kingdom.

My slightly different crew at Hollywood Studios

At midnight after my birthday, it was suddenly Sabrina's birthday! She celebrated by going to work and we met her later for my third round of Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. I believe Sabrina's sole objective was to have front row viewing for all four Hocus Pocus shows, and she definitely accomplished it. Jen and I broke off for much trick or treating and some hub grass relaxing, but we were all reunited for the last Hocus Pocus show of the evening. It was my third time celebrating Halloween since September 2nd, so by the time actual Halloween came around, I was ready for the next thing.

The frightful friends, absolutely on point.
On Saturday, October 29th, Matt and I made our glorious return to the Disney Fantasy while it was parked (docked?) at Cape Canaveral, and this time Mike was able to come to. We were again, visiting the fabulous Alex, who was covered in (figurative) pixie dust as usual. The atrium was totally decked out for Halloween, featuring a giant spooky Halloween tree. Alex said that when Guests come on board, then get to plant a seed on the Halloween tree, and then by the end of the cruise, their seeds will have blossomed. Into what, I don't know, but the tree was dead-looking and naked when we arrived. There were also Mickey pumpkins everywhere along the railings of the atrium, and many portholes had either cobwebs or Jack-O-Lantern faces. I appreciated it, as an October baby and Halloween fan. This time, we were able to see the Royal Court restaurant a little more than last time, and we spent a little lazy time dipping our feet in the Satellite Falls pool on the uppermost deck, which was still very warm for the end of October (even for Florida, I promise). A beautiful day in a decadent environment, it was glorious.

Alex and I with the Fantasy's Halloween Tree!

The entrance to the Royal Court restaurant.

Me and fairies Alex and Laura
Although I'm excited to go to Disneyland very soon, I'm sad to end this post on a sad note. Yesterday was Shane's last day of his CRP. I think he was more excited to dye his hair finally than anything else, but our favourite leaders showed up at our cart to say some very nice/very sarcastic things and present Shane with both his certificate of completion and his trainer certificate. We took a lot of pictures, had a lot of laughs, and shed a few tears (ok mostly me), and we saw him again that night for his throw out with bright blond hair. See you at Christmas, Shane! Bring me a job? Thanks.

See you real soon!

Lindsey

Magical Moment: So I was at the cart alone yesterday and someone called out my full name. It turns out it was a lovely former cast member named Laura who had started her program two weeks after mine had ended, and she had read my blog. Is this what celebrities feel like? Cuz that's how I'm feeling. 

Pixie Dust to: Mom, Grandma, Kim and Kristin especially for the birthday mail. I love mail.