Thursday, December 22, 2016

You Must Find Happiness Right Where You Are

I'm aware I owe the world more blog, but this is all I could do for now. Stay tuned.

Yesterday I was reunited with Kara, one of my very favourite human beings in the entire world (and not just the Disney World). I tracked her down at Animal Kingdom with Mandy and Sabrina, more of my favourite humans, and we lunched and rode Dinosaur (I think for the first time since my tour?) and had the most Lion King-esque safari ever. There were seriously animals just everywhere. We saw a giraffe following a water buck around and it was adorable but probably abnormal. I met up with Matt and Mike in the evening for a surprise tour to Celebration, wherein an entire block (well, eleven houses) have been all super-decked out with lights and lasers and screens (and SANTA AND OLAF WERE THERE), rumour has it by an imagineer. I was obviously beside myself since I think this is the closest you can get to the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights nowadays (may Christmas World of Color at Disneyland). It was incredible and not at all cold, although we did see a few people in earmuffs. Can you not, it's like 16 degrees out.

We're pretty good, sure as you're born. 
Maybe Primeval Whirl will take us back to when we all worked together?
On the 20th after work, Sarah and I ran some "errands" at Magic Kingdom. I know, hard life. Really though she had a return or two and we both had some shopping to do. I've actually only purchased one gift this year, as my arrival squad is doing its own secret Santa and I need my secret Santa recipient to feel loved. Because she is. Obviously we got some rides in there too, to break up the monotony of MK (I'm laughing so hard right now). We had the singular most enthusiastic audience in Country Bear Jamboree since Morgan's last day. I swear there must have been a planned meeting of its fan club because we were all so about it and I couldn't have been happier. Additionally, Sarah hasn't done Country Bear Jamboree on our contract, so it was time. We also took in the Tiki Room as a Disneyland throwback and the People Mover because we love it and it amuses me greatly to ride with Sarah. Sarah was going to stick around to see Holiday Wishes but it turns out that only happens on Fridays and Saturdays so I brought her along to Beaches & Cream, where we met Nicole and a few of the attractions girls to conquer the Kitchen Sink. Basically it's the largest dessert I've ever seen and they do a huge announcement and flashing lights are involved. We almost entirely finished it but by the end we had no love left for mint or strawberry ice cream.

This way to... photos no one pays for?
Sarah and I and a Gingerbread Carousel.
The Kitchen Sink... as in, contains everything but.
Nicole is the intrepid first scooper.
On the 19th, Rachel, Sarah and I had an early Christmas dinner celebration at Mama Melrose's at Hollywood Studios. We filled up on carbs (taking home leftovers to leave room for dessert) and, since everyone was at Fantasmic, the park was nearly empty and very spooky. Especially since it had rained and stopped since we ate, so it was foggy as well. You don't know spooky Disney until you're seen a foggy AT-AT staring at you.

Too spoopy.

On the 17th, Matt and I made our third trip to Port Canaveral together to see our fairy favourite crew member, Alex. As we've both done full ship tours this year, we had the chillest visit ever: giant buffet lunch at Cabanas followed by endless napping and resting up on Deck 13 by Satellite Falls. It was amazing and I loved every relaxed minute of it. Although I did get abandoned momentarily on Deck 13 but it turns out Matt and Alex were fetching caffeine so that was acceptable.

Me, Minnie Mouse, and much Christmas decor.
Chats with Nigel and Matt. He'll hate this picture. 
On December 15th, Sarah and I decided to do a Disneyland reunion tour. I realize I haven't written about Disneyland yet but I'll get there maybe. We got all decked out in our Disneyland hats, our Disneyland shirts, and Sarah had her Disneyland map and buttons, and we set out looking as confused as humanly possible as our brains overlaid Magic Kingdom and Disneyland in one giant magical conglomeration. We did things like ride Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and pretend it was Snow White's Scary Adventure, as well as riding Splash Mountain and acting very confused as to why we were beside each other and not in single file. We may have crossed the line in Disney hipster-dom but I maintain that Photopass was very amused by our antics. Oh and we had lunch at Be Our Guest. Our stamina has run down since actual Disneyland however, since by the time we hit up the People Mover (and Sarah found out I'm not to be trusted on the People Mover), we were downright exhausted. Oh but I saw Rogue One that night at 1130, and although I have no idea how I stayed awake for it, I was very smug about having seen it first the next day (me to Guests: "Oh you haven't seen Rogue One yet? I have.")

This is the most appropriate picture from this interaction.
We were all a little Goofy. 
Sarah and I being very confused in the back row.
Wednesday the 14th was one of the happiest and saddest days of my program. Actually probably my life (my life is Disney programs). Wednesday the 14th was my arrival squad's Service Celebration. Justine, Nicole, Sarah and I got beautifully dolled up and at the crack of 11, lined up again and again to receive our graduation ears (complete with golden tassel), our completion certificate (although we haven't completed anything yet), our obligatory photo with graduation gown-clad Mickey and Minnie Mouse, our memory boxes (which really need to be bigger), our Domino's pizza (a staple of housing events) and one hilarious group photo with Pluto and Goofy. Sarah, our Disney champion, decided to stick around for a photo with the elusive but creepy Dumbo, so the rest of us napped until she returned. We obviously dined at Steak & Shake before going to Magic Kingdom, where we got our absolutely mandatory castle and purple wall picture, and we got our ear hats embroidered. We returned to Chatham and drank much wine and many rounds of Cards Against Humanity before a not-too-late bedtime. The end is near, fam, and I don't like it.

The best squad, the purplest wall. 
The bosses are proud but ready to have me deported.
Where all the poor grads go to eat.

I'm hoping to have another productive afternoon wherein I get more blog written. There's a big gap in time between my last post and this one and I'll get to it. I'm running out of time though and I'm really feeling the stress. Thanks for understanding. Love you all.

See you real soon!

Lindsey

Magical Moment: I know I haven't mentioned Disneyland at all yet, but I met Casey from ParkBoundButtons there, and she returned to Disney World and I saw her again! Good seeing you, girl, thanks for the magical moment.

Pixie Dust to: My arrival squad. I only see one of you every day but I love you all equally and I can't imagine the day when you won't all be together at Magic Kingdom anymore.