Happy December! I can not believe I only have a month left in my program and that my family will be here in a few days. In some ways it feels like yesterday that they dropped me off and in other ways it feels like last year. So many ups and downs here in Disney but, in light of the friendships I've made here, I wouldn't trade the experience for anything. I have learned a great deal here in Disney and, though I don't know what I immediate future holds at this precise moment, I know the lessons I have learned here (positive and negative) have already put me in a great place to step forward.
To recap on this past week.....
It was my first holiday week working in Disney and was full of some great moments and VERY early mornings.
Sunday (11/24): Sunday saw the first cold day here in Florida, and by cold I mean 65 degrees...I had to pull out the north face...going home to real winter is going to be brutal. Work on Sunday wasn't all that bad except in was the first day of a seven day period of working until 4/4:30 AM. I didn't know how I was going to survive it but I knew I had my friends so I would get through some how.
Monday (11/25): I went to Panera for lunch with Gina, Mallorie, and Thea and then went to Verizon to have my phone check....and then went home and got ready to go back to work. Lunch with friends = successful day.
Tuesday (11/26): I was able to get my phone fixed, basically, on Tuesday morning - microphone issue and then got a Carmel drink at Panera (because the one from the day before was just tooo good). Tuesday afternoon wasn't filled with too much activity; the real excitement began Tuesday night.
I had planned to see Frozen with Mallorie, Thea, Kenzie and Cliff (who all got their tickets the day before), but alas it was sold out of course. So I figured there was no other option then to go to Raglan Road for a drink ;). My friend Alice from work joined me as she was going to see Frozen with us but, like me, was faced with the reality it was sold out.
Our time at Raglan was truly wonderful as it was the first time I got to sit inside at the bar and watch the live music and see the dancers. It felt like I was back in Ireland again. I got to learn more about Alice and her family and it turns out she is a citizen of Ireland and her father is a native Irishmen. Need less to say, we were in our element.
Raglan's Ceiling.
After Raglan we went home and got dolled up before going to Jelly Rolls with Alice's Room mate, Annie, and her other friend from work. After being at Raglan for a little bit Jordan (a fellow Co-Cast Member from the Emporium) came and we rang in his 25th birthday in style. My rendition of "I Want It That Way" was something to treasure and I broke it down dancing to "Bye Bye Bye" (despite whatever the stupid, jealous, pianist on left said).
We sang some old tunes and recent ones and had a great note.
Also fantastic side note: I ran into some basketball players from SJU. They were down here playing in the tournament. THWND!
Wednesday (11/27): Wednesday morning I relaxed and had my coffee before heading over to Rebecca's in the afternoon for tea. Alice, LeeAnn, and I traveled to Vista for a proper English Tea. Rebecca is English and went completely proper and all out and it was absolutely amazing. Tea - Earl Gray and Prince of Wales - biscuits, scones, cream, jam, finger sandwiches and fruit. :)
And of we had some proper English Music playing for the occasion, aka One Direction's new CD on repeat. Tea time was so enjoyable and made me feel so posh! It made me miss London too, of course. We all admired LeeAnn's Princess Diana/Catherine engagement ring and other inspired jewels. it was lovely afternoon to be able to share with such good friends.
All of us at Tea. Kimberly, LeeAnn, Angie, myself, Alice and Rebecca. Photo Credit: Rebecca.
Wednesday night's work shift can be summed up in one word: insanity. It seemed every sweatshirt we had in the store was sold (the temperature dropped to 31 degrees and let's just say people freaked out)! It was a preparation for Christmas I'm sure. We got through it but going through it was maddening. Even our managers were taken a little bit a back I think at how truly busy it was. Let's put it this way, when I came in at 6 pm, I had fellow cast members (jokingly yet quite seriously) telling me to "run away." ....Like I said we survived and got through it....barely.... Our reward though came in the form of our first Thanksgiving feast of the day in the cafeteria - complete Thanksgiving meal at 4 AM for - wait for it - 99 cents ($1.05 with tax) - it was certainly the best meal I've ever had at 4 AM after working in the Emporium - yes beating out IHOP and Taco Bell and McDonald's....:)
Thursday (11/28): Thanksgiving Day. I knew this would be the hardest day to be away from home for as my family and I go to the Philadelphia Parade every year, followed by the Rhawnshurst Pub, followed by dinner. The day was hard but I have great friends in Disney and we made the best of our first holiday together. It was absolutely gorgeous on Thanksgiving: sunny, clear skies, and 60 degrees. I woke up and watched a little bit of the Macy's (NYC) Parade - not the same. I showered and got ready for an early dinner at Kenzie's. My contribution was drinks and dessert.
Thea, Kenzie, Kaitie, and I gathered at Kenzie and Kaitie's apartment for Thanksgiving Dinner - Thea's first Thanksgiving and the rest of ours first Thanksgiving away from home. Those girls are amazing cooks though, as two of them are vegetarian, we had a vegetarian Thanksgiving...no turkey...a first for me....but still SO GOOD!
Thanksgiving 2013 :)
As you can see - it was splendid and very tastey and we ate til our hearts we content. We ate so much we were properly full and needed to take a break before dessert.
Thea and I with the Pumpkin Pie - a Thanksgiving must!
After all the feasting we partook in another important Thanksgiving tradition - the food coma. Yes, we got our blankets and pillows and slept...well Thea and Kaitie slept and Kenzie and I relaxed and watched Mean Girls - classic.
Me, Kenize and Thea
Kaitie started work a little bit earlier than the rest of us so after she left we cleaned up from our meal, with lots of leftovers, completely proud and content with ourselves and our first Thanksgiving away from home - making our parents proud. Thanksgiving meal of the day #2 - done.
Work on Thanksgiving wasn't nearly as bad - in terms of crowds and busy-ness - as we had been prepared for....especially after Wednesday night. The slower pace was nice. I was surprised in a way at the number of guests (who I knew were American) who did not say "Happy Thanksgiving" after others wished it to them.....sigh.....there were guests who thanked us for working the holiday so they made up for it.
I actually ate Thanksgiving meal of the day #3 at 12 AM on Black Friday. Food wise, it was one of my most successful Thanksgivings - literally never ending food.
Though I missed my family I was happy I got to be with my Emporium family and friends for the holiday...got to introduce Thea and Gina to Thanksgiving!
I think the rush of the few days caught up with me as "Emporiumsomnia" (Emporium Insomnia as we call it) reached it's peak as I feel asleep at 7 AM Black Friday morning
....I watched the sun rise from my bed room window.
Friday (11/29): After falling asleep at 7 AM and getting my eight hours of sleep I woke up at 2 pm and needed to be back at work at 6 pm. My opinions on Black Friday (and now Thanksgiving day/evening shopping) our neither here nor there but I will say I was curious how my first true Black Friday merchandise work experience would go.....and to be honest, it really wasn't that bad.
At some points myself and guests forgot it was Black Friday (but hey, they still shopped on Black Friday)! I was sad I missed the tradition of the (Black Friday) Thanksgiving weekend beer and burn, but there's always next year!
Friday's shift went relatively quickly and I came home completely exhausted and fell asleep.
Saturday (11/30): I woke up late...per usual..but got to do something fun before going to the park to shop before work. Every Saturday after Thanksgiving my Grandmom has a Thanksgiving dinner at her apartment complex and this year I still got to "be there" as I skyped in for the occasion - it was great to see and talk to the whole family - and a bit much to keep up with! haha! Saturday's shift was also not that bad --- and it was officially my last shift until 4 AM --- we survived Thanksgiving week.
Here is the Magic Kingdom at night during the holidays:
Castle :)
Main Street from the Train Station :)
Sunday was pretty low key including a pretty typical (and fast) work shift so that was nice!
Monday (12/2): Today I got to spend the day with Rose (my very first best friend from Oakmont Street in Philadelphia), her older sister Rita, and their nephew, Jaden. I was excited when they had told me a few days prior that they we're coming to the park for the day! It was Rose and Jaden's first visit to Disney World! We parked and took the ferry over to the Magic Kingdom (yes, my first time doing so).
It was a beautiful day on the water!
We got our "First Visit" and "I'm Celebrating" buttons before getting pictures in front of the Castle. We then headed to Tomorrowland and went to the laugh floor - a real hit with everyone. I showed them the speedway and Rose and I got fast passes for Space Mountain for later in the day. We went on the People Mover and Jaden's reaction to the whole thing was priceless. We went to the new area of Fantasyland and sadly couldn't ride Small World as it's currently under construction. But not being discouraged we walked through the Castle and saw Gaston.
We got some lunch at Pinocchio's (our server appreciated our correct pronunciation of water - "wooder" :)) before going on the Tea Cups and driving around the Speedway. So Rose and I sucked at driving on the speedway but in our defense we were driving European style (and in my defense I haven't driven in 4 months - oops). Rita will probably never get in a real car with me haha. I made a mental note to myself that I should definitely visit the Speedway daily and drive on the right side of the road to get practice for when I get home.
After that hilarious disaster Rose and I made our way to Space Mountain, while Rita and Jaden went to Club 626's dance party. Rose LOVED Space Mountain - as do I! :)
We ended the night by walking though Storybook Circus where Rita and Jaden went on Dumbo and Rose and I got to catch up a little bit.
We hopped on the train and went to Main Street for a few last pictures before leaving.
Rose and I :)
They were nice enough to drop me off back at my apartment and Jaden fell asleep before we even got back! Successful 1st trip to Disney! It's so nice to have friends/family in the park and I know they had a great time! It was also wonderful to be in the park with a truly happy little boy who was discovering it all for the first time - a true reminder of the magic of this place!
I came home and fell asleep for a little before waking up and being wide awake.
I'm going back to sleep after I post this haha (I blame Emporiumsomnia).
I can't wait for my family to be here soon!
This past week has been the best week I've had in Disney and I know the next few weeks will be even better!
In regards to the blog title: You can learn something new everyday, if you dare to go on the adventure the day holds, explore the endless possibilities, make discoveries, and make memories.
Until next time friends.
Keep Dreaming,
Mary-Kate
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