Thursday: Traditions- I'd heard all about this day and still didn't know what to fully expect, but it had finally come. The Disney Look requires being professional dress during all occasions when you meet up and aren't in costume. We started the day early, Megan, Matt, and I all had traditions at the same time so we got on a bus to Disney University where we got split into classrooms. We had two instructors that talked to us more about the program and the benefits of it, as well as what is expected of us and some background of the company itself, we received our first pair of ears as a gift and welcoming into the program. Then we went over to Magic Kingdom and learned about offstage and onstage, and the tunnels and utilodor at MK, we took a tour through the park and then a bus back to the classrooms to finish up. But before we were done, we had a surprise appearance from our boss, Mickey Mouse, and received our name tags and blue ID cards (which allow us into the parks and give us all the cast member perks) and were welcomed to the Ohana.
Matt and I were ecstatic to finally get our blue cards and get to enter the parks so we went home to change and then got on a bus back to enjoy a night at Magic Kingdom. To be honest, this was probably one of the best days I've ever had in the parks. We got in the parks and grabbed some dinner and then went straight to the new Seven Dwarfs Mine Train ride, and waiting in line for over an hour, and then right before we were about to get on, a storm came and they had to shut it down until it passed, so we decided to wait it out.. For an hour and a half. We finally got the clear from the storm and were able to ride, and from there we went around the park and every ride we went to we got on within 10 minutes and got the front or back like we wanted, it was amazing. At the end of the night we were walking through the park thinking we could hit Space Mountain ride while everyone watched the electric parade, but we couldn't pass up an amazing spot to see Celebration on the Castle and Wishes fireworks show, that were starting in 5 minutes, so we waiting and watched, both getting teary eyed, feeling grateful and humbled with the opportunity to be able to work here and be apart of this amazing company and creating the magic. From there we did continue riding rides and then went over to The Contemporary to ride the bus back home after a perfect night in the parks.
Friday: Hollywood Studios- My roommate Kaylene had traditions on Thursday pm so she didn't get her blue card in enough time to go with Matt and I, so we decided that Friday and Saturday we would all have together in the parks, especially because she hasn't been since she was really young and doesn't remember them very well. We spent Friday at Hollywood Studios, and because she warned me of her fear of heights and that she wasn't ready to face them on the Tower of Terror yet, that was of course our first stop. Matt and I are a good team in that way. She has an obsession with Beauty and the Beast, and because HS has a live show of it at Theater of the Stars (TOTS) I told her that the only way we could watch it is if she went on Tower first, so we walked straight over and waited in the 20 minute line for her to ride. As we got into the building Matt joked more with her, doing a scary laugh when the lights go out, and asking if this was the part they drop us when the ride stopped, it was a lot of fun, until she started freaking out for real, so she held our hands after feeling like the ground was moving beneath her, and breathing heavy, and calmed down a bit. While we were actually in the dropping part, her glasses flew off and I went to grab them as they dropped and then floated up but just out reach, thankfully Matt grabbed them when I yelled to him or else that would have been a horrible day. Then after tormenting her, we let her watch Beauty and the Beast, which she loved like a little girl captivated by the princesses, it was sweet. We continued the day riding rides and then finished it with The Fantasmic show, but because it was so crowded we had a side seat, which was sad because I wanted Kaylene to be able to really enjoy it for her first time seeing it, but she still did so that was good, then we ran out to the Frozen's Summertime Fireworks where Anna and Kristoff start the show, and Olaf is on the screen, and then Elsa joins and then there is a firework show and after all of Hollywood Blvd snows, it was amazing. I don't know what it is about when it snows in DisneyWorld, but it gets to me each time, especially to see the kids freak out. It's always a nice way to end a crazy day.
Saturday: Animal Kingdom- Matt, his roommate David, Kaylene and I went to Animal Kingdom for the first half of our day. We went straight onto Everest Expedition and road that twice because of the 20 minute line, then went and road Dinosaur, which I had actually never been to, so that was fun to be kind of scared and surprised by it, which of course Matt enjoyed watching. then the daily Florida storm hit and we went on the Safari bus to see some real animals, which was amazing because all the elephants went to the watering hole to play and they were in water higher than their waist and were playing in the water together and I just love the elephants. From the Safari we went to watch the Lion King live show, which everyone loved so that was fun. We made some friends with the kids behind us in line and it helps remind us why we are really here. Then we took the bus over to Magic Kingdom to ride some rides and watch the shows. We watched the Electric Parade and there was this little girl on her dads shoulders that was freaking out when she saw the characters, she was screaming their names and waving, then when she saw Snow White she screamed "Snow white, you're my moms favorite, say hi to her, Snow White say hi to my mom" it was adorable to see her excitement, and her dad was being excited with her which was cute that he didn't roll her eyes but encouraged her childlike happiness. When the parade was over they drop the ropes that block off the street so that you can walk in them and get a good view of the castle for Celebration and Wishes, so we walked over to where Matt and I had the great view the other night, and we sat to wait the 5 for them to start, and then something I've never seen happened, we were all sitting in a big crowd and I said, man my feet are killing, I wish we could all just sit and then everyone could see and no heads or phones of people recording would be in our way, and Matt agreed that that would be nice, and then the Celebration started and no one stood! We all got to watch it and wishes while sitting! I have never seen that happen, but it makes sense, especially because we were in the front crowd, so that not everyone has their view blocked. Behind us a little ways they were standing, but we had perfect view, and because Zane had never been or seen any of it, I FaceTimed and he watched Celebration with me and we saved Wishes to watch we he can come so we can have that together, it was cute. :] then we went back to the bus and home to complete another day of magic. I'm not regretting coming to this place of happiness at all, I know it won't always be a day in the parks, and that it's going to be long hours, hot, and not ideal all the time, but the moments of magic will make it worth it, just like the kids in China made the tough times bearable.
