On Sunday I just chilled most of the day, went to Starbucks with Amanda, and then followed her to work at MK.  There I met up with Brittany as we were going out to dinner later that night at the Hoop Dee Doo Revue.  We had some time to kill so we went and met Merida!  It was so awesome!  We were in line for all of like 15 minutes; we talked about how neither me or Merida could manage our voluminous hair.  While we were in line Brittany and I were chatting with this family who were new to the Disney Parks and had plenty of questions.  We’re such cast members even off stage! xD

As we were leaving Merida’s line trying to figure out what to do next, a woman came up to us and asked us if we wanted some Splash Mt. fastpasses.  Of course!  Free fastpasses in hand, we headed over to Frontierland to wait for our passes to become valid and rushed to get in line for the soft opening of Thunder Mt. Railroad.  It said a 35 minute wait, more like 10 minutes though!  And it was awesome, as always!  After Thunder, we went over to Splash Mt. and it was pretty much a walk-on for us.  My butt got all wet.  There is nothing worse than walking around with a wet butt. 

After Frontierland we thought we should probably start heading for the Campsites for dinner, but made a pitstop at the Town Square Theatre to meet the princesses.  Once again, another very short wait.  After chatting with the royal ladies, we hopped the barge to the Campsites and milled around until it was time to check in for dinner.  We ended up at the back of the hall, but were still able to see well enough.  It was a cute little show and there was AMAZING cornbread!  AMAZING!  So amazing in fact that I barely had any room for the actual meal.  It was a good night all around.

And then today (or yesterday by this time) I pretty much slept most of the day away.  Woke up in the morning, watched a movie, and fell back asleep until the evening.  No, not productive as I didn’t even get my laundry done, but Amanda, Brittany, Patty, and I decided to go on an adventure in downtown Orlando.  We originally planned to go up in the hot air balloon at Downtown Disney, but due to stupid rain and storms it probably wasn’t going to happen.  We parked by a cute little park and walked along the lake’s edge, taking pictures, totally not acting like tourists. xD  There were a lot of swans too.  I don’t often see swans, so it was pretty cool to see so many, especially the black swans.  There was this one swan, Larry as Brittany named him, who had some serious territorial issues and was sexually frustrated; he honked and flapped his wings at everyone that walked by, including the ducks.  We told him to chill and continued on our way.  By then I was really hungry as I hadn’t really eaten all day due to sleeping most of it, so we set off in search of food.  We ran into this old hipster dude, complete with coffee and a cigarette, who happened to be a local and told us where we could find some good food.

It turned out to be this little corner bar and grill called Wildsides and they did indeed have some good food.  We all got burgers and fries and ate until we felt sick.  And then it was back through the park (a little sketchy now that it was night), though not too bad as it was well lit and there were a lot of people out walking with their lovers and doggies. 

And now here I am, typing this when I really should be showering and going to bed.  Eh, whatever.  It was a great weekend and you can sleep when you’re dead.  Or all day like I did. ^_^ 

So goodnight everyone.  Till next time!

Taylor 

Then you’re all set!

Honestly, it depends on where you work.  People in Magic Kingdom work more than those at Animal Kingdom, purely because MK stays open longer.  Also, it depends on what your role is.  Custodial, Merchandise, and Quick-Service tend to have the worst hours, as they are needed the most throughout the day.  Custodial can sometimes work 2-3 hours after the park closes.  The shops on Main Street are open an additional hour after the park closes, and are open for Extra Magic Hours.  I can’t say for sure, but I imagine Housekeeping works long hours as well.

I’m not sure if that answers your question, but it really is so unique to whatever and wherever you’re assigned, it’s hard to come up with a complete and final answer.

Taylor works around 40 hours a week, I tend to work around 36.  My old roommate Jordan works around 50 a week (she’s in Custodial).

- Brittany

I went to church. 

No, I did not stay for a service or anything; one of my roommates wanted to stop in for a quick visit before heading into Epcot.  And, as Amanda was the one driving us, we accompanied her.  It was actually a pretty big church and quite beautiful.  And the best part?  I didn’t get smited!  Yay! 

The church also had a gift shop.  What?  I’ve never heard of or seen a church with a gift shop.  That’s Orlando churches for you I suppose.

Anyways, after our church pit-stop, Amanda, Patty (our new roomie), and I headed into Epcot for a day of frolic and fun.  Even though Patty works at Epcot, this was her first time being there as a guest so we got pins celebrating her first visit.  It was a fun day of firsts:  eating in Morocco, meeting Mary Poppins, riding Sum of all Thrills, spending too much money……..even though I actually do that all the time.  And after Amanda and Patty left, Brittany came and joined me and we watched Illuminations and then booked it over to the Studios to catch the 10:30 showing of Fantasmic. 

Good day?  I think yes.

Taylor

No, I mean it.

Let’s tally what’s happened since I’ve been here:

• I broke my thumb (bone and joint).
• I nearly died in a car accident.
• I pulled a muscle in my back.

And now we get to add to the list: 

Tonight my regular Fantasmic buddy was out of town.  So I asked Disfan if he wanted to come with me.  (I refuse to miss Fantasmic).  He got off at 7:30, and the show started at 9. 

Fast forward through the day, and while waiting for Andrew to arrive, I attempted to get us seats.  Note the use of the word ‘attempted.’  While hurrying down the aisle on the left of the Sorcerer Mickey section, I tripped and quite literally rolled down the stairs a fair ways, landing in a lovely crumpled heap.  In my skirt.

People rushed over to help me up, and with my wounded pride, I shrugged off their aid, and hobbled to my feet.  I made it back up the aisle before I realized that my leg was covered in blood.  As was my right foot.  And my left foot.

Swell.

So I asked the nearest Cast Member guarding the section for a band-aid.  She took one look and immediately called her coordinator (thank you, if you are reading this!) and requested first aid.

And.  They.  Didn’t.  Have.  It.

That’s right, ladies and gentlemen.  The Hollywood Hills Amphitheater does not possess a first aid kit.  So there I was, blood gushing down my leg, trying to match wits with a coordinator, who desperately wanted to send me to the front of the park in a wheelchair.

JUST GET ME A BAND-AID, PLEASE.

Eventually I was given a pile of band-aids they’d rallied together from audience members, a water bottle, and napkins to clean everything up with.  As of now, I have four band-aids on my knee, one on my right foot, and two on my left foot.

And if that wasn’t enough, Sorcerer Mickey was MIA at the show tonight.  The music swelled, the fireworks went off, the crowd roared—but no Mickey Mouse.

Florida hates me.

- Brittany

(Source: clearnorthernsky)

Or RSO.  Whatever.

Either way, I’m really sick.  I did physical therapy this morning, got to work, worked for about a half hour, then was sent home.  And I’m ok with that, because I feel like crap.  Whoooooo.

In other news, for those of you who haven’t heard, I got extended for 6 more weeks of light duty.  DOUBLE WHOOOOOO.  And my physical therapy has been extended to three times a week.  Triple whooo?

I just want to be better all around :(

- Brittany

Yes I know I’m not a mother, but I figured I might as well celebrate because it’s a holiday anyway, regardless of what it celebrates.  So of course I called and skyped my mommy, if not only to brag about how awesome my day was going to be (I’m such a terrible child!). 

To start off my good day was the fact that it was the beginning of my weekend, which is always a great way to start off any day. And of course, as with most of my days off, I spend a lot of it sleeping.  It may not seem like a productive way to spend my days off, but eh, who said you had to be be productive theentireday?  Anyways, once I got up, Brittany called me (more, she’s actually the one who woke me up) and said we should do dinner and MK tonight.  Of course!  So I called and made a reservation at Trail’s End at the Fort Wilderness Campgrounds, where I’d never been. 

Once Brittany got home we headed off on our adventure!  We played a rousing game of checkers while we waited for our party to be called, a game which sadly I was defeated in.  But alas, an all-you-can-eat-buffet made up for it.  An all-you-can-eat-homestyle-buffet!  Yay!  No lame microwave dinners for us this night!  And food and a setting that reminded us of home (what with all it’s frontierness).  So after a lovely dinner of corn bread, potatoes, and other such delicious things, we were both presented with a pink carnation in honor of Mother’s Day.  Yeah, we aren’t mothers, but the lady said someday we might be, so what the heck. 

After dinner we decided to take a horse-drawn carriage ride once it got dark.  As we waited for the carriage to return from it’s current outing, we attempted to play horseshoes, failed, and instead hung out in the gift shop where I got my new Merida pin!  I think I’m going to collect all the princess pins.  We played another rousing game of checkers, in which I was soundly (and quickly) defeated when much to my great relief, the carriage arrived!

We rode with Stephanie, the carriage driver, and Doug, the beautiful, but gassy draft horse.  It was a neat little ride.  We rode through the woods and campgrounds and chatted with Stephanie as Doug farted along.  I was a bit disappointed that I didn’t get to really see anything while we were in the woods as it was dark and Stephanie didn’t turn on her lantern until we got into the campsites, so I think next time I’ll go when there’s still daylight.  However, I did see my first ever lightning bug!  It flashed for just a brief second, but I saw it!

After we left Stephanie and Doug, we hopped on a boat to the Contemporary and went into MK for a little while.  We got an awesome picture on Splash Mt., one which we decided to buy, and generally had a good time, which one usually does while at the Happiest Place on Earth.  I also rode the Barn Stormer for the first time tonight.  Brittany and I’ve clocked it before and it lasts about 39.3 seconds; it takes longer to walk out the exit than it does to ride the ride. But whatever, it was fun anyways.

And after we defeated the Evil Emperor Zurg with Buzz Lightyear, we decided to head back and go to bed like good little CP’s.  Thus, this is Taylor saying adieu, goodnight, and Happy Mother’s Day. <3

Taylor

Sunday:  Taylor already posted below, but I have indeed moved in with her!  It took us about two hours on Sunday night to get all of my things packed up and transported to her apartment.  I had work the next day at 9:30, so I didn’t bother with putting everything away (just my clothes) until yesterday afternoon. 

Monday:  Taylor and I went to Fantasmic for the billionth time.  We had to stop at the Clubhouse, so I could turn in my money, and sign all the paperwork (to make it official).  We got to Hollywood Studios around 9:25 and immediately jumped in the standby line.  We must’ve hit something amazing, because we got seats in the dead-center.  Taylor really wanted a churro, but she was too lazy to get one (seriously?), so she settled for popsicles for us both.  The show was amazing (the canoe people did ok, but there were only three?) and I loved it, as always.

Tuesday, today:  I had physical therapy at 7:00 a.m.  My driver was scheduled for 6:30 a.m.  It takes five minutes to get to the therapy place from Vista.  So at 6:35, there I was, standing in the dark, next to a clinic not scheduled to open for another half hour.  Luckily, my therapist got there five minutes after I did, and he let me in—he also went ahead and got me started early, which was a big help in getting me to work on time.

I mostly did the same practices today.  He took a ton of measurements, since we were the only ones there, and he could focus on me.  I am so excited to report that the change in my thumb’s mobility is now visible!  I can kind of bend it myself, and the thing actually moves at my will!  For instance, my upper joint could only move about three degrees when we started—now it can move twelve!  That’s absolutely wonderful news!  GUYS, I’M EXCITED.

Man, it hurt, though.  By the time we finished, I was just sore enough to be sent to work.  Luckily, I only had a six-hour shift today, and that shift went fairly well.  I was sore, but everything moved along smoothly. 

And then it didn’t.  While helping another guest, a woman came running up to me, face red, and yelled over my directions to the other guest, “I WANT SECURITY NOW!”  Uh…  I calmed her down enough to get the next phrase out of her, which was:  “This woman over here just told my daughter to shut up.  I want security NOW, and I’m not leaving until they come to take care of her.”

…what?

Some guests…my God.   Are you honestly that stupid?  Like, really?  Disney can’t control what other guests say to you, nor will we kick them out, or call security, unless the other person is threatening bodily harm, or causing a real scene.  And, ‘shut up’?  I thought that stopped being a ‘bad’ word back in fourth grade.

Needless to say, I kind of just stared at her for a moment, then directed her to the CRT podium.  Not only was I helping another guest (who looked really flustered at the intrusion), but I couldn’t have called security even if I wanted to.  I don’t have a radio.

So the lady runs over to the podium and proceeds to yell at everyone working there.  The cast members quiet her down some, but it’s clear to see that the woman is not happy.  After three minutes, she comes barging over to me again, purposefully looks at my nametag, then stomps back to the podium.

And I only had 6 minutes left in my shift.  Why.

She must not have called a manager, though, because I wasn’t approached by one, nor was I told to wait for someone to come speak to me.  I left as the lady was dabbing her eye with a kleenex, as she had started crying (WHAT?). 

I don’t understand people sometime.

To everyone reading this:  We’re cast members.  Even we don’t have control over everything.  Try to remember that, please.

- Brittany

Brittany and I are roommates.  We moved all her stuff in tonight and tomorrow she will sign the official documents saying she’s officially my roommate, after which she will be presented with her very own key to our apartment.  *Throws confetti*  Huzzah!  At long last our struggle to room together has ended in triumph!  And now all that’s left to do is hope we don’t kill each other, which we most likely will.  That’s just the way things go between us.  Old married couple=us.

Taylor

P.S.  There?  Happy that I finally wrote something, naggy one? :p

Today I was working at Town Square Theatre.

While in the Princess exit hallway, a woman came out with her infant son.  She set him down on the carpet so she could tie her shoe. 

She set him right next to the door where cast members come in and out, often times quickly, and without warning.  Basically, it was a disaster in the making. 

So!  I approached her and warned her about the door, asking her to please move him so he wouldn’t be injured in any way.

As I was doing so, a manager walked by.  He took notice of my request, and two hours later, he handed me a Keys Basics card!  For those of you who don’t know, it’s a way of recognizing cast members for upholding the foundation of the Disney Company, and what we strive to achieve.  Safety is the number one priority.  Thus, it was a big deal to get this card.

I was so happy, I nearly cried.

Secondly, Taylor called me today.  It has been over two weeks since I requested to move into her apartment.  Seeing as I was at work, she went to the main desk and did a bunch of talking.  During her phone call, she basically told me that I needed to get in touch with a woman, who said I could move in, so long as I did so by tonight!

Yikes.

I quickly called her, and GOOD NEWS!  I have officially been cleared to move into Taylor’s apartment.  Due to my work schedule, it won’t be until Monday.  But that gives me time to start packing some things up.

The hardest part will be leaving my roommate, Jordan.  I really do love her, and will miss sharing a room with her.  But we’ll still have class together, and I know we’ll hang out as often as we can.  She already knows about the move…now I just need to figure out how to tell the rest of my roommates.

AND THEN TAYLOR AND I CAN BE ROOMMATES.  World War III may very well happen.  I hope you all make it out alive.

And that was today.

Have a magical day, everyone <3

- Brittany