Last time I posted I hadn’t seen my
brother and I had five weeks remaining. I’ve now seen my brother and I have one
week remaining – two shifts left.
My last day at the Brave Highland Games
went by fast; we closed earlier because of rain. I also received my first GSF
(Great Service Fanatic) card on my last day too! Glad to say I at least got one
before I left. Ben and Hannah arrived on the 9th, after some hugs we
got our room and first thing we did was: laundry. They had no clean clothes
left, so off we went and they did their washing. Afterwards we went to Downtown
Disney where they got to try Earl of Sandwich (have I said I’m going to miss
that place?!) and told Ben to get the Hawaiian BBQ Chicken – he loves his
pineapple. We did some brief shopping then headed home, after several stops we
finally got home around 12am.
The first park we visited was EPCOT; we
secured our fastpasses early for Soarin’ and roamed around Future World waiting
for the World Showcase to open at 11am. We started in Mexico and made our way
around there – their first character they met at Disney was Mulan over in
China. We finished the World Showcase very quickly and had heaps of times to do
some random rides – like Journey into Imagination. We rode Soarin’ which I
think they enjoyed, I was so happy we got the front row! I think Ben didn’t
think it’d be as good as it was. I showed them where I sometimes work at The
Land (Garden Grill) and we went over to The Seas to ride Nemo and let Hannah
see her sea animals. After Ben ran our shopping items back to the hotel we went
on Mission: Space (Orange) which is the more intense version of the ride. After
finding there was vomit in the one we were meant to go in, we waited for them
to clean it/for the next round to get on. I think they enjoyed that ride. We
headed back the hotel for a break then came back to watch Illuminations, and
that was our EPCOT day short and sweet.
Animal Kingdom was the next stop of our
four parks in four days. I think Hannah was a bit excited, she loves animals a
tad too much. We saw Finding Nemo the Musical, rode Prime Evil Whirl, walked
around for bit, we had previously gotten fastpasses for Expedition Everest, but
of course it stormed when they were due to be used, so we got fastpasses for
Dinosaur, decided to line up since it was raining, went on that, got another
fastpass for Expedition Everest, saw The Festival of the Lion King, went back
to ride Dinosaur again – which might I saw in all the times riding that ride
never has the T-Rex right at the end before you leave the meteor shower popped
out, so I never knew it was there, of course it pops on out when we’re in the
front row. I’m sure you could hear Hannah’s and my screams from the otherside
of the park. Finally we got to ride Expedition Everest and I actually found the
Yeti for once! We then went around looking at the animals and departed the park
before the next storm came.
Next: Hollywood Studios. A small park, we
were done with it very early, no surprise there. But Hannah found one of her
favourite rides: Tower of Terror. And I think Ben’s was Rockin’ Roller Coaster
(for Disney anyway). We saw Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular, ate lunch at Pizza
Planet just for Ben, went on Star Tours a couple of times where Hannah ended up
being the spy, I think she loved being the spy. We saw the 10:30pm showing of
Fantasmic, my favourite nighttime show, I hoped they liked it too.
Our final Disney park day was at Magic
Kingdom where Hannah found her favourite ride: Space Mountain. We went on Big
Thunder Mountain first, Splash Mountain was down for a while so we had to get a
second fastpass for that ride, when we were doing that guess who I saw over at
the exit? Woody and Jessie! So of course I grabbed Ben (who I swear was
excited, just didn’t show it) and we waited in line. Ben finally got to meet
characters from one of his favourite Disney films, I even told Woody he was Ben’s
favourite, just so he would give him a hug hehe. We went on most the rides:
Pirates of the Caribbean, Dumbo, Barnstormer, PhilharMagic, A Small World,
Haunted Mansion, Carousel of Progress (I think they loved this one), People
Mover, Laugh Floor. We went back to the hotel to rest up for the night and
headed back around 6. We had gotten fastpasses for Space Mountain before we
left so we jumped on there again, went on Buzz Lightyear’s Ranger Spin then
headed on over to meet Minnie and Mickey, neither Ben or Hannah had ever met
them before! It was then dinner time, followed by the Magic, Memories and You,
Wishes and the Main Street’s Electrical Parade. T’was a long day.
The 14th, Saturday, was our ‘resting
day’ saving our energy for Universal. We slept in and headed over to the
Premium Outlets near my housing complex. Once we had finished we walked on over
to my apartment to see what I have been living in for the past 7 months. Hannah
felt how hard my bed was and I think understands my pain and why I was excited
to sleep in a comfy bed at the hotel. When we got back to the hotel Ben read while
Hannah and I went to the pool for a bit and that night we went back to Downtown
Disney to get a few more items and have dinner once again at Earl of Sandwich.
Universal! I was so excited to go here.
($40 cab ride there, $40 cab ride back – a tad expensive) We hauled ass over to
Harry Potter World. There was no way we would be starting anywhere else! I
think the grin did not leave my face when we were at Harry Potter World. We
rode the Dragon Challenge and then lined up for the Forbidden Journey. Umm. So
my eyes were closed for majority of that ride. I survived the dragon part, but
once I saw the spiders start my eyes were shut. Thank goodness since I think I
would have died if I saw Aragog pop up in front of me. Opened my eyes and we
were at the Quddich pitch and what comes along? Dementors. Okay, fine I can do
this, yeah up until one popped up right in front of me, eyes closed again. Opened
them after Harry sent them away which was pretty much the end of the ride. I
bought myself a Gryffindor scarf at the exit (not cheap!) and we made our way
out of Potter’s World and into Jurassic Park. We rode (okay I forget the name
of the ride) but it’s a boat ride where you get wet. Then continued to make our
way over to the Incredible Hulk, 40 minutes later we were hopping into the ride
getting ready to scream. I was not expecting to be launched off, so that
surprised me, but it was by far the best roller coaster I have ever been on!
Afterwards we jumped on Doom’s Fear Fall, yes screams from Amy, and then headed
back to Harry Potter to eat lunch at the Three Broom Sticks! Fish and Chips
were for lunch with a good old Butterbeer! The drink is AMAZING. So good, yet
very filling. We did some shopping – I got myself a chocolate frog, some Berty
Botts Every Flavour Beans, then we lined up to visit Olivanders when it started
to rain – only lightly at this stage. We got in and I could help but look
around, it was great. They chose a kid from the crowd to see which wand chose
him and then headed into the store to select our wands. I got Hermione’s, Hannah
got Fleur’s and Ben got Sirius Black’s. I also bought a quill whilst I was
there. When we got out it was pouring rain. Thunder, lightening, everything.
Drenched we were once we got to the exit and to get a taxi. Now our taxi driver
– Joseph – was interesting. He definitely made us laugh. He had the funniest
laugh and kept joking around, he then learnt I worked for Disney, on came more
humour. His favourite thing to joke about was Florida drivers/tourist drivers.
We all were chuckling in the back, he said we would remember him and I’m sure
we will he was definitely entertaining.
Monday 16, the last day we had together
on our holiday. We spent the time relaxing, lucky too since Ben caught a fever –
I think it was from walking through the downpour the previous day. We were
going to go to Downtown Disney to see The Amazing Spider-Man, but we got down
and Ben was burning up. He was keen to go but the bus was taking forever so we
went back up. It was a relaxing day, they packed their bags, and we got lunch
and dinner from downstairs and then got to bed nice and early.
Tuesday they left, I thought I would be
okay saying good-bye, I’d be seeing them in two and a half weeks. Nope, I
hugged them both and turned to my brother and balled. I think I was upset that
I wasn’t going home with them. Luckily no one was on my bus back to the
apartment, because those tears were not stopping. I got back, dumped my bags
and headed over to the welcome party at Chatham – my cultural event I had to
attend. Afterwards I walked to The Commons to talk about me leaving, I had to
go to my manager to tell him and I have to self term, they wouldn’t let me
change my program end date.
Wednesday the 18th I called
in, I was moping and wanted to go home. T’was not too cheerful that day.
Thursday I had to get my butt to work, as it had been 10 days in a row without
working. Crystal Palace 12pm-10pm and it was not a bad night afterall. Friday I
had off, and then Saturday I was back at Crystal Palace for the last time
7am-6pm. Again, another good shift thank goodness. I got to hula hoop with my
good friend Eeyore – it actually fit around him! Though there was not much
space for it to move… Sunday was another
day off, and then Monday came around to begin my week as a Spare. I was pulled
to Town Square Flagpole – I was very happy that I got to do my favourite shift
before I left! Tuesday, another day off, then Wednesday-Friday Spare 6am-3:30pm
once again. Every day I was pulled to do Polynesian Breakfast at the resort.
Which I don’t mind, it’s probably my favourite breakfast dining shift, but
three days in a row? No change to hang out with my friends TweedleDee and
Tweedle Dum before I left, oh well. I’m now finished with working at the Magic
Kingdom! Actually made me a little sad, my favourite park and all, but I’m now
one week off to going home.
Tomorrow I’m going to see Dark Knight
Rises with Mydni, we’re going to celebrate and go to Fork and Screen. I also
discovered not everything is going to fit in the bags I have now… I’ve bought
too much stuff! So I have to head out and buy a new suitcase, hopefully it’s
reasonable prices here. Sunday I’m a Spare at the Animal Kingdom, which means
if I am not pulled I’ll probably be hanging out with Brer Fox or Rafiki I’d
assume. My last shift is Wednesday night, Character Spot, which is funny since
that was my first shift out of training. Nice to end my program at the same place
it started.
Anyway that’s all for now! Hopefully I’ll
get around to writing before I depart if not… I’ll write when I get back home.