Thanksgiving!

Wow! Thanksgiving already?! Yes indeed. So this was my first Thanksgiving away from home, and I have to say it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Don't get me wrong, I missed my family and wished I could be in AZ. And I'm sad I missed my dads b-day which was yesterday too. But I had a good Thanksgiving Disney style. Our celebrating started last week when housing hosted another dinner - this time Thanksgiving themed. The food was pretty good and we got some pictures with some characters!

I'm not sure who thought it would be a good idea to salute. Haha

We were making turkeys with our hands, and Minnie and Mickey did it too!

So on the real Thanksgiving I had to work from 8:30-4:30pm. And we were super busy pretty much my whole shift. I was in dining room so I pretty much just cleaned tables the entire time. And yes, it was as boring as it sounds. But people were pretty nice and there were quite a few guests who wished me a happy Thanksgiving and thanked me for working so they could enjoy the time with their families. So that was cool. A lot of my friends had a pot-luck or a meal provided if they were working, but my location was lame and didn't give us anything. Oh well. Then last night my roommates and I hosted a Thanksgiving dinner for some friends from the ward. We had 17 people here and a ton of food! We had been worrying about not having enough, but we had plenty and even had quite a bit of leftovers. Which I think I might help myself to when I'm done writing this. Haha...but it was a lot of fun. Most of us were all in the same boat with this being our first big holiday away from home so it was nice being able to get a big group together. And the missionaries did a little spiritual thought and it was really neat. Yep, that's right - we had the missionaries here. Haha I'm pretty sure the missionaries are here at least once a week, so of course they came to our dinner.

So that was my Thanksgiving. Otherwise I've just been staying busy with work and going to the parks and resorts when I have a chance. A few days ago I had the most amazing cupcake from the Contemporary Resort (yes - I went there mainly to buy a cupcake because I had heard they were delicious) but it was a pumpkin spice cupcake with caramel filling and cinnamon cream cheese frosting. So good! So that's about it. It's crazy to think November is almost over! But I'm not complaining. Morgan will be here in 3 weeks! So if you want to plan ahead - feel free to send my Christmas presents via her. Just get them to her in Provo and then she can bring them with her. If you feel so inclined. Haha....but really. Or I do accept mail. I'll give you my address if you want it! 

Well that's all I've got for today.

Temple Time!

It happened. I finally made it to the Orlando Temple! And I was actually able to go twice within a couple of days. Last Friday I was off work and the elders in our ward asked me if I would go with them and this guy Dave on a temple tour. I guess I should back up a little. So the elders here are super great and they have a ton of success here with the kids working in the college program. The day my roommates and I moved into our apartment we met Dave, who lives downstairs from us. We've hungout with him a lot and have gotten to know him, and he ended up getting baptized a few weeks ago! So that was exciting. And so this temple tour was for investigators and new members, and the missionaries just asked if I would go along with Dave. Of course I wanted to go because I wanted to see the temple here, and it ended up being pretty interesting and I'm glad they asked me. 

Then I was able to go back a few days later for a ward temple trip! This time I was able to go inside and it was beautiful. I'm definitely a fan of the Orlando Temple. 

(Sorry - you can blame my roommate's camera for the blurry pictures. Haha)

It was a good week and I got a lot of stuff done. It was nothing too exciting, mainly grocery shopping, laundry, returning clothes to costuming and getting clean ones, and boring stuff like that. But it was stuff that needed to be done. But staying busy makes the time go faster! A friend of mine has asked me a couple times if I'm happy being here, and I always have to think about it. But yeah, I would say I'm happy for the most part. Don't get me wrong, I'm having a lot of fun and it's been a good experience. I've met a lot of people and love being able to go play at Disney World whenever I feel like it. And I've enjoyed living in Florida and actually think I really like the state. At the same time I'm just ready to go home. I just want to go back to Utah and see my family and friends! But I'm happy to be here and will try to stay busy and enjoy the next 7 weeks as much as I can!     

Life in Florida

This past week was pretty uneventful. I was sick a couple of days so I didn't really do as much as I had hoped. I did make it to Hollywood Studios one day (I think I've decided that might be my favorite park) and 2 of my roommates and I went to a movie this weekend. Nothing too crazy. It was raining pretty hard earlier today. Gotta love Florida! So now I'm just hanging out. I have some time before I have to go to work, but not really enough time to go to a park or resorts or anything. So I'll just leave you with some random thoughts. And sorry, I don't have any pictures to post today!

Mataya is one of the funniest people I know! She sent me a letter in the mail the other day with pictures she drew and $1! She's so nice! And last night I was talking to her on the phone and she was making me laugh pretty hard, and she also played me a song on the piano. Haha

I finished Friday Night Lights! That show was so good and I'm sad it's over.

I love ice cream sandwiches.

30 Rock is hilarious and I wish I could be as funny as Tina Fey.

The holiday sandwich at Earl of Sandwich is delicious. Turkey, gravy, stuffing, and cranberry sauce on a sandwich - what more could you want? And I know it sounds crazy, but don't judge it till you try it! Just ask my roommates.

I'm so ready to go home! Well back to Utah. But Morgan and Emily and Kenzie fly out here 6 weeks from Thursday! And I fly back to Salt Lake 9 weeks from tomorrow! Not that I'm counting or anything. Haha

What?!

It's already over halfway through October?! Crazy. My program is half over! Well it's been a pretty crazy week and a half or however long it has been since I last posted. My mom came to visit! I lucked out and was able to get 4 days off in a row, thanks to my managers and nice co-workers taking my shifts. So yeah, I was able to stay at the resort with her and we went to the parks and she came to see my apartment! We did all 4 parks in 3 days and I think we did a pretty good job of covering everything. It was super fun! And we did the Disney Dining Plan because I could get a discount on it, and it is seriously like the best deal ever. Well, if you use it the right way. But let's just say we ate really well and I'm missing it now that I'm back to taking pb&j to work. So she left on Tuesday and I've just been working. I'm kind of upset because last week and the next 2 weeks I'm scheduled to work mostly night shifts. I've usually been scheduled mornings and I like mornings a lot more. This week I have 3 days of 6:30pm-12:30am. What's up with that? Not only is it late, but only 6 hours? Come on! So yeah, I'm not getting as many hours as I was a few weeks ago. Oh well.

Magic Kingdom

Hollywood Studios

The Hoop-de-do-Revue

Port Orleans - where I work!

We ran into Mulan in China. No Morgan, I don't character hunt.

Norway

Ok so funny story. Yesterday I was off and I went to Typhoon Lagoon with some friends from work. (Which was pretty fun, especially since it was basically empty and we rode all the slides multiple times and did pretty much everything in like 2 hours.) But anyways, we're walking and there's this family walking towards us. I'm not really paying attention, but as we get closer I see that the little boy (who's probably 10 or 11) is pointing at me and then I hear him whisper to his mom, "Mom, she works at our hotel!" I was so surprised but we all kept walking obviously and I turned to look back at him and they all turned and looked at me and I just smiled and waved and the little boy got a huge smile and waved back! And then I was working this morning and the boy came up to get something and he had a huge smile again and I was like, "Hey! I saw you at Tyhpoon Lagoon yesterday didn't I?" So yeah that was pretty cool and it made my day. I like the guests for the most part. I mean some are a bit annoying and rude, but for the most part they're nice and friendly.I was disappointed when I first found out I was working at a resort, but now I've come to like it because you kind of get to know people and recognize them since most will come and eat there multiple times on their trips.

That's all I've got for now. This week I plan on checking out some of the resorts and hopefully getting to the parks a couple of times. I mean I have time to do stuff everyday since I don't work till 6:30, so I might as well. And starting today I get a 40% discount on merchandise! Boom!

Update!

So it's been a pretty busy and fun week! I did a lot of stuff I hadn't done before. I saw the Electric Lights Parade at Magic Kingdom with a friend, and I think this was the first time I ever went to a park specifically to see a parade but it was way good! Especially the Pete's Dragon float. Haha nobody I talk to has ever seen the movie so nobody can ever sing the songs with me, except Morgan and Wyatt. So luckily I was able to laugh about it with them. After the parade we did a couple rides, with no waits at all! I like those kinds of waits. Tuesday night there was a big housing event that we went to. They do these once a month or so for the College Program kids and they're pretty nice. Last time it was a Western theme and this one we went to was a Japanese culture night. There was a ton of free Japanese food and characters and a lot of stuff going on. Wednesday I saw Fantasmic for the first time! Me and one of my roommates met up at Hollywood Studios when we got off work and hungout there for awhile and then went and watched the show. It was so good! I think I've just seen pieces of it at Disneyland, but here they have an amphitheater specifically for Fantasmic so it was nice having an actual seat to sit on. Friday me and one of my roommates were both off, so we spent most of the day at Animal Kingdom and I finally saw The Festival of the Lion King and the Finding Nemo Musical, which were both super good. 

Japanese night

Animal Kingdom

From our night at Downtown Disney to see Lion King

So yeah its been a pretty good week. I'm still working about 40 hours a week and it's going good. Yesterday and today I'm working night shifts, and it's kind of weird because I was working mornings for a couple weeks. But it's all good. And guess who's coming to visit me in 3 days?!

Well I wish they were both coming, but just my mom is! I don't think I have any pictures of just her. They're just always together. Haha....but yeah it's going to be so much fun!

Cool Title?

I am bad at coming up with titles of posts, so that will have to do. So I think it's been about a week since I last posted, and its pretty much just been more of the same. Still working and still spending time at the parks. I can't believe it's already October! I've been here in Florida for a month and a half, and I still feel like I have so much I want to do! I think these next 3 months will fly by, especially with the holidays coming up and what not. So yeah....work is work! I still enjoy it for the most part and have been getting a lot of hours, which is good because I can definitely use the money!

This past week I went to Hollywood Studios and Epcot with some friends which was a lot of fun. Then Friday night my roommates and I and some other friends went to Downtown Disney and had dinner and saw the Lion King in 3D. Sorry....I feel like this post is really boring. Haha I'm not sure what else I have to say though. Although I do have to say that this week I finally rode Star Tours for the first time, and it was so cool! I've always liked Star Tours at Disneyland ok, but this new 3D one was way cool and it has multiple possibilities of stories and endings and stuff. So I've done it 3 times and had a different ride each time! So that was pretty exciting. I also saw the Beauty and the Beast musical and Voyage of the Little Mermaid musical at Hollywood Studios and they were both pretty good. And also when we were at Studios my friend Dave who was with us works at Tower of Terror, so we got to go in through the exit and in a special elevator and go to the front of the line. So that made me feel pretty special.

So yeah that's about it for now! Sorry if this is a little lame. Hopefully next time will be more exciting. Haha

We were having a moment. Good thing my friend had her camera! Haha

We were holding hands to do a jumping picture. The guy who took the picture
didn't quite understand what we were wanting to do. Haha

Happy Halloween!?

I know it's still September, but I'm celebrating a little early this year! They already started doing the Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party here and me and two of my roommates went this past week. It goes like twice a week until Halloween, but we only get discounts on tickets for it for the early ones in September. If you don't know what it is, let me fill you in. Haha it's pretty much just a big Halloween party at Magic Kingdom that you can dress up in costumes for, and you have to pay for a ticket to go to it. So they close Magic Kingdom at 7pm, and then if you have a ticket to Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party you have to get a wrist band in order to stay in the park. Then the park stays open till midnight and there's a special parade and fireworks show and trick-or-treating at certain places and most of the rides are open. I'm not a huge parade fan, but I have to say the "Boo To You" parade was super cool! I think one of my favorite things was they had Peter Pan and Wendy and all the Lost Boys! But then they also had a lot of other characters you don't usually see out, like all the villains and also characters from the Haunted Mansion ride. But yeah it was a good parade! The rest of the night we did a lot of trick-or-treating (and ended up with a ton of candy!), watched the Hallo-Wishes fireworks (which were also super cool!), and we were also able to ride quite a few rides - including Splash Mountain, Thunder Mountain, and Space Mountain all within like an hour of each other! I don't think I've ever done that before. Haha I love short waits.

I'm boring and don't really ever dress-up for Halloween, so for the party I just put on my tye-dye shirt and said I was a hippie! Haha but yeah it was a fun night. It just wasn't very fun getting home at 2am because of long bus waits/rides and having to wake up at 6 for work. So that was pretty much the most exciting thing I did this week. But I survived my first 50 hour work week so that's exciting! Haha it was a long week and I'm looking forward to my next paycheck for sure!