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GUYS!! I SAW MY BEST FRIENDS THIS WEEK! Did you feel the excitement there? I hope so, because I don't know how else to convey it to you. Two unplanned visits happened this week and I couldn't be more thankful that those people are in my life. They have supported me through some pretty tough times the last year and have continued to be by my side through this adventure while many others have decided to take a seat in the back. Tuesday night I was fortunate enough to see best friend #1, on a visit we thought would not happen. But things worked themselves out and said person made their way to the sunshine state for a far too quick visit, but I am so very grateful for those hours. Thursday morning I get a text while cleaning the apartment that best friend #2 and her boyfriend were in Disney World for the day. Of course I had to work but I made my way to Magic Kingdom after work where we were able to stand around and talk while the Electric Light Parade passed us. Both visits were...

What's in the cup is irrelevant, just know it was mighty good. And even better because of the Mickey straw. Week 7 is coming to a close and here's words you never thought you would hear me say.... I learned a lot from a turtle this week. While hosting two different shows this week I felt like Crush was talking directly to me with no one else in the room. The first time he said: "don't go against the current, ride it and let it take you to where you are supposed to be." We plan and schedule our lives (some more than others) to the point of exhaustion. Can you imagine if for a day, maybe even two if you were brave, you just let life happen. That sounds absolutely horrifying to me. I hate surprises and after this summer, unexpected surprises are not welcome.... they often lead to panic until I know what is happening. But in all seriousness. What if you woke up and just let life happen. You let the day take you were it was supposed to. Do you ever wonder what opp...

Six weeks of Disney adventures in the books! Crazy! I got here in January and its MARCH! So lets get down to business about week 6. (Did you catch my Disney reference there?!) The wonderful last few days of Feb and first few days of March left me speechless. I wish I was kidding. I literally lost my voice Tuesday. And that's really where our week 6 story begins. Tuesday was chaos. Everything (well almost everything) that can happen in a building, happened at Nemo while I was there. An hour into the day we were explaining to guests that we couldn't find Crush, AKA Turtle Talk went down and maintenance was busy trying to solve the problem. This of course happens right before we are supposed to load the theater and have 210 people waiting to get in. That show gets delayed. Next show time rolls around, and we now have almost all 210 people still waiting, plus have people already lined up for the next show. We then announce that we are still in delay. Commence unhappy guests. I s...

Trying something new. Well, new for your eyes. I keep a journal and every night (or when I remember) and I write down my peak, pit, praise, and prayer for the day. It forces me to find the good in what appeared to be a really crappy day and really makes me think about the day I had. Rather than do this for everyday in week 4 and 5 ill just sum up both weeks. Week 4 Peak: One of Dad's work friends was in FL and took me out to lunch. Not someone that I personally am close with but being around people who I know for just a few hours was better than lunch in the apartment alone. A familiar face, and that Chicago accent, made for a great afternoon! Pit: Valentine's Day. Need I say more? Worked all day, listened to coworkers complain about what they did/didn't get from their Valentine, and was surrounded by families and their loved ones. It was quite disgusting. Praise: I was (and still am) employed by one of the greatest companies. Everyday I am blessed to be apart of pe...

There is one question I dread more than anything from other cast members.... "why are you here?". Seems simple, what made you decide to come to DCP is really all they are asking. Someone who appears to have it all together just up and left Chicago to come work for Disney? For some, a simple "the experience" is a good enough answer. Others, its like they can see straight through the smile on my face and want to know more. So, here it is. In August my brother passed away a week before my third college preseason. I waited a few days to report for preseason so I could be with my family. I went back to school/soccer because I needed that back in my life. My world was turned upside down and soccer was something I thought would be stable. I was wrong. I heard every excuse in the book, even as far as to blame my not playing on the death of my brother (you can imagine my anger for that comment) except an actual answer while I sat the bench for an entire season. Bitter? Yes....

Being an older sister/older cousin/full time nanny it never surprises me what comes out of a kid's mouth. Well, sometimes it does. During Turtle Talk there are questions you can expect from kids almost every show; do you have a girlfriend? how old are you? why do you have a shell? where's Nemo? And then sometimes Crush will pick a kid who will ask something no one in the room is expecting like.... "where do turtles poop?". The room exploded with laughter and the parents of said kid were easy to pick out as they looked absolutely mortified.  The long pause from Crush told me that he muted his mic to have a long laugh before continuing with the show. Crush finally answered with "where do you poop when your in the ocean?" and then proceeded to excuse himself behind the reef. Use your imagination people.  This is just one of the many stories that make me smile at the end of a long shift. And then you get days where it seems as though there is something weird i...

No matter who I talk to at home I get the same question... "What do you actually do all day?!" Before I left all anyone knew was that I was working at an attraction, which seems self explanatory. You would think that saying "I work at The Seas with Nemo and Friends would be a sufficient answer, that someone would piece together that there is a ride there and that I help to operate the ride all day long. But, it isn't that simple. Bear with me here, all my "Nemo terms" are going to have to be explained so this post could end up being rather lengthy, which is not my intention. Here we go, a day in the life.... (my first official day, on my own) Woke up at 7am to be ready for a 7:40 bus. Should I have been up earlier? Yes. Did the previous days 5:15am wake up call keep me in bed longer than I wanted? Yes. But, made the bus. Take the bus to Epcot Cast Center (backstage Epcot - anything that guests can see is considered on stage, so everything you cant see/ge...