Bangarang

This has been an eventful week! I suppose the biggest thing I want to talk about is the passing of Robin Williams.

I've never met Robin Williams. I have never seen his stand-up comedy acts. I've never seen half of his movies. Until today, I don't even think I had seen Hook in its entirety. I didn't know anything about his family or his life. That doesn't mean he didn't matter. Or that his passing isn't sad. The biggest impact he had on my life was bringing the Genie to life in the movie Aladdin. I watch Aladdin every couple weeks. It is one of my favorite movies. As I have grown from a child into an adult, I have learned to appreciate the brilliance he had in that role. Over the course of the last few days, I have witnessed the Disney Cast Members uniting to grieve together. Several performers asked to speak to a manager on Tuesday in an effort to get the Genie to do a meet and greet in Magic Kingdom. I don't think it worked, but I know they tried. The Move It, Shake It, Celebrate It, Sreet Party is a sort of parade that stops and turns into a short dance party. Genie is a part of this celebration. On Tuesday, there was little dancing as most guests were hugging the Genie from all sides. Quotes by Robin Williams and photos of the Genie are popping up all over Disney property in the various entertainment break rooms. A lot of Cast Members feel like they lost a family member or a dear friend. It is very sad the way his life came to a close, but it has given so many people a reason to remember all of the happy moments he gave them. This is definitely one of those, "I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing when..." moments. I was in the Animal Kingdom performer warm-up room, waiting to clock out, and talking with other performers when someone announced that Robin Williams had died. I do hope people continue to focus on the positivity and laughter he brought to the world and respect that his family needs to time grieve without ridicule.

Keep looking up, friends.

I am very pleased to announce that I am approved to be friends with Wendy! I didn't tell many people that it was a possibility in an effort to not get my hopes up too high. I finally got the news yesterday and I am very excited! She and I won't get to hang out for a while, but to know that it is going to happen at all is a big deal! I also learned that I [should] be hanging out with Tink here in a couple weeks! I guess Peter Pan is going to become my favorite story. I had my parade orientation last Saturday. I learned so many interesting things about all the work that goes into Disney's parades. Now that I've been through the class, I can hang out with Mickey, Minnie, and Pinocchio in Disney's Electrical Parade that happens after dark in the Magic Kingdom. After I spend a few days getting to know Tink, I will also be able to hang out with her in that same parade! I can't wait.

I don't really have much else to report. That was the big news I've been waiting to share. I've said it several times since I've been here and I will say it again: I am being given so many wonderful opportunities this time around. I can't wait to see what else is in store.

"Carpe Diem. Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary." -Robin Williams, Dead Poet's Society

Hats and Headbands.

Hello again! I've been very fortunate since I moved back to Florida. I've already had a lot of great opportunities come my way. I'm working a ton, but having so much fun in the process. I really need to try updating my blog more often so I don't have to come up with several weeks' worth of events to document.

I don't have a picture for this, but I was hanging out with Mickey Mouse in Animal Kingdom. A family of 10 came to meet Mickey and Minnie, and our attendant warned us that it was kind of a rowdy group. The three boys, around ages 8-12, came to Mickey first. They were not speaking English, so I didn't pay much attention, just waited for the moment when we would take the picture. Then I heard the oldest boy tell the middle boy, (in Spanish) "You need to speak English. Mickey does not understand Spanish." That's when the light bulb came on and my attention was pulled. I started listening to the boy. He told Mickey hello and then introduced every one of his family members. He told Mickey everyone's name and their relation to him. (Grandma, older brother, sister, etc.) Since Mickey finally understood what was going on, he nodded along and acknowledged everything the boy was saying. After the pictures, the boy realized Minnie Mouse was there as well. He asked Mickey if he loved Minnie or if she was his friend. Mickey made a heart with his hands and pointed to Minnie. The boy laughed and hugged Minnie. While he had his arms around Minnie, he looked over at Mickey and said that he was going to have Minnie Mouse for his new girlfriend. Mickey laughed and then let the boy know he had his eyes on him. This entire interaction happened in Spanish. It was such a fun experience. I've never understood someone speaking another language so clearly. It still makes me happy when I think about it.

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to be a part of the Dinoland Dance Party at Animal Kingdom as a Party Activator. This just means I got to wear normal [ish] clothes, talk to guests, and help get the dance party going! It was weird being able to interact with guests in this way, but also so much fun! I have another dance party scheduled for next week. This one is part of the Frozen Summer Fun event at Disney's Hollywood Studios! I'll be hanging out with Minnie Mouse that night. I'm excited! This will be my first dance party hanging out with a character! I'm so glad to make my debut with Minnie Mouse!

I also got to dress up as a blueberry last week! Not an actual blueberry, of course. I had a spare shift, which basically means I was an extra for the day in case any of Mickey's friends couldn't come to work. So I got to put on a Character Attendant costume and my name tag! I spent a little while with Snow White, but there wasn't much for me to do there. I ended up venturing over to Mary Poppins and Mr. Penguin and helping out their attendant! It was actually really fun. It may sound weird, but it was nice to have people call me by my name for a change. I met a lot of European dads who share my name. So that was weird. And people said thank you for the strangest things. There was one family in particular. The mom had her hands full with shopping bags, her purse, an open pen, two pen caps, and a camera. After the autograph books were signed, she offered to take the books and the second pen from her two children. I grabbed the books and pen before she had a chance and said I would hold them while she took the pictures. She looked confused, like nobody had ever done that for her before. I then told her I would take the pen caps and other pen to so she would have an easier time with the camera. Again, she looked stunned. She said to me, "Wait, really?" Confused, I replied, "Yes. Of course. My hands are free." She handed over the pen and caps and thanked me. She then told me that was very kind of me. I didn't and still don't really understand. Truly, all I did was close the books and the pens and hold them for about 30 seconds, but she was so appreciative.

My roommate, Carly, found a little cat on our porch during a rainstorm a couple weeks ago. It was late at night and pouring, so of course she wouldn't leave. I checked her body and ears for fleas and when I didn't find any, we took her inside to sleep. She ended up spending about a week with us before we found her real home. We named her "Penny" for the time being and had lots of fun with her before she returned home!

I have Parade Orientation tomorrow morning, which is the first step to being in parades! I'm pretty excited about that. I still have no idea when I'll be meeting Tinker Bell. I'm starting to wonder if it will ever happen! I do know Tink isn't lacking in friends right now, and Halloween is the priority at the moment. But hopefully she and I will hang out soon! The rest of these photos are just things that happened that I can't give much of an explanation for.

I watched the Flag Retreat at Magic Kingdom!

I fell in love with Olaf. He is a love expert, after all.

I spent a day with Minnie Mouse in her dressing room at Disney's Hollywood Studios.

I met Buzz Lightyear and said goodbye to one of his really good friends!

I went to Cocoa Beach with Brittany, Justin, and Jered!

I hung out with Minnie Mouse at Adventurer's Outpost in Animal Kingdom where we had some very special visitors!

I got to meet Jack and Sally! Jack taught me how to scare so I could take that talent back to my "rats" at Character Spot and Sally told me I was "Boo-tiful."

I spent time at Downtown Disney with my precious roommates and their friends before the twins returned home for a visit!

Today is my only day off this week. I have Parade Orientation in the morning, followed by a 65 hour work week beginning Sunday. I'm going to be exhausted! Woo! I am absolutely loving my time here in Florida. I miss my friends and family back home though. Hopefully the Fall brings some time for visits here or there! 

Lastly, my sweet, best friend, Emma sent me a care package this week with lots of pictures and my favorite chips. The best part, though, is that I now have this photo of me being.... well... me.

Make Magic, Everyone!