Bonjour!

I am sooo tired. Yesterday, I went in at 10.30am expecting to be Perla in the Auberge de Cendrillon (a restaurant where the princes and princesses go around the tables), because when my shift was changed on Monday, they said 'I'm changing your shift so you can be Perla'. However, when I went to Character 1, I was told I was Jessie at Woody's Roundup. Woody's Roundup doesn't exist over Christmas because it is taken over by Santa and his Elves, but I just took his word for it and went to get my costume. The Jessie costume is really cool but super tight because there are so many layers. I could barely breathe in the traffic on the way to the breakroom, so I was worried that I wouldn't last the day. It turns out I was on Cowboy Cookout doing sets outside.

My first set was a bit of a disaster, because my chin strap pinged up and went in front of my eyes a bit. This made the head a bit loose and it fell slightly to the side. I couldn't see my ACC anywhere. so I just finished the set but tried not to move too much. Nobody mentioned my wonky head so it must have just looked like I was posing all the time!

I tightened my head for my next set and it was fine. It is really fun playing Jessie, she is a really popular character. One little girl was dressed up as Jessie and had obviously been really excited about meeting me, I took some time to play with her as she seemed so happy. Another little girl had a Jessie doll with her which I pointed and and then pointed at myself and then laughed (silently of course).

After lunch, my ACC couldn't zip me up again (maybe I ate too much), but then she asked me why I was wearing my faux corps (false body), and said I didn't have to wear it. The faux corps for Jessie is like a corset because it's so tight, and it has padding on top. so it was such a relief to take it off. My last two sets were inside Cowboy Cookout. It wasn't very busy so we got spend some proper time with each table. There were some musicians playing Disney songs in a Country and Western style, so me, Mickey, Minnie and Goofy were on the dancefloor having a proper boogie with the kids. There were also two birthdays so we followed the cakes out and went to wish the kids a happy birthday.

I was really hot and sweaty after the set, I prefer being outside where it's below zero! I did really enjoy the musical set though. There was a little baby who had only just learnt to walk, and he was following me everywhere. I really wanted to pick him up but we aren't allowed to. I bent down and held his hands for a little dance though, and paid him lots of attention. His dad was filming and his parents seemed really happy that he was enjoying himself so much.

After work I came straight home and got into my PJs and was asleep by 10pm because I was so tired out!

This morning (Weds), I woke up at 7am and went to meet my friend Kelly to get the bus. It is really snowy here now and absolutely freezing cold, it is also still pitch black until about 8am (see pic), so getting up is really hard even if you've had a lot of sleep.

I was Winnie the Pooh today. I spent the morning doing peage, which is a photo location where the guests queue up to meet you like they queue for a ride. I realised on my way to my first set that I didn't know the autograph! I know that it is Winnie the Pooh or just Pooh for English guests and Winnie L'Ourson for everyone else, but I didn't know the font, so I just made it up. Oops. The morning was ok but a little boring, as you don't really get much of a chance to play around or move anywhere else. I was the only person in my breakroom as the other Winnie would replace me as soon as I left the set, and my ACC never joined me in the breakroom, so my morning was quite lonely.

At lunch I saw Bruno and Bo, who are the two people in my formation who are training to be face characters. They were all made up and about to go and do their approval sets in the Disneyland Hotel. Bruno is Peter Pan and Bo is Snow White, they both looked so lovely - I really wish I was tall enough to be a princess! I don't know if they were approved yet, but I'm sure they were fine. I learnt my signature (I nearly had it right but I had to do little letters instead of capitals which I had been doing), and got in the traffic.

For the afternoon I was doing sets by the Festival Stage in Fantasyland. I was in the backstage area where we were back in 2006 with FTD, so it was really strange seeing it all again. The sets were more fun as it was snowing and Christmassy, and I got to move around. Some of the parents, mainly the Spanish ones, are really pushy. I made sure I ignored their kids for a bit (I waved but didn't sign or pose) and picked out a child from behind them who had been waiting for longer. It really frustates me but I made sure I still acted enthusiastic when I got to the children of the pushy parents.

I was meant to do 3 sets in the afternoon but my ACC said I was finished after two and didn't have to do anymore, I'm not sure why. He also said I had been great today and was a really good performer! He probably says it to everybody he ACCs but it made me feel like I must be doing something right which is good. I snuggled up inside my costume in the breakroom and fell fast asleep until somebody woke me up to say traffic was there.

When I got back it was manic in EPC because the parade was about to go out and everyone was getting ready and rehearsing. Lots of the dancers were moaning about the cold, but I think I'll just be happy to do it when I get to dance, which is hopefully soon! I got changed and put on a bit of make up, and had a hot chocolate while I waited to clock out. The hot drinks machines are free at the moment because of the cold weather I think, which is so good.

After work Kelly and I headed to Val d'Europe, where I bought a woolly headband thing from H&M so I can keep my ears warm but keep my hair up, as my hat looks silly over a ponytail.

When I got back my room was soooo cold, as my roommate keeps turning down the heating. I had a shower and am now wearing three layers to keep warm until the heating starts working. Despite having 9 hours sleep last night plus a nap at work, I am already feeling sleepy!

Enjoy your first advent choccy :) I'll update again in a few days!

Joyeux Noel!

xxx