Back again!

I've been quite busy so sorry I didn't update sooner.

On Friday I was Dale in Frontierland, I had to wear a feather headband and a Pocohontas type tunic so Chip and I looked quite funny. We had only had one set in the morning and then I had REP at five so it was a very easy day. My REP was for Jessie on DOUD which was quite a fun one to learn. As she shares a float with Winnie it was to the same music as my Winnie REP which was a little confusing at first. Two of the taller girls in my formation were learning Green Army Man which is a really cool routine but I am too short for that.

After work I came straight back to mine and put some make up on and waited for my family and Ed to arrive, but they were stuck in traffic so I played Doodlejump on my phone and tried to make time go as quickly as possible because I was so excited. It was so cool when they finally arrived. We had dinner in the hotel as it was quite late, and our rooms were really nice. They had a view of the castle. The park normally closes at 8pm or 10pm, but there was a special event on and there were fireworks at midnight which were amazing. We could hear the music from our room so we watched them, it made me really excited for New Year.

The next day we got up super early (except Dad) to get on some of the more popular rides, but Crush's Coaster and RC Racer had 'technical difficulties'. We went on Tower of Terror, and Rock and Roller Coaster, but there wasn't any music on it so it was just silent! It definitely took away from the experience!

We then went to the other park and managed to squeeze in Big Thunder Mountain before I went to work at 10am. I had asked the day before to be Chip or Dale or Jessie because I didn't want to be something rubbish when my family were here, so I was Chip in Frontierland, wearing the same outfit again. My Dale was Courtney, who I used to do ballroom dancing with in Faversham, so it was cool that my parents knew both the Chip and the Dale! I texted Ed to let them know that I was by Cowboy Cookout and when my first set was, and they came to see me. I am never nervous at work but I was kind of nervous about them seeing me work! It was really fun though and they stayed and watched my whole set. I had two more sets after that, and then I met them for lunch at Bella Notte. I was down for DOUD sign in at 3.15pm, so I after lunch I checked but I wasn't on it. I didn't go to Character 1 to ask for something to do, I just met my family in the park and hung out with them until it was time to clock out, we managed to get on Buzz Lightyear's Laser Blast which had a massive queue. I got a score of over 89000, which is a massive improvement on my 15000 score when I went with Nina!

That night we went for a drink in the hotel bar, which was really nice - I had a cocktail - and then we had dinner at the Steakhouse. I've never eaten there before but I had a burger and it was really yummy. My 30% discount really made a difference too because the food is so expensive. We went to Billy Bobs for a bit afterwards where I introduced Ed to Kelly, Lauren and Katie from my formation. I wanted to stay out and have a proper night but I was so tired from getting up early, and we were doing the same the next night, so we headed to bed at around midnight. Ed and I stayed up for a while chatting though as it was really lovely not to have to talk over the internet.

We got up super early again on Sunday and managed to ride Crush's Coaster twice with a 5 minute queue. It is one of my favourite rides by far. We had a nice day but I was a little bit sad sometimes because I knew they had to go home at 3pm, which they did. They dropped me off at mine and I stood there for a bit feeling sorry for myself. Ed had made me a package of Cathedral City cheese, Heinz Beans, the Polar Express on DVD, a Christmas tree with decorations, and two magazines. My mum had also brought me some books and some DVDs so at least I had something to do for once. I had a shower and decorated my Christmas tree, and then settled down to read a magazine at about 5.30pm, but I fell asleep almost immediately and woke up four hours later, very confused!! I just sat and up and continued where I left off, and then did the puzzles in the magazine and went to sleep again at around 11.30pm, and woke up at about 8am for work. I don't know how I managed to sleep so much, I must have been shattered!

Today I was Gideon in Park 2, which was rubbish. He is ugly and nobody knows who he is. The sets are quite easy because people don't bother you, but the costume is annoying. I hope I don't have to be Gideon again! After lunch I was feeling quite tired. I got on the bus to the breakroom, and when I got there I realised I'd left my head at EPC! The Genie had also left his gloves there, so our first set got 101ed. When my head arrived we did a set, and then a traffic arrived so our last set was 101ed too and we finished early! A few girls in my formation had REP for Can Can girl on DOUD today, which is a part I really wanted to learn. I have REP tomorrow so I was hoping it might be something else which doesn't involve a character head, like Butterfly on Fanti or something, so I went upstairs to ask. It is Remy and Jessie on Stars and Cars. I'm glad it is for two things and on a different parade, but it is my last scheduled REP so I'm really gutted that I don't get at least one dancing part! I especially think my Grandma was looking forward to seeing me as a dancer in front of the floats and I feel like I'll disappoint my family at New Year if I'm just a character all the time, as it won't seem like me. A couple of people told me though, that if I get somebody to teach me choreography, I can go to a dance captain after a Mise en Place or something and show them, and they can approve me. My friend Fiona said she would teach Lauren and I tonight but she didn't in the end, so I am going to try and learn it from somebody on my breaks tomorrow and then show whoever has me for REP. I also found out that it is too late to request a part on parade for New Year's Eve, so if I do manage to get approved on Can Can somehow, I need to try and secure a place doing it for at least one day when my family are here. It is such a nightmare trying to work things out! I also asked a dance captain if I could get put on DOUD this week as I am spare parade alllll the time. I had been told that if you ask to go on it once, then you are put on it more. He put me down to be Jessie on Wednesday and Winnie on Friday, so I hope I actually get to do DOUD this week!

I am really enjoying the job, and I enjoy sets and character work, but I just wish they would take into account that most people here on parade contracts want to dance, so it would be nice if they repped us all for at least one dance part. I know my contract is short, but if they are fitting in rep for four character parade parts they probably could have replaced one with another part! I don't mean to moan and I usually try not to, but it is quite frustrating because it is very clear that as employees we are just a number to them and not a person. I've heard a lot of people that have been here a long time say that it used to be a lot more fun and the managers were enthusiastic and would get everybody excited before parades and stuff (let's go and entertain those guests!). They also used to thank people if they had done particularly well, and I think in general people were more satisfied. I know it sounds cheesy but it really would make a difference if they managers acted like you were important to them. I am fine because I'm not here for long, so I'm enjoying it, but the people that have been here a long time all sound a bit disheartened and low in morale, and that really isn't the way Disney staff should feel as after all, they are the magic!

That is my moan over. I am going to be proactive tomorrow and learn this Can Can part, and then go and request to do it on either the 30th, 31st Dec or 1st Jan, if I manage to find a way to be approved on it. I'll probably feel a bit happier then as I know I'll get at least a couple of chances to put on some make up and a pretty costume and actually do a bit of dancing.

After work I went round to Katie and Lauren's and we watched Elf. A few others came a bit later and we swapped names for Secret Santa, so I need to start thinking of something to get for my person!

I'm in at 10am tomorrow, I have SET in the morning and my REP in the afternoon for Remy and Jessie, so I should get some sleep now.

Au revoir for now!

xxx

ps. I do not wish to give anyone bad thoughts about Disney...I think it is the organisation of our department people do not like, but when on set and parade most people are enthusiastic and enjoy what they do. I thought I should probably put a disclaimer!