Days off are the greatest thing ever invented. I've spent the last two days playing to my hearts content in both Hollywood Studios and in the Animal Kingdom. I've started to hold on to my maps and I'm checking off things as I accomplish them. I've only got a few things left in Hollywood Studios and I managed to do about half of the attractions/shows in Animal Kingdom and that's just today. My goal for my time here is to ride every ride, and see every show in every park. I feel like this is an entirely attainable goal. I'm really enjoying myself. I got to do a lot of shopping, put together a care package for my family, and have just had time to breathe and enjoy my opportunities. I feel very lucky.

Fun fact - Animation Academy, in Disney's Hollywood Studio is one of the most wonderful finds of all time. In fifteen minutes, an artist will coax a class of budding talent through a rough sketch of a character. It's great, and coming from a girl with no talent with a pencil, I have one good looking Minnie Mouse displayed on my wall. It's worth the visit, without a doubt.

Mousekateering

Here I am, in the happiest place on earth. It is odd, the things you can learn though - here's some of the enlightenment I've gathered since arriving in the land of the Mouse.

1. Reality is relative. I couldn't tell you what is going on in the world, because my reality is not the exterior world. Here, my concerns involve apartments, schedules, bus routes, training, shoes, and getting enough sleep.
2. Everything wonderful has a downside, too. Contrary to what I think I expected, not everything here comes with Mouse ears attached. I should have been prepared for that, I suppose - I mean, I've been here just on vacation and that's been true. There are always moments when you're smile fades, I just have to remember why I'm here, what I'm doing, and try to find that sparkle.
3. "On time" is relative. If the bus "comes" at 6:50am, you'd best be there at least fifteen minutes early, and be prepared to see it ten minutes after it's supposed to be there. Don't schedule yourself too closely because the day that you do, the buses will be running late and you will be out of luck.
4. Pack mentality is easy to fall into, and very difficult to evade. With five other girls in the apartment, once three or four girls are on board with an idea, everyone else just falls into the pack.
5. Everything is an adventure - so be ready. You never know when you're about to speed walk a park, take in a fireworks show, hustle to CiCi's for $3 buffet night, watch a movie with the roomies, see a celebrity, hit the gym, get on a ride, or learn something new. Through the moments of elation, disappointment, confusion, enlightenment, joy, purpose, understanding, trepidation, and passion - at the end of the day, it's Disney, and I can't imagine a better place to be.

Fun Fact! Magic Kingdom and all of it's parking lots could fit inside of the Kilamanjaro Safari in Animal Kingdom. Go figure.

Greetings from the happiest place on earth!

Here I am, in my three bedroom apartment, with four of my five roommates, taking advantage of the lull in our day and eating breakfast, watching house, and catching up with the outside world before heading off to my next Mousekateering adventure. It's been a whirlwind few days, standing in endless lines, signing my name to a million things, moving into an apartment, getting situated, hanging out with the roomies and just generally adapting to life here in the happiest place on earth. I'm loving this so very much.

Disney fun fact for today - did you know that Walt Disney won more Oscars than any other one person has? The man had 32 to his name, all told. What a champ.

I just want to see the floating lanterns gleam!

So tomorrow is the big day. I have been waiting for this my whole life and tomorrow it will be time!! Mom and I creeped on what could be my future home, and I was in love, dazzled by the light, insert silly cliches here, but it's all so incredibly true. I hope that you are excited, I know that I am. So incredibly excited. My life, Disney, my life, Disney, about to be the same thing? I am so ready. I'll keep you posted on how wonderful Disney life is.

Until my next installment, here's some trivia: did you know that some of the bigger restaurants with the bigger kitchens are dual leveled? Indeed they are, there's a prep kitchen on the tunnel level and a cooking kitchen on the main level. Now you know. :)

Even my Insomnia has Mouse Ears

Just another day in the life of a would-be princess, I suppose. But boy, getting ready for the biggest adventure of my life so far is tough. I’ve made a lot of check lists, edited them, rewritten them, made more lists, and completely started over. I keep waking up in the middle of the night terrified that I’m going to show up dressed wrong and that I will be sent home from Disney without even starting. Mouse ears are all over my life. Which, I suppose, is the point – and it’s good to start acclimating to that now. Because once life truly starts and I am working full time and studying and living in the happiest place on earth, then I had better love those mouse ears something fierce.

I am nervous, but I am genuinely excited. I think this is going to be quite the adventure.

Trivia? Question: Where was Minnie Mouse when she made her film debut?

Answer: The same place she’s always been, right along side Mickey. Minnie was seen costarring in Plane Crazy, the first animated short to star Mickey. This short and the Gallopin’ Gaucho preceded the most famous of Mickey Mouse shorts, Steamboat Willie.