Tuesday's Tips: Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party

"It's the most wonderful time of the year..." Christmas carols are ringing, cookies are baking, and snow is lightly falling. Which sounds wonderful, except that it's November(isn't it too early to be celebrating Christmas?) we live in Central Florida(so, no real snow. Ever.), and it is too hot to be baking cookies(it was 85 yesterday). It all only means one thing: Christmas has come to the Walt Disney World Resort! And with Christmas comes one of the best nights of the year. Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party! 

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas.... 

Walt Disney World does two hard ticket events every year. One is the Halloween party, Mickey's Not So Scary. We had a fabulous time at that one last September, so naturally, when November came, and the temperatures dropped from 95 to 80, it was obviously time to celebrate Christmas! We attended Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party last Thursday, and it was a blast! Here is an overview of our experiences :)

Magical Moments: Princess Edition

I sat down to update my Facebook page last week, realized that my status update would be extremely long. After considering the pros and cons of a novel length status, I finally remembered I could update my blog instead! Last Tuesday was a truly magical day at work. It was a day I was dreading, because I have a bad cold and a headache. I knew it would take some serious magic and prayer to gat me though the day. Not only was my night truly magical, I had a wonderful time as well! So here is a recap of those magical moments :)

One last fall day at the Magic Kingdom before Christmas begins! 

Magical Moment #1: Knighthood
Sadly, we were completely out of stock of my favorite hat in the whole wide world: my Jessie hat. Without that fine and dandy red hat, I really didn't know what to do. My solution? Don a pink princess cone hat! With streamers waving down my back, a multicolored wand in my hand, and a Sleeping Beauty necklace draped around my neck, I was ready to greet the royal guests of my kingdom. So I placed myself at the Test Track facing door, and began my princess duties for the night. I decided to greet all the little boys(and the big ones, too) who walked in as knights . Most of them just turned red and bashful before smiling shyly at me. One boy, he was about 9 or 10, walked in my door. I greeted him with a "Why, hello Sir Knight!" He took off his hat and bowed to me. I curtsied and then he continued on his knightly adventures. It melted my heart.

Goofy taught me to hoedown :) He was awesome at it! 

Taking Magic For Granted

When I sat down to write this post, my mind was drawing a blank. I haven't written a magical moments post for a long time, but I hadn't realized it. And when I went to write this one, I finally recognized why: because lately, I have felt like the magic of my day to day life had been lost.

Sometimes. I decide to ride the Astro Orbitor with Merida hair ;) 

I went back and read some of my previous posts, and saw a common pattern. So often, those moments that I had deemed magical then, were everyday and commonplace to me now. I sew first time ear hats and hand out Mickey stickers everyday. Those moments that used to be magical have been woven in to the fabric of my everyday life, and instead of sparkling with color, they have become dull and lifeless.

To Everyone Who Has Been Cut From An Audition

Dear friends(especially my princesses, but definitely the princes too ;),

You have all been there. I was there a few hours ago. That moment when they call numbers 15 and 45, but you are number 33. The twist in your chest as you realize that once again, you weren't good enough. And now, they expect you to walk out of that audition room, through a crowd still waiting to go in, with your head held high as if nothing was wrong. I was there this morning. And as I was fighting frustration on the bus home, I was thinking of everyone around me, who was just as distraught and just as torn up as I was, if not more so. So, I want you to know: YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL.

Don't let a single audition determine who you are. I have been on 30+ auditions, each one the same. My cheekbones are too high, my nose is too big, I'm too fat, or too skinny, or my eyes aren't big enough. But ultimately, what does that really matter? Why do we let a Casting Director have the power to tell us we aren't beautiful, to destroy our self-esteem? They have the power because we let them.

Now, speaking directly to those of us whose biggest goal is to make magic. Guess what? Breaking News: you don't have to be a princess to make magic. I promise! You can make magic every single day of your life, even if you aren't wearing a ball gown. Believe me, I know. Put the same passion and heart that you put into auditions into every aspect of your life, and you will become a magic maker. You might not be followed by crowds of people begging for autographs and photos, but the one little girl who you took the time to sprinkle with pixie dust, she will remember you forever. You might take pictures with her, you might even sign her autograph book, and in that moment, you will do something you can never accomplish in entertainment: You made the magic simply by being you.

So, my dear friends, the next time you walk out of an audition dejected, remember. You are truly a princess(or a prince!). There is a King who loves you more than life itself, and that makes you a real princess. Don't let the enemies of greed and desire destroy your inner joy and magic. Take those sparkling qualities with you, and you will become the person that everyone wants to meet. Because you will truly be a Magic Maker.

Just my two cents ;)
Love,
Lizzie

Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party: Tips!

This might just be my favorite night of the year. Everyone gets to dress up and go to the Magic Kingdom. You just combined two of my favorite things, playing dress up and Magic Kingdom! But, if Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party is on your fright list this year, here are thirteen frightful tips to the have the scariest time imaginable! Believe me, it's a scream!

I decided to dress up as Ariel. It was so much fun! 

Tip #1: Scare up some good costumes.
Yes, even the grownups need to spend some time playing dress up! Moms and Dads, don't let your kids have all the fun on this one. Jump on in there! We were a group of all adults, and you'd better believe that every one of us dressed up! Some awesome families all dress in the same theme, such as Incredibles or Snow White and the Seven Dwarves(if you have seven kids, this is an adorable idea!). Whether you are matching your kiddos or everyone doing their own thing, everyone needs a costume. When else are you going to take pictures in front of a castle dressed as a princess and a space ranger? Never, is the answer ;) Which leads us directly to our next tip...

Follow me on Facebook!

Hello everyone! As you must know, sometimes I am terrible at updating my blog :) So, I created a Facebook page where I can post quick updates, such as tips of the day, live blogging, and my daily magical moments. I will still be updating my blog, it will be just the same as usual, the longer posts about my life and WDW tips. :) Check it out here: facebook.com/lizzieindisney
Hope to see you all there! :)

Magical Mondays: My Own Disney Character

I love working for Disney. I never want to work anywhere else ever again. There are a few things that can be changed, obviously, but as a whole, I get to work for a Mouse and my office is a theme park. Oh, and the fact that on my days off, I can visit the most magical kingdom in the world. But one of the coolest things about my job is that I can become my own character, create my own world of magic for the guests. 

Tuesday's Tips: Disneyland Review

Hello everyone! Sheesh, time sure flies here in the Happiest Place On Earth! I hadn't realized how long it had been since I last blogged! ;) Well, today, this is a guest post by my lovely little sister, Gwen. She recently went to Disneyland, and wrote up a nice review of her time. Enjoy! 

In June, I spent almost a full day at Disneyland in California. My family and I had Disney passes for many years, but about two years ago we decided not to renew them. So, finally going back to Disneyland was amazing.

Gwen, my sister Anna, and a really good friend on their trip to Disneyland!

Magical Mondays: I Got Locked In A Tea Cup By A Cowgirl

Sorry for this extended break from blogging! I have been so busy lately, even my playing in the parks time has been cut down :) But, without further ado, here is the next Magical Mondays post, albeit not on a Monday. But hey, Disney schedules never follow the correct days of the week, so it doesn't really matter, right? 

I'm singing in the rain, just singing in the rain....

Merchandise was never my first choice when I was dreaming of working at Disney. Please don't misunderstand me, I am so grateful for my job and I love the people I get to interact with on daily basis. It's just that merchandise isn't my passion and every day I spend here I realize that. All that goes to say, sometimes I just have to look even harder for those magical moments. These past few weeks have been like that. But the deeper I dig for those magical moments the stronger they are. 

Disney Birthdays!

So sorry for the delay in posting! I have 5 million dining reviews to post, including some recent ones, like Via Napoli and 1900 Park Fare. I also have some more Magical Mondays and Tuesdays Tips posts. But, I am going to take a break in our usual programing for this special post and to share some awesome pictures from my absolutely fantastically magical birthday celebration! 

Trails End Buffet

Howdy partners! Pull up yer steed and tip your hat to the best breakfast buffet around! Trails End Buffet at Disney's Fort Wilderness Campground is an incredible deal and wonderfully tasty! For a reasonable price, you get a full buffet and a drink, which includes all the Mickey Waffles you could eat! Tip: Cast Members, you currently get 40% off, which means the buffet, drink, and tip is less than $15. Seriously, it's wonderful.

Liberty Tree Tavern

When the 4th of July was quickly approaching, I couldn't think of a better place to celebrate than WDW. I also couldn't think of a better way to celebrate than by lunch at the Liberty Tree Tavern! This place is really neat, you feel as if you have been transported back into the 1700s. If you listen closely, you can almost hear the fife and drum beating as the troops march by in red, white, and blue to defend our freedom.

Liberty Tree is in Liberty Square in the Magic Kingdom. It is right down from Haunted Mansion and across from the Rivers of America. The strong white columns are reminiscent of a familiar American sight, the White House.

Tuesdays Tips: The Animation Academy

There is so much to do at Walt Disney World, that often, there are hidden experiences that get overlooked. The Animation Academy was one of these for me. I knew we had something similar in California, but I did not realize we had one here too! If you have always wanted to learn to draw the classic Disney characters, meander on to Hollywood Studios Animation Academy!

The experience runs all day long, so just show up whenever you are looking for a nice seat and some cool air conditioning  In the same building as the Academy you can also meet Sorcer Mickey, Frozone and Mr. Incredible, Wreck It Ralph and Venelope.

Magical Mondays: Jessie, Captain Hook, and a Special Assignment from Mickey

I was having a tough week at work. My magical moments quota was virtually non-existent. And for a Disney Cast Member, that is completely unacceptable. So when I was assigned to stock Kids Toys on Friday, I knew I needed to make some magic and fast, otherwise I was going to lose all my pixie dust!

Magical Moment #1:
There is a giant wand above the kids toys section in our store. Every few minutes, the wand will spin in a slow circle. This is Mickey's special wand. There are also random wheels and gears all over the store, contributing to the theme. A little boy in my section began spinning one of these wheels. He turned to look at me with big blue eyes and asked what that wheel did and why he should turn it. I looked at him, thought about it for a split second, and responded.

"Why, that wheel spins the wand!"

His eyes got really big as he looked at me.

"Really?"

"Of course! It's Mickey's special wand, and that wheel keeps it going."

Happy 4th of July!

Celebrating 4th of July with my boss today ;) I want to thank each and every person who has served our great nation in the armed forces. I would not have the chance to live in this beautiful country if not for your sacrifice. I love my country and am incredibly proud to be an American. God bless America, my home sweet home. Happy Independence Day!

Be Our Guest

Put our service to the test. Tie your napkin around your neck and we provide the rest.

Be Our Guest 

On Monday, I got to experience the most magical night of my Disney career to date. That was the night I had a chance to experience the power of fairytales as I dined with the Beast in Be Our Guest. This restaurant is a magical story come to life. I think I may have broken a Disney history record by making it to Be Our Guest twice in 48 hours, once for dessert during lunch hours and once for dinner. After doing it both ways, quick service lunch and full service dinner, I can recommend that you go for your first time at dinner. The magic is more real, you can almost feel hear Lumiere and Cogsworth dancing in the background, and the Beast actually wanders the room.

The Grand Floridian Cafe

I am seriously behind on my dining reviews. We have been to so many amazing restaurants lately, its about time I get updating! :) This review is for a lovely little spot called the Grand Floridian Cafe. One of the best things about living at Disney is the wonderful food options. After church last week, we needed somewhere to go for lunch, so I suggested the Grand Floridian cafe. It was wonderful!

Tuesday's Tips: Club Cool

The days are longer, the pavement is beginning to simmer, the crowds expand, and heat bares down. Welcome to summer days at Walt Disney World. The summer sun beats down on tired families, wandering aimlessly through the streets of Disney. Don't let this be you this summer! Look for ingenious ways to cool down, enjoy the long summer days, the hours of entertainment, and the joy that a summer at Disney brings. One of the ways to do this is Club Cool!

Magical Mondays: Undercover Mickey Mouse

Sometimes, I don't feel like I am making any difference in my job. I get parents who are tired with screaming children trying to buy useless things. I just don't see how I am helping make anyone's vacation better or more magical. And then I have moments like these next three that make my job more worth it, and reminds me that every Cast Member has the opportunity to create magic for every person they encounter. And what better job could exist!

Cinderella's Carousal 

Sanaa

Welcome home! That is the greeting you will receive the moment you step into the warm, rich lobby of the Animal Kingdom Lodge's Sanaa restaurant. This beautifully themed restaurant has incredible food, wonderful service, and giraffes walking outside the window. What could be better?

Tuesday's Tips: WDW Transportation

I am so sorry it has taken me forever to update with another Tuesday's Tips. I have been so busy with work I haven't even had a chance to work on these posts. Tuesdays are usually my busiest days, and I do have to leave for work soon. But I will get this done first! I have two tips for you today: transportation and Wi Fi.

These tips will help your vacation go smoother and make this a little more magical.  :) 

Magical Monday's: Princesses and Pin-Trading

There are so many things that make my job different from any other job in the world. No, it isn't that I can turn my costume in every day and have someone wash, dry, and iron it ;) Although that is pretty awesome. It isn't that I get to wear super bright colors, dance to Disney music, wear Mickey gloves and high-four space rangers. It isn't that I work for Scrooge McDuck in his factory, take the orders from his office and deliver the products to our guests. All these things are really awesome, but the best part is that I get to create magic. Yes, as I learned in my training on Saturday, making magic is a part of my job description. And there are so many magic moments this week that I want to share with you. This post is all about the little princesses that entered my life this week. I love the little space rangers and pirates, don't get me wrong, but it is the princesses that make the magic for me.

Whispering Canyon Cafe

Warning: this post will make you run to your freezer for the nearest gallon of ice cream. You have been warned. Proceed at your own risk. 


Wednesdays are my days off now, which means lunch! Yesterday, our restaurant of choice was Whispering Canyon Cafe. This delightful restaurant is located in the Wilderness Lodge. While the decor was fun and the service wonderful, the thing that really drew me here was the bottomless milkshakes. Yes. Bottomless milkshakes. My world was changed in that moment. They were amazing! More on that in a bit.

The entrance. Look at the Indian headdresses gracing the stairs. 

Magical Mondays: Magical Moments

There are so many magical things to talk about today, and its not because I am sitting at the Pop Century resort eating tie dye cheesecake, although that might have something to do with it. :) let me tell you, that cheesecake is magical, but it deserves a post all to itself. No, today I want to talk about the magical moments I had a chance to be a part of.

L'Artisan Des Glaces

Why are so many things better when they are French? ;) Like castles, cities(Paris!) and boys, things are just better when they are French, and ice cream is no exception. In Epcot, the normal American can now experience the deliciousness of French Ice Cream at the brand new L'Artisan Des Glaces.

Pizzafari!

Pizza is always an adventure. That gooey cheese atop light brown crust with toppings that set your mouth to party. At Disney's Animal Kingdom, pizza literally is an adventure at Pizzafari!

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It's Off To Work I Go

"....it's work and play but work today, hi ho, hi ho, hi ho, hi ho."

This is another post full of pictures that have nothing to do with the topic,
but I can't really take pictures at work ;) 

Sorry for the lack of updates! I have been exhausted lately, working too much. ;) Ha ha! Anyway, to start off, I LOVE my job. LOVE IT. Today, I am doing floor stocking shifts, which I don't think I will love as much, but yesterday, I worked register, so it was amazing. I got to talk to people all day long. It was the best! 

Magical Monday: My Time As Warwick Davis' Grandmother

There are few people who can say they played the role of Warwick Davis' grandmother. There will be exactly 6 who can say they did so at Hollywood Studios during Star Wars Weekends 2013. And that story is today's Magical Moment.

They are so cute in their Star Wars costumes! 

Sorry for the lack of pictures, but I was up on stage and therefore, you will have to do with the inescapable pleasure of my words. These pictures are going to be from the rest of my day at Hollywood Studios, so this is really like two posts in one. If you get a chance, jump over to my posts about the incredible Darth Vader cupcake and our time at the Sci-Fi Dine In. Both were wonderful! :)

Darth Vader Cucpakes and Backlot Express

I love cupcakes. Not nearly as much as Mickey Ice Creams, but I still love cupcakes. When I saw there was going to be a Darth Vader cupcake for Star Wars Weekends at Hollywood Studios, I had to try it. So, yesterday, I moseyed over to the Backlot Express and got this monsterous creation.

Sci-Fi Dine In

It has a been a wonderful week for food. I know I mentioned earlier that my DCP goal was to eat at as many restaurants as I can. I hit three of them this week! :) Yay for foodie friends! This post is dedicated to an awesome restaurant called the Sci-Fi Dine In. This restaurant brings out nostalgia for the 1950's and the days of drive-in theaters.

We didn't have reservations, so I walked up to the counter at about 12:30 and begged the CM to see if she had anything available for tonight. Luckily, she had one reservation for 7:50. That worked perfect for us, so I went ahead and booked it. 

TRADITIONS!

This is possibly one of the most important days in my Disney career. TRADITIONS! Honestly, I can't say too much about this morning. I got up at 5:30 am, did some God-time, grabbed breakfast, then changed into my business clothes. Because we have to look sharp(Disney Look) for Traditions, it was heels and a pencil skirt.

No better way to start my Disney day.   :) 

I jumped on the bus to Disney University. This building is amazing. I wish I could take pictures, but unfortunately, it is all backstage Disney, so no photos allowed. Let me tell you, if you ever have the privilege of working for Disney and your Traditions class takes place in Disney University, you are in for a treat. Just imagine the best Disney magic you can in a school environment. ;)

Housing meetings!

Today was another full day. I finally finished my unpacking, redesigned my bulletin board, checked out the Disney Learning Center(our library has 4 copies of Beauty and the Beast! WINNING!) and made it to my housing meeting. On the way there, I accidentally missed the bus. I am still learning the bus system...but this awesome CM was willing to drop me off in front of my building anyway, even through it wasn't part of his normal route. Everyone who works here is so happy! I have yet to see a CM who doesn't truly seem to love his or her job. Makes me proud to be part of such a company.

Downtown Disney and Dole Whips!

Sorry for skipping yesterday! It was a jam-packed day of craziness. So, now we are playing catch-up ;) Lets start with Monday night.

On the bus! Our first bus ride! 

My roommate, Julie, and I decided to try out Downtown Disney and get a feel for our new home. We jumped on the bus and headed out! Our goal at Downtown Disney was to find our pinch-me-I'm-in-Disney moment. Therefore, it was with eager eyes we searched for my favorite treat in the entire World: Mickey Bars and Ice Cream Sandwiches.

Magical Mondays: I'm moving to Disney!

Today is the day! It is finally here! I am moving to Disney! :) I thought this would be a good magical Monday post, because what could be more magical?

I landed way too early in the morning and jumped on the Mears shuttle. Tip: take the shuttle for $21 because a taxi will cost you $60.

This is my its-3-am-and-I'm-exhausted-but-going-to-Disney look :) 

Tuesday's Tips: Disneyland on a Budget #2

Welcome to the second edition of Disneyland on a budget! Today's tips deal with drinking and eating, my favorite parts of Disney.

Image courtesy of starrynight_12 on Flickr. Click here for original. 

Magical Mondays: Caramel Apples

Today is Monday. Monday is the beginning of a long and dreary finals week. I hate that word: finals week. So, I decided I needed to post something especially magical for today. 

Ta da! Caramel Apples! 

Linked up and ready to go!

Is it just me, or does this logo remind you of Monster's University?

A few days ago, I finally received my DORMS link-up. In anxious anticipation, I quickly contacted my roommate, jumped online, and put in our living preferences. For anyone who is an up-coming CP, the process is really easy, I promise. Choose one of your roommates to log into the system. That was my job. I clicked on the link, logged in, and completed my profile.

DCP Bucket List Goal

Okay, recently I have been thinking about my DCP bucket list. I am a bucket list person. Maybe because I am a list person, and a bucket list is a list for my whole life, and that just makes me excited. So, now that I am approaching my CP, I have to create a bucket list. There are so many things to do in Disney, I feel as if even in my year there I will not accomplish them all. So, I decided to be choosy, and focus on a single topic for my list. And while I love the rides, the characters, and the atmosphere of Disney, almost nothing gets me as excited as...FOOD! Seriously. I am a huge foodie. I love food. I LOVE food. A vacation isn't a great vacation if it doesn't have incredible food. My waistline grumbles and complains about my passion, but I tell it to get in line and let me enjoy my treats. ;)

I am still dreaming about these things... :) 

Image courtesy of Lucky6.9 on Wikimedia Commons. Click here for the original. 

Tuesday's Tips: Disney World and Severe Food Allergies

Today's Guest Post is by Kelsey at Simple Moments. 

Hi! I’m Kelsey, the pretty average college gal who blogs (or is attempting to blog!) over at Simple Moments.  If you want to read my ramblings about the beauty of the Midwest, college life, and some simple moments (did you see what I did there?) you should check it out! Anyway, I was asked by the lovely Lizzie to write a little bit about my unique Disney experience in the hope that it would help you!

Image courtesy of Theme Park Mom on Flickr. Click here for original. 

Magical Mondays: Mickey Ice Cream Bars

Today is Monday. And Monday means classes. And classes means no fun. So for today, I want to leave you with one thing. Hopefully it fills you with as much happiness as it does me. 

MICKEY BARS!