Decades Dining

After Thursday's phone debacle, we needed a break from reality. From the office. From people. From being blamed for not knowing how to use a pager. What did we do?

Took the best (and tastiest) time machine offered in Disney's Hollywood Studios, of course! Eating at the Sci-Fi Diner was as good as entering the fabulous fifties! The dim lighting sets the mood as you are placed in the compact seats of a car while watching a few science fiction movies on the large overhead drive-in lot. Of the three car rows, we sat in the last one, being the "hitchhikers" of the car.

The room was silent as guests watched the overhead movies flash before their eyes. Kristin and I were amazed by the constant need for the vintage story lines to entail people either from outer space, from the deep blue sea, a fifty foot human, or, better yet, all three.

Our lovely server, Martha, made our evening fabulous with a dessert courtesy of Mickey Mouse. Magic happens every day, and this day was one where we could have used all the help possible!

Apocalypse Now

Picture this scenario:

It's a calm, collected, quiet Thursday afternoon, with the Orlando breeze rustling through the trees. A storm is brewing outside.

Along with inside the halls of the Youth Sales department.

It seems to be a normal day. Interns scurrying about in an attempt to look occupied. Managers restlessly watching the clock until the prearranged event for all Marketing departments in the late afternoon away from the office.

The prearranged event that changed everything. It was meant to be a celebration of what the company had accomplished, as well as a look toward the future goals. Instead, it left a horrid path in its wake.

At least in the eyes of the three new interns.

During the normal day, one person watches the youth phone hotline in the morning, and one in the afternoon. It's never been a painful experience before. Sometimes it is actually quite cheery (where else can you end a call with "Have a magical day!" without sounding insane?!) Until, that is, all the supervisors and managers leave for the afternoon event thinking that the two other departments we worked with were staying behind from the event.

However, these other two departments were gone, with the others, to enjoy the festivities, leaving all their potential phone calls to funnel into the Youth Sales Hotline.

And the Youth Hotline was manned by three lowly interns, in a state of panic, as call after call rolled in with impossible questions and few solutions.

Three hours later, and countless phone messages to every Manager blackberry on our list, we managed to survive. Excruciating? Yes. Terrifying? Yes. Downright memorable? Oh Yes.

We survived!

Ugly Ducklings

Swan Family in Downtown Orlando

Like a Bolt out of the Blue

I absolutely love working in Disney World. Where else do you have the option to go sit on the beach with friends and watch a gorgeous fireworks show every night?

Terrible Two: fun and fancy free

On Monday evening, after a long day of filing papers and taking magical phone calls, it was decided that the perfect end to the evening needed to take place at the Poynesian Resort. So off we went, getting lost along the way, until we sat in the comfortable beach chairs, pineapple drinks in hand, waiting for Jiminy Cricket's spiel.

The fireworks show, Wishes, is one of my favorite things in Disney World. Whether it is the first time seeing it, or the hundredth, it is breathtaking. How the Magic Kingdom continues to amaze with this spectacular event every night is beyond me. I think what makes such an impact on my viewing of the show is how it affects others. During the show young and young at heart alike watch in wonderment, and listen with rapt attention (not to mention the many tears that are shed during the 15 minute show!)

Nothing can ruin Wishes. The only downside to our time on the beach was the music did not play (though I have heard it usually does, so this may have just been a singular malfunction). We were on beach chairs that partially obscured the already tiny castle (Cinderella lives on the other side of the Lagoon), but really nothing can block the fireworks that lit up the entire sky.

Take a night to make a wish, and do as dreamers do-- and all your wishes will come true!

Winnie Weekend

Every single one of us, once upon a time, watched Winnie the Pooh. And cherished every moment of it. We loved his antics, his friends, his constant obsession with honey. It was the best toy story before Pixar came along and changed the game.

What's a girl to do when Winnie completes a new installment to the animated collection? Go see it with the 5-year-olds of course!

I have to admit. It was beyond adorable. There was a short film featuring Nessie the Loch Ness Monster that tugged at the heartstrings, and then the audience was taken for a lovely adventure with Christopher Robin and friends. The plot is constant, with Pooh always searching for honey, but showing importance of friendship at the same time. Personally, I think Piglet stole the show (he is so pint-sized and cute!)

Winnie...Professional and Attempted

We had played in Hollywood Studios for the day, and when running into Animation Studios to escape a torrential downpour, discovered that we arrived just in time to take part in the animation class. And who did we draw?

Winnie. Of course.

In this half hour art class, we were taken step by step through completing an animated character from beginning to end. Whoever guessed the character, kept the instructor's drawing.

With Kristin's help, I won a much better drawing than I could ever manage. Let's just say I should never leave my profession to become an artist.