Days Off

I love having days off to play. Today, I went around and saw a bunch of my friends at work/play. I had a great time wandering around Epcot and Magic Kingdom. For lunch, I went to Les Chefs de France in France. I spoke a little french, but mainly I stuck with English. I know Brooke would like this place better than the other one. After a while, I went to Magic Kingdom. My feet were pretty tired from walking around Epcot, but I suffered through it and walked some more. So now my feet are going to hate me tomorrow...not that they don't already. Oh...I forgot to mention...I had dressed up today because I had the day off and had the opportunity to do so. So...I wore my dress from Charlotte Russe and my heels from Musical Comedy Murders. My feet held up pretty well...until the last 1/4 of the day. So, not too bad in reality.

Tomorrow, Michael Phelps is going to be at the magic Kingdom! I'm totally going to see him! Also, Cole and Dylan Sprouse and Brenda Song (Suite Life of Zack and Cody stars) were here yesterday...Dylan and Cole at DinoLand and Brenda (London Tipton) at the Grand Floridian Cafe. Who knew? And one of my roommates swore she saw Alan Rickman (Snape) in DinoLand yesterday too. I was totally there yesterday and didn't see anyone. Go figure.

Well, I need my beauty sleep for the big day tomorrow. Haha.

~Crystal

Living the Dream

So...I am now on my 3rd day working for the Walt Disney Company. It's been quite an experience. Yesterday, I worked with the same people I did today, which was nice. Both offered me great insight to being a cast member. Not all of it was good (as I expected). Also, they were a lot of fun...but at the same time, they weren't very positive when it came to their jobs. Both seemed pretty tired of doing this every day. But we did have a good time talking about families who were great, awful, or whatever. We also swapped stories that we had heard of that happened years ago. 

For the past two days, I opened ToonTown. It was neat. Did you know that Goofy gets to ride the Barnstormer with a selected family before ToonTown opens? I didn't, but now I do and so do you! Donald and Pluto greet the rest of the families at the rope drop. It was neat to watch. Also, today Minnie and Mickey joined the Pals in the Hall of Fame because the Judges Tent was flooded from last night's rain. Needless to say, the line for that room was REALLY long. Haha.

Ben, Liddy, Claire, and Cynthia visited me today while I was working. It was great to see them!

It's weird being too tired to do anything once you get home. That is how I've felt the past 3 days. Whew! I'm glad I have two days off! Yay recovery. Well, it's time to get back on my feet and park it up!

~Crystal

First Day of Freedom

Well, today was the first day I didn't have training. It was definitely weird. Some of the family was working today, so Ben, Robert, Cynthia, Liddy, and I visited them. It was fun. We also saw Pooh Bear and Mike Wazowski...or however you spell it :) Yes, we totally have an autograph book that I will put together and cherish forever. Hurricane Fay hasn't been kind to us. The last 2 days of training were screwed up due to the rain. Instead of being in the Magic Kingdom, we hung out at the Contemporary Resort, which is actually pretty nice on the inside. We had a great time!

Today, those of us visiting those working started at the Animal Kingdom. We rode all major rides except the Safari. We also saw Lion King and Nemo. Our favorite was Lion King. After that, we ate lunch and saw one of our trainers. He was training another group...but they were at lunch at the time. We had fun talking to him. He said that he missed our group because we were very energetic and fun. After lunch and Nemo, we went to the Studios to visit Gabby, who was working. While there, we ran into Mike from Monsters Inc. That was really cool, as I have never seen him before. We were able to see most of the Lights, Motor, Action! show...all but the jet-ski part. Ben was really fun to watch/listen to. He was like a little girl in a doll shop :) We were going to see the Fantasmic, but it rained a lot so we couldn't do so. I think it rained all day except for like 2 hours. Welcome to Sunny Florida. Yay Hurricane Fay! I do have to say though, the show we did get instead of the Fantasmic was pretty good....it was basically the Fantasmic without the characters and scenes. It was a nice water show. And yes, it was pouring down rain while we watched the show. Meh. We had a lot of fun anyway.

It's weird that I'll be working soon. I won't have my family to stick to and figure out where to go. We were so close and did everything together. But now, we all have to work solo...scary! I know that we will make sure to visit each other as much as possible. I can't wait to start making dreams come true!

~Crystal

Tired and More Tired

Completion of Day 3...check!

Wow. Who would have thought that I could bring so much joy to people just by filling someone's shoes? My favorite memory of today has to be the little blonde girl who danced with Phil, Robert, and me. She was laughing so hard and didn't want to leave. She was a blast to have around.

I did four sets which means that I was out for about 1 hour and 15 minutes all together (of corse I had breaks in between sets). I was extremely sweaty and extremely tired, but it was totally worth it! There is no doubt in my mind that I will be in great shape very soon. Yay for sweating and basically cardiovascular activity!

I love my training family! I wish we could work together all the time. But sadly this is not the case. After day 5 it is all for one. I'm sure we'll still hang out together and whatnot, but it just won't be the same :(

Well, it's time to hit the showers and get some well deserved sleep!

~Crystal

Relaxation Before Training

Today was priceless. Training was fantastic. I love the people who trained us today! And we had a surprise visitor...Pluto! That was a blast. I am pretty tired from all that we did today.

While Erik and I were training, Mom went to Animal Kingdom. Naturally, she saw Lion King and Nemo 2 times each. Once we were done with training, we picked her up, went to the apartment so Mom could see it and we could change, and then went to EPCOT to eat dinner at Morocco. That was so good!!!!! And so starts Erik's and my Tour of the World...dinner wise.

Now I am here, hoping to get good sleep before tomorrow. I am going to be so tired. Sigh.

~Crystal

AUGUST 15

Erik and I got up early to ride Toy Story Mania at the Studios. We had a blast! Then we met up with Rachel, after riding Rockin' Roller Coaster. After a while, Erik and I headed to Typhoon Lagoon to see Claire in action. While waiting for Claire, we ran into Stitch! Now, most of you know that I'm not a huge fan of Stitch, sorry Stitch, but there was something about him this time that just captured my heart...maybe it was how excited Stitch was to see both of us...or perhaps it was the fact that Stitch brought his camera and wanted a picture with us...yeah, I think that was it. Too bad Claire wasn't there to experience this. After our Stitch encounter, Erik and I went to Crush 'N Gusher, while waiting to hear from Claire. Unfortunately, after having a great time lazing about in the Lazy River, we got Claire's message saying that she had dinner reservations with some other people. So we have yet to hang out with Claire, but I know it'll happen.

Mom came in today. It was so good to see her. We went to Magic Kingdom once she got in. It was fantastic. I wish she could stay with me or that I could stay with her (but I have to get up early tomorrow).

I am having so much fun. I can't wait to start training tomorrow!

~Crystal

Tradition!

I had my Traditions class today. It was fun. I learned a lot of things...and was reminded of some things I already knew. Most of the movies we watched were tear jerkers. They were basically all testimonials. After completion of Traditions, we were given our Cast Member ID's!!!! Now I can get into the parks for free!!!!!!!!!!

Erik and I celebrated this by going to The Prime Time Cafe. It was so much better than last time. I loved it! the food was fantastic too. We then tried to ride Toy Story Mania, but it broke down or something, so we headed to Magic Kingdom to catch Wishes. We stopped at the bakery on Main Street, where I was introduced to the best Ice Cream Sandwich ever. 2 chocolate chip cookies with vanilla ice cream in the middle. Yum! After Wishes, Erik and I took the Monorail back to the Transit Center to get to his car. We got to ride in the front! The operator, Ralph from New Jersey, was so cool! he told us a lot about how to drive it and how he gets in trouble for speeding....the computer screen just streams at him, not an actual person. It's pretty nifty. We will definitely drive one someday!

Even though tonight didn't really go as planned, I still had fun.

Well off to bed I go. I have a big day tomorrow...getting up early to get fastpasses for Toy Story and Mom comes to visit!!!!

~Crystal

A Lovely Night

So I'm a little behind in the dates, but oh well :)

AUGUST 14

I had a class bright and early at 8am today. So 7am was my wake up :( The class was basically telling us the Do's and Don'ts of apartment living. It was pretty boring, but I got a Disney College pin out of it! After class, Erik and I headed back to the apartments, with a girl named Eliza who was at our audition in Columbus in tow, and had another meeting. This meeting was where we learned where we are stationed and whatnot. Well, since we are both Character Performers, we are all over the place...not just in one area. So that really wasn't a surprise. However, I did meet a lot of new people while in line :) Then we met up with Nikki and went shopping for Erik's tradition outfit. I ended up buying a very nice green top at Banana Republic that will go well under one of my jackets or as is if we're going out or something.

When Erik went to dinner with his family (the last one before they leave), I went to my apartment, talked with my rommies, and then went to the party Disney was throwing for the College programmers with Nikki and her roommates. One of them is best friends with Eyeore :) The party was your typical club atmosphere, so I didn't really like it until we all started talking instead of trying to dance. We did have a special guest greet us....Mickey! That was neat. Near the end of the party, a group of guys walked up to us and started talking. We are all going to be good friends, I know it. The biggest surprise is that one of them, Danny, is from California but goes to University of Oregon!!! He kind of knows Cora and is really sad he won't get to watch his Ducks in action. He is into filming so he, mucky duck, gets to do the class I want to do but might not get to due to my major (I guess you're supposed to be a theatre major in order to get it for sure...lame). Anywho, we had a great time talking. Since we get our Cast Member ID' tomorrow (so we can go to the parks for free!), we were all going to go to the parks to play. Well, we made it a huge group thing and I am the leader (surprise, surprise). It started as just me showing the guys around the parks, since I know the parks so well, but then I invited the girls to come along (they had left me all by my lonesome with the boys before we had made this arrangement). So yeah, after Traditions, we are all going to The Studios to have fun! I can't wait!!!! Yay for me being social! After the party, the guys came over to Nikki's apartment and we watched to Olympics, while talking of course. I learned that Josh is best friends with Goofy and Danny is a ride operator at Everest. I also learned that Nikki took gymnastics for 13 years. So while we were watching women's gym, we were constantly asking her what she thought of them. I had so much fun! 

So I still need hangers. I think I'll walk to Walgreens if Erik and I don't go soon.

This is sooo cool! I am so glad I am here, experiencing this, meeting new friends. I know I will have a blast!

~Crystal

Funny/Stupid Story for This week...so far

Sorry for the long post...and ADDRESS at very end.

So....Tuesday (aka Aug 12):

After finally checking into my room at about 2:50pm, I called Erik to see where he was. We decided that we would meet at Downtown Disney for dinner. About 5pm, I headed to Downtown. I never knew there were sooo many roads. We seemed to go every which way to get there. We passed by like 50 billion hotel gates (all Disney owned and operated of course), each time I thought we were picking someone up from there or something like that. Finally, we made it to the Market Place. I walked around for a while, then called Erik to check on his progress. He wouldn't show up til about 8pm, and since it was about 6pm I decided to grab a snack and look around...what else was I going to do? :) I walked all around Downtown. It's a pretty long walk. One thing I love about Downtown is that I basically found everyone's Christmas presents already...plus 50. And most came from one store...not the World of Disney either...big surprise! Anywho, after grabbing a snack, I park myself near the water to drift off into mindless wonderment. It was very peaceful. Finally, Erik called and we met up. It was sooooo great to see him again! We decided to eat at Bongos...the Cuban restaurant owned by Gloria Estefan. Our waitress, Betty, was amazing. She was very helpful and a blast to talk to. And being the dorks we are, we took a picture with her...on facebook for anyone who wishes to look at it. With this restaurant comes the stupid story for this week...so far anyway.

STUPID STORY: Erik was rubbing his eye, due to contact issues, and what should happen? His contact fell out and onto his plate. After looking for it, with no success, he handed the plate to me. Switching plates, I found his contact fairly quickly. When I handed it to him, neither of us had an actual hold of it, so it fell somewhere, either on my plate or on my lap, which I brushed off after giving Erik his contact. So then we searched for his contact on the table, floor, plates, etc. Basically, we looked ridiculous. People around us were definitely wondering what we were up to. Betty thought this extremely funny, as did we, but got us a flashlight to help us. No luck in finding it. So yeah. That was the talk of the next few days :) And I totally did a Dad and wrote a nice comment about Betty. I felt so good afterward. If you every go there, the fruit salad is AMAZING...well, everything is amazing, but I had the fruit salad so there you go. We also had a chocolate something or other that was made with three different kinds of milk. It was DELICIOUS! Get that!

After that adventure, we went our separate ways...me to the All-Star Movies and he to the Double Tree Hotel.

AUGUST 13, 2008

First day.

Nervous.

Not sure what to think.

Several people in line and it's only 9:15am.

Met lots of really nice people in line. I am sooo excited to start.

As we waited in line, there was a guy who asked trivia questions. Of course, both Erik and I knew the answers to like every question. We both received a small photo book for a correct answer :) A girl named Cynthia was in front of us (I didn't know at the time but, go figure...she ended up being the Cynthia who is my roommate). We had a great time getting to know people while waiting FOREVER in line after line. Erik tried to get a building next to each other...which ended up working out. We both live in Vista Way (the oldest but cheapest apartment) and are a building away! While in line, Erik met a girl named Nikki who lives in the same building as he. She is really cool! I know we all will stay friends throughout the program...if not longer :) Her roommate, Megan, is really cool too. Anywho, we all went to Downtown Disney and ate at the Rainforest Cafe for lunch. Unfortunately, Nikki is allergic to basically everything food wise :( But we are totally going to eat at least once a week together in an apartment. 

After coming back from lunch and dropping Nikki off for her class, Erik's parents came to pick us up for shopping. We went to Target, where I bought a lot of unnecessary stuff that are pretty essential as well...if that makes sense...lol. We unpacked our purchased items, which didn't take long, and went to the beach Club Resort (where Erik's family is staying). It is BEAUTIFUL!!!! I love it there. They were upgraded to the concierge level (they have all the luck), which meant that you needed a hotel key to get on those floors and there were free snacks, and a balcony, and whatnot. The main pool was awesome! One of the lifeguards was on her last day of the college program. She gave us a lot of insight and tips. While in a hot tub, two kids decided to be very obnoxious. They were like, "We are going to jump in and you might get hurt or splashed" and things like that. Erik and I held our ground and the kinds finally had enough of us not leaving and t left themselves :) Then we went to an ice cream shop, where we met another college programmer who was on her last day. She also gave us tips and insight. And she looked like Mandy Moore...I'm not sure if that's a plus or not...meh. 

After getting dressed, we went to dinner at the Grand Floridian. Yeah, that's right. The Grand Floridian. It was fan-tas-tic. Katie (Erik's sister) and I shared French Onion soup and a rib-eye. I'm soooo glad we shared. Also, I had a New York cheesecake. Delicious. Mmmmm....I'm hungry already just thinking about it. And yes, we took pictures too :)

That's about it so far. I'll post later tonight for today's activities. Love you!

Address for mailing wonderful things :)

Crystal Carlisle

13501 Meadow Creek Drive

Apartment 2204

Orlando, FL 32821

~Crystal

Getting There

So I totally meant to write today, but it is late and I need sleep. So here is what went on yesterday. I'll update on events today tomorrow!

AUGUST 12, 2008

Let me start out by saying…HAPPY ANNIVERSAIRY MOM AND DAD!!!!!! I wish I could be there to celebrate with them. However, I will say I am glad not to be camping…I know…what a loser I am.

I do wish, though, that there were someone here to keep me company. I arrived to the All-Star Movie Resort about 10:30am. It is now 2:00pm and I have yet to get a room. I know the official check-in time is 3pm, but I was hoping I might be lucky. Guess not. So how have I passed my time? I went to the pool and got a tan (I hope), took a dip in the pool, dried off by using the sun’s rays, ate a pretty fabulous taco salad and mint chocolate chip milkshake, went back to the lawn chairs and soaked up more rays while sipping root beer and doing a logic puzzle or two, went to the arcade and got a small Mike and Ike, a fruity chewy turtle treat, and 7 small erasers, and finally am here typing away.

As I have no internet access…at least not some I’m willing to pay for…I won’t post this until probably tomorrow at my new apartment. I’m quite nervous at the thought of moving into an actual apartment. What will my roommate(s) be like? I’m sure she/they’ll be nice…and probably the same genre as myself…that is, a character of some sort (probably Pluto, since my for sure roommate is).

I can’t believe that this has finally come. I don’t really feel like it’s time. But I know that it is. I know that this is the start of a great new adventure.  I can’t wait to experience all that is Disney…and spend 5 months with the one and only Erik. I know we will grow closer in friendship.

I am so thankful for my family. Yesterday, they sent me off with a prayer. All said a prayer for me and my journey. I cannot say enough how much that meant to me. I wish all of them could come visit me. I know they had a great time the last time they were here and I know they would love it even more this time…especially since they now have an insider J

So far, the only bummer has been my almost meeting with Michelle. In Salt Lake I had a 3 hour layover. We were going to meet, but she was stuck in the city. When it was almost time to get on the plane, I decided to ask if the airlines needed bumpers. They said they most likely would. I was first on the list.  They asked if I had a place to stay and I said that I would call up Michelle to see if I could stay with her. Well, of course, she said I could and we made arrangements. Unfortunately, they told me they didn’t need me to bump after all. So I called Michelle as she was driving to the airport (or probably already there) to say that my flight was leaving and I needed to be on it due to the lack of needed bumpers. What a bummer. Hopefully, we’ll be able to see each other in the near future!

So far, every employee I’ve talked to has said I will love it here and in the College Program. I hope they are right…I know they are.

I love each and every one of you. Here is a BIG HUG!!! 

~Crystal