Kitchen Sink: 1 DCP: 0

     We attempted the Kitchen Sink Sundae from Beaches and Cream tonight, and didn't even come close!  This bad boy is gigantic.  Five people is definitely not enough!  Here's what's in it:

• ½ cup fudge topping, warmed
• ½ cup butterscotch topping, warmed
• ½ cup peanut butter topping, warmed
• 1 medium banana, sliced in 1/2 –inch slices
• 1 cinnamon spice cupcake (2 ½ x 1 ¼-inch), quartered
• 1 angel food cupcake (3 x 1 ½-inch), quartered
• 2 4-oz. scoops vanilla ice cream
• 2 4-oz. scoops chocolate ice cream
• 2 4-oz. scoops strawberry ice cream
• 1 4-oz. scoop mint chocolate chip ice cream
• 1 4-oz. scoop coffee ice cream
• 3 tablespoons chocolate syrup
• ¼ cup marshmallow crème
• ¼ cup strawberry topping
• ¼ cup pineapple topping
• 1 14-oz can dairy whipped topping
• 1 brownie (6-inch x 6-inch), quartered
• 1 regular-sized (2 ounce) candy bar, quartered
• 4 chocolate cookies with cream filling
• 1 tablespoon sliced toasted almonds
• 1 tablespoon dark and white chocolate shavings
• 1 tablespoon chocolate cookies with cream filling, crushed
• 1 tablespoon chopped jellied orange slices (approximately 2 large slices)
• 1 tablespoon milk chocolate chip morsels
• 1 tablespoon peanut butter chip morsels
• 1 tablespoon chocolate sprinkles
• 1 tablespoon rainbow sprinkles
• ½ cup drained maraschino cherries  

     They make a huge deal out of bringing this out, with lights and cheers, and a whole bit!  This is a video Brittany took of them bringing it out to us

Bringing Out The Kitchen Sink at Beaches and Cream

      You have to try to eat it pretty quick, because before you know it, it's melting into a big mixed soup, and isn't so pretty.  We got about 2/3 of the way done, then we didn't even want to look at it anymore. 

      It was tasty, and a lot of fun, so for about 7 bucks a person, even though we didn't conquer it, it was a fun night!

Full belly, and time for bed!

xoxo

Health, History, and Horses

     For the past three out of four days, I've been doing my training at the other resort I will be working at, Saratoga Springs.  It's themed pretty differently than Old Key West (my home resort), and the style behind it is "Health, History, and Horses".  It's not my favorite, but it's hard to compete with OKW!

      I've had a couple different trainers, and they've all had very different styles, so I'm working really hard to find my own blend of what to do.  It's also easy, when working two resorts, to get them confused when guests ask for information or directions.  Not to mention, that the uniform for Saratoga is UGLY!

 But, I AM in Disney, so even this ugly costume can't bring me down!

     On Wednesday, Alyssa, Brooke and I headed to another housing party, the Monstrous Summer Welcome Event, which was themed to Disney's Monster's University.  We snagged some free pizza, and got to meet Sulley in his M.U. wear!

     Tonight, I'll be heading to Beaches and Cream at Disney's Beach Club Resort, to make an attempt at the famous Kitchen Sink Sundae.  We've got 5 people (including myself), so I really don't know that it's doable, but we'll see!  It'll be nice to cross something off my bucket list, and go have some fun to celebrate being done with my training!  That's right, I've officially "earned my ears"!    Not more safety net, and no more trainers hovering nearby!  It's pretty wild, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous!

Movin' on up!

xoxo

Happy Birthday, Ashley!

     Last night, I finally had my first Dole Whip!  I went to The Polynesian with Brooke, Brittany, Alyssa, and Guy, to watch Wishes from the beach of the resort.  On our way to the sand, we stopped into Captain Cook's, which has a self-serve machine with vanilla ice cream and Pineapple Dole Whip!

     We grabbed some lounge chairs, and enjoyed the show.  It was pretty neat to see it from another perspective, and they even had the music piped in (which was only mildly interrupted by the guy snoring and snorting a few chairs over).  It wasn't as magnificent as seeing it from in front of the castle, but definitely a more relaxed way to do it!  While we were there, we also saw them showing Peter Pan on a big inflatable screen on the other end of the beach.  I'd love to go to something like that one day, too!

     We headed straight home afterwards, as we had another big day planned, for our friend Ashley's birthday.  In the morning, Alyssa, Guy and I met her and one of her roommates, bright and early at the TTC.  We headed to Magic Kingdom, for some characters and rides!

 

      I even got to meet Gaston, outside Gaston's Tavern!  He gave me a hard time about my Beauty and The Beast shirt, so I had to quickly assure him that he was in my heart, and that's what was more important.  He loved that, of course!

      After MK, before Ashley met some of her other roommates at Hollywood Studios, we decided to check out Cast Connection and Property Control, and meet up with Brooke.  Cast Connection and Property Control are stores specifically for cast members.
     Cast connection is crazy discounted, and for only cast members.  It features merchandise that can't be sold to guests, as it's either damaged, a piece is missing, or the packaging is removed or damaged.  Some things in there, don't seem worth buying, even for the super low price.  But some things, just have the plastic wrap ripped off, or the cap of the pen was removed.  A woman working there even told me that a lot of the shirts they sell in there, were sample designs that were not approved for mass production, so you could get something really original!
     Property Control allows cast members to bring in guests.  It's excess merchandise, merchandise that's out of season, and dishes and furniture from around the resort, that's been replaced, but is still in good condition. The prices aren't as low, but nothing is broken!
     We all got some great finds during our shopping, and then we headed home!  Yet another successful day on the DCP!

xoxo

Nǐ hǎo!

     Another two days off, and another welcome chance to catch my bearings.  My first two days flew by.  Miss Peggy was just as great on day two as she was on day one.  I got to do a lot more work on the front desk, and became even more familiar with the process.  I didn't any notable customers, so the day was an uneventful one.

     After work yesterday, Brooke, Alyssa and I went to do some exploring around Epcot. 

      We went in with a plan to just do some shopping and strolling around the World Showcase, and did just that.  It was nice to have a no-stress, relaxed evening, just browsing and taking in the sights.  We ran into Duffy right at the World Showcase entrance.  He's just the sweetest little bear, and even bowed to me because of my tiara!

     We entered the Showcase through Mexico, and after resisting the temptation of some pretty rainbow margaritas, came to the conclusion that more people try these on, than actually buy them!

     We also stopped into Germany to get a tiara for Brooke.  Now we match!

        Although Germany is usually my favorite pavilion, China proved to be the spot of the night.  I bought a beautiful ring, and we had the best Chinese food ever at Nine Dragons.  The Honey Sesame chicken was just perfect, and we had a sweet view of other guests walking by, and the lake.

      We finished the evening by stopping into Les Halles Boulangerie Patisserie in the France Pavilion.  Where Brooke picked up some beautiful macarons.  

     We left before Illuminations began, in order to beat the traffic.  It was a great way to spend a relaxed evening, doing one of my favorite things in Walt Disney World!

xoxo

The Good, The Bad, and Miss Peggy

     My first day of on the job training at Old Key West were crazy.  I arrived for my 8AM shift, and right off the bat, I was off to a difficult start.  My scheduled trainer was unable to show, and they were unsure what to do with me.
     Thankfully, I was placed with Miss Peggy.  Miss Peggy is a great-grandma, still spry and quick, working the front desk.  She's the best trainer I could have hoped for.  She's smart, sassy, and has taken such great care of me the past two days.
     My first guest, of my first day was horrible.  He walked into the lobby with a clear attitude, and was one of the rudest people I have ever met.  Even Miss Peggy said he's one of the worst guests she'd ever seen!  It just figures that he'd be my first go!  Who checks into a hotel at 8:30am, and expects a room to be ready?!  He demanded to speak to the person who allegedly told him that it would be, and even went as far as to try and get her home phone number when we informed him she wasn't in!
     As overwhelming as checking in/out tons of guests was, the day did get better.  Later in the afternoon, a family of four came to my desk to check in.  The little girls were giggling with their dad, so I said "Well, you girls seem awfully excited! What, are you going to Disney World or something?" to which they promptly shouted in unison "We are in Disney World!".  Their mom quickly filled me in that the girls had just been informed where they were, and it was their first trip to Disney!
     As I proceeded with their check-in, chatting with her, she informed me that her husband had been laid off last week, and a friend of theirs gifted them Disney Vacation Club points.  She went on to tell me, that even though they'd be saving up, once her husband lost his job, they weren't sure they'd be able to afford it.  The points they had been given was allowing them to stay in our resort for a week, for only $95!
     I had to step into the back office, to get a new room assignment for them, and while back there, I asked Miss Peggy if there was anything special we could do for them.  She told me we were allowed to make those calls ourselves, to guests we felt needed a little extra magic.  I walked out of the back office, with two big balloon bouquets, two bags of Mickey chocolate coins, two coloring books, and two Squirt plushes.  The eyes of these little girls were as big as saucers, and their smiles were a mile wide.  I handed them some "First Visit" buttons, and the armful of goodies.  The girls began running around playing with their dad in the lobby, after a huge round of thank-yous.
     The lady just stood their silent for a moment, and then began spewing off more thank yous than I knew what to do with.  She had tears in her eyes, and at the point, so did I.  She even went as far as to tell me how magic Disney really was, and how people like me really make all the difference.  It was such a special moment, and not one I'll never forget.  It totally eclipsed my bad morning-guest!
    So I had a great moment, but all-in-all, it was still a very long, and stressful day.  I came back to the apartment, was wiped out, and was asleep by 8:30.  Thank goodness, because day two's shift started at 5:45AM!

xoxo

Kowabunga!

     The past two days off have been a nice reprieve to turn my brain off, after the tedious days at Disney University.  I took all of yesterday to chill, get myself organized, do some laundry, and clean the apartment.  In the evening, I headed to Epcot with Brittany, Alyssa, and a new friend, Ashley.  We made a mandatory stop at Club Cool, visited Test Track in the single riders line, and met up with another new friend, Guy, to catch Illuminations.  It was my first time seeing it, and it's truly spectacular!  It could very well give Wishes a run for it's money!

 

     This morning, I got up early with Brooke, and Bonnie (a girl from my D.U. training), and headed to Typhoon Lagoon.  We had plans to meet some other girls from training there as well.  We went on all the raft slides, and caught a bunch of giant waves in the wave pool.  We also spent a good amount of time in my favorite attraction, the lazy river!
     The other gals wound up not being able to make it, and we left the park around 1:30, before the weather got dark.  It's pretty neat that we can just head into a park for free, and just hang for a few hours!

 

 

 

     Brooke and I headed to Downtown Disney to meet up with Brittany, as she got off work at World of Disney.  We grabbed dinner at Earl of Sandwich, and strolled around to do some shopping.  I bought some little odds and ends, but by far, my best purchase of the evening...a tiara from Arribas Brothers!

     Such a simple evening, has been one of my favorite so far!  We headed back fairly early, since tomorrow is my first day of on the job training at Old Key West!

I've got some serious butterflies!

xoxo