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