I'm making dinner, so I have until the pot of water on the stove starts boiling to write this. I'm not sure when I last updated, I'm assuming it's been at least over a week. I beleive perhaps it was the day after the Harry Potter amazingness? If I'm to be correct, then I'll give you a rundown of post HP events. If I have updated since then and forgotten, I appologize for the repetetiveness.
So the day after HP I hung out with Kevin Casey of Ireland Amazingness again. I think that's the day we went to the Magic Kingdom where we met up with some of his GMR pals. My memory is a tad foggy but I think we may have eaten at Pecos and watched Philharmagic...and rode Dumbo. Sure we did more...after that we headed over to Hollywood Studios, but were assaulted by the biggest rainstorm I've seen yet, and got trapped in Kevin's friend Bri's car for a time. Eventually the rain stopped pouring so intensely and we hightailed it into the park to meet the rest of the group of the ABC Commissary for dinner. The menu did not appeal. Kevin and I had chocolate mouse.
After food we went over to GMR and rode. We were going to attempt Fantasmic, but the rain was too ridiculous and the show was cancelled. We eneded up riding tower before heading out of the park. Of course on the way out, walking as carefully as I could down the wet street, I fell. My knee was and still is a gross mess. Most of the scabs have gone away, except for the big angry one that still hurts like a bitch whenever it gets touched.
We went to Perkins after DHS where I ate...something. I can't remember. Breakfast maybe. Then back home and to bed.
The next day met up with Kevin and the gang again, this time at Animal Kingdom. We ate lunch at Flametree (YUMMM) and then went over to Africa to ride Safaris. It was a good ride actually, the animals were plentiful and the rhinos were apparently about to mate, so they were acting all funny and running out into the road. We had milkshakes from Tamu Tamu after. Delicious. Its an ODF location in Africa that I've never worked.
After that we headed out, back to Bri's place so Kevin could get his wallet. Of course another huge rainstorm hit just then, and so we got trapped in the park until we finally made a run for it. We ended up hanging out at Bri's for a couple hours. Was finally introduced to Sassy Gay Friend in this time. Awesomeness.
We headed to Epcot and had dinner at Sunshine Seasons (More Yummmmm). Then we went into World Showcase and watched the film in France, then found a spot to watch Illuminations again. After that we hung around for a bit, taking photos and being generally sad for Kev's imminent departure the next day. We eventually left the park and went to Downtown Disney for ice cream at Ghiradellis. Eventually it was time to go, time to say bye to Kevin. Very sad. It was truly amazing hanging out with him while he was here. I can't beleive we hadn't seen each other in three years! 2006 remains bestest summer ever. Hopefully, no not hopefully, for sure it won't be another three years before I see him again!
I was supposed to work on the Monday, but felt crappy due to staying up late, eating lots of bad food, and my knee was uber sore, so I called in sick. I used my day off to do useful things like grocery shop.
The next day I worked on an Ice Cream Cart, nothing of note, except the heat and lack of rain. Of course it rained on all my days off, but once I'm back working it can't be bothered to shed a single drop! Annoying. (I like the rain when I work, just in case you didn't catch that).
Wednesday I worked again, long long day, but at least I was in air conditioning that time.
Thursday was fun. I met up with Matt Hughes for lunch and Menchies...for those who are unware. Menchies is amazing. You get a like bowl, fill it with flavored frozen yogurt and toppings, then pay by weight. I had a peanut butter flavored yogurt which lots of chocolate toppings. SOooo good.
After that I went back to Vista and met up with Alex, we headed over to DHS to watch the American Idol show which neither of us had seen yet. Then we wanted to ride coaster or tower, but it was so busy that we opted not to. Instead we went to Take 5, where low and behold I ran into Jimmy and Ryan, who I've barely seen this summer at all. I got some coaster passes out of them, and made them swear to hang soon. Hopefully tomorrow actually.
After riding Alex and I made our way to Downtown Disney and we met up with Vicki and Justin to see The Karate Kid which was surprisingly really good.
The next day I went shopping with Joey at the outlets and got some awesome new balance runners for dirt cheap, and a cute jacket from the Gap.
I worked for all of four hours on Saturday. It was lame. Super duper lame.
Sunday I was off again. No one else was, so I had a Brynna day. I went to another outlet mall and got another awesome Jacket, this time from Tommy Hilfiger. I forgot how much I love that store down here. Then I came home, showed off my purchases to Alex, then headed to Downtown Disney and finally saw Toy Story 3, which was beyond amazing. Good times.
Anyways, my water has long past boiled and my chicken is thuroughly cooked. So bye for now.
Brynna
posted by Unknown on
Monday, June 28, 2010 § 0 comments
The past couple of days have been fantastic. Makes up for all the not so excitable days I've had since I've got here, although I've had quite a few really good ones. Anyways, it's been awhile since I last posted, so I'll give you a run down of the past week or so, then get into the good stuff.
Last week I had Thursday and Friday off. I didn't really do too much on Thursday, just sort of chilled. But on Friday I went to Aquatica with Joey. It was amazing. I love water parks, I do. And I loved this one, all because of one attraction. This river rapids thing, which Joey and I spent a few hours in. It's basically like your every day water park lazy river, except there are no tubes. You literally just get in and let the current take you. It's fantastic, relaxing, and so so so fun. I want to go back. Our day there was pretty great, except around lunch I either put sunscreen adorned hands in my eyes, or had a reaction to the chlorine, and I spent about an hour mildly blind and my eyes were burning and tearing up like mad. I rested some, used some eyedrops, and bought sunglasses and it got a bit better. But man, it hurt like a bitch.
On Saturday I was back at work, then I gave away my shift on Sunday and just did stuff around the apartment. It was very low key. Monday back to work, this time I was on an Ice Cream Cart again, which I despise. Thankfully there were two of us there so it wasn't nearly as bad as it could have been. I'm telling you, the heat is just getting worse and worse here. I've spent two summers in Florida and I dont' remember it being this bad.
On Tuesday I was in Dino Diner and there were quite a few of us in there thanks to some trainees, so I didn't have to do too much work which was nice. The people in there were pretty fun as well, so it wasn't a terrible shift. Best part was I got off at 5 and didn't have to clean.
Wednesday I was in the pretzel kiosk and I wasn't supposed to have to clean, but I did...so I got off work an hour late. I wasn't too pissed about this though as I was jazzed about the next day:
Thursday! Awesomeness has arrived in Florida in the form of Kevin Casey. To my three fans who may or may not recall blogs of years past, Kevin and I were both on the program in 2006. He's the first Disney friend I made when we started chatting in December of '05. Irish and amazing. I haven't seen him since a brief jaunt he did when I was here in '07. We went to Epcot with one of his Great Movie Ride friends, Pat. Despite so much rain that I decided to rename the park Wetcot, it was a blast. We ate lunch at Sunshine Seasons, did The Land, Imagination, and Ellen's Energy Adventure, and then headed over to World Show Case and looped around there, stopping in Mexico and Norway for the rides. We snacked on Popcorn in Canada and saw Shanan, another former ICP of '06 who is there on a cultural rep program. Then we met up with more of Kev's friends and ate quick service in Japan, then watched Illuminations. All around an excellent, awesome day.
As for yesterday, this is the stuff I know you all (all three of you) have been waiting for! THE WIZARDING WORLD OF HARRY POTTER.
If you know me, at all, you know I'm a Harry Potter nut. Back when I was 14 I was even a little insane about it. Remember all that HP stuff I had? Anyways, I've been waiting for this park to open for years. When I was trying to decide whether or not to come back this summer, WWHP played a massive part in my decision.
I never actually intended to go to opening day, but when I had it off, it just seemed fortuitious, so I thought, what the hell. It'll only happen once right?
So yesterday morning I woke up at 439AM, about one minute before my alarm was set to go off, and got ready. I was supposed to be getting a ride from another Canadian ICP, Jaimie at 5am. But he didn't show. I waited half an hour with no word. I contemplated just giving up and going back to bed, but I was dressed and awake and excited. So I called a cab and took it to Universal. I arrived aroudn 545/600am and hightailed it from the parking garages, down city walk, and around to where I ended up in line in front of the NBA world place. Was there for about half an hour before they started to let people go in the park. I got in the park about 645 and then hightailed it around the left side until I met up with the end of the line in Jurrasic Park.
I finally got a call from Jaimie who told me he'd overslept, but he was on his way. He got into the park and found me in line, where we stayed for about two hours. About 930 the line started to move a little bit as they gradually let people in to the WWHP. I didn't see any celebrities but I have now learned that they were just a couple hundred feet from me...sigh. Rupert Grint...I suppose it just wasn't meant to be, this time...
I think we finally got let in around 1030am. We rushed over, while snapping pictures on our way, to Hogwarts so we could ride The Forbidden Journey. The wait time said 90 minutes, but I doubt we were in that line more than 40, maybe less. The queue is really cool. It passes some awesome HP landmarks including Dumbledore's office and the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom. We finally got on the ride and OMG it's amazing. The ride is Harry Potter, so it's automatically awesome. But when you add in the ride system, which is completely new and awesome, it's like...awe inspiring. I was just enthralled. It's part motion simulator, part moving attraction. All together awesome.
After the ride we returned to Hogsmead and saw that the place was absolutely nuts. When we'd come in clearly they weren't at capacity yet so it wasn't too bad. Not the case now. We were hungry so contemplated going to a different part of the park for food, but learned if we left, we'd have to get back in line...which was hours long, to get back in. So we stayed. We waited in line about 45 minutes to get into The Three Broomsticks for lunch. It was worth it. I've never had better quick service theme park food. The Roast Potatoes were to die for. The corn on the cob was awesome, and my chicken was great. I had trifle for dessert or 'pudding' and it was soooo good. Oh and I had butterbeer, which was pretty good...I loved that it comes with like whip cream on top, and then with lunch I had pumpkin juice which was soo good, but sooo sweet. I could barely finish it because of just how intensely sweet it is.
After lunch we went back out into Hogsmead and went in Honeydukes where Jaimie bought some candy. We sat while he ate some, I had a Bertie Botts Every Flavored bean in I beleive onion, then fish...I don't think I shall try those again any time soon. After that we went on Flight of the Hippograph which is an old ride that's been converted for WWHP. Not too exciting. The wait was really short.
Then we rode Forbidden Journey again, this time as single riders and we just walked on. It was fantastic. I bought a lanyard at the shop at the end of the ride, it looks like a Gryffindor tie. Then we went back out into the mess, analyzed the lines for Olivanders and Dervish and Banges (which were longer than the ride queue) and decided to wait til our next visit to try those stores. I can't wait though. Oh all the things I shall buy. Robes, a wand, a scarf....oh my.
They also converted Dueling Dragons to "Dragon Challenge" which is supposed to be themed around the Triwizard Cup. Honestly, I wish they'd just get rid of the damn ride. WWHP was at capacity and literally, it was a walk on the entire day. Nobody cares. And really I don't want to see the coaster's tracks all faded blue and red when I'm standing in the splendor of Hogsmead.
After Dragon Challenge Jaimie and I decided to leave the WWHP and move over to Universal Studios. We'd been in there about 6 hours, so we felt like we'd had a good taste. We walked out through the Lost Continent and Suess Landing. When we got to the front of the park, we saw a line and were like, wonder what that's for. Jaimie asked someone. It was the line to get into WWHP.
At this point I'd like you to confer with the posted link below:
www.talkdisney.com/maps/ioamap.gifNow there's no WWHP on this map yet, but see the squiggly blue and red lines in the top right hand corner, that's about where it is. Now when I got in the park yesterday morning, I was waiting in the Jurrasic Park area about where the 15 is. Find that. Okay...so not too far. It actually looks farther than I was considering the way things have been built.
Now go find Port Of Entry....and then imagine a line going from there, left, through Marvel Island, Toon Lagoon, Jurassic Park...that's where the line to get in to WWHP ended when Jamie and I were leaving after 4pm. Holy shit right? That had to be a 6-10 hour wait, judging by how much time people were spending in there. They couldn't only let people in as they left...nut show. I'm so glad I got there when I did...sure I had to wait the three or four hours in the start, but I got in before it hit capacity so compared to people who got there even just an hour after me, I probably had a two hour shorter wait or more.
NUTS. And it will probably be that way for weeks to come. We'll see.
So we left IOA and went over to Studios. We did ET, Terminator and two goes at The Mummy, then left and stopped for dinner at Margartiaville on City Walk. We finally got home just around 83opm. Thought I would crash, but managed to stay awake for a bit longer and talk to the roomies.
All in all, it was a gong show, but I'm sooooo glad I went. Now I can say I was there for the opening of WWHP and it was amazing! Too bad I didn't find Rupert Grint...sigh. Oh well. I can't wait to go back.
I'm off again today, gave away my shift, and am heading out to hang out with Kevin again later. Can't wait.
Brynna
PS. I'll post pictures on Facebook soonish.
posted by Unknown on
Saturday, June 19, 2010 § 0 comments
I don't have alot of things figured out these days, but one thing I have got figured out is my hair. I've gone through my fair share of haircuts over the past 22 years. There was the awkward mushroom cut when I was 8, then another awkward incident in 1999 that left me with the most awkward hair style ever given to a self concious 12 year old girl, there was the superbly long hair that everyone loved and admired til I chopped it off in 12th(?) grade. There were the bangs, added I might add, a full year before everyone in the world started wearing bangs again. The streaks - brassy blonde, dark red. My hair has been chopped and changed a million times, but just over a year ago I discovered THE cut. Perfect. You know the one, if you've seen me, longer in the front, short and layered in the back. I love this haircut. Unfortunately, it is completely and totally irrelevent in Florida.
Now don't get me wrong, with a blow dryer and flat iron I can style my hair perfectly here, and sometimes it stays that way for a while, but between the rain, sweat, and humidity, it just doesn't last. This may not seem like a big deal to you, but really, it's awful. My poor hair goes all thick and coarse, it poofs and limps, the bottom right side flips out a la Carol Brady, but the left side flips under. My bangs kind of wither. It's depressing. By the time I get home after work I look ridiculous. The one thing I have going for me these days, gone.
I've been working ice cream carts the past couple days whic is why I'm lamenting. Being stuck outside, in the elements, just makes it worse. Today, I hadn't even dragged my drink cart out ot my location before the rain started to poor. By the time I got there I was drenched, my hair and makeup were a wash, and I didn't dry out for hours. On my break I shivered until I couldn't stand it anymore in the breakroom. Then of course when the sun finally came out, it was so hot I wished the rain back.
I was off on Friday and Saturady. I had a couple pretty good days. On Friday I went to Wal-Mart in the afternoon, then I went to Magic Kingdom with my roomies and a few others. We saw the last Wishes of the summer (a new fireworks show is now playing) and hit a couple of rides. Got home pretty late and went to bed.
Saturday I woke up pretty early and took myself to Downtown Disney. I finally made it to Earl of Sandwich, been craving it since I got here. After that I walked over to AMC theater and watched Killers, the new Ashton Kutcher and Katherine Heigl movie. It was good, but kind of disappointing. I feel like it was a great concept with a terrible script. It was mildly contrived, and just didn't make sense in places. On the other hand, Ashton Kutcher was hot. So...
After the movie I headed home and hung around the apartment for awhile. Then I went to Sweet Tomatoes with Vicki, Emily, and Carrie (British Girl on program). After dinner we walked to Downtown Disney (Too long a walk, shall never do it again) and we saw Get Him To The Greek which was beyond hilarious. Raunchy yes, and a bit out there, but I had tears in my eyes I was laughing so hard.
Then of course I've been back at work the past couple of days.
Sad news, Emily is going home. She's homesick and has decided to leave. She goes tomorrow. It's going to suck without her...we shall miss her dearly here in Apartment 412.
Nothing else to report.
Brynna
posted by Unknown on
Monday, June 07, 2010 § 1 comments
