May 28th 2008:
Well…all I can say about today is pure emotion!!!
I am sorry I didn’t post this blog last night but I was completely exhausted, both emotionally and physically. So here’s what happened…
First we kicked off the day with a four hour “traditions” lecture which I was not looking forward to at all, although it was exciting getting all dressed up in business attire. We all looked really old in our suits and dresses and we took loads of pictures and had a great time thinking of ways to adapt our outfits to fit our personal style. I helped out Steffie and Angelica with some of their stuff and they were like “its so cool living with someone fashionable” and I was like :O me, fashionable?!!? But it was a really nice change to feel like the girly girl of the house, knowing little tips and tricks. I really liked that which is odd for me, being a typical boyish girl!!!
When we got to “Disney University“, yes that’s right, its not a joke there is actually a university of Disney. Its usually for people on professional internships or college programmes that Disney runs but we had our lectures there. I was surprised completely by how different the day was to what I expected! I was expecting a boring lecture and some stupid overemotional idiot to make a big scene of crying about how much they love Disney! Little did I know the crying idiot would in fact be me. Now before you write me off as a total cheese ball I will explain the day and the events that led to my embarrassing outburst and maybe you will forgive me just a little bit…
The lecture was about Disney’s past, present and future! We learned all about Walt’s visions and the achievements he had and the trouble he faced in setting up what is now known as “the most magical place on earth“. It was really great to hear about the mouse story… Walt Disney is usually quoted for saying
“IT ALL STARTED WITH A MOUSE” and obviously people think “Yeah, Mickey Mouse” ,this is in fact not what Walt meant. Although he probably was aware of the connotation and links with Mickey he actually was referring to the time when he came up with the concept of using a mouse. Walt had just been fired from his job as an artist, he was sat in his apartment downtrodden and penniless and then a mouse ran across the floor in front of him. It was this that planted the idea in his head of using a mouse for his next character. And so on a train one day in the not so distant future, Mickey Mouse was born!!!
I think the highlight of the session for me was the section on “memories”. We discussed our favourite Disney memories and although I didn’t have a park memory to share form Disneyworld I shared my memory of me and my sister watching “Sleeping Beauty”. We all sat around watching the film, and we each were assigned one of the three fairies and we argued for hours over who should be who, what colour her dress ends up as, pink or blue?? and also giggled endlessly at the cheesy one liners. That film always reminds me of my little sisters and how much I love them and the relationship we have. Combine that memory, with missing them and add in a clip of a dad holding his little girl and calling her his princess (what my daddy calls me) and the floodgates were well and truly opened. I never thought I would be so moved by clips of Disney. I think one of the main connotations for me was the emphasis on dreams coming true. I was sitting in a classroom in Disneyworld living my dream! And it was such a defining moment. Although I think now that this was nothing compared to my experience of Magic Kingdom which I will tell you about shortly.
Another part of the “Memories” section that got to me was the presenters story. She told us that if we ever had a bad day at Disney but we know we have to keep smiling then we have to find our “pixie dust”, in other words we have to find the reason we love being here and why we wanted to do it in the first place. To explain to us what she meant she told us the story of her reason for smiling, her pixie dust…Here is her story
“It was one of those perfect days. You know the days where everything seems to go right and you can’t imagine it being anymore perfect, it was that. I was in Disneyworld at Christmas because in our family we have a tradition of coming to Disney to see all the lights and decorations and since I moved here I haven’t been able to go home because I work, so my family come down for a couple of days. This was their last night staying with me in Disney. Me and my brother had a great day, we managed to see everything we wanted to and watched parades did the rides. But one ride was our favourite and most special…Space Mountain. It was our little tradition to ride space mountain every year because it was the first ride we ever went on in Disney. We just got to the barrier as it was closing and the cast member let us on without any question when we clambered and pleaded for another ride. On our way home the moment was picture perfect and so my brother being the family photographer decided to take a picture. As he was setting it up a cast member walked by and asked if we wanted him to take it instead. My brother was delighted because he never gets in picture, he is always the one taking them. The picture came out beautifully, perfect even and I will treasure it in my heart always.
Sadly the reason this picture has become so important to me is because this was to be my brothers last Christmas in Disneyland before he passed away a few months later. We didn’t know at the time that this picture would live in our hearts always and neither did the cast member. If that cast member hadn’t of been there and offered that assistance I would never have that moment on film. This is why I smile, because I could change someone’s life and give them something priceless without even knowing it.”
Of course, by the end of this beautiful story half the room had filled up, me included. I think sometimes we do underestimate the power we have to affect people and I think that today really taught me that I need to find something in my heart and my memory that will keep me smiling through those days where I don’t wanna go into work or I feel sad. I need to find my very own pixie dust.
Once we had finished our “traditions” lecture we decided to visit Magic Kingdom. If thought the day had been emotional so far, I had thought wrong, it was about to become even more overwhelming. We got on a bus and then the monorail and there was a real feeling of anticipation in that little carriage. I was unbelievably excited and I was so hyper, I was jumping around, I really could not stand still. Then we got to the park and we saw the train station and slipped through fast track with our “cast” cards which was ace!! Then we were walking down a street and Steffie turned to me and said “Look Sam, it’s the castle“, I looked up and literally was breathless. I know it sounds cheesy and over the top but I was standing where I have waited to stand my whole life, I was looking up at my dream. Living out your biggest goal is simply something you cannot describe. I know I sound so overdramatic but until you feel that I don’t think you can ever understand. I am an English student and I would never be able to fund the words to describe that moment. It felt like every penny I had saved, every ounce of stress I had been through, every tear I shed over leaving, was all worth it because I was standing where I had waited to stand after 19 years of dreaming and wishing for that moment. I had looked at the picture of this scene on my laptop since the day I found out I was coming and finally I was seeing it for real. For me it was a dream come true and whether it sounds cheesy or stupid or childish I don’t care because today, my dream came true.
Once I had seen the castle and recovered from my complete delight and shock we went on the “it’s a small world” ride. Which is a tour of all the different countries and they all sing “it’s a small world” in their own language which was pretty cool. Then we went on the Haunted Mansion which was a creepy old house and there are all ghosts that look real, and creepy maids who make you move along and it’s like the chair ride on “Casper”. There is a section where you see all the ghosts dancing below you and it looks real, but its more amazing than scary!! There was also a wall of mirrors and a man says that there maybe a ghost hitchhiking and you look and you see a ghost in your cart and a cold wind is blown on you so you feel like there really is a ghost present. Then we saw a 3D short movie called “Philharmagic” which was amazing, it basically followed the story of Donald Duck trying to steal the magic hot from “Fantasia” off Mickey Mouse and he chases it through a few of the Disney films, so you see Aladdin and Jasmine and the carpet flies in your face, there’s wind blown on you so you feel like you’re flying and you see Beauty and the Beast and the room is sprayed with a cinnamon like spray so you can almost taste the food and then it goes through Ariel’s under the sea world and they blow bubbles on you !!!It was unbelievable. I had such an amazing time. Then it was time for the parade.
The parade I watched was called “SpectroMagic” and it was definitely both spectacular and indeed magical!! The characters were all on floats and there were millions of lights and dancing butterflies and all sorts. I will post a video so you can see because I recorded it a lot and I don’t think I could describe how amazing it was even if I tried. There were different themed floats and some of the character walked along all in costumes of lights and some rode on floats that were stunningly beautiful and must take hours and hours or preparation and hard work to get ready!!!
But finally, and definitely my favourite part of the whole day was “Wishes”. It is a firework display done over and behind the “Magic Kingdom” Castle and it really was my dream in reality. I stood and listened to a song about dreams and wishes coming true, whilst I watches mine do exactly that. I was oaring with those fireworks. They were truly stunning and I think I had to take a moment to realise that it was real, that I was here, this was my dream alive! I think wishing upon a star is nice in a fairytale but wishing for something in your heart and going for it no matter what, it was truly can make your dreams come to life. I know that s exactly how I got mine. There is nothing I have ever felt that was more amazing and more heart wrenching and literally gave my goosepimply and tear sin my eyes than the realisation that I had finally done it. I had made my biggest dream a reality.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: "A DREAM IS A WISH YOUR HEART <3>
Well…all I can say about today is pure emotion!!!
I am sorry I didn’t post this blog last night but I was completely exhausted, both emotionally and physically. So here’s what happened…
First we kicked off the day with a four hour “traditions” lecture which I was not looking forward to at all, although it was exciting getting all dressed up in business attire. We all looked really old in our suits and dresses and we took loads of pictures and had a great time thinking of ways to adapt our outfits to fit our personal style. I helped out Steffie and Angelica with some of their stuff and they were like “its so cool living with someone fashionable” and I was like :O me, fashionable?!!? But it was a really nice change to feel like the girly girl of the house, knowing little tips and tricks. I really liked that which is odd for me, being a typical boyish girl!!!
When we got to “Disney University“, yes that’s right, its not a joke there is actually a university of Disney. Its usually for people on professional internships or college programmes that Disney runs but we had our lectures there. I was surprised completely by how different the day was to what I expected! I was expecting a boring lecture and some stupid overemotional idiot to make a big scene of crying about how much they love Disney! Little did I know the crying idiot would in fact be me. Now before you write me off as a total cheese ball I will explain the day and the events that led to my embarrassing outburst and maybe you will forgive me just a little bit…
The lecture was about Disney’s past, present and future! We learned all about Walt’s visions and the achievements he had and the trouble he faced in setting up what is now known as “the most magical place on earth“. It was really great to hear about the mouse story… Walt Disney is usually quoted for saying
“IT ALL STARTED WITH A MOUSE” and obviously people think “Yeah, Mickey Mouse” ,this is in fact not what Walt meant. Although he probably was aware of the connotation and links with Mickey he actually was referring to the time when he came up with the concept of using a mouse. Walt had just been fired from his job as an artist, he was sat in his apartment downtrodden and penniless and then a mouse ran across the floor in front of him. It was this that planted the idea in his head of using a mouse for his next character. And so on a train one day in the not so distant future, Mickey Mouse was born!!!
I think the highlight of the session for me was the section on “memories”. We discussed our favourite Disney memories and although I didn’t have a park memory to share form Disneyworld I shared my memory of me and my sister watching “Sleeping Beauty”. We all sat around watching the film, and we each were assigned one of the three fairies and we argued for hours over who should be who, what colour her dress ends up as, pink or blue?? and also giggled endlessly at the cheesy one liners. That film always reminds me of my little sisters and how much I love them and the relationship we have. Combine that memory, with missing them and add in a clip of a dad holding his little girl and calling her his princess (what my daddy calls me) and the floodgates were well and truly opened. I never thought I would be so moved by clips of Disney. I think one of the main connotations for me was the emphasis on dreams coming true. I was sitting in a classroom in Disneyworld living my dream! And it was such a defining moment. Although I think now that this was nothing compared to my experience of Magic Kingdom which I will tell you about shortly.
Another part of the “Memories” section that got to me was the presenters story. She told us that if we ever had a bad day at Disney but we know we have to keep smiling then we have to find our “pixie dust”, in other words we have to find the reason we love being here and why we wanted to do it in the first place. To explain to us what she meant she told us the story of her reason for smiling, her pixie dust…Here is her story
“It was one of those perfect days. You know the days where everything seems to go right and you can’t imagine it being anymore perfect, it was that. I was in Disneyworld at Christmas because in our family we have a tradition of coming to Disney to see all the lights and decorations and since I moved here I haven’t been able to go home because I work, so my family come down for a couple of days. This was their last night staying with me in Disney. Me and my brother had a great day, we managed to see everything we wanted to and watched parades did the rides. But one ride was our favourite and most special…Space Mountain. It was our little tradition to ride space mountain every year because it was the first ride we ever went on in Disney. We just got to the barrier as it was closing and the cast member let us on without any question when we clambered and pleaded for another ride. On our way home the moment was picture perfect and so my brother being the family photographer decided to take a picture. As he was setting it up a cast member walked by and asked if we wanted him to take it instead. My brother was delighted because he never gets in picture, he is always the one taking them. The picture came out beautifully, perfect even and I will treasure it in my heart always.
Sadly the reason this picture has become so important to me is because this was to be my brothers last Christmas in Disneyland before he passed away a few months later. We didn’t know at the time that this picture would live in our hearts always and neither did the cast member. If that cast member hadn’t of been there and offered that assistance I would never have that moment on film. This is why I smile, because I could change someone’s life and give them something priceless without even knowing it.”
Of course, by the end of this beautiful story half the room had filled up, me included. I think sometimes we do underestimate the power we have to affect people and I think that today really taught me that I need to find something in my heart and my memory that will keep me smiling through those days where I don’t wanna go into work or I feel sad. I need to find my very own pixie dust.
Once we had finished our “traditions” lecture we decided to visit Magic Kingdom. If thought the day had been emotional so far, I had thought wrong, it was about to become even more overwhelming. We got on a bus and then the monorail and there was a real feeling of anticipation in that little carriage. I was unbelievably excited and I was so hyper, I was jumping around, I really could not stand still. Then we got to the park and we saw the train station and slipped through fast track with our “cast” cards which was ace!! Then we were walking down a street and Steffie turned to me and said “Look Sam, it’s the castle“, I looked up and literally was breathless. I know it sounds cheesy and over the top but I was standing where I have waited to stand my whole life, I was looking up at my dream. Living out your biggest goal is simply something you cannot describe. I know I sound so overdramatic but until you feel that I don’t think you can ever understand. I am an English student and I would never be able to fund the words to describe that moment. It felt like every penny I had saved, every ounce of stress I had been through, every tear I shed over leaving, was all worth it because I was standing where I had waited to stand after 19 years of dreaming and wishing for that moment. I had looked at the picture of this scene on my laptop since the day I found out I was coming and finally I was seeing it for real. For me it was a dream come true and whether it sounds cheesy or stupid or childish I don’t care because today, my dream came true.
Once I had seen the castle and recovered from my complete delight and shock we went on the “it’s a small world” ride. Which is a tour of all the different countries and they all sing “it’s a small world” in their own language which was pretty cool. Then we went on the Haunted Mansion which was a creepy old house and there are all ghosts that look real, and creepy maids who make you move along and it’s like the chair ride on “Casper”. There is a section where you see all the ghosts dancing below you and it looks real, but its more amazing than scary!! There was also a wall of mirrors and a man says that there maybe a ghost hitchhiking and you look and you see a ghost in your cart and a cold wind is blown on you so you feel like there really is a ghost present. Then we saw a 3D short movie called “Philharmagic” which was amazing, it basically followed the story of Donald Duck trying to steal the magic hot from “Fantasia” off Mickey Mouse and he chases it through a few of the Disney films, so you see Aladdin and Jasmine and the carpet flies in your face, there’s wind blown on you so you feel like you’re flying and you see Beauty and the Beast and the room is sprayed with a cinnamon like spray so you can almost taste the food and then it goes through Ariel’s under the sea world and they blow bubbles on you !!!It was unbelievable. I had such an amazing time. Then it was time for the parade.
The parade I watched was called “SpectroMagic” and it was definitely both spectacular and indeed magical!! The characters were all on floats and there were millions of lights and dancing butterflies and all sorts. I will post a video so you can see because I recorded it a lot and I don’t think I could describe how amazing it was even if I tried. There were different themed floats and some of the character walked along all in costumes of lights and some rode on floats that were stunningly beautiful and must take hours and hours or preparation and hard work to get ready!!!
But finally, and definitely my favourite part of the whole day was “Wishes”. It is a firework display done over and behind the “Magic Kingdom” Castle and it really was my dream in reality. I stood and listened to a song about dreams and wishes coming true, whilst I watches mine do exactly that. I was oaring with those fireworks. They were truly stunning and I think I had to take a moment to realise that it was real, that I was here, this was my dream alive! I think wishing upon a star is nice in a fairytale but wishing for something in your heart and going for it no matter what, it was truly can make your dreams come to life. I know that s exactly how I got mine. There is nothing I have ever felt that was more amazing and more heart wrenching and literally gave my goosepimply and tear sin my eyes than the realisation that I had finally done it. I had made my biggest dream a reality.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: "A DREAM IS A WISH YOUR HEART <3>
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