a quick visit to wonderland

i finally did something super fun (other than working every day - because honestly (for the most part) - that's always super fun too!) last night. two of my roommates and i bought tickets to the PIRATE AND PRINCESS PARTY at the Magic Kingdom. when i first found out about the 'party' I thought it was lame that we (as cast members) have to pay to go, but it was definitely worth it - and i'm sure we'll be back! the event happens about twice a week from now until march. basically it was worth the money just to be there when the park was nearly empty! the event was from seven to twelve and i just wish it stayed open later. there was an AMAZING parade at 8:30 that started off all royal and princessy - and then turned dirty and pirate-ish for the end. so hot! tinkerbell was even in the parade as a face character. my roommates and i had fun dressing up like pirates. i mean, we already knew we're princesses - right? there was also a special fireworks show just for pirate/princess. AND - this event is the ONLY opportunity to have meet/greet (pictures) with JACK SPARROW - or, a very close look alike at least. ha! so much fun! we were exhausted once we got back since we had worked the day but it was definitely a lot of fun. in the middle of the fireworks show, my roommate melinda was like, 'ashley - i know we've lived here a month, but i just want you to know that we live in disney world.' it is still extremely surreal.

i flew home for two (quick) nights and was blessed to see several familiar faces. i flew in just to catch meredith faculty's performance of 'alice in wonderland' since it only happens once every four years and it was certainly worth it! mimi let me crash in her room for the trip and i saw my parents for a brief dinner just before i flew out. it was great to be back at mc - but i didn't know whether to feel like it was normal or not. i definitely felt out of place without my emmie around! the only bummer was that my return flight was 2 1/2 hours late so i didn't get back to orlando until about midnight. it worked out fine though - i didn't have to be at work the next morning until 11:45.

i had today off - as today was the first day of the one class i'll be taking all semester. it's offered by disney and called 'marketing you.' it's every wednesday from 8am-12pm. that is ENTIRELY too long. today went well though and she let us out a little early. melinda and i had lunch at olive garden and then i came back to the apartment and took my FIRST NAP since i've been down here in florida. my first nap in a MONTH! woah! i just never have the time. i had planned on sleeping in the sun today - since i do live in florida and yet i'm still as white as ever - but of course, on my one day off the sun decided not to be so sunny. figures.

i'm still loving kilimanjaro as much as ever. this week is weird as EVERYONE from new orleans comes to disney during mardi gras week to get away from the madness. that was news to me. it seems like every single one of my safaris is full of people from louisiana! on tuesday, the biggest day of mardi gras, i got lots of beads from my guests that were passing them out for fun. AND on tuesday i was able to choose the 'first family' for kilimanjaro which meant that i walked up to the front of the park before it opened and chose a family to ride on their own private safari - the first safari of the day. oh my goodness it was so much fun! i loved being able to actually get to know the family and find out more about them. but i did forget my nametag on tuesday so i had to wear a generic one we had sitting around kilimajaro - so i turned into 'marge' for the day. yuck! ha!

my mom is flying in on friday so that will be lots of fun. i have saturday off for sure and we already have reservations to the 'aloha show' at the polynesian resort on saturday night and at 'chef mickey's' at the contemporary resort on sunday night - which is dining with characters! yay!