December (Part 3)

December 18th to the 20th were my days off (I worked the previous Sunday so I had a 3 day weekend). I ended up doing nothing, I just layed in bed and watched movies. I was so sick I didn't even want to sing Candlelight! Heather was with her mom so it was very lonely! Fortunately, she stopped by on the 19th with some medicine so we could both start feeling better. On the 20th I got my stuff ready and when my mom said her flight had arrived we checked into Vistana.

Sunday December 21st was my first day with my Mom! We slept in, then headed to Epcot for our reservation at the Teppan Edo. This was something I'd been looking forward to for a really long time, and not just because my Mom and I were on the Candlelight package, but because I'd heard so much about this restaurant!


The Teppan Edo is like most Teppanyaki restaurants with the grill in the middle of the table, and a chef who cooks the food (with flare) right in front of you! But this being Disney, they do have some of their own touches... like this "Hidden Mickey" in the onions, or the "onion volcano"!

To start off we both had tempura! It was so amazing that this was all that was left of Mom's by the time we thought of taking a picture... there are no pictures of my tempura.

For dinner I chose filet mignon (hey, it's a fixed price... why not!). It was absolutely incredible. So tender and just... delecious. Especially with the sauces they had. The peanut sauce (far left) and ginger sauce (right), were fanastic!

Finally, there was a chocolate ginger cake to finish it all off! Cake with a layer of ginger icing, topped with mousse and chocolate sauce. It was incredible!

After we were both much too full we waddled over to the American Gardens theatre where Mom got in line for the 5pm show with Abigail Breslin. Then I dissapeared backstage for the show! It was so much fun, and my Mom videotaped it! Abigail was cute, she even had to stand on a box so that she could be seen over the podium. After the show I still wasn't feeling well enough to sing the late pair, so we went shopping instead and called it an early night.

Monday December 22nd I worked the 1:30-9:30pm Popcorn Cart shift, so my mom and I spent the morning relaxing. Before work I let mom into Epcot so she could at least have fun while I was at work. still, she stopped by every once and awhile to check in on me, and take some pictures ;)

Tuesday December 23rd I worked the AM Popcorn shift, though I was almost late! Mom and I had left plenty of time the previous day to get into the park, and so we figured it would take the same amount of time... wrong. Because we were arriving shortly after park opening, and it was closer to Christmas there was a line to even get through the parking gates! I ended up running from the car to work before we were able to park it. Fortunately, by doing that I made it to work in plenty of time! After work Mom and I went to the Magic Kingdom where we saw SpectroMagic and Wishes. Two of my favourite things at Disney!

Wednesday December 24th I was AM Greeter. Fortunately my managers let me run over to the Magic Music Days are at 3pm so I could sign up for standby on the late pair! I was so excited because I was able to make it GREEN ROBE for late pair! Dr. John Sinclair was even the conductor! I couldn't ask for a more perfect Christmas Eve. It was as if all my dreams were coming true!

Christmas, Thursday December 25th, I had a wonderful day! My mom and I woke up and had an amazing Christmas morning, eating breakfast together and opening presents!

In the afternoon I had to go in to work for a PM Greeting shift. Mom thought this was hilarious, because usually she's the one who has to work on Christmas, and instead she was going to the pool. Working Christmas wasn't actually too bad a shift! I felt really bad that I had to tell people there was "no room" (sound familiar?), but we were able to take walk-ins at some point in the night! I don't think those people understood how amazing it was to get a walk-in, though. At the end of my shift I was on "The Hub" (because for the last 45 minutes or so all you have to do is say goodbye to the few guests who leave), and I managed to sign up for the 5pm Candlelight show the next day! Amazing! So I asked my manager if I could have an ER for the next day and she said YES! Bonus!

Friday, December 26th was the day Rob was arriving! I was working as an AM Seater, so my Mom had to go to the airport to pick up Rob and then they were going to randomly drop by Le Cellier sometime after to say "hi". I felt really bad that I couldn't pick him up from the airport, but I think our reunion was just as exciting... you be the judge, but this one can only be explained through pictures!





After our reunion the two of them went off to watch the Voices of Liberty, and then they were going to get in line for Candlelight. After work Rob met me in Japan with food, but I had a surprise for them! I was able to get Candlelight passes for them from my manager! So they definitely had prime seats to watch Edward James Olmos and I! Actually, Edward James Olmos was one of the nicest celebrity narrators! He came out before the show, shook our hands, wished us good luck and a very Merry Christmas! Super exciting!

I was going to do all 3 shows that evening, but I decided to spend some time with Rob instead. I would have spent time with Mom too, but she left to go finish cooking our big Christmas dinner! So Rob and I wandered around the world chatting and having fun. We watched Illuminations (from Canada) and then picked up Rebecca and headed to Vistana for presents and an amazing Christmas dinner! It was SO much fun!

Saturday December 27th was the day my Mom had to leave :(. Everyone got up early because we had to move out of Vistana and into our new place (along with all of our stuff and groceries). Plus, Rob and I had to run some things into Commons. All I could think of was howmuch stuff I'm going to have to unpack when I get home! Then we settled into our new place. relaxed, did some running around (photocopied candlelight music), and headed to Hollywood Studios for the Osborne Spectacle of Dancing Lights. Then we headed to the Magic Kingdom to watch Holiday Wishes (the only time Rob could see them), and Spectro Magic... to more firsts for Rob!

Sunday December 28th I had to work AM Seating, but I managed to get an ER! Unfortunately, I couldn't get a hold of Rob to let him know that I was off of work early so I went to sing all 3 Candlelight shows. He got my message in time and was actually able to watch them all. I was so happy he could be there, because it was my very last night in Candlelight. During the last "Hallelujah Chorus" I could help but tear up. Standing there I was doing what I'd always dreamed of for the very last time, with Dr. John Sinclair conducting as well, and Rob there to share it with me. After Candlelight we headed home and got some sleep.

Monday December 29th I didn't have to work until 3:30 so we sletp in, relaxed, and went to the drive-in A&W I've always wanted to go to on the 192! It's a really neat restaurant where you order and eat in your car, and they deliver it to you! Very old-school ;). Then we headed to Epcot. I felt bad for Rob because he had to spend the day in Epcot by himself, but he had fun and I met him after work to watch Illuminations!

Tuesday December 30th I was a PM Greeter. Rob was bored of Epcot and had never been to Animal Kingdom, so we took the opportunity to spend the morning there. We managed to get a Fast Pass for Kilimanjaro Safaris, two for Expedition Everest, one for Dinosaur, went on my favourite spin rolelrcoaster on a short wait, and then got another Fast Pass for It's a Bugs Life, and ate at my favourite, Flame Tree BBQ! It was SO much fun! Then I suggested shows and other things for him to do while I went to work! He met me at work later that night and unfortunately had to wait in the Le Cellier lobby after Illuminations while I was saying goodbye to all of the guests in the restaurant.

Wednesday December 31st... New Years Eve! Ashley took my popcorn shift so I was able to spend the day with Rob in my typical New Years Eve style! Rob and I went to Hollywood Studios for the day. We got there at park opening, Fast Passed the Rockin' Roller Coaster, went on Tower of Terror a couple of times and then went to the car stunt show: Lights, Motors, Action! We managed to get Fast Passes for Toy Story Mania, went on the Backlot Tour, Animation Studio (where we got a picture with Mickey, recorded ourselves as Belle and the Beast, and a lot more fun). We saw Indiana Jones, ate dinner at the Sci Fi Diner, got our Hats/Horns, watched Beauty and teh Beast, saw Fantasmic, and then watched the fireworks from my on special spot. It was incredible. We were able to watch both sets of fireworks (Epcot and Hollywood Studios) only they didn't play the music for the Hollywood Studios firworks, which was dissapointing since they've done that in previous years. Overall, it was a perfect New Years Eve... and I'm still surprised Rob was able to put up with me at Disney for that long ;)