Sunday was an adventurous day for me. Word had gone out that the free access for us into the water parks was coming to a end. Not a problem for us really as we leave on Friday. However, I still hadn't been to either of them. I had asked Rory and Stacey if they were interested and both had shown some interest, but when it came down to it- I wasn't going out of my way to get there.
On Saturday night when I had got home from work I had worked out which bus to take to get there, but when I awoke on Sunday (the final free day), I did not have the energy to get up and go. I knew this was going to be something I would regret not doing once home, but sleep had captured my heart.
Bleep bleep, went my phone letting me know I had a text message. It was Rory seeing if I was still interested in going- and Cary Joe was coming along too. I um-ed and ahh-ed and somehow got myself out of bed. I am SO pleased I did.
We went to Blizzard Beach. It was absolutely amazing. I was so impressed with the whole experience. The park is set up like a ski field, but it seems as though the snow is all melting.
On Saturday night when I had got home from work I had worked out which bus to take to get there, but when I awoke on Sunday (the final free day), I did not have the energy to get up and go. I knew this was going to be something I would regret not doing once home, but sleep had captured my heart.
Bleep bleep, went my phone letting me know I had a text message. It was Rory seeing if I was still interested in going- and Cary Joe was coming along too. I um-ed and ahh-ed and somehow got myself out of bed. I am SO pleased I did.
We went to Blizzard Beach. It was absolutely amazing. I was so impressed with the whole experience. The park is set up like a ski field, but it seems as though the snow is all melting.
Our first stop was the 'lazy river' type attraction. You can hop on in anywhere around the park as it circles the whole thing. You grab a water ring and can either hang on, hop on, or lie on it as the water carries you with the flow. I LOVED this. I was tempted to just stay in there all day. We were lucky with the weather too- it was a warm day without any rain.
Next stop, we climbed up hundreds of stairs to a raft ride which comes down the mountain. You needed at least 4 in a raft and we only had 3, so another couple came with us. This was brilliant. The raft speeds down a giant water slide, backwards and forwards and around the corners.
At the bottom of this ride they had a raft up on it's side with two water rings to create a Mickey shape. They also had a photo pass person there to capture the moment. I got us to get a picture. I did this mainly so I could get one of the mini photo pass cards! But it was nice to get a picture too.
At the bottom of this ride they had a raft up on it's side with two water rings to create a Mickey shape. They also had a photo pass person there to capture the moment. I got us to get a picture. I did this mainly so I could get one of the mini photo pass cards! But it was nice to get a picture too.
As it is a water park all the cameras they use are water proof. Very different from the ones I see at work. But how fantastic that they are there even in the water parks. There was even a photographer floating around in the lazy river with us earlier- but we didn't need one in there!
We made our way back up the mountain in a chair lift, yep- they even had a chair lift with skis attached to each car. There were two giant slides you could go on from up here. Either the Slusher Gusher, or Summit Plummet. Summit Plummet was pretty much a vertical drop for the first bit and I wasn't interested! I said to the others I would attempt Slusher Gusher instead. This one was still high, but it had three dips, rather than a straight drop. The boys went down first, and then it was my turn. I still can't believe I did it- but it was great! I got a massive wedgy though- and I may have flashed everyone- can't remember if my togs kept me covered or not. I tried to adjust my swimming costume quickly before hopping out!
We made our way back up the mountain in a chair lift, yep- they even had a chair lift with skis attached to each car. There were two giant slides you could go on from up here. Either the Slusher Gusher, or Summit Plummet. Summit Plummet was pretty much a vertical drop for the first bit and I wasn't interested! I said to the others I would attempt Slusher Gusher instead. This one was still high, but it had three dips, rather than a straight drop. The boys went down first, and then it was my turn. I still can't believe I did it- but it was great! I got a massive wedgy though- and I may have flashed everyone- can't remember if my togs kept me covered or not. I tried to adjust my swimming costume quickly before hopping out!
It was then time for some lunch. I just got some fries and a drink.
Then two more slides before heading home. Number one was set up like a race. There are three tracks and you lie down on a yoga mat type thing on your stomach and face forward. When the light in front of you turns green you slide forward down the 'track'. This slide was brilliant. You had so so so many turns backwards and forwards, just like it would be if you were skiing down a field. Once again- had to adjust my togs before emerging from the water.
Then two more slides before heading home. Number one was set up like a race. There are three tracks and you lie down on a yoga mat type thing on your stomach and face forward. When the light in front of you turns green you slide forward down the 'track'. This slide was brilliant. You had so so so many turns backwards and forwards, just like it would be if you were skiing down a field. Once again- had to adjust my togs before emerging from the water.
It was then back up the mountain for our final attraction. This one you sat on top of a water ring. You could either go down an enclosed slide or an open topped slide. We went enclosed. Even though we each left at different times, one after the other, we were all on the slide at the same time and could hear each other as the noise echoed.
The boys went back and did this one again, but I sat and waited at the bottom.
It was then time to head off as we all had work. Cary Joe headed off to Hollywood Studios, and Rory and I headed back to Vista to get ready for our night shifts.
While I would never have thought to include a water park in my itinerary to Disney, after going there- I would absolutely recommend it. The atmosphere is so much calmer than in the other parks- and the decoration and theming was outstanding.
Stacey had mentioned to me in the morning that last week someone had called to let me know I had won a goodie bag from the learning centre where I get my books out. I popped in on my way home to get it. What a great pack. It had popcorn, snickers, twizlers, nerds, tootsie rolls, a Disney Internships marker pen, and more. Hooray! My name was also in a gold star up on the wall! Winner winner, chicken dinner.
The boys went back and did this one again, but I sat and waited at the bottom.
It was then time to head off as we all had work. Cary Joe headed off to Hollywood Studios, and Rory and I headed back to Vista to get ready for our night shifts.
While I would never have thought to include a water park in my itinerary to Disney, after going there- I would absolutely recommend it. The atmosphere is so much calmer than in the other parks- and the decoration and theming was outstanding.
Stacey had mentioned to me in the morning that last week someone had called to let me know I had won a goodie bag from the learning centre where I get my books out. I popped in on my way home to get it. What a great pack. It had popcorn, snickers, twizlers, nerds, tootsie rolls, a Disney Internships marker pen, and more. Hooray! My name was also in a gold star up on the wall! Winner winner, chicken dinner.
My shift tonight was five till two fifteen. I actually ended up getting an ER though. I got to go home soon after 12.30.
The funniest part of my night was when a guest came up to me outside to ask a question. He said to me, 'excuse me, but where can we meet Areola?'. I didn't like to point out his mistake- so sent him off in the right direction to Ariel! That's a first though, I had a good chuckle over that.
I also had a nice chat with the security guard Rodney. The one I had met right at the very beginning. I had a NZ keyring for him, and he had got me this small thing of perfume made from Florida oranges, and one of the quarters with Florida on it. I'm not sure if I have mentioned before, but lots of the quarters here have an American state represented on them. Very kind. We said goodbye (but I actually ending up seeing him again the next day).
The funniest part of my night was when a guest came up to me outside to ask a question. He said to me, 'excuse me, but where can we meet Areola?'. I didn't like to point out his mistake- so sent him off in the right direction to Ariel! That's a first though, I had a good chuckle over that.
I also had a nice chat with the security guard Rodney. The one I had met right at the very beginning. I had a NZ keyring for him, and he had got me this small thing of perfume made from Florida oranges, and one of the quarters with Florida on it. I'm not sure if I have mentioned before, but lots of the quarters here have an American state represented on them. Very kind. We said goodbye (but I actually ending up seeing him again the next day).
I had an unusual occurrence of getting my breaks only one hour apart. As they normally come 2-2.5 hours apart I actually asked if they could bump my break back. I was lucky that Laura was able to do this as sometimes we are too short staffed and it can't be done. So I was back out on stage for another hour before getting it.
We also had a torrential down pour as the evening progressed. This meant we were light loading the shells. I was on the load belt and had to load every second shell. Just incase you forgot why we do this, when it rains no one wants to leave the complex and they gather in our exit. If no one is leaving the building we can't keep putting the same amount of people on the ride because where would they go. So we light load with the hope that we can be encouraging enough in that time to get them to exit and find shelter elsewhere.
And my final excitement of the night was when Caroline asked if I would be her pen-pal. I love to write letters and receive them so was more than happy to say yes. Something to look forward to when I get home.
We also had a torrential down pour as the evening progressed. This meant we were light loading the shells. I was on the load belt and had to load every second shell. Just incase you forgot why we do this, when it rains no one wants to leave the complex and they gather in our exit. If no one is leaving the building we can't keep putting the same amount of people on the ride because where would they go. So we light load with the hope that we can be encouraging enough in that time to get them to exit and find shelter elsewhere.
And my final excitement of the night was when Caroline asked if I would be her pen-pal. I love to write letters and receive them so was more than happy to say yes. Something to look forward to when I get home.