This Ride is Awesome!!!

  This is a special post just in case Jessie and the gang from the Toybox are still looking.  Without a doubt the one word that I hear over and over about ToyStory Midway Mania!  is that the ride is Awesome.

  I usually greet our returning toys with “I hope you had fun, or how did you like it? ”  And that is overwelmingly the answer.  I absolutely love when I hear “that was worth the wait”.  There is no doubt about it we are the Popular Toy in the Walt Disney World Toybox. 

  I am having a blast playing up my part as a toy.  I never get tired of seeing a smile on the face of the adults when I call them a toy.  And such a good feeling when I get laughter out of the older guests and parents when I tell them their batteries look like they are running down and I will make sure to tell Andy they need replaced, but the little wind up toys seem to still be going wonder what kind of batteries they are using??

 So much theming in this attraction to play with.  So easy to play the part, because who in their right mind would not want to be a toy in Andy’s room? 

A Special Little Girl

  I want to write this down because I never want to forget about it.  It was just one of a thousand special moments that I have at work.  But this one really stood out. 

  I was stationed at our WAV area, this stands for Wheelchair access Vehicle.  This area was designed to make it so much more comfortable for our guests with special needs to enjoy our attraction.  There was a little girl in a wheelchair with her family.  I don’t want to label her as Down’s Syndrome, because I believe that it is wrong to label someone for their disability.  They are who they are, and shine just as bright as any star.

 Especially this little girl.  It was her birthday and I made sure to tell her how much I love Birthday toys and I thought she was the most beautiful toy in the toybox.  She just smiled and waved at me and we talked for a bit more.  I was eventually bumped from my position before she was sent out on her vehicle.  And I was put at load assist, which put me right where she would be coming past!  I waved, and shouted look its my special toy!!! and she told me that she thought I was special.  And I said no you are… and her reply…No you are!  we had so much fun.  I blew her a kiss and she was on her way.

  So many times that will be the last time I will see a guest.  But I guess fate was with me on this day because later on I was sent to the same position and I hear one of my cast members shout my name and say this one is for you.  And sure enough it was my special princess.  That this time gave up going in the wheel chair to be in line, and wanted to be in my line.  I gave her a hug and I told her how happy I was to see her again. 

So I write this down, because I never want to forget the little birthday princess.  My job was to brighten her day, but she brightened my life.

Can I ride again?

  I have been coming to the Disney Parks for years,  first as a guest, and for the last three years as a cast member.  I have talked to thousands of guests over the years, and stood in line with them as a guest myself.  I’ve listened to random comments about quality, or wait time, or Disney should have done this or that and this would have been so much better.  Seems like everyone has a bit of a backseat Imagineer in them. 

  So here I am at the new attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.  And of course I hear the grumbling about the wait in line.  And of course we get it  up and down from guests if the ride should have to close due to technical difficulties and they have to leave the building.  But that is understandable.  I guess I would want to vent it out too, if I had just waited 2 hours in line and now had to turn around and leave. 

  But this post is not about the grumbling.  This post is about the love I am seeing for the ride.  The other day I was at unload assist, and usually what happens is at the exit the doors open automatically guests stand and then they leave.  I see the doors open…and then I see this little hand reach out and grab the door and pull it closed.  I look around the corner and the little boy was sitting down.  Mom looks at me and says.  “He wants another go round”.  It broke my heart to have to press the button to open the door again.

Every single day there are kids leaving that are crying and I ask the parents, is everything ok? and they tell me the kids are crying because they just want to stay on the ride. 

It is like magic on that platform listening to the comments of all our guests, I love to hear them razzing each other about who got the highest score.  I love asking them who is the highest scorer, usually its Dad.  But when Mom gets it I always tell her way to represent!!!

Love the elderly couple that had been on the ride at least 4 times.  I had several minutes to visit with them before their vehicle was dispatched.  I mentioned to them that I had seen them on the ride over and over.  The woman said she was not leaving until she had beaten her husband’s scores.  I said I should have figured it was one of those kind of marriages.   I asked how long had they been married, it was like 48 years.  I whispered in her ear some of the secrets to give her an edge in the game..hahaha.  I did not get to see them again to find out who won.  But I figure they both did.   I know I won big by getting to visit with them.

I have had guest after guest come up to me and say how much they love the ride.  And my reply is generally the same “I love it too, I am very proud of it.  It just makes you feel so happy”.  And they look at me and agree… it does it just makes you so happy.

Such a technical ride that just brings out the kid in all of us.  It makes us happy.  I think if there is anyone that is not enjoying the ride its because they just don’t let it go and enjoy the moment, they are too busy worrying about dinner reservations or the fact that they waited in a long line.  Its a ride that makes you feel like you accomplished something, developed some mad skills at shooting at targets.  It is so true that from “Expert to Beginner, Everyone is a winner!” 

  It is the most stressful job I have ever had.  But it is also one of the most fulfilling that I have had.   I love being a part of the show, making the guests feel that they are indeed in Andy’s Toybox.  I guess we should use Walt’s quote for our attraction:

“To all you Toys that come to this Happy Place….. Welcome!”

I Look into the Sky

I look into the sky and see the stars above me.
A Cheshire cat moon, smiling at me perched in the night sky.
There is something about the night.
A million stars overhead, a million mysteries scattered in the Heavens.
It is no wonder that great poets find their muse in the night sky.
Myths and legend born from the twinkle of light from a single star.

I see the stars there, and know that they look over us like a quiet audience.
Passing no judgment, just witnesses to our being.
Lighting up the sky for all that have come before us, and the same light will shine on all who come after.
It does not give me a feeling of how small I am in this infinite universe, but how far my soul can fly.
The feeling that I am a part of all that there is, the stars, the moon, the sky, the Earth.

There is nothing that ties the human spirit to one place, it is made to fly.
It is made to be shared as the stars share their light upon us.

There he goes.

  Well this is the day that I knew would come eventually.  My first born moving out.  So here I sit thinking back on all of these wonderful years of having him here.   The joy he brought me just being my son, how proud I am to be his mom.

 Its really amazing I guess being in this time of my life.  Its like my entire world being turned inside out and upside down.  And all I can do is just stand here and watch it unfold.  Watching as my mom faces her battles.  Watching as my son begins his new life with his future wife.  Watching my youngest take his first steps into adulthood and “the real world”.

  I am going to miss my son being around.  Miss the sounds of the X-Box, and the anime always playing.  Miss his shoes by the door.  Miss the way he always would come and give me a kiss before he left for work.  I am lucky in so many ways, he is not moving far from me.  Had he been leaving the orbit of my everyday life, I don’t think that they make enough tissues.

  So here I am, blogging. Haha.  Oh, another thing I will miss about my boy.  His amazement that his mom had a blog.   At one time he thought I was foolish to have it, after all I am just mom.  What in the world would I have to talk about?  Maybe one day he will come here and see that I really am the thing that won’t shut up.  But when and if he does come here I will have left him this message……

Son, I love you.   I have loved you since the day I first held you in my arms.  I never accomplished anything that was anything all that special.  But I do know in my heart that you and your brother are the best things that I ever did in this life.  That the reason I was put here on this earth, was you and him.  And I am so thankful for all the years that you were with us.  And I am so very, very proud of you.

 Mom

The Seed

From the seed, grows a flower
It stands against the harsh storms
bending with the winds.
From the seeds grows a meadow of flowers
each day is like a new bloom
From my heart to yours
I give a seed
it is yours to plant,
or yours to cast aside.
It will bloom with the care you give to it.
or it will fade.

The Windows of my Life

I sit here looking out the window of my life.
I see the faces of everyone I have ever loved smiling back at me.
I feel the twist of pain at the loss of those that I have loved so dearly.
My Dad, my dearest Aunt.
I try to figure out why my heart aches so.
Sometimes I feel that it would be better off to be alone than to bring these shadows into the lives of others.
I dont understand my sadness.
Its as if I am not allowed to let joy completely fill me, always waiting and expecting the darkness to come, never able to just give myself to the pleasure of the sun.
I guess its what makes us human.  To have joy and to suffer pain.
It is what we do with the precious moments of joy, and what we do when we are in pain that makes us what we are.
It is better to turn my face into the sun and feel its warm embrace, then to hide myself from it knowing that soon night will fall.
It is better to enjoy the bloom of the rose, then to not smell its sweet fragrance knowing that soon the petals will fall to the ground.

The Night is Still

Will the Real Ladyvader please stand up….

  I always wondered if this would ever happen but I guess my secret is now out to some of the Toys in the toybox of Andy’s Room that their middle aged co-worker has a blog.  Seems like a few of the toys that went through the testing phase of the ride figured out my secret identity.  I will call them Buzz and Woody, the names of the toys have been changed to protect them. Hahaha!

  I recognized Buzz as he was coming onto the vehicle and he looked at me and said “are you ladyvader?”.  BUSTED!!!  I had to admit my guilt, and with a squinty face said “yes, am I in trouble?”  and Buzz smiled and said “no, not at all, but we are going to talk”.

Ok, Buzz and Woody if you are reading this.  You gave me probably the longest ten or so minutes of my life as every post and thread and word I have ever written was played through my head.  In this age of blogging this equals to a person’s life flashing before their eyes as they prepare to meet their maker. 

And also Buzz and Woody if I want some detective work done, I am coming to you.  Considering that I don’t wear a black cape, or helmet, and I don’t carry a light saber the fact that you found me on your first try is impressive…….Most impressive.  I mean I did consider doing the “this is not the ladyvader that you are looking for”  I mean I really tried it on you two as you were in your vehicle but it seems my powers of the force are limited to making show vehicles move forward, and even with that I need another person pressing yet another button.

So to all my fellow toys that maybe curiosity has brought you here, Hello.  And this is the story of Ladyvader.  Three of so years ago Disney came up with a game called VMK, Virtual Magic Kingdom.  I played this game since its early beta days and made some wonderful friends over this time.  This site is kind of a gift to them and me,  its our way of keeping in touch.  I chose the name Ladyvader after many names were refused.  I am a huge Star Wars geek, yes I have a light saber.  Ladyvader is based from Star Wars books and is actually Princess Leia. So, now my secret is out.  The toy is out of the box!!!!  I love working with all of you cast members, Buzz and Woody thanks for the laugh, and to all of my friends that come here to catch up on my silly life, many, many hugs!

Oh, and might as well wave at Jessie (yes, another Toy that has found me out as well!)

Andy and the Toys.

  Today was the grand opening of ToyStory Midway Mania at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.  I actually volunteered to come in and work on my day off did not want to miss what we have been striving for all of these weeks.  It seems like it was just yesterday that I was hired and now here I am enjoying being a part of such a great attraction.

  The lines are huge. So many guests have told me that it is well worth the wait.  It seems that the adults are having just as much fun as the kids.  Its like I may have mentioned before.  There is something magical about the place that everyone is like a kid again.  Maybe we have tapped into the fountain of youth that lives in all of us.

  There are still some positions that have me nervous, but it seems I have many of the others down pat.  I look forward to the day when I can say that nothing scares me anymore.  And I can rest easy that I won’t mess anything up. hahaha.  Still makes me nervous to have so much responsiblity for guests, other cast members and a multi million dollar ride. 

Going back into the Past

  It is always weird returning home to Ohio.  Some things have changed, the faces of my friends and family have aged.  Children have grown into adults.  Those things that mark the years evident.

 This area that was once a thriving industrial mecca, now so many factories and mills stand empty.  It really is like seeing how the dinosaurs died out.  The skies now clear from the lack of smoke from the smoke stacks.  But along with the closing of all the factories all of the outlying businesses that offered services to the many workers have closed their doors as well.  Grocery stores, restaurants, shopping plazas.  The days of the steel mills and car factories now gone from Northeastern Ohio.

I have been asked several times about where am I from.  I tell them Florida and that always gets a warm reply.  I guess everyone has been to Florida.  I tell them Mickey Mouse is my boss and that always gets a laugh.  There are things I miss about Ohio, I miss my small town that I grew up in.  Miss the fact that everyone knows everybody here, miss the fact that everybody seems to really care about their neighbors.  Yes, some are still busybodies, but all in all you know if you needed them they would be there to help you out.

Its a trip down memory lane for me.  I am proud to have grown up here.  And pretty thankful to have known it the way it used to be. 

Just some thoughts.

  My mom has a rough road ahead of her.  I have learned that she has stage IV cancer.  I don’t know how long she has, or what will happen in the days, weeks, and hopefully years ahead of us.  All I know is that I have to prepare myself to say goodbye to her.

  I love my mom.  She will always profess that I never loved her the way she thought I should.  And I guess she may be right.  I don’t know if any of us feel loved the way we wish would could be.  But that is life I guess.  I know that I have disappointed her endlessly.

 Unfortunately over the years there were many disagreements.  And many things that drove a wedge in our relationship.  But I never stopped loving her.  But I did grow distant to protect myself.  It was just survival.  But again I never stopped loving her.  I forgave all the pain and the unkind words to me and my boys.  But I never ever forgot them.  And in my mind I just always tried to prevent them from happening again by staying away.

So now I go home, after already hearing from distant relatives that I need to come home and make my peace with my Mom, and I never even knew we were at war.  Already hearing about how I was a disappointment to my mother.  Sigh.  Already starting off a painful trip knowing that I am going up into a situation that I have already lost the battle.  I can’t change what has happened to my mom, I can’t change the person that I am to be something that my Mom wishes I was.  All I can do is tell her I love her.  Let her download her pain about our relationship and take it all with my chin up and agree with her that it is indeed all my fault.  So that at least she can have peace saying all she needs to say to me.    And I will bite my tongue,  and not say a word.  It will be my gift to her.  After all Moms are always right.  No matter how old you get, I guess its the rules.

I come here just to write my thoughts down.  A way of talking myself into the times ahead.  A way of buiding myself up, before things start tearing me down again. 

My hopes and prayers for my Mom is that each and every day she has left is spent knowing she is loved.  And each day is filled with joy and wonder for her.  I hope she travels with her husband and sees the world.  And I hope it is pain free, and I hope her faith in God makes her strong to face it all.  I will be here loving her until forever.  Even when she thinks I never did.

Dreams Continue.

 I got a phone call from a dear friend and her mom that I had met during my time on the Dream Squad she knew I was going to the parks and asked to meet up with me.  I may have mentioned this in a previous post.  Today I heard back from the wonderful guest that I had done the magical moment of meeting Lightning McQueen last year.  He and his family will be returning to the parks again this summer.  And he wants to see me again.  It brings me so much joy that the gift of Disney magic I was able to give them still makes them smile.  Blessed I tell you!

What a Day!

Today I was able to take my son and ride Toy Story Midway Mania during our cast member previews.  And he took one step inside the queue and said, “Mom, you are so lucky!”.   He knew the moment he entered the building for the first time that he was in a magical place.  Its how I have felt the moment I saw it for the first time.  It made me so happy to share it with him.

The wonderful Imagineer that I had talked to was there, and I introduced her to my son.  She was so happy to see me, and was snapping pictures of the people in line and took a few of my son and I.  And sure enough when we went to get on the ride there she was getting a picture of us as we were preparing to be sent off into the Midway.  She was talking to one of the other show designers and I just looked at them both and said “Thank you for this”.  I am an emotional nut, and just relating this story to you makes me tear up.  Yeah.  I love it that much.

When we were done she was there to ask how he liked it.  And he told her it was the most wonderful thing ever.  I thanked her so much, but she said no thank you, thank you for the passion you have for this.  Well I have to tell you to hear an imagineer a show developer no less tell me this.  As far as I am concerned nothing will top this in my life.  I have only been here for a few short weeks and my heart is now totally on Pixar Place at an attraction called ToyStory Midway Mania.

The Chance to say Thankyou.

  The last two weeks have been so exciting.  My ride will be opening soon, its been so crazy with everyone working so hard to get this attraction up and running.  The entire ride is a work of art, and I can tell you that anyone that sees it will be so impressed with the work and the thought that went into it.  I am so happy that it will open here at WDW and also at Disneyland.  Its a ride worth sharing for sure!

Yesterday I had the wonderful opportunity to talk to one of the show developers all alone.  Just that was enough to make me star struck!  yes I consider them stars.  This Imagineer has been working so hard on so many aspects of the ride, and rarely has there been a time that I have not see her there.  I told her that I bet she was excited to go home.  And she was so polite to say that she will miss all of us here but yes she was very, very excited to go home.  But most of all she was so excited to see this attraction up and running.

I passed on some of the comments I had recieved from some of our guests who had been on the attraction for a film shoot.  And she beamed.  It was what she had been waiting to hear.  I told her that I was just so honored to be doing what I am doing.  And that I do consider all of them my heros.  They bring magic to life.

Then I told her how my youngest son now grown, his favorite character of all Toy Story was Hamm Pig.  He carried him for years and years, and now here I am working an attraction that Hamm is in.  We laughed at the Karma involved.  And of course I started to tear up a bit, telling her just how blessed I know I am for this opportunity.

So thats my big story for today.  My opportunity to actually thank the powers that be for their part in the Magic.

Yesterday I also got the opportunity to do some training at the RocknRoller Coaster.  And all my fears are now put aside, if I can load people into the coaster I can do my ride with no worries. 

Hope everyone is well, you are in my thoughts always.

Poster Girl for the Dream Squad!

Ok MB, this one is for you!  Recently at a getting to know you event for my new job the Dream Squad came in to give a short info session about the Dream Squad for all of us there.  They had a really nice power point program up to enlighten all of us on what the Year of Million Dreams.  It started and I recognized some of my friends from the squad and then who should appear up on the screen? yep, it was me.  I remember the moment well.  I was on my knees giving this sweet little girl a pin lanyard set that she had won at One Man’s Dream.  I was so excited for her and my picture had been taken.  And there was that moment on the big screen.  And then it stayed there as they posted all the prizes that we give out and how we make people realize how special it is that they have won.   I was honored that they thought my silly face was a good example of what they wanted our guests to feel. 

Then it went on and there I was again as they showed how prizes are given out and what is involved in being in the right place at the right time.  And it hit me that I really had been so very lucky to be a part of something so wonderful, and that now when ever the Dream Squad needed to give this same talk to executives or just regular cast members,  I have a part in the history of a really wonderful event.  It really was a time when dreams came true for all those wonderful winners, but it was a time when I was living a dream. 

It Takes a Village.

  All of you know just how much I love where I work.  And you know how much I love being Walt’s girl.  This past week I have been starting at 7 a.m., I am not much of a morning person.  But it is always worth it when I arrive at the Studios. I get to witness the magic before it comes to life.

  I see the landscapers, and show keepers, the painters, the maintenance crews.  I see the stockers and park greeters all getting ready for the day to begin.  I always find this time magical.  Seeing how much goes into the show that is given to our guests every day.  There were people that told me the magic would be ruined for me if I worked in the park.   No, now I believe in the magic even more.

  It is so amazing to think of the amount of people involved in this magic.  To many cast members it is just a job.  But I have to believe that there are many just like me that really don’t do it for the money we do it for the chance to make people believe in this amazing world of Walt’s.  A chance to keep his legacy living for generation after generation.  It is so wonderful to be a part of that village.

  I am witnessing the birth of a new attraction at Walt Disney World.  I am seeing the hard work that so  many people have put into this new attraction.  And I am left speechless at the magic that I am witnessing every single day.  I will take my break and just sit there and watch the flurry of activity  and realize that this is their baby, their legacy.  And now it is mine as well.  The magic that is being made is beyond the scale of measurement!  It really is too Infinity and Beyond!

Oh and by the way did I tell you I love my new job?

I am a TOY!

 The first day was wonderful.  And I have not even set foot into the Toy box.  Tomorrow I will start my official training.  Today I just got to meet all of the great people that I will be working with.  What an amazing bunch of people.   Cast members from all of the different parks and all kinds of roles property wide.  I am really fortunate to get this opportunity.

I would love to tell you everything that I will be experiencing in the next few weeks.  But I really am not allowed to.  And I do hope everyone understands,  I do believe in working with integrity and could never break my promise to make sure that all of the surprises that await you at my new attraction stay exactly that.  A wonderful surprise. 

As it is opened and its not so hush, hush I will be able to share.  And I will make sure to keep a journal of all the wonderful things that happen so that I can tell you a bit further down the line.  Until then I will just keep you updated on the things that I can talk about. 

Hugs to you all!

Tomorrow is the day!

I am sitting here at the keyboard barely able to breathe so nervous about tomorrow.  I have always been so nervous for first days of any new job.  I work myself up into a fine bundle of nerves.  I just can’t help it.  My friend Darthstitch laughed and said that is why everyone likes me so much, they enjoy calming me down!! LOL.  I always knew that my friends were good medicine, now I have proof. 

Tomorrow is just a day of getting to know the team I will be working with, the exciting times ahead opening the new attraction.  Then I will work every day this week until next weekend.  I will get saturday off and then start riding a roller coaster of hours through the following week.  My life is about to get really, really crazy.  But I knew it when I signed up for it.  Working for Disney is more than a job it really is a commitment.  A commitment to work whatever hours, and whatever days they sign you up for.  Schedules are rarely set in stone.  I asked for Fridays and saturdays off.  I ended up with tues, thursday and saturday.  Will that change? most likely.  Who knows what my schedule will be like.  I will only know two weeks in advance.

Its the nature of the beast for sure.  The willingness to sacrifice a normal life for a life of making magic.  Small sacrifice for me.  I would not have it any other way.  I love what we do.  I love being Walt’s girl.  I love being a part of the Disney Magic.  I hope to be successful in this new career for me.  The fast paced life of a Attractions hostess.  Taking a deep breath here I go again my friends jumping back into a new adventure.  Heading off to the Toy Box to join Andy and his friends to bring to our guests the newest Disney Attraction and just as a bonus a smile from your friend Ladyvader.  I look forward to the day that I meet each and everyone of you for not only a smile but my biggest hug, and my gratitude for being such wonderful friends.

Goodbye VMK

 So sad that something I loved so much is going away.  My little virtual world.  The first online game for me.  The first time talking to people that I did not know in a virtual world.  So many have come and gone from VMK, but the memory of them continues with me.  My little character Ladyvader.  Even once a community leader in that little world.  Then just a little set of pixels that walked about and sat with friends for hours chatting and talking about silly things.  A way to relax, a way to find others with similar outlooks on life.  That sitting around as little kids even though many of us were far from that, that this was normal.  That this is what makes us the Disney geeks we all claim to be.  That walking around in a silly hat dancing on a jungle cruise bridge, was normal.  I can’t help but smile thinking of each wonderful dear friend that I have made on VMK.

But as is with the world all things will eventually end, and so is the story of VMK closing their doors the end of next month.  Our little virtual kingdom. Sigh.  There are those fighting the good fight to keep them from closing it, and I am so proud of them to not give up.  But for me with the illness of my inlaws, and now my mom, and just the general state of the world and my life.  I have no fight left in me to keep my little virtual world.  Its all I can do to just keep moving through the real world.   Its not that I dont care about VMK, its just that I know the Disney Company and once a decision is made.  It is made.  I have to remember it is just a game.

What have I learned from the game?  I have learned that the real world is filled with wonderful people.  People just like me.  A little silly, and huge Disney fans.  And most of them are now my real friends.  Thank you VMK for that, thank you for giving me almost three years of such beautiful friendship.  I will love you always and forever.