But show choir was cancelled today, so after catching up on some much needed sleep in an attempt to overcome the jet lag and a very late night last night, I find myself sitting in front of my computer going through pictures from my trip and thinking to myself, "perhaps I should update my blog..."
So, here I am and here we go!
It was a long and tiring trip but absolutely worth every moment.
My GOD was it ever hot over there! I thought I was going to die. For most of the time. But again, totally worth it.
Our first night was a bit of a fiasco because it was pretty late at our arrival, but to us being still in Vancouver time (which is three hours behind Orlando time) we were a little... out of sorts. My parents made a 2am trip to Walmart to grab some groceries (that's Orlando time, jsyk) and we just basically slept and tried to adjust to the time difference and the immense heat.
Our first day we had a late start. A very late start... we rented a car instead of taking multiple taxi rides to get from place to place. We went to the local mall, went out for dinner then over to a different mall that we really should've been going to in the first place but we got confused and horribly lost hahahah. It was excellent.
Then came our Universal day! Which of course was my favourite day because Universal Studios is the home of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter! Which was amazing, in case you were wondering. I have a lot (and I mean a lot) of footage from that. When I have the time and energy to go through it all I will most definitely be posting a video... hopefully soon. Basically, everything in the park was exceptionally exciting to me. I was flipping out the entire time, and my parents kept laughing at me and calling me a "nerd" with my tear streaked face and gibberish spewing from my mouth because I was too excited to form words. The ride, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, was so amazing. We rode it three times. And I think the coolest thing about it is that in order to get to it, you have to walk all the way through the hallways of Hogwarts and along the way bump into Dumbledore, many talking portraits and of course, Harry, Ron and Hermione. I think I can die happy now. Oh yes, and did I mention I got a wand? Not just any wand though you see. I was chosen. The wand chose me. It was the coolest experience ever. I am such a nerd. I will post the footage so you can fully understand, because right now I'm sure I sound like an idiot but it makes sense if you know what I'm talking about. They have a wand shop, they bring in groups of thirty or so people and only one person gets chosen to have the wand shop owner help them find a wand. And I was chosen, he chose me. He let me test out wands and it was all rigged up so it felt like I was doing real magic! And then I got to purchase the wand after. I AM A REAL WITCH. I CAN'T EVEN DEAL.
And of course I spent a butt load of money. I bought so much stuff and I'm so excited about all of it. And there were two other rides there, a small, kid friendly roller coaster and a massive, intense crazy roller coaster. I have never screamed so hard. On the second one, of course. And they had Zonko's joke shop (so cool!!) and Honeydukes candy shop!!!! And an owlery and the Three Broomsticks and the Hogwarts Express by the entrance and an awesome conductor guy! ACK! I CAN TOTALLY DIE HAPPY NOW. I HAVE BEEN TO HOGWARTS AND HOGSMEADE. I AM SET FOR LIFE.
Okay, enough about that. Now on to Disney!
Our next day was spent in Epcot, the sort of... Science World of Disney. Hah. It was pretty neato. There was a virtual ride you could design yourself, a car test track ride (sort of like a roller coaster but not really) and a whole slew of mini villages that represented various countries around the world. It was a very very long day trying to get around that park. And it was technically our first day because we spent the entire previous day in the Harry Potter section of Universal (which is rather small) and hadn't had to navigate our way around an enormous theme park yet. It was a real test of our patience. We had a bit of a blow out... a meltdown, if you will. But we got over it and rode the amazing Soarin' ride (another virtual ride which they have in Disney California Adventure and my mum really loved when we went there so we had to make sure we went on it again in Florida) And we were given a very helpful piece of advice from the man behind us in line about how to get an alternate entrance pass for all the attractions in the park, so that my sister could get through the lines with her wheel chair. Wish we'd bumped into him at the beginning of the day...
Then came Disney's Hollywood Studios on our next day there.
Most of this day was spent on my little American Idol Experience. Essentially, we got there pretty late in the day because we decided after two very long days in the parks, we needed a little rest and chose to take the later shuttle. So when we got there, some guy dressed as an old timey police officer with a funny accent asked if any of us were singers and told me to audition for American Idol and gave us directions for how to get there. It was pretty funny actually. Then we headed on down there, I passed the first audition (where you sing about 30 seconds of any song of your choosing in front of an audition coordinator or something), moved on to meet a producer(where I sang two shortened versions of songs I had selected from their list and was then told to try a different song which he thought would better suit my voice (which objectively probably did but as much as I love that song it was a little boring to sing) and made me learn it), passed that audition and was put in the 5:30 show, the last show before the big finale. Basically, every day, they hold auditions for the American Idol Experience from (I think) park opening until about 2pm. If you pass the first two auditions, you will be put into a group of three to sing at one of the eight showcases through out the day. If you receive the highest number of votes out of your three, you move on to the finale. If you win at the finale you receive a "magic golden ticket" which allows you first in line privileges and a guaranteed audition at any American Idol audition across the country. Essentially, I have no use winning that any ways since I'm not American so I don't really care, and at the time I didn't even know that was the prize anyways, I was just doing it for fun and because my mum really wanted me to sing. It's all very cool and professional. I wish I could have filmed the whole experience, but it was such a whirlwind and I really don't think I would have been allowed to anyways. We each got our hair and make up done and a short amount of time with a vocal coach to go over our song selections. It was a nerve wracking and fun experience. We had a run through of the show, which is so cool. If you ever get a chance to go to the American Idol Experience at Disney's Hollywood Studios in Orlando Florida, I would highly recommend it because it is so awesomely done. Really professional, and really looks like the real show. There are actual cameras all over the place, a real host (who looks and sounds remarkably like Ryan Seacrest) and actual judges. They do a short little interview with each contestant before they sing and even put your face on the big screens around the stage! It's so cool. I'm hoping my sister will let me upload her video footage of the show because I'd really like to see it! I got to sit backstage while the others performed and watch their performances. I went first. It was terrifying and awesome. The judges were mostly nice except for the "Simon" type one who told me I'd be perfect to attend the red carpet at the Grammys and help people out of their cars. Pffft whatevaa. Okay, anyways, long story short, I didn't make it into the finale showcase but I had a great time anyways and they took about 60 pictures of me, all of which I have access to for the next 30 days and can purchase online and such. We did of course buy a few of our favourites while we were there :) I was a little disappointed that I didn't get to choose the song I sang, they kind of chose it for me... but oh well.
Oh yes, and there were two very awesome rides in that theme park which we managed to catch between my audition and when I had to be back for my performance. I tried to get a coyote games picture on the Tower of Terror, but it didn't really work out. The roller coaster was awesome though! Super fast and loud and because it's in the dark with neon and glowing lights and such, you totally don't know what's coming so the flips and turns take you by surprise. So fun.
Then our last two days were spent at the Magic Kingdom, which is essentially what I like to call the Disneyland of Disney World. That's where Cinderella's castle is and all the princesses, characters and various more children oriented attractions and rides. Our first day in the park we did a full pan around from one side to the other, catching as many rides as we could along the way. We essentially got them all, or at least all the ones we really wanted. Space Mountain of course. And the others were really just little kid rides so no biggie. And we ate funnel cake. Omg funnel cake yuuummmm. Then our second day in that park (and our last day before we left) we spent getting autographs and pictures with our favourite characters. I waited in line for a very long time in the sweltering heat to meet Flynn Rider and Rapunzel. TOTALLY WORTH IT. Zomg I was so stoked. But Flynn didn't smolder in my picture! I'm so disappointed... I just kind of assumed that he would because well, have you seen the movie? We also met Ariel and Prince Eric, Tiana and Naveen, Mickey and Minnie, Cinderella, Aurora and Belle. (Damn, those princesses are tiny!! I'm towering over them in most of the pictures!) All in all a successful picture and autograph trip. I wish I'd gotten Peter Pan though... just to compare, you know. Then we rode a couple extra rides, had a fancy meal, got another funnel cake, skipped the parade and fireworks (because really, once you've seen one Disney parade you've seen them all. And fireworks are just big loud bright things in the sky.) and did all our last minute shopping. It was a long, tiring and draining day. But in the end was definitely worth it all. The Magic Kingdom is probably my favourite park because I'm about six years old on the inside and truly enjoy the magic of it. I have to admit, whoever composes the music for Disney sure does a great job because every time I heard those tinkling tunes I got emotional. I can't wait to do it all again in Disneyland in two months! Although, it'll be a whole different experience for sure.
Then finally it was our last day there. We packed our bags, called a cab and went to the Premium Outlets for a little shopping before heading to the airport. There was a Betsey Johnson outlet there, we had to go! I barely had any money left by this point (nor room in my suitcase either) but I did get some very cute earrings and a necklace that matches a pair of Betsey earrings I already have. Then we went to the airport and caught our two flights back to Vancouver. It's nice to be home...
Over all I can say this about Orlando: It is way too effin hot. And we weren't even there during peak season! I don't know how they can stand it! The best thing we ever did was buy one of those fan/squirt bottle combos. Especially when we filled it with ice. Ahhh, so refreshing... seventeen dollars well spent. And now that I'm here, I feel like I'm absolutely freakin freezing! And my internal clock is all wonky because I got used to the three hour time difference and now I have to revert back to normal... Plus sleeping the past two nights has been pretty freakin weird... Hopefully that'll sort itself out soon.
But anyways...
I had a super amazing trip! And even though it was frustrating at times (as any family vacation is, I'm sure) it was worth every moment! I can't wait to share all the footage I took! I'm so happy :) I spent way too much money on stupid things and look like an idiot in most of my pictures, but hey, that's what vacations are all about!
And I have certainly missed all my friends and more than definitely missed the internet. A week away feels like an eternity! There's so much to catch up on, I just don't know where to begin! Okay, love you all, goodbye.
I'm sorry for the big wall of text... I just had so much to say!
No comments:
Post a Comment