Hello Everyone!!!

Thanks guys for the warm welcome.... I can't wait to become an active part of the family

Scrappy.... I absolutely vacation in the parks..... it's an addiction!! When I was working in Orlando, I would be in the parks as a guest every single day off..... sometimes even after I got off work, I would change and spend the rest of the day in awe....

Now I live in Atlanta and work at The Disney Store and I still spend my vacations at WDW every year.... I have lots of friends working in the park still, so I always want to go visit... plus I still have my cast member perks, so that makes it easier!!! But yes... I'm totally hardcore like that, I vacation at my workplace

I agree with you Jeff.... it is a passion..... but I've learned, that people usually are just jealous and lets face it... when you're as magical as we Disney Fans are... what's not to be jealous of.... hahaha

Thanks again for all the warm welcomes everyone!! I totally feel the love!!

Well Mase..... I have to say that Character Performer was my favorite.... especially doing Cinderella's Surprise Celebration in front of the castle during the 2000-2002 seasons. After that, I always enjoyed meet and greets, parades....... but more than anything.... no matter what area of the park I was working in, whatever job, the best and most favorite thing to me was watching people leaving the real world behind and allowing themselves to become completely absorbed in the land where make believe is real and where dreams really do come true. It's exactly what Walt intended!! And as a cast member, I got to see it become reality every single day!! Even now at the Disney Store... I see kids and adults simply light up when they walk through the door.... Now I get to be Disney for people who may never have a chance to make it to a park.... I am their Tigger, their Aladdin, their Popcorn vendor, their Jungle Cruise guide... and so on......

As for the secrets, I do have them... hahaha.... but I'm not sure what you guys may or may not already know... and to be honest... I don't want to ruin your magic with some of the secrets I have... so some things I won't indulge you with.... but, you can always ask.... I'll promise to answer and share in the best way possible

This is about to blow your mind!!!!! Ok.... Because florida is so close to sea level and the ground is very sandy, it is against florida law to build underground.... Walt knew that he wanted an "underground" city for his employees where we could go to the bank during lunch, or take a shower if needed, hang out with friends, and have an easy way for cast members to move around the parks without being noticed. But, since he could go underground.... he actually built the Utilidoor (underground tunnel) on the ground level.... so, when you are walking around the Magic Kingdom, you are actually on the 2nd floor.... yet another reason for the monorail and Seven Seas Lagoon.....

Magic Kingdom is the only park with a tunnel system.... and yes... every street of the Magic Kingdom is mirrored down there... we have restaurants, showers, a bank, cast member only shopping, street zoo (costuming for characters), barber shops, hair salons, training rooms, overnight rooms, break rooms and more.... so much more down there. It's an amazing world that never sleeps!!!

Scrappy: Keys to the Kingdom is a GREAT tour!!! I recommend that one to friends all the time!!! and yeah, you're access to the "tunnel" system is super super super restricted... in fact, a lot of what you see there is staged.... LOL Guest are never allowed in the real workings down there.... I do get back to Disney Parks quiet often.... I never really schedule in advance though... Right now I'm just a short 8 hour drive from Orlando, so it's easy weekend trips for me usually.... I have free admission and got my partner a annual pass so we are pretty spur of the moment. I've stayed in every resort on property... and I have to honestly say that my favorite of all time is Fort Wilderness Campground and All Star Movie..... I love the atmosphere at both..... and since we're huge camping fans, we love taking a tent!!!

Lizzy and Scrappy: I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE the restaurant in the Canada pavilion called Le Cellier Steakhouse. It's got a great atmosphere, decent price, great service and the food is like none other!!! You do have to schedule priority dining two to four months in advance depending on when you are visiting! I also NEVER miss a chance to get the best loaded nachos in the world from Adventureland in the Magic Kingdom. It's a small, off to the side little place across from Pirates called Tortuga Tavern. And, I would be a bad CM if I didn't mention some of the best BBQ Beef in the world at the Diamond Horseshoe in Frontierland. Both MK places are very affordable!!!

As far as things do to..... well, I spend a lot of time stalking my friends who are still there and surprising them at their shows and parades..... You can get some amazing character shots when you're with me... I draw a lot of attention... hahhaa... which is why I always try to find someone with special needs kids or small kids in general to sit beside for the parades and such... my friends spot me and all come over to say a special Hi... and the the kids get the real attention, which is how it should be!!! I also love renting the water mice from the Grand Floridian and zipping around Seven Seas Lagoon... and I love going to the campfires at Fort Wilderness (you don't have to stay there to get in). There is no age limit, Chip and Dale make special appearances, they show Disney cartoons on a big screen stretched out between the trees, and you can make s'mores and roast hot dogs over the open fire.... it's so much fun and VERY magical!!! And of course, I spend as much time in the parks as possible!!!!

I don't really have a favorite park, but I do have a LEAST FAVORITE park... and that's Animal Kingdom... it's HOT there!!! Hotter than any other of the parks because of the vegetation and amount of water and the layout as well.... It was designed that way on purpose... it's best for the animals that live there.... plus... I get bored easy and there isn't as much going on to entertain me there.... Now, I do still like the park and go visit there often.... they have great food, AMAZING shows and I enjoy the attractions there too... it's just my least favorite of all of them... (that doesn't mean that I don't like Animal Kingdom, so please, no one hate on me ) I do find it amazing how Disney environmentalist and animal protection cast members trained all of the animals to respond to different sounds... Did you know that when you are walking through the park, and you hear drums, or flutes and other native instruments playing, that it's not just for background noise..... each animal group is trained to respond to feeding time, bed time, or "time out" with different sounds. For example, when it's time for the elephants to report to their housing (not the exhibit but the actual overnight safe house) Bongo drums will play over the parks speakers.... to guest, it sounds like awesome background music for the park... but the elephants hear it and know its time to go... they use it for a lot of purposes... it gets them to the medical checkups, or if there is bad weather or other danger.... I think it's pretty amazing.....

Jess: What do you mean "played a character" What is that?? No one plays a character!!!

hahahaha..... Let's just say that I'm "really good friends" with Aladdin.... At first Pluto was my BFF... but now it's Aladdin, and Miss Piggy that are my favorite friends... but, I'm friends with 62 characters in total....

I am so glad I have found you guys.... you all make me feel so special!! I feel like I've gained some new friends, and that's always good!!!

Jeff: When casted to be costumed, its all based on your height. There are 5 different height groups, each with multiple characters in each group. You are cast according to the needs in your height group. You train on a set number of characters in your group, and once you've "Moustered" those, then you can request a new set still within your group. My group has over 100 characters, I've only qualified on 62 of them. Sometimes though, characters will be moved into different height groups... which just happened to me... sadly, Aladdin has been moved to a taller height group, and so he's no longer my friend... boo!!! Oh well... I still have others....

Arbolita: There are some things I'd still like to try at the parks... but I'm simply not qualified for... but, there are SO many roles there.... ps. everyone is called a cast member and all jobs are called roles.... it's all theater terms... haha Doesn't mean you have to act at all!!! And I highly recommend working at the parks with your hubby.... it's a great place to retire..... a lot of couples do that....