DCP – Halloween Horror Nights

Hi guys!

So I recently did something I said I would never do: Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios. 

I should note that I got roped into this kind of by mistake. My friends had planned a day and intended for me to go, but I didn’t know until about a week in advance. I didn’t have plans so I decided to bite the bullet and just go. 

Technical aspects of HHN: with an annual pass/proof of Florida residency, you pay $63.50 for a ticket. You get one ticket per document. I was buying for a friend too, so I bought my ticket with my annual pass and his ticket with my Florida driver’s license. The park closes to general admission at 5 PM (this varies from MNSSHP, where it’s 7 PM) and guests are kept in a holding area while the scare actors get in place. The holding area is usually a restaurant, or Diagon Alley I’m pretty sure. 

Emotional aspects of HHN: I was super freaked out, but I scare easily. My friends who are into that kind of stuff loved it. Don’t miss the stage shows; the dance performance was one of the coolest things I’ve seen in awhile. Be prepared to wait upwards of two hours for houses, especially big-ticket ones (American Horror Story and Exorcist were the major ones this year). 

But at the end of the day I still work for Disney, so I recently did the most cast-member thing I could in October: I worked the Halloween party! I wasn’t able to get a real treat shift, but I was deployed for a night to Sleepy Hollow refreshments (the place in Liberty Square that sells waffle sandwiches). I was allowed to wear the Not-So-Scary costume and I got to watch Boo-to-You from the restaurant. It was such a cool experience!

It’s almost November now, which means Food & Wine is nearing its final days and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is just around the corner. My location is open for the parties so I’ll be sure to update on all that soon!

Song of the day: Shine // Benjamin Francis Leftwich

DCP – Long Time No See

Hi guys!

So I’ve been crazy busy lately. I’ve really hit the ground running at work: I was cross-trained in kitchen so now they can do pretty much whatever they want with me. Fortunately, the BOH crew at Harbour House is incredibly kind and encouraging, and they always check on the new kids and make sure we understand everything. 

The biggest thing I wanted to talk about in this post is Not-So-Scary. I went in mid-September and only paid about $64 for my ticket through Company D. The experience was honestly incredible. I’ve been to the party before but I hadn’t seen the stage show, so let me emphasize this now: do everything you can at MNSSHP!! It’s all super-cool. Try the special treats (this year there is a pumpkin cupcake at Gaston’s Tavern and candy corn soft-serve at Storybook Treats, both in Fantasyland), go on Haunted Mansion, see the fireworks and show and parade. You won’t regret it. 

I dressed as Katniss Everdeen this year. 

I also recently tried Sanaa, which is a table-service restaurant at Animal Kingdom Lodge. This restaurant is extra-special because cast members get a 40% discount. I highly recommend the bread plate, pictured above. You get nine dipping sauces with naan bread, which you can get either plain or flavored. Technically the platter is an appetizer, but I split it with a friend and it still filled me up. 

I’ve also been hitting Food & Wine in Epcot a lot! The dishes are all relatively small and run about $5 apiece; for me, two main dishes and one dessert are more than enough to constitute a full meal. F&W is one of those things that people come to Disney specifically to experience, and I honestly can’t blame them. I’m going to go back on Friday to try the Belgian waffles. 

Another fun part of Food & Wine is the coinciding concert series held in the American pavilion. My coworker and I got to see Sugar Ray about two weeks ago, and this week the Plain White T’s performed!

That’s really all for now. I’m hoping to pick up a treat shift soon, but even if I don’t, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas party is just around the corner!

Song of the day: Closer // The Chainsmokers & Halsey