What I've been waiting for

This was the best and the worst week ever. It was the best because I had 2 days off, 3 days of early releases and I finally got what I have been waiting for since I got here: MY PARENTS AND COUSIN CAME!!! We also had some new first time family members joining us, my cousin’s friend Whitney and her kids DJ and Devin. It was the worst week because I remembered and got to experience how exhausting coming to Disney World as a guest is and because it went super-fast. 

Sunday I had to work from 2-10 pm and I got an early release at 6 to home! I packed my stuff for the week (I got to escape my apartment and stay at the time share) ate tater tots and waited . . . a really long time. Everyone finally got to my apartment for a short tour and to help get my stuff at 11 o’clock then we went to IHOP. It was late and we were all tired and ready to go to sleep and get ready for Disney but we were all hungry too. By the time we got home the excitement had increased but all I had energy for was brushing my teeth and going to bed. 

All of us were up bright and early Monday morning. Following traditional Cobbs fashion we left later than we planned and wanted to and my mom got twisted around 3 times trying to get to Shades of Green because if we would have left on time and gotten there without any trouble life and our entire trip would just be boring. Shades of Green is a resort run by and reserved for guests who have served or are serving in the military where tickets can also be purchased at a discounted price. Luckily we beat the rush and made it in and out in a record time of 20 minutes. Our first stop was Epcot!! We decided to go to that park first because it was the last day of the Food and Wine Festival, which my parents had been looking forward to for a long time, and because Magic Kingdom closed early that day. I didn’t get to stay and spend the whole time with my mom and my cousins because I had to work L but I got an early release and left work after 3 hours of my 8 hour shift.  What I did get to do while I was at Epcot was see Mickey, Minnie and Goofy and ride the Nemo and Friends ride with them. By the time I had gotten off of work, they had been on all but one of the rides, seen more characters and eaten part of their way around the world, and it was time for real food.  We went to dinner at Golden Corral and had so much fun talking about the days ahead. 

Disney day 2 was a jam packed, full 12 hour day at Magic Kingdom! We left at 9:30 (on time) and got to the park just in time to see the holiday Trolley Show. After that we headed to Adventureland and worked our way around the park. Disney experts say a successful day is one where a guests gets at least 8 experiences (parades, character meet and greets, rides); we were extremely successful because we exceeded that that one day seeing about 8 characters, 2 parades and fireworks, and riding about 10 rides. I think everyone’s favorite part of the day was the #SuperIncredibleDanceParty !! After we had gotten off of Space Mountain we had 45 minutes before our next FastPass which was located right next to it. The line was 20 minutes so we were going to just do Space Mountain again but Devin, my newly adopted 4 year old cousin, heard music and danced her way over to the dance party. Mr. Incredible saw her dancing and he walked up to her and started dancing with her. Janis tried twerking with him but that was a sad and embarrassing attempt; but everyone started to flock to us (the characters) and danced with them (us) so we moved onto the next character. My dad and 2 cousins both got birthday shoutouts and go to request songs that we all loved. After the dance party it was on to Buzz Lightyear’s ride and time for a snack. Before long it was parade time and it was ABSOLUTE madness! We managed to find a spot for fireworks in front of a restaurant and away from the huge crowd of people. This was the most perfect spot because we all go to SIT and watch the fireworks. By this time we were so tired and ready to go but had one more FastPass for one of my parents’ favorite rides, Pirates of the Caribbean. Everyone passed out in the back seat on the way back to the hotel 

The next morning we slept in and got to the park around noon and had another great and successful day at Hollywood Studios! Our first stop was suited for the little ones and we saw Jake the Pirate and Sofia the First then went to Disney Junior Live. After that we split up; I finally got my parents to myself and we went and had some lunch then went to the Beauty and the Beast show. Afterward we went on one of the most popular rides, Tower of Terror, because it was only 10 minutes!!  While waiting in line we were anxious to see how Devin would handle the creepy scary theme and if she would be tall enough. She did great! My mom was more scared for the ride than Devin was and ended up sitting it out (she doesn’t do roller coasters well). More time went by and we split up again then later met back up again to go see Buzz and Woody! We really wanted to ride Toy Story Mainia, a 3D game ride, but the line was too long for our liking. Instead we walked around Streets of America, a part of the park that is set up and based on New York and San Francisco, and looked at the Osborne Christmas Lights. Even though it is just early November it looked and felt just like Christmas time!! Disney even managed to create snow on a 60 degree night in Orlando, Florida with soap bubbles. After looking at the beautiful Christmas lights we rode or last 2 FastPass rides, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror, then headed to enjoy another Cobbs favorite: Fantasmic! It was only 8 o’clock but it felt SO much later and like we had spent our entire day in a park (because we had). Most people attended the earlier show so we had great seats in the middle of the theatre and it wasn’t very crowded at all. 

After ending our day at Hollywood Studios DJ, my other adopted cousin, and my dad went to an ice cream shop at Downtown Disney while all the girls went shopping. Everyone bought all their Disney goodies and souvenirs with my 40% holiday discount. On our way home my mother got lost again and we got home much later than anticipated. Although we were so tired it was still a ton of fun and we played “guess that song” the whole way home. Up until this week I thought only my mom, aunt and cousin Joyous made up lyrics to songs or made up entirely new songs but I guess it runs in the family because all 7 of us made up songs of our own. 

Our last day at Disney we went back to Magic Kingdom and filled in holes that we hadn’t done the previous day. Whitney got to see Prince Naveen, the Castle show she missed and Princess Jasmine. DJ did all of the roller coasters that he missed the previous day and Devin was just excited and happy to be there. While they were in the park my parents took my other cousin, Joyous and I out to a late lunch at Fulton’s Crab House. Afterward we walked around Downtown Disney before I had to work. That night I got another early release after an hour of work and was able to enjoy one last night with my parents and cousins at Rain Forest Café! 

I am very proud because I didn’t cry that entire day! I even made it through class and the goodbyes without crying. After my parents dropped me off for class they went to eat and checked out of the hotel. I got out of class 2 hours early so I went and tried to catch up on all the sleep I lost; that’s when all the tears came. I got myself together long enough for them to stop by and say bye then after they left I napped and cried a little more. My mom tells me to cry if and when I need to but don’t let my problems and worries take control of me. Even my dad told me to cry, as long as I didn’t do it while he was there (I think it would have made him cry too). I don’t know why I was so upset but it really shook up my Friday! I miss them all so much and wish I could relive this week because it went by so fast! There are so many things I wanted to do that we didn’t get to do but I am just happy that I got a break from work and the Disney College Program and got to spend it with my parents, and they are too. I’m sure it will take a few days to get all the sad and moppiness out of my system but until then we have skype and I will just keep counting down the days until they come back in January!! <3

Blessings, love, and sparkles!