Steemit mini-meetup at Universal Studios in Orlando with @jimitations and @kubbyelizabeth

This past week @jimitations and I traveled to Orlando so I could fulfill my seasonal employee requirements at Universal Studios; in order to keep my job there I need to work during the summer peak season and one other. I chose Christmas peak and I'm so glad I did because I was able to see the Holiday Parade Featuring Macy's. @jimitations is a former Universal employee, himself, and a good friend of Jason (-->), who showed up occasionally at Halloween Horror Nights.

Anyway, the Universal Holiday Parade is dear to my heart because two years ago I worked in the Macy's Parade at Universal. I directed a float while walking the entire parade route backwards. It's a hard, stressful job making sure your float doesn't take out any expensive buildings or roll over any living toes, all while not being able to see where you're going. As spotters, we had to actually rely on our float drivers to let us know if we were about to collide with anything. But the strengthened gluteus maximus from that month spent walking backwards was a pretty nice beny!

I'm a character escort, and get to hang with cartoon characters like Gru, Sponge Bob, and Dora the Explorer. So during our coffee break, I asked my lovely co-worker to pose for a quick photo saying hello to Grace, the granddaughter of a fellow Steemian, @countrygirl. Dora was more than happy to oblige. She lives for this stuff! I've seen her do some incredibly kind things in the park for the many kids who love her and line up to meet her. I hope you enjoy your Dora photo, Grace!

After my working obligations were met, I was able to enjoy Orlando as a tourist and play! The weather was beautiful and @jimitations and I were blessed to be able to meet our Steemit friend @kubbyelizabeth and spend the day with her at Universal. Kubby has got to be the most positive, upbeat, and friendly person I've ever met. And she's gorgeous, is she not? Her enthusiasm and joy just bubble out of her. Our day at the park was so much fun! We rode rides with short lines, had a great lunch at Lombard's, laughed a lot, and fed some pigeons. (Animals love Jimmie.)

At one point Kubby and I dubbed ourselves Thing 1 and Thing 2 and even discussed getting shirts. But in the end, we decided to just hold up some gift shop mugs that we didn't end up buying. And then we tried on hats. Good thing we didn't see any swimming suits we didn't want to buy! As is often the case at theme parks, we ran out of time to do everything we wanted. Sorry you didn't get on the Hulk coaster this time, Kubby! Next time, for sure!

The Christmas parade was beautiful and we ran into Danny & Janice (unpictured, alas), some old friends from the Macy's Parade days of old. What an unexpected surprise!

 

 

 

 

 

Santa!!! We know him!!!
Laying a finger aside of his nose...

And our friend, Kyle!!! We know him, too!
(If you watched the second season of Skin Wars, you might recognize him.)

After the parade, we ended up at the Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen. Imagine chocolate decadence meets gourmet food meets steampunk... or STEEMpunk! Check this place out if you're in Orlando -- it's on City Walk and doesn't require a ticket to Universal. They have two mascots, Professor Doctor Penelope Tibeaux-Tinker Toothsome and her robot companion, Jacques who do table-to-table meet and greets. We got the best seats in the house with an awesome view and noshed on chocolate bread, potato chip nachos, a wonderful spinach/artichoke dip thingy, superfood salad, and two huge desserts! Much chocolate was consumed and we bumbled out of there completely exhausted and stuffed.

Next time we're in Orlando we hope Kubby can hang out with us again, and any other Florida Steemit peeps! I think we'll be there again in March of 2018. Come join us for another day of play at Universal!!!

[Universal elements and all related indicia TM & © 2017 Universal Studios.]