For Disney's new Year of a Million Dreams celebration, they rolled out the red carpet for cast members. One day on my way to work I was greeted by several managers cheering for me, and they asked for my autograph in an autograph book, all the while being filmed:
And yes the day has arrived, my graduation:

The boss congratulates me:

 

A footlong hot dog that was amazing, they even give you a new jar of mustard:
Our lobby, and the view of Manhattan from the plane as we were leaving NY
 

Statue of Liberty, Wall Street:
Wall Street, WTC:

Broadway, Seredipity 3 the second time - for dinner:
 

Scenes from Home Alone and Die Hard:
Our horse Shaggy, traveled to Magnolia Bakery off 11th - famous for the best cupcakes (limit 12 per person)

Battery Park at the tip of Manhattan, it was too cold to even attempt a boat ride, let alone walk to the ledge like we did. It was SOOO COLD! (2) salt on the sidewalks
 

One side of the building was closed off because off the extreme winds, and did I mention that is was cold!

We went for a carriage ride through Central Park: (1) the place where the snow ball fight takes place in ELF, (3) where they play chess in Independence Day, and (4) the Ghostbusters towers:
 

A NY garbage truck, then a little later a police escort of about 10 cop cars:
Our hotel, and SNOW!:
Mariella Pizza - just around the block from our hotel - rated #1 by Oprah as the best Pizza Restaurant, then off to the Empire State Building where we visited the top:
 

http://serendipity3.com/main.htm - Famous for thier food, history, guests, and frozen hot chocolate. After lunch we took the Roosevelt Island Tram to get a good view of the NY skyline:


Then we walked back to 5th Ave for some shopping. A very cool entrance to the Apple Store, and playing the piano at FAO Schwartz:
 

Me and Christine went to New York on Thursday, and arrived home this morning. The view from our hotel room, and Times Square:

View from our hotel the next morning, and as we walk past Central Park, The Plaza Hotel is currently being completely renovated and turned into 2.5M+ apartments:
Artwork in Central Park, Bloomingdales, and Serendipity 3 for lunch:
 

So Christmas has come and gone, and its time for an update. Been working like crazy the last couple of weeks. One night me and Sean were trying to find a place after work to go and eat, and we landed upon Fat Boys BBQ, and boy that was a mistake. We both had a "Fat Boys Feast":

The Christmas tree has come down, and a marathon went throught Epcot and all of Disneyworld last week:
Epcot:
A car rental:
 

"Last week was extremely busy at all of the Walt Disney World parks, as the Magic Kingdom began phased closings on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday. Disney's Animal Kingdom also closed on Wednesday and Thursday, while the Disney-MGM Studios had parking lot overflows on Wednesday and Thursday, as well. Epcot, with its larger parking lots and much larger capacity, did not close at all. It's uncertain when three parks last closed at the same time.
While Epcot did stay open, lines were extremely long, with waits for Soarin' regularly around 3 hours and lines for many Future World attractions running all the way to the Innoventions breezeways. New Year's Eve saw Soarin' waits of up to 4 hours."

These pictures in this photo were taken a few days before christmas: (1) fireworks sign warning about the NYE fireworks (2) a gingerbread house Christine and myself made (3/4) the rental for the day.

Onto NYE: The park had extended hours from 7am until 1am. There were two fireworks, one at 730, and the big one at 1140. The park started to close at max attendance around 11am, reaching about 76000 people at one point. Hats and horns were distributed from 6pm on. My shift was from 3pm-3am, but I ended up leaving around 1:45. I have never seen a place soo busy, and I didnt even leave the restaurant. There were people just running around everywhere. I walked out backstage behind the restuarant and all I could hear was the crowds, and the loud noise makers. (It sounded like Canadian geese). When it came time for fireworks: 11:40, all guests were out of the restaurant which allowed us to go watch the fireworks. We all ran outside and squeezed in together to watch the fireworks from popcorn. It was the regular fireworks, plus a countdown in each country according to the time zones, with America and Canada last.
Pictures of the crowds, smoke and debris was blowing towards Canada (thanks wind). Also in picture 2,3 you can see the fireworks at MGM.
The special event tent next to Canada was open for the night. I was one of the last to leave because I helped out waiting until Christine was scheduled to get off at 2, but was done about 130. Was looking forward to the "cast hallway celebration" which took place from 9pm-3am. "A special celebration with food (chili and bread sticks), refreshments (none), fun & HATS (none). It was cool to shake hands with the president of Epcot on the way out, but what I was looking forward to all night (the hats) they were out of. But the next morning, yes I worked the next morning at 1015, one of the managers had 1 left, which they gave to me. So all was well.

Happy New Year everyone, I hope you enjoy reading my blog in '07 with many more exciting things to come! : )

Some of the crowds after the 7pm fireworks:
Some of the trash left by guests: clean up crews could not catch up