Surprises for Ashley

Surprise is the greatest gift which life can grant us. - Boris Pasternak

It all started out months and months ago... I had decided at the beginning of the year I was going to surprise my good friend Ashley in Orlando for her 30th birthday.  It would be easy.  I would rent a car and then just show up.  I bought my tickets and told the rest of the Flossers.  In the end, Lacey and Tiffanie joined me in this momentous occasion.

Tiffanie met me at the airport.  Her flight arrived hours before mine.  I had not seen Tif since my wedding day and she notified me about 2 weeks prior that she was coming.  It is rare that Tif and I ever get to hang out so I was sooooo looking forward to spending time with the happiest girl in the world.  She is hilarious, and the first mishap of our trip started right in the airport, when in our excitement, we got in the wrong line for our rental car.  After we figured it out, we were on our way to the party store to pick up a bouquet of balloons for our birthday girl and a quick swing thru the McDonald's drive thru for some chicken mcnuggets.

Once we got to Ashley's place of work, we put on our disguises in case she was in the parking lot, which consisted of hats and sunglasses.  We parked and walked in.  We definitely got some stare downs, until I explained and had a co-worker of hers go in and hand Ashley a package of dental floss.

Ashley came out of her office in her birthday cone hat and WHAM...  There I was, and at that moment, all my stress and worry was gone.  She was definitely surprised.  I threatened her later with a key to her throat asking "Did you know?????????"  She said no.  Just when Ashley thought the surprise was over and I was her only gift.  Tiffanie came swinging around the corner and Ashley was surprised all over again.  She cried, but didn't pee her pants, which was my wish.

Tiffanie and I high fived, and before we knew it we were on our way to Olive Garden to celebrate with Ashley and her co-workers.  They were beyond gracious for letting us come along.  And we couldn't be happier to join them.

Unfortunately Ashley had to go back to work and so Tif and I headed to the hotel to check in and relax, and get our stories straight for Lacey's surprise arrival the next day.  We ended up going to Cafe Tutu Tango, and had a great time.  I still don't understand why her nor I took any pictures there.  BOO.  After that, we met up with Ashley and some of her friends at the Ale House to celebrate further.

"This has been the worst and BEST birthday I have ever had!!!"  -Ashley

(ok, we will take it!)

The next day Ashley was able to have the day off with the good graces of her boss, who knew we were now in town.  And we headed to Hollywood Studios.  Our first stop was the Backlot Tour, which is not a particular favorite of mine.  However... Tiffanie changed all of that when they asked for volunteers and I told her to raise her hand and she did, and then they picked her!!!!!!!!!!!!!  It was awesome.  They mistakenly introduced her as Tony, which was hysterical to Ashley and I, and before she knew it she was in the water scene of the back lot tour.  This changed everything in my overall experiences of the Backlot Tour.  During this day Tiffanie and I were secretly checking our phones and texting each other while Ashley was standing right next to us, to hash out Lacey's plan.  Lacey decided to just call Ashley and ask her to show us the way to the Sanford Airport.  Ashley was confused for a split second wondering why and then Lacey said, "because you will have to pick me up there in a hour!"  And onward, off we went to Sanford Airport.   We left the park early and got to Lacey with no problems.   But not before we got birthday buttons from the parks.

Tiffanie's birthday was the following week, so we were celebrating her as well.  And her birthday wish was for us to get dressed up, and go out for a "good birthday cheers!"  We had planned to do that that night, but instead, Tiffanie said we could go to Bubbalous (my non-birthday related wish) and then go for drinks.  However, after eating delicious Bubbalous, Tif switched it again and said, I just want to eat junk food and put on face masks and watch trash TV.  And that we did.

The following day we spent at Disney.  It was a Saturday and one of  Ashley's other friends was in town and had plans to propose to his girlfriend.  We got to the parks early so she can get us all in, only to find out it was a black out date.  My heart hit the floor.  I have to pay, what????????  wait???? why??????  There was no other option and so we each paid 101 dollars to get in to see the mouse.  Jeez.  That was the most annoying thing that could have happened.  On top of that, it was raining.  We all caved and got rain coats, and moved on with our day.   We watched Josh propose to his girlfriend in front of the castle.  It was the cutest.  She was surprised and said YES.

Later, once we got to Epcot, we split for lunch since all of us prefer different things, and met back in America to dine together.  After lunch, Tif and Lacey did their thing, and Ashley and I went to see Voices of Liberty, an acapella group that was just starting as we were finishing lunch.  I always enjoyed seeing them when I got to go off on my own while working at Disney.  It was one of my favorite parts about learning Disney inside out, getting to see the little things that make it up.  We then met up again in Norway to ride the Norway ride.  A Disney classic.

We finished our day back at Magic Kingdom.  We usually end our nights at Epcot watching Illuminations, but ended up going back to see Wishes.  Nice choice.

On our last day we were deciding on going to the beach or just stay and go to the Grand Floridian, a flosser favorite.  I was leaving that night and I was a little worried about making it back on time to the airport.  So, the rest agreed to just stay in Orlando.  We lounged at the pool, I bought the birthday girls drinks and we had that nice good cheers that Tif wanted.  We also got a hook up on a pontoon boat and drove that around the lagoon for a hour which everyone seemed to love.  I have done it before and had a blast.
It was time to wrap up our day and head to get a quick bite.  So we went to Ashley's favorite, Outback.  There is where I learned that they completely cancelled my flight home and rescheduled me for the next day due to tornado and such in Illinois.  Thank goodness I looked before I actually made it to the airport.

The girls had plans to see Third Eye Blind that night at House of Blues, so I got online and bought a ticket myself!  Turns out Lacey is the biggest fan of all.  I have never seen her smile, dance, and sing along so much to anything.  (KandJ I have video footage for proof, don't worry!)  

It ended up being a wonderful weekend, and one for the books.  Ashley didn't see it coming which was our goal.  And I couldn't be happier to have pulled it off!!!

Dear Ashley, I hope you feel the same!!!!  -Love, Erica