Tuesday, March 11 2003

Good morning and welcome to Day 4 of the 9th Annual Spring Training Trek 2003!

Another beautiful day at Disney, and another tour at Epcot. The tour, called Hidden Treasures of the World Showcase, is a back stage visit to the World Showcase, examining how each pavilion is imagineered. Since the World Showcase did not open until 11am, we had 2 hours where the park was considered back stage. This was evidenced by lift equipment, landscaping trucks, and the sound of hammers and saws in areas under refurbishment. Disney originally offered sponsorship of the world showcases to the respective governments, but quickly realized that securing a major commercial sponsor was the best solution. All world showcase restaurants are independently owned and operated, although they must adhere to Disney standards for menu, decor, and staffing.

Our first stop was Mexico, the only pavilion with a large indoor market place made to feel like an outdoor courtyard. In Norway, we took a look at the Stave Church and discussed how architecture is used (and faked) to create a cultural feeling. On to China where examined art and artifacts on loan from private collections that represent the four largest sets of Chinese population. We also tested a meditation room with perfectly balanced acoustics. When you stand in the center, you can actually hear yourself between the ears as the sound seems to vibrate within you.

While in Germany watching a cast member set up a model Bavarian railroad, the World Showcase music suddenly turn on. In that instant we passed from backstage to on stage. Looking around, we realized all the maintenance vehicles had disappeared, and a cast member was running out to grab a night work like that had been left out before guests reached the pavilion. Next to Germany was Italy, which features L'Originale Alfredo di Roma Restaurant. Alfredo was an Italian chef whose pregnant wife could not handle the richness of tomato pasta sauce. So he went to the kitchen and created something using cream and butter which she was able to eat. It proved so popular that Alfredo introduced it in his restaurant and things took off from there. This restaurant is run by the original Alfredo family.

At the center of the World Showcase is the American Adventure. Originally planned for the front of the showcase, Imagineers realized that the pavilion would block views of Spaceship Earth from the other side of the lagoon. The US's two geographic neighbors, Mexico and Canada, remain the first countries on either side. The American Adventure is an oversized Georgian architecture, made with Georgia red clay bricks. The pavilion is also on an inclined plane from the pavilions on either side, ensuring that the US holds a prominent position in the showcase.

Next to the American Adventure is Japan, sponsored by the country's largest department store, Mitsukoshi. Continuing around the lagoon we find Morocco made with authentic intricate design mosaics and carvings on the walls. Bordering the International Gateway is France. Here we went back stage again to see that the Eiffel Tower is actually just a model mounted on the back end of the pavilion roof. Using forced perspective, from the front it looks like the top of the tower in the background. On the other side of the gateway is the United Kingdom, featuring a fish and chips counter restaurant and a British pub. The Imagineers could not decide what kind of pub to build, so the Rose and Crown actually features 3 different pub architectures.

The final pavilion visited was Canada, with a peaceful garden landscape in the front, and the rocky wilderness in the back. In the tribute area to the First Ones (native Indian inhabitants), there is a totem pole carved from a single tree. It took the artist 4 years to create it, and it is signed with a hidden Mickey at the very top. While you may have heard about Around The World in 80 days, at Epcot you can circumnavigate in just 80 minutes. The tour actually ran 45 minutes past schedule, so I knew I was in trouble for making the game. I had no idea how bad I had missed the boat.

Literally, as I exited to the International Gateway the boat to Disney-MGM Studios. I walked to Disney's Boardwalk where after another wait I was able to board the boat . Next I had to wait for the transfer to Disney's Wide World of Sports. And wait. And wait. I finally made it to Cracker Jack Stadium at 2:15pm, in the top of the 6th inning. The Dodgers had a 1-0 lead. after scoring in the top of the 5th.

Bottom of the 6th inning, Darren Bragg hits a solo home run to tie the game. The game remained tied until the bottom of the 7th. In the 8th inning, Wilson Betemit singled, was sacrificed to 2nd by Nick Green, and scored on a Ryan Langerhans hit and a blown cut-off by the Dodgers. Marcus Giles ground to 3rd but the ball is bobbled and runners are safe at first and second. McDonald continued the rally, singling in Langerhans. The 3rd baseman scores McDonald, bringing up the catcher who grounds out to third and end the inning. But the Braves put 4 on the board and take a 5-1 lead. Top of the 9th and the Braves give up 2 runs for a final score of 5-3. The Braves have 5 runs on 8 hits, no errors. The Dodgers had 3 runs on 9 hits and 2 errors.

Changes to Cracker Jack Stadium this year include the removal of the jumbo vision screen and replacement of the manual outfield scoreboard with a red LED panel. Lunch was a cheeseburger and diet coke.

After the game I waited again for Disney Transportation back to to Disney-MGM Studios where I transferred to the Ticket and Transportation Center at the Magic Kingdom. When taking the monorail to the theme park, I was allowed to ride up in the front car with an excellent view of the trip through the Contemporary Resort and into the Magic Kingdom station. In the park I picked up my E-Ride bracelet and then made my way to the AAA VIP lounge in Tomorrowland. After draining another diet coke, I took a relaxing trip on the TTA (Tomorrowland Transit Authority) which is much more efficient than MARTA. By now it was time for dinner so I made my way to Tony's Town Square Restaurant (of Lady and the Tramp fame) where I took in a Buna Nuva appetizer (rolled pasta stuffed with ricotta cheese and proscuitto in a tomato cream sauce followed by a Veal Marsalis.

After dinner, I made my way to the Tomorrowland bridge and enjoyed the Fantasy in the Sky fireworks. There was too much wind so Tinkerbell still has not made an appearance. As the rest of the guests left the park, the fun really began as E-Ticket night took over for resort guests only. First it was on to the ExtraTERRORestrial Encounter where XS Tech proved too much technology can be a bad thing. Having escaped near peril, I decided to travel the cosmos on Space Mountain. With the line still too long for a repeat, I made my way to Liberty Square and the Haunted Mansion. After hobnobbing with the ghosts and ghouls (twice), I looked for the wedding ring embedded in the exit walkway. If what I found was indeed the alleged wedding ring, it was a cheap metal stone fit for a finger as thin as a bone.

With time running out, I continued to across the park to Frontierland for a trip on the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. With only minutes to spare, I made it into the line for Splash Mountain (taking care to pack my Braves cap away) just before the park closed at 10pm.. Sitting in the front of the log I took the brunt of the splash for those sitting behind me. But I was definitely awake for the long walk out of the park. Disney Transportation returned me to the Port Orleans Riverside resort where I unloaded my camera/video gear and walked around the corner to the resort food court for a free refill of my resort mug with a refreshing diet coke.

Tale of the Tape:

22,563 steps (100 steps/min)
10.672 miles (2.83 mph)
960.5 Kcal (4.17 Kcal/min)

1 popped blister.

So it was not a perfect day, but it was still a good day, a warm day, a busy day. Tomorrow promises to be even better. Stay tuned!

Fuskie