Wednesday, March 12 2003
Good morning and welcome to Day
5 of the 9th Annual Spring Training Trek 2003!
Today's
trek brings us to Disney-MGM Studios. The weather forecast
is for cloudy but only a low chance of rain. Getting the day
off to a rocking start, I visited G-Force studios for a peek
at Aerosmith's recording session. The band was so friendly
they talked their manager into booking a limo to their
concert on the other side of LA. A really fast limo. From 0
to 60 in 2.5 seconds straight into a loop. In the dark. With
psychedelic highway signs and Aerosmith pumping out of 6
surround sound speakers (and a woofer). The only
disappointing thing about the Rock'n'Roller coaster is that
they no longer played Dude Looks Like a Lady.
I was prepared to check into the Hollywood Tower Hotel, but
they were all booked up. Something about maintenance
problems with their elevator. I will try to come back
tomorrow. By now I was feeling a little supernatural so I
made my way over to the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater for a Reuben
and a Cookies and Cream milkshake. Seeking to learn more
about new technologies, I made my way over to the Muppet
Labs for a demonstration of their new 3D technology.
Professor Honeydew and Bleaker were eager to showcase their
latest invention, but things go wrong, and all havoc broke
loose. Fortunately, Kermit was able to contain the damage
and placate Miss Piggy, although Sam Eagle's pride was
wounded.
Ready for a reality break, I attended a spectacular
showcasing stunts from Raiders of the Lost Arc. A Harrison
Ford stand-in recreated the opening sequence to the movie,
complete with rolling bolder. Next with the help of extras
from the audience, the Cairo market was recreated and Indy
and Marion fought bad guy after bad guy until the truck
Marion into which Marion is tossed explodes. The final stunt
scene featured the fight in the desert airbase with Marion
trapped in the plane and Indiana battling bad guys and
propeller blades. The show ended with a tremendous bang
heard throughout the park.
I wanted to get away for a while, so, I boarded a transport
for the moons of Endor. This Star Tours should have been
called Star Detours as our green robo-pilot managed to get
us caught in a comet storm and a rebel battle with an
Imperial Destroyer and Death Star. That's what I get for not
using AAA. I exited Mos Disney in time for the start of the
Stars and Motor Cars parade, featuring a cavalcade of Disney
characters and their themed vehicles. From the parade, I
crossed the park to Mickey Avenue for the Disney Animation
tour. An introductory film hosted by Walter Cronkite showed
the transformation of Robin Williams into a Lost Boy in a
cartoon short Return to Neverland. 9 years ago when I took
an off day in West Palm Beach for a day trip to Disney
World, I visited Disney-MGM Studios and attended this tour,
which closed with a preview of the opening sequence to The
Lion King. Sadly, this year the tour showed only classic
animation scenes as Disney holds their future projects much
closer to their vests.
It seems like it was just a moment ago I had lunch and now
it is already time for dinner at Mama Melrose's Italian
Ristorante. This Fantasmic Package included a garden salad,
flatbread, Penne Ala Vodka, dessert, and priority seating
for Fantasmic. So after trying to get my stuffed stomach to
accept one last piece of penne pasta, I waddled my way down
to Oscar's gas station for the backstage walk to the
Fantasmic amphitheater.
Fantasmic is a must see for anyone visiting Disney-MGM
Studios. As in the Sorcerer's Apprentice, Mickey gets lost
in his own imagination and all the Disney characters come
bubbling up on screens made of a fan of water.
Unfortunately, evil villains also exist in Mickey's
imagination, and naturally they seek to dominate the mind of
the mouse. But good always triumphs over evil at Disney
World, and Mickey is able to subdue his demons just in time
for the finale extravaganza. A wonderful show, but not quite
the end to a wonderful day.
From the park I caught a transport to the Grand Floridian
Resort. There I learned how the other half lives. Compared
to Port Orleans, Riverside this was the epitome of elegance.
Making my way down to the water I stopped off in Narcooses
for a drink and then down to the boat docks in time for the
Electric Water Pageant. I had just learned of this nightly
show for Magic Kingdom Resort guests, and thoroughly enjoyed
this short but sweet light show on the Seven Seas Lagoon.
From the Grand Floridian, I made my way to Downtown Disney's
Westside to pick up my tickets for Cirque du Soleil's La
Nouba on Friday. I browsed the shops (did not buy) and
eventually caught the bus back to Port Orleans Riverside. It
was late, but I took my resort mug down to the food court
for a free diet coke refill, and took in the last few
minutes of Bob Jackson, piano player extraordinaire.
Amazingly, at 11:30pm the lounge had a half dozen kids still
wide awake (while their parents wilted).
Outside along the path back to the Alligator Bayou, I
discovered the answer to a question I had never asked. Do
ducks sleep in water? Along the banks of the Sassacoula
River I found a dozen ducks curled up in a nice deep sleep.
Sounded like a good idea, which brings me to the end of the
day.
Tale of the Tape:
15,214 steps (116/min)
7.196 miles (3.28mph)
645 Kcal (5/01 Kcal/min)
Fuskie
