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This is my old weblog archive and is no longer actively updated. Please visit this link for my current blog.
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Michael's Diary -- 2001-2003 Archive
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2.10.2001
A day of easing back into the flow. Got into work prepared to go out on a support job, only to find it had been postponed. I was relieved by this as I really needed to do some catching up. Left the office around 1:30 or so and stopped for lunch and a book at Borders, on Disney's management. I want to take some of the principles I have observed at Disney and use them in a presentation, so I'm doing a little research. There is a great article on the "world behind the curtain" in Wired, for example.
After that, I stopped by our pro bono client and did a little work, then met G and friends at the McClurg theater to see Hannibal, which I found self-indulgent, gratuitously gory and devoid of the subtlety which made the first picture a good (if, in my opinion, overrated) suspense picture. One of our friends put it best when she observed that the central them of the film was confused: was it trying to be scary, campy, pulpy, or a self-parody? It seemed devoid of a driving vision. It was also thoroughly repulsive for repulsiveness' sake and often silly. Overlong as well. Strong thumbs down from me.
Came back home, and here we are. G has had a busy week at school and has a lot of studying to do over the weekend, so she is watching some of her shows from the week on tape. I am heading to bed to read a little now.
12:10 AM
2.09.2001
Well, a hell of a lot of catching up to do and not a lot of time to do it in. Today was a day of recuperation and recovery from a long and mostly excellent trip. Was going to make this a "work at home" day but I will gladly chalk it up to personal time. The conference was actually pretty good and of course Disney was amazing, even better than I had remembered. I would love to work for the Disney organization -- a great company and a great mission.
Slept in today and got creakily to my feet. I figured it out yesterday and I think I walked somewhere in the neighborood of 20 hours through the four parks at Walt Disney World and the conference. My legs and particularly bad feet are feeling the effects, as well as my lower back. No complaints -- enjoyed it thoroughly -- just very, very stiff today. But, the sleep was much needed. Rested up for a while, checked up on email and browsed the web for some Disney business history -- I have been thinking of a customer service presentation based on some of the observations I made on my journeys. One of my favorite things to do at Disney is to watch the people, the guests and the cast members interacting. Watch how long it takes for a piece of dropped trash to be picked up, and so on. It's really an amazing thing. The tiny little details at Disney are what add up to the unique experience one has there, something more than the sum of its parts. Any company can put together a faster, better, roller coaster. Disney puts together a better quality experience, top to bottom. For example, in Spaceship Earth as you ride into the Roman ruins, there is the scent of burning wood present to add verisimilitude. Only the Disney Imagineers would think of the sort of little detail.
So, what did I do? Well, Monday was all conference work, followed by the conference party, which was held at the Motown Club over in Universal Studios CityWalk. I was pretty exhausted, and my feet hurt and I had a classic over-tired headache and the loud Motown cover band was not helpful. So I ate some of the uninspiring buffet and walked around the park for a while. Altogether a diffferent beast from Disney. A lot more garish, loud, and thrown-together. I noticed that the cinema across the way was playing Shadow of the Vampire, which I had been wanting to see, so I ducked in. This movie has as its premise an interesting conceit -- what if F.W. Murnau had dug up a real vampire to play Count Orlock in his classic Nosferatu? An amusing premise which leads to some amusing observations on the role of actors and directors in the insular world of filmmaking. Willem Dafoe gives the performance of his career as Max Schreck. A truly incredible job, by a great and under-recognized actor. However, the movie is populated with a lot of undeveloped characters and some confusing plot holes and (it seemed to me) contradictions. The film coasts on its premise a bit and waffles between genres. I'd give it 2 1/2* if it wasn't for Dafoe whose performance must be seen (to be believed) and the many honest laughs in the screenplay -- so I give it ***.
Took the 10:30 bus back to my room where, exhausted though I was, I couldn't sleep. Called G., though I was in a grumpy, bad mood. Finally tried to write my diary but it got choked on.
Tuesday was much better. First thing I did was purchase tickets for a return visit to Epcot on Tuesday and a visit to Animal Kingdom on Wednesday between the end of my conference duties and my plane departure. I spent my lunch hour in the China pavilion at Epcot on an absolutely beautiful, warm, cloudless sunny Florida afternoon and stretched it out a bit as I was not due back until 2:00 or so. Rode the Test Track and Body Wars rides as there were no lines at all, and then took the boat back to the conference. Had to manage a room along with Hans, and that went easily, then I was off-duty for the rest of the day, so it was back to Epcot. Thoroughly enjoyed a leisurely walk in the park on a beautiful full-moon evening, taking in the few sights and rides I had not seen and revisitng favorites. I really, really love Epcot. The parade is nice, despite the extremely hokey Indian Sprit Guide-type narration; I do like the music a lot and the puppeteers who are in the parade are so nice to all the people big and small (one of the puppets hugged me). Took a ton of pictures which I will post soon. Also took a lot of breaks and stopped along my way through the Festival of Nations for a few beers. Started and ended my journey wth pints at the Rose & Crown. Felt a bit nostalgic as I left for the evening.
Stopped at the brewpub on the boardwalk and shared a pitcher with a colleague, then hoped a bus to Downtown Disney to check it out. Alas, the shops were closed, so I and my inflamed feet headed back to the hotel. Called G and checked in, then, again, couldn't sleep for a while.
Woke up Wednesday bright and early to check out, check my bags and discharge the last of my responsibilities: managing a room with a colleague for the morning. It was extremely hectic because of some poor preparation by others, but we set everything straight (albeit through some monumental last-minute running around) and wrapped it up. The I changed into my jeans and (brand new Mickey Mouse) t-shirt and headed off for Animal Kingdom. AK was pretty cool, although it seems a little short on the attractions at this stage. More geared for kids, I think. The best ride and my favorite ever at Disney so far is the Dinosaur ride -- a fast and furious motion ride through the Cretaceous pursued by a large Carnosaur. It was such a fun blast I immediately got on it again! A great 3D attraction based on A Bug's Life was hysterical, complete with the sensation of animated maggots crawling under your seat. Huge numbers of tiny tots were fleeing the room in tears because dopey parents didn't attend to the fact that this was happening while we were in line, and the large signs indicating the list of things you shouldn't be afraid of before visiting the attraction apparently weren't big enough. Anway it was great. Had a fun trip on a water rapids wide and a couple of nature walks, then went on the safari ride to close my trip. It was fun although unnecessarily bookended with Disney ride backstory (about poachers). To tell the truth the animals themselves were the best show -- a rhino rolling over in the mud and wiggling his legs in the air was hilarious. Disney got a lot of crap when they opened AK but to tell the truth I think they have done a swell job. The habitats for the animals are wide open spaces and very beautiful at that, looking and feeling just like the animals' native areas. Far superior to most of the zos I have seen, and I have seen some pretty nice zoos.
Had a quick stop in the Mickey area to see all the characters and then it was on the bus, back to the hotel and into the cab for ride to the airpor. Amazingly just as I arrived at the airport the space shuttle Atlantis was taking off and you could see it very well indeed from the departure area. A truly awesome and moving sight at sunset, with the sun turning the huge exhaust plume many colors as the shuttle blew literally over the moon. I took some snaps and they'll be up, er, sometime.
Anyway, uneventful, snoozy flight back, early to bed, and here I am.
Overall, from a personal, internal perspective, having G with me made the whole trip a lot better. Also, there were things to keep me busy, as opposed to just hanging about. But still it was hard to stay on the diet plan. I tried to make the best choices I could most of the time but it was really hard. It's quite easy back home when you can control your fridge's contents and plan your meals! Which is why it's nice to be back. More on this subject tomorrow.
1:39 AM
2.07.2001
Chicago -- back home
A whole day gone without a diary post from me. And now, you'll be stuck with another one. I just flew in from Orlando, and boy, are my arms tired. Tomorrow, recuperation, recalibration, and a summing up of the rest of the Orlando trip. Some new pictures too -- but now, fatigued, to bed.
11:51 PM
2.05.2001
OK, I actually did write a post today but my crap internet connection choked on it. I am now way too out of it to post, so I will fill you in tomorrow.
11:20 PM
Swan Resort, 12:50 am local time
Another day in Disney. This morning, G and I were off to Disney/MGM studios. Not quite so much to offer as Epcot, but really fun for a movie lover. G and I went on Star Tours, which I have been dying to go on since it opened 10 years ago, and the Muppets 3D show, which was hilarious! A swell 3D movie in the Muppet Show theater, complete with Statler and Waldorf grousing in the balcony. Really great! A highlight was getting my picture taken with my all-time favorite character from a Disney movie -- Jessie the Yodelling Cowgirl from Toy Story 2. Alas, after a quick lunch we had to come back to the hotel and get G in her cab for her trip to the airport. I was really sad to see her go. We have had such a wonderful time together! But it's great I will be home on Wednesday.
Then I went back to MGM to see a few more sights. Visited the Great Movie Ride, which was hokey but really fun for a movie fan, and then the "backlot ride" which takes you through the actual "studios" part of the park where they prepare attractions, and a special effects mockup complete with exploding truck. Also saw some actual props from Inidiana Jones, Superman and other films and visited a little American Film Institute shop.
Came back showered, met my boss for a drink, and then went to the reception for the conference, which was the usual ball of excitement these affairs are. My feet were killing me by the end of the night! Then it was over to the Disney Boardwalk brewpub for a lame salad and bowl of pasta-supposedly-bolognese-but-more-like-marinara, very acidy -- as if the tomatoes had not been peeled.
Then to the room, which I tidied up after a short call to G. Watched Toy Story 2 (truly a great movie which gets better after each viewing) on TV because I couldn't go to sleep despite being tired, and I needed cheering up. Ordered my rooms service for breakfast -- egg beaters and Canadian bacon (back to the diet plan, vacation's over!). Now, sleep.
12:00 AM
2.04.2001
Well, it was my blunder. Click here to see Mickey in a photo I took today.
Tomorrow, Disney/MGM studios, and then G flies back home :(
1:09 AM
Grr, my last post was strangely truncated by Blogger and I can't edit it. What I was trying to say was "a
1:08 AM
Swan Resort, Walt Disney World, Orlando, FL 2:06 am local time
How to even begin reporting on a day like today? For one thing, let it be known that dietary commitments have been cast aside quite intentionally today.
The day began with breakfast here at the resort, followed by a boat ride to Epcot, where we arrived around 11:00 am. The rest of the day and most of the night were spent wandering Epcot and thoroughly, thoroughly having an awesome time. There were quite a few rides which I remembered fondly from our family visit here in the early 80's which we enjoyed greatly -- Spaceship Earth and the cheesy Mexican ride. Consistently amazed by Disney's ability to manage this massive and complex undertaking so extraordinarily well. One of the really fascinating things is what Disney does to so skillfully create these fabulous illusions and when you're looking for it, you can notice some cool things, tiny little details which add up to an amazing customer experience.
Really enjoyed the 3-D "Honey, I Shrunk the Audience" ride, especially the bit where the little 3-D mice escape. (A terrified G had her feet up on her chair!) The Exxon "World of Energy" (read "propaganda for fossil fuel exploitation") was disappointing, though. When I was here with my brothers and sisters, we went there last because it looked dull. And it was, at first -- a tedious documentary on fuel. But then! Unexpectedly! The walls fell away and it was a ride through the kingdom of the dinosaurs! After about a ten-minute excursion the ride ended. The surprise factor (not to mention the dinosaurs) really made it cool.
Well, now it is billed as "Ellen's Energy Adventure" starring that witty comedienne, Ellen DeGeneres and the dinosaurs are advertised in advance. Must have been made when she still had her crummy TV show. Anyway, now it features a relentlessly unfunny and more-tedious-than-the-original-industrial-documentary "comedy" featurette prior to the ride proper starring Ellen DeGeneres and Bill Nye the Science Guy, who ought to know better. Anyway, this yuk-free feast for the senses goes on for -- well, long enough, methinks, to create another layer of fossil fuels somewhere in the crust of the earth. Then the all-too-short dinosaur ride kicks in, which now features a truly hideous animatronic Ellen DeGeneres (looking like a wax figurine of Martina Navratilova) doing battle, betwixt witticisms, with a large snake which appears to have escaped from Dino DeLuarentiis' 70's King Kong remake. Then it's out to a widescreen propaganda session for Exxon wherein the shortcomings of alternative fuel sources are repeatedly underscored. Solar power is still really too expensive to be practical, we are told by Bill Nye, who by this point ought to be downright ashamed of himself -- no mention of the degree to which the price of developing solar and other alternative renewable power sources is kept deliberately high by the machinations of massive oil corporations. G, who works in petrochemicals for crying out loud, was literally revolted by this self-serving Exxon spiel. Then, it's even more hilarious Ellen DeGeneres comedy, spooled out to a laugh-free audience.
Well this was almost enough to kill the Disney mood but fortunately the Festival of Nations awaited, a nearly endless stream of delights, shops, entertainments ... which we concluded in fine style at the Rose and Crown pub in the Great Britain section with several pints and a smal fish & chips. Then a great parade, some shopping and the absolute knockout "Reflections of Earth" fireworks/laser/exploding fireball panorama which closed the night at 9. I am not often wowed by fireworks but this was an eye-popping extravaganza.
Then, back to the hotel for a change of clothes before ourt late-night dining excursion to Emerils's at Universal Studios Citywalk. Absolutely outstanding, wonderful, delicious.
All in all, a day of dreams come true -- no hyperbole.
Now, back to the hotel. G sleeps as I type. I have lots of e-pictures to share but not much web space at the moment -- maybe in the next couple of days I can clear some space off my website and get them up. Meanwhile, here is a
1:05 AM
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