Halloween Horror Nights (HHN) Re-visited

October 18, 2008 by

The life of my Office Manager, Anne, is in a state of transition.  Several months ago, she began a new phase in her life by selling a business she owned and agreeing to take over the Office Manager responsibilities at Dream Homes.  Anne is doing so much better managing the office than I ever did.  For the first time, things are really organized, the homes are looking great, and the office is running like a well oiled machine.  We are so fortunate to have her.

I invited her to write a guest blog for me.  She enjoyed it so much, she decided to write another one.  So now she is reinventing her life again by learning a fun new skill–blogging!  Earlier, I posted a blog giving an overview of HHN, Anne now weighs in with her first blog which is her personal experience of HHN on Saturday night.

I hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoy Anne.

LanceAround

Halloween Horror Nights

So this was my first time! The prospect of encountering Bloody Mary [ed note:  The main theme character of this year’s HHN] was making me anxious, the knot in my stomach was driving me crazy.

I ordered tickets online and so after entering the security check point we waited in line to get to the electronic ticketing. This was to be the first of many lines!

The transformation of the park is quite incredible; dark and smokey, eerie sounds and sights. There are people flying above your head, skimming the air above you. Monsters and ghouls in the crowds are milling around you. The makeup and special effects are outstanding.

We went on Saturday, it was shoulder to shoulder busy. The first house was at least a 90 minute wait. Once inside the screams from terrified people rang out throughout the building. We walked single file one before another. The only downside to this is you can prepare for the scares ahead but there are still some that slip though and make you jump out of your skin.

The “scares zones” are themed and again very good. Some of the supposedly still creatures are real and jump you as you pass. Blood and gore are in great supply!

Our longest wait was for “Reflections of Fear” 120 minutes. By now it’s midnight and we are tired but the crowd is still upbeat.  There is the occasional moment due to too much alcohol. [ed. note:  Anne swears she was referring to “other people” when she wrote that!] It is hot and sticky but we make it through and face our fear.  The house is very good and I screamed a couple of times when I was caught unaware.

All in all a very entertaining night. Next time I would probably go on a quieter night so could see more of the houses.

Editor’s Note:  Come back later to read Anne’s blog about her experiences at the Discovery Cove attraction and Miami Dolphin’s football game.  Please post a comment to let her know your thoughts about what she has written.  LanceAround

Posted in Special Events | 3 Comments »

T-Rex Cafe Restaurant at Downtown Disney

October 15, 2008 by
Lines on Opening Day at T-Rex Cafe

Lines on Opening Day at T-Rex Cafe

Grammy (my mom) flew down from Pennsylvania today to spend a week with us.  Our number one son, Brandon, told us he wanted to take her to the new T-Rex Cafe–A dinosaur themed restaurant in Downtown Disney holding its grand opening today.  We called them at 4:22pm to see if they were open.  They informed us that they opened at 4:00pm for the first time.  When I asked if they were taking reservations, they said no and that the line was currently wrapped all the way around the side of building.

So off we went to explore this newest feature at Disney.  True to their word, the line was wrapped around one side of the building and we were informed that the wait was 35 minutes to an hour.  Mrs. LanceAround and Amber held our place in line while Grammy, Brandon and I went exploring the front of the restaurant.

Before we even reached the inside of the restaurant, our immediate thought was that it looked just like a Rainforest Cafe.  There was a large, dinosaur-head shaped podium informing those waiting that “Your expedition is about to begin.”  [At Rainforest Cafe the line is, “Your safari is about to begin.]  To your right, there is a store that features all manner of dinosaur themed clothing, games and memorabilia.  To the left was the cafe.  Sure enough, our research uncovered that the cafe was owned by Landrys–The same company that owns Rainforest Cafe.

The restaurant is loaded with audio-animatronic dinosaurs of all shapes and sizes.  They are enhanced with creative lighting and fog effects.  There are several major room areas, each with a different theme.

The bar is located under a giant octopus whose tentacles wiggle and whose eyes roll.  There are large fish tanks around and wondrous jellyfish overhead.  Tables are spread around other areas in a cave like environment with dinosaurs that sway their head from side to side.  Fossilized bones and geodes adorn many walls, including the restrooms.  (Well, at least the “He-Rex” bathroom, I can’t speak for the “She-Rex” bathroom.)

Ice Cave at T-Rex Cafe

Ice Cave at T-Rex Cafe

One area is themed as an ice cave.  The eerie ice-like walls become even spookier every 20 minutes or so as the entire restaurant comes alive when a “meteor shower” rocks the restaurant and the ice cave walls change from milky ice-white to ice-blue, to pink, to purple.  Photos that Brandon took during this time have a very Andy Warhol feel about them.  The lights dim, the sky shimmers, meteors streak across the ceiling and crash into one another as planets explode.

While the interior was impressive, I was apprehensive about the meal.  I used to enjoy Rainforest Cafe, but in the past few years the quality of their food has gone downhill.  While waiting in line at T-Rex, I grabbed a menu and looked it over.  I was dismayed.  Vegetarian options were few and they seemed to go out of their way to promote products such as Reese’s Peanut Butter Smoothies and other well known brands of dubious quality.  The line greeter assured me that once inside, the chef (who they called either the “fire tender” or the “fire chef” and who works in the “kitchen of fire”) would come out and let us know which menu items could be prepared vegetarian.  While waiting, two different people walked past the line and informed us, without being asked, that it was worth the wait.

Again, true to their word, the wait was only about 40 minutes and the chef was at our table helping us to select some vegetarian entrees.  For appetizers, we ordered the flat bread pizza (sans chicken), onion rings, eggplant bruschetta, and waffle fries.  For entrees, we got tortellini (one with Alfredo and one with pomodoro sauce), mushroom ravioli, linguine with nothing but Parmesan (Amber’s personal favorite) oh, and a big, well done burger for our carnivorous Grammy.  We also got three smoothies and two sodas.

The waiter was very pleasant, although he did not seem to listen very attentively.  The rest of the staff was very attentive.  We had at least five different employees stop by our table to check on us.  At this point, the only noticeable annoyance was the sheer cacophony of noise stemming from the drum beat music, the din of other diners, the bustle of the wait staff and an acoustically poor design that made it impossible for me to converse with my mom sitting at the other end of the table.

The drinks came (without the water we ordered).  After getting another staff  member to attend to the water, we discussed the pending meal.  Mrs. LanceAround was warning me to not be too negative as I was getting hungry and grouchy and preparing myself for a bad experience.  I told her that the fact that the chef did not even know the ingredients for the batter on the onion rings (whether or not they were vegetarian) meant that they were not prepared fresh.  For entree items priced from $12 to $25 dollars, I argued that at those prices the wait staff should know all the ingredients.  She reminded me that the prices had much more to do with the elaborately themed interior and the restaurant was, at best, casual.

Waiting on Dinner

Mrs. LanceAround, Grammy and Amber React to the Meteor Shower

Our discussion was interrupted by the arrival of pizza, onion rings, bruschetta and fries.  One bite of the bruschetta and Mrs. LanceAround was happily munching away with an expression of “I told you so” and a reminder that I had to blog about the balsamic glaze sprinkled over the pizza and bruschetta that was out of this world.  The flatbread pizza was superb–Goat cheese and fresh basil enhanced by the drizzle of balsamic created a very pleasant flavor.  The onion rings that I had talked myself into dreading were also the best I had eaten in a long time.  Things were looking up!

By the end of the appetizers, we were all pretty full.  Had we stopped at that point, the meal would have been satisfying, delicious, and somewhat reasonably priced.  But the entrees soon arrived to relatively positive but somewhat mixed reviews.  Once again, the waiter’s inattentiveness was evident as Amber was given the wrong entree.  Brandon enjoyed his tortellini with Alfredo sauce.  Mrs. LanceAround also loved her pomodoro tortellini and I had mixed emotions about the mushroom ravioli.  Was it really just average or was I just overfull?  Grammy was clearly disappointed with her burger, saying the bun was too hard and the onion ring placed on top of the burger (dramatically presented with a knife sticking like Macbeth’s dagger through the top of the bun, past the onion ring and into the belly of the burger) was not desirable.  Amber perked up noticeably when her linguine finally arrived.  The Parmesan shavings interlaced throughout the pasta was a nice touch.

We had intended to order the Chocolate Extinction dessert–An impressively presented tray of chocolate brownies, ice cream and the creme de la creme smoldering volcanic glass in the center with who-knows-what creating a mist arising from the glass.  Alas, we were too full, so I gave my credit card to the waiter and asked him to go ahead and run the bill.  Another mistake.

When the credit slip arrived the amount of $175 for the five of us seemed excessive.  I double checked the bill and noticed that we were charged $10.99 for each smoothie that was advertised at $5.99 and Amber was charged for the rigatoni dish she did not order but that they prepared for her.  I spoke to the waiter and he called over the manager.  They were nice for the most part, but when they explained that the smoothie charge was for the T-Rex smoothie glasses that we get to take home, I informed him that we did not order that.  His curt reply of, “well then you can’t take them with you” did not come from a contemporary customer service manual.  We informed him that we were happy to not have the glasses and after a prolonged wait our bill was reduced by $28.  Again, except for the initial reaction from the manager, our concerns were all responded to graciously.

LanceAround Kissing a Dinosaur

Crazy Diner Kissing a Dinosaur at T-Rex Cafe

Overall, the atmosphere was fantastic.  Kids, particularly, will love this venue.  The food was mixed–From acceptable to excellent.  The price was reasonable for the venue.  The staff was friendly and attentive.  And, most importantly, the experience was unique and enjoyable.  If you are on a budget, you don’t need to overindulge–A trip to the bar for a shared smoothie or a meal of only appetizers will leave you feeling satisfied and you get all the enjoyment of the venue.  But for a special night out, particularly with the kids, this will be a nice addition to the Orlando offerings.

—–***** 5 out of 10 stars for food

–******** 8 out of 10 stars for atmosphere

—*******  7 out of 10 stars for service

—*******  7 out of 10 stars overall

Posted in Restaurants | Leave a Comment »

Spook Hill in Lake Wales, Florida

October 6, 2008 by
Spook Hill Sign

Spook Hill Sign

Several years ago, before my three teenagers were, well, teenagers, we took a trip to what was then called The Bok Tower(now called the Bok Tower Gardens or Historic Bok Sanctuary) in Lake Wales. It a wonderful place and worthy of a post all by itself. However, as I said, I had three little kids–Not teenagers–So we HAD to take a side trip just down the road to Spook Hill.

Since Halloween is just around the corner, it seems appropriate to mention this piffle anomaly.

Spook Hill is a “gravity hill” also sometimes known as a “magnetic hill,” “mystery hill,” or “gravity road.” Simply put, it is an optical illusion that can make it appear as though objects are rolling uphill. Wikipedia states that there are hundreds of such locations throughout the world and that they are caused by an obstructed horizon with a combination of factors that can make it appear as though a downward slope is an upward slope. Tour guides at these places may try to convince you that surreal or paranormal activity is at work. Not to be a killjoy–but don’t believe them. Give them a good tip only if they spin an amusing yarn.

We had seen a TV special about Spook Hill on some national TV show. It even appears on some maps of the area and was once mentioned in the Wall Street Journal. When searching for it in Lake Wales, we relied on small signs, definitely off-the-beaten-path, that pointed out where to make turns. If memory serves, we went off on several wild goose chases before finding Spook Hill. While researching this post, I found several other blogs indicating that, indeed, one of the signs for Spook Hill has gone missing. Once there, however, the large white sign left no doubt we were in the right place.

The sign gave specific instructions. You pull up to a white line in the road, place your car in neutral, and viola–Your car appears to drift backward “up” the hill. My young daughter got to sit in my lap in the driver’s seat and steer the car. What a thrill for her. My two boys found it amusing–For about a minute. As for me, I kept looking at the ordinary homes on both sides of the road and wondered how they felt about this peculiar tourist destination, literally, in their front yard. The entrepreneur in me wondered why the neighborhood kids didn’t have lemonade stands by the side of the road.

To me, however, the most fascinating aspect of this “attraction” is the significance of it within the community. The Elementary School nearby is named “Spook Hill Elementary” and they have even adopted “Casper, the Friendly Ghost” as their mascot. In addition, the sign by the attraction speaks of a legendary Indian chief, a battle with an alligator, and a belief by the early pioneers that this place was haunted.  Unfortunately, the “illusion” never quite worked for me.

After reviewing this post, my wife chided me.  She said that she remember that the kids loved Spook Hill.  For her, the illusion worked perfectly and she found it fascinating.  She was worried that this post sounded like it was belittling the experience.  She found Spook Hill to be simple, but special.  She would encourage you to go, especially if you have small kids.

Should you visit Spook Hill. Sure, why not. But not for the attraction. Visit it for the unique experience of how so minor a thing can garner such attention. Visit it for no more than five minutes. But, most importantly, visit it on your way to or from the Bok Tower Gardens.

Posted in Off-the-Beaten-Path | Leave a Comment »

Where is Central Florida and the I-4 Corridor?

October 1, 2008 by

Election season is upon us. A lot of attention is being paid to the “swing state” of Florida. Often, you will hear pundits refer to “the I-4 corridor” in Florida. But what do they mean?

Interstate 4 traverses the center of Florida from Daytona Beach on the East Coast to Tampa on the Gulf Coast. Along the way, it travels straight through Orlando and, in a quirk of engineering, actually heads due north and south through downtown Orlando (even though it is an East-West Interstate.) Rumor has it that Walt Disney had an impact on the exact placement of the interstate as it was built to travel right beside Disney World.

Interesting Aside: Do you know that our national interstate system has a very specific numeric system? The interstate concept was developed by the Eisenhower Administration as both an efficient means of travel as well as an important component of our national defense. Many people do not realize that all even numbered interstates run primarily East-West while odd numbered ones run primarily North-South. When an interstate has three digits, like I-295, if the first digit is even it indicates that it is a route around a populous area that Interstate 95 runs through. If the first number is odd, it indicates that it is a spur from the Interstate directly into the populous area. Forgive my rambling, but I love reading and interpreting information on maps!

Interstate 4 straddles one of the fastest growing sections of Florida–An area that has seen explosive growth, especially in the high tech industry. Also, an area that is more likely to tip in the Republicans favor during an election. This is the I-4 Corridor.

Another aside: Did you know that Disney’s town of Celebration could be directly responsible for the election of George W. Bush as president? Remember, this town did not exist in 1996. By the year 2000, it had several thousand residents–Many from outside the state of Florida. It is not unusual for 90% of Celebration to vote Republican. And since election results show that W. won the national election by getting Florida’s electoral delegates with less than a 1000 vote advantage in the state of Florida, I believe that one can safely surmise that if Disney World had not created the town of Celebration, Al Gore would have been elected president in 2000.

Celebration, FL

Celebration, FL

I am mentioning this in my blog not only because of the election, but also because I learned something interesting this past week. My business, # 1 Dream Homes, Inc., provides vacation homes to guests who are traveling to Disney World and all the other attractions of Central Florida. My office is located just a mile off Exit 64 of I-4, right beside Disney World. A large part of my advertising is focused on these attractions. This entire blog is focused on these attractions–From the big (major theme parks) to the Off-the-Beaten Path (Ever hear of Spook Hill in Lake Wales, FL?)

To me, Central Florida has always meant this attraction-packed area within a few miles of Orlando. Daytona Beach is 45 minutes away and a place where teenagers hang out during spring break. Tampa is 55 minutes away in the other direction and a place where the upper class enjoy the pristine gulf coast beaches and art milieu of Sarasota. Until this week, I would not have considered either of these areas as part of “Central Florida.” Indeed, even the Florida tourism arm–Visit Florida–Puts a circle on the map around the area of Orlando and refers to it as “Central” while Daytona is part of the Atlantic Beaches in “Central East” and Tampa part of the Gulf Beaches in “Central West.”

But during an industry meeting of Vacation Homes professionals this week, the Kissimmee Convention and Visitors Bureau revealed that when our guests think of “Central Florida” they think of the entire midsection of the state–From the Atlantic Coast to the Gulf Coast. In other words, “Where is Central Florida?” to our guests, it is the entire I-4 Corridor and surrounding attractions AND Altantic and Gulf Coast Beaches.

Daytona Beach Sunrise

Daytona Beach Sunrise

When I expressed surprise at this, arguing that the beaches were a long way from my vacation homes, the response made sense. They may seem a long way for me, but for someone from Chicago or Atlanta or Iowa, they are merely a 45 minute drive. Normally, it would take a guest from one of these places over a day of travel to get to a beach from their home!

So now I am expanding my horizons. I will not only focus on the Orlando Area of Central Florida with both my business and this blog. I will blog about the beaches. I will blog about the Tampa Theatre, the Dali Museum in St. Pete, the art scene in Sarasota. I will blog about Spring Break at Daytona Beach, Bike Week, Reunion Week, and the Crystal River. I may even blog about the Everglades, the Coral Castle, Robert is Here Fruit Stand, and other points on the Redland Trail in South Florida. Wow, we really are expanding!

Where is Central Florida? Well, it is a larger place than I realized it was!

My name is LanceAround and I approved this blog post.

Posted in General Information | 2 Comments »

Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios in Orlando

September 22, 2008 by
HHN at Universal Studios Orlando, FL.

HHN at Universal Studios Orlando, FL.

My number two son called me from Ringling College last week. It is always a joy to hear from him. However, as a college student who is away from home for the first time, it is a rare treat. Of course, I have the typical parental internal reaction whenever he calls, “what’s wrong,” I think to myself. “Dad”, he begins, with some excitement in his voice, “a few of my friends are coming up to Orlando next week. Can you get us tickets to Halloween Horror Nights?”

As someone who sells attraction tickets as an added value to the vacation rental homes I offer with my Florida Dream Homes business, I have access to a plethora of free tickets to almost any attraction in the Greater Orlando area. But I have to explain to my son that I can’t get free tickets to Halloween Horror Nights (HHN) at Universal Studios. As I hang up the phone, sorry to disappoint my son, I muse on the fact that I can’t get tickets. Last year, I paid full price for both my sons to enjoy a night at HHN. What is it about this event that makes it so widely successful that Universal does not feel a need to preview it for their off-site ticket sellers?

Before I explore that question, let me tell you a little about HHN for those who are unfamiliar with the event. It takes place at one of the two Universal theme parks–This year it is at Universal Studios. It begins on September 26, and runs Friday, Saturday, and Sunday for the next six weekends. On these days, the theme park closes its doors early for the regular guests, then reopens them at 6:30pm for HHN when it will stay open until either midnight or 2am depending on the date.

HHN 2005 Character

HHN 2005 Character

Inside the theme park, most of the major rides remain open. However, there are several additions that create that special HHN effect. The theme park creates “scare zones” where low light levels, fog, and costumed characters lurk and jump out in an effort to create screams and terror. The usual theme park live shows are replaced with special HHN themed shows, and, best of all, several very creative and high tech haunted houses are created to be walked through by the guests. The entire event is usually themed around a specific scary story for that given year.

HHN retails for $69.99 plus tax per ticket. But you can always buy a coke product and receive up to a $33 discount when you use a code on the product to order your tickets in advance. (Florida residents get the largest discount.) Parking is the same as for the theme park and costs $12. Costumes and masks are not allowed to be worn by guests. (I believe this is both a safety precaution as well as an effort to not confuse costumed characters with the paid actors.) Every time I have gone to HHN the part of me that enjoys the technical aspect of live theatre observed the strict rules that appear to be followed by all themed employees of the theme park. For example, I have never seen an employee physically touch a guest. I also observed that they are quick to stop if a guest appears to have a serious adverse reaction to their attempts at a scare. I have spoken with some of the Universal Studios reps and they have confirmed my observations, emphasizing that the safety and enjoyment of the guests is paramount (if, indeed, I can use that particularly word when referring to Universal Studios, sorry guys, but I did use a small “p”!)

HHN is not for the squeamish nor faint of heart. It is certainly not for small children. My 13 year old daughter is just getting to the point where she might feel comfortable (hmmm, perhaps that is not best expression to use) going to HHN. I have seen some youngsters, perhaps as old as eight or nine, enjoying the event, but I count them as the exception.

Getting back to my original question, what makes HHN so successful? First, people really love Halloween. For example, at a private school that my wife and I helped to found, the yearly Halloween Haunted House was our biggest single fundraiser. I also recall a time, almost 30 years ago, when I was working at Rental World in Lansdale, PA. The owner of the store, Hal Kodikian, is one of the most astute businessmen I have ever had the honor of calling my friend. One year, he spent thousands and thousands of dollars purchasing Halloween costumes to rent. Since the Halloween season (back then) was less than two weeks long, I asked him why he was willing to risk such a large investment. “Because my friends in the business tell me it’s worthwhile,” he replied. A quick visit to his website confirms that Rental World is still renting costumes.

Ironically, this morning I was watching The Hunchback of Notre Dame starring Charles Laughton. Part of the story revolves around the “Feast of Fools” an event that has a lot of similarities to Mardi Gras and our current customs regarding Halloween. In one scene, two of the characters have a conversation about the human nature that is both attracted to–And repelled by–the ugly, malformed, and suffering of others. Could it be that our nature is hardwired to be unable to resist the opportunity to run to the fire or gawk at the accident by the side of the road?

Whatever the reason, there is no question that Hal Kodikian is correct when he says that Halloween sells. The Universal website warns that some HHN nights are complete sellouts. The Universal rep does not give away free tickets. The theme park is able to get two full admission prices on the same day–One from the regular guests who have to leave early and the second from the throngs who attend HHN. All of this attest to both the creative genius behind HHN and the reality that Halloween sells.

HHN is in its 18th year at Universal Studios. They also offer it at their theme park in California. Both Sea World and Disney offer their version of Halloween events. Sea World has their “Spooktacular” and Disney has “Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party.” The former invokes images of Shamu in a sheet and the latter seems geared towards two year olds. Frankly, I know nothing about either event, except that their very names make it unlikely for me to do any further research on them.

In general, I like Disney much more than Universal or Sea World. But when it comes to Halloween, Universal seems to have gotten it just right. And, yes, it sells. Please enjoy HHN and post a comment here to let us know about your experiences.

Posted in Special Events | 6 Comments »

Enzian Theatre–Art House Theatre with Dinner!

September 14, 2008 by
The Enzian Marquee

The Enzian Marquee

Just north of Orlando on the edge of Winter Park is a real hidden treasure–The Enzian Theatre.

Enzian is an art house theatre that plays exceptional movies that you often don’t find at your local mega-theatre complex. In addition, Enzian sponsors a monthly free “popcorn flicks” movie at a park in Winter Park, the annual Florida Film Festival, various “cult classics” showings, a kid’s theatre camp each summer, and several other special events and minor film festivals.

Your first impression of Enzian will confirm that you have arrived at someplace special. The gravel parking lot that weaves parking spaces around the old green building feels more like a private driveway than a commercial lot. The large green edifice itself has the look of an old, comfortable home that has been remodeled with a large addition and only the flashing marquee above the entrance hints that you are actually at a theatre. Yet it is the sound of gurgling water from the unobtrusive fountain engulfed by the canopy of a large, ancient oak tree covered with hanging Spanish moss in front of the theatre that puts you in the right frame of mind for a truly memorable evening.

The newly constructed outdoor bar provides not only beverages, but local art newspapers, friendly and knowledgeable conversation, and a place to unwind either before or after the show. Upon entering the spacious lobby, you can pass the time by reviewing the displays of coming attractions or the decorations of old, favorite movie posters.

Inside The Enzian

Inside The Enzian

When the house opens, be prepared to experience a theatre unlike any you have enjoyed before. There are four different levels of seating. The level closest to the stage and screen is made up primarily of large sofas with coffee tables and comfortable upholstered chairs with arm tables. The second and third levels feature two and four person tables with large semi-oval chairs that envelop you. The last level features additional table and chair arrangements allowing parties of any size to sit together and enjoy a meal and a show.

As soon as the house opens, a large army of wait staff scurries through the theatre taking food and beverage orders. The constantly changing menu features top notch, creative fare to satisfy all palettes, including those with special diets such as vegetarians. Orders are automatically transmitted to the kitchen and at some point early on in the movie your meal will be skillfully and quietly placed at your table.

Although a visit to the Enzian is special at any time, in early spring the theatre comes alive with the annual Florida Film Festival. The festival is so large, several other theatre venues are used as well, but the best and main festival favorites all take place at the Enzian. Many times my two sons and I would spend an entire day at the Enzian enjoying a feature film here, a documentary there, a selection of shorts, and, of course, the midnight showing which was always more interesting to my sons than to me! I can’t imagine the logistical challenges of serving so many film goers movie after movie, yet I never failed to receive good food and good service while enjoying the many films.

The Enzian is one of those local favorites to be discovered by the well informed traveller looking for “more than a mouse”™

Posted in Off-the-Beaten-Path | 5 Comments »

La Nouba at Downtown Disney

September 7, 2008 by

About 10 years ago when Disney gave my family comp tickets to see Cirque du Soleil’s newest show La Nouba at their Downtown Disney complex I had never heard of Cirque du Soleil and had no idea what to expect. I could not imagine how it was going to affect me. I now know that it is incorrect to say that one “sees” a Cirque du Soleil show. One “experiences” it. And if you are open to it, you might find that it has a profound effect upon you. In my lifetime, there have only been a handful of theatre experiences that have affected me so profoundly as did La Nouba.

Cirque du Soleil is a large organization that has performances of various shows all around the world. Some shows are in permanent residence–Such as La Nouba at Disney World and others in Las Vegas. Some shows travel and are actually performed under a big tent. Lately, there have been shows especially made for film and television. In the beginning, their tag line was “We reinvent the Circus.” Once you see a show, you will understand the truth embedded in that description. But as the French say, “viva la difference.”

La Nouba has a permanent home in a theatre located in the Downtown Disney shopping and entertainment complex, right next to Disney Quest, House of Blues, and Wolfgang Puck’s Restaurant. The building is cleverly shaped to give the impression of a large circus tent complete with guide wires. Parking is convenient and free right next to the theatre. One website I visited said the theatre holds over 1600 seats. I would never have guessed it was that large. I have been to La Nouba several times and have sat in several different seats, from the front to the back and from the left to the center to the right. I can honestly say there is not a single bad seat in the house. In fact, the different seats have all presented a different view that allowed me to enjoy the show from a different perspective. It is not cheap. Tickets range in price from $52 to $115 as of 2008.

The show lasts ninety minutes without an intermission. There are concession stands that sell drinks and food items, but don’t waste your time. This show puts you on the edge of your seat and you are constantly looking left to right, up and down. You don’t want anything in your hands that distracts you. The proscenium juts way out into the audience and the seats are curved around it, making every seat feel intimately close to the action. In addition, there is a long walkway between the lower and upper seating sections that is used during the performance to create an even closer experience regardless of your seat. Lastly, come early. There is a pre-show, audience participation act by two clowns that is not to be missed!

As for the show itself, what can one say? Every now and then a piece of theatre comes along that is so new and so innovative that it defies conventional description. I will attempt to give some indication of the show. But I can’t do it justice. Just know that what I say with words can only be express in pictures, what you see in pictures can only be felt in person, and what you feel in person can only be experienced within your own heart. That, I believe, is the magic of La Nouba. It is a magic that is at once timeless yet very much in the moment. It is a magic that touches all ages. Your three year old will enjoy the show as much as you and you will enjoy the show as much as your grandmother.

Overall, the show is a combination of circus-like acts performed by incredible athletes and acrobats in the most gorgeous and unique costumes highlighted by a live band and soloist playing soulfully esoteric music which enhances the visual experience. Very few words are spoken. Each acrobatic and athletic act is engulfed by moments of comedy, dance, or some other visual element most of which will be a new experience for you.

The show begins with a pre-show where two clowns, dressed and performing in a classic Emmet Kelly-esque fashion, interact with the audience and a load of boxes. Then comes the opening march, where the most fantastically costumed people you have ever seen do a slow processional through the center of the audience–Each one walking in a unique way that creates a memorable character. This is an introduction to the characters that will grace your evening for the next ninety minutes. An entertaining, if not confusing, segment occurs next leaving you to wonder if you are watching a play, a surreal play, a dance, an opera, or simply something unintelligible. My advice to you at this point is to sit back and take it all in. Soon enough you’ll be grabbing the edge of your seat.

Then comes one unbelievable act after another. There are tight rope walkers, trampolinists, BMX bikers, young Chinese girls with diabolos, human wheels, a person who climbs a mountain of chairs, and my personal favorite-The aerial ballet in silk (Which is exactly what it sounds like!) that soars over your head. Between, and sometimes during, the acts you are entertained by four bald “clowns” dressed in white flowing garb whose facial expressions and choreographed movements enhance the performance and bring lots of laughter. The two Emmet Kelly-esque clowns also have small bits which are usually hilarious.

From time to time you will get a glimpse of the musicians and soloist elaborately costumed and performing beautiful numbers from somewhere high above the performers on the stage. The stage itself is an engineering marvel. Large building-like structures complete with windows appear from nowhere, performers disappear into the floor, extensive trampoline runners appear and disappear, high wires come and go, a large moon and a cowboy on a horse traverse the rear for who knows what reason, and there is even a miniature train set chugging along the stage floor at one point.

You won’t notice it when you attend your first performance, but in subsequent performances you may see that the complex choreography of the action belies an intense focus on the safety of the performers. A gangly trampolinist in tights adds humor to the person climbing chairs, but a closer look reveals that he is the safety net in the event of an accident. His own safety is ensured as he slips under the table when new chairs are piled high. The four clowns in flowing white appear to be augmenting the young Chinese girls doing fantastic feats with the diabolos, but a closer look reveals the extra diabolos hidden behind the fountain ready to be unobtrusively passed from clown to girl in the event of a mistake while a neighboring clown retrieves the errant diabolo in a way that makes the error appear to be a part of the show.

I was a theatre major in college, so I am attracted to the theatrical arts. Occasionally, you may encounter a show that breaks new ground. Occasionally you may encounter a show that simply leaves you speechless. And occasionally you may encounter a show that for some unknown reason just tugs on your heart. But to find a show that does all that and more seems miraculous. In a way I can’t explain, this show bypasses your brain, ignores logic, and simply creeps inside your heart helping you to feel more alive.

I mentioned at the beginning of the blog that there were only a few theatre pieces, in addition to La Nouba, that had such a profound effect on me. Those would include the first time I experienced the movie Chariots of Fire in 1981 (not coincidentally the same year I won the National Championship in wrestling), the first time I saw the movie An Officer and a Gentleman in 1982, and the first time I saw Les Miserables with the incomparable Colm Wilkinson portraying Jean Valjean at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC in 1987.

Don’t miss La Nouba. After the show, I predict you won’t miss the money you had to spend to see it.

Posted in Must See/Must Do | Leave a Comment »

Blue Man Group

August 23, 2008 by

The Blue Man Group is a live theatre show at Universal Orlando Resort. The venue is a converted sound stage located between Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure–The two Universal theme parks. The show consists of three “blue men”–Actors who wear blue prosthetics on their face and hands–Along with a live band. There are very few spoken words. The entire show is a visual display of dazzling special effects, mime, and audience involvement.

To attend the show, you must park in the Universal Studios parking lot (price $12 as of 2008), take the long trek through the middle of Universal’s City Walk, and pass the entrance to one of the two theme parks. Then you need to shell out big bucks (upwards of $80+ although in the interest of full disclosure Universal gave my family hospitality tickets for $30 each.) There is a small concession stand inside the theatre where you can get hot dogs, soft pretzels, popcorn, sodas and various alcoholic drinks for the usual theme park mark ups. The theatre seats approximately 1000 people. Although the show makes an effort to occasionally bring the action out to even the upper reaches of the back row, this is one show where you will benefit from getting seats that are center and as close to the front as possible. If you are very close to the front, you might want to wear a poncho. Indeed, since the first four or so rows all wore identical clear ponchos, perhaps the theatre provides them if you are going to be sitting in the “splash zone.”

Most likely you have seen the Blue Men in either commercials and/or during some TV specials. The show itself is pretty much what you would expect from these glimpses. It consists of a number of “scenes” some very short and others lasting fifteen minutes or longer. Each of these scenes involves the group interacting with something that provides either a visual spectacle, sound spectacle, humorous expressions, or a combination of all of them.

Some of the more memorable moments occur when the three blue men invite someone to the stage to enjoy a snack cake with knife and fork (no doubt a lucrative product placement with the brand clearly displayed so even the back row could see it), when the blue men walk, literally, through the chair tops of the audience, when they beat their drums spraying colored paint into the air, and when gooey, paint like substances squirt out of the centers of their chests.

My thirteen year old daughter particularly liked the lessons in how to properly respond to rock and roll music and the climatic ending when rolls and rolls of toilet paper-like streamers sprawled from the back of the theatre, helped along by the audience, to the front of the stage. She really squealed with delight when one of the blue men pulled me out of my chair and wrapped me head to foot with the toilet paper. I thought I would get one up on him by falling over backwards after being wrapped, only to discover they had outsmarted me by having another person stand behind me who caught me in my attempt to steal the show.

My number two son requested this outing to The Blue Man Group in celebration of his impending departure to begin his Sophomore year of college at Ringling School of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida. He thought the show was excellent and I enjoyed watching him and his older brother get into the swing of things during the lessons in rock and roll appreciation.

Although the show started off slowly and I was somewhat annoyed at the obvious product placement for a popular kid’s breakfast cereal and another for a snack bar (since they are not paying me I will not expose the specific brands) as well as feeling that the actors were not always as crisp and synchronized as they should have been for a highly professional show in this price range, by the end of the evening I found myself smiling broadly if not outright laughing. The show lasted approximately two hours and the time seemed to pass too quickly.

My office manager and her friend saw the show last week and were not very impressed. So perhaps it works better if you attend with youthful spirit! However, there is no question that younger kids will love the show. Although I am long past the age of having toddlers, I suspect they will enjoy it as much as they do their early morning cartoons. At $30 I felt as though I got my money’s worth–I’m not sure I would feel the same if I had paid $80.

Overall I would give Blue Man Group a hearty thumbs up. Though if you have a choice between Blue Man Group at Universal and La Nouba at Disney (The other major live theatre show in Orlando)–Go to La Nouba where you get so much more for your money. Blue Man Group will tickle your funny bone. La Nouba will make your heart soar!

Posted in Live Theatre | Leave a Comment »

My Big Fat Grease Wedding

July 21, 2008 by

My Big Fat Grease Wedding is an intimate dinner show that plays in one half of the seating area at The Carving Station restaurant on the Palm Parkway. The show opened in June 2008 and since I sell attraction tickets I was invited to enjoy the show for free in hopes that I would encourage my guests to buy tickets (full disclosure!)

As a theatre major and life long eater I really enjoy dinner shows. I think both the large dinner shows (which can seat several hundred guests and have huge stages where just about anything can happen) and the intimate dinner shows (which can seat around 100 guests or less and there tends to be more audience involvement) have something enjoyable to offer.

More intimate dinner shows like My Big Fat Grease Wedding are a challenge for the actors. To be successful, these shows need direct interaction with the audience and the actors need the flexibility and intimacy of a stand up comedian. Perhaps this, as well as a very weak script, is the area where My Big Fat Grease Wedding fell short. With the exception of a couple of musical numbers, a great performance by a gay wedding Justice of the Peace, and a few nice jokes, the performers were left plowing through a script that did not give the audience much to laugh at or enjoy. The beer and wine were free for the show and my wife mused that perhaps it needed to come earlier and more often in order for the guests to really get into the show.

The story line revolves around an impending wedding where the bride is a huge fan of the musical Grease as well as pure Irish. Her phone ring tone plays the Grease theme and her husband-to-be is forced to wear a skirt-er-kilt for the ceremony. One thing after another goes wrong and the audience is privy to mischief and mayhem with the odd musical number thrown in for good measure. Audience members were occasionally singled out and became (unwitting) participants in the drama from time to time. The actors, however, had difficulty engaging the audience in a way that could take the show to a higher level.

The food, on the other hand, appeared to be a real winner. I say “appeared” because my family is vegetarian and this show follows all dinner shows I have attended in their inability to provide vegetarian meals of high quality. (My number 2 son commented that this last line sounds like “whining.” Perhaps he is correct. I keep hoping that if enough vegetarians speak out, more places will cater to the estimated 10% of us who do not eat meat.) However, for the carnivores among us, there was all you could eat prime rib, crab legs, salmon, and a plethora of pastas, salads, and sides of high quality. This feature, alone, sets this dinner show apart from others I have seen.

The host and hostess were both generous and pleasant and I spoke with them at length about their endeavor. They take obvious pride in their restaurant. The service was adequate, although it was difficult to understand when one is supposed to take advantage of the buffet line as it interrupts the action on the stage.

The restaurant provided a nice, elegant atmosphere for the performance, although it clearly was not designed around the show as only half the restaurant was used for the performance. The other half was occupied by regular restaurant patrons who showed up solely for the expansive buffet.

Usually in an intimate dinner show, you have the nice touch of personal recognition for audience members who are celebrating something special–A birthday, anniversary, honeymoon, graduation, etc. With this show, only one birthday celebrant was noted and it proceeded so awkwardly that it appeared to disrupt the actual show. We were never asked if we were there to celebrate anything. Intimate dinner shows are also usually appropriate for the entire family, but there was just enough sexual references and gay innuendo as to make this show a bit squeamish for small ones. My 13 year old daughter was clearly embarrassed during some scenes.

This was only the second performance of My Big Fat Grease Wedding. Perhaps, over time, the actors will get more comfortable in their roles and more skilled at getting the most out of the audience. And perhaps the script will go through some much needed rewrites. In any case, the hosts were pleasant and attentive, the restaurant worth a try (if you are not vegetarian) and keep an eye on the reviews to see if improvements are made to the show.

_____***** Show 5 out of 10 stars

__******** Food 8 out of 10 stars

_********* Atmosphere 9 out of 10 stars

_____***** Service 5 out of 10 stars

Posted in Intimate Dinner Show | 2 Comments »

Lance Around Orlando

June 24, 2008 by

Greetings! Welcome to Lance Around Orlando–“More Than a Mouse™”

This is the blog for anyone dreaming, planning, or even contemplating a trip to the Greater Orlando area of Central Florida.

We’ll look around Orlando, we’ll talk about Orlando, we will be the place to go for the informative, amusing, and enjoyable aspects “Around and About Orlando.” Occasionally we’ll talk about the Mouse, the other Major Attractions and so forth. But, by and large, this will be the place to find the unique or underrated.

The purpose of this blog is for us, as a community, to share tips and strategies that would be helpful for anyone traveling to Central Florida. Although I am the primary author and moderator of this site, I prefer to think of it as a team approach. My good friends, jedibfa and lizthefair are constantly reviewing the site and offering suggestions and improvements. (For those of you you who are twisting your tongue trying to pronounce jed-i-b-fa, perhaps it would be easier to think “Star Wars” and try jedi-B.F.A. What can I say, it’s a hobby! As for lizthefair, well, your guess is as good as [probably better than] mine!)

Also on the team are my wife, Karin, and my three kids, Brandon, Colin, and Amber, who share my adventurous spirit in exploring all the nooks and crannies of Central Florida.

But the most important members of the team are YOU, the readers and commenters. To make this blog truly helpful and relevant it will be the input and dialogue of all of us together that will uncover the hidden treasures and find the gemstones in the Off-The-Beaten-Path places around Orlando that make traveling so much fun.

So join in the fun! Feel free to lurk or comment as you see fit! Keep it clean and respectful–All opinions and viewpoints are welcome here. Heigh-Ho and Away We Go!

Lance Around Orlando

Posted in My Muses | 1 Comment »

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