Race Day

After several of us stayed out until 1 AM at the Magic Kingdom, this morning’s wakeup call came very early for the group. Many of us were at the bus stop by 7:30 to hop on a bus bound for EPCOT, where we would divide into teams and take part in a knapsack race. From park opening, 8:30, until 12:30, all of the teams were on a mad dash to complete all the rides they could to accumulate varying point totals. The “bigger rides”, such as Test Track and Cosmic Rewind, were worth more than the “smaller rides”, such as Nemo and Figment. A few of us had some interesting encounters while taking part in the race. One team, Team Vanellope, while riding Mission Space: Orange dealt with some strangers who, to put it lightly, could not exactly handle their stomachs. It was definitely scarring to a certain extent, but the seven points earned were well worth it! We took part in this race to pay homage to Len Testa, who we had the privilege of meeting with later in the day. Len is the creator of Touring Plans, which helps guest optimize the way to maneuver the parks to get the most accomplished. The winning team accumulated a whopping 82 points in those short few hours!

 

After each team was spent from racing around the park, keeping track of times, enjoying attractions, and filling out score cards, we were treated to a fabulous lunch at the Sunshine Seasons restaurant located in The Land. We partook of a wide array of dishes, such as oak-grilled salmon, stir-fries, and roast beef sandwiches. It was a much needed break and opportunity to cool off and reset for the remainder of the day. After lunch and discussing our Len Testa inspired assignment for the day, we parted ways and returned to enjoying Walt Disney World at our own paces for most of the afternoon. After we enjoyed some snacks, rides, and rest, we were excited to meet with the man who not only created an ideal way for guests to enjoy the parks, but also writes the Unofficial Guides. We had heard a copious amount of good things about Len and were looking forward to what he had to say. 

 

We met with Len Testa at Connections Eatery. As mentioned earlier, Len is the creator of Touring Plans and the Unofficial Guide books. Len is a computer scientist that uses his love of Disney to solve logistical problems in the theme parks and ease the process of planning a vacation. He talked about the various services that he created to help guests have their best trip possible. To give an idea of what they offer, Touring Plans has a picture from every hotel room, optimized touring plans for each park, “true” wait times, and other features.

Len grew up going to Disney at a young age and has carried a lifelong passion for the parks. He enjoys helping others with questions, especially with how complicated Disney is, and is thrilled to have a career based around Disney World. Overall, Len was a great guest speaker and we loved his energy he brought to our course. He is a great example of how pursuit one’s passions can create a lifelong career that has meaning. 

 

After Len, some of us park hopped to Hollywood Studios to close out the night. We rode Rock n Rollercoaster and finished out with Fantasmic, a favorite of our group. Lucas, Logan, and I (Corbin) got very excited for the show, much to the dismay of the guy in front of us. We had a perfect day and are looking forward to experiencing the Keys to the Kingdom tour bright and early.