The Adventure of a Lifetime, Pt. 3

"It's a birthday weekend at IOA!

Your birthday weekend will begin Wednesday, November 3, 1999 with complimentary airfare to sunny Orlando, Florida. During your stay, you will have complimentary transportation to and from IOA and the surrounding area. Your admission into IOA, and any other attractions you should choose, will be complimentary. Accommodations have been made for you at the Hampton Inn, which is located within blocks of IOA and Universal Studios, and of course, there is no charge to you.

In celebration of your birthday, some of your friends will be joining you at IOA on Saturday, November 6, 1999:

Todd Long
Sean Flaharty
Chris Lucht
Chris Hartman
Craig Arbor
Jeff Johnson
Tom Kelley
Curt Hassinger
Robert, Peggy and Sam Ulrich"

Finally, the day had arrived.

Susan, Cindy and I drove to the park together. We pulled into the parking garage and immediately met up with Chris Lucht, Tom Kelley and Curt Hassinger, Max Cannon and Chris Pearson, Jeff Cook, Todd Long and Todd's girlfriend, Kristen, Derek, Elissa and her boyfriend Iain. The Ulrichs and others soon followed. Then we got to the gate and suddenly there was RRC Gang #2: Marlon, Craig Arbor, Jeff Johnson, Sean Flaharty, Steve Nuss, Matt Cmar (pronounced "See-more"), Patty Galloway and Ken, Kevin Tuefer and his roommate Kaley, Jerry Dorf, Lee Moon and her friend Teri, the thrillseeker Jerry Danes, Glenn Payne, Robb Vaccaro,Ted Ansley and many others I'm sure I forgot. Lee Moon showed me the paper umbrellas she brought with her for birthday drinks at night!

Photo courtesy of Glenn Payne

Photo courtesy of Steve Nuss

The gates opened. THE ADVENTURE BEGINS. Shouts of "Ooooh!" and "Aaaaah!" could be heard as our herd walked in and began to make their way for Spiderman, as suggested by Steve Nuss. Meanwhile no one was able to look straight ahead, as everyone took in this eye-popping spectacle called Port of Entry. Todd Long rebuffed one of the photo greeters by telling them he was native american and he believed that photographs stole his soul. We reached the end of the walk, turned the corner for Marvel Superhero Island and "oooooh!" "aaaaaaah!" The Incredible Hulk was going through it's final test runs. The rope into Marvel Island hadn't dropped, which allowed us the opportunity to stand on the bridge and watch this coaster in action, whetting everybody's appetite. Is it possible for a coaster to make your stomach growl? Speaking of stomachs, suddenly Chris Hartman came up through the rear of the crowd and joined our group. And here comes Spatch! "Spatch!" "Hey Spatch!" It's der Spatula!" Everybody loves Spatch (seen Wednesday nights on ABC). And Itzadapope!

This was the one and only time when our entire group was together. Most of the time we were in groups ranging from 10 to 20, and in the afternoon I counted 38 of us in line together for Poseiden's Fury. But it's impossible to stay in a group that large without someone eventually breaking off to go eat, or take a bathroom break, or run off to shoot pictures, or wait for the front, or just head off to ride something different. I ended up seeing just about everybody at one or more points throughout the day, but I wish I had spent more time with everyone. I was really sorry to see so little of Sean Flaharty and Steve Nuss.

It would be wrong to give the impression that everything was perfect on this day. In fact the park was not at its best. It began with Spiderman, which broke down shortly after the first few runs. The majority of us were left to wait in line and what should have been no more than a five minute wait turned into an hour. Not a good way to start the day, but it was made less painful by a hilarious rider instruction video, and Matt Cmar (pronounced "Summer") let me look through his "Kennywood Memories" photo book. Plus we were with good friends. We debated whether or not to leave the line, but decided this would be the shortest wait of the day for this ride. I'm so glad we decided to stay, as the ride was up and running shortly afterwards. The newbies rode up front, and all of us burst into applause after the ride ended. Well, almost all of us. I think teenagers are less impressed with this ride than the rest of us. Steve Nuss and Matt Cmar (pronouced "some more") both said it was overhyped and not all that. I wonder if it's that they grew up in an already sophisticated video age, or that they didn't grow up watching Spiderman.

Photo courtesy of Steve Nuss

We decided it was time to wind our way through Marvel Island, Toon Lagoon and Jurassic Park, and end up in the Lost Continent, where we could all duel on a couple of dragons. Of course the castle blew everybody away. I noticed Todd trying to hang around just inside the castle entrance to take in the stain glass show, but there was so *much* to take in that everybody kept on moving, and Todd resigned himself to another day.

Our loss. The Dueling Dragons crew is great, and they stopped dispatching just long enough to add a second train. Unfortunately, they announced that they were experiencing "technical difficulties" which, after Spiderman, created a not so good impression. They should have just said "we're adding a second train, folks" instead of making themselves look bad! Anyway, the rides were great, and Chris Hartman and I sang "La Cucaracha" up the lift hill.

We moved en masse over to Poseiden's Fury, and Ted Ansley struck my funny bone. I swear, he talks more than anybody I ever met! He was chatting away, non-stop, so engrossed in conversation that he didn't even see what lay straight ahead of him. He had his back turned to the giant torch in the ground, and when he finally turned his head to the right and saw the ruins, his reaction was priceless! He then turned around and saw the torch sticking out of the ground, and he looked like someone who'd just been startled out of a dream. He looked like he had no idea where he was or how he'd gotten there!

We broke for lunch, with instructions to rendezvous back at Poseiden's Fury at 12:30. Some went to Cirkus McGurkus for pizza, but 15 of us went to the Old Oaken Tavern. This restaurant is gorgeous looking - the inside is like a hollowed out tree. I was hungry for barbeque and Susan wanted her roasted corn. As wonderful as it looked inside, Marlon got us an awesome table outside on the terrace. It overlooked the lake, and we had a spectacular view of Marvel Island and Incredible Hulk in the distance.

This was a great lunch! I had barbeque ribs, roasted corn on the cob, french fries and a corn muffin. Everything was of the highest quality, and the quantity of food was enormous! I was surprised Chris Lucht and Chris Hartman didn't join us - they would have loved this place.

We all met back at Poseiden's Fury, and this was the largest gathering of the day, besides Spiderman. I thought this would have been an excellent time for a group photo, but nobody took one! As we started to go inside, who did we see coming out but the Chris' Lucht and Hartman! Somehow they got separated from our group and had a Tall Boys adventure on their own. They joined us for a repeat viewing, and it was fun being with everyone in the queue. Susan and I had a nice time chatting with the Ulrichs, and Peggy looked like she was having a wonderful time. The show on this day was not as good as the one I saw on Thursday, though most of our group seemed to love it! Our viewing spot made it difficult to see everything clearly, and the actor overplayed the audience with an abundance of pop culture references. He generated some big laughs, but in my opinion it detracted from the grandeur and spectacle of the show.

After Poseiden, Marlon was forced to leave and return to work. He left his girlfriend, Brenda, with our group, and asked Susan and I to look after her. Unfortunately, neither Susan nor I ever saw Brenda again. Fortunately, plenty of other people did, because Brenda had no trouble assimilating into our little group, and she wandered off to spend the day having fun with lots of other RRCers.

Photo courtesy of Glenn Payne

Some of the group chose to go back to Dueling Dragons, while the majority of us entered Seuss Landing for a ride on Cat in the Hat. We got six of us into our couch, including me, Susan, Cindy, Chris Hartman, Spatch and Matt Cmar (pronounced "sophomore"). Matt asked how anybody could *not* love this ride, and I agree. Cat in the Hat is adorable.

I asked everybody to pose for a group photo in front of the Caro-Seuss-el. It wasn't a complete RRC group photo, but we at least got about half. The setting was exactly where I wanted it, too. The Caro-Seuss-el is my favorite thing to look at in the park.

Photo courtesy of Steve Nuss

Photo courtesy of Jeff Johnson

Surprisingly, nearly everyone chose to leave Seuss Landing after only one ride on Cat in the Hat. Why? This is the most charming spot in the entire park! Spatch wanted to stay and ride everything. So did Susan, Cindy and Chris Hartman. So off we went to One Fish Two Fish. One Fish Red Fish up, up, up Two Fish Blue Fish down, down, down HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH!!!!

Spatch and Cindy were just as taken with this adorable little ride as the rest of us were. Spatch had a fish all his own, while Chris and Susan paired up, and I rode with Cindy.

Big mistake.

During the first half of the ride, the song gives you instructions, which Cindy dutifully followed. This allowed us to stay high and dry, unlike Susan and Chris, who disobeyed the rules and were spit on by the fish. I think Spatch just blatantly thumbed his nose at authority and took his dousings like a man.

The second half of the ride is a free-for-all. You're free to go up or down and take your chances while the little kids sing their song and the lady laughs her hearty laugh. Well, CINDY panicked! She lost control "I....I......I don't know what to do!!!! WHICH WAY TO GO? AAAAAAAAH!" We were attacked with fish spit while Cindy's hand remained frozen on the control knob. The ol' gal just choked.

One Fish Two Fish is pure, honest, kid fun.

We then rode the Caro-Suess-el. I was hoping Spatch would get a cow with eyes that go up and down, ears that flap in and out, and a cow bell around it's neck that tinkles when you pull on the reigns. Unfortunately Spatch's cowbell had been removed, so he was forced to ride neutered and silent. We checked out Cirkus McGurkus, then Spatch and I headed over to Moose Juice. I got the Moose, Spatch got the goose. Both were good, but the goose is, as Spatch, put it, "damn good sour!"

At 3 o'clock, we met everyone at the Hulk. It was here that I saw Patty Galloway briefly, along with some of her Florida Coaster Club friends, although I didn't get to meet any of them. Hope you had fun, Patty! I also ran into Batwave, who was *supposed* to be showing his Mother a good time! That did *not* look like your mother, Chris! Anyway, we rode Hulk in the back while most of the RRC gang opted for what looked like a lengthy front seat wait. After Hulk we joined up with Kevin Tuefer and his roommate, Kaley. We decided it would be a good time to do the water rides, since the sun would be going down in a few hours and we would need some time to dry off. Boy, would we ever. We looked for Sean and Steve, who were supposed to be at Popeye but left before we got there. We debated whether to brave the long line until Spatch took the bull by the horns and said "We wait!" It turned out to be a good decision. Spatch, Cindy, Chris Hartman, Kevin, Itzadapope and I rode Popeye together and this was the most fun ride of the day for me. This ride is SO insane! So genuinely frightening! We passed under the Me Ship Olive boat when I looked up and saw Susan and Kaley, who had chickened out of riding,standing over us squirting water down on us!!! Traitors!!! We then rounded the corner, thinking the worst was behind us when all of a sudden......

NO!!!!! NOT THE BOATWASH!!!

We all screamed our heads off, not once, but twice. The Boatwash and it's final rinse is one of the most intense, thrilling and deliriously slap happy moments I've ever experienced. Can you NOT laugh on this ride? Can you NOT come off completely soaked? We met Susan and Kaley at the exit, along with Chris Lucht, who told us that Derek and Robb Vaccaro were about to board their ride. Of course we headed straight for the Me Ship Olive for some revenge of our own! Robb was sporting a fancy looking black poncho, and he even tried to cover his head. Silly rabbit. Robb got off doing the zombie walk and looking just as soaked as the rest of us!

Photo courtesy of Jeff Johnson

We all practically ran for Dudley Do Right's RipSaw Falls. Spatch and Cindy shouted with glee when they saw Dudley's Mt. Rushmore. Kevin suggested we ride single rather than double, and gave us instructions on how to position ourselves for the final drop. Whoaaaaaa!!!! BIG airtime!!! And what a spraying of water!! Everybody loved it.....well, except for maybe Derek, who left to remove water that had somehow found its way into inappropriate cavity areas.

The rest of us ran right back up the exit ramp for another ride. The ops didn't mind, since there was no wait. This ride was even better, leaving all of us completely and hideously soaked. Susan and Kaley again watched us from the viewing bridge and laughed as we passed underneath them and into the "pileapopoo prison." I think IOA has made it just as much fun being a spectator.

Jurassic Park River Adventure was next, and what a disappointment. Another example of the park not being at its best. The ops dispatched our boat too soon, and the timing was completely off on our ride. The first dinosaur lay dead in the water, and the other effects were either off or mistimed. Fortunately everyone in our group had seen this ride, either at IOA or in Los Angeles, but I felt sorry for the other passengers who were seeing this attraction for the first time.

We met up with Todd Long and Kristen as well as the Ulrichs. Peggy Ulrich was able to ride almost everything in the park and really seemed to enjoy everything. Sam *loved* the water rides. We all headed back to Dueling Dragons to finish the night, and once inside the queue we saw nearly all the rest of the gang. I finally got to ride a dragon with Todd, and we closed our day at IOA with a final front seat ride on Ice Dragon.

The park was closed, and we all took a long, leisurely walk up to the front. We passed caterers setting up food tables for what looked like a huge corporate party. Some of the chocolate sculptures look outrageous and brought a chorus of ooohs and aahs from our group! Until we learned that only the outer coating was actually chocolate, at which point 25 people collectively groaned and made the chef feel real good, I'm sure. We stopped at the Mythos Restaurant and looked out over the terrace at Marvel Island, with Hulk racing through it's course and giving a spectular show someone dubbed "ol Sparky!"

It was the Backwater Bar where we saw the rest of Gang RRC, leisurely enjoying a warm November night with a few drinks and the Incredible Hulk roaring in front of them. What a sight! We ducked into the Croissant Moon Bakery again for THE BIG COOKIE, and debated where to have dinner. Some wanted to wait an hour for a table at Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville, others wanted to head back to the Skyscraper. No thanks.

Our group of 16 opted for Fridays, and what a fun time we had. Wierd drinks for everyone! (except Chris Lucht, who doesn't drink, and Derek, who merely asked everyone "are you gonna finish that?") About halfway through our dinner a waiter walked up, asked me for my finger, and tied a balloon on it. Oh no. Oh my God. Oh my God. Another waiter walks up, give me your other finger. Another balloon. More waiters, more balloons. They even tied one to my glasses. Then they all walked back and loudly announced that "Mark McKenzie is celebrating his 93rd birthday this evening." Then everybody clapped and sang a song, and they gave me a hot fudge sundae. Now I *know* Susan wasn't responsible for this, so that leaves only one person, the usual suspect, Todd Long.

We ended our night with long goodbyes and hugs. Never have I hugged so many people. It's a great affirmation of the friendships I've made through RRC.

Why was it important to have an RRC Day at IOA? I think the answer is obvious in the faces of those who attended. As Rob Vaccaro stood on the terrace of Mythos Restaurant and looked out over the lake at the neon skyline of Marvel Island, he shook his head and said "Man, this place is......" and just shook his head again and smiled, speechless. Cindy Stout was positively gaga the entire day, pointing out every new discovery like a little kid. "Look! Over there! What's that! Ooh!" At one point she pointed at two things simultaneously while looking around in a completely different direction and uttering a confused and delighted "auuhhh!" Derek Ruth ran around like a crazy boy, jumping into every water spurt he could find (and there are many of them). Craig Arbor laughing loudly in the queue while watching the Spiderman riding instructions video. Spontaneous applause following the ride. Cindy shouting after her first ride on Hulk "What just happened?!" Chris Lucht yelling "Taer It Down!" after Spiderman experienced technical difficulties. Spatch looking like he'd sprouted wings and gone to heaven and thanking everybody by saying, in unmistakable Apu, "This day has been most profitable." Susan yelling "Wow!" all day long. It's moments like these that are important to me. I truly love events like this, and very few places can provide the one-of-a-kind experiences shared by those who were lucky enough to attend RRC at IOA.

So, what do you say we do this again next year?

THE ADVENTURE LIVES ON

Up Next: Part IV: Disney-MGM Studios