Kim and I drove up to Orlando to meet Brad, Lauren, Oliver, Dana & Susie for a weekend getaway at Universal Orlando where we planned to spend the whole day Saturday at Harry Potter World. We arrived late afternoon, just ten minutes before the other half of the family arrived and we were soon checked into our rooms. But due to a clerical error, Dana & Suzy didn't have a room :O It took them quite a while to straighten it out and Dana convinced the front desk to award him a $200 dinner voucher, which we used at dinner that evening. We took the boat ride over to City Walk and got into the restaurant early. Had a L-O-N-G wait for the meal but it was very good.
The bridge to the hotel lobby
The moat to one side
The moat to the other side
The lobby courtyard
Sailing, sailing to City Walk
Fog on the water at Universal City Walk
Restaurants at City Walk......
The hotel at night as we return
The next morning we were in the lobby by 7:45am and set out on the about ten minute walk to the park. Kim was such a "good girl" as she was able to walk around, using the travel wheel chair for stability, but spent the majority of the day IN the chair as Brad and I pushed her. We arrived at security right around 9am and after a short wait we were in the park headed to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
Crossing thru "The Lost Continent" before reaching Harry Potter World
After about another ten minutes we arrived! And we made a bee-line straight to Ollivander's Wand Shop. And once inside Oliver was the first one chosen to meet the wand keeper who let the wand pick him. It was really well done performance and we were all very proud of our own little wizard!
The "Sorting Hat" had put me in Slytherin House so I got a "Keeper" shirt and socks!
The wizard, his wand, his cloak, and his tie!
Frozen butterbeer!
Shops in Hogsmeade:
The wizard casts a spell!
Wizards Wanted For Practicing The Dark Arts
Another Wanted Wizard
We left Ollivanders and went to the Three Broomsticks for brunch. Kim and I shared eggs & bacon along with frozen butterbeer! We then continued exploring and next up was a visit to Hogwarts. When Kim and I visited the London Harry Potter Experience we saw the actual sets, but when we "saw Hogwarts" it was model. No such thing here.....full, life size - amazing. And then Brad & I rode the intense castle tour ride where you fly all over the school grounds and thru the school itself. Breath taking!
The Sorting Hat inside Hogwarts
We then boarded the Hogwarts Express to head to Diagon Alley. When you ride the train you are in your own private compartment and as you look out the windows you see the "live" scenery of the area around Hogwarts on the way to London!
Platform 9 3/4 and we magically walk right thru the wall to board the Hogwarts Express
Once we arrived at the Diagon Alley we went thru the "secret passage in the wall" and began exploring the amazing array of wizard shops. The absolute coolest part is the dragon who comes to life every fifteen minutes atop Gringots Bank. And inside we rode the elevator down to the bottom and then rode in the mine cars on a wild chase through the vaults ..... so thrilling!
We spent the late afternoon at the resort - Kim for the first time was able to actually "play" some water volleyball as her knees continue to improve. Then we headed back to City Walk for dinner at the Chocolate Emporium. Enjoyed a fabulous dinner topped off by, of course, a chocolate themed desert.
In September of 2023 I hosted my first Viking TV episode, "shooting it" remotely from my laptop while Viking TV director James Prismal coordinated the filming and episode from his London office. At the conclusion of the episode James remarked about how smoothly it had gone. The episode aired on Monday November 6 and I watched it from my Mom's living room in Columbus. The reaction to the episode was very positive and in a series of emails between myself and the two Viking TV staffers I'd "met" virtually - James & Ciara Cassidy - they gave me strong indication that perhaps there would be more episodes to come. I was excited and as the early steps unfolded I shared the news with my social media gal-pals in the TV business.....
By the time we got past the holidays had passed I had suggested a few options to James and Ciara without anything substantial being developed. But then James pitched the idea that when Kim and I arrived in London in late August to begin our "British Isles Explorer" itinerary on Viking Oceans, that the Viking TV crew meet us and have me give a guided tour of the ship from a guest's perspective. I was "all in" on the idea and quickly shared the news with Karli Barnett who has been an avid follower of our adventures, to the point of talking about them / promoting them on her Facebook "LIVE" chats on the weekends.
And so after a couple of email exchanges I began working on a "script" for how I thought the episode might unfold. After I'd sent a couple of drafts to the Viking TV office I thought if I were going to be filmed "live" on camera I could use some professional guidance. So I emailed both of the girls who anchor their own newscasts and asked if they would be interested in looking it over for me....
Both, as you can see were positive about the script but didn't give a lot of specific suggestions. Still I was oh-so-appreciative that they took the time to look it over. The next step in my preparation was when Kim and I wen on the "Empires of the Mediterranean" itinerary on Viking Oceans in late April, I had Kim film me as I did a "rehearsal" video. Here's the result:
Viking TV Rehearsal
After I watched the video I shared with Viking TV that I thought it was perhaps too short and I also felt that the stories I told were a bit "forced" into the episode and didn't really add to the content. I exchanged several emails with James about the logistics of our "shoot" upon our arrival onboard the Viking Neptune prior to our departure. Finally we were ready to head out and had an uneventful flight to London and soon were on board the Neptune. There we met up with our great friends Pam & Bob Murray from the St. Louis area; and Claudia & Gary Wanlin from the San Francisco area. Here's how I described the evening prior to the shoot and then the day of the shoot in my journal for the trip....
Day 2: London - Viking TV Episode Shoot
For those of you who really know me, you KNOW how much I enjoy travel and especially to learn about new lands, and visit new places. But today was one of THE BEST days of our traveling adventures, because today the Viking TV crew of James & Ciara came on board this morning and we spent the entire day filming for an upcoming episode of Viking TV. In the episode which is tentatively set to air on Monday November 11 (mark your calendars!) I provide a guided tour from a guest's perspective of what it's like to come on board a Viking Oceans vessel and the various places you can enjoy on the ship while you are traveling. Not only was this exciting to be a part of, but last night at dinner James had told me that "everyone on board knows about you, what you're going to be doing, and are very appreciative that you're doing it." I wondered just how serious he was, but as we left the restaurant James pulled Kim and I aside and told us he'd added on the drink package (at a cost of $350 per person!) in appreciation for our efforts. WOW. Then this morning when I was downstairs right after breakfast I walked by an office where a Viking staff person was working and he called out "Good morning!" I replied, thinking it is so typical of Viking staff to be so friendly. When I returned and walked by and was several steps past the office I heard, "Mr. Love!" I turned and the staff member came out and was walking towards me. He stuck out his hand and I read on his badge he was the General Manager of the ship! He said, "We are so happy you are on board with us and filming this episode. Thank you! And.....we added on the "silver spirits drink package for you" and if a larger suite opens up we will upgrade your stateroom - but we are nearly full so I'm not sure that will happen. But thank you so much." I was so impressed that he even offered to upgrade us. Once Kim and I met with James and Ciara I asked again about what would be the plan, and they said "how ever you want to do it," so I suggested we follow the "script" I'd laid out earlier for them and we began shooting. Nearly every scene led to multiple "takes" as a guest would walk into the frame or more often the lighting was bad as I walked around talking. But throughout the shooting both of them kept remarking "you're a natural at this" and "that was brilliant Mark!" I was very flattered. Near noon we were filming on the upper deck where the World Cafe is so they wanted to film us sitting down to eat, and then we all had a leisurely lunch together. We resumed filming and for the episode's finale they had Kim and I order drinks and then go out on the upper deck. James went to the top deck and launched a drone which filmed us toasting one another and then soared off to take a panoramic view of London. THAT will be cool. As we did one last scene in the living room where I closed the episode down I thanked both James and Ciara for spending so much time with us and giving me the opportunity to do another episode. Both then remarked they were "sure there will be more episodes" and said what they wanted to do next was to arrange for me to join them on a cruise and film an episode throughout the cruise. I LIKE THAT idea :) It was just a great day. Big thanks to my wife Kim for being so supportive (and making several "cameo appearances" in the shoot, and for taking the action shots below! This evening we depart from London and will sail to Dover for tomorrow's adventure!
NOTE our attire....I went back and forth several times about which of my Viking shirts to wear, and wouldn't you know it, I picked the same one James had on. And Kim had randomly picked this blue striped top, only to see when Ciara showed up that she had on a very similarly looking top!
Discussing the shooting schedule
Getting sound test and ready to go
The opening sequence on the big staircase
Takes #2, #3, #4, and #5 to get the angles & the lighting right!
Walking the outer deck shot
Setting up the lunch on the Aquavit Terrace shot
And "ACTION!"
More outside deck shots
Talking about the pool grill with THE BEST hamburgers & hot dogs
And pointing out the salad options
Interior discussions of the art work and restaurants
Pointing out the Viking tapestries on the walls in the stairwells
We were home for only two weeks before Kim and I took off for another river cruise through France for two weeks and upon our return, less than two weeks after that I was off to Ohio to visit my family. On the day before I was set to fly home from Ohio I reached out to James & Ciara asking if the November 11th date was still a go. Within an hour James had replied that he'd forwarded my email to "Paul" who was doing the final editing. Then the morning prior to my afternoon departure I got a "Final Cut" version of the episode and a "reel" which could be used as a "trailer" for the episode. Here's that short video:
Viking TV "Teaser"
I had a lot of cool reactions to the video
And that brings us to the "release" of the actual "live" video on November 11th. I was in front of the big screen TV (with the laptop connected) to watch the presentation and even though I'd seen it numerous times I still watched with great interest. Again, I thought the presentation was slick and I was made to look like a real pro TV host. It didn't take long for friends and family to begin reacting. The first comments online were typical of what kept rolling in.....
But the highlight of the reactions came later when our son Brad sent me the photo below. Our grandson, Oliver had come home from school and was immediately interested in watching his Grandpa on TV. And what made this even cooler was that this evening he was being featured at the Orlando Solar Bears hockey game where he and his teammates were playing in between periods. For any "normal" 8yo THAT would be the highlight of the day for them, but no he wanted to watch me and my presentation. And even better than this, immediately after he finished watching he called me via FaceTime and as I answered the call he's got a big grin on his face and is applauding while saying, "GREAT job Gradpa, you were great!" THAT was the best!
When I shared the link with gal-pal, CBS-Miami evening news anchor Lauren Pastrana, she replied right away with her congratulations and promised to watch it later.....and hopefully give me some constructive feedback.
And so as of this writing, just three days past the release of the episode, it has been very well received and now I'm hopeful that another episode will be in the works soon!
