April 3, 2013: Come on baby, do the locomotion.

Today is National Walking Day. I try to walk 5km every day. In the winter I was less consistent about walking because I really can’t handle the cold any more (reason # infinite why I need to move to Orlando). My family gave me a treadmill for Christmas so I’m on that most days but yesterday I did 10km outside on the track while my son had tennis practice. Life is good and walking is Walt Disney World training. There are two great reasons to walk in preparation for any WDW trip: first, do not go to Disney in new shoes, you will suffer, break them in; second, get accustomed to walking, a lot, even if you are efficient and use a touring plan there is a lot of walking to do at WDW. And I’ll give you this one for free; if you drink Coca-Cola products save the lids or cases for cans and enter the codes at mycokerewards.com. I accumulate points and get free Nike shoes and you can too.

Matt is wearing free Nike sandals in this one.

I am wearing free Nike running shoes and so should you. They weigh nearly nothing.

If you have ever been to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party you know that the Headless Horseman plays a major role in the parade associated with the party. The Horseman was created by Washington Irving; named after George Washington and born on this day in 1783. Washington’s short story The Legend of Sleepy Hollow was featured in Disney’s The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad. Now, we all know that Mr. Toad is no more at WDW but there are a couple of places to still see him (sort of). One is in a picture on the wall in the Pooh attraction, which replaced Toad’s attraction, and the other is a tombstone at the exit of the Haunted Mansion, R.I.P. Otherwise, wait until Halloween for the Horseman (you know you don’t want to wait).

Let’s take a trip over to the Animal Kingdom and celebrate a scientist with a true pedigree, Disney and otherwise. Dame Jane Morris Goodall was born on this day in 1934. Goodall spent 45 years studying the social interactions of chimpanzees in the Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania. Dr. Goodall was an honored guest on opening day at the Animal Kingdom and was given a Conservation Legacy Award from the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund in 2006. In 2012, Disney Nature’s documentary Chimpanzee was co-produced by the Jane Goodall Institute. Spend the day exploring the walking trails and tours around the Animal Kingdom and maybe make a donation to the Conservation Fund and become a nature hero yourself.

And now… some quick hits:

1959: David Hyde Pierce: Dr. Doppler in Treasure Planet, Slim in A Bug’s Life and voice work in the TV version of Hercules. Since we’re already at the Animal Kingdom, check out It’s Tough to Be a Bug.

1961: Eddie Murphy was born. Eddie starred in The Haunted Mansion and played Mushu in Mulan. The easiest thing to do is hit The Haunted Mansion in the Magic Kingdom but we have met Mushu and Mulan at Hollywood Studios and EPCOT.

1924: Doris Day was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. Day epitomized the “girl next door” and even recorded a Beach Boys song, “Disney Girls” in 2011. Visit Doris at the All Star Music Resort where she is featured in a mural in the Food Court.

My Daughter’s favorite series of movies are the three Godfather movies and, on this day in 1924, Marlon Brando, Don Corleone, was born. I am a huge Superman fan so I automatically think of him as Jor-El from the seventies / eighties Superman movies. The easy way to honor Brando is the ride The Great Movie Ride but allow me to make another suggestion. If you drive to Walt Disney World and pass by Savannah, Georgia, stop in at Corleone’s and have some great Italian food. No, they do not pay me. I just love the place.

1949: Lyle Alzado. Alzado was my favorite football player. He died way too young from a brain tumor possibly brought on by steroid use. Alzado appeared in the Touchstone (Disney) picture Ernest Goes To Camp as a tough guy foreman. Let’s honor his memory by visiting the All-Star Sports Resort.

One my favorite bands in my middle school years was Grand Funk Railroad and, in 1951, Mel Schacher, bassist for Grand Funk was born. Grand Funk was a blue-collar band from Michigan playing rock and roll for average Americans. Let’s get to Magic Kingdom, ride the railroad, and sing “The Locomotion.” They won’t mind.

Remember, your best excuse is always: waiting for your dreams to come true.