The Duck Ride



On Sunday, May 22, 2011 we took a beautiful, early morning, back-roads ride before mixing it up with the tourists at the Peabody Hotel on International Drive to watch the 11:00 Peabody Duck March.  The staff at the hotel welcomed The Chrome Divas and even arranged for a private tour for us with the DuckMaster™.

Here is some information about this very entertaining daily ritual:  (Taken from The Peabody website)

 

The Peabody Duck March

Since opening its doors on November 1, 1986, The Peabody Orlando has continued, in unbroken sequence, the traditional March of The Peabody Ducks which began at its sister property, The Peabody Memphis, many, many years ago.

Each morning, promptly at 11 a.m., the hotel's atrium lobby is the scene of a remarkable ritual. In a special elevator, the five North American mallard ducks, four hens and one drake, comprising The Peabody Ducks, descend from their $100,000 penthouse Royal Duck Palace.

When the elevator doors open, The Peabody Ducks, accompanied by their crimson-and-gold- braid-jacketed Duck Master™, take up their positions on a plush red carpet and begin The March of The Peabody Orlando Ducks to the strident tones of John Philip Sousa's King Cotton March.

They waddle their way in formation through the hotel's marble halls, and when they reach the magnificent, orchid-crowned fountain, which takes center stage in the Atrium Lobby, the ducks mount three red-carpeted steps and splash into the fountain's waters. Tumultuous applause reverberates through the lofty, foliage-draped lobby, and standing ovations are the order of the day by the hundreds of onlookers who daily crowd into the hotel to see one of the greatest shows on earth.

At 5 p.m., the procession is reversed, The Peabody Orlando Ducks marching back to their special elevator, then to their Royal Duck Palace for dinner and a quiet evening together.   

The Legend of the Ducks

How did the tradition of the North American Mallard ducks in the lobby fountain of The Peabody Memphis begin? Back in the 1930s, Frank Schutt, general manager of The Peabody Memphis, and his life-long friend, Chip Barwick, returned from a weekend hunting trip to Arkansas. The men had had a little too much Tennessee sippin’ whiskey, and thought it would be funny to place some of their live duck decoys (it was legal then for hunters to use live decoys), into the black travertine fountain of the Peabody hotel. Three small English call ducks were selected, and the reaction was nothing short of enthusiastic. Thus began a Peabody tradition that was to become internationally famous. The original ducks have long since gone, but after 75 years, their progeny live on in the graceful, marble fountain in “The South’s Grand Hotel,” The Peabody Memphis, and also at The Peabody Little Rock and The Peabody Orlando. The Peabody Duck March takes place twice daily at 11am and 5pm.



Shortly after we arrived, the crowd started gathering in the lobby along the red carpet that had been rolled out for The Peabody Ducks.



One of the elevators had been reserved exclusively for The Peabody Ducks.

And here they come!  The Peabody should reconsider changing the name from The Duck March to The Duck Run. 



The Peabody Five



Paddling in luxury.

Donald the Duck Master™
(Really!  Zoom in on the name tag; his name is really Donald.  I couldn't make this up.)

Donald the Duck Master™ gave us a little history of the 75-year-old Peabody Duck tradition, answered all our questions and later took us up to the roof to see the $100,000 suite that was built for the ducks.

Donald the Duck Master™ and the Divas

The fountain in the Duck Palace

After the Duck March we headed over to the B-Line Diner in the hotel and had a delicious brunch.  We made sure to save room for their famous desserts that tempt you on the way into the diner.

Best. Cake. Ever.
The Bavarian Fruit Cake



All the Divas went home with a souvenir rubber ducky flashlight keychain.  And they quack too!  We were like kids playing with our new toys. 


 Thank you to Lisa Religioso, Scott Whalen, Donald the Duck Master™ and all the staff at The Peabody Hotel for all of your hospitality.  You all made us feel so welcome and did so much to help make our May ride event fun and memorable!