LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla., July 28, 2010 – Hundreds of Disney Cast Members arrived at the Magic Kingdom before sunrise this month to participate in Canoe Races of the World, also known as C.R.O.W., a spirited Disney tradition that involves friendly competition and strength behind the oars. The beloved annual Cast Member event dates back to 1963 at Disneyland, 1973 at Walt Disney World Resort and is now at Disney Parks worldwide.
Of the 79 participating teams, Shut Up and Let Me Row... HEY! from Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, was crowned the 2010 C.R.O.W. grand champion on July 23. The title is a first for the co-ed recreational team, who competed against five other finalists in the grand championship round, held pre-dawn on the Rivers of America.
“We were thrilled that we won our division, and all of us were in shock when they announced us as the C.R.O.W. Grand Champions,” said team captain Kari Harlow. She credits strong communication and unity among the team members to keeping them in sync on the river, which ultimately led to their victory. A sense of humor helped too.
“Our team loves to laugh, so we stayed positive throughout the competition, even in stressful situations. C.R.O.W. is a stellar event and we loved being a part of it,” said Harlow.
