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First Lady Michelle Obama visits ESPN Wide World of Sports at Walt Disney World

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Just weeks after her husband's policy speech on Main Street, U.S.A. in the Magic Kingdom, First Lady Michelle Obama appeared at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World on Saturday. Mrs. Obama's appearance was in conjunction with the second anniversary of her "Let's Move" campaign to inspire kids and families to lead healthier and active lifestyles. Disney has tied into that campaign with the Disney Magic of Healthy Living program.


First Lady Michelle Obama addresses the crowd. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

The event included hundreds of kids from Central Florida, who participated in physical fitness activities and learned a new dance, "The Platypus Walk" (themed to Disney's "Phineas and Ferb") to perform for the First Lady. The event got started with the singing of the national anthem and the pledge of allegiance. Florida Senator Bill Nelson then took the stage, welcomed the crowd, then performed 50 military push-ups to show how seriously he takes fitness.


Tony Horton gets the crowd moving. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

Emcee Ernie D from Radio Disney then welcomed fitness guru Tony Horton to the stage. Horton led the hundreds of children in a series of high-energy exercises. Ernie D returned to the stage to welcome stars from Disney Channel and Disney XD programs and Rosero McCoy, the choreographer from Disney's "Shake It Up." McCoy then taught the approximately 800 kids the Platypus Walk, assisted by Disney Channel stars Debby Ryan, Roshon Fegan, Doc Shaw, Kelsey Chow, and Olivia Holt. After a couple of run-throughs, the group was joined onstage by the "Agent P" Perry the Platypus character for one last rehearsal.


Disney Channel stars (l. to r.) Doc Shaw, Roshon Fegan, Debby Ryan, Kelsey Chow, and Olivia Holt join Rosero McCoy in teaching the crowd "The Platypus Walk." Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

Ernie D then welcomed the First Lady, dressed in a sweatsuit, to the stage. Mrs. Obama then briefly addressed the crowd about the Let's Move program. McCoy led everyone in performing the dance, with Mrs. Obama joining in on stage.


The First Lady interacts with the crowd as she arrives on stage. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

The children then split into groups around the field, each group doing a different fitness activity. Mrs. Obama worked her way around to each group, participating with some. She appeared to really enjoy the modified tennis game and had to be encouraged by her entourage to move on to the next group. After visiting with each group, the First Lady left the field and headed back to Washington, D.C.


First Lady Michelle Obama enjoys a modified game of tennis. This appeared to be her favorite activity of the day. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

Like the President's visit last month, Mrs. Obama did not bring their daughters Sasha and Malia with her on her visit to Walt Disney World, perhaps proving that Disney Parks & Resorts are not just for kids.

For more information on the Let's Move campaign, go to the campaign's website.

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Updated 02-27-2012 at 06:41 PM by Mark Goldhaber

Categories
Walt Disney World , Disney Parks & Resorts , Featured , USAT

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