Know Before You Go - Your Next Disney Trip

Know Before You Go – Your Next Trip To Disney

March 24, 2021

Many people are heading to Disney for spring break, so I researched things you should know before your next trip to Disney. It will be much different from past trips. It was this time last year that we were planning to take our family vacation to Walt Disney World for spring break. We weren’t able to go because of the pandemic, so now we are getting excited as we prepare for a new adventure this year.

A year later, I am grateful that we are able to traveling by plane again to visit our favorite place. I have been working so hard with very little time off and really need an escape. We have traveled by car for vacation last summer; but we are in need of our Disney fix.

Pack Your Masks

This is the biggest change that is strictly enforced on all Disney properties. You must wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth, and you cannot wear bandanas, gators, or masks with a vent.

There are a lot of cute options around that you can choose from to coordinate with your attire. I found some great KN95 masks to use on the plane from Amazon. I also found a lot of cute Disney masks from various Etsy shops that support furloughed Disney cast members.

Pack several masks to use throughout your day in a zip lock bag to keep them clean and also bring a bag to put the used masks into. It’s also a good idea to bring some disposable masks to keep on hand. When you return to your hotel, you can wash them and hang them to dry for the next day.

Expect Different Experiences

If you have been to Walt Disney World prior to the pandemic, things are much different now than they were then. While some things may not be available like they were in prior years, there are some nice additions and modifications to what you may have been used to.

Riding Attractions

Prior to going to Disney, many people would make their dining reservations and fast pass selections. They are fun things to do as part of your pre-trip preparation. With the parks operating at a 30% capacity right now, they are not offering the ability to book a fast pass. The current wait times for several major attractions are an hour at the longest for the most popular big attractions.

Events That Are Taking Place

During these current months until July, Epcot is hosting the Taste of Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival like they have in previous years. This year it is running the longest it ever has, now ending on July 5. This event will still offer the different outdoor kitchens with wonderful food from various locations around the world.

Some live entertainment shows are taking place throughout the world showcase during the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival. From concerts in the America Garden Theatre, to the Jammin’ Gardeners at the Canada Mill Stage. This festival is one of my favorites that takes place in Epcot.

Events That Are Not Taking Place

Fireworks and parades are still on hold at this time. I don’t know yet when they will return. I was hoping they would be back for the summer; but it could be wishful thinking. But in lieu of the traditional 3:00 and night time parades, there are cavalcades that pop up throughout the parks with characters and singing that you can still enjoy.

Live entertainment like the many live dancing and singing shows in Animal Kingdom are currently on hold. But I do have some good news! The Festival of the Lion King will be coming back to the Animal Kingdom during this summer.

runDisney is also not holding their races at this time. The Star Wars Dark Side race weekend usually took place in April; but this year it is now converted to a virtual race. The next race in line is the Wine & Dine Half Marathon weekend; but we have not heard anything about registration or if the event will even take place this year.

That leaves us with marathon weekend registration. This too, is usually the time of year that the registration opens up for the popular race weekend. As of today, there is no mention of the 2022 race weekend at all.

Anything that involves getting a large crowd together in one tight space is understandably not a wise idea at the present time. But there is an end in sight, and I’m anxious for new changes and openings to happen throughout the year.

Modifications at the Parks

The first, most important thing to note is the change to how and when you can visit one of the four theme parks. You must have a room reservation, an annual pass, or purchased tickets in order to make a reservation for the theme park you wish to visit. This means you have to plan your trip before taking the trip. You can’t come and go to any park you want anymore.

Park Hopping is still allowed; but you can’t leave your park and enter another park until 2:00 p.m. You have to check which park will allow entry to park hop to by checking the Park Hours calendar and the My Disney Experience app. It’s important to realize that the entry to the second park depends on the park’s capacity limitations. You will be notified in real time via a push notification from the My Disney Experience app.

Hotel Accommodations

Not all of the hotels are open yet. The remaining hotels that are not open yet are listed below with their projected opening dates. In addition to this list below, the Boardwalk is also closed at this time without a reopening date.

May 30, 2021	Disney’s Beach Club Resort
June 6, 2021	Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Summer 2021	Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

When you arrive to your hotel, you will have a more touch less experience. Your magic band or the My Disney Experience app can be used to unlock your room. You can use online check-in and direct-to-room service for information about your room. When you receive a notification that your room is ready, you can go directly to the room and you don’t have to stop at the front desk of your resort.

You have to wear your mask at all times when you are not in your room. This also means walking to the pool and at the pool deck. Once you are seated in your chair or swimming, then you can remove your mask.

Dining

You can still dine at many of your favorite restaurants, but there are no longer buffets and self-service stations. The dining plan is no longer being offered by Disney. Buffets are now family style options; and self-service items such as beverages and other options are now served by cast members instead.

At quick-service restaurants, menus are displayed on signage, and you can also pre-order using mobile ordering. At table-service restaurants, you can scan a code with your mobile device to access the digital menu.

The My Disney Experience mobile app now offers a mobile check-in option for select table-service restaurants at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Guests receive a push notification on their mobile device when their table is ready; they can also begin the check-in process by scanning a QR code located in the restaurant’s lobby. (Matt Stroshane, photographer)

There is no longer a dining plan available as there was in the past. You can continue to make reservations to your favorite locations ahead of time. Tables in Wonderland is also not being sold at this time; but they are honoring the discounts with the program for members who had one prior to the closure.

Masks are required in the dining location, even as you wait for your food to arrive. Once you begin eating, then you can remove your mask.

Are You Planning A Trip To Disney this Year?

There appears to be a light at the end of this year long tunnel and more opportunities are opening back up again to allow us to experience the magic of Disney. It’s what you make of it, so remember to have a open mind and patience for the modifications that have been made to keep us safe.

Click here for more detailed information from Walt Disney World regarding their Covid precautions. Please feel free to reach out to me for any questions you may have before I go! Don’t forget to follow my adventures on my Facebook and Instagram stories!

3 Ways To Celebrate Star Wars Day

May 3, 2020

May the 4th be with you! It’s May and that means Star Wars Celebrations! We used to travel to Walt Disney World in May and got to experience Star Wars Day at Hollywood Studios. It’s so much fun! I have 3 ways to celebrate Star Wars Day anywhere with your family!

Disneybounding

I think out of all the character dress up opportunities, Star Wars fans go all out! I have done some Disneybounding with Star Wars for the runDisney races, visiting the parks, and also at home with Halloween and other parties we have attended.

Blue Milk Recipe

If you want to bring the magic home, you can make some blue milk from the comfort of your own kitchen easily with this dairy free recipe.

Blue Milk Ingredients

1 cup rice milk
2 cups canned Dole pineapple
1 cup unsweetened coconut Silk
Blue food coloring
1 cup watermelon chunks
1 1/2 teaspoons dragon fruit flavoring drops

Blue Milk Instructions

Combine all of the ingredients in a blender
Serve chilled

Send A Message From A Galaxy Far Away

Galaxy’s Edge is a completely immersive atmosphere. I was blown away the first time I walked into the land. Star Wars fans are very passionate about their love of Star Wars. I am a Star Wars fan; but nowhere close to the level as many others.

Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge scenery was a perfect backdrop for a surprise video I was doing for my kids. I set up to FaceTime the kids from a quiet area near the Millenium Falcon. I was attending a conference and flew to Orlando prior to the family. The plan was that when I got back home from the conference, we were going to go to Hershey Park for Adrienne’s birthday. But to their surprise, they were coming down to Orlando to meet up with me!

Here’s the video of their surprise.

Galaxy’s Edge has so many amazing photography locations, apart from the main attraction, the Millenium Falcon. Every corner you turn, you can find remnants of old transport ships, droids, and cargo. This would be a perfect place to make an announcement of a recent engagement, a birth announcement or a gender reveal to name a few!

What would you announce from Galaxy’s Edge?

How are you going to celebrate Star Wars Day? Share your ideas in the comments!

Beauty And The Beast Party Ideas

April 27, 2020

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When the Beauty and the Beast live action movie came out in 2017 my mom and I wanted to celebrate our birthdays with a Beauty and the Beast Party! As soon as we said it, my brain was already in full planning mode. I already had ideas for the rose, the party decorations and my mom was in charge of the cake. Here are some Beauty and the Beast Party ideas for decorations, place settings, food, and costumes!

Beauty And The Beast Party Decorations

The Beast’s Rose

The centerpiece of our party has to be the beast’s rose. As soon as I thought of it, I envisioned the rose inside a glass dome, dripping with little twinkle lights. I found the supplies for it at Michael’s and Amazon and got right to work putting it together. It was very simple and was just what we needed!

Glass Dome – Approximately 11 inches high. You want it to stand out on the table as the centerpiece.
LED Lights – I prefer the warm color lights
Silk Rose – You can find these on amazon or any craft store.
Green Foam – You can also find these at amazon or any craft store.

Tea

No party wouldn’t be complete without some tea served in a fancy pot with cups. I really want the Mrs. Potts tea set. But we used our own tea cups and pot. I’d love to get a fancy set like this to keep on display at my house and to use for special tea time.

I love tea and I collect antique tea cups. When I brought my mom to Disney with me during Princess Half Marathon weekend, we made a date to have tea at the Grand Floridian. This is an experience you must do at least once, if not every time you go to Disney!

Characters

I wish I had an old clock like Cogsworth and a candelabra like Lumiere. But we made due and my mom made some items to fill the part.

I loved the picture frames sprinkled around the kitchen with Belle and the Beast. It was a nice touch!

Beauty And The Beast Party Place Settings

I wanted each person at the party to have a “Be Our Guest” invitation at each place setting. I created a small napkin holder with a mirror and a rose with a tag that read “Be Our Guest”. These items can be found at Michael’s.

Beauty And The Beast Party Desserts

The Grey Stuff Recipe

For dessert we had a special cake made and I of course had to make the grey stuff!

Ingredients

1 3.4 oz vanilla pudding mix
1 1/2 cups milk
15 oreos
8 oz cool whip
2 tbsp chocolate pudding mix
pearl sprinkles

Instructions

In a medium bowl, combine pudding mix and milk. Whisk well and refrigerate for 10 minutes.
Place Oreos in a food processor and blend until they become crumbs.
Mix the crushed Oreos in with the pudding mixture and mix well.
Fold in Cool Whip and chocolate pudding mix until well combined and refrigerate for one hour before serving.
When ready to serve, place “grey stuff” in a piping bag and add a dollop to the middle and then pipe a spiral around it. Top with sprinkles.
ENJOY!

The Cake

We also had a beautiful cake made by a friend of my mom’s. It was the perfect addition to our party theme.

Disney Bounding

I love to dress in costume for the runDisney races that I participate in. For one of the Princess weekends, I dressed as Princess Belle for the half marathon and provincial Belle for the 10K.

Are you ready to host a party?

I’d love to see what you put together for a Disney Themed party from your home! Share your photos with me or leave me a comment about the theme you’d like to design! I’d love to help give you ideas!

How I Feel About The Disney Closures

March 13, 2020

Disney will be closed. All of the parks and the cruise line will not be open for business for a period of time. When they will reopen is still an unknown. Wait, what? Let that sink in for a minute. I’m sharing how I personally felt when I started hearing the news about the multiple Disney closures.

The Phases Of The Disney Closures

Asia

When the outbreak of COVID-19 started in Asia, the parks in Hong Kong Disneyland, Tokyo Disneyland, and Shanghai Disneyland had to close. In all honesty, I think we all expected that. Because those parks are on the other side of the world, it was out of touch for me. It didn’t really affect me.

Hong Kong Disneyland, Shanghai Disneyland and Tokyo Disneyland closed during the last week of January due to the outbreak of the virus. It is still unknown when they will reopen again.

As of Thursday morning, we all weren’t sure what was going to happen here in the United States. Throughout the day, more and more news updates were coming across my phone about school closings in my state. As the alerts were increasing, we knew there was a chance our schools were going to close for at least two weeks.

What did this mean for us? It meant that the kids would most likely either have online schooling for 4 hours a day; or, they were going to have packets of work to do without a school check-in and they will need to make up the time somehow. Our family has a vacation booked in the near future. We don’t know yet if we will be going on that vacation.

California

Disneyland announced in the late afternoon that they were closing until the end of March. That’s when I thought, “ok, it’s serious”. I knew it was serious all along; but people were still talking about business as usual in every other area except school. I kept thinking, will we still be able to take our trip? Will Walt Disney World close? Is it worse in CA than it is in FL? Do we even want to fly or be in Disney during a time like this.

Florida

Then a few hours later Walt Disney World and the Cruise Lines were halting operations until the end of March. In my opinion, that was big. I also felt it was important. People needed to see the seriousness of the matter. I think we were in the “if you give an inch, they will take a mile” mentality. Places were closing; but people can still go out, travel, drive, shop, go to the movies, and more.

Paris

Disneyland Paris is following the same schedule as Walt Disney World and they will be closing effective, Sunday, March 15 through the end of March.

How can you control a pandemic if people are still going on vacation to places with large congregations of people from areas all over. Sure, closing schools will help reduce the spread of the virus; but if you take the kids out of school and then take them somewhere else, it defeats the purpose.

The Emotional Impact of Disney Closures

When I heard Disneyland was going to close, I held my breath. I assumed that the number of cases being discovered in the West Coast were higher than those on the East Coast so they were starting there first.

When it was announced that Walt Disney World was closing, and that the cruise line was halting operations, I got the sense like Disney would set the precedence for other large businesses in their industry to follow suit.

I Have To Be A Grown Up

We also got official word that our schools were going to be closed but we didn’t know when or how they would make up the time. This meant we have to make some grown up decisions about our vacation around the kids’ school schedule. They are older now and we can’t just take them out for our selfish wants to spend time with them. So we are going to have to find an alternative time to go on our trip.

There was also talk about post-vacation quarantines. So if we were to take the kids out of school for a trip, they may need to be quarantined for an additional 14 days. It’s a no-brainer.

We had a family meeting with the kids over dinner and talked about it all. We told them that with everything going on and so many unknowns, that our vacation will most likely be impacted and we will have to reschedule it. But we will do whatever we can to make the time we are spending together at home a positive experience, and we will have time for vacation as a family as well. We will work it out.

I was very impressed at how the kids handled the news. I expected more emotion or disappointment from them. My daughter was a little emotional about not being able to go to school for two weeks, and my son seemed a little relieved. I think he was needing a break from the heavy workload of homework. He even said on Wednesday that he was looking forward to Spring Break, and I got excited when I heard him say that because I knew we had a surprise for them.

What About….

The runDisney Star Wars Half Marathon Races

It’s still unknown what the status of the race weekend is. You can join my Facebook group for current updates on this race status.

Annual Passes and Tickets

Disney is adding the number of days closed to the expiration date of your existing annual pass.
If you have unexpired multi-day theme park tickets with unused days, or dates during the closures, they will be automatically extended to December 15, 2020.
After Hours and Early Morning Magic tickets are being refunded automatically. See the graphic below for more info.

Vacations Booked

The resorts and Disney Springs are still open.
You can modify or cancel a reservation up to your original check in date for a refund.
All cancellation fees up through June 30, 2020 will be waived.

What Can We Do During The Disney Closures

When Lou Mongello went live from Disney’s Beach Club on Thursday night, I started a watch party. A lot of people joined. We all wanted to know what was going on. I wanted to know what the vibe was like. Were people panicking? Was there still music playing in the parks, and people were strolling along Main Street with their family and having their “normal” vacation? What’s it really like?

Lou went live from The Beach Club in the Breezeway with a few of his friends and his wife. They were walking out of Epcot for the day and he just felt at the moment that he needed to go live. So they sat down and hit the Live button. Lou began sharing why he was going live at that moment and he was feeling emotional. That made me emotional.

There was some shock and awe when the Disney closures were happening. I felt like someone was taking away my favorite toy. Even if I am not there now, I have friends who go there often. I live vicariously through them as I watch and share their live broadcasts. If you know me, you know how much my family and I love Disney. But if it is closed, we can’t go, and our countdown changes, and everything feels out of whack!

It was the human component that was sinking in for me. People were sick and dying. It was because an illness is being spread, and Disney is a place where MANY people congregate. It’s just too risky for everyone. The cast members, the visitors, those traveling to and from there. So I don’t think it was a bad decision to close. It just comes with lots of different emotions. Especially for the groupies like us.

If our favorite place, the place we call home, the place that brings us joy and pleasure has to close, then things must be pretty bad. They aren’t just closing for the day either. They will be closed until the end of March, and anything after that is yet to be determined. Whoa.

As Lou was chatting with us online and with the folks sitting with him in the room, we all felt the need to be together online. We all have this common bond with our love of Disney, but we are also people who care about other people. As US citizens, we needed to be responsible in helping prevent this disruptive virus from crippling the world even worse than it already was.

What Can We Do Now?

Share the good news. Find the silver lining. I already saw some good news coming out of Disney. Disneyland Resort is donating excess food during the temporary closure.

Host your own online events!

I will be going live with my family every day to share what we are doing during our time at home. I also have some creative ideas to bring us all together virtually. I’ll be sharing more on that soon! If you have a shared interest with others, get online, talk about it! Sometimes just saying things out loud to other people helps make you feel better.

How do you feel about Disney closing? Share your comments below!

4 Reasons Why Toy Story 4 Related To Me

July 5, 2019

The whole family went to see Toy Story 4 on opening day. We bought our tickets in advance so we wouldn’t miss it! I loved all of the previous Toy Story Movies so I was very excited about this one. There are a lot of huge moments in this movie that made me feel many different emotions. I’ll share with you the 4 reasons why Toy Story 4 related to me.

I also took the family to Toy Story Land in Walt Disney World this past January during the Early Magic Hours so we could have time there to ourselves. That’s how much I love Toy Story.

1. Woody Fostered A New “Toy”

I love how Woody took the role of mentor to Forky. He was doing his job to make sure Bonnie was ok in kindergarten when he snuck in her backpack. Then when he saw she was upset he quickly came to the rescue with some various crafting supplies that later became Forky. When Forky came to life he was conflicted. Woody had to teach Forky that he was valuable and not a piece of trash.

Forky needed to learn that he has an important role to play in Bonnie’s life.

2. Buzz Lightyear Had To Listen To His Inner Voice

Woody had to leave Buzz Lightyear in charge and his advice to Buzz was to listen to his inner voice. Buzz, not really knowing what that was, used the buttons on his space suit and listened to that “voice” instead. It was quite hysterical. But Buzz did a good job stepping up for the job and took care of the rest of the toys while Woody and Forky were out in the world looking for Bonnie.

AND BEYOND – Buzz Lightyear is back on the big screen in Disney and Pixar’s “Toy Story 4,” joining Woody and the whole gang on an eye-opening road trip that takes them to unexpected places, including a carnival. Featuring Tim Allen as the voice of Buzz, “Toy Story 4” opens in U.S. theaters on June 21, 2019. ©2019 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

I related to this this year because I have had to listen to my inner voice and trust my instincts on decisions I need to make for my business. This has been a big year for me and so far I think I have been making good decisions. I don’t have regrets so far.

3. Bo Peep and Woody Are Meant To Be Together

Woody happened upon Bo Peep in an antique shop while looking for Bonnie and her family. He spotted her lamp in the window and was so surprised to find her there! Earlier in the movie when Bo was given away with other things, Woody and Bo had a tearful goodbye.

GIGGLE MCDIMPLES — In Disney•Pixar’s “Toy Story 4,” Bo Peep introduces Woody to her best friend Giggle McDimples. A miniature plastic doll from the 1980s, Giggle is Bo’s confidant, supporter and advisor, and spends a lot of her time perched on Bo’s shoulder. Featuring Ally Maki as the voice of Giggle, “Toy Story 4” opens in U.S. theaters on June 21, 2019…©2019 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

Their relationship evolved throughout the movie and Woody saw Bo in a new light. She was independent, strong and knew what she wanted and went after it. I love that portrayal of Bo Peep in the movie. I also admired how she took charge of her group of toy friends and Woody’s admiration of her.

4. We All Have To Follow Our Heart

(Spoiler Alert!) I was surprised about this part of the movie and I actually felt really torn about it. Woody had to decide if he was going to stay with Bo Peep or head back home with the toys. He chose to follow his heart and stayed with Bo.

Sometimes we need to make difficult decisions in our life. It’s not always about what is right for everyone else, but it’s about choosing to do what is right for you.

Toy Story 4 was the perfect family movie. There was something for everyone, we laughed, cried, cried laughing, and there were a few screams during the movie. I loved it so much I am going to go see it again soon. I can’t wait to watch it again and look for the little easter eggs that Pixar drops into their films.

Have you seen the movie yet? What did you think of it? I’d love to hear if the 4 reasons why Toy Story 4 related to me are similar for you, too. Share your thoughts with me in the comments below.

Emotional Toy Story 4 Trailer And Activity Sheets

May 31, 2019

Toy Story 4 is coming out on June 21st! This is going to be the perfect movie to kick off summer vacation! But bring your tissues! I am hearing that it’s going to be an emotional Toy Story 4.

Emotional Toy Story 4 Final Trailer

The Story Behind Toy Story 4

I fell in love with Toy Story when it first came out in 1995. Then Toy Story 2 was released in 1999; and when Toy Story 3 came out in 2010, we took our son to see it for his first movie. I never tire watching any of these movies when they are on.

Toy Story 4 takes Woody, Buzz and the whole gang on a road trip. But first, Woody takes on a new role as Bonnie prepares to go to kindergarten. As Bonnie is growing up, Woody is also having to transition into a new role. He needs to be there for Bonnie.

When she was struggling during kindergarten orientation, Woody dug through a trash can to retrieve a few art supplies to create something for Bonnie. When his creation becomes a toy named Forky, Woody has to teach him how to become a toy and embrace being a toy. But Forky struggles with his feelings of being trash and not a toy.

As the movie continues, the toys and their new friend Forky go on a road trip that unexpectedly reunites Woody and his long-lost friend Bo Peep. Woody learns of Bo Peep’s new life outside of Andy’s house. There was always a special connection or love between Woody and Bo Peep. When they are reunited she shares with Woody her new life and how she has changed.

There’s so much more excitement in the movie with the introduction of new characters such as Duke Caboon, Gigg McDimples, Benson, Ducky and Bunny. Woody and the gang meet these new characters in an antique store called Second Chance Antiques, and at a carnival.

I can’t wait to meet these new characters and follow the adventures of Woody, Buzz and the gang! Check out more fun facts about the movie on the Toy Story 4 Facebook page!

Toy Story 4 Activity Sheets

Download, print and color the pages with your kids for great summer fun before the movie comes out! Make some of the recipes to bring with you to the movie, too!

Coloring Sheets

Games

Recipes

Emotional Toy Story 4 Trailer And Activity Sheets

Are you going to see the movie? Which of the first three movies was your favorite?

runDisney Dopey Challenge Packing List

January 7, 2019

Weather Conditions For Marathon Weekend

For the past three years, the weather in Florida in January has been quite unpredictable. That’s why it is important to know what to put on your Dopey Challenge packing list. I am providing my packing advice for the Dopey Challenge because it includes all races (except the kid races).

The first year I ran my first marathon in January of 2013, the temperature was in the mid-80’s with humidity. The past two years we started the 5K with temperatures 30 degrees or below. Then each day it got warmer little by little.

Two years ago, the half marathon was cancelled due to thunderstorms in the area where the volunteers would have been. I have even heard the stories of how there was sleet and ice at the water stops in 2010. So now I pack for ALL weather conditions!

Organize Your Clothes For Each Race

When I run the Dopey Challenge I have a costume for each race. I place them in zip lock back along with the underwear, bra, socks, compression shorts, and accessories I will need for that race. This also helps to keep each day organized so when I need to get the next race day laid out, the costume and accessories are all together and easily accessible. I am also including cold weather clothes with each race outfit.

Keep Your Race Gear With You

I also pack all race gear, costumes and shoes in my carry on bag when I fly. That is a must for any race that I run. I can live without clothes and my makeup; but I can not run without MY GEAR.

Also when checking into the hotel the race gear bag is always in my sight. I don’t want to take any chances of it getting misplaced accidentally.

What to pack for each race

Running Essentials

The basic running essentials are the items you trained in back home. On race day is not the time to try out something you haven’t trained with. You will need one of these for every race. The essentials include:

Socks
Compression socks
Underwear
Sports bra (nipple guards for men)
Compression shorts
Running shoes
Garmin/Running Watch
Sunglasses
Sunscreen
Visor
Braces or KT tape for problem areas
Glide

Running Costume Accessories

If you are wearing a costume you need to consider packing the following into separate baggies:

Sparkle skirt or bottoms
Top
Socks/Compression tights or leggings
Wings/headpiece/jewelry
Wig
Hair clips or bows

Running Accessories

If you run with music or special gear don’t forget to pack those into a separate baggie to keep everything organized

Music player and charger
Headphones and charger
Sunglasses
Fuel belt
Fuel (Gus, chews, gels, food, etc.)
Spi belt
Water bottle

Weather Gear

Running Clothes for Weather

To be prepared for all-weather conditions, I pack the following extra items to have just in case:

Capri running tights
Fleece lined running tights
Regular running tights
Short sleeve shirts (layering pieces)
Long sleeve shirts
A throwaway sweatshirt and/or shirt
A winter hat
Gloves
An extra zip up hoodie
A bathrobe works very well as a warm layer and easy to shed once the race starts
Fleece towel from Wal-Mart that you can easily toss
I have seen runners with a towel or blanket from the hotel!

Weather Running Accessories

Without knowing FOR SURE if the weather is going to be what they truly predict, we do have to plan for anything. Especially if you have run the races in the past two years. I now will be packing the following additional items just in case. Even if the forecast shows a perfect 70 degrees and sun all week, I don’t want to take my chances.

I pack the following portable items with me as essentials on race day to have at the race start and finish.

Rain Poncho – you can purchase them at Rite-Aid for $1.00 each. They are folded up nice and small so you can keep it in your race belt.
Heat Wrap – The foil mylar thermal blankets you get at the end of races are also sold in stores. They are usually in the camping section. I purchased them in bulk on Amazon and have plenty. I sometimes bring extras with me on race morning in case my friends need one.
A plastic bag (grocery bag). I use this bag on race morning to carry my phone, snacks, water, banana and whatever else I may need that morning. Then just before the race starts I empty it in the garbage and squish up the bag and tuck it in my race belt.
- This bag becomes very useful at the end of the marathon when you have your medal(s), a bottle of water or Power Ade, banana, snack box, heat shield and/or cooling towel.
- It’s especially important should you need to go to the bathroom. You can leave it all in the bag outside the potty!
A Trash bag – If the forecast is sounding like heavy rain, Disney will still start the race. Grab some large trash bags from the hotel and wear them as a poncho on race morning. Do your best to stay as dry as you can while you are standing in the corrals waiting. If it is raining hard on race morning you can wrap your shoes in bags to keep them somewhat dry.
Hand Warmers – you can load up on them now at Target in the dollar section or Home Depot sells them in boxes. Again another compact item that you wouldn’t be sorry you brought with you just in case.
Gloves – They don’t sell a lot of gloves in Florida. It’s not something you can find easily. Two years ago we noticed socks all over the side of the road during the marathon. People were using socks for gloves. Since it was so cold for so long they didn’t start shedding them until around mile 8.
Newspaper – to stuff into your shoes if they get wet at a race. They will be dried out overnight!

The items listed above contain affiliate links.

Bag Check At The Race

This is an example of bag check from the Tokyo marathon.

I left a bag at bag check for my first marathon. Since then, I don’t really need to check one. But some people would like their desired items after the race. To do so, you check your bag at the race start. Each section represents the first letter of your last name. Then you leave your items in the runDisney plastic bag (this is the only bag they will allow).

At the end of the race they match your bib number to the bag and you can have your things. Some people like to have the following after the race:

Flip flops
Powder
Deodorant
Dry Shirt
Action Wipes or baby wipes

If you follow these tips and have these items with you prior to the race start you are one step ahead of the game! It’s better to have it with you, then to have to worry about getting a ride to a nearby store and buying throwaway clothes, which usually sell out once people see the forecast is colder than expected.

Have a great race and I’d love to see you out on the race courses! Check out my Facebook Page to follow along with me this week! Please leave your instagram or Facebook page link in the comments so I can connect with more runDisney friends!

How’s Your Sleep Training Going for the Disneyland Half Marathon?

December 31, 2018

Sleep training? Why would you need sleep training? Well, sleep is one of the most important elements to your training. It is very important during the recovery phase. Unfortunately, many of us bypass sleep to get in our training runs. For instance, we may wake up earlier to run before it gets to hot out or to get those miles in before work. However, are you making it a priority to go to bed earlier to make up for that lost time?

Why Is Sleep Training Important

Antonio Williams, M.S., NASM, P.E.S, Case Management Specialist, Health Educator from Cigna says that over time your central nervous system learns what muscles will produce the most efficient movement.

He says:

While you were asleep, your mind replayed your actions. It downloaded everything that worked and didn’t work while you tried to ride the bike. After a good night’s rest (about 7-8 hours for an adult) you set out to ride the bike again. This time, you were ahead of the game. Your body recognized all the pitfalls from yesterday and adapted. You were able to balance without falling and moved on to the next phase of bike riding. Then you had another good night’s sleep and repeated the cycle of motor learning.

How much sleep do you need?

Who knew that all that went on while you were sleeping? So your sleep can be a critical role to not only helping with your recovery, but also making you faster. As Antonio says, 7-8 hours is a minimum for how much sleep you should get every night. It’s important to be consistent with your bedtime – even on weekends. And on weekends, it’s also important to get us close to your normal weekday routine so that you don’t suffer from weekend jet lag on Monday.

Overcoming Physical Challenges to Literally Get Back on Her Feet

December 30, 2018

Makeda Lovelace, age 44, from Douglasville, GA, is constantly on her feet –whether it is in her role as a mother to three lively boys or working in the hospital emergency room as a medication history specialist. So when she first began experiencing severe pain in the bottom of her right foot in October 2017, Makeda tried to ignore it so that she could keep up with her busy schedule.

However, this Airforce veteran of 17 years soon found that she couldn’t ignore the pain any longer. During a motorcade parade in support of miltary women, Makeda found she was unable to walk on that foot at all. And she was no longer able to perform her job at the hospital.

Makeda’s health care providers suggested less invasive treatments to begin with –physical therapy, accupuncture, and immbolizing the foot for several weeks –but the pain continued. Then, in Spring of 2018, Makeda underwent surgery. The successful procedure required her to stay off her foot for eight weeks to recover.

“Being out on a disability claim because of my foot was so frustrating. I’m the primary income in our family of five so I was very anxious to get back to work as quickly as possible. I was surprised to learn about the support available through Cameron, one of Cigna’s vocational coaches. He helped with my recovery and getting back to work by providing insights on the types of conversations I should be having with my doctor and employer. I always looked forward to seeing Cigna’s name on my caller ID and catching Cameron up on my progress,” says Makeda.

“Cigna’s vocational coaches partner with customers like Makeda who are unable to work because of a short-term or long-term disability, and together they create a personalized program for health improvement with the primary goal of returning to work,” says Ryan Bruce, manager of the Healthy Working Life Program at Cigna.

A Cigna vocational coach helps provide access to additional rehabilitation resources, assess if assistive devices are needed to perform work, provide mentoring for improving physical strength and stamina, and give referrals for mental and emotional wellbeing support.

Cameron coached Makeda on completing her physical therapy exercises in a structured way so that it was easier for her to track her progress and focus on her return-to-work goals. He also helped her make adjustments to her physical movements once she returned to work – tips that could help reduce the amount of weight on her foot.

Cigna also offered Makeda the chance to participate in its customer referral program with Achilles International, non-profit organization dedicated to helping people with disabilities participate in athletic events. An Achilles personal trainer will provide additional support through a customized workout plan to gradually and safely increase physical activity, strength and stamina.

“For Cigna customers, participating in a race represents a healthy milestone on the road to recovery, but also independence. We believe that, as you gain physical strength, you’ll also build confidence, which can positively affect all areas of your life, including your work performance,” adds Ryan.

Eight weeks after foot surgery, Makeda was able to return to her same position at the hospital with no restrictions. To mark the health progress that Makeda has made over the course of a year with her foot and working towards weight loss goals, Cigna invited her to participate in the Walt Disney World® 5K on January 10 as a member of Team Cigna.

“When I received the invitation to participate in the Disney World 5k, I couldn’t believe it. It fuels my motivation to continue to stay on a healthy track. You never realize how important work is to your life until it is prevented. You also never realize how important support is during a disability until you receive it. It has been very comforting to me to work with Cigna and Achilles International because they understand what I’ve been dealing with,” adds Makeda.

What You Should Know About Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Gift Card Giveaway

September 26, 2018

The Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween party is one of my favorite parties that takes place in Walt Disney World. My husband and I have attended it twice and I attended it one other time during the Tower of Terror race weekend.

Please note that this is a separate ticketed event that takes place on select nights between August 17 and October 31, 2018. Visit www.disneyworld.disney.go.com to view the event dates and purchase tickets. When you purchase a ticket to the party, you can enter the Magic Kingdom Park at 4:00 p.m. the day of the event. The actual party hours are from 7:00 PM to midnight.

What Happens At Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party?

Boo-To-You Halloween Parade

One of my favorite things that happens at the Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is the arrival of the headless horseman for the Boo-To-You Halloween Parade down Magic Kingdom’s Main Street!

I have footage up close and personal of the headless horseman when I was at the Tower of Terror 5K race morning in ESPN Wide World of Sports. He is incredibly spooky even at 6:00 in the morning! But seeing him riding down Main Street followed by the frightening floats and Disney Characters in Halloween costumes is even better!

Stars from the Haunted Mansion lurch down Main Street along with several other of Mickey’s friends.

Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

The Sanderson Sisters from Hocus Pocus put on a scary show and cast a spell on everyone in the Magic Kingdom! Other Disney villains and dancers along with visual projections make for a wicked show!

The Cadaver Dans Barbershop Quartet

While in Frontierland, you may hear the Cadaver Dans Barbershop Quartet asking guests questions and answering with their “dead pan” puns and sing along to their ghoulish tunes.

Happy Hallowishes Fireworks

Disney Villains light up the night with a special soundtrack of music from Disney’s past of creepy classics. The 12 minute fireworks show takes place at Cinderella’s Castle.

New Additions To The Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party

This year the party you can boogie down with Vampirina! Vampirina is making her debut appearance at the Storybook Circus Disney Junior Jam. Visit some of your favorite Disney Junior pals and dance the night away!

New lighting and effects have been added to the Mad Tea Party. The Pirates of the Caribbean invites guests to participate in searching for “Gunpowder Pete”. And Space Mountain plays a new soundtrack as you travel deep into space.

Trick Or Treating, Characters and Costumes

Just like traditional Halloween where you live, come to the park dressed up in your favorite Halloween costume and visit the various trick or treat stations found all throughout the Magic Kingdom. My favorite trick or treating location was in the walkway behind Space Mountain on the way to the Fantasyland Train Station.

When preparing your costume for the event, make sure to review the costume guidelines on the Disney website.

Food Allergies

Should you have a food allergy, not to worry. There are special teal-colored treat bags to bring attention to allergy awareness. You can also pick one up at the official Allergy-Friendly Center located at Town Square Theater. and Libery Square Ticket Office. Cast Members will give you a teal ticket at any treat station for you to later on redeem at the Allergy-Friendly Centers.

Attractions Open During The Party

The following attractions are open during the party:

Main Street, U.S.A.

Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom

Adventureland

Frontierland

Liberty Square

Haunted Mansion

Fantasyland

Storybook Circus

Tomorrowland

Note: All attractions and experiences are subject to change without notice.

Win a $150 Disney Gift Card

Enter between now and October 10, 2018 to win a $150 Disney Gift Card.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Enter for a chance to win a $150 Disney Gift Card. Must be at least 18 years of age. US residents only. This giveaway is not sponsored by Disney, nor is associated with Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest. No purchase necessary for entry. Odds are determined by the number of entries. Selected winner will have 48 hours to respond to email notification to claim their prize or another winner will be drawn.

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Tag: Disney