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Tag: Downtown Disney

Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend Hotel Recommendations

September 20, 2016

I’m starting a new section of my blog which will provide you with hotel recommendations, especially to use for race weekends. Cost is a factor when I travel for race weekends because I am traveling alone and want to do it as cheap as I possibly can because I really just need a bed, shower and coffee maker.

When I went to Disneyland for the past two Dumbo Double Dare Races in 2016 and 2015 I stayed at the Best Western Plus Pavilions. I was very happy with this hotel last year and booked again at the same hotel this year. It is close to the Disneyland Resort area and Downtown Disney and is just about a 15-20 minute walk to the starting area for the races. It is also a more direct route to the races which does not require you to go though security and bag checks like you do in the area between Disneyland Magic Kingdom and California Adventure.

I also booked this hotel for the price. I was able to book it for $135 per night and I use hotels.com so that I can earn free nights. When you book again to the same hotel you also get special pricing. They also offered something great this year that I took advantage of. With their location right next to Denny’s, you are given a voucher for each night you stay there to use for breakfast the following day between 7:00 – 10:00 a.m. And your choices are not just a muffin and coffee. You can choose from eggs, pancakes, toast, tea, coffee, or juice and a side of bacon, sausage or turkey bacon. I made sure to take advantage of this the morning of the 10K since I finished early enough to take a fast shower and head over to the restaurant before 10:00 a.m. I thought this was an excellent addition to their accommodations there.

They are also located on a road that makes my return trip to the airport very easy because there isn’t usually theme park traffic when I depart on Sunday late morning.

I am very happy with the cleanliness, the amenities, the bed and how quiet it is at this hotel. I suits my needs perfectly for a race weekend. Check out my video of the hotel.

Disneyland Half Marathon Day 1 – The Expo

September 19, 2016

My flight out to Disneyland was uneventful and easy. I took a new flight which Southwest never had available before. It left Hartford, CT at noon, stopped in Las Vegas and then I landed in Santa Ana at 5:30 p.m.  I had never been to Las Vegas before and this was the closest to the strip that I was going to get. 


After I arrived at the airport I got the rental car and drove over to the Disneyland Hotel for the Health and Wellness Expo. I had trouble getting there this year. There was traffic and the parking to Downtown Disney had changed from what I was used to. So I ended up driving through a parking garage and then doing a few u turns before I finally coughed up $18 and just parked at the hotel. Because by this time it was 7:00 and there was only an hour left at the Expo.  

I collected my bib and race shirts and the then went straight to the official merchandise area. I was traveling on a tight budget this year so I wasn’t going to get much stuff; but I wanted to get my traditional magnet, sweaty band and Coast to Coast shirt.

I was very impressed with the amount of merchandise at the expo. It appeared that they had everything in stock and everything I wanted was there. They also had a lot of new things there this year. Many different runDisney shirts (not specific to that actual race). As well as accessories.

After I purchased my merchandise, I quickly scanned the expo floor to find Merle with her new company Treadbands, and I also wanted to have Jeff Galloway sign my bib and get my traditional photo with him.


By this point it was 8:00 and I was starving; so I went over to Tangaroa Terrace to get a pulled pork flat bread and then walked over to Downtown Disney to purchase gifts for the kids from World of Disney. I made it to my hotel room by around 9:30 and prepared my gear for the 10K race the next morning. I wanted to be in bed by 10:00 and wasn’t too far off from my goal.

So day one was a success and I was looking forward to the 10K and seeing Dale, Susana, Bill and Jen, and Jennifer. I was also looking forward to my day with Karen to see the sights of Irvine, a vineyard and then dinner at the ocean with a sunset! Stay tuned for a recap of my Day 2 in Disneyland and my California adventure!

Inside Out Sneak Peek

June 13, 2015

Prior to our arrival to the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration, the agenda said that we would be going to Downtown Disney early in the morning on Saturday for a few hours.  I suspected that we were going for a movie screening; buT didn’t know which movie we were going to see.

During the General Session on Friday, Jonas Rivera, Producer and Vice President of Production for Pixar happened to mention a little movie coming out called “Inside Out”.  It was then, that we learned we were going to get a Sneak Peek into DIsney Pixar’s latest new movie.

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Jonas shared with us what goes into the making of an animated picture.  He showed us several of the different roles that the artists have and how much work goes into a movie.  He said they make a movie nine to ten times before a movie is actually completed!  The premise of the movie was inspired by the experiences ones of the team members was having with his tween daughter.  I’m sure you all want to know what goes on inside the brains of your children.  During Jonas’ presentation we saw movie clips, sketches and the voice artists of all of the characters.  I was excited to learn that we were going to see this movie.  I wasn’t sure if it would be Inside Out of Tomorrowland for our special sneak peek so I was excited to learn that it was Inside Out.  I was even more excited after I saw more about the characters in the movie and the voice personalities.

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On Saturday morning, after our ride-along video taping in the Magic Kingdom (more to come on that in a future post), we were bused back from the Magic Kingdom to the Yacht Club where we got on another bus to Downtown Disney around 8:30. When we got to the theater we had to check our cell phones in at the front.  No video taping or photographs were allowed during the screening of the film.  It was TOP SECRET!  We then picked up our Grab and Go breakfast boxes, fruit, muffins, coffee, tea and juice and went to the theater.  I have never been to the AMC Theater in Downtown Disney.  The seats were very comfortable and the theater was really nice!

Before the movie started we were treated to some previews to Star Wars Rebels coming on Disney XD June 20.  We also saw a preview to the new Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens.  I had seen it before but seeing the preview in the movie theater gave me goose bumps!!   I didn’t consider myself a big Star Wars fan (I’m sorry, don’t shoot me!)  I like the movies; but I don’t consider myself a Star Wars junkie. But now that I saw the preview I want to watch all of the movies over the next few months to get ready for the new movie.  I can’t wait to see it in December!

We had one last surprise before we saw the movie.  We  Pixar short file called “Lava” which was adorable!  We had the chance to see the entire movie but you can see a clip from it here:

Inside Out comes out in theaters on June 19th.  We saw two thirds of the movie so we will be going to the theater to see the entire film!  It was THAT good!  Will you be going to see Inside Out this summer?

Disney Social Media Moms Celebration Agenda

May 1, 2015

I was excited when I went on Facebook today and saw that Leanne had posted an agenda for the weekend.  While I had a rough idea of what we would be doing and when for the conference, this spelled out most of the days for us.  Sadly since I will be working all day Thursday and flying down late Thursday night, I’ll miss out on the opening events on Thursday night.  The family dinner at Epcot and Illuminations Dessert party sounds so much like what we did for our wedding reception!  I am so disappointed that I can’t be there for it.  We will still have all day Friday through Sunday to participate in the events and enjoy the magic of what will happen while at this awesome event!

But here are the list of events going on for us during the weekend:

Thursday, May 7
Check-in at the resort hotel
Then go to Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Convention Center to pick up your conference materials. Conf. Registration is open 8:00am – 4:30pm.
4:45pm – (Attendees only) Transportation from Yacht Club Convention Center to Epcot
5:00pm – (Attendees only) Welcome Reception at Epcot, World ShowPlace
5:45pm – (Families) Transportation from Yacht Club Conv. Center to Epcot
6:00pm – (Everyone) Family Dinner at Epcot, World ShowPlace
8:40pm – (Everyone) Illluminations Dessert Party (Guides will lead you to location)
9:30pm – Buses to take you back to Yacht Club Conv. Center or you can walk

Friday, May 8
7:00am – 10:00am Conf.Registration open to pick up packets if you missed it yesterday.
7:15am – (Attendees only) Breakfast, Yacht Club Conv. Ctr (Salon 1-4)
8:30am – 4:45pm (Attendees only) General Session begins (Please be on time!)
9:00am – Noon (Families) Special Meet/Greet Opportunity at Yacht/Beach Club Sand Castle Club
5:00pm – 7:00pm (Everyone) Special Meet/Greet Opportunity at Yacht Club Conv. Ctr.
7:30 – 9:00pm (Everyone) Family Dinner on the Beach at Yacht Club Resort

Saturday, May 9
6:30am – 8:30am (Video Participants) Buses depart Yacht Club Conv. Center. Buses will depart in waves, based on what you signed up for. Individual itineraries will be given at registration. If you miss the bus, you miss the opportunity. BE ON TIME.
8:30am (Everyone) Transportation to Downtown Disney (from Yacht Club Conv. Center)
9:00am – 11:15am (Everyone) Special Event at Downtown Disney
11:30am – Rest of day free to enjoy on your own

Sunday, May 10 (Happy Mother’s Day!)
6:00am – 7:00am funRun (Meet at the outdoor patio of Yacht Club)
8:00am – 9:30am (Everyone) Mother’s Day Breakfast

I’m looking forward to seeing some of my runDisney friends Patty and Mindy while there and meeting others at this incredible event.  Just one week from now we will be immersed in the magic!

I also got word today that I will be a contributor to the Disney Driven Life Blog!  It’s been a good day!

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