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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!

2018 Walt Disney World 10K

March 20, 2018

The Walt Disney World 10K is the second race of the Dopey challenge. It took place on Thursday, January 5 at Epcot. The corrals were the same set up as the previous day’s 5K race. Since I was in Corral F with my family the day before I also had to start in Corral F for the 10K. My intention was to run with Team Shenanigans. So I knew I was going to have to run most of the first 3.5 junk miles before getting into Epcot where I usually find them at the photo stops.

2018 Walt Disney World 10K Pre Race

With the start time of 5:30 I knew I could get up at 4:00 with the intent to leave the hotel at 5:00. I actually left at 5:10 and arrived to the Epcot parking lot at 5:28 a.m. I was in my corral at 5:43 and still had plenty of time to wait. My corral crossed the line and started the race at 6:10 a.m. It was 36 degrees, warmer than the 28 degrees we had the day before! But it still felt pretty cold. I had on several layers.

Character Stops

As usual, this course is the same as it has always been with the first 3 miles along Epcot Center Drive and then through the back stage of Epcot and then we entered the park through Norway. I didn’t stop for photographs but I did take some as I ran past the photo stops.

The first was the racoon, Meeko from Pocahontas

The second was Flik and Princess Atta from A Bug’s Life (they weren’t available for photos at the time)

The third was The Witch from Snow White.

As I got into Epcot I kept my eyes peeled for the team. I spotted them at the first photo stop with Rapunzel and Flynn. I was so happy to have caught up with the team. I also warmed up from the running. While standing in the line for a while I started to get cold.

After that we ran to the next photo stop with Pinocchio in Italy.

Then we saw Marie the Cat from the Arisocats over in France.

At that point the balloon ladies had passed us and we were being warned that at any time we could be swept from the course. Susanna and I knew we could outrun them so right after the picture stop, we ran the entire way from France to the International Gateway, over to the boardwalk, past Sports Goofy at ESPN, over the bridge near the Swan and Dolphin, and then I caught up with Jackie near mile 5. Jackie and I walked together and talked and enjoyed the rest of the race together as we went backstage in Epcot over to the UK and through the front of the park. We went past the large water fountain, under Spaceship Earth, around the front waterfall to return back up under Spaceship Earth. That’s where the course turns left towards the outside of the park to the finish line.

Post Race

Kenny was passing out medals so we got our 10K medals from our teammate Kenny! I finished the race in 1 hour 46 minutes. I do like the Walt Disney World 10K course, despite the road miles in the beginning. I always enjoy running through Epcot in the morning as the sun is rising.

I also like this race because I finish early enough to get back to the hotel and have some time to rest. The Cigna Bloger Meet up usually takes place on the day of the 10K. I was able to have breakfast, shower and get some work done prior to heading over to the meet up.

2018 Walt Disney World 10K Mile Splits

2018 Walt Disney World 5K

March 19, 2018

The Walt Disney World 5K took place on Thursday, January 4 at Epcot. The corrals were separated from A through F. Our family was spread apart into three different corrals, from C to E to F. We all began in F so we could stay together.

With the start time of 5:30 we all woke up at 4:00 with the intent to leave the hotel at 5:00. Knowing that we are just minutes away from the race and that our corral would start late since we are the last corral, I chose to leave as late as possible so the kids could sleep. We arrived to the Epcot parking lot at 5:22 a.m. and as we were walking to the corrals the wheelchair athletes were taking off and then the other corrals were releasing. I wasn’t worried though because I checked my Garmin from last year and we didn’t start our race until 6:48 a.m. I knew we had time to spare and to not rush into the race start and corrals. Even with a late arrival we had time to wait in the corral before we took off at 6:19 a.m.

Once it was time for our start Carissa handed the microphone to Adrienne and she got to say “GO!” with Rudy! As we started it was 28 degrees out! Adrienne and Kevin and I wore mylar blankets to keep warm in the corral and had to drop them before we crossed the start line. As we started walking the first mile, poor Adrienne was crying. Her feet were so cold from standing in the parking lot prior to the race and they were itching her. The first mile was rough for her; but then once we got into Epcot her spirits lifted. The distraction of the characters and seeing the sights in the park helped her.

We stopped for pictures with the Vikings in Norway, and Jiminy Cricket in Italy and then continued on throughout the course. Since we were the last racers to cross the start line we didn’t have time to stand in any long lines. However, the characters that were there were:

Flynn and Rapunzel in Germany
Chip and Dale
Kenai and Koda from Brother Bear
Horace Horsecollar

We finished the race in 1 hour 10 minutes and we couldn’t wait to get into the warm car and get some breakfast! I enjoyed this race as much as last year. The race course take place mostly in Epcot and there are a lot of character stops.

As much as I love doing this race with my family, I don’t know if they will be joining me for it any more. My son will be in middle school next year and my parents probably won’t be joining us for this trip. However, if I do Dopey one more time, I’ll get the chance to run this race. I have a lot to think about for the upcoming year. So we will see what happens!

D23 Expo Disney Parks and Resorts News for 2017

July 15, 2017

WOW! I sure missed out on a great year to attend the D23 Expo! There are so many announcements that have been coming out of Anaheim during this weekend’s D23 Expo that I will break it out into pieces for you.

Walt Disney World Enhancements

For starters, the changes that are coming to Walt Disney Word will take place in the Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Epcot, and there will be new property developed for DVC in Florida.

Attractions

The first Mickey Mouse ride is coming to Hollywood Studios. Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway is going to step you through the movie screen and insert you into the cartoon short. It’s the first ever Mickey Mouse ride0through attraction. And they also mentioned that there will be thousands of hidden Mickeys in this ride! Sadly, The Great Movie Ride will end its show on August 13, 2017. The Chinese Theatre will be the new home for this new attraction.
Tron Lightcycle Power Run coaster will be coming to the Magic Kingdom for the park’s 50th anniversary in 2021. It will NOT replace the Tomorrowland Speedway. It will be in a new area behind Space Mountain.
A new theater is coming to Main Street, U.S.A. at Magic Kingdom. The look is based on the Willis Wood theater in 1920s Kansas City. This is where Walt lived after he left Marceline.
Ratatouille attraction is coming to the France pavilion in Epcot. This attraction will be similar to the 4-D attraction in Paris. This attraction is also scheduled to be open by the 50th Anniversary of Walt Disney World in 2021.
Guardians of the Galaxy attraction is coming to Epcot. This will be an E-ticket attraction and will replace Ellen’s Universe of Energy attraction. The Universe of Energy Attraction will close on August 13, 2017.
Mission Space has a new green ride, so now the whole family can enjoy the adventures in space with a non-spinning ride simulation. This mission will give guests an orbital adventure around the planet.
Toy Story Land will open at Hollywood Studios in the Summer of 2018. The Slinky Dog Dash family coaster and the Alien Swirling Saucers will be the two main attractions, as you are shrunk down to the size of a toy and explore Andy’s backyard.
The Star Wars Themed land in Hollywood Studios now has a name. It will be called Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. It represents a remote trading port on the edge of space. Many Star Wars characters can be found in this galaxy including the First Order and the Resistance. There will be a large scale Star Destroyer hangar bay as one attraction and the second one will simulate flying the Millenium Falcon and completing a critical mission. How you perform on your mission will determine your fate when you exit the ship. And the famous blue milk will also be available in this land. The new Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is said to open in 2019.

Transportation

The rumor of an aerial transportation system is true. BoB Chapek announced that there are going to be gondolas called the “Disney Skyliner”, transporting guests between the Art of Animation, Pop Century, Caribbean Beach and the newly-announced DVC resort – “Disney’s Riviera Resort”. It will also connect guests with Disney’s Hollywood Studios and the International Gateway at Epcot.
Minnie Vans will transport you from point-to-point within the Walt Disney World property. I am not aware of the details of this service at this point in terms of cost, if it will replace Uber, and how to create a reservation for this service.

Accommodations

DVC is building a new property called Disney’s Riviera Resort near Epcot. As mentioned above, this resort will be a stop on the Disney Skyliner gondola system. It was also said during the D23 Expo announcement that this hotel will give you views of Epcot and Hollywood Studios from its rooftop restaurant. The planned opening of this new DVC property is the fall of 2019.
A Star Wars-Inspired Themed Resort is coming to Walt Disney World. This resort will be a fully immersive experience. When guests enter the resort, they will immediately become a part of the story. This experience also includes dressing up in the proper attire!

Dining

There is a new restaurant coming to Epcot adjacent to Mission: Space. It is an ‘Out-of-this-World’ Dining Experience that will offer amazing meals with spectacular views from space! I believe the location for this restaurant is where the current Electric Umbrella is now. Which could use some major updating. So I am looking forward to this new option being added to the park.

Disneyland Enhancements

Stay tuned for my next blog post which will cover all of the enhancements coming to Disneyland.

Glass Slipper Challenge – Day 3 Half Marathon

March 14, 2017

The last day of the Glass Slipper Challenge weekends ends with the half marathon. I took the time the night before to lay out all my race gear, get my food and tea prepped, and had most of my bag packed for the trip home. All I had to do was get up when my alarm went off at 3:30 to plan on being on the road for 4:30. I was on the road at 4:30 but there were major traffic issues. I didn’t arrive to my parking spot until 5:21… the race starts at 5:30. However, as I was making my way to the corrals, Mandy sent me a text and then I got a Tweet from runDisney that due to the traffic issue, they were going to delay the start of the race. I was concerned about that because I had a very tight window of time for when I could finish the race, shower at my hotel and be to the airport for my 12:20 flight home (more on that later).

I got down to the corrals after the start of the race. I was in Corral G so I wasn’t worried; but I did run into a problem. As the corrals moved forward, the volunteers for the corralled sections wouldn’t let me move forward to Corral G. I was stuck in Corral H. Had I been there 5 minutes earlier I could have snaked my way up to where Mandy was. I told her I was stuck and that I would meet up with her. She told me she’d stay to the right of the road so I could find her. My corral released at 6:01 and I kept a pretty consistent run the entire first mile. I stopped for a picture of the mile marker and then continued over the bridge and on the road towards Magic Kingdom. With no sighting of Mandy, I called her. She and Kenn had to make a pit stop and I found them and meet up with them on World Drive. As you can see from my splits, my first mile was quicker because I ran most of it to catch up with them.

After I caught up to Mandy we ran past the photo stops which were the Pirates of the Caribbean and further up was the heroes. We took our usual pictures at the Magic Kingdom toll gate and then continued to run towards the Magic Kingdom. Again, the plan was to save our time for photo opportunities in the Magic Kindom. The photos along the way were the Incredibles, the Evil Queen, Malificent and then the drummers were at the TTC. My favorite DJ was on the overpass leading to the Contemporary.

Once we got into the Magic Kingdom we planned on using a real bathroom, and then I knew to look for Sam Ganow from the Mickey Milers and Kenny from Team Shenanigans. Found them and proceeded on towards the back of the park to Fantasyland where we wanted to see who was going to be out for photos. We skipped past Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum and found Gaston. He was the longest wait for us. This was between miles 5 and 6. The Beast was the next photo stop after Gaston; but the line for him was VERY long, so I took a selfie with the Beast in the background. We ran through the castle and towards Frontierland. We skipped the photo with Woody and Jessie and ran on towards backstage. Sadly, because the train was being refurbished it was not on the tracks on the way to the backstage area. They had Cinderella and Prince Charming at the large float backstage; but that was a very long line as well. We continued up through cone alley and tried to run as much of that as we could to make up for time we spent taking photos in the Magic Kingdom.

After cone alley were the Penguins from Mary Poppins. Then I found Richard from the Floridian! I found him during the marathon weekend as well! The gentlemen singers were on Floridian Way as well as vacation Genie on the golf course. I had been tracking my friend Kim and saw that she was catching up to us and I spotted her just before mile 8! We stopped for a quick picture and then pushed on. This part of the race gets boring and I had a plane to catch so I didn’t want to slow down at the end. We set up little mini plans to make up time and make that portion of the race course more tolerable. We’d run up to a water stop and then walk. Then run up to the mile marker and then resume our run/walk intervals. After mile 10 we decided to run the entire ramp up to the bridge and walk across the bridge and then run downhill towards mile 11. It was good to keep pushing forward because by that point in the race it is easy to decide to walk it in for the end.

Finally we were in Epcot and there were a few chances where we wanted to get some photos. We took one with Daisy just near the turn around, and then attempted another jump photo in front of the waterfall. Then we brought it in for the finish. I HAD to get my Fitz hug before the finish line and then we took pictures with Donald and Goofy!

Our fourth Glass Slipper Challenge accomplished. Just one more year to go in hopes to get legacy status. With the announcement of a new name for the challenge next year we aren’t sure that we will be recognized for doing five consecutive Princess weekend races in a row. Same holds true for Dumbo; so I think once Dumbo comes around we will know what the result of that will be. But I still enjoy this weekend with Mandy and Kenn and it’s a nice race to run mid-winter to keep my mileage up. Considering I hadn’t run longer than 4 miles since the WDW marathon, I felt great during these races.

Disney Released Tiered Pricing Structure Or “Seasonal Pricing”

February 28, 2016

I am a Disney lover, you should know that about me by now. But I am not a lover of the higher prices it is now costing us to take a trip to my favorite place. Unfortunately my husband is more angry about the pricing increases that have been going on at Disney World than I am. Enough so that he is mentioning skipping our annual trip and considering going every two years instead. We are still in discussions about this. Mind you, we got married in Disney, we are DVC members and have taken our children since they have been born. When it gets to this point, it must be serious. The bottom line is, it’s becoming too expensive.

Effective Sunday, February 28 at 6 a.m., Disney will have special pricing for value season, regular season, and peak season. As I watched the announcement on the news, the reason that was mentioned was to help control the crowds during the usual peak seasons, to better spread out visitation throughout the year. Last Christmas the Magic Kingdom reached its capacity by 10:00 a.m. and had to close the park to additional guests.

It is important to note that this pricing is for one day passes only. It does not affect annual passes and multi-day tickets. However, multi-day pass prices will rise starting today. Four-day tickets are increasing from $305 to $325. Ten-day tickets are increasing from $365 to $400. When does the price increase stop? Are we at the point now where we will push back and not attend? I’m kind of there. I hate to say it. But we are finding alternatives to purchasing our tickets. Instead of purchasing an annual pass for all four of us; we are considering a multi-day pass and now we won’t go to the parks every single day on our vacation. We are going to plan in some resort/pool days and do other activities such as mini golf, a water park. or perhaps Disney Springs (a movie or the balloon ride).

I always try to find the silver lining and find the best, most affordable way to make our Disney trips possible and I will still do the same to try to get the most bang for my buck. We will shop at Target or Wal-Mart when we arrive to get our groceries to use in our room so we can eat breakfast and pack lunches to bring to the park. We also save a lot of money on water, drinks and alcohol by purchasing it off property and having it in our room to bring to the pool and parks.

Here is a breakdown of the new rates:

Magic Kingdom one day ticket (no park hopper)

Value Season – the current rate of $105
Regular Season – $110
Peak Season – $125

Epcot, Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios

Value Season – the current rate of $97
Regular Season – $102
Peak Season – $114

The dates for each of these seasons can be found on Disney’s website. Here is a breakdown below:

Photo by Attractionsmagazine.com

Has this new pricing structure affected your decision on planning your next vacation to Disney? Will you change dates to a different time of year to avoid the higher price?

2016 WDW Marathon Weekend 10K Now Known As the PK10K

January 16, 2016

The 10K took place on Friday, January 8th. PK and his daughter Katie were running it and it was their first runDisney race! There were many first for my friends and family this year! We talked on the phone a week before the race because they didn’t know what to expect. They weren’t sure if you ran the race for time or what time you had to be there. They were staying at the same hotel as us so I told them I would drive them to the race and that they didn’t have to get up at 3:00 a.m. because we are staying close to Epcot and it only takes less than 10 minutes to drive there. I explained to them that the Disney races are races for fun and that there are character stops along the way that you take photographs with. They weren’t aware of the character stops. I also told them that the Disney races are far different from the races back home. I also told them that costumes are welcome and recommended. Katie said she would put something together and PK said he wanted to wear his Patriots gear. Come to find out, the Patriots jersey got the most complements out of all of us that day!

Since I hadn’t seen PK in over a year and Katie in many years, I wanted to run the race with them. I told them that I use the walk/run method but we could play it by ear on race morning. Since the 5K and 10K are early in the Dopey Challenge series, you can run those races with little issue for the full marathon on Sunday. I couldn’t wait to see them. We planned to meet up at the Expo after they land on Thursday, run the race together on Friday and then spend the day at Magic Kingdom on Friday afternoon after the kids races.

The morning of the race, I set my alarm for 3:30 and met them at the hotel lobby at 4:30. I was a few minutes late because I had to dig through my luggage to find extra rain ponchos. It was raining pretty heavily and I saw the radar wasn’t looking too good for the race either. I told PK and Katie I’d bring them a poncho. I picked them up in the front and drove us to the parking lot at Epcot. We were there at a good time because the rain was picking up and we didn’t want to stand too long out in the rain. We used the porta potties and then had to resort to the ponchos to stay dry.

PK and Katie’s 1st runDisney Race!

In our corral waiting to start

Once we started running it was getting warm with our ponchos on. We started taking them off within the first mile and I stuck mine in my race belt. We didn’t do walk run at that point in the race. This section of the 10K is the 3 miles out on the road leaving the Epcot parking lot and running on the road to head towards the backstage entrance to Epcot. My legs felt fine to do a constant run. PK is a faster runner, but he had his leg wrapped because he was having an issue with his calf. So he said that taking it slower in the beginning saved him from having trouble with his leg issue. We ran to the first area where a character stop would have been at the turning point toward the overpass but because of the rain there was just a plane prop there without a character. We walked up the hill on the overpass and ran the downhill. On the downhill there is usually a character stop with Lilo and Stitch; but again, because of the rain there wasn’t a character there for photos.

We did start a run/walk ratio around mile 2.5 and then entered the back of Epcot at mile 3. I was getting excited to enter this area because I love the way Epcot looks in the early morning hours with the torches lit and the music playing. We did our first character stop as we entered Epcot. Mulan and Mushu were there and it was perfect! Katie and PK reminisced about when Katie used to ask for her “Mulan Sheets” when they were camping and PK and his wife Lori would make the bed for her in their camper. I enjoyed knowing that the character stop was something that had relevance to them. Diana texted me and told me she was at character stops up ahead so I figured we would meet up eventually at a stop.

The next character stop was a new set of characters that haven’t been out for the races yet. Remy and Emile from Ratatouille were there so a new joke with PK, Kevin and I is the Rat-Stinkin Ratatouille Bastard (long story). We met up with Diana at that point so it was perfect timing. We did our group photo there and then proceeded to run over the bridge to the International Gateway and towards the Boardwalk and Beach Club Resort area. Mike and Sully from Monsters University were at ESPN, then we saw Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum around mile 5 but didn’t want to stop for their picture. We went backstage in Epcot and then headed towards Spaceship Earth towards the finish line.

We had such a great time at the race! They are planning on doing it again next year. Katie wants to do the 10K and the half marathon as well!

After the race we went to ESPN for the kids races. It was pouring rain and my son was still fighting a bad cough. He didn’t want to run the race but I brought his bib with him just in case. Just as I suspected, as soon as we were at the race start he changed his mind and wanted to run. I had him carry his bib in his hand and he shot off like a rocket! I couldn’t keep up with him. Then he looked back to find me and waited and we ran together to the finish. Adrienne had already taken off with my husband and she sped ahead as well. She had her eye on that finish line!

Adrienne in the purple sweatshirt

After the kid races we went to the Magic Kingdom to play with PK and Katie and my parents. The weather cleared up and it turned out to be a very nice evening. We had so much fun! We went on Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin. Then we waited in line for the Mine Train. This was Adrienne’s and my mom’s first time ever! After that we rode the people mover while PK and Katie had fast passes for SpaceShip Earth; and then we all went over to ride Big Thunder Mountain. After we rode the rides we went to the Columbia Harbor House for dinner. I had a great meal of Salmon, cous couse and broccoli. This was the perfect pre-race meal choice for the half marathon. After dinner PK, Kevin and the kids went on Splash Mountain and then we hit Pirates before heading back for the night. I needed to get to bed for the half marathon the next morning. PK and Katie were staying to watch the fireworks.

It was a great day! I had so much fun running the race with them and it was so good to see them again. I have exposed two more friends to the runDisney club and can’t wait to run more races with them!

2016 WDW Marathon Weekend 5K

January 16, 2016

My mom and I were walking the WDW Marathon weekend 5K together. My mom had a knee replacement in March of 2014 and the recovery was hard. I kept reminding her that her recovery was her marathon and that she was going to achieve it. After her recovery and physical therapy she was able to walk. Last Spring she participated in her first non-runDisney 5K with the Hartford Marathon Foundation O’Putnam, O’Niantic and O’Hartford races. She walked the races but she got them done! Then during the year she entered in other races as well. She had a goal, she wanted to register for a runDisney 5K. She watched me finish my first marathon four years ago and happened to talk to a woman who had a knee replacement and it inspired her to want to do a runDisney race. She saw the energy and excitement that gets generated at runDisney events and wanted to be a part of it.

This January was her year! She and I were going to walk the 5K and my dad was going to spectate. After a night out at Hollywood Studios the night before and a busy day with travelling we had to get into bed because we had to set our alarms for 4:00 a.m. I had cinnamon toast and tea for breakfast and was dressed and ready to leave for 5:00 a.m. We arrived around 5:15, took pictures as we entered the runners area, and I stood in line to get my picture taken with Dopey. I hadn’t had the chance to do that last year so I was glad I was taking the opportunity to do it then. It was close to 6:00 and volunteers were warning runners that they were risking a chance of getting to the start if they remained in line. Since I knew we were going to be in Corral E I wasn’t concerned about the time. I took note from my Garmin Connect account of what time we started our race in 2015 so I knew what I had for a reference to start. I tried to find Diana. She said she was going to run ahead on her own.

We had decided to wear the same outfits and purchased Sparkle Athletic Skirts and ordered matching tops from Etsy that said “A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes”, and wore matching Mickey ears with a white feather boa. We got a lot of compliments on our outfits! The temperature was just right for this race. As we were turning the corner after the start and heading towards Epcot, the runners who were in corral A were already finished and were standing in their bus pick up area! I found some of my team members from the Mickey Milers and Team Shenanigans in the Corral and we hung together for a little bit and I took pictures with both them and my mom.

The first character stop was Chip and Dale. Then when we entered Epcot we took a picture with Rafiki. We got some photos with the scenery of Epcot along with the ball in the background and then went to the next character stop which was Mittens from the movie Bolt, outside the Americas. Then outside of France we got a picture with Marie the cat from Aristocats before heading to mile marker 2. After mile 2 and heading to the finish we stopped for a photo with Spaceship Earth in the background and then went towards the Land. We were lucky to get a picture with both Lilo AND Stitch there because Lilo was about to switch out with Stitch but she decided to stick around! After that there were no other character stops. So we walked towards the Nemo ride, back towards Spaceship Earth and around the corner to the Finish Line where my dad was waiting past the finish line.

It was a very fun race and I am glad my mom had a great experience with it for her first runDisney race. The weather was good, we got every character along the way and we were not in any danger of not finishing the race.

After finishing the race, we went back and showered and the kids were just waking up. I wanted to go back to the Expo because I didn’t get to see all of the vendors when I was there the night before. So I went there around 11:00 and everyone else hung out at the hotel and my husband took the kids to the pool again. At the expo I ran into Jennifer Hall and talked to her for a bit and then I listened to Jeff Galloway’s seminar about best strategies to survive the Dopey Challenge. The advice I liked was when he mentioned to walk the first few miles of the half marathon and then do the walk/run for a mile. Then walk a mile, then do the walk/run for a mile. That will help keep your legs fresh for the next day.

After the Expo we were heading to Magic Kingdom for the afternoon. It was so much fun. My daughter had her first experience with roller coasters and went on Big Thunder Mountain. I was so nervous for her but she LOVED it! She couldn’t wait to do it again so we had her move to the middle of the train for her next ride. Once again, no fear and she wanted to ride in the back next!

We had dinner at the Columbia Harbor House. I wanted to eat something safe the night before the 10K so I ordered a kids meal of chicken nuggets and fries. My dad ordered their pot pie, and my mouth was watering for it once I saw it! I knew that the night of the marathon that would be the meal of choice to celebrate with! After dinner we went on the Haunted Mansion and rode more Big Thunder Mountain. We had to call it a night at that point, because I had to get to bed for the 10K the next morning. We were back to the hotel by 9:30 and I was asleep before 10:30.

After the races mom was on the hunt to get some memorabilia and an official picture with Pluto!

It was a fun day and I was looking forward to running the 10K with PK and Katie and Diana. Stay tuned for the recap of the 10K!

Watch the video of the 5K Race:

runDisney Wine & Dine Half Half Marathon 2015

November 25, 2015

The final event of the runDisney Wine & Dine race weekend is the half marathon. It takes place on Saturday night at 10:00 p.m. The starting line is at the ESPN Wide World of Sports and the race ends just outside of Epcot.

The day of the race I ran the 5k in the morning, went back to my hotel to shower and quickly drove to the expo to pick up my half marathon bin and race shirts. I ran into Brittany and Kendrick, Mark and Caryn there doing the same thing before our breakfast reservation.

After that I spent time with the Mickey Milers at breakfast at Kona in the Polynesian Village Resort. We had a 10:40 reservation but didn’t eat until close to 11:30 and left there close to 1:00. My plan was to go back to the Expo and do a little more shopping. Find a light meal and rest in my bed or maybe nap prior to heading to the starting line. That was my plan. What I actually did was meet Brittany and Caryn at their room to get the wine glass she bought for me the day before and then I went over to the Expo where I saw Dale, Jennifer, Robert and Donna.

I didn’t have a lot of time there because it was closing at 3:00 so I quickly shopped for a shirt with a wine glass design and found something at Raw Threads. I can always rely on finding something at Raw Threads and not have an issue with wearing it for the first time on a race day.

After the Expo I went to Disney Springs to do some shopping for the kids. There is still a lot of construction going on there but what is completed looks nice. There are pedestrian bridges that cross over the street from parking lots to Disney Springs.

It was very hot out so I was sure to hydrate. I picked up an ice tea from a shop and then refilled with water at Ghiradelli.

I was on a mission to find Tsum Tsum’s for the kids. So after going to World of Disney I was told they are in Once Upon a Story. I found some for the kids, and made my way back to my car so I could rest in my room. On the way back I got a message from Dale inviting me to join them for dinner at their hotel, Riverside to have pasta at 6:00 and then we can take the bus from there. That was a good plan so I could leave my car there for when we return after the Wine & Dine after party.

So after a quick rest to recharge my phone and my feet I got dressed and went over to Port Orleans Riverside to meet everyone for dinner. We got pasta with broccoli and shrimp and oil, which was just right for prior to the race. Then we all used a bathroom and went to the bus. We got in line at the perfect time because the line got very long and we were able to take the first bus to ESPN. Good thing because we were stuck in traffic for a very long time. This was very similar to when we were on the bus for Tower of Terror two years ago.

When we arrived we went through bag check and then found the rest of the Team Shenanigans members and the Mickey Milers. The Team Shenanigan members were dressed as Spaceship Earth and the characters within the ride. It was an awesome costume idea! We took pictures with everyone and then I needed to go find Diana and Christina.

As I was about to connect with them there was lightning in the distance and a strange change in the weather. It started to get very windy and the temperature dropped a noticeable 15 degrees. Suddenly everyone started to leave the runners gathering area and we were told that we were being evacuated and moved to shelter in the Wide World of Sports complex due to severe weather in the area.

This was a first for me and I think it was actually a first for runDisney to have to do this. We all shuffled from one area to the Stadium and the Jostens center to wait out the storm and wait for instructions. Diana and I decided to go to an area where we could actually see outside so we could watch the storm. We also wanted to find a bathroom. Since the women’s bathroom line was so long people started to use the men’s room. Then we were lucky to bump into Chip and Christina so we sat down and waited for further instructions. While we waited we kept checking the radar to see what all of the concern was about because nothing was really happening where we were.

After about an hour we saw people moving back towards the corrals so we followed the crowd. It was finally time to race, but we were hearing people talking about modifications to the course. Then I received alerts via Twitter that the course is going to be shortened. The section leading from ESPN to Animal Kingdom was being eliminated. With the humidity being so high and it being so warm and late I was relieved.

So finally at 11:10 we were released from the starting line and onto the course. We ran from ESPN onto Osceola Parkway towards Hollywood Studios. From there we ran towards the back stage area of Hollywood Studios and then into the park. There was a lot of zigging and zagging inside the park and I was so teased to see the Osborne Light Spectacular. Just when I thought we were going to see them we were in a different direction. When we finally arrived at the Osborn Light Spectacular we spent a LOT of time in there taking in all of the visuals. I noticed that there were hidden Mickeys in the lights and a cast member said there were over 40 of them scattered throughout the lights. Diana and I started to look for them as we were taking a million pictures. I didn’t want to leave the area! Knowing that this was the last time they would be displaying these lights I wanted to enjoy them as long as possible. But we were in a race and had to get going so we could finish and then I was going to attend the party afterwards in Epcot.

We used a “real bathroom” before leaving the park since we knew that after finishing the race it would be a while before we could get to one, and the continued on to exit Hollywood Studios. We ran towards the path that connects the Boardwalk Hotel and Hollywood Studios (miles 23-24 during the full marathon) and made our way towards the Boardwalk. The path was extremely crowded with people. It was practically impossible to run in this area. We did the best we could to zig and zag between everyone but couldn’t really run again until we got over the bridge near the Swan and Dolphin hotels and towards the Beach and Yacht Club. The end of the race runs through the back entrance of Epcot, back stage and then past Spaceship Earth and back stage to the Finish Line.

I was glad this race was cut short. It was extremely hot and humid (even at night) and when we finished it was past 1:00 a.m. I think if our corral was released at the original start time we would finish close to when we did with the shortened route; but we would have felt more worn out and affected by the heat and humidity. There was a lot of water support on the course, which helped.

Diana was heading back to her hotel and her family because they were here for their vacation; and I went towards the exit area of the runner’s zone to find my Mickey Miler friends Dale, Dave and the gang so we could go to the After Party. I saw my friend Anne as I waited for the gang and we got a photo together and then I finally hooked up with Dale and Dave. After receiving our free drink from Disney we went towards the entrance to Epcot where we had to go through a bag check AGAIN. This process took quite a long time and was frustrating since we had already been checked at the beginning of the race. This was a situation we went through last year as well.

After we got through security we began our trip around the World Showcase. We first met up with Brittany, Kendrick, Caryn, Dave, Susanna and her husband, Mark and Chris. Then we decided to head to Canada for the filet mignon. After that we headed towards Ireland for the seafood shepherds pie. Then we headed towards France, Morroco, Japan, America and then to Germany to try to find some of the other Mickey Milers and get some German beer. We had a Shöfferhofer Zitrone Weizen-Mix, which is a lemon flavored beer and was quite delicious! Dave Dunkowski got a the beer flight from there but I just got one of the full size drinks. Stephanie Grace and her husband Shane found us and we hung out for the rest of the nigh then walked towards the exit of the park. It was close to 3:40 and the party ended at 4:00. We caught a bus back to the hotel and then I hit the sack for the night. I had a flight home at 12:40 so this would give me the chance to get at least 4-5 hours of sleep.

I had a great time and a fun weekend with friends a love the runDisney races. Being back home now I have to step up my training for the Dopey challenge taking place in less than 60 days!

Yup! A New Star Wars Race Is Coming to WDW Next Year!

August 30, 2015

Remember in my blog post about the new Star Wars Worlds coming I wondered what that was going to mean for the runDisney races? Well, that question was answered just a week later when runDisney announced a new Star Wars Race coming to the East Coast in April, 2016. It ties in perfectly with our family vacation plans for next year so I already warned my husband about it! The races will take place April 14-17, 2016.

The first-ever Star Wars Half Marathon – Dark Side will be in Walt Disney World with a 5K, 10K and half marathon. Also included is the Ultimate Darth Vader Challenge! Participate in the 10K Saturday, April 16 and the half marathon, Sunday April 17 to receive the special Star Wars Dark Side Challenge Finisher Medal. The start of the half marathon will be at Epcot and the finish will be at ESPN Wide World of Sports. The 5K takes place in Epcot alone, the 10K begins in Epcot and ends at ESPN Wide World of Sports. This may be a new course from races past. I’m looking forward to seeing what the information will be regarding the course.

We vacation in Disney in May and it’s a very warm time of year. This is going to be one of the warmer races in their calendar year; but I’m hoping since it will be starting early in the morning, like all of their races, it won’t be too bad.

This race was just announced last week and registration opens on September 22nd! Quick turn around for such a big event! Who will be registering for this new challenge?

Tag: Epcot

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