The flurry and scurrying around to pack and sneak my kids’ summer clothes, flip flops, swimming goggles and bathing suits took place last week while they were home from school. Thankfully I was able to seclude myself in my room to do this while they were playing with their new Christmas toys. But the last two days to prepare for the actual departure was in full swing.
We are going to Disney for my WDW marathon weekend where I am running the Dopey Challenge and my mother is running her first Disney 5K and close friends of ours are running their first runDisney 10K!
On Sunday, as we were leaving the movie theater from seeing Star Wars the Force Awakens (AWESOME MOVIE), I saw a Facebook post that the Osborne Lights were being extended from January 3 to January 6th. Once I heard that I knew I HAD to do something to get the kids and my parents to Hollywood Studios that night to see the lights. So we had to distract the kids so I could call Southwest and find out what options we had to move my husband and kids from their Thursday flight to my Wednesday flight. Good news and bad news. They could move to Wednesday for only $38 each; but I had to give up my 12:30 direct flight and we are all now flying down at 8:00 a.m. with a stop and change plans in BWI. BLECH! I HATE early flights! Also since I will be getting up early 4 days in a row for the races, that was the last thing I wanted to do. BUT it is for the sake of the JOY that I hope to see on my childrens’ and parents’ faces when they go through the Osborne Lights to see something like no other.
When I ran the Wine and Dine Half Half marathon one of the highlights of the race is that we can run through the Osborne Lights. Diana and I spent and extra long time there because we knew it was going to be the last time we could see it. But, she was on her trip with her family so she decided that the next night they were going to see the lights for sure. When I flew home I was sad. I wanted to find a way to fly our whole family down either for Thanksgiving or for a few days after Thanksgiving JUST so they could experience those lights. Well, my wish is now going to come true!
The kids don’t know yet that we are going to Disney. As usual, we like to pull it off as a surprise to them. The notes have been sent to school and given to the bus driver. Homework has been sent home and now we just have to get their butts into bed real soon because we will have to wake them up at 4:00 a.m. to begin the surprise vacation. I know my daughter is on to me. She reads my texts on my phone at times and saw some communication going on between my dad and I. So I had to squash those questions and I think we may be able to pull this off. It’s going to be different, waking them from their sleep to announce the news. So stay tuned!
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.
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.
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?
Photo Credit: Disney Parks Blog
So now that the registration has come and gone and filled up, I wonder if runDisney will offer another Star Wars Race. There are talks of it on the pod casts that I listen to. All speculation of course.
Here are thoughts:
Get rid of Expedition Everest and add a Star Wars weekend the first weekend in May. Star Wars weekend takes place during May at Hollywood Studios so it would be a nice marriage of two events. The kid races and 5K could take place in the morning and then the 10K and half marathons could take place at night since it is very warm in May. Expedition Everest takes place at night already so this wouldn’t be too different. Perhaps don’t include the 10K with this race series and just have the half marathon at night to help with logistics.
There could be an Coast/West Coast coast to coast medal with special recognition of the two different Star Wars Challenges.
Then there is the added element of the Tinkerbell Half Marathon weekend taking place May 7-10, 2015. Yet another coast to coast race going from the East Coast to the West on back to back weekends.
What do you think of this idea? Do you think it is feasible? Do you think it will really happen? Would you do all of the races?
Will you or did you register for the runDisney Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend today? Did you take advantage of the early AP and DVC registration opportunity? Will this runDisney event sell out yet another famous race?
Like the Avengers race that recently opened up for registration and sold out in record time (less than 2 hours), I believe this race is going to sell out even faster. This has been the race everyone has been waiting for; however, there are more complications involved with the logistics of it.
First of all, it is the weekend following the marathon weekend. If runners are participating in the Dopey challenge, 4 races in 4 days, they will then have to fly to Anaheim prior to Friday to pick up their race packets to participate in the 5K beginning on Friday. It also means 3 more early wake up calls for the races. If you live on the East Coast that shouldn’t be too hard, but your body is recovering from Dopey.
Second, you will be eating up a lot of your vacation time in January if you are doing Dopey then Star Wars. For Dopey, you have to be in Florida by Wednesday to pick up your race packets and run the first race, the 5K on Thursday. The races end Sunday so if possible, you could fly home for a few days then turn around and head to California for Thursday.
Third, you’ll be spending more money on airfare and hotel and food. These are the consequences for registering for these races!
Fourth, Disney did add another challenge to the mix a month ago when they announced the Castaway Cay Challenge. This is the cruise that leaves the day after Marathon Weekend and sails for 4 days, arriving pack to port on Friday. You can still hop a flight to California for Star Wars, but you will miss the 5K. This is also an additional pricey race to add to your list within the first month of 2015. The price for the Castaway Cay Challenge is $65 but that’s the race only. You still have the $1000+ cost of the cruise.
There are some positives about all of this. If you are addicted to the bling, then you will go home with 5 medals if you participate in the Star Wars Challenge after marathon weekend because you will have the 5K, 10K, half marathon, Star Wars Challenge AND a coast to coast medal.
Is it worth it? It would be to me, but I really can’t fork out the cash for another race registration and travel expenses. runDisney marathon weekend is becoming the largest race weekend event in the country, and it does bring in economic activity to the area. The same is also true when adding a race weekend event to California. That is a positive impact of these races for the surrounding areas. But given the time of year and the costs associated with all of the races, I just can’t do them all.
I was a fan of Star Wars when I was young, but my kids aren’t into it yet. So even though I am not registering this year, it may be something that I’d show interest in the future. It also depends on if it will be back in the East Coast or if it will remain in Disneyland. For those of you registering today, may the force be with you!
