Disney Day Tripper!: March 2016

So February 21, I ran my first half marathon (yes, 13.1 miles) and of course, living the #disneylife , it had to be the Disney Princess Half Marathon.

We attended the Fit For a Princess Runners Expo the day before. I had to pick up my packet (running bib, shirt and associated information) and of course I had to look around. Anything and everything a runner could ever want was there. I was in running heaven! That being said, I really want a pair of the New Balance official run Disney shoes.


Picking up the packet (and of course necklace and pin I had purchased) Made things VERY real!!

At the Expo, there was an area sponsored by Children's Miracle network (well, the whole race was) and my girls got to make me signs.

When reserving my hotel room that night, I must have accidentally checked the "noisiest room in the whole dang hotel" box. so.much.noise. Sure, I was keyed up for the race, worried I would miss my alarm and so on. But I seriously have never been in a noisier room than that weekend. Tour buses outside running their diesel engines all night. The room next to me flushing the toilet every 10 minutes (I timed it), random bangs, squeaks, groans and grunts form the building. It's a miracle I made it even 3 miles, never mind 13!!

So, here it is 3 am (yes, 3 am!) and I am awake (well, not hard when you never slept) dressed, and ready to earn my legs! I headed down to the lobby, and caught the bus to Epcot where the race would begin with 100's of other runners.

Finally at Epcot, we all head across the parking lots to the staging area (not even the starting corrals yet!). Almost 18,000 of us running. Did you know that Epcot has the single largest expanse of rolled asphalt in the United States? I do. I have walked it all. And I mean all-those lots out front are not even the half of it!

At this point, from hotel room to staging area we have already walked. A lot. And now we have the final 20 minute walk to our starting corrals. I figure by the end of the day (before we even hit Animal Kingdom) I had already done 15 miles.

I must say, Disney has probably ruined me (well, maybe spoiled is a better word) for other races for ever. Yes, they cost a lot just to register, but in true Disney fashion, we were their guests! I have run 5k's (3.1 miles) that were harder on me than this 13.1 miles! Always something to look at, do, photo op. I have to admit, I didn't want to stop for pictures with characters-I was a little worried the "balloon ladies" would make their appearance. The infamous "balloon ladies" (you know the balloon vendors like at Magic Kingdom with those huge bouquets of balloons?) are rumored to be following the last of the runners-if you get passed by them, you get picked up and taken out of the race. I am happy to report that I never even saw a hint of them!! I highly recommend any RunDisney event-I am dying for my next already!!

I think this shot is my favorite. I was almost halfway through at this point.

Following are some selfies I took during the run.

The front of the castle

We ran up World Drive and through the parking lot gates.

And we got to run through all sorts of backstage areas! I definitely slowed my pace to check out my surroundings!


EVERY single time we see or meet Anna and Elsa, they are THE SAME girls.

My finish time was nothing to write home about. But I finished and I felt good! I plan on next year or the year after to do the Glass Slipper Challenge. That is both the 10k on Saturday and the Half Marathon on the Sunday for a total of 19.3 miles.

And of course, we did do a few parks that weekend. Very limited for me-I was extremely sore after and trying to take it easy before. We met up with my cousin Austin, his wife Carrie and their kids at Animal Kingdom and got to hang out with them for a bit. First time since I met my husband over 10 years ago that Austin actually met him.

While I was finishing the race, Craig took the girls into Epcot. They got to meet Baymax-which of course I do not have any pictures of since I was not there. They had a nice morning there while I headed back to our hotel for breakfast, a shower and recovery.

#yearofdisney

#disneylife

I had planned a trip to Disney for MLK weekend. I knew it would be busy, but I do not have many chances to get away during the week. Sofia had not had a mommy and me trip to any of the parks. And since big sis had been making bad choices, it ended up just the 2 of us. Yes-I am that mom who will actually take away a trip to Disney if the circumstances warrant it. (BTW-it worked! No "attitude" issues from big sis since!!) We had a very good time! It was the coldest weekend of the year (I think-don't quote me on that). So we bundled up! We spent the Sunday at Animal Kingdom, after an uneventful drive. This is worth noting because it would have been eventful, to say the least, if Evelyn had been with us too.

The closest Sofia would get-it is loud and dark and simulates thunderstorms.

Sofia enjoys any fish tanks. These fish are in the aviary on the Pangani Forest Trail.

We got to get up close with a hippo!

Dino Dig Site in Dinoland USA. A new favorite for both of my girls!

And of course what is a Disney trip without character greetings!

When first meeting Rafiki, Sofia just hugged him, and hugged him and hugged him. And Rafiki hugged back. Again-character experiences are AMAZING! I proceeded to have a conversation with Rafiki (hand signals and a little interpreting from his cast members) about how he would love to babysit Sofia, so long as I paid him in bananas. Of course Disney doesn't give him enough bananas ;-) Sofia cannot wait to go back and introduce her sister to Rafiki.
Minnie and Mickey offered to babysit too. I just may take them up on it.

Monkey love!

The never-ending hug

Lion Guard is a new favorite at our house.

Selfies!!

Here you can see the (seemingly eternal!) construction at Animal Kingdom. This will be the seating for the new night show.

The one eye-Sofia's newest face. I am pretty sure she is trying to wink. Either way-it cracks me up! We stayed at a hotel on "hotel row". Actually Hotel Plaza Blvd in the Disney Springs area. It wasn't bad, but it sure wasn't Disney!

I had made breakfast reservations at Be Our Guest. And OMG! This is the earliest I have ever been at the parks and OH-EM-GEE! PERFECT castle pictures!!!!!!
If you want the perfect pics in front of Cinderella castle, book an early morning reservation (before park opening). Reservations can be made at Be Our Guest, Cinderella's Royal Table or Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique.
Get there extra early for your reservation-you still have to get there from "almost" Magic Kingdom (aka the parking lot) and there is an extra check in step. Don't expect to walk up and say "we want to eat, let us in". This is strictly reservation only.

The mosaic (heck-all the detail) at Be Our Guest is just phenomenal! And below-not from the breakfast, but this is the best picture I had gotten yet at Story Time with Belle.