WILL RUN TO EAT: Disney's W&D Half Marathon followed by 11 nights DXDP!

[pmama]

Alright we are heading out to WDW in two weeks. We have not been in 3 years and are soooo looking forward to getting back to Disney. I've done 3 trip reports in the past (check my signature) but life is MUCH busier now. Back then I was a SAHM. I now am in my 4th year teaching middle school Social Studies.

This trip will be 11 nights in WDW with DXDP followed by 3 nights at St. Pete beach! Total of 14 nights!

I am Typing this on my iPad in bed as I soak in every last morning before going on a 14 mile run in 30 degree weather. Brrrr



In honor of Halloween!

I don't see a preview button so I apologize if this doesn't work!

We first fell in love with Disney in 2007. Our oldest turned 7 on the trip and the youngest was 3. We went for just 6 nights and were sooo not ready to leave. We caught the DISNEY OBSESSION............Must.........go........back!
2007

We returned in 2008 for 10 nights. Even though I broke both arms the week before the trip this is still one of my favorites!

In May 2008 we visited Disneyland and other California parks with Grandparents.

In Dec. of 2009 we did a magical Land/Sea. The trip had a couple disappointments with us being unable to dock at Castaway Key and both DH and youngest DD developed norovirus causing us to miss our flight home. Ended up with a total of 14 nights and of course many fun filled memories as well.

If you were to look at the dates you'd notice we took 4 impressive Disney trips in the space of 2 years, 2 months! CRAZY! Had a great time but then we decided on debt free living!!! We are now debt free except our mortgage which we are paying off at twice the rate. It's finally time to reward our hard work with another Disney vacation! Paid in cash!

You will notice as I post pics from 2007-2009 that I gained quite a bit of weight during that time. I gained 20 pounds between September 2008 and our Disneyland trip in May 2009. (8 months) The 20+ pounds stuck on like glue for over two years. I'm still not sure what caused the quick weight gain but I know my foot injuries combined with the disappointment of breaking both arms in the triathlon made me give up for a while. I still exercised but not consistently and could not control my eating. (I also think I was on the DIS too much.)

About a year ago three things finally helped me turn it around. I joined at at-work weight watchers program, I signed up for my first half-marathon in over five years. (Even though I'd declared my feet too "injured" to run that distance again.) And, I started weight lifting with my sexy husband. (I believe the weight training has made the biggest impact.)

It took a year and a half to get it off but I am now over 30 pounds lighter overall! Once I stopped using foot injuries as an excuse they nearly disappeared. I just ran 14 miles this weekend and am prepared for my second half marathon this year. Loving life on the healthier side!

 

[pmama]

This time in two weeks.....................we will be in WDW! We actually fly out late on Friday the 9th. I will teach a full day of school and both girls will go to school. We will leave immediately from school for the airport. Our flight leaves at 5:25 Mountain time and we should arrive to MCO around 11 Eastern time! We flew out at night on our last trip and actually really like it! We've found if we fly out in the morning it feels like we spend the entire day traveling. We also are trying to limit the number of days we all miss from school. The girls and I are taking 5 days off from school. Thanksgiving week is the following week so we get two full weeks in Florida!!

We will probably not get to sleep until around 2 am Florida time at Disney's Art of Animation.

That actually is perfect because we are sleeping in as late as possible the next morning in preparation for our long night ahead!

We plan to go to WWoS for the Wine and Dine Expo!

I hope to purchase one if these!

We will then spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing by the AoA pool (hoping for warm weather) and having our bags transferred to POP for the remainder of our stay.

We originally booked at CBR since it is a host resort but decided to downgrade resorts and upgrade to DXDP. We are not huge eaters but love the "dining experiences" at WDW. They are half the fun! Since we were arriving so late the first night we opted to start the package plan the next day. It also gives us a chance to check out AoA. We were not one of the lucky ones that got a special pin for free dining at AoA LM. This will be our 3rd time at POP and we like it just fine.

Around 7 pm I will hop on a bus to WWoS. This is the race poster. It shows the three parks we are running through at night! DH and the girls will head to Epcot for the Finish Line Party!

The race starts at 10 pm and Epcot is open until 3 am for the Finish Line Party. We will party hardy in Epcot as long as we can stay awake!

 

[pmama]

Just was able to book perfect reservations at CRT for our late evening at MK! I've been checking with CRT for a couple months and am so excited to have snagged this for the girls. I didn't originally book CRT because at that time we didn't know we'd be doing the DXDP.

Still don't have reservations for Be Our Guest. That was a saga. We called all day and by the time we got through the reservations were gone. Gives me hope anyway!

Two weeks from yesterday...........

We of course will be sleeping in after a super late night at the Finish Line Party in Epcot.

We will be in Hollywood Studios!

Lunch is at Mama's Melrose with the Fantasmic Package.

I love this picture. It's from our 2008 trip when youngest DD8 (4 at time) waved to and screamed "hi" to every disney character on the boats in Fantasmic. This picture takes me back to that moment. The kind of moments that disney is all about. You can see how funny and cute I thought it was at the time.

We will take in the Osbourne lights after Fantasmic and have a late dinner at 50s prime time. We have never eaten there!

 

[pmama]

Magic Kingdom Day!

Lunch is planned at Liberty Tree Tavern. Haven't eaten there since they used to do character dinners. Wish they still did. This was during MVMCP 2008.

Disney closes early for MVMCP so we are hoping for a low-crowd day!

Dinner is at HDDR. We love Fort Wilderness!

2008

 

[dara00]

followed you from the wine and dine board! I'm running my first 1/2 and looking forward to it! can't believe you broke both your arms in a triathlon! wow!

 

[pmama]

followed you from the wine and dine board! I'm running my first 1/2 and looking forward to it! can't believe you broke both your arms in a triathlon! wow!

Thanks for being my first official poster. Can't believe how close we're getting!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Subbing!!!! I'm going to go "warm up" WDW for you right before you go! My DH and I are headed for a 3 night Anniversary trip Monday-Thursday and we'll get home the day before you head out! I'm a runner, although I just finished a 5K, not a half! Cannot wait to hear all about it! I was most interested in your feet issues, I have PF and it has kept me from getting my mileage up, I found your story really interesting! Anyway! Have a great time if I don't have time to tell you when I get back and before you leave!!

 

[StitchIsOurHero]

Joining in! Love your report so far, and your family is adorable! Can't wait to read more!!

 

[pmama]

This time in two weeks......................................


We will be in Animal Kingdom!

Breakfast will probably be QS. Lunch is at Rain Forest Cafe. This picture is at RFC in Disneyland. Never been to either in WDW.

We'll probably watch the Jungle Jammin parade.

Safari time!

Dinner will be at Boma in AKL.

With that said, this is one of the only days we have with no credit card fee restaurants. If it is nice I may try to convince hubby to scrap those plans and visit Blizzard Beach. We love the water parks!

 

[momof2cutegirls]

Subbing! Looks like we will be arriving as you all are heading home. How old are your girls? Ours are 9 & 11...not into the princesses so much but still lve their Disney! Good luck in your race!

 

[crk1977]

Subbing! I am so excited to read this trip report. My husband is wanting to do the W & D Half Marathon next year. Good luck on your race. Your have the most adorable family and I cannot wait to read more!

 

[crk1977]

Lunch is planned at Liberty Tree Tavern. Haven't eaten there since they used to do character dinners. Wish they still did. This was during MVMCP 2008.

We ate at Liberty Tree Tavern on our last trip (2008, DH decided we should only go to Disney every 5 years) and we really enjoyed it! I was so sad to learn this is no longer a character meal.

 

[saintstickets]

Sign me up coach! I'm subbed in! Looking forward to your TR.

 

[pmama]

Subbing!!!! I'm going to go "warm up" WDW for you right before you go! My DH and I are headed for a 3 night Anniversary trip Monday-Thursday and we'll get home the day before you head out! I'm a runner, although I just finished a 5K, not a half! Cannot wait to hear all about it! I was most interested in your feet issues, I have PF and it has kept me from getting my mileage up, I found your story really interesting! Anyway! Have a great time if I don't have time to tell you when I get back and before you leave!!

Have dealt with PF and mortons neuroma for years. Had surgery on right foot for mortons but still struggle at times with PF and mortons neuroma in left foot. Spenco Polysorb inserts, quality shoes, calf stretches and ice have worked wonders.

Joining in! Love your report so far, and your family is adorable! Can't wait to read more!!

Thanks for joining in!

Subbing! Looks like we will be arriving as you all are heading home. How old are your girls? Ours are 9 & 11...not into the princesses so much but still lve their Disney! Good luck in your race!

Our oldest just turned 12. So the girls are now 8 and 12!

Subbing! I am so excited to read this trip report. My husband is wanting to do the W & D Half Marathon next year. Good luck on your race. Your have the most adorable family and I cannot wait to read more!

We ate at Liberty Tree Tavern on our last trip (2008, DH decided we should only go to Disney every 5 years) and we really enjoyed it! I was so sad to learn this is no longer a character meal.

Will definitly review W&D. I thing LTT stopped character dining in 2009.

Sign me up coach! I'm subbed in! Looking forward to your TR.

Thans for joining!

 

[pmama]

Two weeks from today..........

It's back to MK!

This is one of the days that was a 1 on Touringplans until a couple days go. But now is a 9. EasyWDW recommended this day for Wishes, Electrical Parade. Strangely enough it now s open from 8am until 1 am. Still not sure how we'll break it up. Mid day break or sleep in??

Late Breakfast is at Crystal Palace with Pooh and friends. Haven't been there since the first year, 2007.

Early dinner (will actually be our lunch) is at one our favorites ..................1900 Park Fair.

We plan to watch the electrical parade and Wishes!

Then, finally we have the much coveted reservations that I just scored. CRT after 9! It was perfect timing to allow us to watch evening entertainment and let food settle from 1900.

 

[pmama]

Two weeks from today...................

We will be at Hollywood Studios!

Lunch is at Sci Fi. We haven't been there since 2007 when we had the slowest service ever. It's a fun environment so we're ready to give it another try.

Love these guys!

I love Playhouse Disney. I hope my kids don't think they're too old.

Dinner is at Hollywood Brown Derby. We've never eaten there but heard great things.

We will probably get some hot cocoa and enjoy the lights.

 

[morgtroy]

I'm in, glad you're doing a trip report!! This is going to be so fun!!
You look wonderful!!! I think we get in a caught up with taking care of everyone else in our families and stop taking care of ourselves. At least that was me. Congratulations.

 

[pmama]

I'm in, glad you're doing a trip report!! This is going to be so fun!!
You look wonderful!!! I think we get in a caught up with taking care of everyone else in our families and stop taking care of ourselves. At least that was me. Congratulations.

Glad you found it. Even though I have less time these days, I love writing trip reports and having those to look back on! Plan to write this one and be done by Chistmas break! We have just one week!

 

[pmama]

Two weeks from today.................

We will be in MK.

Yes, this is the 3rd time for those keeping track (and not last). It is a party day so hoping for lighter crowds. We will be at a leisurely pace. We may linger around FLE hoping to get in with previews.*

Late breakfast break at Ohana.

May also see if BOG is open for lunch. Have late lunch res. At Tonys in case.

May search out some of our favorite characters!

Who knows, it may be a good day for a mid-day break with Mickey crispies by the pool!

Dinner is at California Grill! We have never eaten there. Can't wait to watch Mvmcp Wishes from the CG!

 

[pmama]

This time in two weeks we will be in.................

Epcot

Lunch is at Le Celier. We've never eaten there but have heard great things.


If we haven't yet we will do the Disney Visa meet and greet. The meet and greet takes place each day from 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm inside Epcots Innoventions West.

Bummed about Test Track being closed for refurb. Still keeping fingers crossed for soft opening.

Dinner is at Teppan Edo and we plan to watch Illuminations!