Our trips now need excuses: this one's excuse was the TOT 10-miler

[bumbershoot]

My PTR is here. It will also have PTR for a January 2014 trip and even beyond because I'm tired of writing different PTRs, so I hope they'll let that happen.


Although the sheer number of times we've been to Orlando isn't that many (relatively speaking), we're feeling a bit funny about traveling cross-country so often. So I've decided the trips need reasons. Thankfully I've taken up running. Doing different official runs gives you good excuses for traveling!

Last April I signed up for the Tower of Terror 10-Miler, and we created a trip around it. My PTR is a boring account (oh I know how to sell it, don't I?) of training, fainting, figuring out how to eat and drink properly to make sure I didn't faint again, etc etc. Weight loss. Strength training. Foot pain, new shoes, new inserts for the shoes. Oh, and the places where we would eat. Gotta get to the important things!

So now that trip is done, and I find myself compelled to write a bit about it. What I will write I'm not sure. Jet lag, insufficient (despite all of my training!) hydration and nutrition before/during the race, the kid getting a nasty little cold, and more exhaustion combined together to make my sketchy memory even sketchier. I do have pictures, though.


I'm trying to work on making indices for my reports. Keep me honest!

October 4: A, B, C, D,

October 5: POR room 9606, stuff in the room, the morning and what we ate, too-short nap and nerves!...my long race report with some sweaty or blurry pictures!

October 6: a meal and a ride, tea, beer, and pool-time

October 7: breakfast at The Wave

October 8:

October 9, 10, 11, 12 Universal report will be here:

October 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 _______ report will be

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3204587

:
wait, what? we were going HOME on the 13th....hmm....

 

[bumbershoot]

This day dawned bright and disgustingly early, as the guys were traveling at 6am or something nasty like that. We came up with a phrase for being up when you really don't want to be up. "Ick Bleah". It was Ick Bleah in the morning.

We managed to get out of here unscathed in the rental car (one of the various options we use for airport stuff...seatac has really expensive parking, and even the offsite parking isn't cheap when you're multiplying it by 2 weeks, so this time the one-day rental car at the beginning and end of the trip worked out best). Robert dropped us off, we waited, he arrived after turning in the car, we met back up. Since the guys were traveling together and they had the free bags, I had to wait for him to do all that.

Anyway, long and annoying story short, they got to their flight and I started my brief solo vacation. I had planned to get a manicure at Butter London there in the secure area of the airport. And as I passed it to get some breakfast I noticed a seated massage place. Ohhhh yeah.....

Once they opened I was in line for the massage. The guy focused on my left shoulder, as I asked him to, and it was AMAZING. I've been dealing with rotten shoulder issues for ages, and although both acupuncture and chiropractic help me, the massage made me nearly pain-free for nearly 2 weeks!

Then I went over and got my nails done. Deep metallic purple seemed right. Seemed fast. Seemed capable of running 10 miles.

Then too soon my ground-time was done and I had to get to my gate. The manicure place is neat because there are issues there at the airport that probably don't come up in different places. Like "can I get your boarding pass and put it in your hand for you?" issues. Alas, at the last moment I smeared a nail. Eh, it was all too perfect anyway.

Got on my flight, flew, landed. Missed the heck out of my guys, who were still on the way despite having an earlier flight! Oh those silly connections...

I had no bags booked under my name (they were all under E&R) and I headed out to Magical Express. Couldn't find my magicband but I had the booklet and it worked fine. I didn't wait long until I got on my bus. Was seated next to a nice man who was taking his daughter, son in law, and grandson to WDW. Well, he would remind me that it was his wife that had planned it all. Sounded like they had an awesome trip planned, and I got all sad about my guys not being there yet, again!

Got to POR, had a most frustrating time waiting and waiting and WAITING to checkin. I landed well after checkin time, so from what some others had said, I should have gotten a text with my room number and with online checkin and MBs I should have been able to just go straight there. But when you don't know where "there" is, ya gotta visit the front desk. Person in front of me apparently was the adult in the party who wasn't capable of doing the official checkin stuff? I don't know. He was texting the whole time he was standing there with the CM, and ages later I saw an older man and a younger boy come in to save the day. Meanwhile a CM had come over with an ipad, then walked away because her ipad didn't work. Took another bit of time and she came back with a working ipad and got me started.

They didn't have my CC info, again, and I mentioned the "again" part because seriously, they REQUIRE it in online checkin, and it should really be transmitted and kept. And she knew how long I had been standing there. And there was something else going on but I can't remember what it was. Anyway, she had me go sit down while she got my packet. I started trying to remember where I'd put the silly MagicBand. She showed up when I had half my belonging (mostly running gear LOL) strewn across the couch.

We'd been upgraded from Standard to Royal Room. Dude! She had a cute little invitation from Tiana, she had this and that and the other things, and she had our glow in the dark 2013 MB sliders. She had it all!

I was rather happy about the turnaround and went away, smiling. We were in a standard VIEW, that's for sure. But they had given me my wish of a corner room (just prettier IMO), and of course there was that Royal Room upgrade. Alas, no fridge for Robert's medication.

On that note I need to pause for the night. Still dealing with jetlag, Robert's on a work trip, again (we flew home through Newark on the 17th, he went right back out to the area last night!) which always makes me more tired, and my shoulder is horrendous right now. Different (which is good when dealing with pain), but horrendous. Must get some rest.

So I'll leave you wondering...will they ever get their fridge????

 

[annmarieda]

I am here! Can't wait to read all about your trip.

Yay for the room upgrade! i hope to see some pics. In january, we are booked in a royal room for the first 4 nights of our trip.

 

[wiigirl]

Following along!

 

[minniebeth]

Read your posts on the TOT thread on WISH boards~ love that you are hooked on runDisney now

 

[bumbershoot]

I am here! Can't wait to read all about your trip.

Yay for the room upgrade! i hope to see some pics. In january, we are booked in a royal room for the first 4 nights of our trip.

Hi!

I'm not sure I got too many pictures, but if you've been following the big POR thread you'll see that they are currently doing something weird with the bed coverings. We had the big royal/rich-colored heavy bedspread thing, but now they are doing the white sheet thing without even a runner? One hopes they will flesh out that look, that's for sure.

Following along!

Hi!

Read your posts on the TOT thread on WISH boards~ love that you are hooked on runDisney now

My cousin asked about the rD events and I think she might have fainted for a microsecond when I told her the cost. Even though I was irritated at some things (including myself) about it, I have to assume they are better-run than many other events. Then again, I haven't done tons of events to compare it to.

 

[minniebeth]

My cousin asked about the rD events and I think she might have fainted for a microsecond when I told her the cost. Even though I was irritated at some things (including myself) about it, I have to assume they are better-run than many other events. Then again, I haven't done tons of events to compare it to.

My husband has done quite a few other races all over and he says nothing compares to the way the Disney races are run (despite some snags here and there). Although my family and I have participated in some local races and they have been great. Disney races are so crazy expensive, but oh so fun!!

 

[annmarieda]

Hi!

I'm not sure I got too many pictures, but if you've been following the big POR thread you'll see that they are currently doing something weird with the bed coverings. We had the big royal/rich-colored heavy bedspread thing, but now they are doing the white sheet thing without even a runner? One hopes they will flesh out that look, that's for sure.

Hmm.. I thought I was subscribed to that... but havent seen anything come through. I will have to take a look. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[bumbershoot]

My husband has done quite a few other races all over and he says nothing compares to the way the Disney races are run (despite some snags here and there). Although my family and I have participated in some local races and they have been great. Disney races are so crazy expensive, but oh so fun!!

Good to know!

Hmm.. I thought I was subscribed to that... but havent seen anything come through. I will have to take a look. Thanks for the heads up.

I know that venomhatch from that thread loses his notifications sometimes, so it wouldn't surprise me if they got lost for you, too. I never subscribe to anything so I don't have that problem.

 

[bumbershoot]

Back to Riverside, we did get the fridge. It required a bit more footwork on my part, but we got it. Whew.

Princes.

I'm not sure why they have to focus on big color pictures of the princesses when they could easily include more princes, but we have to deal with the silhouettes until someone gets a clue.

Side question: the movie is called Aladdin. It's about, you know, Aladdin. Why, then, is all the focus on Jasmine?

*********************
I was the VERY anxious person nearly running all around, trying to get things worked out, trying not to be too annoyed at how long everything was taking (I was leaving from MCO on the bus and DH and DS were circling the airport about to land...I mean, come on, there had been 1.5 hours between my landing time and theirs!), just trying to get to the race Expo! I was working hard to keep it together, but I'm sure my tension was seeping through.


This sign would have been so helpful if only my nerves could have allowed me to soak it in. I did fine without the info, but seriously, I couldn't comprehend much at that time.

Except that this is pretty.

Well, at what-felt-like-LONG last, I got to the bus. And was the only person on it. Had the driver to myself. He was nice, talkative in a good way, and helped calm me down just by being himself.

I did NOT expect the walk from the bus to the expo to be that long, however! Why on earth was it so far away? Walking, walking, walking...the sun was getting lower and lower, time was ticking forward...walking and walking some more....

After 300 years of walking (and 18 million people walking back the way I came, making me feel as though it was just about to close and I was too late and would not get my packet and would have traveled all that way for nothing (note: I had nearly 2 hours...this was just my nerves))...

And a very ominous sky.

Still more walking, long long walking, up stairs, around the CMs this way not that way, walking, over to the right and go this way even though the signs don't really indicate that but the CMs do so whatever, wish I had more time to figure this out, grr, walking walking...


Expo!

 

[bumbershoot]

Going into the Expo I felt despair. I wouldn't get anything I needed, I would have to go to the Expo the next day (yes I kept forgetting that there was another day of it) and ruin the lives of hubby and son (because I got it in my head that they didn't want to have anything to do with it...silly for anyone who has been with me since the days of E being 3, forcing me to go through DTD in Anaheim and wanting to shop shop and do more shopping...DH gave him the shopping gene so I don't know what I was thinking).

Everyone was moving so slowly. Everyone was having too much fun.

Oh yeah, I was a real super-awesome-fun person right then! Is it any wonder I'm thinking of getting to town Jan 4th for the marathon activities? (expo starts the 8th, DS and I are running the 5K on the 9th, he does a mile on the 10th, and my Half is on the 11th, to give you an understanding of HOW stinkin' early that would be to get to town)

But ultimately I came, I saw, I stressed, I lurked, I conquered.

First stop, get my bib and whatnot. Done!

Second stop, proof of time so I could change from J to whatever. Moved to E. Got a big orange sticker stuck right over that J. Done!

Third stop, get my shirt!

I had signed up for a medium shirt. I tried to change it ahead of time (note: last month was too late to change it even for the January races, zoinks!) but no luck. When I went to pick up the shirt I found they had an exchange system going. But no smalls (the medium was very not medium-ish). I wandered and lurked and suddenly felt called to go over there and voila, a small. Ha, turns out I should have hoped for XS! The sizes were a bit, well, you know...off. Anyway, Done!

Fourth stop, see what merchandise they had. Refused to buy the $70 "i did it" jacket. Refused to buy the funky colored shirt because all the colors were off in that building. Now, I love a funky color, don't get me wrong. But if it looks funky when the colors are off, WHAT would it look like in normal light? I didn't want to know. Plus they were big. I saw the pins. I saw 4 pins left. Four! I grabbed one. I struggled and fought with my internet connection on my phone to see if Ms Ann had PMd me, no she had not, so I decided to buy it. I looked up and the pin holder had been swarmed as I dealt with my phone and held that pin, and they were gone gone gone. WOW. I decided to not buy the little necklace as it wasn't really my style.

I looked around more, found a hat. Cute, simple hat. Found the Vinylmation figure and the medal, bought the medal. Left behind the long sleeved (LONG? October?) "i did it" shirt because the sizes were ridiculous.

All the things I wanted to buy were then purchased, done and so much Done!

Fifth stop, look around. Ahhhh, that's better. Chatted with all sorts of ladies at the BondiBand booth. Bought myself a purple BB. Found that there are people with less knowledge of running, races, and runDisney than me, and dispensed some of the knowledge I learned on the TOT and Half marathon threads this year. I hope that lady finished and didn't do anything bad with the gu she had just bought and was going to try for the first time ever during the run. I looked around other booths. So much there to get and try out for the first time ever. No! I would not be tempted. Except for the headband. But that could easily be tossed aside or wrapped around a wrist or stuffed in my waistpack. Looked and talked and walked and looked some more, and then it was the end of that night's expo and it was Done!


Went allll the way back to the buses. Man oh man is that a mystifyingly long way. Saw a bus in my spot, started to run, was told to slow down. OK, I will. Got up there and the driver was bummed that I was heading to POR because if I hadn't shown up he could just go home. Struck me a bit funny, but it all worked out VERY well because when he found out I was heading to POR in order to catch the boat to DTD, he insisted on just taking me to DTD. Wow, cool!

 

[bumbershoot]

Meanwhile, the menfolk had gone to DTD. They did not stop at the room, they did not take the boat. They went straight from the airport, in the rental car, to Disney Quest. Alrighty then!

Each time I was able to contact them they were having some other type of fun. Alas Robert's body type was not compatible with the rollercoaster DS designed, so DS got to ride that alone. But they had massive amounts of fun in there. I was dropped off at the Cirque area of DTD by my awesome and brave bus driver, and that meant I was close to DQ. I figured out how to get in (Disney makes pretty signs but they don't always put them in the right spots) and found my way up and up and up some more, then around and twisty and finally there they were. Playing, what a surprise, Attack Squadron or whatever it is my son is absolutely addicted to.

Met up, hung out some more, I wished I had brought my earplugs, and then we headed over to T-Rex. I used to have the Safari Club and now have the Landry's Select, so seating was not an issue. Hearing was, but what's new for me? (anyone have a great audiologist in western WA?) It's my birthday month so I had that $25 certificate. I also had a $25 GC from mypoints. The bill was lovely. The food was good but DS was tired and COLD and a wee bit miserable.

It was finally time to head out. We were way too full of paleolithic food to stop at Babycakes for tasty cupcakes, and headed out to the car to get back to POR. The next morning we had absolutely nothing to do, nothing to wake up early for.

Wait, what's that? DH wanted to go to the WW meeting that morning? At 9am? 6am pacific time? Seriously? OK, heck, I'm supportive of that, that's awesome!

Sleep came fast and so did our wakeup call.

 

[annmarieda]

I am so sorry I didn't pm you. I guess I was a bit overwhelmed that day. For some reason I couldn't figure out how to send a pm on dis from my phone. Now I can see how easy it was... but at the time i couldn't figure it out and that is why I posted to your PTR. I am glad you got a pin though!! And given that there were only 4 left...you probably were there right after I was!

I agree with you on the long walk. The first time I went, I was driven in a car. Easy peasy walk. The next time I took RD transport and the drop off was sooo far away.

 

[bumbershoot]

OH it didn't stress me out! I just wanted to make sure I wasn't about to end up with two, and I didn't even think to check the thread. Don't feel bad at all. The app is ridiculous and confusing, and the internet in that building was weird. I'm just telling the story; there was no stress then and none now. I appreciate the fact that you tried to do it for me!

I still can't believe I got a pin.

 

[nancy drew]

Is it any wonder I'm thinking of getting to town Jan 4th for the marathon activities?

OMG DOOOOOOOOOOOOO THIS!!!! We will be there until January 6th and it would be so awesome to actually meet up in WDW! Besides, I think they take down all of the holiday decorations after the 5th, so you will want to see those, right? RIGHT??!!? #enable

 

[nancy drew]

I'm really looking forward to hearing about the race. You've worked so hard, and come so far. You've done an amazing job, and it is really impressive.

 

[bumbershoot]

OMG DOOOOOOOOOOOOO THIS!!!! We will be there until January 6th and it would be so awesome to actually meet up in WDW! Besides, I think they take down all of the holiday decorations after the 5th, so you will want to see those, right? RIGHT??!!? #enable

How cool would THAT be, to finally meet you after so many years? I was mainly thinking for "getting used to the time difference" purposes, but meeting you and your kids would seriously be amazing.

For those that don't know, ND and I have "known" each other since the baby days. Online only, but still. When kids have worn the same wool diaper covers, there's a bond.



Hey Ann, when are YOU getting to town? Oh it's probably in your PTR. Could look for myself. : )

 

[annmarieda]

OMG DOOOOOOOOOOOOO THIS!!!! We will be there until January 6th and it would be so awesome to actually meet up in WDW! Besides, I think they take down all of the holiday decorations after the 5th, so you will want to see those, right? RIGHT??!!? #enable

Do they take all of them down? I watched a video from the marathon.. I guess it was for 2012 and the lights were still on the castle. I know that Osbourne lights are set to come down... but I do so hope the castle is still decorated.

How cool would THAT be, to finally meet you after so many years? I was mainly thinking for "getting used to the time difference" purposes, but meeting you and your kids would seriously be amazing.

For those that don't know, ND and I have "known" each other since the baby days. Online only, but still. When kids have worn the same wool diaper covers, there's a bond.



Hey Ann, when are YOU getting to town? Oh it's probably in your PTR. Could look for myself. : )

I will be flying out of seatac on 1/8... and returning 1/18. I am looking forward to time in the parks AFTER the race this time.

 

[nancy drew]

How cool would THAT be, to finally meet you after so many years? I was mainly thinking for "getting used to the time difference" purposes, but meeting you and your kids would seriously be amazing.

It would really be so awesome. I think our kids would get along well, they seem to have so much in common, besides having shared diaper covers (I know I don't post trip reports much anymore, but my kids are Lego fanatics, Harry Potter fans, Disney fans (duh), and I often find myself nodding along as you talk about E). And I bet we would have a lot to talk about as well .

Of course I understand if it won't work out, but the timing is soooooooo close!! It would just be so cool if we could make it happen! Keep me posted, OK?

Do they take all of them down? I watched a video from the marathon.. I guess it was for 2012 and the lights were still on the castle. I know that Osbourne lights are set to come down... but I do so hope the castle is still decorated.

I actually don't know, as we always leave the Monday that most kids go back to school. I was mostly just trying to convince Molly to go to WDW early so we could meet I'm an enabler like that . We've "known" each other for over 9 years online, it would just be so fun to finally meet in person!

 

[annmarieda]

I actually don't know, as we always leave the Monday that most kids go back to school. I was mostly just trying to convince Molly to go to WDW early so we could meet I'm an enabler like that . We've "known" each other for over 9 years online, it would just be so fun to finally meet in person!

Darn... I wasn't hoping you knew. I do understand being an enabler though... and the kind you are is the best kind!