Official 2015 Disneyland Half Marathon Thread.

I'm so broke too...but can't wait to run!

I'm thinking about Tink too...want that pink medal!

kelly 1 said:

Well I got week 9 done! Wrapped my foot with vet wrap to give it lots of support. The temp was cooler but the strong wind created lots of resistance but the humidity was 83% this morning air so heavy. We are not use to this kind of weather, we are usually mushrooms up here! Stopped doing TRX until foot feels better no jumping, doing more spin to keep up cardio. At least there is good music to help me through those classes, massive sweat fest! Spin shoes help me keep foot flat. On ward and upward! Foot does feel a little better. Can believe I'm am crocked up and signing up for Princess GSC oh well this will be My C2C dream. So entry is done through travel agent now waiting for Tinker bell! Man I'm broke! Disney sucking everything, medals will be worth it ! I need goals, and boy am I making them! Hope training going well for everyone.

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I LOVE Spin right now! I find that wearing those shoes and "clipping in" on the bike for class really helps me stretch in the right ways but takes a lot of the pressure off my feet (especially my little foot). And I can definitely tell a difference when I go out and ride my road bike too.

And I'll be with you for GSC too! I deferred from Pixie Dust last year, so I figured I might as well go for a pink C2C medal in 2016.

Ariel484 said:

I'm thinking about Tink too...want that pink medal!

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Doooo it. Dooooo it!

I wish registration wasn't until after DLH - so all the WDW peeps could fall in love with DLR like I have!

Keels said:

I LOVE Spin right now! I find that wearing those shoes and "clipping in" on the bike for class really helps me stretch in the right ways but takes a lot of the pressure off my feet (especially my little foot). And I can definitely tell a difference when I go out and ride my road bike too.

And I'll be with you for GSC too! I deferred from Pixie Dust last year, so I figured I might as well go for a pink C2C medal in 2016.

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Agree spin shoes makes all the difference. All I keep telling myself is lift, lift and my quads get on Fire! Those darn quads of mine hard to find jeans to fit! Shoes are much better than the foot cages to keep the lift going. Can pull huge watts on the bike! I'm lucky my instructor is a BMX coach she helps me balance everything between my running. But I hate the hand signals as she makes me put on more gears than the rest of the class she is great.

Keels said:

Doooo it. Dooooo it!

I wish registration wasn't until after DLH - so all the WDW peeps could fall in love with DLR like I have!

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HMMMMMMMMOKAY!!

kelly 1 said:

Well I got week 9 done! Wrapped my foot with vet wrap to give it lots of support. The temp was cooler but the strong wind created lots of resistance but the humidity was 83% this morning air so heavy. We are not use to this kind of weather, we are usually mushrooms up here! Stopped doing TRX until foot feels better no jumping, doing more spin to keep up cardio. At least there is good music to help me through those classes, massive sweat fest! Spin shoes help me keep foot flat. On ward and upward! Foot does feel a little better. Can believe I'm am crocked up and signing up for Princess GSC oh well this will be My C2C dream. So entry is done through travel agent now waiting for Tinker bell! Man I'm broke! Disney sucking everything, medals will be worth it ! I need goals, and boy am I making them! Hope training going well for everyone.

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Glad to hear your foot seems to be improving. I've only ever been to one spin class and I hated it so bad! But then I don't do much cycling - I think I've ridden my bike about 3 times in the maybe 5 years that I've had it... Before then I hadn't ridden for probably 10 years (since I was a little kid).

I think it will be my ultimate goal to do a C2C - it's probably the only way I'll ever convince myself to go to WDW lol! I'll have to try and do it all in the same trip though - there's no way we could afford 2 big trips to the US in one year! Hopefully they will continue to offer a couple of race weekends a week apart, so that I can still do it in a few years time when I'm physically and financially able.

zanzibar138 said:

Glad to hear your foot seems to be improving. I've only ever been to one spin class and I hated it so bad! But then I don't do much cycling - I think I've ridden my bike about 3 times in the maybe 5 years that I've had it... Before then I hadn't ridden for probably 10 years (since I was a little kid).

I think it will be my ultimate goal to do a C2C - it's probably the only way I'll ever convince myself to go to WDW lol! I'll have to try and do it all in the same trip though - there's no way we could afford 2 big trips to the US in one year! Hopefully they will continue to offer a couple of race weekends a week apart, so that I can still do it in a few years time when I'm physically and financially able.

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After my brain injury the Dr. say he wanted me to be put in a group class to like social skills. So my husband arrange for me to be put on a spin bike at the community center. I was training to be a personal trainer before accident so they all figured they would put me back in fitness seeing spinning was something I did while I was weight lifting. The instructors work with stoke victims they were very good to me . I'm told I just sit a petal for a long time and one day I start to participate in class. So I look at the spin bike bought me back. Well sort of oh much better! I lucky instructors set me up on the bike help me with proper position. This was something I could do seeing it just me on bike. Now as long as there is good music they can get lots of drive out of me. So I guess this is why spin is a little special to me. I have the love hate relationship with my instructor but this is good I know I have given a good effort. So yes I can say sometimes I truly hate it too! Onward up ward!

Ariel484 said:

Bummer about your 5K outfit, but Jessica Rabbit would be great!!

I need that twin dancing emoji. <-- good enough!

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. Yes! Love it!

kelly 1 said:

Well I got week 9 done! Wrapped my foot with vet wrap to give it lots of support. The temp was cooler but the strong wind created lots of resistance but the humidity was 83% this morning air so heavy. We are not use to this kind of weather, we are usually mushrooms up here! Stopped doing TRX until foot feels better no jumping, doing more spin to keep up cardio. At least there is good music to help me through those classes, massive sweat fest! Spin shoes help me keep foot flat. On ward and upward! Foot does feel a little better. Can believe I'm am crocked up and signing up for Princess GSC oh well this will be My C2C dream. So entry is done through travel agent now waiting for Tinker bell! Man I'm broke! Disney sucking everything, medals will be worth it ! I need goals, and boy am I making them! Hope training going well for everyone.

Click to expand...

When is see humidity in the 80s, I get excited bc it's less than 90, lol. Mississippi problems.

Keels said:

I LOVE Spin right now! I find that wearing those shoes and "clipping in" on the bike for class really helps me stretch in the right ways but takes a lot of the pressure off my feet (especially my little foot). And I can definitely tell a difference when I go out and ride my road bike too.

And I'll be with you for GSC too! I deferred from Pixie Dust last year, so I figured I might as well go for a pink C2C medal in 2016.

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Spin is one of my faves too! I go at least twice per week. I def need to look into spin shoes though. I usually wear my retired running shoes, but can feel the pressure it puts on my feet.

60 day mark for me today! This is getting so real!
Thinking about a character breakfast after the 10k. Anyone have experience with PCH Grill or storytellers cafe for bfast?

mbwhitti said:

60 day mark for me today! This is getting so real!
Thinking about a character breakfast after the 10k. Anyone have experience with PCH Grill or storytellers cafe for bfast?

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We did the Paradise Pier breakfast at PCH Grill with the characters 8 years ago (I know, not recent at all) but it was really good and fun then. Food was well stocked and fresh. Characters were fun and they had some kid activities going on, not sure if they still do that. Not as huge as say Crystal Palace, but enough variety in food that was good and I'm pretty sure they had Mickey waffles, which is a must at breakfasts for me.

Do they not do 60 days out + 10 days like WDW does?
ETA: They do NOT do 60 + 10. Annoying!

Guess I'll be making reservations every day for the next couple of days

mbwhitti said:

60 day mark for me today! This is getting so real!
Thinking about a character breakfast after the 10k. Anyone have experience with PCH Grill or storytellers cafe for bfast?

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I haven't been to either place, but the menus look relatively similar to me. When we were looking at breakfasts for after the Half, Storyteller's was in the running because it's in the GCA and you can go straight into the park from there (and, the entrance is SUPER close to RSR).

From everything I've read, the best chance of knocking out the VIP characters at a breakfast would be at Goofy's Kitchen, which is similar to Chef Mickey's.

The Plaza breakfast inside Disneyland gets rave reviews over on the Disneyland board. Maybe that would be something to consider? Then you're already in the park!

Ariel484 said:

Do they not do 60 days out + 10 days like WDW does?
ETA: They do NOT do 60 + 10. Annoying!

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Yeah ... it's probably my least favorite thing about the whole process. But, that said, there's not really a rush to make ADRs. And I *may* be on the Disneyland site every day anyway, so ...

mbwhitti said:

Guess I'll be making reservations every day for the next couple of days

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That's kind of a pain - but I think you'll notice that the influence on ADRs and such at DL is much less than it is at WDW. Plus, park hours aren't even officially out for the remainder of August, let alone September, so there's that too.

I'm thinking about grabbing a reservation for dinner at Blue Bayou for dinner the night of the Anniversary Party (I KNOW, I KNOW ... I said I wouldn't, but I'm sad today and feeling very 'Treat yo'self' right now), since I'm solo that day. Of course, that can totally change when park hours come out and I see if there will be Fantasmic! or the new fireworks that night.

mbwhitti said:

60 day mark for me today! This is getting so real!
Thinking about a character breakfast after the 10k. Anyone have experience with PCH Grill or storytellers cafe for bfast?

Click to expand...

We did Storytellers last year. I loved it, but it's probably not for everyone. It's one of the more low-key character breakfast options. They don't take an official photo (so if you've got PP+ you won't get any extra photos to add to your account), but of course you can take as many photos of your own as you like. The characters aren't your usual classics - you'll get any mixture of Kenai, Koda, the chipmunks, and various other 'forest friends' (we had Meeko from Pocahontas). Personally I love the 'woodsy' characters, and I also loved the cute outdoorsy theming in the restaurant too. The characters were really fun, but there was a bit of a wait between them. At some point they gathered the kids in the restaurant and did a little dance (hokey pokey etc). The food was just the usual breakfast fare, but TBH I haven't really noticed a difference between breakfasts - as long as it has scrambled eggs, bacon, sausages, Mickey waffles and fruit, I'm happy!

We did the Plaza Inn on our very first trip to DLR in 2011. We loved that one too, in a completely different way. The restaurant itself is gorgeous, and we got so many characters (including Captain Hook, Fairy Godmother, Chip and Dale, Minnie of course, Honest John, Rafiki, and I'm sure I'm missing one or two). The character interaction was great, and we hardly had time to eat because it was just one character after another. We were in there for 2 hours because the characters just kept coming! You'll get your official photos and buttons at Minnie's, and it's also kind of special actually being in the park.

Ariel484 said:

Do they not do 60 days out + 10 days like WDW does?
ETA: They do NOT do 60 + 10. Annoying!

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There is no need to do this at DLR because ADRs do not get booked out 60 days in advance like at WDW. There is absolutely no reason why you couldn't wait until 60 days before your last day and book everything at once. You're just wasting your time doing your ADRs daily. You won't risk missing out. In fact, I don't think I've ever made ADRs more than a month in advance, including BB, character meals, show packages, and I even booked my WIWF tour just a few days beforehand. I've always got my first choice of day and time, even on race weekend last year.

Keels said:

I haven't been to either place, but the menus look relatively similar to me. When we were looking at breakfasts for after the Half, Storyteller's was in the running because it's in the GCA and you can go straight into the park from there (and, the entrance is SUPER close to RSR).

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It's true that you can use the GCH entrance to DCA if you flash your breakfast receipt (there are rules about actually being a 'customer' of GCH to be able to use the private entrance). However, the entrance is not close to RSR. It's on the other side of the park, right next to GRR, the WOC FP machines, and the previously named Condor Flats area. To get to RSR, you'd need to go down to Paradise Pier and over the bridge through Pacific Wharf. It's about a 5-10 minute walk depending on how enthusiastic you are about getting to RSR lol! To get to the FP machine, you'd go down to Paradise Pier and to the left, past Wine Country Trattoria and through to the Bug's Land area.

I know everyone says the ADRs don't matter...but I really look forward to meals at Disney and I have a specific place I want to eat the night before the half, so I'm making them anyway. It's just the OCD planner in me! So yeah, not impressed that they don't have the "+10" option. I found it so unbelievable that I called a second time to confirm with a different CM.

Ariel484 said:

I know everyone says the ADRs don't matter...but I really look forward to meals at Disney and I have a specific place I want to eat the night before the half, so I'm making them anyway. It's just the OCD planner in me! So yeah, not impressed that they don't have the "+10" option. I found it so unbelievable that I called a second time to confirm with a different CM.

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Oh - if there are places and specific times you want to go, totally do that!

I'm making ADRs this time around because for some meals there will be eight of us and I don't feel like dealing with the hassle and we're pretty particular about times. Though, dinner will be a crapshoot because park hours and show hours aren't even out yet. Le sigh.

mbwhitti said:

60 day mark for me today! This is getting so real!
Thinking about a character breakfast after the 10k. Anyone have experience with PCH Grill or storytellers cafe for bfast?

Click to expand...

We are getting VERY excited too. You've already received some great input on the character breakfast stuff. But I thought I would give a little more...

So at Storytellers Café it is a "Critter Breakfast" you will likely see Chip, Dale, Meeko, the two bears from Brother Bear. (They may also have Brer Fox or Brer Bear). They also have a park ranger that walks around and provides some games and interaction with the younger guests. The Breakfast is more low key and relaxed. The presentation is a little more classy then the Surf's up Breakfast. When me and my sister went last November it wasn't terribly busy and I swear Meeko and Chip visited our table 3 or 4 times. Meeko even stole my sisters phone and started taking selfies. It was very fun.

At the PCH Grill they have the "Surf's-Up with Mickey" Breakfast. Here you will likely see Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy and Stich. You could see Pluto but you won't see Chip or Dale and I'm pretty sure you won't see Goofy (although he has been there before). They are all wearing Beach clothing. It is a fun breakfast. It is a little more bold and bright with the look and feel of the restaurant (louder music, etc.)

Goofy's Kitchen is the "Original" Character breakfast at Disneyland, found at the Disneyland Hotel. Here you will always get Goofy, Minnie, Pluto, Chip, and Dale. You will get additional Bruch items and desserts that you won't find elsewhere.

Breakfast with Minnie at Disneyland at the Plaza Inn will likely get you the most characters. Often I've heard people seeing 7 or 8. Usually Minnie, Pooh and Friends, plus some classic characters like the fairy Godmother, Hook, Peter Pan, etc.

Last option... There is a Princess Breakfast over at California Adventure. People usually have pictures with 5 different princess there.

All of the Character Breakfasts have the classic Breakfast items like waffles, eggs, and bacon. But each one will have there own additional items. I think Surfs up has some fruit smoothies, goofy has peanut butter and jelly pizza and lots of desserts, etc.

Ariel484 said:

I know everyone says the ADRs don't matter...but I really look forward to meals at Disney and I have a specific place I want to eat the night before the half, so I'm making them anyway. It's just the OCD planner in me! So yeah, not impressed that they don't have the "+10" option. I found it so unbelievable that I called a second time to confirm with a different CM.

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Oh, I'll be making ADRs too, don't worry! Of course people want to eat at TS places, and I would definitely recommend making ADRs for any that you want to try, especially over race weekend. All I'm saying is, you don't need to do it exactly on the 60 day mark, and especially not the 60+10 day mark! They just don't need to offer a +10 option. We're still tossing up the different options available, and I'll probably make mine in a couple of weeks.

Thanks for all of the info everyone! I knew the folks on this board would not disappoint. I guess I mostly need to decide which characters we want to see since the main breakfast items are the same.