Grumpy Challenge 2017.... A Marathon Weekend TR (Updated 3/19 Final Thoughts)

[TeeterTots]

Great 10K recap. I'm looking forward to running the 5K and 10K courses next month!!

 

[rteetz]

Great 10K recap. I'm looking forward to running the 5K and 10K courses next month!!

Thanks! They are so much fun, you'll have a blast!

 

[rteetz]

We go Soarin'!

After I went back and showered we headed to Epcot. We got to the park just after 10AM.

It was a beautiful day out.





My sister got in first and some how found her way to a Photopass photographer.





First stop... Starbucks! No photos though... After we got our coffee fix we headed to our first FP, Soarin'! I had not been on Soarin since July 2012. That and the addition of the new film made it a must do this trip.









We headed into Concourse B...





I really enjoyed the ride and new film. I have now added this back into my must dos for every trip. My mom isn't much for the whole flight simulator thing so that's probably why we haven't done it much on past trips. We were in the second row in the middle so the distortion was non-existent for us really.

Next, I found out our friends had no idea who Figment was. I was like what?!?! So of course we needed to step into our imaginations.







I love this purple dragon but he does a much better ride. I wish I would've gotten to experience the original.

After that we headed over to Test Track where our friends used their instant fastpasses. My mom headed out as her feet were still bothering her from yesterday. While we waited we looked around MouseGear. Then it was time to head over to Animal Kingdom for the evening as we had a dinner reservation at Tusker House. I have eaten there for breakfast before but never dinner. I was excited to try out the dinner items. We took the express bus from Epcot over to AK. At Animal Kingdom they drop you off in Animal Kingdom back behind the entrance to the safari and Festival of the Lion King. We still had some time to kill so we went and saw Festival of the Lion King. This would be my second time but everyone else's first time.

















I took way less pictures this time around, so I could just enjoy the show.

After that our friends had instant fastpasses still so they wanted to go on Everest. I sat outside Tusker House and just waited for my mom and grandma to arrive. Once everyone got back it was time for our reservation at one of my favorite character meals.

Up Next: Tusker House and The Tree is awoken!

 

[SarahDisney]

I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed the new Soarin' - other than the distortion complaints, I've really been hearing a lot of positive things about the new video.

I'm not surprised that you went to see Festival of the Lion King again ... that's a show that's definitely worth seeing multiple times!

 

[rteetz]

I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed the new Soarin' - other than the distortion complaints, I've really been hearing a lot of positive things about the new video.

I'm not surprised that you went to see Festival of the Lion King again ... that's a show that's definitely worth seeing multiple times!

It really was nice. I wonder how I would've felt if I had been on one of the sides of the screen.

Yes it is! I wish I would've been able to fit Finding Nemo in though.

 

[natebenma]

So sorry! I got several updates behind and I am still catching up.

Sprinkles:

Looks like you had a good visit to Disney Springs. Thanks for sharing your great pictures.

The Drone Show is such a cool idea!

I love the amazing chalk art and the character-themed trees.


Drop Rides:

What a fantastic picture of all of you with Chewie! He is awesome!

I had heard the Jawas were trading again. They weren't during my October trip.

So close on TSM!!! I'm impressed with your score though.

I didn't know you don't like drops. Pretty common, though.

YAY for RNR!

Good to get the review of the Express Transportation. We tend to be multi-park visitors, so hmmmmm....


Signature:

We have been to Le Cellier a few times, but not since it became a signature restaurant.


Expo:

You know I'm lovin' the Beach Club photos!!!

I love all of your preview race pictures, even the one with foreshadowing.

Cool shoes- my son Nate, who is your age, also has an impressive shoe collection. But Ben, who is younger does not. He wears the same pair of shoes until there are holes in them. And he won't take hand-me-downs from his brother when he decides he is bored with one of his pairs.

Nice loot from the Expo!

Wow, you did a lot at Magic Kingdom that night!

 

[rteetz]

So sorry! I got several updates behind and I am still catching up.

Sprinkles:

Looks like you had a good visit to Disney Springs. Thanks for sharing your great pictures.

The Drone Show is such a cool idea!

I love the amazing chalk art and the character-themed trees.


Drop Rides:

What a fantastic picture of all of you with Chewie! He is awesome!

I had heard the Jawas were trading again. They weren't during my October trip.

So close on TSM!!! I'm impressed with your score though.

I didn't know you don't like drops. Pretty common, though.

YAY for RNR!

Good to get the review of the Express Transportation. We tend to be multi-park visitors, so hmmmmm....


Signature:

We have been to Le Cellier a few times, but not since it became a signature restaurant.


Expo:

You know I'm lovin' the Beach Club photos!!!

I love all of your preview race pictures, even the one with foreshadowing.

Cool shoes- my son Nate, who is your age, also has an impressive shoe collection. But Ben, who is younger does not. He wears the same pair of shoes until there are holes in them. And he won't take hand-me-downs from his brother when he decides he is bored with one of his pairs.

Nice loot from the Expo!

Wow, you did a lot at Magic Kingdom that night!

Thanks for catching up!

Disney Springs is great! I can't wait to see what they do with the drones as technology improves.

The jawas were trading we just didn't have anything to trade with them.

Highly recommend the express transportation.

I miss the Beach Club. I need to get back there!

I think most boys are stubborn with shoes whether they have a lot of them or not. I like to try and keep my shoes as clean as possible too. I'm a little obsessive.

Yes we had a great night at the Magic Kingdom!

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Glad you liked the new Soarin' ... we did too - though I do think sitting in the middle concourse is important as most of the (loudest) complains I have heard about the distortion are from people who sat on the outside.

I think I had heard so many complaints about it before I rode that my expectations were lowered a bit, but I really liked it and only really felt the CGI was obvious in one scene. I know some people hate the transitions between the scenes (I know Craig from the podcast team goes off on hating this as the lazy way of doing things) but I liked them better than the hard cuts of the old fild

Now, they just need to add a few more scenes and then randomize the ride like on Star Tours

We've actually only ever done breakfast at Tusker House so interested in your review of dinner there

 

[rteetz]

Glad you liked the new Soarin' ... we did too - though I do think sitting in the middle concourse is important as most of the (loudest) complains I have heard about the distortion are from people who sat on the outside.

I think I had heard so many complaints about it before I rode that my expectations were lowered a bit, but I really liked it and only really felt the CGI was obvious in one scene. I know some people hate the transitions between the scenes (I know Craig from the podcast team goes off on hating this as the lazy way of doing things) but I liked them better than the hard cuts of the old fild

Now, they just need to add a few more scenes and then randomize the ride like on Star Tours

We've actually only ever done breakfast at Tusker House so interested in your review of dinner there

Yes I felt it was well done even with the CGI.

Some people like Craig, I feel won't ever be happy with soarin. People wanted transitions in the last one. Now they add transitions in this one and people still aren't happy.

That's coming up soon!

 

[disneydaydreamer33]

That Ohana meal looked fun! I have a really hard time not overeating at Disney!

Great job on the 10K. That picture with the Ducktales characters is great!

And I LOVE the new Soarin film!

 

[rteetz]

That Ohana meal looked fun! I have a really hard time not overeating at Disney!

Great job on the 10K. That picture with the Ducktales characters is great!

And I LOVE the new Soarin film!

Overeating at Disney is a serious problem!

Thanks!

 

[rteetz]

Tusker House and The Tree is awoken!

After everyone we arrived we went back and told the hostess we were all here and ready for dinner. After about 5 minutes we were seated.

If you have never been to Tusker House it is located in Africa near where Festival of the Lion King in. Inside there are a few seating rooms and then the middle is a large room with all of the food. For those that have been to Boma the food here is very similar in many ways except you have characters.

Daisy came by first. I am a bad food reporter because I didn't take a photo of my plate or the buffet. Here is a link to the menu. I had two plates of food and a couple small dessert items.

http://allears.net/dining/menu/tusker-house-restaurant/lunch-dinner



Donald was next!



I don't know why I don't look very happy here. Donald is my favorite character.



Goofy!



And finally the big cheese! Mickey Mouse!











I really enjoyed this meal. I would 100% go back again however I think I might prefer breakfast just slightly. Either way it was good and I recommend it.

Okay so at this point it was around 5:30-5:45PM. During the meal runDisney sent out a message via social media that they were monitoring the weather situation for tomorrow's half marathon. I was like okay interesting but I wasn't putting too much into it. I was going to head out but I figured this would be the only time to see the Tree Awakenings so I stuck around until it got dark out to see that.











I highly recommend people to check this out. It was so cool. They made it look like the animals on the tree were moving. The pictures and video don't do it justice.

On the way out I bought a poncho (yes a $10 Disney poncho) since I didn't bring one and with the rain impending for tomorrows race I wanted to be prepared.



I got on the bus, and we headed back to SSR. On the way back I started seeing things on twitter and the boards that signs were going up at the resorts that the race tomorrow was being delayed. At first I was like what? Then I was like okay thats okay. The rest of my group was still out at the parks. Then at about 7PM when the next announcement was supposed to come I started seeing photos on the boards and on twitter that the race was cancelled! I was really in a panic mode at that point. I was worried but thinking lets just wait for the runDisney update. A little after 7PM we got the messages. In an abundance of caution the Walt Disney World Half Marathon has been cancelled.... All I could do was stay on social media and the boards. I was in shock, and saddened. runDisney said they would give an update around 10PM with more information. At this point I was just thinking now what? I don't need to go to bed yet I guess, and no one else is here in the room. Well I went and walked down to the area where the runDisney signage was to see the sign in person.



My family was on their way back and asked if I wanted anything from the hotel quick service place. I said a Mickey Bar.

So my sorrows went away with a Mickey Bar and Arnold Palmer.



10PM came and nothing from runDisney yet. Then at some point before 11PM we were given a message where runDisney gave 4 options for runners. However challenge runners only seemed to be able to do the gift card option. It turns out we were later given another option to get two one day park hoppers. I was hoping for a deferment option but that went out the window. Many groups and people all over social media were planning to run the next morning. I sat there and contemplated that. If I ran I could feel like I earned the medal but I also was a little worried about the full with it being my first. I ended up not running that next morning and saving my legs for the full. I applaud everyone who went out and ran that morning. You guys were awesome. Reading the stories of people who organized groups, and how Disney embraced the situation was simply amazing. I regretted not running that morning after seeing all of that.

You can read my thoughts about how Disney handled the situation here.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/walt-disney-world/how-disney-made-the-best-out-of-a-bad-situation/

Up Next: We say goodbye and head to the Magic Kingdom

 

[Ai12gani]

I'm really quite late in joining in, but I just want to say congratulations on completing the 10K and really the Dopey Challenge. I really should just do a 5K just for the charcters.

I've always contemplated doing Tusker House, but the food looks good so I'll probaly try it on my next trip.

It really sucks about the Half, after training and such, but I think ultimately Disney made the right decision. It just wouldn't be safe putting runners and CMs out, not knowing exactly what would happen.

Also, is it just me or does the AK christmas tree look crooked?

 

[rteetz]

I'm really quite late in joining in, but I just want to say congratulations on completing the 10K and really the Dopey Challenge. I really should just do a 5K just for the charcters.

I've always contemplated doing Tusker House, but the food looks good so I'll probaly try it on my next trip.

It really sucks about the Half, after training and such, but I think ultimately Disney made the right decision. It just wouldn't be safe putting runners and CMs out, not knowing exactly what would happen.

Also, is it just me or does the AK christmas tree look crooked?

Better late than never! Thanks!

Definitely try Tusker House! Its one of the best Character meals there is.

Yep, Disney made the right decision. I know there were people who complained and complained but it was for our safety.

I think it might be the photo.

 

[ZellyB]

Love your Tusker House photos. The one with your sister hugging Mickey is too cute!! We didn't manage to see Awakenings, but I hope to maybe catch that next year. It seems so cool!

Ah yes, that ill-fated night before the half. So much disappointment. You know already we also chose not to run the half, but like you we really admired all those who got out there and did it.

 

[rteetz]

Love your Tusker House photos. The one with your sister hugging Mickey is too cute!! We didn't manage to see Awakenings, but I hope to maybe catch that next year. It seems so cool!

Ah yes, that ill-fated night before the half. So much disappointment. You know already we also chose not to run the half, but like you we really admired all those who got out there and did it.

Thanks! I recommend you see them next year we will have Rivers of Light and Pandora to check out too!

Yep, it is what it is but the people who ran were awesome!

 

[disneydaydreamer33]

I love Tusker House. It's actually my favorite character meal on property! I'm sure I would have done the same of saving my legs before the full. There were no perfect solutions it sounds like, so all you could was go with your gut.

I'm excited for when I can see Awakenings - it looks awesome!

 

[rteetz]

I love Tusker House. It's actually my favorite character meal on property! I'm sure I would have done the same of saving my legs before the full. There were no perfect solutions it sounds like, so all you could was go with your gut.

I'm excited for when I can see Awakenings - it looks awesome!

Yes Tusker House is probably my favorite character meal too but there are a couple I haven't tried yet.

It is awesome!

 

[soniam]

The half was a bummer, but at least you had the main event still. We love Tusker House too. Donald is my son's favorite character I love the samosas at TH.

 

[rteetz]

The half was a bummer, but at least you had the main event still. We love Tusker House too. Donald is my son's favorite character I love the samosas at TH.

Yep. I think I need to do dinner again there to get a good feel for the place during that time.