A couple of marathon weekend questions

[Kimmumum]

I posted this on the W.I.S.H. board but no one responded so I thought this might be a better place to try. Thanks everyone.......

My husband did the 1/2 this year and had a great time. He has already signed up for the Goofy for 2008. When we got back someone said there is a pasta dinner at the Sports Complex for the runners. Is this true? How much is it? Is it the night be for both races? Do you have to sign up for it? Can runners families join them? I didn't hear anything about it so I'm just wondering if any of you have.

Also, for the marathon.....I assume you are running through the parks while they are open. How does this work? How do you and the people visiting the parks stay out of each others way? Any light you can shed would be great.

Thanks for your help.

 

[wtpclc]

I don't know about teh pasta dinner. The only one I've heard of is for Team in Training.

As for runnign though the parks, MK is closed when we run throuhg. Spectators can get wrist bands and enter the park to cheer before opening.

The others are open, but the path is roped off. Some less than considerate park goers have been know to dart in front of runners, but that does nto happen too often. Typically, CMs direct traffic for crossing.

 

[Kimmumum]

Thanks for the reply. Anyone know about the pasta dinner? Is it only for Team in Training?

 

[escape]

I ate at the pasta dinner at that All-Star Cafe (right across from the Expo hall) the night before the half. It was $10, I think. Anyone can eat there - family and all. I'm assuming they have that available for the marathon as well.

ETA: You don't have to sign up for it. Just show up.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Thanks for the reply. Anyone know about the pasta dinner? Is it only for Team in Training?

TNT has their own "private" pasta dinner..not sure where it was this year--but for the past 2 years it was at EPCOT (I think with logistics, there just isn't space at WWS and it takes 2 separate sittings to accomodate just TNT). Basically it is organized like a big ol' wedding reception and TNT athletes (via their fundraising) and their families do foot the bill.

A few years ago Disney did have a pasta dinner for the athletes..but I think what they do now is just make sure all the resorts have a pasta dinner available (in some places...maybe even a marathon menu--my dad ate at a sit down in one of the resorts and they had something special) for guests.

 

[escape]

I also wanted to add that the pasta dinner was in a private room - accessible from the back of the restaurant. It was served buffet style with several different choices of pasta, salad and bread.

Hope this helps.

 

[Kimmumum]

So I wonder what was going on at WWS. There was a pasta dinner but who was it for?

We stayed at Carribean Beach. They ran out of pasta, bagels, bananas, apples, oranges....all of the stuff that the runners would want. We didn't see any special dinner offered either.

We ended up getting reservations at Portabello (at Downtown Disney) but twenty minutes after we placed our order the waiter came back and told us that they ran out of the pasta that the 3 runners that we with us ordered. How do you run out of pasta when there are 40,000 runners who all want to eat pasta?

Anyway, we are trying to make next year better. Is there a way to find out who has special dinners or what is going on at WWS?

Thanks everyone for all of you responses.

 

[crzy4pooh]

Last year, they advertised the pasta dinner at AllStar Cafe, and the line was horrendously long! This year, we never saw anything about it. If you have park tickets, we usually go to Mama Melrose in MGM. They don't put it on the menu, but they are extremely accomodating - they gave us 5 different pasta options and several different sauces to choose from, and DH asked for some grilled chicken on top - no problem! I would recommend ADR's if you want to try them, though. Lunch was pretty empty, but they were not taking any walk-ins for dinner.

Sorry to hear CBR ran out - We stayed at All-Star Sports, and they had the runner's breakfast boxes out Friday night through Monday morning for around $5 or $6.

Hope that helps! We'd love for you to join us on the weekly training thread!!

--Lynnda

 

[Kimmumum]

Thanks for the information Lynnda. I've been a lurker on the training threads. My husband lost 180 lbs (all on his own...no help) and has starting running (this year the 1/2...next year the Goofy). I have been thinking of secretly training for the 1/2 and surprising him. I have really painful feet (plantar facitis (sp) so I'm not sure I can accomplish it or not but it is a thought. Thanks again for your help. I'll check into Mama Melrose.

 

[wtpclc]

Kim - I hear PF is awful. Post on teh training threads, though, and they will give you many options to help, as several on teh WISH team have gone through PF. Goo dluck!

 

[escape]

So I wonder what was going on at WWS. There was a pasta dinner but who was it for?

I'm confused about your question. The All Star Cafe is at the WWS. There was a sign outside the restaurant about the pasta dinner. Is this what you are referring to? Maybe there was another pasta dinner you are talking about.