A YOU Worth Fighting For | January 2016 Weight Loss & Better Living Challenge

[SarahDisney]

Do you meet the characters, either at a meal or a meet-and-greet? What has been your best (or worst) character interaction?

Oh, characters. We're big character fanatics. Like, I'd probably be happy spending a whole day in the park just meeting characters, minimal rides. In fact, that's one of the (many) reasons why we love the runDisney races so much - they often bring out rarer characters that you don't get to meet every day.
We've done character meals (we did 1900 PF breakfast a few years ago, and we did Akershus and CRT on our most recent trip), but we really love meeting the characters in the park more. We've had a ton of fun interactions - Chip 'n' Dale are always great, and we've had really good interactions with Mr. Incredible and Frozone, Peter Pan, and many other characters (I'm totally blanking right now, but we have had a lot of awesome character experiences).
I have some anxiety issues, so sometimes I just have to let the characters talk and talk and I just stand there and stare (I'm talking about you, Anna!), but mostly the characters can sense that I'm a little scared and are really good at getting me involved.
We have also had some not-so-great character meets (we've had a few who are great with the kid in front of us on line, but barely speak to us because we're adults), but those aren't as common for us. Mostly I think the characters can sense that we want to have fun with them, so they try to make it a fun interaction.

We got Memory Maker this trip and we haven't downloaded any pictures yet, so I don't really have many from this trip, but here's a picture of me with Cinderella from Sunday night (at Akershus):

 

[flvy]

First I want to say I'm thankful to have you guys and the support of these challenge threads!

Today wasn't a good day, it's been a few bad in a row so I'm due for something good, but I got home to some mail from Disney which is always a good thing, and I finally got my BUFF! My poor nose has been so chilly and it's only going to get colder before warmer. It's going to help so much, and it's an easy pull down/up depending on where my face is at heat/cold wise.

 

[ohMom]

I'm in ONEderland!!!!!

Congratulations!


Haven't been doing too bad this weekend, guess that WI of no change was good reminder

We started going to parks with our kids, so characters were a must. As they grew up, we got pickier but always did some character photos, mainly just wouldn't stand in line for more than half hour or so. That's about where I'm at now, I love rare character photos and so when I accompanied my DH to a conf at WDW one year, I went to MNSSHP by myself to get the rare character photo shots and had a blast! Our last cruise I wanted to mainly get characters in their Alaskan gear, but love this one too:



Also some folks here asked me to share some of my pictures of the day, this is from last week. Going to finalize this past weeks later today

 

[pjlla]

QOTW for Saturday & Sunday, January 16 & 17, 2016


I always thought I was "too old" to meet the characters, and I definitely thought we wouldn't bother with them on our honeymoon because we wouldn't have any kids with us. It doesn't help that my anxiety flares up and I can never think of anything to say to them! But we did a couple of character meals (I am now Tusker House breakfast's #1 fan!) and meets on our last trip, and I have to say, they are a must for us from now on - kids or not!

Do you meet the characters, either at a meal or a meet-and-greet? What has been your best (or worst) character interaction?

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Honestly..... character meets are PRETTY MUCH my FAVORITE thing at Disney!!! I would go to the parks JUST FOR THAT.... even without kids!! I guess I'm just a big kid! Worst character interaction??....hmmm......I can truly say I've never had a BAD character interaction..... some are good and some are GREAT!

Best character interaction would have to be at Goofy's Kitchen in Disneyland. We were late getting there for our dinner reservations due to traffic/driving issues.... we were coming in on a long haul from the Las Vegas area that day.... we left a bit late, got a little lost, and then after MILES of seeing NO ONE and NOTHING we got into LA area traffic..........YIKES! It took FOREVER to figure out a phone number to call, but we found one, called and they were SUPER gracious about us arriving over an hour late for our reservations. We made it there (finally) and were seated fairly quickly (after a cute picture up front with Pinocchio). We had our delicious dinner and waited....and waited.... and waited for most of the characters to make their way to us. We saw them.... wandering to other tables, dancing with children around us, singing happy birthday at other tables.... but we kept getting skipped! I finally spoke up to our server and she apologized PROFUSELY.... not sure exactly why we got skipped, but the characters started coming and we got a TON of interaction from the characters that were there!! By this time it was pretty late and the restaurant was fairly empty, so I didn't feel badly that we were taking character time away from other families. Chip and Dale were BY FAR the best! There are paper tableclothes at this restaurant and they grabbed our autograph pens and started writing notes to us! They let us relax and just have some fun with them!



Second best was the interaction from the princesses during our first ever breakfast in Cinderella Castle! The princesses showered my kids with love.... not tons of time since they had to keep moving, but they interacted really nicely with both of my children. DS fell in love with them all!

I will REALLY miss Camp Minnie-Mickey at AK because it was one of my favorite character interaction spots!..............P

 

[flvy]

4 pounds down, so I'll blame the no weight loss last week on my peroid. This puts me at 40% of my reach goal and 90% of my revised goal. I'm going to go with the 40%. I also crushed 6.5 miles today. Not really feeling going to work, but I'm super happy with myself right now. Nothing can ruin that for me right now.

 

[dsnyfn1022]

I'm on my phone and can't figure out multi-quote so THANK YOU ALL! The support of this group is just amazing.

QOTW - I don't do character interactions. I'm just not very comfortable around them and don't get a lot out of it. That said, I did have a fun interaction with Mickey at Chef Mickey's. But I wouldn't be upset if they just passed by and moved on to people who liked it.

----

It snowed last night. Yuck! I have no motivation to get out and drive to the gym for my run. But I took 2 days off for other obligations so I HAVE to run. So we'll see how that goes...

 

[Zoesmama03]

Kinda shocked with the weigh in. Down 4 lbs. So exciting. I hope it doesn't rebound some. I just gotta keep up the exercise and strength routines this week. Planning to round up my dd for Just Dance game later.

 

[4HOLIDAYS]

I enjoy the characters-meals or parks. My boys are 17 and 19 so they will still do quick pics with characters to make me happy but when they were small, it was the best. We did the SCiFi breakfast for SWW 2 yrs ago and even my teens had a good time with that one.

Characters were everywhere 10-15 yrs ago. I have pics of one DS where Mickey came up and started walking with him in the middle of MK, them being in the parades, long hugs and playing with them around the parks...They were all over. I think my fav character meal was at Chef Mickey, again when they were much younger. We were near the back, not to crowded , not the crowds like now, and Chip and Dale were literally rolling on the floor playing with the boys and their toys, the others took them around restaurant...great memory.
We were very lucky to be able to see and do so many character things back then.

I also was a big fan of camp Minnie/Mickey at AK. Loved the Christmas time pics.

 

[5xdisneyfans]

I have to say I love character meals. Chip and Dale at Garden Grill are always fun. Tusker house for breakfast is great also. Goofy at the character spot last time was so funny. We have a soft spot for any Donalds also. Mexican Donald is great.

Walked outside this morning cold and winy but done. 3.2k. The whole trail was ice under the dusting of snow.

32.5k/40k

 

[courtneybeth]

HALF MARATHON: MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.

I didn't cross the starting line until nearly 40 minutes after the first corral crossed - so that caused a lot of waiting/standing and rising temperatures that earlier corrals didn't experience. Mile 9 had a huge hill that nearly wiped me out for the remainder of the race - but overall a great course and a lot of fun! As this was my first HM... It's a personal record!

This experience taught me a lot about perseverance, endurance, and patience. Also the pic with my brother before the race... I need to educate my husband on how to take photos. he's not so good, therefore we look terrible

Side note: Yes, my shirt says "In Training for the Tinker Bell 10K". Appropriate for today's run, eh? Skip the 10K and go right for the Half!

 

[ohMom]

Congrats Courtney!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Flossbolna]

Congratulations @courtneybeth!!

Hope everyone is having a better start to the week than I am. Last week resulted in a -100% progress and then I got really sick, stayed at home on Friday, felt better on Saturday, but had to travel 4 hours one way to my aunt's 75th birthday (which was lovely) and came home feeling horrible and have not been able to get any better since... Arg!! My eating is all over the place because feeling lousy my self control goes out of the window and I have to be very very bad before I lose my appetite when I am sick. I don't dare to think of stepping on a scale right now and tracking is not going well either.

Thanks for letting me vent here! It really helps and at least I feel now that I have gained some motivation to eat good for the rest of the day!!

 

[dsnyfn1022]

Congrats @courtneybeth!! What an amazing accomplishment!

 

[courtneybeth]

Thanks everyone! I'm a bit tired and sore today - but feel so good about finishing.

Happy today is a work holiday

Be back later to chat with everyone!

 

[flvy]

@courtneybeth Yay you posted here so I can say stuff without clogging up your insta. I am so excited to see how fast and strong you get over the course of all of these races! I am so pumped for you!

@Flossbolna Sickness and life happen. It's really just a drop in the bucket as far as your health goes. What makes the difference is knowing you slipped a little and why and then getting back at it. Don't think about what you did eat just focus on today. You'll feel amazing after having a good day.


Meanwhile I'm refusing to look out my windows because it snowed last night. I know one of these snowfalls is going to push me inside eventually. Also holy quad burn today. My feel and calves are fine, my quads, butt, and core not so much. Looks like squats, lunges, and planks are in my very near future.

 

[courtneybeth]

Also holy quad burn today. My feel and calves are fine, my quads, butt, and core not so much. Looks like squats, lunges, and planks are in my very near future.

I'm having the same thoughts today -- none of those activities feel particularly fun either!

Get better soon!

 

[flvy]

I'm having the same thoughts today -- none of those activities feel particularly fun either!

Get better soon!

If you do not own a foam roller go get one asap. Get one that's like PVC in the middle with some kind of ridges. It hurts like HELL, but after it feels so so so so so good. This goes for anyone running longer distances, or working towards them. They're worth every single penny.

 

[dsnyfn1022]

If you do not own a foam roller go get one asap. Get one that's like PVC in the middle with some kind of ridges. It hurts like HELL, but after it feels so so so so so good. This goes for anyone running longer distances, or working towards them. They're worth every single penny.

I need one of these so bad but there are so many options! I get overwhelmed. I've seen some that are plastic and lumpy? Is yours actually foam that's surrounding the PVC?

 

[JacknSally]

Hey, everyone! Hope you are all enjoying your extended weekend, for those who were lucky enough to have one! Last call for week 2's progress reports, if you haven't already submitted them!

 

[courtneybeth]

@JacknSally - Still at 100%. Maintaining well.. so far.