BE runs from Coast 2 Coast ** November 2015 ** Updated 3/17 It's Registration Day!

[Belle Ella]

HELLO, HELLO



I'm no stranger to writing trip reports (both before, during, and after) but I've been a strictly DLR girl for my whole life. Until now.

After a lot of talking about it, and letting hallways tarted plans fall through my fingers, I officially took the plunge and started planning my first visit to WDW since I was a toddler so I can finish the second leg of my Coast 2 Coast with runDisney.

It. Is. Happening.

So welcome to my officially PTR, aka my outlet so I don't drive everyone I know crazy over the next 8 months as I think, rethink, overanalyze, freak out, insert-whatever-else-one-does-while-planning-for-Disney-here. This is a huge undertaking for me little old me. And speaking of me, how about a brief introduction:

The name is Jessica. Or Belle Ella, BE, JPC, etc. I will respond to just about anything. I'm a 28 year old Disney-nerd living out her dream in Southern California working for the Mouse (only one of those is the dream - I'm still missing Northern California every day). I have become a runDisney addict since running my first half marathon in 2012 and am trying to earn my first C2C medal this year. I've already run the inaugural Star Wars Half this past January, have the Tinker Bell Half coming up in May, and just need to make it out for the Wine & Dine Half to make it 8 medals in 2015!

There will be plenty more to come in the months ahead. So please join me in making this dream a reality.​

 

[Belle Ella]

I. The Road so Far
II. It's Registration Day

... Stay tuned for more ...​

 

[cyndiloveswalt]

Hi Jessica! Recognize your signature from the Wine and Dine 2015 thread. My DH and I are also doing the Wine and Dine half! It will be our first half and I really had no interest in running that distance unless I could do it in my favorite place in the World!
We are hoping to love it and make it a yearly tradition. I know having it in the schedule will keep me motivated to keep running! I do hope to eventually do a C2C and am excited to hear all about your adventures.

 

[Belle Ella]

Hi Cyndi!

Thanks for stopping in. I'm ever so grateful that there is a huge runDisney fan base on the DIS. I actually got started through someone a friend I made on these boards, and everyone on the Disneyland side and the WISH side just keep me going. If you're anything like me, and most of the people I know, you'll be hooked after your first. I try to do as many events as I can at Disneyland and am so excited to run for my first C2C and first time at WDW!

It's gonna be a fun few months getting ready for this one!

 

[cyndiloveswalt]

Were you able to register for Wine and Dine on the 3rd? Or are you waiting for the 17th? We are lucky enough to be DVC and have APs, so I was able to get registered already. I was really nervous about it and am so glad it's done.

 

[Keels]

Yay!! I look forward to following along and then celebrating C2C with you at Wine and Dine in November!!

 

[Belle Ella]

Were you able to register for Wine and Dine on the 3rd? Or are you waiting for the 17th? We are lucky enough to be DVC and have APs, so I was able to get registered already. I was really nervous about it and am so glad it's done.

No DVC or AP for me. I used to have a DLR AP, but it was kind of pointless once I became a CM so I have to wait until general registration opens up. I've never had a problem in the past, so I'm hoping to continue that streak. I will be prepped and ready on the 17th.

Yay!! I look forward to following along and then celebrating C2C with you at Wine and Dine in November!!

Thanks for stopping by! WOOOO C2C! It's going to be a fun one. Hopefully I'll see you there if all works out, right?

 

[Keels]

Thanks for stopping by! WOOOO C2C! It's going to be a fun one. Hopefully I'll see you there if all works out, right?

ABSOLUTELY! I'm not really worried about registration this time around - I have the backdoor link and I'll be online 15 minutes before it opens. Worst case? We'll bite the bullet and buy through GET or Acclaim that requires a two-night hotel stay. Food & Wine is our favorite Disney event, so nothing will stop me from this race!!

I think our only decision to be made is when we drive out to Florida and how long we stay ...

 

[Belle Ella]

ABSOLUTELY! I'm not really worried about registration this time around - I have the backdoor link and I'll be online 15 minutes before it opens. Worst case? We'll bite the bullet and buy through GET or Acclaim that requires a two-night hotel stay. Food & Wine is our favorite Disney event, so nothing will stop me from this race!!

I think our only decision to be made is when we drive out to Florida and how long we stay ...

Registering for Dumbo, Rebel and Pixie Dust are the ones that have made me officially nervous. They sell out so fast it can be kind of ridiculous, but I'm pretty sure anyone who is ready to go when registration opens should be OK. Even with no TOT 10 Miler this year I can't imagine it would sell out that fast.

 

[kaoden39]

Hi Jessica!

 

[Dis_Yoda]

I'm in! My husband & I did the Rebel Challenge this past January. He's running the Wine & Dine for his Coast to Coast. (I got mine from Princess)

 

[Belle Ella]

So how about we get a real introduction up in here? A little something to set the stage, if you will.

... The Road So Far ...

What can I really say to start? This trip in the making almost didn't happen - meaning it almost never got out of the "you know, I'd really love to do this" stages. Planning for Disneyland has always been super easy being a California girl and I always figured that Walt Disney World was just going to be one of those things that are better saved for some other time. WDW never seemed like more than a pipe dream until I got involved in runDisney thanks to some DIS-friends I've made throughout the year.

The things we do for something shiny and Disney!

My first runDisney event was the Star Wars 5K back in 2011 before I took a leap of faith and ran my very first half marathon a mere 4 months later with the inaugural Tinker Bell Half Marathon in January 2012. Let's just say I was hooked. I'm now 3 1/2 years in and I have 2 5K's, 3 10K's, and 8 half marathons under my running belt. I was hooked. When it comes to runDisney, it's all about the bling as much as the experience and there's nothing like taking home multiple medals in one event weekend. I started with the individual events and then started to add on the challenges, but the ultimate goal was to earn myself that blue ribbon and get my Coast 2 Coast medal for running a half at both DLR and WDW all in one year.

Talk about this actually happening began when a friend of mine was first starting her running journey. It was something we were going to do together, and it was going to be awesome. They had just announced the addition of the Star Wars Half which had a huge appeal for her as her first half marathon and Wine & Dine had a huge appeal for the both of us out of all the events at WDW so we could run C2C. Planning began for a Star Wars Half weekend and all was well, until it wasn't. We went, we ran, we had a falling out. In the midst of all the craziness and disappointment I decided I wasn't going to let that what happened stop me. It was kind of an impulse, but the only way I wasn't going to set this back on the shelf of things I always talk about doing but never actually do was to just go ahead and book a resort. Lock something down that I can still walk away from, but something just tangible enough to make it real.

I'm fortunate enough to have access to some great discounts, but it was probably a great idea to start small and cheap. So All Star Sports it was - something I could afford on my own, and just a stepping stone until I could get more official plans rolling. All it takes is that first step, and there are many more to come.

WDW or bust!

Up Next? Meet the Cast ...​

 

[Belle Ella]

Hi Jessica!

Thanks for making it over here Michele! It's great to be back in the thick of things.

I'm in! My husband & I did the Rebel Challenge this past January. He's running the Wine & Dine for his Coast to Coast. (I got mine from Princess)

Welcome aboard! It's great to see some familiar names over here. Congrats on getting your C2C already this year. I can't remember, are you doing any other events at DLR this year?

 

[kaoden39]

Jessica,
I'm really excited to follow along. Maybe you'll be able to give me ideas for December.

 

[Belle Ella]

Maybe! This is brand new territory for me, so I'll be learning a lot along the way and hopefully get to share what I learn.

 

[kaoden39]

It's all so crazy. The girls and I are going on the 3 day cruise on the Dream and then 3 nights at the Wilderness Lodge. It's a totally different world for planning.

 

[Dis_Yoda]

Welcome aboard! It's great to see some familiar names over here. Congrats on getting your C2C already this year. I can't remember, are you doing any other events at DLR this year?

No other events for us at DLR this year. For us to travel to California is rather costly & I want to be able to travel to some other destinations as well. My husband wants to go for legacy for Star Wars though so we'll be out there in California each year until 2019 at least.

 

[nintz]

I'm flipping it...Did they WDW marathon this past Jan. Now looking forward to the 10th anniversary Disneyland half marathon leg for my first C2C

 

[tdashgirl]

Here!

I'm so glad you decided to go ahead with your plans for the Wine and Dine. Funny thing, the same sort of thing happened to me with Tinkerbell. We ran the inaugural, then there was this massive falling out between the 3 of us -- we're talking MAJOR drama involving several mutual friends (and strangers that just had a FB opinion ) I honestly wondered if I wanted to do the next one. But I had that "legacy" bug .... I really wanted that stupid legacy status! So I did year 2, with one of the original 3 who brought her BF and kids so I was like the 7th wheel. It was kinda meh. Especially considering that the drama was still raw. So for Year 3, I had the same doubts, but I did it again -- this time I had a great time solo touring and chatting with CM's and other guests, my friend joined me on the 2nd night and at the race. Year 4 you know what's happening, they changed it to Mother's Day Weekend. DOUBTS -- do I really want to do this in MAY when it's HOT and CROWDED? Stupid legacy taunts me and yup. I'm in. Bringing DH and DD11 this time and we're going to do the family 5k together. I've also kinda / sorta made up with the other friend sooooo .... we'll see.



In a nutshell. Even the "meh" year I don't regret. It's Run Disney. You'll love it.

 

[Belle Ella]

It's all so crazy. The girls and I are going on the 3 day cruise on the Dream and then 3 nights at the Wilderness Lodge. It's a totally different world for planning.

Oh, wow! That's so exciting to be doing a cruise first and then WDW. My next item on the "some day far down the road" list is to go on a Disney cruise. It will definitely have to happen while I'm still a CM. But I've already got plans for the next few years so it will be a very long time down the road at this rate.

No other events for us at DLR this year. For us to travel to California is rather costly & I want to be able to travel to some other destinations as well. My husband wants to go for legacy for Star Wars though so we'll be out there in California each year until 2019 at least.

Completely understandable. It's a big reason why outside of W&D this year and the WDW marathon in 2017 I probably won't be making it back to WDW anytime soon, let alone for any runDisney events. But that's so exciting that you're both planning for Legacy for Star Wars (or was it just him and you'll be along for support?). I'm at the point where I'm probably going to drop all other DLR races in the future with the exception of Tinker Bell (I'm already on my way to Legacy and have no plans on turning my back on that). I want to branch out a little more and for a few years at least I'll have to sacrifice one for the other.

I'm flipping it...Did they WDW marathon this past Jan. Now looking forward to the 10th anniversary Disneyland half marathon leg for my first C2C

Welcome, and enjoy! I had to make a very hard decision and not register for the Disneyland Half this year. I can only imagine how much fun it's going to be though, between the 10th anniversary of the event and Disneyland's 60th anniversary celebrations going on.

Here!

I'm so glad you decided to go ahead with your plans for the Wine and Dine. Funny thing, the same sort of thing happened to me with Tinkerbell. We ran the inaugural, then there was this massive falling out between the 3 of us -- we're talking MAJOR drama involving several mutual friends (and strangers that just had a FB opinion ) I honestly wondered if I wanted to do the next one. But I had that "legacy" bug .... I really wanted that stupid legacy status! So I did year 2, with one of the original 3 who brought her BF and kids so I was like the 7th wheel. It was kinda meh. Especially considering that the drama was still raw. So for Year 3, I had the same doubts, but I did it again -- this time I had a great time solo touring and chatting with CM's and other guests, my friend joined me on the 2nd night and at the race. Year 4 you know what's happening, they changed it to Mother's Day Weekend. DOUBTS -- do I really want to do this in MAY when it's HOT and CROWDED? Stupid legacy taunts me and yup. I'm in. Bringing DH and DD11 this time and we're going to do the family 5k together. I've also kinda / sorta made up with the other friend sooooo .... we'll see.



In a nutshell. Even the "meh" year I don't regret. It's Run Disney. You'll love it.

I'm with you. Star Wars was definitely a "meh" year, but I don't regret it for a second. For me, I just regret how much I had built that whole weekend up in my head. It was what got me through the most stressful Holiday season at work I have ever had and I had too much riding on how "amazing" it was going to be. Set myself up, I did.But these things happen, don't they.

OK! So you are registered for Tink again thus year? If you get a chance (I know you said you're bringing your family) I hope we can at least make a quick hello.