Best pre-race and post-race meal locations?

[camouseketeer]

As I approach my 180 adr mark for the PHM, I am looking for pre and post meal ideas.

For the January 2011 half, I did Mama Melrose for the pre-race meal and Ohana's for the post. I stayed at the Poly for that trip, so Ohana's was perfect.

This time I will be at BCV. Any ideas for a close lunch/brunch location after the PHM? Good pre-race ideas?

 

[Bookwood]

my traditional pre race meal is pizza (usually from the Boardwalk but not necessarily), best post race meal was Be Our Guest this past Feb (after Princess 2013), followed closely by the Princess 2012 Celebration meal at Cinderella Castle with all my Princesses (all 4 of us ran together.)

 

[jmasgat]

"Best" is a matter of preference. And it doesn't have to be pasta either. For most of us--the "non-elites"-- we are not practicing the rigors of real carbo loading. In 2012, I ate a very nice kid's meal turkey dinner at POR food court (It was plenty of food for me). This past year, I was at OKW and so I cooked us chicken/ziti/broccoli, I think. I think what might be more important is not trying anything too new/unusual based on your own diet the night before a race.

After a race--all bets are off! I like to book a nice celebration meal at one of the Signature restaurants (e.g. California Grill, Artist Point, etc)

Local to where you are staying, I like Kouzzina at the BW--reasonably priced as Dinsey sit-down restaurants go, but only open for dinner and breakfast (til 11 am) I've also done sushi at Kimono at the Swan (they used to participate in Restaurant.com)

Good luck. I'm also waiting til the end of the month so i can book my tea at the GF--a tradition for me.

Maura

 

[bumbershoot]

jmasgat, did you know you can book tea online again? Look for "afternoon tea".

 

[jmasgat]

jmasgat, did you know you can book tea online again? Look for "afternoon tea".

Yeah....Thanks for that heads up. I have an alarm set on my calendar for the end of the month!

 

[Disneychix]

We did Liberty Tree Tavern for lots of turkey and mashed potatoes post race. We actually had a fun time in training saying how we'd be running for our turkey dinner!

 

[goofeygirl]

my traditional pre race meal is pizza (usually from the Boardwalk but not necessarily), best post race meal was Be Our Guest this past Feb (after Princess 2013), followed closely by the Princess 2012 Celebration meal at Cinderella Castle with all my Princesses (all 4 of us ran together.)

I did the pizza at Boardwalk...This coming January we are all booked for Cinderellas castle so that should be interesting.

A good place to go that isn't too pricey is the cafeteria in the Dolphin resort at the Epcot resorts...you can get pasta, pizza there..pretty much anything.

 

[brios86]

My post race meal is the chefs table at V&A. I'm not sure if its a good idea but I got it booked!

 

[jockey]

We just booked BOG for dinner the day of the PHM! I will probably have pizza the night before

 

[Ariel484]

"Best" is a matter of preference... I think what might be more important is not trying anything too new/unusual based on your own diet the night before a race.

So agree with this. One of the golden rules of running (IMO) - "What works for me may not work for you - and that's okay!" Applies to training, nutrition, etc.

For me, pizza at Via Napoli is a good pre-race meal - not too heavy, tastes delicious, and I've eaten there 3-4 times without any ill effects. But I know some people don't do well with dairy the night before...and I totally agree with not trying anything new the night before. This wouldn't be a great time to try, say, Sanaa as a pre-race dinner (though Sanaa is awesome). I'm paranoid enough that I don't eat anywhere I haven't eaten before the night before a Disney race.

A post-race dinner at 'Ohana is a good one for me (probably the only time I ever get my money's worth after building up my appetite ) but I agree with going for a Signature too...Jiko after the marathon this year was excellent.

 

[jockey]

We just booked BOG for dinner the day of the PHM! I will probably have pizza the night before

 

[jmasgat]

We just booked BOG for dinner the day of the PHM! I will probably have pizza the night before

Lucky you....you must be staying onsite and arriving early in the week since the 180 day window hasn't opened yet for me.

 

[wiigirl]

We did Liberty Tree Tavern for lots of turkey and mashed potatoes post race. We actually had a fun time in training saying how we'd be running for our turkey dinner!

 

[jockey]

Lucky you....you must be staying onsite and arriving early in the week since the 180 day window hasn't opened yet for me.

Yeah we arrive 17th Feb! Oh I hope you get the Adrs you want

 

[runner_princess]

My post-race favorite is La Hacienda or San Angel Inn - I love nachos and tacos after a race!

Pre-race, I always do Trails End, because one, I love it, and two, I like the mac & cheese to carbo load!

 

[paxsarah]

I usually like to eat my last big meal before a race no later than lunch the day before, and a smaller dinner that night. With that in mind, my favorite place for a pre-race dinner was the Wave. Afterwards, anything goes! I had a fantastic brunch with my parents at Raglan Road after princess this year.

 

[mousekeKATE]

We're staying at the Beach Club and eating our post-marathon dinner at Cape May Cafe. It will be the first marathon for 3 of us and I don't know how we'll feel so I didn't want to bog us down with lunch plans so I booked an early dinner at our resort instead. I don't know if the timing will work but it might be a nice breakfast after the PHM. We are also booked for breakfast at Captain's Grill another day, their breakfast menu looks fantastic and would be another nearby option.

 

[dminnie]

Just made ADRs for PHM. So glad I got everything we wanted for the day of the race: CRT at noon and BOG at 5:35. BOG is what DD (who is running) wanted. We may surprise her with CRT at noon...or cancel that one. Is that too much...food..too much on the schedule after the race...too much money? We have never been to CRT. It just seems so expensive. Is it just overhyped or would this just be wonderful that day for her? How is the food there at lunch? (no matter how great the characters are, we want really good food for that kind of money) Also, is the noon time going to work after the race or will we be rushing to get there? I think if we do both, we'll probably just have appetizers and dessert at BOG.

The next day, 1900 Park Fare for breakfast.

 

[jmasgat]

Just made ADRs for PHM. So glad I got everything we wanted for the day of the race: CRT at noon and BOG at 5:35. BOG is what DD (who is running) wanted. We may surprise her with CRT at noon...or cancel that one. Is that too much...food..too much on the schedule after the race...too much money? We have never been to CRT. It just seems so expensive. Is it just overhyped or would this just be wonderful that day for her? How is the food there at lunch? (no matter how great the characters are, we want really good food for that kind of money) Also, is the noon time going to work after the race or will we be rushing to get there? I think if we do both, we'll probably just have appetizers and dessert at BOG.

The next day, 1900 Park Fare for breakfast.

Personally, I think it's too much, but that' just me. My reason for NOT wanting to do both as you have outlined has little to do with food--I haven't eaten at either, but assume that the food is probably mediocre at CRT and maybe slightly better at BOG--it would have to do with fatigue.

If you do PHM, you would have plenty of time to make it to CRT at noon after cool down, back to hotel, shower, etc. And walking around the park before or after you eat is highly recommended as a post-race recovery strategy. The real question is: will you be too tired to stick around the park all afternoon so you can go to dinner?

I assume they would let you do just apps/dessert at BOG (Although the server probably would be lamenting the tip from the lower bill!)

Good luck deciding. At least you have the ressies and can cancel if you like.

Maura

 

[dminnie]

Personally, I think it's too much, but that' just me. My reason for NOT wanting to do both as you have outlined has little to do with food--I haven't eaten at either, but assume that the food is probably mediocre at CRT and maybe slightly better at BOG--it would have to do with fatigue.

If you do PHM, you would have plenty of time to make it to CRT at noon after cool down, back to hotel, shower, etc. And walking around the park before or after you eat is highly recommended as a post-race recovery strategy. The real question is: will you be too tired to stick around the park all afternoon so you can go to dinner?

I assume they would let you do just apps/dessert at BOG (Although the server probably would be lamenting the tip from the lower bill!)

Good luck deciding. At least you have the ressies and can cancel if you like.

Maura

She has eaten at BOG and loved it, so we definitely want to keep that. I don't think just ordering apps and dessert will be a problem in the restaurant. I think she wants to eat in the castle, but has never even asked us. She just doesn't ask for things that are astronomical in price, even when she really wants them. She is in HS, but really loves all the princess stuff, so she's really excited to do the PHM as her first 1/2.
DH (avid runner) is running with her and he won't be fatigued in the least. For her this is her first 1/2 and it's a HS grad. gift to do the trip/race and I think that's part of why I'm wanting to add CRT as a surprise. Your point about fatigue will be the thing we need to figure out (that might come with time as we see how she progresses in her training). If shes' just exhausted, she may not really appreciate having a ressie to get to on time. Yikes. On the other hand, this will be a very short trip and there is just one day for EP and one for MK. MK is the same day as the race so she can end it all with fireworks. Having both of these ressies would keep her off her feet more (but she'd still have plenty of recovery walking around the park at other times).

Maybe I should see if I can make the CRT ADR a little later, so she has time for a little nap when we're back at the room for showers.