Coast to Coast and Back Again: A runDisney Journey

[Mimsy Borogove]

January 13, 2017 part 2 - Dang Near Fainted

Once we got off of Golden Zephyr, we decided that we were starving! Unfortunately it was only 10:30ish local time (but our bellies screamed, "it's 1:30pm, why haven't we eaten today?!") so we weren't terribly optimistic we'd find anything open for lunch, but figured we'd give it the old college try. So we went to the closest place, Garden Grill in Paradise Pier, where we'd enjoyed some pasta last May for Tink weekend. We arrived and there was a group of 5Kers also apparently ready for lunch and they said the place didn't open until 11. In the meantime, DH wanted to smoke. It's a nasty habit, I hate that he does it, but I also know that it's something he will have to decide to quit and that no amount of nagging will change that. So I tend to just go with it. We tried to find the nearest smoking area, but apparently they have changed since last May and ended up having to ask a CM for the nearest spot, which turned out to be in Hollywood Land. So we schlepped on over there, and the smoking area was located near the Monsters Inc. attraction and across from the Spider-Man/Captain America meet & greet.


Sadly, Cap was nowhere to be found.

When DH finished, we noticed that there was a Disney Chase Visa cardholder (which we are) meet and greet, we thought we'd do a quick photo, so we walked up to the podium to encounter the Rudest Cast Member Alive (RCMA). Picture the human, yet somehow more monstery version of Roz from Monsters, Inc.
RCMA (as we approached, pointing): The smoking area is over there.
Me: Yes, thank you. Is this the DCV meet and -?
RCMA (interrupting): Yes. You'll need to show your card and ID. Stand over to the side.
Me: Who is -
RCMA (interrupting): Daisy, but she'll be going on break soon. Stand over to the side.

We left. I'm not a confrontational person at all, I was always the good little girl in school, always following rules, but this CM made me want to flip her the bird and tell her where to go. I mean, just no reason for her to be so rude. She talked to us like we were misbehaving children who had no authorization to be there, right out of the gate before we'd even spoken to her. What a B-word. Or old battle-ax. Just mean!

But we were still very hungry, so we walked back to Garden Grill to get some yummy pasta.



As I mentioned, we'd eaten here during Tink weekend and I thought it was fantastic race fuel - and it was! I got spaghetti and meatballs and DH got the chicken sun-dried tomato pasta. It was yummy, filling, and since we were so hungry just tasted like the best thing ever. As we were eating, we also saw some of the Toy Story soldiers go by in a truck, which was cool. We finished our meals and still had a little time to kill before our RSR FP, so we thought we'd go pick up a FP at California Screamin', a ride with which I'd had a very rocky start but has quickly become a favorite.


Score! Unfortunately, our FP window was pretty soon after we'd gotten the FP.

We then started walking over to RSR because our FP window was pretty much then.



We walked through Pacific Wharf (note to self: we still need to try the food here!) and the back way into Cars Land:



I don't know if my phone camera lens was fogged up for these photos or if it was the general overcast conditions causing the blur in the photos, but it actually adds to the overall mood at that point (spoiler alert!).

We walked around the corner to RSR and there was a huge crowd huddled up at the entranceway. What the...? And then we realized that the ride was shut down. The CMs said that anyone with FPs should check back once more in the time window and if the ride was still shut down, they'd honor the FPs all day. We headed back to California Screamin' for a rip-roaring good time thinking that maybe RSR would have had enough time to open up in the meantime. We walked back to RSR and...



Noooooooooo!!

Next Up: Will we ride it? Can we ride it? Stay tuned!

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

Ugh! RSR is so unreliable sometimes! You did a lot of walking around the park without accomplishing much after 10:30. That always gets me frustrated. I hope this ends well.

 

[lovingeire]

We had the same issue with RSR when I was there with my family. Hopefully you were able to get back on later. We were thankful we got back on not too long afterwards.

 

[Mimsy Borogove]

Hey everyone! I am still here, I promise. February has been none too kind to me. DH was rushed to hospital ER last Monday and just got home so I've been practically living at the hospital (including 5 days in ICU), trying to keep working remotely, and also keeping up on house stuff. My running has suffered, and I am behind on nearly every aspect of my life, but I'm hoping to get back into this TR; it's never taken me this long after a completed trip to work up a TR! Thanks for hanging in there and all the comments. New post up soon, I hope.

 

[Mimsy Borogove]

January 13, 2017 part 3 - She's Real Fine, My 409

And we're back! Not to drag it out any longer than I already have, we absolutely did ride it. And you were so worried.

We arrived back at the RSR entrance and there was a huge backlog of people. I mean huge. Big. So since we had FPs in our hands, we kind of wound our way up near the front to see what was happening. The ride itself was still closed, but they were now running empty cars. Improvement! So we decided to stay and see what happened. Soon enough, a couple cars went by with CMs in them (I presume they were CMs) and then they opened the lines. But since there was no actual stand-by line, everyone basically wound up near the front, with or without FPs!


The cars are so cute!


Our carriage awaits!


Wheeeeeee!


And done. I'm in the middle front, doing my very best Cousin Itt impression.

We really enjoy RSR even though neither one of us much cares for any of the movies and even though it is a lot like Test Track (but better theming, IMHO). Afterwards we walked towards the entrance/exit of Cars Land and spotted a CM expressing himself creatively through his work. Amazing!


Christmastime is OURS!

Then we had some time to kill until our Soarin' Around the World FP, so we decided on getting some libations. We walked to Cove Bar, but the line was impossibly long (I am so thankful we managed to go there 3 times during our Tink Half weekend), and they said the wait was 90 minutes or longer. Nope. So we headed towards the park entrance and I mentioned that I was curious about Carthay Circle, that I had heard it was a lot like Brown Derby (one of our favorites) in theming/atmosphere, and that they had a lounge. DH said we should give it a go. So we walked in and managed to score a small table in the back just opposite of the check-in podium. I sat on a large sofa and DH sat opposite me on a comfy-looking chair. We ordered drinks and just enjoyed hanging out there, sipping on cocktails (or beer in DH's case) and not worrying about social media or anything (mostly because the Wi-Fi and cell service was terrible inside). I ordered a Ginger Rogers and DH ordered a specialty brew.


The Ginger Rogers: Plymouth Gin, Luxardo Apricot Liqueur, Noilly Prat Dry Vermouth, and a hint of fresh Lemon Juice. It was a bit sweet for my taste but that means I only order one! Also, it was pretty tiny, size-wise, probably because it was so strong.


Staircase to Carthay Circle restaurant from the lounge area.

Soon enough it was time to head over to Soarin' Around the World. Which, if you've never been to DCA, was pretty much kitty-corner to Carthay Circle. We walked over and presented our FPs. As WDW AP Holders who'd experienced Epcot's Soarin' Around the World, we were very curious if the ending in Disneyland would be different.


Yay!


"Nice work, pal!"

As always, we did enjoy the attraction and were happy to see that each coast has its own personalized version. So double yay!

By this time, it's getting to be late afternoon, and since we were still both operating on Eastern time, it felt like a good time to head out, pick up dinner from Earl of Sandwich (I've now forgotten what I ordered, but I suspect it was a wrap of some kind) and walk back to the hotel to relax for the rest of the evening. I had a 10K to run in the morning!


TTFN, Disneyland!
(with bonus monorail)

Next Up: 10K Races Are Built On Hope

 

[ZellyB]

Just found your report!! Yay!!

I'm so happy to read this as we are headed to DL for Tink in May and I feel totally lost about navigating DLR even though we've done WDW so many times.

So sorry to hear about your husbands health scare. I hope he is doing better now!

 

[Mimsy Borogove]

Just found your report!! Yay!!

I'm so happy to read this as we are headed to DL for Tink in May and I feel totally lost about navigating DLR even though we've done WDW so many times.

So sorry to hear about your husbands health scare. I hope he is doing better now!

Yay! I'm glad you're here!

DLR is really fantastic - if you can navigate WDW well, you'll have a breeze at DLR. It's a much smaller scale (and I don't mean that in a negative way) and a more intimate atmosphere that even seems somehow less...commercial? Maybe it's because you don't get spit out into a gift shop at every attraction. I have another TR for Tink last year in my signature if you're interested and want to read more before this year's Tink weekend happens. Also, Shannon has done really great TRs at DLR as well.

We're taking each day as it comes but he's getting stronger and I doubt he even needs to use the walker at all any more, but I want a doctor or PT specialist to make that call. Thank you for asking!

 

[Mimsy Borogove]

January 14, 2017 part 1 - 10K Races Are Built On Hope

10K race day!! I woke up around 3:00 or maybe a little later since it was a California race and you don't have to arrive to the corrals so frakking early and proceeded to put on my many layers of clothing. Why many layers? Well:


Race weather forecast showed temperatures in the upper 40s and since this is California overnight desert temperatures I knew it would be chilly throughout the whole race. For me, anyway, who's accustomed to - just a few days prior - running in Florida heat and humidity at that time of day. Since even before I'd seen Rogue One, I just knew I had to be Jyn Erso for this race and her costume consists of many layers including fingerless gloves and a scarf.


And I added a Sparkle Athletic skirt for a little sparkly flair, too! OK, it's super-early in this photo and I'm standing under crappy hotel lighting, so take this with a grain of photographic salt. You might notice a brown thing hanging off my upper leg; I'd originally fashioned a holster out of brown craft foam, but without an actual blaster in it, it didn't really look like anything, so I ended up removing it for the race. What you can't see in this photo is all the layers that I have on: a tank top, long-sleeved running shirt, fly-fishing vest (! may come in handy for my field work in wetlands), infinity scarf, black leggings, Sparkle Athletic skirt, driving gloves. This is the most layers I've ever worn running and while I was worried it might end up being too much, I also knew I could handle a little discomfort for the duration of a 10K race.

DH then accompanied me down to the ART bus stop where I got on and was whisked away to the pre-race area. The ART bus dropped us off at the normal ART stop at DLR, whereupon we entered the main parks plaza through security and made our way through DD and (I think) another security sweep, and then finally arriving at the pre-race (and post-race) staging area.



As was the case with the 2015 SW half and the 2016 Tink half weekends, there was a stage set up and the race announcers were attempting to get the runners hepped up. I took the above photo because of the super-cool BB-8 costume and then realized too late to take another photo that K-2SO was right in front of me. D'oh!

Since I'd arrived much later than I would have for a WDW race, it was soon time to head to the corrals, so many folks turned around and headed towards the back of the area, and through a tiny gate. Choke point:


Hello, people.

But just prior to that, we saw this and many jokes were cracked about balloon ladies and buying these balloons to freak people out.



Then there was more walking to the point where the corrals diverged, which caused a bit of confusion only because there were so many people trying to get to different areas. I think during a trickle of people, it would have been fine.



I was in E corral, so broke off to the far right and then ended up walking alongside the entirety of Corrals D and E since the corral entrance is at the back. Corral E was situated on a ramp, which made for an interesting, though seemingly isolated, view:


Walking to the front of Corral E, you can see another corral at far right.


I'm about midway up from the start of Corral E.

I don't know what the race numbers were, but when I ran the 2015 inaugural half, the field seemed almost intimate, and now this 10K field seemed so very big. But I had had no previous comparisons since the only other DLR 10K I'd run was for Tink weekend and I think that that field tends to skew smaller anyway (as an example, I was in Corral B for Tink 10K with a similar challenge proof of time). Now we set about to waiting for the race to begin, or at least for us to move up a ways towards the front of the field. The race announcers were trying their darnedest to keep us entertained, but poor sound system (which I get, DLR is in the middle of Anaheim) and no visuals, it was difficult to pay attention to them. But the race soon started and we shuffled forwards little by little until it was almost our go-time.


So our race announcers were Carissa and I can't remember the gentleman's name but he performed an impressive beat box rendition of Star Wars sound effects, quotes, and got lots of laughs. I have some on video but haven't uploaded it yet.


Runners....set.....GOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Up Next: Running in the Dark (but not Dark Side)

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

Yay! You got to ride RSR!

I love your costume, but you look overdressed (to me) for running in temperatures in the 50s. I'm wondering how that worked out for you.

So your hotel was close enough to walk to the parks, but you took ART the morning of the race? I'm considering doing Tinkerbell next year and thinking about where to stay. So far, I've only stayed on Harbor between Katella and Manchester and also the Disneyland Hotel. I was thinking about Paradise Pier because of its proximity to the start/finish lines.

 

[Mimsy Borogove]

So your hotel was close enough to walk to the parks, but you took ART the morning of the race? I'm considering doing Tinkerbell next year and thinking about where to stay. So far, I've only stayed on Harbor between Katella and Manchester and also the Disneyland Hotel. I was thinking about Paradise Pier because of its proximity to the start/finish lines.

Yes - we stayed in the Hilton next to the Convention Center, so we would cut through between the Hilton and Convention Center, take the sidewalk along Katella to Disneyland Drive, and then get to the parks via Downtown Disney. Or we could also walk up Harbor to the main entrance to the parks. Since I was solo for the races, I didn't really want to walk by myself at 4am, even though it's Disney, and also with the corral set-up, I wasn't sure where security was and didn't want to waste a lot of time figuring out how to get to the corrals (which were right there on Disneyland Drive), so ART seemed the safe bet. ART drops you off at the main entrance and you walk past the parks and DD to corral security.

TL;DR I'm not well-versed in DLR streets enough to confidently get to the corrals that early in the morning!

Paradise Pier would solve all that for you.

 

[Elsaalltheway]

Totally ready for this. Next year will be my first year. I'm overweight and to help lose that I've told myself I'm going to run this next year.

 

[cavepig]

e walked back to Garden Grill to get some yummy pasta.

We really like eating here before one of the Disneyland half races in '15, I wish WDW had a better pasta place in one of the parks. I miss Pasta Piazza at EPCOT & when the Land use to have pasta.

. February has been none too kind to me. DH was rushed to hospital ER last Monday

Hope he is okay & nothing major!

 

[Ariel484]

Oh no, I hope your husband is okay! I hope you are okay too, it's tough being the caretaker, but I am sure you're doing an awesome job.

 

[Mimsy Borogove]

Totally ready for this. Next year will be my first year. I'm overweight and to help lose that I've told myself I'm going to run this next year.

You can totally do it! runDisney races can be a great motivator for getting out and training. Good luck!

We really like eating here before one of the Disneyland half races in '15, I wish WDW had a better pasta place in one of the parks. I miss Pasta Piazza at EPCOT & when the Land use to have pasta.

I so agree! I typically try to make ADRs for Via Napoli for race weekend, but since I had 3 race weekends at WDW last year and 2 this year, I'm getting kind of tired of it. I know, #firstworldproblems

Hope he is okay & nothing major!

Oh no, I hope your husband is okay! I hope you are okay too, it's tough being the caretaker, but I am sure you're doing an awesome job.

Thank you both! Long story short, he collapsed at work and spent 10 days in hospital, 5 in ICU. It was a scary, scary time and now he's working on getting back to normal. He's signed up for the Dark Side 5K and wants to be able to do that next month.

 

[Mimsy Borogove]

January 14, 2017 part 2 - Running in the Dark (but not Dark Side)

When last I left you, we'd been released from our corral and started the 10K race! It's always exciting to run a new race (I had only run Tink 10K as a 10K race at DLR, so this was new to me) and the Light Side 10K was no exception. We headed towards the parks and banked right into the backstage area of DCA, running in near dark. It was not very well-lit, so I was concentrating on not tripping over anything in the road or bumping into anyone because it was a little congested (nothing like Dark Side Half last year, though!) through that portion. We ran past a dark screen that had "A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away..." projected on to it, and then we were in DCA!

I love running in DCA. Two years ago when I ran the inaugural Star Wars Half, the timing of DCA on course was perfect for me as there was a gorgeous Technicolor sunrise that morning and I had some great MarathonFotos through Cars Land. This time, because we started in DCA there would be no sunrise photos, but it is still so much fun to run through! Now, just a little housekeeping before I get started: I haven't downloaded my PhotoPass photos yet (February was quite brutal for me personally between funeral and hospitalization) and the other thing is that I got a new iPhone a few weeks before race weekend. I'd upgraded from the 5S to the 7 and the whole concept of "live photos" was very new to me, I'd planned on testing out my camera capabilities during a race for WDW half and we all know how that turned out, so some of my "drive-by" photos from the Star Wars races aren't so great. But I'm still including them because it still gives you a sense of the atmosphere.


Entering Cars Land from the back way! Love this view, even when blurry.

We ran through the back portions of Cars Land, then through A Bug's Land (those lit-up cocoons are so cool) and people already broke off from the pack for real restrooms there. As we left A Bug's Land, we hit Mile 1 and then the first character stop.


Rey on her speeder for mile marker 1.


First character stop: those lovable droids C-3PO and R2-D2. I love this guy's K-2SO (the scientist in me always wants to add a "4" to his name! It's funny if you're a chemistry geek) costume, very clever.

I didn't stop for the droids because it seemed like a really long line, and since I was Jyn Erso, it wasn't imperative to have that as a character stop since it would be a little bit (only slightly) out of context. So moving on towards Paradise Pier!


They had World of Color all lit up, gorgeous! I'm looking a little haggard and out of breath, but another runner and I quid pro quo-ed on photo op. That's why I love Disney races, everyone is always so helpful.


Blurry because I'm RUNNING!


So freaking pretty.

The loop around Paradise Pier took a little longer than these photos would indicate, but I think I was just drinking it all in because I just love DCA so much. Once we looped around PP, we then headed into the Grizzly Peak area of the park, running along a dimly-lit path (same as we did for Tink, but not dark) and there were still some Christmas-y lanterns in the trees. As a sidebar, my favorite Disneyland cat lives in the Grizzly Peak area of the park, but I've never seen her, a gorgeous long-haired tortoiseshell who apparently is very friendly. Sadface. But moving on!




X-wing projected on to Soarin' Around the World. Love. And how appropriate! #synergy


There was a character stop here, just past Soarin' but no one was home. I'm guessing from the TIE fighter and graffiti that it was Ezra Bridger and Sabine Wren from Star Wars Rebels (really great animated series that takes place just before A New Hope).

Then it was on past Carthay Circle and Hollywoodland, where we encountered several padawans learning to wield their lightsabers.



And just like that, DCA was done!

Next Up: Backstage Passes

 

[Ariel484]

So glad your husband is okay!! How scary!

Loving your report - aren't Disneyland 10Ks the best? So much park time! I love DCA at night...alll the pictures!!

 

[Mimsy Borogove]

January 14, 2017 part 3 - Backstage Passes

Backstage at DCA, the fun didn't stop. No sir. Or ma'am if you are.

Mile 2 marker was also Rey, looking pensive. As a side note, I've seen lots of speculation the last day or two about how Dark Side weekend is going to get canceled because Light Side is changing its name to Resistance. I'd like to point out that the mile markers for the 10K this year were all from The Force Awakens, which directly feeds into that theme because they're all in the Resistance. It's likely just Disney capitalizing on the new films, the second of which will be released a month before 2018 Light Side.

Moving on!

Awww, BB-8!


This is the tunnel between DLR and DCA and the photo is one of those instances where the "live photo" is crap. Green and red lasers were being projected down this tunnel, so it felt a little like you were in the middle of an X-wing/TIE dog fight in a trench on some battle station. Very cool effect!


Mile 3 marker: Finn - again, a primary character in the Resistance. There must have not been much scenery between miles 2 and 3.


Drive-by BB-8 character shot. I have a photo with him from Dark Side last year. So cute! The line for him looked really long, so I kept going.


Love that bucket of bolts!!


Thank you, Disney custodial CMs!! For all that you do and for cheering us on.


Entering Toon Town in DLR after a nice jaunt backstage.


It's a Small World holidays! Love it so much. I selfied in front of it, but shall spare your eyes. You're welcome.


Running towards the Matterhorn, so pretty! #swisspride (I'm 1/4 Swiss)

Next Up: More Disneyland Running!

 

[Mimsy Borogove]

So glad your husband is okay!! How scary!

Loving your report - aren't Disneyland 10Ks the best? So much park time! I love DCA at night...alll the pictures!!

Thank you so much!

I absolutely LOVE Disneyland 10Ks! They are positively decadent with park time versus WDW.

 

[Mimsy Borogove]

January 14, 2017 part 4 - More Disneyland Running!

There's just something about running through Disneyland Park. Time seems to stand still or move more slowly than normal. At least for me! And this 10K was just chock-full of park time that I intended to squeeze every last bit of enjoyment! Moving towards Tomorrowland past the Matterhorn, it looked like a character stop was coming up, so I slowed down a bit and craned my neck to see...


Nobody. Apparently. For those keeping score at home, this makes for 4 character stops and two without characters so far. I'm guessing this was Kylo Ren or First Order stormtroopers. Line was short, but I wasn't about to wait for an unknown. Just keep swimming...

But just outside Launch Bay in Tomorrowland, there was a furor. A hubbub. A crowd, if you will. First Order stormtroopers were patrolling! But just like the Lost Boys during Tinker Bell Half (see TR in signature below - shameless self-promotion), it was for selfies only. Which I am horrible at. I managed to get one, but the troopers were hardly visible. Oh well. Maybe I should practice more?




I just love the Mad Tea Party when it's all lit-up. This is also something that DLR does so much better than WDW. It's perfect.


Mile 4 was just past the teacups and featured Poe Dameron. As a sidebar, I just recently found out that Oscar Isaac lives not too far from me (squee!) but that's all I'll say about that since other than mentioning his proximity to me, I'm going to respect his privacy. But still, POE DAMERON lives near me, you guys!!!

We kept going into Fantasyland so that we could bank left towards the Castle to run through it. I don't care how many times you've done it (for me, three times at WDW and four times at DLR), running through a Disney castle is so cool. It truly never gets old.


Backside of Sleeping Beauty's Castle, getting ready to go through!


Slowing down for photo op...


Had to get a photo in front of it! You can see the PhotoPass folks set up just behind me at right.


Then we were running in to Frontierland!


That's no moon. Wait, it totally is a moon. My bad.
Interestingly enough, I remember there being a Luke/Leia character stop here for the 2015 Star Wars Half in the dark.


I always love seeing all the runners go past Pirates of the Caribbean! As a WDW regular, the setup in California is just fascinating to me.

Next: Keep Running!

 

[Mimsy Borogove]

January 14, 2017 part 5 - Keep Running!

Now we're in New Orleans Square portion of DL, which is just a fun place to run, cobblestones notwithstanding. I think it's because it's a small area with a lot of attractions that I love: Haunted Mansion, POTC, and beignets! Unfortunately, the Mansion was shut down to remove the Nightmare Before Christmas overlay (I hope to see it someday). Since we'd had the same experience in 2015, I was expecting it, but it still is disappointing. C'est la vie!


Blurry drive-by.


Someday...sigh.

Then it was on past POTC and up the ramp like the runners I'd previously watched and through Tarzan's treehouse.



Adventureland awaits! We ran past Jungle Cruise (also closed for holiday overlay removal), Indiana Jones, and then my favorite.


Where the birds sing words and the flowers croon. I took a photo for a mother/daughter (?) pair in front of the sign, and they offered to take mine, but I politely declined and kept going. Onwards to Main Street, U.S.A.!


Awww, horsies! <3


Wait, why are we running away from the castle?!

I was savoring every last moment on Main Street and nearly missed the last character stop altogether:


At last, we have the mighty Chewbacca! Unfortunately, I missed the line and had to keep going or face the wrath of hundreds of runners behind me. Oh well, I have photo ops with him from Launch Bay anyway.

Feeling only slightly stung by disappointment, I was starting to sulk just a teensy bit (because, hey, still at Disneyland!) and almost missed yet another look-but-don't-touch character opportunity.


I'm in charge now, Phasma! I'm in charge!


Just before this, there was a Slave Leia/Ariel mashup costume that looked pretty clever. It's always so wonderful to see this sight!


Backstage yet again, mile 5 features Chewbacca. This stretch is the same as the one we'd started on in the dark.

Next: Never Stop Running!