DEST EE 5K PTR - 19days Apr/May-(I'm BaaaaaCK!)

[amazingact21]

Sounds like a good Epcot day! I'm pretty bummed TT will be closed in May. That's my favorite ride, as well.
And I think 15 minutes in each country (except for the ones with rides) is a good time limit.


Loved your pictures of the park! The one of all three of you in the WS and the empty (UK?) pavilion at night are great! Epcot has some of the best places to get good photos.

 

[wakica]

Joining in late. Great trip report. I'm also on the April thread.
I used to run in college when I was a lifeguard. Those days are long gone.
We EE too!
We stayed at Universal the past 2 years for early entry to HP. It is the best!!
We are big HP fans around here. DH and DS14 have read all the books.
We weren't going to IOA this year b/c we're just staying a week and couldn't stay on site. But my boys were devistated so my mom and dad are buying them a 1 day ticket as a surprise for their b-day. I'm a little nervous b/c we've never been w/out early entry. I hope it's not too bad.
So jealous of your long vacation!! You're so lucky! Is your DD missing a lot of school?

Happy to have you join in I tend to wonder if my running days will be over after this race too!! LOL We are wanting to do a 5K colour run as well so hopefully we'll find one close by and that will help to keep me motivated.
We love Universal!!! This will be our first time seeing WWOHP - it was being built our last trip down - last time in Florida we did Universal, Busch and Sea World so we missed out on Disney This time was going to be Disney and Universal but turned out to add on Sea World (nobody wanted to miss out on Manta) and Busch since we will be near Tampa for a wedding so this time we get to do it ALL!!! I just hope I can keep up for all those park days i'm counting on my 5K training to help me out b/c I used to be very sedentary so this has got to give me more of an edge... right??? i hope anyway.
That's a GREAT surprise for the kids!! They will be so excited! What are the days of your trip?? If it's not too busy you should be ok without express passes - just get there 20 - 45 min before opening and get in those popular rides before all the resort guests get out of bed and hog the lines. lol. They have express pass so they figure there is no point in rushing to the parks right? not us though but we are the exception.
Are you doing a ptr?

Sounds like a good Epcot day! I'm pretty bummed TT will be closed in May. That's my favorite ride, as well.
And I think 15 minutes in each country (except for the ones with rides) is a good time limit.


Loved your pictures of the park! The one of all three of you in the WS and the empty (UK?) pavilion at night are great! Epcot has some of the best places to get good photos.

THANKS!! I like those pics too as well as the one of DH in the girlie viking hat!!
Glad to hear you think my 15 min plan will work ok - from experience we just sort of look as we walk by some of them and others we want to check out the shops so it takes a bit extra so i was hoping it was a somewhat accurate guess. If not and we take a bit longer we should still be ok b/c things start closing in FW around the 7pm mark and I've got us heading into that area around 5:30 so even if it's 6 we should be ok.

 

[MHTeacher]

I had to laugh when I read your 15 minutes per country because it reminded me of our own family craziness....I've always felt guilty that we've never really explored every country. So a few trips ago, I was determined that my kids go to every country. I literally dragged them through each one---tired, hot, fussy----Not my proudest Disney moment!

While TT is not my favorite, my kids and DH really like it, so they're going to be pretty bummed that it won't be running while we're there.

We love the dolphin area at Epcot, too!

 

[wakica]

Time for my FEBRUARY ACCOUNTABILITY!!!

but first some exciting news!!!
since i started running in November I have lost.....
That's SO good b/c when i go on a holiday i always GAIN 5 LB!! LoL - even with all the walking I just love to have treats too much on holidays so this will keep me even but I'd still like to drop 5 more. We'll see how it goes - it's hard for me to lose b/c i can't stay away from treats.

This has been a ROUGH month for me and running!!! I was sick, I fell off my foam roller and i had so much going on with bday suppers for me, dsil and now planning dd's bday plus Valentines Day - it just seemed we always had things on the go and i found it hard to find time to jog when i wasn't sick or hurt. Oh well - it was still better than last October and the REST of my life! haha so i can't complain too much. Here is what my month looked like...


Feb 1 - 1K - no time - i was still working on my sore hamstrings around this time

Feb 5 - beautiful day - tried outside but nearly died due to the cold air and my hyperactive airways. Discovered I'm a treadmill and fair weather runner only. Did do good this day though with
1K outside and 3.69 on treadmill in 34.20 min making it 4.69K total today

Feb 7 - 3K in 23.40 min plus 5min cool down of .30 - so 3.30K

Feb 11 - 3.40K in 30 min

Feb 13, 14, 15

Feb 16 - 2.5K in 19.50 min

Feb 18 - 3K in 23.40 min

Feb 20 - 5K in 41 min

Feb 23 - FELL DOWN and bruised my tailbone - it's STILL hurting a bit!

Feb 29 - YAY for Leap Year and one more chance to get a run in for Feb - 5K in 41.30 min plus cool down



My total for February was aprox. 28K's. Not good compared to Jan at 48 but i'm still happy with it!

Thanks for reading I hope my accountability pages aren't TOO boring for everyone! LOL. I'll get some more pictures up in the next post for sure. It'll be our quiet day for DTD, shopping and supper at T-Rex.

 

[ddluvsdisney]

Happy to have you join in I tend to wonder if my running days will be over after this race too!! LOL We are wanting to do a 5K colour run as well so hopefully we'll find one close by and that will help to keep me motivated.
We love Universal!!! This will be our first time seeing WWOHP - it was being built our last trip down - last time in Florida we did Universal, Busch and Sea World so we missed out on Disney This time was going to be Disney and Universal but turned out to add on Sea World (nobody wanted to miss out on Manta) and Busch since we will be near Tampa for a wedding so this time we get to do it ALL!!! I just hope I can keep up for all those park days i'm counting on my 5K training to help me out b/c I used to be very sedentary so this has got to give me more of an edge... right??? i hope anyway.
That's a GREAT surprise for the kids!! They will be so excited! What are the days of your trip?? If it's not too busy you should be ok without express passes - just get there 20 - 45 min before opening and get in those popular rides before all the resort guests get out of bed and hog the lines. lol. They have express pass so they figure there is no point in rushing to the parks right? not us though but we are the exception.
Are you doing a ptr?

No PTR for me I just like reading other's reports. I'm worried about the early entry b/c FJ- the BIG ride in WWoHP doesn't have express line- so EVERYBODY waits. Even the last 2 years when we stayed on property we waited about a half hour Glad you're staying at RPH. I always tell people to try to stay on property if possible. If we were going longer we would be too.

 

[wakica]

a half hour!! REALLY?? What time did you show up at the park to get there? I guess 1/2 hour isn't so bad b/c it gives you a good chance to view the inside cue area for your first time right?? But we are theme park commando tourers and usually don't wait longer than 10 min and 20 absolutely MAX for any rides. So 30 will be a real wake up
What day are you going?? Can you plan for it in the middle of the week?? That might help to keep the crowds a bit down. Also since it's IOA we are discussing make sure to be AT THE turnstyles 45 min before opening b/c i think i heard that they let people in but they still wait in a long line up all the way to WWOHP!!! So if you can get through those turnstyles before rope drop it's definitely helpful.

 

[Nermel9]

I'm here, just read your whole PTR so I'm all caught up!

Wow, you are doing so good with the C25K! I would give anything to be able to get through that program, running is so hard for me, and I so want to be a runner! I tried it last year and I got stuck on week 3...I kept repeating week 3 over and over and after the 3rd time I said forget it, and gave up! I really want to do a Disney 5K someday, and I want to just be healthier in general!

Your trip plans sound great! The condo you're staying in looks really nice, that pool looks huge!!! And the Universal Resort looks awesome, I really need to go to Universal someday! Maybe in the Fall!

Can't wait to read more plans!

 

[MandJ112009]

HI I finally got a chance to pop over here and check out your PTR! Just read it from start to finish LOL. I LOVE all your photos and you're doing such a wonderful job with your running. In the back of my mind there is a tiny little voice that keeps telling me I want to run a Disney race someday. The voice is starting to get louder, but so far it hasn't gotten me on the treadmill yet

I don't get over here too often (it's all I can do to keep up with everyone on FB and TGM!) but I'll be back to read more soon! Your trip sounds wonderful but I'm sad we will miss each other by just a few days.

Can't wait to read more!

Melissa

 

[wakica]

I had to laugh when I read your 15 minutes per country because it reminded me of our own family craziness....I've always felt guilty that we've never really explored every country. So a few trips ago, I was determined that my kids go to every country. I literally dragged them through each one---tired, hot, fussy----Not my proudest Disney moment!

We love the dolphin area at Epcot, too!

HAHA, ya, i'm not completely sure how much time we'll need so i just wung it but ya - we pretty much decide as we walk into the country if we feel like looking futher or just look as we pass through. The nice thing is we can just skip some if need be and catch them on the second visit.
The dolphins are so amazing!!! I had tears in my eyes b/c it was actually interacting with us! it would see the light from the camera and come over to us and it happened every time dh put the camera flash on to catch it's attention.

I'm here, just read your whole PTR so I'm all caught up!

Wow, you are doing so good with the C25K! I would give anything to be able to get through that program, running is so hard for me, and I so want to be a runner! I tried it last year and I got stuck on week 3...I kept repeating week 3 over and over and after the 3rd time I said forget it, and gave up! I really want to do a Disney 5K someday, and I want to just be healthier in general!

Your trip plans sound great! The condo you're staying in looks really nice, that pool looks huge!!! And the Universal Resort looks awesome, I really need to go to Universal someday! Maybe in the Fall!

Can't wait to read more plans!

Thanks I'm REALLY trying hard to keep at the running. I've found it hard for the last month but it's party the stupid winter getting to me I will keep at it though. You REALLY should try to hit Universal if youu can - we all LOOOOVE it so much!!! I will post some pics of ours from our last trip once i get to those days in my planning. We will visit there at the end of our trip though so it'll be a while yet.

HI I finally got a chance to pop over here and check out your PTR! Just read it from start to finish LOL. I LOVE all your photos and you're doing such a wonderful job with your running. In the back of my mind there is a tiny little voice that keeps telling me I want to run a Disney race someday. The voice is starting to get louder, but so far it hasn't gotten me on the treadmill yet

I don't get over here too often (it's all I can do to keep up with everyone on FB and TGM!) but I'll be back to read more soon! Your trip sounds wonderful but I'm sad we will miss each other by just a few days.

Can't wait to read more!

Melissa

SSSsssoooooo glad you popped over Melissa I really like my tgm friends to know all the details but i just can't do a TR on there b/c there isn't enough time to finish it up after so i will just do it on here.
That's a lot of reading you just did!! lol. It'll be easier now b/c you can just click on a link from the fron page and pick up where you left off. I'm so glad your here
Maybe after you hear my and Sandy's experience with the run you'll feel you can't avoid it any longer I'll try my best anyway. lol

 

[wakica]

hApPy bIrThDaY to DR. SEUSS!!!!

That was our theme night last night since we are visiting Islands of Adventure we wanted to get in some Universal theme nights too and this one was planned at the last minute when i found out it was DR. Seuss b-day. We had planned to go watch The Lorax but bc it was opening night we couldn't use our cereal box cupons for a free movie (we don't want to pay for movies right now b/c we are saving for our trip). SOOO instead we borrowed someones copy of....

Who doesn't love the Cat in the Hat in all it's wild wackiness!!!! lol I have to admit that I'm SOOO glad we watched this again! I had either forgotten or missed alot of the hidden adult humour in it the last time i saw it DD14 GOT the humour this time whereas before she was too young and she thought it was quite innapropriate. She still enjoyed the show though.

Before we watched the show though we started off with .....

GREEN EGGS and HAM OF COURSE!!!

Then we had some cupcake baking fun to make some Thing 1 and Thing 2 cupcakes - they turned out AWESOME!!!!! look!...

DD wore her Thing 3 shirt for the ocassion but was sad to see it's not fitting all that well. We are hoping she doesn't grow too much more between now and our trip so that she can wear it in the park.
Then we got into our craft time I found some crafts awhile back at Michaels - it's a scrawny little craft but it serves it's purpose well enough and dd and i are now happy to each have a new bookmark b/c we read LOTS!!

STARTING IT...

and FINISHED...

ya, they weren't real hard!!!

AND.... DD enjoying a yummy yummy Thing 1 or 2 cupcake...

Then we finished off with the movie. It was a nice evening Theme nights are so much fun!!!

and here are a few pics from Seuss Landing on our last trip 2009. I would have loved to include some from 2007 b/c dd had SOOO much fun in the splash park they have there but time is of the essence right now. lol

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

I love the Thing One and Two cupcakes! Very creative!

 

[wakica]

Thanks!!! They were Y.U.M.M.Y!!!! I have to admit i didn't do too many with the sticking up hair b/c it was alot of work and sticky too! lol.

 

[GaRain]

Cute theme and cute cupcakes!

 

[wakica]

Thanks We still have some cupcakes left and i should just throw them out - they are detrimental to my losing a bit of weight!!!! I always gain like 5 lb on a trip and I'm so happy that i've lost 5 since jogging so i want to keep going down but between those darn cupcakes and cotton candy in the house and all the bday cake we've had at family dinners in the last 3 weeks the scale is slowly slipping back up I think i will get DH to take the rest to work - that migh help but we've got one more bday to get through this weekend - ugh!

How is your training coming along???

 

[wakica]

So, after a day of travel and 3 days of rope drops in the parks I KNOW we will be in need of some down time so the next 2 days are for some RnR (no - not the Rockin Rollercoaster kind of RnR lol).

DAY 5 PLANS ...

Not too much on the go today except for supper at T-Rex in DownTown Disney so we will probably sleep in a bit, Hit a grocery store to restock on groceries, possibly hit some outlet shops. We want to shop for dd's grade 8 grad dress while in Florida so we are hoping to find some shops with some GREAT ideas for a simple grad dress. Here is a photo of a dress she liked about a year ago but i wouldn't buy it at that time b/c knowing teens i figured she'd change her mind by now. she says she still likes it but i am 100% sure that wouldn't be the story if we HAD bought it!

After shopping it'll be DTD to T-Rex for supper and some shopping in the Disney stores
I'm actually not much of a shopper but I am hoping to get myself a charm for my new bracelet at least and then some souvies to bring back from friends and family. Possibly a mug too b/c i LOVE my tea!!!

Now for a few of our DTD pics from the past....

1st of all our ABSOLUTE FAVORITE SHOP IN DTD IS....

WHY? you ask??? I mean how can you go wrong with a shop full of candy but in all honesty it's our favorite DTD stop b/c of THIS!!! (get ready for some serious drool factor!)

Have you seen these boxes??? If not then you are SSOOOO missing out!!!! b/c THIS is what comes inside these wonderful little boxes...

and this....

and THISSSS!!!....

We cannot RESIST a trip or even 2 to design our own little treats every time we are in Florida They are SOOOO yummmy. Definitely not good for the diet but it's a holiday RIGHT??

So, it also helps that they have THESE awesome things!!!! (at least our last trip they did)...

DD still has this cup sitting on a shelf in her bedroom. Now THIS is the way to drink a slurpee drink!!!! LOL

and it also helps that we got a DREAM when we were there during the year of a million dreams ...

it was cookie decorating fun for kids that just happened to be in the right place at the right time in the Candy shop

Here's DD showing off her cookie....

we also like to check out the LEGO creations by the Lego store. Here are a few from one of our past trips...

This place is pretty neat too but I don't think we'll be taking the time to stop here for this trip...

Well, that should be enough photo porn for one post. After DTD it's back to the condo and EARLY TO BED (for a reason).

Next up is day 6 which I call it a quieter day b/c we aren't in a theme park but I'm actually crazy to say that b/c we will have to be up the EARLIEST on this day and you'll see why in the next post....

 

[wakica]

DAY 6 PLANS...
Sooo, we needed a nice quiet day for day 5 and EARLY to bed b/c DAY 6 is the day that DD gets her Grade 8 Grad gift which is.................
................ .................... ..... ............... .........
. ........... ....... ............... ..................... .............
......................... ........... ........ ............ .................. .......

SURF LESSONS AT TYPHOON LAGOON!!
We need to be in the park by 6:45!!! So we'll be up by 5:30 am on this day wow! That's awefully EARLY for a holiday. It'll all be worth it though watching dd learn to surf b/c she's been SO obsessed with it since we rode the waves in Hawaii over a year ago.

After her surf lesson (2 1/2 hours) we plan to pay to spend the day in the waterpark and just have a relaxing beach type day. Well dd and dh will be more active than I will b/c i don't care for waterslides - just the few mild ones. Mostly i will nap on my lounge chair and read It's funny though how spending a day napping in the sun can still wear a person out. I think I'll survive though

I don't have any TL pics on my photobucket so here are a few from Blizzard Beach instead...

and this is what i mostly do at the waterparks...

Life is tough hey????


AFTER we are absolutely waterlogged and totally sundrenched and wiped out we will head back to the condo, shower up and head out for mine and DH's 19th Anniversary Dinner at.........

At this restaraunt I am most looking forward to....

The BREAD SERVICE!!! I've heard SO many wonderful things about it

That's it for Day 6. To bed early again to get ready to head back into the parks on Day 7

 

[amazingact21]

My mind's pulling a blank right now, but I know there a plenty of shops you can hit on Day 4 to look for your DD's grad dress. If I think of a few I'll be sure and post them.


We discovered Goofy's Candy Shop on our last trip, and it's an awesome place! All those sweets in one place is almost too much.


I'm sure you guys are going to have a great time at TL (despite having to get up at the crack of dawn). And I can't think of a better way to be tuckered our than by soaking up the sun, reading.

 

[amazingact21]

My mind's pulling a blank right now, but I know there a plenty of shops you can hit on Day 4 to look for your DD's grad dress. If I think of a few I'll be sure and post them.


We discovered Goofy's Candy Shop on our last trip, and it's an awesome place! All those sweets in one place is almost too much.


I'm sure you guys are going to have a great time at TL (despite having to get up at the crack of dawn). And I can't think of a better way to be tuckered our than by soaking up the sun, reading.

 

[MHTeacher]

The Thing 1/2 cupcakes are so cute....Is that cotton candy on the top? Very cute!

Goofy's Candy Co-----YUM! I love those create your own apples or rice krispies!

 

[wakica]

My mind's pulling a blank right now, but I know there a plenty of shops you can hit on Day 4 to look for your DD's grad dress. If I think of a few I'll be sure and post them.
That would be GREAT! thanks I know there is a big outlet mall close by that we have been to that we want to check out again - i'm hoping they will have a shop for dresses like what we are looking for but I'm not completely sure.


We discovered Goofy's Candy Shop on our last trip, and it's an awesome place! All those sweets in one place is almost too much.

I know!! Each of us create our own treat by filling out the form and it's a highlight of our trip - we LOOVE our junk food


I'm sure you guys are going to have a great time at TL (despite having to get up at the crack of dawn). And I can't think of a better way to be tuckered our than by soaking up the sun, reading.

i completely agree Do you have any lay around days planned this time around?

The Thing 1/2 cupcakes are so cute....Is that cotton candy on the top? Very cute!

Goofy's Candy Co-----YUM! I love those create your own apples or rice krispies!

YES ! It is cotton candy. It was SO sticky b/c i had to sort of pull it in strings to make it have the tall standing up hair look to it. Then we had so much left afterwards and of course i'm the one that ate it! Maybe that contributed to a bit of my weight coming back too. OH well - time to stop bringing junk into the house.