Donald, Mickey, Goofy, and Hubby **New 4-22-2007 Lots of pictures**

[jodistar]

How sweet is that??

Great installment Jodi and loved the pics.

Thanks I still have some work to do but I'm waiting for my husband to put some more pictures on disc so I can upload them.

We have a great picture of Captain Jack Sparrow running/walking in the half marathon.

 

[jodistar]

 

[jodistar]

Sorry for the lack of posting everyone!! I'm going to try this by the weekend --heck, I still have to start my pre-trip report for October, I can't wait to go to Mickey's not so Scary again!

 

[jodistar]

Oh and the Incredibles were there:

 

[jodistar]

Wow -- another earlier morning, got up at 1:30 in the morning. Took a quick shower and then a quick breakfast of a Cliff Bar and Bananna.

3:00 -- going to catch the bus to bring me to the start and meet up with Heather again.

Both Heather and I were both very tired at the start (god, I really needed a coffee but can't do that before running). What a rush though when they started to call off each corral start -- very exciting!

As we get into the first mile, there was a crane with Mickey and Minnie waving us on....very magical

This was my first time ever doing running a Marathon or actually running/walking a marathon. First, a little ways through EPCOT, wow....what a site as you see all of the Christmas lights still up. I can't remember the exact route but the next park we got into was the Magic Kingdom

Here are some pictures of the characters Heather and I bumped into there:

 

[jodistar]

After going through the Magic Kingdom, we took the back road past the Grand Floridian -- once again Mary, Burt, and the gang (penguins) were out again -- didn't stop this time (I thought that they would think I was a stalker if I stopped again).

It seemed like we were running on the turnpike area forever (okay -- might not be a turnpike but I forget what it's called). Then finally we took the back road into Animal Kingdom, before we entered AK there was a processing plant or something and it smelled god awful.....hurry, run.....run....everyone run hehe just kidding but it was pretty awful.

Just before we got into Animal Kingdom there were a series of trainers with various animals, here's one of the handlers and a parrot:

Okay to be continued....until tomorrow.

 

[blue_river]

What a nice surprise to see an update!

I had forgotten about you.

Great pics of the characters

I still think you're crazy for running though

 

[goofymania101]

CONGRATS on the Marathon! Love the character pictures!

courtney

 

[jodistar]

I had forgotten about you.

oh no!

Great pics of the characters

Thank you

I still think you're crazy for running though

Yup, I'm used to it -- my family thinks I'm crazy too

 

[jodistar]

CONGRATS on the Marathon! Love the character pictures!

courtney

Thanks Courtney -- it was a blast, I'm hoping to do it again in 2009

 

[jodistar]

Wow, can't believe I let my report go for that long.

Let's see after the parrot, we took a backroad, and end up entering AK right next to Expedition Everest -- passing past many people cheering us on......going out through the entrance......into the parking lot and on our way to MGM (Disney Studios). Really cool running through the area where the tram brings us through -- then past the area where "Who Wants to be a Millionare" used to be -- then straight through the entrance and back on our way to the International Gateway (going through the Boardwalk area first), and back into EPCOT......Bob was there as soon as we got in the the park.

Kind of funny, he was cheering us on and I was just into my breathing, while Heather told him "B**e Me" (trying not to put anything offensive on the boards here). We entered in around Canada (I think) and then turned right and went past the Christmas Tree, past the golfball rolleyes1 hehe just kidding -- I know a lot of people get annoyed with the whole golfball thing), and out another entrance....into the parking lot for the finish.

 

[blue_river]

Okay...we wait months for an update and all we get is a paragraph

and no pictures to boot!

More please

 

[jodistar]

Okay...we wait months for an update and all we get is a paragraph

and no pictures to boot!

More please

Yup I have more coming....hopefully tonight if all goes well. I was having problems accessing my photos the other night.

I'm determined to finish this one.....after all I have another pre-trip to write not doing that without finishing this one ----unlike some other people

 

[jodistar]

Okay, So Heather and I finished together and were both pretty exhausted. After we crossed the finish line they presented us with our Mickey Medals, then off to the Goofy tent to collect my Goofy medal (I really love that medal).

Bob (my hubby) and Jim (Heather's hubby) both met us after finishing the marathon. Jim decided it was time to celebrate and tried to talk Bob and I into eating at Marrakesh -- I looked at Heather with this "Help me!" look.....hehe I guess I should explain, I'm a very picky eater. Heather just said I don't care where we go as long as I can have a martini! So off to Cantina de San Angel .

Bob and I didn't really eat much -- after all we had reservations in MGM for Hollywood and Vine then afterwards, Fantasmic! . So after eating we explained to Heather that I planned way too much and we would have to leave and go back to the resort to get ready for the night.

I felt so bad, I never get to see those two but was very excited about seeing Fantasmic again! The first time I had seen it, it was raining outside, and it just lost something being in ponchos trying not to be uncomfortable while you sit there in soaking wet clothes and sneakers full of water.......OK LETS STOP THE FLASHBACK!

Like I said we went back to POFQ, so I can ice my legs and then clean up/take a shower. BUT the best was as we walked into the room the most wonderful towel animals.

 

[jodistar]

 

[jodistar]

Hope all of you enjoyed viewing the photos - - of the towel animals, I can't tell you when you are sore from running/walking all day....and so tired you think you are just going to cry and come into a special treat like that just made my day....well, that and getting my Mickey and Goofy medal earlier.

Well, last day is coming up next.....Lilo and Stitch character breakfast and Magic Kingdom!

 

[jodistar]

Well, Here it is our last day at the World (so bummed). Unfortnately, I misplaced my notes from the trip.....so I'm working off of my memory here.

Anyhow, we got up a little later than the rest of the weekend....but still ended up rushing to make it to our 9:00 a.m. reservation. Why?, you might ask were we running late -- well, I was still pretty sore but not as bad as I thought I would be (there were plenty out there, doing a lot worse than me), and I had to pack not to mention ship some things home..

Okay, we jump on the bus to the Magic Kingdom and taking the boat to the Polynesian.....but we were close to 15 minutes late to the reservation, and I was really getting to the point that I wanted to give up and just go to Magic Kingdom for the day but Bob said, "no, you have your medals on....they will let you in, just say you had a hard time this morning because you were sore."

Well, they were all very sweet and I didn't even have to go through all of that...I explained that I was late and didn't have to say anymore, we waiting maybe 15 minutes for a table, and on with the fun!

Believe it or not this is another one of the things that I was looking forward to the most......I know a lot of you out there hate Stitch, BUT I have to say I love Stitch -- he is my favorite out of the new character.....by that I mean classic characters are my favorite....Mickey, Goofy, Donald, Daisy, Minnie, and of course the lady of the castle

 

[jodistar]

Can I tell you how adorable the parade is that they do at the Stitch character breakfast.....with the characters, and the little kids.

Anyhow, they serve breakfast here family style.....I'm a little embarrased to say that I was still hungry from running the full that I quite a lot of the skillet myself! we actually asked for more -- our poor waitress, kind of gave us this look like OMG you finished it! We both laughed and blammed it on my running the marathon the day before (I never eat that much).

Here are some pictures:

The parade

 

[jodistar]

Mickey checking out the medals:

Me and My Pal (Mickey Mouse):

 

[jodistar]

STITCH:

Lilo:

Pluto:

Next......Onto Magic Kingdom!