Dopey Shenanigans! A Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend TR (Completed-videos added)

[Keels]

Welcome Keels!

Yeah I knew it was recent just couldn’t remember how recent.

To be honest, it didn’t even ping my radar until you mentioned it! Though, I normally watch the show from the bridge between Yeti and Nemo or around the entrance to Asia instead of in the seating bowl.

 

[skier_pete]

Caught up! Don't have much to say except I am also confused by the person having a side preference on EE. I have heard of front or back riding on coasters for various reasons, but never a preferred side. Interesting!

Even with lowered expectations, I was pretty disappointed in Rivers of Light. There were aspects I liked but it felt like it did not build to anything - it just kind of went on at a steady pace and then ended. (The fire float at the end was less than impressive.) While i can't say I'll never go again, it isn't going to be high on the priority list.

 

[CaseFace5]

Fell behind a bit since I was in Disney, but I am catching up and then hopefully starting a TR of my own if I can figure out a new way to upload pictures that's not a huge hassle.

Anyways.. Looks like you had a nice end to your first day. I had wanted to try Pecos Bills this trip, but we never made it over. Those nachos look pretty good though!

I love that runDisney donates the clothes! What a thoughtful and useful thing to do! Man do those people look cold!!

How does stopping to meet the characters work with running? I've always wondered. I know you said for the 5k it didn't count against your time but does it in the other races? I have always been curious about that.

Looks like you had a great safari! We just had a very giraffe active one too and it was so cool to see them all so close!!

Festival of the Lion King is my favorite show too! No matter how many times I've seen it I still love it each and every time!

Love your River of Lights pictures. We also couldn't make that work on our trip, but I was really hoping we might be able to. I really want to give that show a chance and see it. I feel like I would really enjoy it.

All caught up! Can't wait to hear about the rest of your Dopey challenge races!

 

[rteetz]

Caught up! Don't have much to say except I am also confused by the person having a side preference on EE. I have heard of front or back riding on coasters for various reasons, but never a preferred side. Interesting!

Even with lowered expectations, I was pretty disappointed in Rivers of Light. There were aspects I liked but it felt like it did not build to anything - it just kind of went on at a steady pace and then ended. (The fire float at the end was less than impressive.) While i can't say I'll never go again, it isn't going to be high on the priority list.

We were at the front of the train if that helps at all. Lol, it was so weird.

I understand that. Its definitely not in your face but I like it. They definitely could have done more with fire.

Fell behind a bit since I was in Disney, but I am catching up and then hopefully starting a TR of my own if I can figure out a new way to upload pictures that's not a huge hassle.

Anyways.. Looks like you had a nice end to your first day. I had wanted to try Pecos Bills this trip, but we never made it over. Those nachos look pretty good though!

I love that runDisney donates the clothes! What a thoughtful and useful thing to do! Man do those people look cold!!

How does stopping to meet the characters work with running? I've always wondered. I know you said for the 5k it didn't count against your time but does it in the other races? I have always been curious about that.

Looks like you had a great safari! We just had a very giraffe active one too and it was so cool to see them all so close!!

Festival of the Lion King is my favorite show too! No matter how many times I've seen it I still love it each and every time!

Love your River of Lights pictures. We also couldn't make that work on our trip, but I was really hoping we might be able to. I really want to give that show a chance and see it. I feel like I would really enjoy it.

All caught up! Can't wait to hear about the rest of your Dopey challenge races!

Nothing wrong with being in Disney! I agree with the picture thing. I am just uploading through the DIS. It sucks since I can only upload 10 and they have to be a certain size image.

Characters are out on course and you basically stop running and get in line. The lines usually move rather quickly because its no interaction just picture and go. You are supposed to keep a 16 min/mile pace at runDisney events except for the 5K basically. If you fall behind that you run the risk of being pulled off the course. So you need to watch your time if you are stopping for a lot of characters and don't have a lot of time between the balloon ladies at the end.

Hope you get a chance to see RoL sometime soon!

 

[run.minnie.miles]

I personally really enjoy RoL, but I think your opinion totally depends on what you look for in a nighttime show. It's not flashy nor do I think it'd be overly exciting for a small child.
That being said... I think it fits in perfectly with AK and can't wait to see it again!
(Great pictures again btw!)

I don't care to take taxis or ubers normally, but they can be handy! Glad you can check both off as an experience. I had a bad experience on my first trip to Vegas several years ago where the cabbie totally screwed us over by taking the longest route (therefore charging us a ton more) and we didn't even realize it until our ride back to the airport a few days later. Boo. Gotta be careful!

 

[rteetz]

I personally really enjoy RoL, but I think your opinion totally depends on what you look for in a nighttime show. It's not flashy nor do I think it'd be overly exciting for a small child.
That being said... I think it fits in perfectly with AK and can't wait to see it again!
(Great pictures again btw!)

I don't care to take taxis or ubers normally, but they can be handy! Glad you can check both off as an experience. I had a bad experience on my first trip to Vegas several years ago where the cabbie totally screwed us over by taking the longest route (therefore charging us a ton more) and we didn't even realize it until our ride back to the airport a few days later. Boo. Gotta be careful!

I agree! I like fireworks spectaculars as much as the next guy but sometimes it’s nice to have a slower paced show too.

That sucks about your cab experience.

 

[rteetz]

10K Recap!

Alarm went off at 3AM I believe. These early mornings start to run together after a while My outfit for today was a Hawaiian/Lilo and Stitch theme. I was doing this in conjunction with Team Shenanigans which is a running group and running podcast I have come to really enjoy. It turns out though I wouldn't be able to find them for the pre-race photo. I did end up stopping for Mickey since that line was short.



Still very cold on this day...



I went to the DIS pre race meet up again. I really enjoy these meet ups and talking with everyone in person. I met @mrsg00fy's son and ended up telling him about the Star Wars VR experience in Disney Springs which I would be doing later that day. More on that experience later though!

As we headed to the corrals I ended up walking and waiting in the corrals with @courtneybeth @Dis5150 and her daughter @LikelyLynae which was great. Once the race started though we separated and went on our ways.





This race is 6.2 miles so double the 5K and heads out the entrance of the Epcot parking lot.



In the past they have had characters on the overpass ahead but this year they did not.



Mile 1 done! Just at the turnaround Pocahontas and Meeko were meeting but I didn't stop.



Moving along to mile 2! Flik and Atta were around this point too. Another stop I didn't make.



The Old Hag!!! But I didn't stop... and regretted it ever since. The line was sooo long though.

Oh well... Onto Mile 3!





Entering backstage at Epcot were the stilt walkers.

Continued in next post...

 

[rteetz]

10K Recap!

Continuing backstage we came upon the Frozen Ever After boats. So the Diser in me needed a picture right?



Into World Showcase we go! The Norway Vikings were out again.

Rapunzel and Flynn Ryder were out in Germany! Another super long line... That's okay I knew I would be meeting them later this week.



I finally made a character stop in Italy! Pinocchio! I don't believe I had ever met him before so of course I had to.



Mile 4!



Marie was out in Japan. I have met her before though so I skipped this one.

Out through International Gateway we go!

Tourist Genie was out at ESPN Club. Another skip. Genie became a running joke from the weekend.



Past the Beach and Yacht Club!

Into Skyliner construction and streetmosphere.









Back into Epcot we go!

Continued in next post...

 

[rteetz]

10K Recap!

I was hoping for someone good in Epcot in terms of characters but it was only Duffy...



So I just kept running to the finish!



Passing the Guardians of the Galaxy Construction...







So I have to point out that during each race we run through this specific part of Epcot and there was a security guard that was really awesome back here. He would find a person and run with them for x number of yards to motivate them through to the finish. He was there every day doing it. I thought it was really great.

They had some stilt walkers back here too.

Finish line!



and medal!



Continued in next post...

 

[rteetz]

10K Recap!

Here are my runDisney photos from the race.



















10K thoughts...

I really like the 10K. It was my first runDisney race. It has a decent amount of crowd support from running by the Epcot resorts. A little more park time would be good but I felt they had some good characters out this year for the 10K too. I would definitely recommend this race to anyone wanting to do their first 10K.

Up next: A fun MK morning!

 

[skier_pete]

I like how you think - pictures of the park? Who needs that!
Pictures of Construction?...to the DIS!

 

[rteetz]

I like how you think - pictures of the park? Who needs that!
Pictures of Construction?...to the DIS!

I am always thinking that way! Someone even found me on course (another runner) and knew it was me because I was taking construction photos.

 

[TeeterTots]

Looks like the 10K was a blast. What a great distance. Looking forward to reading about another fun MK day!

 

[rteetz]

Looks like the 10K was a blast. What a great distance. Looking forward to reading about another fun MK day!

It was! MK coming up soon!

 

[AMusicLifeForMe]

Congrats on completing the 10K!

Just curious...Is the Run Disney races the only times where you are allowed to take pictures "backstage?" Any tour I'm on with Disney, we are never allowed to take photos backstage. I might just sign up to run a race and walk it so I can take pictures backstage lol.

 

[Ariel484]

Woohoo! Love the 10K. I do agree that it could use more park time, but I really love that it has the run around the Boardwalk area.

Love the pics with Pinocchio and sporty Mickey! Sorry you didn't find your costume buddies but at least you look festive!

 

[rteetz]

Congrats on completing the 10K!

Just curious...Is the Run Disney races the only times where you are allowed to take pictures "backstage?" Any tour I'm on with Disney, we are never allowed to take photos backstage. I might just sign up to run a race and walk it so I can take pictures backstage lol.

Thanks! Yes I believe this is the only time you can take photos backstage. They really don't have a choice as how can they stop thousands of people from doing it.

Woohoo! Love the 10K. I do agree that it could use more park time, but I really love that it has the run around the Boardwalk area.

Love the pics with Pinocchio and sporty Mickey! Sorry you didn't find your costume buddies but at least you look festive!

Yeah running around the boardwalk is one of my favorite things.

Luckily I would find them the next two days!

 

[Goofy2015]

Small takes on the 10K. First, it is cool that they had a boat from Frozen Ever After out on display. That stinks not getting a pic with the Old Witch from Snow White. I would have for sure stopped by Pinocchio too. I probably would have stopped for Rapunzel and Flynn Ryder mainly for Flynn. Possibly for Meeko too. I noticed the mile marker for Ariel, she is supporting a different dress.

 

[rteetz]

Small takes on the 10K. First, it is cool that they had a boat from Frozen Ever After out on display. That stinks not getting a pic with the Old Witch from Snow White. I would have for sure stopped by Pinocchio too. I probably would have stopped for Rapunzel and Flynn Ryder mainly for Flynn. Possibly for Meeko too. I noticed the mile marker for Ariel, she is supporting a different dress.

If I wasn't meeting Flynn later in the week I probably would have stopped too. I didn't notice the dress on the mile marker before.

 

[ZellyB]

You regret not stopping for the Hag and I regret not stopping for Pinocchio.

You got some great photos though and I love your costume!