Final Update 1/18! Latest Roving Reporter Trip Jan 8 - 17 GKTW Alternative Break

[Cyrano]

Dave great to catch up with your report. Appreciate the full disclosure about DreamsVillas, but I bet I am not the only one who would love to see photos and your view on the accomodation

 

[disneyholic family]

how was the run?

i just looked at the online results - there were 17,099 people who finished the race!!! wow!!!

 

[MagicalKingdom]

Greetings everyone, I'm checking in from the Rochester airport getting ready to board my flight to Orlando (gotta love eTicket). This trip I'm heading down to cover WDW Marathon Weekend, and leading a group of college students on an alternative break volunteer trip to GKTW. Tiara Todd is joining me to help chaperone the students on the trip. Something new for me is I'll be staying off-property in one of the Dreams Villa. OK, next time I check in will be from Orlando where I think it will be a little warmer than here... maybe... just a little.

Happy trip!,..pray that your safe while in your trip,..update me for the marathon!...Goodluck!....

 

[WebmasterJohn]

Dave great to catch up with your report. Appreciate the full disclosure about DreamsVillas, but I bet I am not the only one who would love to see photos and your view on the accomodation

I have no issue with Dave posting pictures and/or giving a full, honest and accurate description of Dreams Villas. I hope he likes it - we get nothing but positive feedback from our visitors. If you like you can read some here http://www.dreamsvillas.com/reservations/GuestBook.htm

The only thing we did special for Dave was we left presents for his students because we wanted to thank them for volunteering at GTTW.

Dave - aside from what was left on the kitchen pass-through everything else we did is what we do for every guest that checks-in.

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

I have no issue with Dave posting pictures and/or giving a full, honest and accurate description of Dreams Villas. I hope he likes it - we get nothing but positive feedback from our visitors. If you like you can read some here http://www.dreamsvillas.com/reservations/GuestBook.htm

The only thing we did special for Dave was we left presents for his students because we wanted to thank them for volunteering at GTTW.

Dave - aside from what was left on the kitchen pass-through everything else we did is what we do for every guest that checks-in.

I could tell John; what you do for every guest. You guys really go above and beyond. I'll post pictures and more when I get some more time.

Here's what John and the DreamsVillas team left for the students. I was very touched by the note.

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Hi Everyone: OK, first off, I need to say that Todd arrived safely. He got here around 11:30pm last night. Besides that, I haven't seen him - and I should also add he hasn't seen me either.

I've been running nonstop since 2:45a, literally, for the half marathon and related activities.

I got up, and got to the half marathon start area by 4:00a. It was cold, but I was dressed for it so it was OK. I couldn't believe it was sleeting though.

Race started at 5:40a. I hadn't really trained for the race, and really shouldn't have been running. However, my WISH friends twisted my arm to do it. So I said I would run, but take it slow and easy.

We started out, and I ran with my friend Cindy the whole way. She's doing "Goofy" so is running the full marathon tomorrow, and didn't mind going very slowly. Once we got moving we warmed up just fine, but ice still spitted from the sky the entire time. This is the third year I've run a race at Marathon Weekend: the full 2007, half 2009, and half 2010, and something was very different this time. The whole race was really subdued. I'm sure it had to do with the weather. It was pretty raw outside. There was a crowd on Main Street as we ran through the Magic Kingdom, but it wasn't as big. There weren't near as many characters out on the course, and there were not many DJs out playing music either. I can't say I blame Disney for any of it. They probably couldn't put as much entertainment out on the course with the weather the way it was.

Around 10 miles, I could tell my lack of training was hitting me. My legs were getting tired, and I just didn't have my conditioning.

We finished the race and got our medals.

That's when we really started to get cold. You're wet from sweating and the freezing rain, and now we were standing around with the wind hitting us. I picked up my bag, and had a dry coat in it. Yay! Everyone quickly went to their cars to leave. Epcot was a mess getting out. It was absolute gridlock in the parking lot. They have all the entertainment set up after the race so everyone doesn't leave at the same time. However, that plan didn't work today because no one wanted to stick around in the cold. I sat in my car for an hour before I could get out of the parking lot. At least I was warm and out of the sleet. When I got back to the villa, I took a really nice, long hot shower.

Afterwards, I headed back to Disney's Wide World of Sports for an interview I had set up with one of the speakers at the Expo. I'm excited about the interview. Then I listened to some of the speakers at the fitness expo, checked out the vendor area, and came back to the villa.

It's time to get some rest before meeting some friends for dinner.

 

[AnneR]

Congrats Dave on finishing in less than desirable conditions.

Thanks for the update, looking forward to seeing pictures of the villa and hearing about your further adventures.

Todd needs to find you so you can include his antics in your report.

Have fun!

 

[wdwscout]

What a day!
Congrats on running and finishing-that's quite an accomplishment- especially in the weather you had to deal with.

I look forward to your updates at GKTW! I can't wait to see photos and read more updates so I can relive our experience from December all over again through your students! Tell us all about it!

 

[aspen37]

Great job Dave! I wish I could run a half marathon on a whim. I can't wait for your next installment.

 

[Cyrano]

I have no issue with Dave posting pictures and/or giving a full, honest and accurate description of Dreams Villas. I hope he likes it - we get nothing but positive feedback from our visitors. If you like you can read some here http://www.dreamsvillas.com/reservations/GuestBook.htm

The only thing we did special for Dave was we left presents for his students because we wanted to thank them for volunteering at GTTW.

Dave - aside from what was left on the kitchen pass-through everything else we did is what we do for every guest that checks-in.

John I had every faith in Kevin and you, hence why I thought it would be nice to see/hear Dave take on the accomodation

 

[Cyrano]

I am sure this makes it all worthwhile. Congratulations Dave

 

[AnneR]

Just checking in Dave to see if you have an update for us.

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Good morning Anne: It's been crazy busy since the students arrived, and I haven't been able to update as much.

We had a great day yesterday at GKTW. We worked two shifts. First at 7:30am with the students spread out among the Gingerbread House, Breakfast Cart, Castle, and Character Photos. Todd and I drove the shuttle van around the village until 11:30am.

We took the students to lunch at Downtown Disney, and came back for our evening shift at GKTW. We were assigned to "Kid's Nite Out", and each student was paired with a WISH child while the parents got a break. We played, took them to a pizza party dinner, and then to the "Double Dare" show in the theater. One of my students even got a pie in the face.

We got back to the Villa around 9:30pm, and I was exhausted. We figured out our duties for tomorrow, and I hit the bed. I believe I heard some of the students going out last night to CityWalk. So I'm curious to hear how that went, and see what time they returned.

I'll post some photos when I can.

 

[AnneR]

Thanks for the update Dave -

GKTW is such a special experience - I can't wait to hear what the students have to say about it.


I hope you are less tired through the rest of the week so you can better enjoy the experience.

Tell Todd he owes us an update.

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Thanks for the update Dave -

GKTW is such a special experience - I can't wait to hear what the students have to say about it.


I hope you are less tired through the rest of the week so you can better enjoy the experience.

Tell Todd he owes us an update.

Oh, I'm definitely enjoying the experience and taking it all in. I've just been too tired to post updates. However, even if this thread is lacking in updates - there will be a detailed blog later.

Todd doesn't have a computer or phone that will allow updates. That's why he isn't posting. I've been letting him use my computer, but we're in different villas now.

 

[tlcoke]

Thanks for your updates Dave...Sounds like you and your group are making an impact on the families through your volunteer service you are doing at GKTW.

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

Sounds fun and exhausting. I hope GKTW is part of Disneys give back program it is so important. Great work to you and the crew!!

 

[exwdwcm]

Dave congrats on the marathon! quite an accomplishment especially in that weather with little training. My sister has done the rock n roll in AZ and a few others, I might have to convince her to disney so I can go cheer her on (no way i can it, i barely managed to walk/run a half!). I am inspired by all that have the discipline to do these races.

and good luck this week and THANK YOU to you, Todd and the students for your generous time! I know they will probably get just as much or more than they give from these amazing kids and families.

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Good Morning Everyone: I have a little time this morning so I thought I would update the report. We're having a good time on the trip. I have a great bunch of students. They've been really flexible and easy to work with. Todd's been a lot of help too. He's so full of energy and enthusiasm, and the students have naturally taken to him.

Here are so photos from our first day, Monday at GKTW.

We got to the village at 7:30am for our morning shift.

Our Geneseo students:

It was very cold driving the Breakfast cart around.

After a lunch break at Downtown Disney, we headed back to the village for our evening shift that started at 5:30p.

Monday night our students did the Kid's Nite Out program. Parents drop their children off and they are paired with one of the students. We then took the children to dinner (a pizza party in the Gingerbread House), and after dinner took the kids to a show in the theater. Monday's program was "Double Dare". A messy program in the spirit of the old Nickelodeon show. The kids, and my students really got into the spirit of the show.

Here's one of my students getting a pie in the face.

Monday was a busy day at the village working the two shifts. However, it was nice because it allowed us to get very comfortable with GKTW. After Monday, it felt like we had been there for a long time already.

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Here are some photos of the grounds of the Villas at Seven Dwarfs Lane.

Clubhouse, pool and hot tub.

My students have loved the hot tub and use it every night.

Pool overlooks a little lake/pond (I don't let the students swim in it).