I think I liked Space a little better here at Disneyland...it just felt crazy! Jess said that she thought the music really added a lot...weirdly enough, I think I was way too focused on holding on for dear life to notice the music! I guess that means I need to ride again!
Random fun fact- they guy who wrote the Space Mountain music also wrote the score to The Incredibles, Jurassic World and Inside Out!
I have heard that. I would say my #1 must-do for Disneyland was RSR - since we did that and I'm going back, I'm not beating myself up for missing other things, but I do have a list of things I want to make sure not to miss this time. not having the races should help...of course I will be fighting holiday crowds...
That's tough, because now they may find they have feelings of nostalgia toward that song since they have been listening to it for so long...what if they are NEVER turned?!
Yep, that was me. iMore, right?
Now that you've done RSR, you need RSR at night to be on the must do list. Pretty lighting and less harsh contrast between the show scenes and going outside!
Hopefully, they'll never turn from Small World! The music is a great study in tempo and counterpoint! And for the Christmas trip with hubby, they'll have Small World Holiday, which another one of those special things that DL does that WDW doesn't. Small World, Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise. That's your special DL holiday list for a WDW veteran!
And yes, it was iMore. And as a side note, since I was reading that whole thread and no one mentioned it, and I see even in your pictures of the DL half you have your arm band around your wrist- I'm guessing because you like to look at your phone while you run? A few years ago at a RnR expo I was introduced to my "can't run without" obsession. It's called HB Tune (I'm sure if you Google it you'll find the site). I have the one that you strap to your hand. LOVE IT!

I just upgraded the to the size that fits the 6+ for my 8 mile run (Avengers training- hey-oh!) and was pleased with how the larger size it still comfortable. *end sales pitch*
Woohoo!! More updates!!!
Those pictures of all of you with Stitch are adorable. Or I guess I should say cute.

That looks like an amazing character breakfast and you got wonderful shots. I remember riding the Indiana Jones ride when we were last at DL and remember loving it so much. I actually like Dinosaur although I know a lot of people don't, but I do remember thinking that IJ was much better.
Man, I remember back when Dinosaur was Countdown to Extinction- that ride was the best. It was darker, louder, jerkier, more intense than the Dinosaur counterpart. But when the Dinosaur Disney movie came out in 2000 they toned down the ride because they thought more kids would want to go on the ride and they didn't want them too scared. The ride lost a lot of its ooomph with that change and it's never been quite as awesome as it once was. But IJ is consistently fun. Same track system, but they aren't obligated to tone it down for the kiddies!
Dressed mine up a little bit. 
I am feeling something that is like jealously and sadness that I have never even though out buying the pins to bling the C2C ribbon. Wow, Megan, way to miss an opportunity.
Yeah, I think my mindset wasn't the best going into it (with not being as trained as I would have liked), and I really did not do a good job of preparing myself for the non-park time. I think that hit me a little harder than I expected. If I did this race again I have to think it would go better, just because I would know what to expect.
But I think my mindset going into this race was not the best (as I mentioned above due to the recent injury and training derailment), so that definitely had an effect on how I perceived things. I'm still sort of trying to figure out how I feel about the course, and for now I have landed on this: to me, a good majority of this race really felt like one I could do at home, and that's not what I look for in Disney races - I want the parks and I want the characters. This one did have that for the first 4 miles, but after it was all non-Disney stuff. LOTS of it, but apparently I was just really looking for the *Disney* in everything.
I don't know, like I said...I'm still working out how I feel about it, and I feel guilty in a way that I am not having a 100% positive reaction. Like there's something wrong with me in a way?!

It's actually something I have been struggling with since the race ended!
No, don't beat yourself up. These are important things to note and be honest about! Disney sells sells sells the "every mile is magic" that if you are new to the experience you might expect it to be true. But sometimes running 13.1 miles just ... sucks. Both DL and WDW are different beasts. WDW just to mix up when the park time is and add random characters, but the rest of the highway stretches are just that- looooooong stretches of empty highways. DL gets more local support on the non Disney parts, but when you are paying for the "Disney" aspect pf a race, it can be a let down. I've done almost all of the Disney half marathons they offer on both coats, and there isn't one that I would describe as the quintessential runDisney experience. They all have the great parts and the things that just are not so awesome. And telling people about them is important! When distance running is such a getting over mental hurdles experience, it's good to know that the mental hurdles about particular courses are going to be!
Shadows or not, this one is the winner in my book. I realize his face doesn't change, but Mickey looks so darn impressed and proud of you! Trumps a partners statue in my opinion!