Quick W&D Recap
It's been forever and a day since I've posted here. I'm not going to do a full recap because I just don't have the energy for it.
October 30--flew to Orlando, arrived at All Star Movies right before my room was ready--score one for Disney magic
Unpacked some stuff, ate some food, and grabbed a Lyft over to Universal for Halloween Horror Nights. This was fun enough, but I don't think I'd do it again unless it was part of a Universal-only trip. And I'd definitely never do it without the express pass.
October 31--grabbed a Lyft over to WoW for the expo, didn't buy much rD stuff, but picked up some new Sparkle gear, and new Goodrs that I'd wanted for my Chef Minnie costume. I brought my stuff back to the resort, popped over to Epcot for a quick ride on Guardians (got Disco Inferno
) and some lunch, then headed back to get ready for
MNSSHP. My Luisa costume was really simple, so it didn't take long. I didn't have a specific plan for the party, but decided to wing it. I ended up focusing on collecting candy and seeing the entertainment. I skipped characters entirely, except for seeing Maleficent and the Evil Queen in the trick or treat lines.
I staked out a fireworks spot outside Gaston's about 9, not because I was worried I wouldn't get a spot, but because I needed a rest break. After fireworks, I got a drink and pretzel and found a spot on a wall outside Pecos Bill's for the parade about 10:30. I had to lean around the CM blocking the steps (she really could've taken a step back and still been blocking them safely, but was kind of oblivious to being in the way) I grabbed more candy, and rode Pirates, and found a spot in the hub about 10 'til midnight for the final Hocus Pocus show of the night.
November 1--I hit the ASMo bus stop at 12:45am, finally got on a bus at 1:15, and I had to stand, which was really hard. I got back to my room about 1:30, took off my costume, rested for a little bit, ate a little snack, then got ready for the 5K.
I was on the race bus at 2:49, but it didn't leave until 3:07. I was somehow still the first person to our light pole
I can't remember who all showed up to hang out, but I remember it was fun. I made it to my spot in B at 4:08, and started the race at 5:08. I finished at 6:06, absolutely drenched in sweat, got in line for the bus at 6:25, got on the bus at 6:42, and was back in my room for a little sleep just after 7am.
Since I knew I was doing this crazy MNSSHP-to-5K thing, I scheduled my HS lightning lanes for after noon. I got there about 12:30, did ToT, lunch, Runaway Railway, Star Tours, Midway Mania, Smuggler's Run, and MuppetVision. I got back to the room about twenty after four, and I was asleep by 7:30.
November 2--I got a little earlier start, and made it to the bus stop at 2:39, and there was no bus waiting, which is weird for the All Stars. But a shared one pulled up a couple minutes later, and we left at 2:48. Another fun meetup, and I forgot my Dr Facilier cane there and realized just before I entered the runner-only zone, so I had to run back and grab it. I got to my spot in B at 4:08 (again) and started the race at 5:08 (again) I finished at 6:50, once again drenched in sweat, caught a bus at 7:15, and back in my room at 7:40. I left for AK about 10:30, did some things I can't remember now (I have pics from Safari) and then headed to Beach Club to hang out with some of you fine folks for a couple hours. Afterward, I walked over to HS to catch a bus back to ASMo. I was in the room at 4:17 and asleep before 7.
November 3--I left the room at 2:32, immediately got on a waiting bus, and left 10 minutes later. Another meetup that 2 months of stress has erased from my brain, and I made it to my spot in B at 4:08, and started the race at, and I swear I'm not making this up, 5:08. This race was hard and hot and humid. I made the mistake of stopping for too many characters in the first half and then I was just getting beat to hell by the sun. I cried all the way up that damn cloverleaf to mile 10. But then I got to run up the grass on the hill, and I don't know why that always helps, but it does. When I got to the big downhills, I was able to follow some wheel athletes down the left side and that was fun too. I stopped for Aurora and Phillip, and got a 10 minute balloon lady warning (which wasn't correct, according to my tracking sheet, so I didn't worry) I stopped just past the med tent to help a lady who was down on the side of the road and stayed a few minutes until the medics were able to cross the course and get to work.
A bunch of us were picking up discarded ice bags and using them, then passing them onto the next melting runner. It helped for a bit. Backstage at Epcot was not great--the water stop was almost out of water, and I'm not great with Powerade, and this was not the time to test it out, so I got a little delayed trying to get a water, which ended up having about half a swallow in it. After I crossed the bridge from World Showcase to whatever the front of Epcot is called now, I stopped at the popcorn stand and got a bucket of popcorn and a Coke. It was a pain to run with, but it sure hit the spot. I finished at 9:29, I think about 5-6 minutes ahead of the balloon ladies. I was absolutely DONE with the whole thing and just wanted to sit down somewhere that was not the ground. runDisney needs to add more benches or something out in that area. I was full-on sobbing for a while in line for the bus, but I got it together and survived.
I maybe shouldn't have stopped for so many early characters, but I don't regret stopping for Gaston for a second--he was great!
I don't know when I got back to the room, but I noted I was finished with my bath by 10:50. After I sat for a little bit, I headed for the bus stop and grabbed the first park bus that came to transfer to Beach Club for my traditional post-race celebration meal. I barely made it because there was a driver switch at AK that took 10 minutes. I will be building in a little more time in the future.
I went to Epcot after lunch, but I didn't do much because I ate way too much and didn't feel up to it. Frozen (which I had a LL for) was down and my ILL for Guardians was too long of a wait when I wasn't sure I should ride it anyway, so I just went back to ASMo for a rest and a break from the sun. I knew they'd probably let me through the Guardians LL when I went back for the rD party later (which they did)
I was feeling much better later and got dressed in my new Sparkle skirt and Minnie ears for the party. I hopped on Guardians with a mom and her kids, and we got September, so it was a great way to start the night. Frozen was back up, so I was able to use my multi-experience pass to make up for my missed LL earlier. I sat in front of the American pavilion for fireworks, but it was a really bad spot, so I didn't see much. Also, whose brilliant idea was it to include a mash-up of the two saddest songs in all of Disney's catalog for a fireworks show?! Aren't fireworks supposed to be fun?
Anyway, I skipped characters, and rides, at the party. I was fading fast and was thinking about just bailing really early, but I stopped at the Creations shop to pick up a pin, and then stopped over at the dance party. That boosted my spirits and I decided to hang out there for a while. I went and grabbed a cocktail (and got the last flashy cup at that location) and spent probably an hour and a half listening to the music, and occasionally dancing a little. I hit Spaceship Earth on the way out and headed back to the resort.
Spaceship Earth hates me! Whenever I try to get a picture with it, it does the most boring lights possible. The whole time I was in line for the PhotoPass pic, it was brightly lit in fun colors, but what does it do when it's my turn? Not a darn thing!
November 4--I went to Magic Kingdom for a while in the morning, then back to the resort for a break because all the lightning lanes I could get after the initial bunch were evening times. I got to ride Big Thunder during fireworks, which was absolutely awesome. Then I finished watching the fireworks from the benches at the exit of Big Thunder, and "Go The Distance" hit me really hard and I was glad I had a hanky in my bag.
November 5--I went to HS, then back to the resort for my annual watching of V For Vendetta and packing. That's enough said about November 5th
November 6--I woke up early, dropped my bags at Bell Services, and went to AK. It was sprinkling at the bus stop, and started raining properly just before I got on the bus. I was prepared for the rain and had a poncho in my purse. And I had packed a change of clothes, including shoes and socks, in my carry-on, so I wasn't really worried about getting wet. It was completely pouring by the time I got there, and I just carried on like normal. It was actually pretty nice to walk through mostly empty walkways because all the people were hiding under awnings.
I got my best picture ever of the lions on the safari (though I wish the lioness were facing the other way
) I'm glad I got to see the old lions properly before they moved onto their retirement park and the new youngsters moved in.
I did the Gorilla Falls trail, and was barely able to get out because of all the people crowded under the covered bridge. I was able to switch my FoP LL to fit before my Festival of the Lion King LL so I could go do that instead of standing around in the rain. By the time I got done with FoP, the rain had stopped and I was able to get on with my day poncho-free. I watched FotLK and then browsed the shops before I went back to the resort to catch my bus to the airport and go home.
All in all, this wasn't a bad trip, but the races were hard. As it turns out, I was coming down with my first-ever case of the Disney crud, and I spent the next almost 2 weeks at home being various levels of miserable with sinus crap.
These things can have a habit of working out better overall in the long run (no pun intended)
sprint but boo to the hills 
uncalled for 
