Let's try this again... Dopey 2.0 Updated 12/30

[rteetz]

Hello everyone!



I am back for another Pre-TR adventure. I am Ryan, a college student, DIS contributor, Rumors and News Moderator, and crazy Disney fan. I hail from the great state of Wisconsin so of course that means Go Pack Go!

This January will mark my 11th trip to Walt Disney World. This will also be my 4th Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend in a row. My first year in 2015 I ran my first runDisney event the WDW 10K, and I was hooked. This year I signed up for the Dopey Challenge. 48.6 miles in 4 days. Unfortunately I didn't quite complete the challenge due to the half marathon being cancelled due to weather. Well I am back again for the 25th anniversary of the marathon, 5th of the 10K, and 5th of the Dopey Challenge.

This trip I will not be with any family members but will be with good friends of mine who own DVC. We arrive January 3rd at about 9AM and leave January 9th at 1:40PM.

We will be staying at Bay Lake Tower for the entire trip!

 

[rteetz]

Table of Contents

1. What to eat...
2. My ADRs are made!
3. General Update 7/18
4. General Update 8/10
5. runDisney Virtual Running Shorts
6. We have bling!!!
7. Milwaukee Marathon 10K
8. Small Tidbits...
9. Update! 10/31/17
10. Fastpass Day!
11. Quick Update
12. We are how close to Marathon Weekend?!?!
13. Lastest Plans!
14. Update
15. Corral time!
16. Update
17. Weather Update

 

[rteetz]

What to eat...

Well we are about 187 days away from the trip. I am both excited and scared because that means I have to train but then it means I am going to Disney in roughly 6 months!

So we are approaching ADR day and I really need to get planning where we are going to eat. We have all decided we want to eat at Tiffins after my great experience on my last trip. The people I am traveling with love Le Cellier so maybe I will add that to the list but I want to see some other Epcot places too.

I have been given pretty much free reign to book what I want. If anyone has any recommendations I am open to them.

 

[Sailormoon2]

Since I too am running Dopey, and also arrive on the 3rd, staying at POP, I will join in to follow your progress!!

 

[Keels]

The bulk of my crew is staying at BCV again this trip - though some are branching out to Poly and BLT.

I *think* my dining reservations are going to look like this:

Tuesday:
D: Citrico's

Wednesday:
Lunch: Beaches & Cream
Dinner: LUAU!!!!!!!

Thursday:
L: Yak & Yeti
D: Monsieur Paul

Friday:
L: ?? - probably going to be Sci-Fi or 50's Prime Time
D: Jiko OR Il Mulino

Saturday:
Brunch: STK
D: Kimono

Sunday:
L: Nah
D: Private Event/Cali Grill group dinner

Monday:
DATW!!!!
D: Yachtsman

I've promised my friend Angela breakfast in France every morning (what's up, mimosa and ham & cheese croissant!)

Le Cellier is cool for ambience, but the food is REALLY pricey for what you get for it. If I'm splurging for a steak, I'm going to Yachtsman or Shula's and I can get better for for roughly what I'd spend at Le Cellier.

This trip - since I recently was hired as a TA and completed all the requirements to become an "EarMarked" planner, I'm trying to branch out to the few restaurants I haven't been to in an effort to fill in whatever holes there might be in my knowledge base!

 

[Capang]

I'm following along! 48.6 miles. Wow!

 

[FelisLachesis]

My tentative plans right now are for Le Cellier on Expo night, and California Grill for dinner after the half. I keep thinking pasta, but I'm also thinking about keeping it light. I don't want my girl to have any stomach issues before the marathon. I also mention CG since you say you're staying at BLT during that time.

I've seriously thought about Yachtsman or Shula's, but I just don't want to leave Epcot that night.

 

[rteetz]

Since I too am running Dopey, and also arrive on the 3rd, staying at POP, I will join in to follow your progress!!

Pop is good. Thanks for joining in.

The bulk of my crew is staying at BCV again this trip - though some are branching out to Poly and BLT.

I *think* my dining reservations are going to look like this:

Tuesday:
D: Citrico's

Wednesday:
Lunch: Beaches & Cream
Dinner: LUAU!!!!!!!

Thursday:
L: Yak & Yeti
D: Monsieur Paul

Friday:
L: ?? - probably going to be Sci-Fi or 50's Prime Time
D: Jiko OR Il Mulino

Saturday:
Brunch: STK
D: Kimono

Sunday:
L: Nah
D: Private Event/Cali Grill group dinner

Monday:
DATW!!!!
D: Yachtsman

I've promised my friend Angela breakfast in France every morning (what's up, mimosa and ham & cheese croissant!)

Le Cellier is cool for ambience, but the food is REALLY pricey for what you get for it. If I'm splurging for a steak, I'm going to Yachtsman or Shula's and I can get better for for roughly what I'd spend at Le Cellier.

This trip - since I recently was hired as a TA and completed all the requirements to become an "EarMarked" planner, I'm trying to branch out to the few restaurants I haven't been to in an effort to fill in whatever holes there might be in my knowledge base!

Great list Keels! I need to sit down and look at where I want to go. Maybe I will branch away and do some solo things from my group and the others like to take mid day breaks and such whereas I don't. I agree about Le Cellier but the others love it for some reason.

I had no idea you were a TA now! Congrats!

I'm following along! 48.6 miles. Wow!

Thanks!

 

[rteetz]

My tentative plans right now are for Le Cellier on Expo night, and California Grill for dinner after the half. I keep thinking pasta, but I'm also thinking about keeping it light. I don't want my girl to have any stomach issues before the marathon.

I've seriously thought about Yachtsman or Shula's, but I just don't want to leave Epcot that night.

I had Ohana the night before the 10K and I will never do that again... Le Cellier is good, never done Cali Grill.

 

[FelisLachesis]

I had Ohana the night before the 10K and I will never do that again...

Ohana sounds good, but it just sounds so heavy. How bad did it weigh you down for the 10k?

 

[piglet1979]

I can't remember the name of the restaurant but it is the Italian restaurant on the Boardwalk that is now doing the Rapunzel and Flynn and Ariel and Eric breakfast. This was my favorite dinner on our last trip.

 

[rteetz]

Ohana sounds good, but it just sounds so heavy. How bad did it weigh you down for the 10k?

Yeah Ohana is heavy. It wasn't bad in the morning but that night after we were done I was like this is not going to be good.

I can't remember the name of the restaurant but it is the Italian restaurant on the Boardwalk that is now doing the Rapunzel and Flynn and Ariel and Eric breakfast. This was my favorite dinner on our last trip.

Trattoria Al Forno

 

[Keels]

I had Ohana the night before the 10K and I will never do that again... Le Cellier is good, never done Cali Grill.

I tried to warn you!!

My tentative plans right now are for Le Cellier on Expo night, and California Grill for dinner after the half. I keep thinking pasta, but I'm also thinking about keeping it light. I don't want my girl to have any stomach issues before the marathon. I also mention CG since you say you're staying at BLT during that time.

I've seriously thought about Yachtsman or Shula's, but I just don't want to leave Epcot that night.

I tend to like pasta before the half and protein before the full. I would save CG for either after the full or before you get into heavy mileage (Wednesday night would be good, since the 5K starts later than the rest of the races) - you want to have the full CG experience, which means fireworks, bubbles, dessert ... and then by the time you get back to the hotel, it's later than you thought it would be.

 

[FelisLachesis]

I tend to like pasta before the half and protein before the full. I would save CG for either after the full or before you get into heavy mileage (Wednesday night would be good, since the 5K starts later than the rest of the races) - you want to have the full CG experience, which means fireworks, bubbles, dessert ... and then by the time you get back to the hotel, it's later than you thought it would be.

I was thinking doing a little bit of Eating Around the World before the half, and I'm not terribly worried about the full CG experience before the full. I think I just wanted something a little lighter that night.

But how long is the full Cali Grill experience?

 

[Keels]

I was thinking doing a little bit of Eating Around the World before the half, and I'm not terribly worried about the full CG experience before the full. I think I just wanted something a little lighter that night.

But how long is the full Cali Grill experience?

My last meal there was Memorial Day - we were sat at our table at 7 and didn't get to valet to get our car until about 9:55.

I usually plan for at least 2 hours at CG, and more than that if I'm planning to see fireworks.

We usually do two courses of apps, entrees, cheese, dessert, coffee and a couple bottles of wine over the course of dinner. It's most certainly not a dining experience I'd do the night before I run half or full, that's for sure! I like to enjoy my decadence and not feel like I'm going to miss out on anything.

 

[rteetz]

I tried to warn you!!

I know, you live and learn I guess.

 

[SarahDisney]

PTR time!! Yay!! Having the PTR makes Dopey 2.0 (1.5? 1.75?) even more real!

I'm the worst person to ask about ADRs, so I won't chime in on that, but whatever you decide on, I'm sure it will work out great.

 

[rteetz]

PTR time!! Yay!! Having the PTR makes Dopey 2.0 (1.5? 1.75?) even more real!

I'm the worst person to ask about ADRs, so I won't chime in on that, but whatever you decide on, I'm sure it will work out great.

Glad you joined in Sarah!

 

[Keels]

I know, you live and learn I guess.

If you haven't done The Wave, I think you DEFINITELY need to. It's probably my sneaky-Top 5 restaurant in all of WDW.

 

[rteetz]

If you haven't done The Wave, I think you DEFINITELY need to. It's probably my sneaky-Top 5 restaurant in all of WDW.

I haven't and was considering it.