Marathon Weekend 2025

[Novatrix]

SAFD: I don’t do much outside the parks other than Disney Springs or a little time at the resort pool. I’ve thought about doing mini golf, but it’s not much fun to do alone. So I’ll hang onto that one until next Springtime when I plan to have my grandma along

Hmm, I wonder if there's enough people that would be interested in a pre/post Hurricane Hannah (or wherever we're having it this year with the Stormalong Bay refurb) Fantasia mini golf outing?

Just an idea since we do have a lot of solo runners in the group.

 

[Naomeri]

Hmm, I wonder if there's enough people that would be interested in a pre/post Hurricane Hannah (or wherever we're having it this year with the Stormalong Bay refurb) Fantasia mini golf outing?

Just an idea since we do have a lot of solo runners in the group.

That sounds fun!

 

[Novatrix]

That sounds fun!

I'll put a reminder on my calendar to make a separate thread polling interest roughly 2.5 months out.

The HH is typically at 2pm, so I'd suggest maybe a 12 pm meet-up at Fantasia Golf course to account for wait time, playing and then walk back.

 

[camaker]

Hmm, I wonder if there's enough people that would be interested in a pre/post Hurricane Hannah (or wherever we're having it this year with the Stormalong Bay refurb) Fantasia mini golf outing?

Just an idea since we do have a lot of solo runners in the group.

I'll put a reminder on my calendar to make a separate thread polling interest roughly 2.5 months out.

The HH is typically at 2pm, so I'd suggest maybe a 12 pm meet-up at Fantasia Golf course to account for wait time, playing and then walk back.

This sounds like a great idea! I've always wanted to try one of the mini golf courses at Disney.

 

[dobball23]

Hmm, I wonder if there's enough people that would be interested in a pre/post Hurricane Hannah (or wherever we're having it this year with the Stormalong Bay refurb) Fantasia mini golf outing?

Just an idea since we do have a lot of solo runners in the group.

Great idea! I won't be at MW this year, but hopefully the new "tradition" makes it to 2026.

 

[Mr_Incr3dible]

SAFD: The ex and I used to enjoy Downtown Disney when it was DD. These days, I don't really do much outside of the parks. I don't do "pool days" (we have pools back home), so I'm up and in the parks and exploring if I'm up.

Sunglasses: I buy some very cheap ones off Amazon and typically tuck mine into the back of my shirt when running. To my pleasant surprise, they stay put. If they don't, no big loss. With the overcast last year, I never used them and was a bit surprised to find them there when I sat back on the bus ride back to the resort. Dang, used the same modifier close to itself. Surprisingly.....

As for the sun, that stretch down Western Way is usually brutal for the full. By the time my slow self gets there, it's around 11-ish and there isn't a lick of shade down that stretch. Ditto looping through BB parking lot. I don't recall the sun being much of a factor for the half, and definitely not for the 5 or the 10.

As for hats, I have to have one nearly all the time, either to keep my head warm or to keep sun off it.
YMMV

 

[runwithperseverence7]

SAFD: Love everyone’s ideas! I love walking around Disney Springs. But we haven’t done much other than parks. I’m all about getting as much time in as I can. As of now I’m only planning 2 days in the parks, might up that to 3. Not sure if I will hit up Universal this time. My family would like to try some things we never get to do. We love mini golf so we may try that. May try to go to Gatorland, SeaWorld or head over to Cape Canaveral. I know that on Saturday I’m not going to want to do much.

 

[Zutroy]

SAFD: Love everyone’s ideas! I love walking around Disney Springs. But we haven’t done much other than parks. I’m all about getting as much time in as I can. As of now I’m only planning 2 days in the parks, might up that to 3. Not sure if I will hit up Universal this time. My family would like to try some things we never get to do. We love mini golf so we may try that. May try to go to Gatorland, SeaWorld or head over to Cape Canaveral. I know that on Saturday I’m not going to want to do much.

I assume you mean to visit Kennedy Space Center, which is about a 60-90 minute drive from Disney depending on the traffic, so plan on a full day there. Other than Cocoa Beach and Patrick AFB, there’s not really much else there. You could go nearby to Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge to watch manatees in the inter-coastal. I prefer the springs, which are 72 degrees year-round. Blue Springs in Orange City probably has the best viewing in January.

 

[runwithperseverence7]

I assume you mean to visit Kennedy Space Center, which is about a 60-90 minute drive from Disney depending on the traffic, so plan on a full day there. Other than Cocoa Beach and Patrick AFB, there’s not really much else there. You could go nearby to Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge to watch manatees in the inter-coastal. I prefer the springs, which are 72 degrees year-round. Blue Springs in Orange City probably has the best viewing in January.

Yes I meant Kennedy Space Center. I’ve done all these things when I was a kid but want to take mine to experience them. Will see what interests them most. Love the idea about visiting Merritt Island.

 

[BigEeyore]

SAFD: We enjoy mini golf at Winter Summerland by BB.

Pre-covid they used to rent small two seater boats at the monorail resorts that you could take out on Bay Lake and we loved that. It wasn't super expensive and it was a really fun thing to do, boating around Discovery Island and getting a lake view of the abandoned River Country (that has now been demolished). Wish they would start doing this again!

 

[The Expert]

SAFD: We enjoy mini golf at Winter Summerland by BB.

Pre-covid they used to rent small two seater boats at the monorail resorts that you could take out on Bay Lake and we loved that. It wasn't super expensive and it was a really fun thing to do, boating around Discovery Island and getting a lake view of the abandoned River Country (that has now been demolished). Wish they would start doing this again!

I miss the mouse boats (aka water sprites aka Sea Raycers), too. My understanding is there were liability issues and high upkeep costs and they aren't likely to come back.

 

[Baloo in MI]

SAFD:
More than a bit late… Others have already shared much of what I like to do outside the parks, so not much I can add that is novel. I like going to a movie at Disney Springs, especially when I am solo. After I like to walk around and look for a yummy treat. When with my family we go to the gluten free bakery (Erin McKenna’s Bakery) with my daughters having Celiac it is a fantastic place for them to get anything they want - for a change…

I like to resort hop and explore what they offer. And I enjoy simply hanging out at the resort pool or my rooms bathtub to soak sore muscles after races.

One thing I have never done and really want to do is explore the Fort Wilderness Resort area and go see the Hoop Dee Doo Revue. Ironically I often stay just a boat ride away at Wilderness Lodge but have never been.

 

[nancipants]

Ran for the first time since returning to Florida and uggggggh it's so hot. I run after my son goes to school and the sun is already blazing. I know I can get up earlier to run when it's not so bright out, but I like sleep and it's not worth waking up an hour early for a few degrees cooler.

I kept telling myself, "This is for Western Way. This is for Western Way."

I got home and immediately jumped in our pool. It was glorious.

 

[superchime]

I kept telling myself, "This is for Western Way. This is for Western Way."

Ooh, I'm borrowing this!

I got home and immediately jumped in our pool. It was glorious.

Jealous! That sounds fantastic!

 

[PrincessV]

I know I can get up earlier to run when it's not so bright out, but I like sleep and it's not worth waking up an hour early for a few degrees cooler.

As a fellow Floridian who HATES waking up earlier than necessary, I promise: it’s WORTH IT! I force myself to do at least one weekday run before the sun’s all the way up and the difference in how I feel the next 24 hours is enough to get me up early for the 2nd weekday run. Or I’ll try the treadmill and that also reminds me that getting up early is better lol!

 

[Mr_Incr3dible]

SAFD: Love everyone’s ideas! I love walking around Disney Springs. But we haven’t done much other than parks. I’m all about getting as much time in as I can. As of now I’m only planning 2 days in the parks, might up that to 3. Not sure if I will hit up Universal this time. My family would like to try some things we never get to do. We love mini golf so we may try that. May try to go to Gatorland, SeaWorld or head over to Cape Canaveral. I know that on Saturday I’m not going to want to do much.

Seaworld was way better than I thought it would be. When the wife and I first went, we went into the penguin ride and at first thought it was rather lame, and was pleasantly surprised at the end. Highly recommended.

Cape Canaveral? Waaah hooo! I finally made it there about 5 years ago and finally got to see in person where all the Apollo launches took place (and where Major Nelson worked...). Seeing those launches as a child is a large part of why I became an aerospace engineer. I need to go back and do the tour of the old control rooms and launch pads. And the rocket garden is great. One of the few remaining Saturn 1B's and a Mercury Atlas. Way cool.

 

[Mr_Incr3dible]

Ran for the first time since returning to Florida and uggggggh it's so hot. I run after my son goes to school and the sun is already blazing. I know I can get up earlier to run when it's not so bright out, but I like sleep and it's not worth waking up an hour early for a few degrees cooler.

I kept telling myself, "This is for Western Way. This is for Western Way."

I got home and immediately jumped in our pool. It was glorious.

Stayed at the Coronado with the wife right before Princess Weekend (dang), and gazing out the bus window as we drove by Western Way, going through my head was: "Hello my old nemesis".

 

[nancipants]

Stayed at the Coronado with the wife right before Princess Weekend (dang), and gazing out the bus window as we drove by Western Way, going through my head was: "Hello my old nemesis".

Western Way is one of our alternate ways to get on property, and every time we drive down it I’m like, wow, this is really long. Do I really want to do the marathon? LOL.

 

[Mr_Incr3dible]

Western Way is one of our alternate ways to get on property, and every time we drive down it I’m like, wow, this is really long. Do I really want to do the marathon? LOL.

Same!

 

[camaker]

Good morning RunDisney All-Stars! Welcome to this week's edition of Sundays are for Disney (SAFD). We're a bit under 6 months out from Marathon Weekend, but only a couple of months from the start of the fall racing season, so let's do a training check-in. Have you started training for MW or a fall race? If so, how's it going so far? If not, when do you kick things off?

SAFD:
I never really stop training, so I'm just rolling along. My next race is a 24 hour challenge in mid-October and I'm about halfway through my home brew training plan for it. After that, it's a matter of hoping my legs recover in time for Wine & Dine. Once that's done, I'll be doing an abbreviated cycle to get ready for Dopey. Taking a step back in my training at the beginning of the year seems to have paid dividends, as my legs seem to be in better shape than they have been in a while. I had a visit with my PT a week or two ago to get new insoles made and it was refreshing to see her without having needles poked into me! Fingers crossed this good fortune continues!