Marathon Weekend 2025

[lahobbs4]

Adding to my SAFD:

I really wish I had purchased a pair of the rD New Balances back in the day.

 

[jrsharp21]

The other Silver Dollar City is in Pigeon Forge, TN, now goes by the name Dollywood. She bought it during a midlife crisis of sorts back in the late 80s. It also has great shows, food, rides, and is very clean. The DW and I would rather drive 3 hours to go to PF and Dollywood than the hour drive to Six Flags.
The first time we went just happened to be the one day of the year that Miss Dolly (as the staff all call her) herself was there and rode through DW in a horseless carriage. Passed about ten feet from us. We had just ducked out of a a show called "My People", which I originally thought meant her peeps as in fellow Appalachian folk. Nope. My People was literally her family members! Various siblings, cousins, nieces, nephews, etc in that show. Rather cool.
And the coolest non-ride: the bald eagle habitat full of injured bald eagles that have been rescued. If able, they get released, if not, their offspring do. I've seen one in flight when out hiking north of Atlanta. Awesome and majestic.

My son goes to UT, so we get to visit Dollywood frequently. Like you said, great food, fun rides (Lightning Rod, geesh), and it's clean. It's pretty cool during the holidays also.

Silver Dollar City in Brandon is also a pretty cool park. Talk about hills though. That walk through the park can be brutal at times.

 

[DHSsenior007]

The bus used for the expo (and on race day) is a big "tour bus" style bus from a 3rd party operator, and NOT a disney resort/park bus. These can run a bit less regularly after the first couple of days. If you want to get in and out at the expo and not sit and wait for the bus, an uber would be a much quicker option.

Also, since I found this out the hard way, you're not supposed to take a stroller inside the buildings at the expo, so plan accordingly for your toddler if they will be going with you.

Oh that is good to know- thank you!! Maybe I'll just go solo and take an Uber there/back. What are the hours of the Expo typically? I'm doing the marathon and our flights arrive Friday around 3:30 PM. Would like to do the Expo Friday if possible, but could do it on Saturday if needed.

 

[DisneyParrothead]

I just thought of another one—there was a roller skate stunt show for Tarzan. That was the very first movie our DS28 ever saw in the theater, so I have fond memories of taking our sons to the show when we went to WDW.

I think Animal Kingdom had a live show for Pocahontas. I know it was in one of the parks. We saw the show when I was in middle school. At the end leaves were supposed to flutter over the audience, but we saw it on a wet day, and the leaves stuck together. I got smacked right in the face with a big clump of them

 

[Mr_Incr3dible]

Oh that is good to know- thank you!! Maybe I'll just go solo and take an Uber there/back. What are the hours of the Expo typically? I'm doing the marathon and our flights arrive Friday around 3:30 PM. Would like to do the Expo Friday if possible, but could do it on Saturday if needed.

The Expo is usually open until 7 pm on Thur and Fri, so you should be good to get there on Friday. It looks like it is open until 8 pm on Wed. Thank goodness for that, because I wound up arriving 7:45 and sprinting through WWoS two years ago. OTOH, no line at all.....

 

[Mr_Incr3dible]

Ditto what @Herding_Cats said. If you haven't heard in a few weeks, email again. If you have your confirmation screenshot and/or email, it won't be an issue even if you have to handle it at the expo.

FWIW, I emailed to the email address on the run Disney site and heard back from them within three or four days. It was well after registration for races, so probably a little less busy than trying to reach them right after a registration window.

 

[princesspirateandrunner]

I just popped in to check SAFD. Where is everyone?

 

[flav]

I just popped in to check SAFD. Where is everyone?

I am guessing either recovering from Princess registration or contemplating Springtime Surprise themes…

 

[Blue Caterpillar]

I am guessing either recovering from Princess registration or contemplating Springtime Surprise themes…

Or watching Olympics?

 

[Herding_Cats]

Mondays are for Disney, Olympics edition!
(Getting something posted so we can continue our incessant chatter )

If you could win an Olympic medal in something runDisney related, what would it be? And I'm not just talking about the running (although I know we have some super-speedy people in here too.)


MAFDOE: For me it's overpacking. While I've gotten better at it, and we definitely use the laundry facilities at the resort, I'm quite certain that I don't touch about 1/3 of what I pack for a MW trip. Now, part of that is because the weather can be unpredictable and I pack for everything from 30 degrees to 90 degrees. My first MW we even made a trip to a nearby TJ Maxx to buy another suitcase to bring home!

 

[camaker]

Mondays are for Disney, Olympics edition!
(Getting something posted so we can continue our incessant chatter )

If you could win an Olympic medal in something runDisney related, what would it be? And I'm not just talking about the running (although I know we have some super-speedy people in here too.)


MAFDOE: For me it's overpacking. While I've gotten better at it, and we definitely use the laundry facilities at the resort, I'm quite certain that I don't touch about 1/3 of what I pack for a MW trip. Now, part of that is because the weather can be unpredictable and I pack for everything from 30 degrees to 90 degrees. My first MW we even made a trip to a nearby TJ Maxx to buy another suitcase to bring home!

Thank you for stepping in with a question @Herding_Cats! I apologize for not posting one yesterday. I've been up in Indianapolis attending GenCon since last Thursday and didn't get home until midnight last night. For anyone who enjoys board or role playing games, GenCon is an incredible experience. Over 70,000 attendees and non-stop games. I got to learn games from their developers, try out new, upcoming games I've had my eye on, meet authors, YouTube creators I follow and game designers. It was the first time I've attended and it was incredible.

MAFDOE: I could easily medal in most time spent in parks without getting a ride. Thrill rides aren't my thing, so a lot of attractions just aren't for me. I love the atmosphere of the parks and will often go in just to enjoy the ambience, food and shopping. I've made many a visit to a park and not gotten on a ride at all, especially if those to my taste and tolerance have long waits.

 

[pluto377]

MAFDOE: I’m pretty sure I could get a gold in after race napping

 

[nancipants]

MAFDOE: Gold medal in getting sick after races because I don't refuel properly.

 

[The Expert]

MAFDOE: I could medal in frustratingly obscure costumes. I get SO much energy when someone recognizes and compliments a costume, but I find it incredibly difficult to keep it simple and obvious. I can't resist a mashup or complex theme.

 

[superchime]

MAFDOE: Making and then cancelling restaurant reservations! I always have big plans for after a race but most of the time I end up not feeling it and cancelling, especially if I'm traveling solo.

 

[Kerry1957]

MAFDOE: My best chance to medal would be corral preparation.

• I join my fellow disers for a few minutes in the staging area.
• I arrive in the corrals early, but not ridiculously early.
• I find a spot to sit where I can lean my back on the fence.
• I have an old throw away bath towel to sit on.
• I have a throw away shirt if it's cold.
• I have a garbage bag if it's windy or raining (punch a hole for your head and you have a rain poncho).
• I have a small throw away water bottle for a couple of caffeine and acetaminophen tabs 30 minutes before I begin running.
• The absence of the throw away items returning home means room in my suitcase for the race shirts and any rD stuff I may buy.

 

[DisneyParrothead]

MAFDOE: mine is overthinking and planning down to the tiniest detail. I have my itinerary drawn up for Princess, and I keep tweaking it. I'll be tweaking it until I actually make the ADRs.

 

[Herding_Cats]

MAFDOE: mine is overthinking and planning down to the tiniest detail. I have my itinerary drawn up for Princess, and I keep tweaking it. I'll be tweaking it until I actually make the ADRs.

HAHAHA! I almost chose the same thing. Even my husband is starting to become a minutia planner like me because he's ready to get his brother and SIL locked down for plans when they get back from their trip at the end of this month. Charts. I make charts.

 

[WillRunForPizza]

MAFDOE: I claim snacking/drinking around the world! (I have to have both because snacking only is not as fun, and drinking only ends very poorly )

 

[lahobbs4]

MAFDOE: Crying while running.... when I turn onto Mainstreet, hearing the music around World Showcase in the dark with the lanterns lit, cheers from spectators, miles 19-23, and always at the finish line.