Marathon weekend/9th b-day trip

[Mouse Skywalker]

Greetings Everyone: I posted this on the theme park strategy forum, but I thought you all might have some advice too.

I am planning a trip for the beginning of January. Here are the players in our me, DW, DD8 , DD5 , and "Cool" Aunt. We'll be staying at WL. My DD8 will turn 9 on January 6th, and I am planning on running the full WDW marathon the next day January 7th. I could use some advice on ressies:

For the b-day celebration on Saturday, Jan 6th I have a 8:05a ressie for Cindy's b-fast royal table. We plan on spending the day at MK. I also have a dinner ressie at 5:40p for Chef Mickey's. I thought that would be a fun b-day place. I'm hoping I can get to bed early on Saturday to get up for the marathon on Sunday.

I have a b-fast reservation for 9:00a Sunday morning (of the marathon) for the rest of my family at Crystal Palace. My DD5 Looooooooooooves Pooh. However, I have a couple of concerns about this ressie.

1.) I'm hoping my family can see me run through the MK during the marathon, go in, eat b-fast, and then come meet me at the finish line at EPCoT. I think that might be pushing it with time.

2.) This will be the 3rd character meal in a row. Cindy's b-fast, Chef Mickey dinner, and Crystal Palace b-fast. My DW and Cool Aunt are not "into" the characters as much as the kids, and it may be too much for them.

So I'm thinking of cancelling Chef Mickey on Saturday. Maybe scheduling lunch with Pooh on Saturday and then dinner at Whispering Canyon Cafe (which would allow me to turn in early for the marathon). But it's DD8's b-day, and I don't think she would be into Pooh as much as DD5 would be.

Maybe I should schedule Pooh another day? Aaagh, help!!!!

 

[mom4graceandlogan]

Hi We will be there too for the marathon although I am actually doing the half. We are staying at Polynesian on thurs through sunday then checking into the WL. In my opinion, you probably do have too many character meals back to back. they start to lose their magic a little bit if you do alot in a row in my opinion. Have you thought about the Hoop de Doo review for the birthday. I know it is pretty expensive but I have read great reviews and the show should please everybody. It is a wonderful boat ride from WL and I have heard they acknowledge birthdays anniversaries etc. sometimes from the stage We plan on doing it that trip. I think they have a 5:00 (or 5:30 can't remember)show so you could get to bed at a decent hour. Tough call. SInce you are doing Cinderalla Breakfast that a.m. I would think you are probably covered as far as special birthday celebration. I would highly recommend Kona Cafe or Ohana at the Poly if you wanted to do a non-character meal that night. Be sure to get to Cinderalla's Royal Table a little early. It is an amazing photo opportunity to have main street almost all to yourself!

 

[Deb & Bill]

How fast are you? I know my husband who runs at about a 12 min pace got through the MK at about 7:30AM before the park even opened.

When I first read your message, I though that getting to your CRT on Sat AM could be really hard. But since you are staying at the WL and won't have to take a bus, you should be okay. Just get the boat as soon as you can.

Last year, we did Crystal Palace on Sunday for lunch. We had 2:30 ADRs, so my husband and his buddy had plenty of time to get back to the villa, clean up and catch the bus to the MK.

You know that you have to catch a bus over to Epcot at about 3:30AM on Sunday morning, right?

When I was following my husband around last year, I watched him go through the MK, took the monorail back to Epcot got the car and drove over to AK to see if I could see him there. We waited outside the park along the road for about 20 minutes and saw him. Then drove back to Epcot and watched him come into Epcot.

Just figure your pace and see how far you will be at each point to see if they will make it back to see you finish. If they have a 9AM, they might be finished about 10AM, they get the monorail over to TTC, then monorail over to Epcot, walk through the parking lot to the finish (that will take about 40-60 minutes or so).