Mrs. Darling's June 2010 Accidental PTR: Pirates and Harry Potter 6/30 TR Link posted

[DrMomof3]

Cute pins! I'm still not sure about the whole pin trading thing....
When we went to DHS in December, the FP line at TSM was longer than the line for the ride! We went on the ride and then got FPs for later. Our FPs were for early afternoon (1pm?). I would wait and see what the situation is and then decide.

Amanda

 

[wdwgirl03]

Your DHS plans sound great! Another counter service place we discovered is the Backlot Express. It's right by Star Tours. It had the usual stuff like burgers and sandwiches. We thought it was pretty good. Just another option if you don't want to do Pizza Planet.

Love all the pins!

 

[dismagiclover]

You got some really good ones! I especially like the little girl Aurora one. Those baby and little girl princesses are so cute! I can't wait to read your TR and find out which ones they trade and what they get in return!

I think the Aurora one is adorable too, but that is one that will get traded away. Wendy is too big for those princess things and the boys will have nothing to do with "the girl ones" so that pin had no hope of making the keeper cut. I'll have to take good notes with the pin trading so I can report back to you

Hey - we might see you in the crowd at the DHS opening that morning...though it will be our sixth day in the parks, and we might be running out of steam at this point! When we did TSM in '08, I got Fastpasses while DH and the kids got in the standby line. We were there early enough, and the Fastpass machines were jamming up enough, that DH actually had to get out of line once and go to the end because they were entering the building and were afraid I wouldn't be able to catch up! But it worked well for us - we were able to come back only about an hour later. That will be our second day at DHS, since we'll have been there all day Sunday for Star Wars Weekends, so hopefully we'll have done most of what we want to in that park for the day and will be able to head out before the EMH crowd gets too unbearable.

I think the Autotrain sounds great. My DS 6 would love it. I can understand the worries about sleeping, but I have to agree - I think it's safer than depending on yourself to drive the whole way. I really don't think I'd be able to!

Love the pins, too - I made the mistake of mentioning to my mom that I was thinking of going to Ebay to get some for their Easter baskets. Well, we had an early Easter with Mom and Dad on Sunday since we'll be at my in-laws on Easter, and what was in their eggs??? Both Haley and Jack got about eight pins each! Good thing she'd told me last week...I guess I'll stick to Disney Dollars in the Easter eggs! The kids are excited about trading this year.

Looking forward to more plans!

If DH was with us I'd definitely send him ahead to wait in the regular line, but alas he won't be. And I don't feel comfortable sending Wendy ahead alone to deal with the chaos so we'll just all wait it out in the fastpass line together and hope for the best. Hopefully the fact that it is 8:00 am will keep the crowds down. I'll keep my eyes peeled for your crew that morning!
Disney pins! What a great thing to put in the easter eggs. I wish I would have thought of that. That would have been tons of fun. I'll have to try to remember that for next Easter.

Love the pins...very cute!!!

We may try that for our next trip! I think the boys would really like it!!

I'm sure your kids are going to have a lot of fun trading!!

I found pin trading was one of those fun, low key things we could do in the afternoons when the park was crazy or while we waited for parades or shows. The CMs love trading with the kids.

 

[dismagiclover]

Cute pins! I'm still not sure about the whole pin trading thing....
When we went to DHS in December, the FP line at TSM was longer than the line for the ride! We went on the ride and then got FPs for later. Our FPs were for early afternoon (1pm?). I would wait and see what the situation is and then decide.

Amanda

The kids only trade with the CMs and they have fun with it. The only downside is they sometimes see pins they want at the gift shops instead of on a CMs lanyard
I know that TSM FP line can be crazy. I'm just concerned that our return time would be too late and we'd only get one ride in since we'll probably have to leave around noon to get Wendy to her cruise.

Your DHS plans sound great! Another counter service place we discovered is the Backlot Express. It's right by Star Tours. It had the usual stuff like burgers and sandwiches. We thought it was pretty good. Just another option if you don't want to do Pizza Planet.

Love all the pins!

The Backlot Express is another possibility I've looked at. Especially if we go to an early Indiana Jones show. Then right after the show we could just pop in for lunch. I guess we'll see what the day brings.

 

[dismagiclover]

So I don't think I've mentioned it on this thread, but our June trip is not the only one in the planning stages. We have a couple more trips coming soon. In October we are going for a quick weekend for the MNSSHP. The reservations have now been made for that. We're staying 1 night at Shades of Green because of its proximity to the MK. We figure that will be easiest for the party plus we won't be there much and it is a great deal for the room size and location. Then we're spending a night at the Animal Kingdom villas. I just made this reservation a few days ago and we'll be staying in a 1 bedroom at Kidani with the Savannah view We're excited to stay here. We've always wanted to, but with 5 couldn't stay in the normal rooms. With our DVC membership we can now stay in the villas. I'm still thinking about ADRs for this trip, but I'll keep you updated when I make them.

But the big news of the day relates to our January trip. The whole family is going down for a week so I can run the marathon. That's right the full marathon. 26.2 miles Anyway I want everyone in the family to get medals so the current plan is for DH to run the half (he'd do the full with me but we have kids). Wendy is leaning towards doing the 5K (which either DH or I will run with her) and the boys will do the Mickey Mile. So since today is a beautiful Spring day and the kids are out of school I took them on their first official training run. Here is a picture of them ready to go.

Wendy looks especially adorable doesn't she? I told her she needs to wear that outfit for her race. Oh and I made them stand in front of my daffodils because I'm so excited winter is finally over and the daffodils are blooming! We went 2 miles in a little over 26 minutes which was a pretty good time I thought. We took frequent walking breaks and John especially compained of being tired. And one time Michael sat down in the middle of the trail and said his legs were too tired. Then I mentioned that even his old mama was beating him and he was off Wendy did quite well and should easily manage a 5K. The boys could probably do it too, but I think they would like the Mickey Mile better because it's all kids. Anyway it was a fun diversion and it pulled the boys away from the Wii I'm planning on taking them out for "training runs" frequently this summer. Who knows maybe we'll even do one in Disney in June

 

[DrMomof3]

OMG! I'm so excited that you're running the marathon! I would LOVE to meet up with you. I want my kids to do the kids' runs, too. And I love, love, love the fact that I'm not the only crazy person who is planning 3 trips at once!!!!

Amanda

 

[Stefy]

Aww bless them. Well done to Wendy and the boys, you guys will do great

 

[dismagiclover]

OMG! I'm so excited that you're running the marathon! I would LOVE to meet up with you. I want my kids to do the kids' runs, too. And I love, love, love the fact that I'm not the only crazy person who is planning 3 trips at once!!!!

Amanda

I'm excited about the marathon too, but pretty nervous. I've done 3 halfs and figure it's time to move up to the full, but it is a huge jump. I just hope I can get in the training. It would be fun to meet up. Since you're doing the half your kids will probably do the Friday races, right? That is what we're planning on because that is when the Mickey Mile is. And trust me you are definitely not the only one around here planning 3 trips at once. There are lots of us crazies around the boards

Aww bless them. Well done to Wendy and the boys, you guys will do great

I'm sure the kids will do great. Me I'm not so sure about

 

[Stefy]

You will do good too, you did well on your half marathon and you know what to expect

 

[kcandbella]

The kids did great! I am so nervous about the half. I have been training like crazy already but am just now up to doing a 5K somewhat comfortably (as comfortably as running can ever be considered...lol). Nine more months to train!!! You are brave for taking on the full!

 

[cdotla]

Wow...Jenny!!! That is a lot of great news in just one post!

First of all, you are going to have difficulty convincing me again that your DH is not into Disney with not one, not two, but three upcoming trips!!!

You are Amanda certainly have me jealous!

Yay for you for deciding to do the Full Marathon. I already can't wait to hear all about it and read your TR. Please, please, please do one for this trip!!!

And that is such a great idea to have the kids do their own races as well. What a great example you and your husband are setting for them. Love that you did that run with them today! Too cute!

 

[dismagiclover]

You will do good too, you did well on your half marathon and you know what to expect

Thanks for the vote of confidence

The kids did great! I am so nervous about the half. I have been training like crazy already but am just now up to doing a 5K somewhat comfortably (as comfortably as running can ever be considered...lol). Nine more months to train!!! You are brave for taking on the full!

You are right on track for the half. I always say if you can do a 5K you can train for a half. When I decided to do my first half back in 2007 I'd never run more than a 5K. Just get a good training program (like Hal Higdon or Marathoning for Mortals) and stick to it as much as possible. You'll get that Donald medal

Wow...Jenny!!! That is a lot of great news in just one post!

First of all, you are going to have difficulty convincing me again that your DH is not into Disney with not one, not two, but three upcoming trips!!!

You are Amanda certainly have me jealous!

Yay for you for deciding to do the Full Marathon. I already can't wait to hear all about it and read your TR. Please, please, please do one for this trip!!!

And that is such a great idea to have the kids do their own races as well. What a great example you and your husband are setting for them. Love that you did that run with them today! Too cute!

DH does like Disney especially when he is there. He doesn't like it near as much as me and he gets tired of the expense it entails. Really he just really likes me a whole bunch and tries hard to make me happy
I plan on a trip report for the Full Marathon. And the thing I love most about Disney races are the pictures with the characters so be prepared for plenty of those! It really was fun to get out and run with the kids today. We're planning on a family 5K this summer so we'll see how that goes.

 

[belle8306]

Your trip plans sound like a lot of fun! I think riding the train could be a great experience. It would be a fun way to travel. I love your Disney pins. We enjoy pin trading. We got some off of Ebay before our last trip and my DH had a blast trading them.

 

[dismagiclover]

Your trip plans sound like a lot of fun! I think riding the train could be a great experience. It would be a fun way to travel. I love your Disney pins. We enjoy pin trading. We got some off of Ebay before our last trip and my DH had a blast trading them.

The train will either be a great experience or will turn us into walking zombies. Or maybe both That is cool the your DH is a pin trader. No way my DH would go for that. He isn't quite social enough

 

[FairyGodmotherJen]

WOW! I'm impressed - a full marathon! I've just run across the couch 2 5K program (thanks to a post here on the boards)...but I've been on week 1 for about three weeks because I can't seem to get a chance to do it more than once or twice a week! I've never been a runner - always enjoyed walking for my exercise. But I was surprised that I could do it that first time without feeling like I was going to collapse. Maybe now that the weather is really turning nice I can squeeze more of it in. Running at Disney would at least be something to shoot for. I'll look forward to your TR in January. Have you ever done MNSSHP before? We absolutely loved it in 2008. And to stay at the Animal Kingdom Lodge would be awesome - I've heard great things about it.

I'm so impressed that your kids were running with you, too! We're making sure we get our three out to walk as often as we can. My kids do better with a goal in sight...and the local park is too close! Our local soccer season was cancelled, and that's kind of what I was counting on to get the kids' stamina built back up after being inside all winter (also playing Wii...sounds like our bunches might get along pretty well!). So now I'm looking for something else.

 

[dismagiclover]

WOW! I'm impressed - a full marathon! I've just run across the couch 2 5K program (thanks to a post here on the boards)...but I've been on week 1 for about three weeks because I can't seem to get a chance to do it more than once or twice a week! I've never been a runner - always enjoyed walking for my exercise. But I was surprised that I could do it that first time without feeling like I was going to collapse. Maybe now that the weather is really turning nice I can squeeze more of it in. Running at Disney would at least be something to shoot for. I'll look forward to your TR in January. Have you ever done MNSSHP before? We absolutely loved it in 2008. And to stay at the Animal Kingdom Lodge would be awesome - I've heard great things about it.

I'm so impressed that your kids were running with you, too! We're making sure we get our three out to walk as often as we can. My kids do better with a goal in sight...and the local park is too close! Our local soccer season was cancelled, and that's kind of what I was counting on to get the kids' stamina built back up after being inside all winter (also playing Wii...sounds like our bunches might get along pretty well!). So now I'm looking for something else.

Just keep going with the C25K program. That is pretty much how everyone starts out. And running at Disney is awesome! Definitely worth shooting for. This will be our first MNSSHP. I've been to the Pirate & Princess party and thought that was great. So I'm we will love the Halloween party. And I'm super excited about our costumes! I'm planning to dress the kids up as the Darling kids with DH and I as Peter and Tinkerbell

 

[dismagiclover]

It is time for another installment in the Darling Family's Disney Memories series. The next Disney trip was back to California in September 2007 for the running of my first half marathon. When this trip was conceived I had never run more than 3 miles so running 13.1 was a bit intimidating. But I will obviously do almost anything to get to Disney So I put in the training. Grandma came to stay with the kids and DH and I flew to the west coast for a long weekend. We had a fabulous time doing lots of stuff, but the hightlight was definitely the race. And any Disney race that I'm involved in includes lots of photos so here are a few.

Good old Mr. Toad. I wish he was still in Florida

I think I'm talking during the picture

This race goes through Angels stadium and DH snuck into the dugout. Definitely a highlight for him

Here we are crossing the finish line. We're the ones with our arms up in the air holding hands. That was my idea.

And here we are at the finish with our medals!

It was a great day! Super hot (the high in Anaheim was 108 that day) Going across that finish line was an emotional experience I will never forget. I couldn't believe I actually did it. It was fabulous and something I would definitely do again! Oh the memories

 

[Stefy]

Wow looks like you guys had a blast You certainly are a sporty family

 

[DrMomof3]

Awesome pics of your Disneyland race!!!

Amanda

 

[dismagiclover]

Wow looks like you guys had a blast You certainly are a sporty family

My DH would laugh pretty hard to know someone thinks I'm sporty I do like to get out for runs though.

Awesome pics of your Disneyland race!!!

Amanda

Thanks! You'll have race pictures of your own to share soon