My Magical Journey to Running the Half Marathon TR Link! p.107

[carissanboys]

Here is my very first attempt at a basic itinerary for the trip if Chuck can join me. I fully expect that the final draft will in no way resemble this one. But, it's easier for me to start doing more research and planning if I have a basic guide to work with.

I have been out of the Disney loop for a good long while now since I haven't planned a trip since last March. Please feel free to chime in with any suggestions especially those who are familiar with Marathon Weekend. I have no idea what the hours will be and if shows will be happening on the nights I've placed them. Fantasmic is a must for me since we have never seen it before and I think it'll be easier to do without the boys. We've only seen Illuminations once and I'd really like to see it again.

All of the meals are just ideas off the top of my head. I'm trying to pick places that we've never been to before, but are high on our list to try.


Thursday, January 6th – Arrive and check in/Epcot/Dinner at Teppan Edo/Illuminations

Friday 7th – Expo/MK/Dinner at California Grill

Saturday 8th – Half marathon/rest/dinner at Boma/Wishes?

Sunday 9th – Spa Massages/Lunch at Grand Floridian Café/Studios/Fantasmic

Monday 10th – AK/Yak and Yeti/Fly home


And here are the main things we want to do/see at each park...

Epcot:

World Showcase
Test Track
Soarin’
Illuminations

MK:

Hall of Presidents (never done)
BTMRR (Chuck has never done and one of my favorites at MK)
Snow White (never done)
Haunted Mansion (Chuck has never done)

DS:

Not much here that I really want to do again except for Toy Story Mania. I have a feeling that one might not be possible by the time we arrive. I would like to see American Idol since we missed it last time. Mainly I want to see Fantasmic for the first time.

AK:

Kali River Rapids (Chuck has never been on)
Expedition Everest (first for both of us)


My itinerary for a solo trip will come along in a few days. I think it will be harder for me to come up with ideas for that one.

 

[carissanboys]

Carissa, you are already at W4!!!! Amazing, sweetie! I am so proud of you! Keep up the great work! I am just stopping into to read, look at your pretty flowers and CHEER YOU ON!!!!!

Thanks for checking in so often, Karen. I know how busy you are right now.

 

[dismagiclover]

Great preliminary plan! A couple of thoughts. It might be tricky to get dinner in at Boma and make it over to Wishes because Wishes is early that time of year. (8:00). I suppose if you did an early dinner you could probably make it, but you are going to be tired that day so it may not be worth rushing. Also it may be too cold for Kali River. Hopefully it won't be like it was this year, but even if it is normal January temps, I'm not sure I would want to get as wet as you do on Kali. Just my 2 cents (and that's about what it's worth

 

[carissanboys]

Great preliminary plan! A couple of thoughts. It might be tricky to get dinner in at Boma and make it over to Wishes because Wishes is early that time of year. (8:00). I suppose if you did an early dinner you could probably make it, but you are going to be tired that day so it may not be worth rushing. Also it may be too cold for Kali River. Hopefully it won't be like it was this year, but even if it is normal January temps, I'm not sure I would want to get as wet as you do on Kali. Just my 2 cents (and that's about what it's worth

I thought about doing Wishes after (or during) our dinner at Cali, but wasn't sure what time it would be happening and want to make it an early night. If it's going to be at 8, then we could definitely do it the night before the half.

No, if it's as cold (PLEASE NO!) as it was for you guys this year I won't do Kali. But, we've done Kali before in January and it was fine. It's one of my favorites and an average afternoon in January is usually warm enough for me.

Thanks Jenny! Keep the suggestions coming!

 

[carissanboys]

Just realized though - we most likely won't be at AK in the afternoon unless we have a very late flight leaving Orlando. So, Kali will be on the list, but might not happen. And I probably don't want to get wet right before getting on a plane! I'll have to rethink that one.

 

[dismagiclover]

I thought about doing Wishes after (or during) our dinner at Cali, but wasn't sure what time it would be happening and want to make it an early night. If it's going to be at 8, then we could definitely do it the night before the half.
Thanks Jenny! Keep the suggestions coming!

Wishes at Cali could be easily done. They have a viewing deck there and they pipe in the music. We didn't go out on the viewing deck because it was so cold this year, but I'm sure it's usually fine. The Cali meal took us 2 hours so it would be easy to time it so you are there during Wishes

 

[Native NYer]

Love your itinerary!
I hope Chuck can join you. Is he a runner as well?

 

[mousescrapper]

looks like a great itinerary so far...

I love that you are picking things you have never done before..just enough for each day...since you know you'll be dog tired after the marathon day...but maybe not after all this great training...

so I got my Wii groove on this morning and did 15 min of Dance cardio and then 4 minutes of intense hula hooping...don't know how much it helped...but felt good to do and it was fun!

that's the point huh?

J~

 

[eandesmom]

Love your first draft!

My only concern with some of the dining choices is that they are group seating places so you could end up with others at your table (you will for sure have that happen at Teppan, maybe at Boma and not sure about Y&Y). Which is fine with the kids but for a couple's trip I"m not sure that would be my first choice.

But they are all yummy choices so....I dunno!

 

[All7OfUs]

I really like what I see here! Just enough in a day to compensate for the running. And some nice couples things. The massages sound great!

I really hope he can make it, and cheer you on!!

 

[carissanboys]

Love your itinerary!
I hope Chuck can join you. Is he a runner as well?

He's always had to take a PT test being in the military so running has been something he has to do. He's never really enjoyed it or been great at it. But, he would have liked to do the 5K or the half with me. The problem is that we probably won't know until much closer to the trip if he can go so we don't want to spend the money on registering for him and not getting a refund if he can't get leave.

looks like a great itinerary so far...

I love that you are picking things you have never done before..just enough for each day...since you know you'll be dog tired after the marathon day...but maybe not after all this great training...

so I got my Wii groove on this morning and did 15 min of Dance cardio and then 4 minutes of intense hula hooping...don't know how much it helped...but felt good to do and it was fun!

that's the point huh?

J~

That's one of the things I like about the wii - it gets people moving and it's fun! Good job, Julie!

Love your first draft!

My only concern with some of the dining choices is that they are group seating places so you could end up with others at your table (you will for sure have that happen at Teppan, maybe at Boma and not sure about Y&Y). Which is fine with the kids but for a couple's trip I"m not sure that would be my first choice.

But they are all yummy choices so....I dunno!

I know we'll be sitting with others at Teppan Edo. That's not an issue. We both really want to do eat there. Boma we won't be eating alone anyway so not an issue. Yak and Yeti isn't a sure thing yet anyway.

I really like what I see here! Just enough in a day to compensate for the running. And some nice couples things. The massages sound great!

I really hope he can make it, and cheer you on!!

I really hope he can go too.

 

[liznboys]

Your plans sound fun! Yeah, I would do Wishes on the Cali night. You will still have time to get to bed at a decent hour. And my advice on the pre-race sleep is to not stress about it. You WILL be wired/nervous/excited/anxious that night. My brain was SO wide awake even though it had been a long day and I was tired. But when you wake up at the wee hours of the morning on Saturday after just a handful of hours of sleep, the adrenaline gets going and you are fine.

 

[carissanboys]

Your plans sound fun! Yeah, I would do Wishes on the Cali night. You will still have time to get to bed at a decent hour. And my advice on the pre-race sleep is to not stress about it. You WILL be wired/nervous/excited/anxious that night. My brain was SO wide awake even though it had been a long day and I was tired. But when you wake up at the wee hours of the morning on Saturday after just a handful of hours of sleep, the adrenaline gets going and you are fine.

I was reading John Bingham's Marathoning for Mortals recently and he said expect not to get much sleep the night before the race. Just a given. And I know how hard of a time I have falling asleep when I'm excited or have things on my mind. But, I'm also a morning person so I'm sure I'll be fine.

I think I'm going to need to talk to you before I plan my solo itinerary.

 

[carissanboys]

Did anyone watch the Men's Half Pipe competition last night?? Shaun White is such an amazing athlete. I admit I have a small crush on him. It was so exciting to watch him win gold last night.

~ W4D2 ~

I'm going to make this short and sweet.

I completed day 2 today and was able to make it through the first three run intervals (3 min, 5 min, 3 min) and then did 3 minutes out of the final five. So, I increased my run time by a minute over Tuesday's workout. It wasn't any easier than Tuesday. I just had a better idea of what the workout would be like and I decided ahead of time what I planned on doing. Then it was just a matter of my mind telling my body what to do.

"When you have the enthusiasm and passion, you end up figuring how to excel."

~ Deena Kastor

My totals for today:

Speed: 3.5 for warm up, 4.0 for jogs/3.3 - for brisk walks, 3.5 cool down
Duration: 30 minutes
Distance: 1.85 miles

 

[liznboys]

Neat picture. You know I have not watched much of the Olympics besides the opening ceremonies. I keep forgetting, plus I have other shows I want to watch after the kids are in bed (Amazing Race, LOST, Survivor, The Office. ).

 

[MHTeacher]

Your plans look great and you are doing such a good job. I almost have to quit reading because I feel so guilty for not doing more right now.... I need some warm weather!

 

[carissanboys]

Neat picture. You know I have not watched much of the Olympics besides the opening ceremonies. I keep forgetting, plus I have other shows I want to watch after the kids are in bed (Amazing Race, LOST, Survivor, The Office. ).

I record all of my shows. I'm getting a bit behind! They'll have to wait for a night when there isn't anything interesting going on the Olympics. Last night was a big night for us!

 

[carissanboys]

Your plans look great and you are doing such a good job. I almost have to quit reading because I feel so guilty for not doing more right now.... I need some warm weather!

I agree wholeheartedly on the warmer weather!!

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

I just found this what a great pre trip report. You are inspiring me. LOL. I would sign up for someting but we are TTC and it would be just my luck to end up pregnant before the race. Although at 41 I know it is a long shot. You are doing fantastic with the program. I just had a breakthrough as you have read on that thread. Your boys are so cute. A few tips for great things I have found since moving down here:

Narcoosees is my favorite restaurant on property so maybe check it out along with some of the reviews. Kevin Klose did a review a while back and that is what inspired me to go there for my 40th birthday. Now it is my favorite. Awesome view and great food.

I recently found a little gem in the GF tea room. It is a great to be pampered as an adult. My son went with me but it was really a nice treat for having lost 10lbs.

I also really enjoy visiting the monorail resorts and just shopping or window shopping it is so fun. Your schedule looks awesome. I am dying to try Yak and Yeti the food looks awesome.

I am glad we are doing this C25K thing sort of together. It is so much easier with friends helping you through those bad days. Good Luck. I hope to see you when you are down for the race. If I am not doing it I will be there to cheer all my fellow Wishers along!

 

[carissanboys]

I just found this what a great pre trip report. You are inspiring me. LOL. I would sign up for someting but we are TTC and it would be just my luck to end up pregnant before the race. Although at 41 I know it is a long shot. You are doing fantastic with the program. I just had a breakthrough as you have read on that thread. Your boys are so cute. A few tips for great things I have found since moving down here:

Narcoosees is my favorite restaurant on property so maybe check it out along with some of the reviews. Kevin Klose did a review a while back and that is what inspired me to go there for my 40th birthday. Now it is my favorite. Awesome view and great food.

I recently found a little gem in the GF tea room. It is a great to be pampered as an adult. My son went with me but it was really a nice treat for having lost 10lbs.

I also really enjoy visiting the monorail resorts and just shopping or window shopping it is so fun. Your schedule looks awesome. I am dying to try Yak and Yeti the food looks awesome.

I am glad we are doing this C25K thing sort of together. It is so much easier with friends helping you through those bad days. Good Luck. I hope to see you when you are down for the race. If I am not doing it I will be there to cheer all my fellow Wishers along!

Hey Liz! Thanks for stopping by.

You are doing awesome! Good luck with TTC. And thanks for the tips! I'll definitely look into Narcoosees.