The Darling Family Takes on Marathon Weekend: Jan at the Boardwalk Villas

[liznboys]

That teacup lamp is so cute!

"I always take walking breaks and by the end of the marathon I think it is fair to say I took running breaks"

... My friend and I are thinking of getting the shirt "13.1...because I'm only half crazy". I saw a link to it in some TR....maybe yours.

LOL! I love that!

 

[Happy Elf]

Hi Jenny! I'm here and can't wait to hear about your latest adventure. Your villa looks beautiful!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Hey! Just read your TR from the half last year and cannot wait to hear about your full marathon this year! I was all proud of myself for running 2 miles straight today and cannot fathom 26! I'm subbing!!!

 

[TnTsParty]

Another Duck subscribing to your Trip report can't wait to hear more.

 

[Dolce27]

I really regret not meeting up with you. We were at the same resort going to the same race! Sorry. And seeing your pic's is making me homesick. I arrived to the Boardwalk on Jan 4 so the decor was still up for a few more days and I got a few pic's of the lobby. If I ever buy into DVC it will be Boardwalk. I'm glad to see more pic's of the Villas. I also had a standard room. Did you see a thread about a month or two ago on the Resorts forum about a room on the 5th floor of the Inn side that had no balcony (only a window) and near the elevator (which made noise)? A woman posted that was the first room given to her and she had to stay in it for one night (I think) but was then able to transfer to a better room the next day.

THAT was the room given to me. When I read her thread I thought "If I get that room I'll be fine. It's just a room". And it was really nice inside but all 2.5 seconds that I spent inside of it I thought "I want a balcony!" So I went right back downstairs and got at much better room on the 4th floor of the Inn. I should have taken pics as it was an ADA accessible room and HUGE in comparison to the BWI's regular rooms. My balcony was a Garden View that faced EPCOT so I could also see the high fireworks (if I stood to the right of a massive tree) and I could hear all of Illuminations from my room.

I know you're not to this part yet but what time did you get on the bus for the race? I think I got the first bus to the staging area that morning. Anyways. Looking forward to hearing more and am enjoying the BW photos. Hard to believe that it was only last week...

 

[lovesdumbo]

Dolce27-I just read your last year's marathon report and really enjoyed it. Will be doing one this year?

 

[dismagiclover]

That teacup lamp is so cute!

"I always take walking breaks and by the end of the marathon I think it is fair to say I took running breaks"

I love all those little Disney details! And there was definitely not a whole lot of running going on after mile 20.

Hi Jenny! I'm here and can't wait to hear about your latest adventure. Your villa looks beautiful!

Welcome! I'm glad you made it over

Hey! Just read your TR from the half last year and cannot wait to hear about your full marathon this year! I was all proud of myself for running 2 miles straight today and cannot fathom 26! I'm subbing!!!

You should be proud of yourself for running 2 miles straight. Honestly the biggest part of the battle is just getting yourself out there!

Another Duck subscribing to your Trip report can't wait to hear more.

All Ducks are welcome here!

I really regret not meeting up with you. We were at the same resort going to the same race! Sorry. And seeing your pic's is making me homesick. I arrived to the Boardwalk on Jan 4 so the decor was still up for a few more days and I got a few pic's of the lobby. If I ever buy into DVC it will be Boardwalk. I'm glad to see more pic's of the Villas. I also had a standard room. Did you see a thread about a month or two ago on the Resorts forum about a room on the 5th floor of the Inn side that had no balcony (only a window) and near the elevator (which made noise)? A woman posted that was the first room given to her and she had to stay in it for one night (I think) but was then able to transfer to a better room the next day.

THAT was the room given to me. When I read her thread I thought "If I get that room I'll be fine. It's just a room". And it was really nice inside but all 2.5 seconds that I spent inside of it I thought "I want a balcony!" So I went right back downstairs and got at much better room on the 4th floor of the Inn. I should have taken pics as it was an ADA accessible room and HUGE in comparison to the BWI's regular rooms. My balcony was a Garden View that faced EPCOT so I could also see the high fireworks (if I stood to the right of a massive tree) and I could hear all of Illuminations from my room.

I know you're not to this part yet but what time did you get on the bus for the race? I think I got the first bus to the staging area that morning. Anyways. Looking forward to hearing more and am enjoying the BW photos. Hard to believe that it was only last week...

What a bummer that you got that room. Luckily you didn't have to keep it. You must have been out early to catch that first bus. I went out about 3:30. I hopped right on the bus and we left shortly. It was a quick ride to the staging area. It sure was different for DH the day before for the half. He went out around 3:30 and waited in a long line. He finally made it on to a bus at 4:00 and he said there was a huge line of people still standing there when the bus pulled away. It then took him over an hour to get to the staging area. He said the traffic was terrible. The up side for him though was once he got there he walked to his corral and only had to wait a few minutes for the race to start. He did his waiting on a warm bus. I did mine sitting on the cold pavement.

 

[Stefy]

I suggested to DH that we pick up your own luggage, but he said no way. He loves that about ME. So we just packed our PJs in the carryon. You are right about the Gunners jacket. You'll see it again. Not too many people around our parts have a clue what that is. We were on the bus at one point and there was a man sitting by us with a Hotspurs hat. DH almost said something, but he's not as outspoken as me. I wonder what the Hotspurs fan thought of an American in a Gunner jacket.

Lol, ah yes Arsenals mortal enemies, Tottenham. Could give you a few more names for them, but they ain't pretty Was the Spurs fan English or American?

 

[dismagiclover]

We were up early for our first full Disney Day. Not only was this a Disney Day, it was my birthday! So of course we had big plans for the day. We all got ready and headed out to the bus stop to wait for a Magic Kingdom bus. This was around 8:00 and it was cold. It wasn’t helping matters that I’d had the kids dress in their race clothes. Here are the kids freezing at the bus stop.

I tried to convince them to stay in the sun. The bus came and around 8:40 we were looking at this lovely site.

It is my happy place. So beautiful in the morning sun. We weren’t going in, however. Instead we headed over to the walkway to the Contemporary. We had a breakfast scheduled at Chef Mickey’s to start our trip. A very exciting thing happened on our walk over. We were just moseying along when a lovely woman walking by said, “Good luck on your marathon.” I was a bit confused because I had nothing on that indicated I was running a marathon. Since my mind was consumed with it, I thought maybe for a moment the aura of fear surrounded me and she’d picked up on that. She quickly said, “I recognize your family from the DIS. I love your trip reports.” I was so excited. I’d never been recognized before and I felt a bit like a rock star. I asked her screen name and she told me Monorail something or other. Than she said she never posts. Well Monorail something or other if you are out there pretty please post this once! I was so excited to meet you! You are beautiful and you have a lovely family (at least they looked that way for the second I saw them.) As we walked away DH said to me, “Well that just made your day, didn’t it?” I assured him it did. This birthday was starting out great!

You all know how short the walk is from the MK to the Contemporary so it wasn’t long before we were checking in for breakfast where they kindly gave me a birthday button. This was the second time we’ve eaten at Chef Mickey’s. The first time we didn’t bother with the picture thing, but I decided since it was my birthday we’d take the picture this time. It turned out cute.

Our buzzer went off right as we finished our photo so we headed to our seat. The characters weren’t anywhere near so we headed to the buffet. This was a good breakfast buffet. There are others on property I like better, but it was plenty adequate. In In fact I enjoyed breakfast more than dinner. I just think it’s tough to mess up a breakfast buffet. Here are my boys carb loading for their big race.

The characters were pretty poky about getting to our area. We were pretty much done and had still seen no one. However our server brought me out this beauty.

I made a wish and blew the candle out.

Everyone said they knew what I’d wished for. I asked them what and they said, “You wished to finish your marathon.” I had to admit they were right. Even the kids could tell how distracted I was. Finally the characters made it. First up was Goofy.

Then came Pluto. He is one of Michael’s favorites.

Then the Big Cheese himself

I insisted on a birthday picture with him.

Then Donald. He is John’s favorite.

Last but not least, our lovely hostess, Minnie

It was a fun breakfast and a great start to the trip. Chef Mickey’s isn’t my favorite place, but it is my kids. So I’m sure we will be back again.

Next up: We head to the Wide World of Sports for the Mickey Mile

 

[dismagiclover]

Lol, ah yes Arsenals mortal enemies, Tottenham. Could give you a few more names for them, but they ain't pretty Was the Spurs fan English or American?

The Spurs fan was English. And DH informed me after reading my reply to you that I can't call them Hotspurs. They are either Tottenham Hotspurs or the Spurs. Whoops. He also said I could call them the Enemy. I'd guess most the other names you had in mind are not DIS appropriate

 

[carissanboys]

How cool that someone recognized you!

And since I didn't get to say it on your birthday, I'll say it now...


Happy Birthday, Jenny!!!!!!!!!!!

Glad you all enjoyed your meal at Chef Mickey's. I loved my birthday cupcake! Yummm!

 

[Shannon84]

I am joining in on the fun

 

[eksb327]

Congrats on finishing your race! My little family just signed up for a Valentine's 5K...maybe someday...a far away someday... we'll be up to marathon capabilities!

I always enjoy reading your TRs. Looking forward to more!

 

[Dsnygrl1205]

It's awesome that someone recognized you from here! That would make me feel great too.
We do use to do Chef Mickey's every trip when my DS was little but he's 12 now and doesn't care much about meeting characters so it's been a few years since we have been there. I did like the breakfast there though. It has a bad rep but it's really not terrible.
We still go to the Crystal Palace quite a bit but only because I love getting into MK before it opens to get those great pictures on a nearly empty Main Street!
It's pretty cool that your kids participated in the kids races. I want to get Aidan (DS) into running with me when I get home from Kuwait. I think it would be nice for us to do some 5K races together. I just hope he likes it as much as I do!

 

[mickeystoontown]

How cool that you were recognized by a fellow Diser! I remember when someone recognized me the last trip and I kinda felt like a rock star too.

It certainly looks like your day is off to a good start. The pictures with the Chef Mickey characters are really cute.

 

[mermaid764]

Having someone recognize you from the DIS must have been an awesome way to start your birthday.

The character pictures turned out so cute

Hopefully the marathon went well for everyone!!

 

[liznboys]

How fun that you were recognized! I bet that gave you a little boost to start your bday.

That's a great pic of you all with the Chef Mickey statue.

Aw, a sweet birthday cupcake!

I can't wait to hear about the kids race!!! So get right on your next update!

 

[DisneyDreamerMom]

What a great start to your birthday! Nothing like cupcake for breakfast.

 

[lovesdumbo]

Sounds like a great birthday morning! Aren't Disney birthdays the best?

My DH's not big on birthdays so I have run away to Disney for the past 4 years. This year I have to wait a few days past my birthday to go but it will be a trip worth waiting for. Maybe DH will do something this year because it is a BIG one.

 

[dismagiclover]

How cool that someone recognized you!

And since I didn't get to say it on your birthday, I'll say it now...


Happy Birthday, Jenny!!!!!!!!!!!

Glad you all enjoyed your meal at Chef Mickey's. I loved my birthday cupcake! Yummm!

Thanks for the birthday wishes! Next year my birthday is the day of the half. Plus it is the big 40! I definitely plan on running thru Disney!

I am joining in on the fun

Welcome! Glad you are here

Congrats on finishing your race! My little family just signed up for a Valentine's 5K...maybe someday...a far away someday... we'll be up to marathon capabilities!

I always enjoy reading your TRs. Looking forward to more!

Your family will have so much fun at your 5K. My whole family ran a 5K together this past summer and it was such a fun day. And if you decide you want to do a marathon, then you can! I'm proof of the fact it doesn't take a great athlete

It's awesome that someone recognized you from here! That would make me feel great too.
We do use to do Chef Mickey's every trip when my DS was little but he's 12 now and doesn't care much about meeting characters so it's been a few years since we have been there. I did like the breakfast there though. It has a bad rep but it's really not terrible.
We still go to the Crystal Palace quite a bit but only because I love getting into MK before it opens to get those great pictures on a nearly empty Main Street!
It's pretty cool that your kids participated in the kids races. I want to get Aidan (DS) into running with me when I get home from Kuwait. I think it would be nice for us to do some 5K races together. I just hope he likes it as much as I do!

It was fun to be recognized! I'm not quite sure how I'll feel when the kids aren't interested in the characters anymore. I will definitely miss them. Even this past trip I tried to talk Wendy into visiting the princesses, but she had zero interest. I was kind of sad. I guess I'll just have to go see them by myself. You should definitely register Aiden for a 5K once you're home. It really is fun for the kids and they feel like they really accomplish something. You are already setting a great example

How cool that you were recognized by a fellow Diser! I remember when someone recognized me the last trip and I kinda felt like a rock star too.

It certainly looks like your day is off to a good start. The pictures with the Chef Mickey characters are really cute.

It was fun to be recognized! I think the Chef Mickey pictures turned out cute too. I especially like the one with Wendy and Minnie.