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

[burly]

Thank you so much for the trip report, you marathoner you.

 

[TinyDancer]

So sad it's over, but I really enjoyed your TR!

You really are an inspiration, I've decided to run the Disney Marathon in '13!!

 

[cdotla]

Hey Jenny!

I noticed your TR was over, so I thought I better get caught up now!

Sounds like a great day at AK. I am so glad you guys tried Flame Tree BBQ...that place is definitely one of our favourites. We hit it each and every trip. So glad your DH liked it too!

We still haven't done either the train ride, Rafiki's or the Flights of Wonder! I know!!! Going to try like crazy to hit them in October!

I love that EE Rescue t-shirt your DH bought. I wld even like that myself. But the "special" meaning for your DH is really cute!

Funny someone in your party bought that Yeti stuffed animal, or "stuffy" as my children like to call them. A few months before our last trip one of Katie's friends came home with that exact same one. Try as I might to dissuade the kids from buying it, I could not. They each wanted it. And my DH was determined to buy it for each of them. We have 2 of that sucker. I cringe every time I see them....I hate it!!!

That is too funny about your DH's never-ending quest for the Fast Pass.

How great you were able to tour Toontown one last time...what a great story about Wendy at Minnie's House. Great memories indeed!

So glad to hear you guys also liked San Angel. I seriously thought DH and I must be complete weirdos because we are about the only people I know who loved that place!

Awesome trip report Jenny! Your marathon recap was really a highlight. You have really inspired me to try and get my behind off the couch! Can't wait to hear all about your summer trip this year.

 

[norybell]

Lots of Disney restaraunts seem to be a bit hit or miss. I'm sure we'll do Rose & Crown again. In the summer it has a great view! I'm glad to hear there is someone else that understands Captain Eo. I was just reading a trip report of someone today that absolutely hated it. I guess if you didn't live through the 80s it's tougher to get. I'd see it again in a heartbeat!

I think R&C has the absolute best view of Illuminations, if you're lucky enough to get the right table (along the railing) at the right time. It's usually so crazy there around dinner time we've given up trying, but the few times we lucked out, it was truly amazing!

And I can't wait to drag my sisters to Captain Eo in a few weeks! They're gonna go nuts over it; they won't have seen it since the '80s, either!

 

[3prettyprincesses]

Oh, it's the end of your trip! It's always so sad when it comes to an end, isn't it? Though I'm sure that shiny Disney medal helped to alleviate some of that!

How sweet that the boys met Duffy! We tried twice to see him but he was missing from his meet and greet spot.

Too bad about Rose & Crown though. We've yet to eat there.

Looks like a wonderful trip! Thanks so much for sharing, I particularly loved all of the marathon updates, so inspiring!

 

[DrMomof3]

We have also enjoyed San Angel. Our most recent meal there was less good than the previous one but it is such a lovely place.

Amanda

 

[dismagiclover]

Thank you so much for sharing. Reading your report everyday made me feel like I was at Disney. We are going on the Disney Magic in November and I'm trying to convince my DH that we need to spend at least a day at Epcot before or after. Take care and we look forward to your next trip.

Thanks so much! I really enjoyed writing the report too. I hope you have a great time on the Magic and I really hope you get to stop by the World while you are down there. It would be very tough for me to go to FL and not at least pop into WDW!

Great trip report. To bad Disney alsways has to come to an end. Wow I seen someone wrote you are going for two weeks next time? How exciting! That will be fun to plan. It was great to meet you and post on your report. You have a great family. Once again congrats on your MARATHON

It's always sad when Disney comes to an end, but if it didn't I'm sure it would become routine and lose lots of the Magic. And hopefully the 2 week trip pans out. I'm planning that for summer 2012. Again it was great meeting you! It really was highlight of my trip and then I love that you've stuck with my report and actually posted!! I feel honored because I know you usually don't post!

Thanks for the great TR Jenny! It is not often that a report has the ability to make me cry, cheer, and laugh. I am making the same face as Michael in your last picture since it is over.

Thanks so much! I'm glad you enjoyed it. And your complements are great for my ego

What a great trip report. Your marathon really inspired me. I am going to try to train and run a 5k. A far cry from what you did, but at least it is a step. Thanks for sharing.

That is exciting news! Have you checked out the couch to 5K program? I know lots of people have used that with great success! There was a time when I remember thinking, "I'm going to train for a 5K. I think I should be able to run 3 miles at least once in my life." So you never know where you'll go! Just get started!

Jenny, once again, I thoroughly enjoyed your TR and I can't wait for another I actually had a lump in my throat reading the last post .... that's always how I feel when we're leaving and just hearing you describe made it very real....thanks again my friend

Thanks Queen! I noticed you've started a PTR. I need to get my behind over there!

 

[dismagiclover]

Thank you so much for the trip report, you marathoner you.

Thank you! And yes, I am a Marathoner

So sad it's over, but I really enjoyed your TR!

You really are an inspiration, I've decided to run the Disney Marathon in '13!!

Now that is exciting news!! Good luck with all of the training. I'm going down for the half in '12. Who knows maybe I'll be down there in '13 again!!

Hey Jenny!

I noticed your TR was over, so I thought I better get caught up now!

Sounds like a great day at AK. I am so glad you guys tried Flame Tree BBQ...that place is definitely one of our favourites. We hit it each and every trip. So glad your DH liked it too! I think that is going to be a must do each time we're in the AK. It is nice to find a CS that is so tasty!

We still haven't done either the train ride, Rafiki's or the Flights of Wonder! I know!!! Going to try like crazy to hit them in October!

I love that EE Rescue t-shirt your DH bought. I wld even like that myself. But the "special" meaning for your DH is really cute!

Funny someone in your party bought that Yeti stuffed animal, or "stuffy" as my children like to call them. A few months before our last trip one of Katie's friends came home with that exact same one. Try as I might to dissuade the kids from buying it, I could not. They each wanted it. And my DH was determined to buy it for each of them. We have 2 of that sucker. I cringe every time I see them....I hate it!!! Now that just cracks me up!! Those Yetis are probably a best seller in the MK. Such a strange little thing too.

That is too funny about your DH's never-ending quest for the Fast Pass.

How great you were able to tour Toontown one last time...what a great story about Wendy at Minnie's House. Great memories indeed!

So glad to hear you guys also liked San Angel. I seriously thought DH and I must be complete weirdos because we are about the only people I know who loved that place! Well you and Chris still may be complete weirdos, now you just know of another family of weirdo too JK. I don't know why San Angel gets such negative reviews. My guess is people think they are going to get Tex Mex and it is closer to real Mexican food.

Awesome trip report Jenny! Your marathon recap was really a highlight. You have really inspired me to try and get my behind off the couch! Can't wait to hear all about your summer trip this year.

Our trip this summer is going to be to CA and Disneyland. I'm excited about it, but I'll still miss FL. WDW is like home to me these days.

I think R&C has the absolute best view of Illuminations, if you're lucky enough to get the right table (along the railing) at the right time. It's usually so crazy there around dinner time we've given up trying, but the few times we lucked out, it was truly amazing!

And I can't wait to drag my sisters to Captain Eo in a few weeks! They're gonna go nuts over it; they won't have seen it since the '80s, either!

Wendy and I watched Illuminations from R&C one trip and I have to agree it is a fabulous view. The view gets spoiled quite a bit when they put the plastic tarp thing up though. Yes it is see through, but it isn't the same. And enjoy Captain EO! It is one of the best laughs on property

Oh, it's the end of your trip! It's always so sad when it comes to an end, isn't it? Though I'm sure that shiny Disney medal helped to alleviate some of that!

How sweet that the boys met Duffy! We tried twice to see him but he was missing from his meet and greet spot.

Too bad about Rose & Crown though. We've yet to eat there.

Looks like a wonderful trip! Thanks so much for sharing, I particularly loved all of the marathon updates, so inspiring!

My boys have now met Duffy three times and he hasn't even been around a year yet! They have a bit of a Duffy problem Rose & Crown isn't bad. It just wasn't anything fabulous that night. Thanks for following along! It's been a fun report to write.

We have also enjoyed San Angel. Our most recent meal there was less good than the previous one but it is such a lovely place.

Amanda

Even if the food at San Angel wasn't great the place has such a cool ambience that I still think it is worth going to.

 

[mickeystoontown]

At least you were all able to finish up your last day at Disney donig things thateach of you wanted to do. The last picture of the trip had me, literally, saying "awwwww" outloud. I hate those last pictures.

 

[dismagiclover]

The time has come to put this trip report to bed. First of all thank you to all of you for joining me for the ride as I relived our adventure. This really was a trip full of dreams and wishes fulfilled. The highlight was obviously my race day. That is a moment I will be proud of for the rest of my life. It was also great to have my family there with me! They were so supportive of my journey every step of the way! The other races were highlights as well. It was so fun to walk around the parks after the races with our medals. I was proud of every one of us!

We loved the Boardwalk Villas! It was our first time in a 2 bedroom and it will be hard to go back to 1 bedrooms. It was so nice to have plenty of space to spread out and to have a living area that nobody had to sleep in. Plus the location of BWV is just awesome! I love how we can walk to 2 parks and there is no better place for dinner than the World Showcase. That is why we headed to Epcot almost every night!

Going in January has its good and its bad points. The crowds were virtually non existent and that is awesome. We're used to summer crowds so it seemed to us there was no one in the parks. Can't beat that! On the other hand, I don't really like January weather. There isn't a lot of swimming and it really gets chilly at night. So we never felt like staying late in the parks. I also don't like having to pack so many clothes and worry about how to dress each day. In the summer there is no question. It will be hot. Short and a t-shirt and lots of water and sunscreen. It may sound crazy, but I actually prefer summer more. I like being hot in FL. I like swimming and I love summer evenings.

Upcoming Disney plans: This summer we will spend some time at Disneyland. I haven't been since 2007 and the kids haven't been since 2004 (when I was still pregnant with Michael.) I'm excited to see some of the new things they have done there. The Little Mermaid ride will be open so we'll get to see a preview of what is to come in Fantasyland. I'll miss FL, but absence make the heart grow fonder. Next January my 40th birthday falls on the day of the half marathon. So I will be celebrating the big 4-0 by running up my favorite street in the world. Then on Sunday we are going to take a cruise on the Dream. This will be my first cruise and I really hope I don't get seasick. We are leaving the kids with grandma for this trip so it will just be DH and I. The next big family trip isn't until summer 2012, but I hope to make this one epic. I want to stay for 2 weeks and I'm hoping to do a split between AKV (which we love) and WLV (where we've never stayed.) DH works for a living so he won't be able to join us the whole time. He'll probably just come down for the last week.

Thanks so much for following along! I love the trip reports because they extend the magic and I love all of you because you get it! I'll miss posting here, but I will do my best to keep up with all of you on your TR and PTR. See you around the boards.

 

[dismagiclover]

At least you were all able to finish up your last day at Disney donig things that each of you wanted to do. The last picture of the trip had me, literally, saying "awwwww" outloud. I hate those last pictures.

It is kind of funny how we each ended up getting to do what we wanted for that last little while even though we all wanted something different. I guess that is how families are supposed to work Last pictures are a bit sad, but they are definitely better than no trip pictures at all

 

[Stefy]

Ooh you must let me know when your start your PTR/TR for your Disneyland Trip will be awesome to read along and for next years trip too, sounds like its going to be one heck of a birthday celebration

 

[MagicShell]

I found information on Couch to 5K. Thanks. Also thanks for sharing your trip.

 

[EastYorkDisneyFan]

Are you planing on doing a PTR/TR for your upcoming Disneyland trip?

 

[EastYorkDisneyFan]

Next time you kids want to try the sword in the stone they could always try this.

You may want to check for security first.

 

[dismagiclover]

Ooh you must let me know when your start your PTR/TR for your Disneyland Trip will be awesome to read along and for next years trip too, sounds like its going to be one heck of a birthday celebration

I probably won't do a PTR, but knowing me I won't be able to help myself and I'll do a TR. I'll put it down on the Disneyland boards and those don't get as much traffic. So look for that come August. Though by August you may be a bit too preoccupied to worry about my little TR

I found information on Couch to 5K. Thanks. Also thanks for sharing your trip.

Good luck! Lots of people have been really successful with that plan.

Are you planing on doing a PTR/TR for your upcoming Disneyland trip?

I'm not planning on a PTR right now, but I probably will do a TR. And who knows? Maybe as it gets closer I'll feel the urge to do a PTR. If I do either one I will obviously put it down on the Disneyland board. I don't "know" many posters there so maybe I'll get to make new friends.

Next time you kids want to try the sword in the stone they could always try this.

You may want to check for security first.

That is hilarious He barely even fits on the platform. I noticed he was not successful in his quest.

 

[EastYorkDisneyFan]

That is hilarious He barely even fits on the platform. I noticed he was not successful in his quest.

That's actually a picture of me at Disneyland in 2009, it's bin my profile pic on Facebook since I was tagged in it. Thankfully I wasn't able to pull out the sward I might have fallen. Also I can't for the life of me remember how I got up on it, and yes it was kind of slippery.

 

[mickeysmyboy]

Aww, you're just when I finally got here and got caught up!! Well, no matter what it was a fabulous report! You should be so proud of yourself and your family for all you accomplished on marathon weekend!!! It's truly amazing and awe inspiring!!!

Good luck with your upcoming trips!!! One day I will get to Disneyland! DH isn't to keen on the idea of flying that far! I'm also hoping for a cruise in May of 2012 with some disers! I can't wait!!!

Thanks so much for taking us along on your journey! It was amazing!!!

 

[Dsnygrl1205]

Finally taking some time to get caught up with my subscribed threads. Feels like I have been gone for ages! Great wrap to to your trip report. I really enjoyed reading about your adventures! Are you still considering the Wine and Dine Half in October? It's going to be fun!!

 

[dismagiclover]

That's actually a picture of me at Disneyland in 2009, it's bin my profile pic on Facebook since I was tagged in it. Thankfully I wasn't able to pull out the sward I might have fallen. Also I can't for the life of me remember how I got up on it, and yes it was kind of slippery.

I'll make a mental not to stay off that when we are at Disneyland because it is slippery

Aww, you're just when I finally got here and got caught up!! Well, no matter what it was a fabulous report! You should be so proud of yourself and your family for all you accomplished on marathon weekend!!! It's truly amazing and awe inspiring!!!

Good luck with your upcoming trips!!! One day I will get to Disneyland! DH isn't to keen on the idea of flying that far! I'm also hoping for a cruise in May of 2012 with some disers! I can't wait!!!

Thanks so much for taking us along on your journey! It was amazing!!!

Thanks for following along! It was an incredible trip. One that will stick out in my Disney memories for a long time!

Finally taking some time to get caught up with my subscribed threads. Feels like I have been gone for ages! Great wrap to to your trip report. I really enjoyed reading about your adventures! Are you still considering the Wine and Dine Half in October? It's going to be fun!!

I'm not planning on the Wine 'n Dine. Night races just don't sound like my cup of tea. Plus I'll be going down in January again. Supposedly they will be announcing a new race in April. I'll be interested to hear what it is.