The Family That Runs Together...Vacations Together-A May 2012 PTR *5/12

[teekathepony]

Hooray for two months!!
Thanks to you, I started doing the couch to 5k program I told my DH about the Disney 5ks and he was very very interested and said that he'd love to do one too! Thanks for that inspiration.

 

[amazingact21]

It does have a way of sneaking up on us doesn't it? I stress over the packing and buying of things before we leave, I can't imagine trying to train for a 5k race while we're there....so proud of you for doing that

Surprisingly enough, training for the 5K has kept me on-track. Because I have to follow a set exercise schedule I've made for myself, I plan my day around that and it makes my life very organized.

Happy 2 Month mark!

The time does sneak away as we get closer to the trip, and inevitably, I find myself scrambling the night before to take care of things I should have taken care of weeks before!

I need to be back on the C25K program again! I got to week five before bailing last year. I've been saying I want to lose 20 lbs. before my daughter's graduation, so I really need to get moving!

I always end up with last minute scrambling, as well. One trip, I forgot to do laundry until the day before. Never doing THAT again!

The C25K is a good program, in my opinion, but I tend to take it slower than what it says.

WOO HOO!!! Celebrating the 2 month mark for you!!!!

Hope you get out running again real soon. I find that a 3 day rest isn't TOO bad but any more than that makes me all stiff again So I'm hoping your lil break didn't bother you.

Have lots of fun shopping That's on my to do list too and i can't wait to see your day 3 plans. i'll be getting my 5th day plans up this week too - maybe 5th and 6th since they are both more quieter days after 3 full days in the parks.

My run yesterday wasn't horrible, but my legs definitely didn't enjoy moving after a 3 day break.

I'm sure with 3 full days, a couple easy, relaxtion days are in order for you and your family!

Woohoo on it being the 2 month mark!!!! Hope you are celebrating in style lol!

Well, I celebrated by going for a run. Being at the 2 month mark gave me a little bit of a wake-up call, reminding me that my time to train for the 5K is dwindling down!

Hooray for two weeks!!
Thanks to you, I started doing the couch to 5k program I told my DH about the Disney 5ks and he was very very interested and said that he'd love to do one too! Thanks for that inspiration.

Aw, that's awesome that you and your DH are interested in a Disney 5K! Glad I could help spread the addiction. Training and preparing yourself for them kinda stinks, but the events are so much fun you completely forget that you're in pain and you're exercising. At the end you sort of look back and go, "It's over?!"
Hope your training is going well! Would love to read about it if you're so inclined to add it to your PTR. The first few weeks are brutal (at least for me they are) but just create good motivational incentives and be okay repeating a week if necessary, I'm sure you are going to be awesome at it!

 

[teekathepony]

Aw, that's awesome that you and your DH are interested in a Disney 5K! Glad I could help spread the addiction. Training and preparing yourself for them kinda stinks, but the events are so much fun you completely forget that you're in pain and you're exercising. At the end you sort of look back and go, "It's over?!"
Hope your training is going well! Would love to read about it if you're so inclined to add it to your PTR. The first few weeks are brutal (at least for me they are) but just create good motivational incentives and be okay repeating a week if necessary, I'm sure you are going to be awesome at it!

I think I will start to incorporate it into my PTR, it would keep me on track too. I'm in such terrible condition (and I have so much time!) that I made a "Week -1" for myself where I start a little easier than they recommend in the C25K. I'm also going to do each week twice I think, just to be safe. Honestly I've been trying to get into running since before Christmas, but can't get motivated. The thoughts of a Disney run just might do it!

 

[Nermel9]

Yay for 2 months, I just hit my 2 month mark today too! It seems so close, yet still so far away...I'm ready to go!

 

[amazingact21]

I think I will start to incorporate it into my PTR, it would keep me on track too. I'm in such terrible condition (and I have so much time!) that I made a "Week -1" for myself where I start a little easier than they recommend in the C25K. I'm also going to do each week twice I think, just to be safe. Honestly I've been trying to get into running since before Christmas, but can't get motivated. The thoughts of a Disney run just might do it!

i completely understand the training before you start the C25K training. The first time I did the program, I just walked for 2 weeks to get myself conditioned to moving. And doing the weeks twice can be really helpful. I find that Day 1, I am completely useless, day 2 I do all right, and finally be day 3 I start to get to where the program tells me to. I'm on my 2nd attempt at Week 4, and I have yet to get 5 minutes straight. I get to about 3 and 1/2 and can't go any further.

Yay for 2 months, I just hit my 2 month mark today too! It seems so close, yet still so far away...I'm ready to go!

It does seem close, but I know these last 2 months are going to crawl by!

 

[MEK]

Congrats on 2 months until your trip! That's awesome! I'm jealous since I have have 3 months!

Good luck with your continued training. I've been running for 20 years and I know how easy it is to lose motivation, but so rewarding to accomplish a goal! Keep up the good work!

 

[amazingact21]

Man, I used to be so good about updating on a regular basis, but here lately I just haven’t found the time. It doesn’t help that I seemed to have caught a cold. So all I want to do is sleep and drink hot beverages. The only good thing that comes from being sick now is that I should be in tip-top condition for the May trip. I don’t need a repeat of my Disneymoon, where I fell asleep on Main Street, waiting for MNSSHP’s Boo to You Parade.


Even though I felt like crud, Alex convinced me to go for a run with him and our dog yesterday, and I’m glad I did. I haven’t exactly been sticking with the C25K running program, but I’m making progress. I’m up to about 2.5 miles in about 33 minutes. Not great, seeing as my 5K time last year was 36:39 and that was 3.1 miles. But I still have 7 weeks to improve. I’m hoping by the end of March to get to 3.2 miles and have it around 40 minutes.


I know I said I was going to write about our movie themed night, but the pictures are still on our camera and said camera is M.I.A. right now. I’m going to have to dig around and find it, then edit the photos before I can post them.


So instead, I’m going to talk about our Day 3 Plans!!! This is where we’re going to delve deep into Disney and start focusing our attention on rides, restaurants, and show times.


Of course, a smart and well-planned Alicia would have asked her mother what her must-dos on this day would be, but alas, I am not being a very well-planned person right now. I blame it on the Dayquil. Therefore, this update might have to be changed a tiny bit if my mom tells me she absolutely has to do something that I haven’t accounted for. Oh well….


Sunday, May 6th Interary:


Alex, my mom, and I will go through our normal morning routine. Breakfast, coffee, primping….(my mom and I, not Alex) packing the day’s park bag, drinking more coffee, applying a half ton of sunscreen, walking out to the car, finishing up one last cup of coffee…


On this morning I am planning for us to brave the masses and go to Hollywood Studios.


Therefore, it’s pretty imperative we arrive by 8:45 and stand in line for rope drop. Once 9:00am hits, Alex is going to partake in the running of the bulls in order to get up Toy Story Mania Fastpasses.


While he’s rushing off, my mom and I will head in that same direction, only at a bit slower pace.


When Alex gets our FPs the three of us will jump in the standby line and introduce my mom to the beauty of TSM.


Toy Story is her absolute favorite Disney movie, so this is the ride I’m looking forward to taking her on the most. I think she is going to be amazed at how detailed the queue is and how much fun the actual attraction is.

After Toy Story Mania, we’re going to veer left and go on MY favorite Disney ride…



Rock N’ Roller Coaster!!!

When Alex and I were in WDW last May, we rode this 7 times in one day. One time, the CM and I stood in the video room and quoted the script to each other, that’s how many times I’ve gone on this ride.


Back in 2003, when my family and aunts and cousins were at Hollywood Studios (the last time my mother was in this park) my brother chickened out at the last minute, so my mom exited with him right before she was supposed to board.


This time she’s not getting off so easily. I told her she had to do it once. If she doesn’t like it, I won’t make her go again, but I know my mom pretty well, and I think she’s going to have fun. I know she’s not going to LOVE it, but she’ll tolerate it.


If luck is with us, we’ll be able to go on RNRC a second time, but if not I won’t complain. We’ll start making our way around the park, going on another favorite of mine, The Great Movie Ride, and go on Star Tours once. All 3 of us can’t do this attraction multiple times in a row, because we all get a little green on these simulated rides. And, in addition, we'll have to circle back and use our TSM FPs depending on what time window we were given. Now that the return times are being enforced, I don't want to waste them.

I’m not a huge fan of the shows at DHS, but Alex has mentioned that he’s never seen the Indiana Jones show and my mom hasn’t seen the LMA one, so I have a feeling we’ll be hitting up one of these two mid-morning.


After it’s ended, we’ll find somewhere to eat a quick lunch, then either stay an hour or two longer, or head back to the resort.



The three of us will spend a few hours swimming, reading, and relaxing, then most likely take a nap to get us ready for the upcoming night.



Around 6:15/6:25, my troupe and I will drive to the TTC (again) and monorail it over to the Polynesian, where we have a 6:55 dinner reservation at…



Kona!



This is Alex’s favorite meal, and I’m pretty fond of it myself, so I’m really looking forward to it. I’m sure all of us will order the Teriyaki Steak and my mom and I will order some fruity refreshments to go with our meal.

I can’t say for sure what Alex and my mom will order for dessert, but I know I will get the white chocolate cheesecake.

Mmmm….of course, it’ll be so rich I won’t be able to finish it, but I’ll enjoy every bite I do manage to take.


After dinner, we’re going to go outside and hopefully catch Wishes from the beach, so long as our dinner doesn’t run late or the fireworks start early or there’s a rainstorm above us.


This is something I can’t wait for. There’s not much that can beat being with your loved ones, watching Wishes, while your toes are dug into soft golden sand….

Once Wishes is over, I’m going to usher us all back on the monorail and head to MK for evening extra magic hours!



Magic Kingdom is open until 1am, and I fully intend to make the most of those late hours.


This is Alex and I’s absolute favorite time to be in the park.

There’s just something extra special about walking out of Pirates and it being the middle of the night.


And walking across an empty hub and having the time to stop and view the castle lit up with its purple and pink lights.



I really want my mom to experience Magic Kingdom when the rides are walk-on and when you have plenty of time to stop and take in small details.


As far as rides go, I don’t have a set plan. If Thunder was open, I’d say 5 rounds on that, but alas, that’s one I have to miss due to its closure. Obviously Space, Splash, Pirates, and HM are going to be high on the priority list, and maybe Peter Pan is the line isn’t ridiculously long. (Hah! Wishful thinking, I know)



We’ll stay as long as we can, and when our feet can’t take another step, we’ll steer ourselves out of the park and back to ASSp, ready to sleep and get ready for our next park day.

 

[MHTeacher]

DHS has modified their opening to avoid the "running of the bulls!" I believe they start letting people in ahead of posted opening time---don't have all the details clear, but I read about it on Josh's blog---easywdw. You might want to do a search on these boards or take a look at his blog.

I love Kona! It's absolutely one of our favorites. We've had the teriyaki steak, and also the rib-eye --They're both delicious.

I love the parks at night-- the BEST time to be there!

 

[Nermel9]

I was going to say, I've heard that they are letting people in to DHS at 8:30 now to get FP's...it's not widely known yet, but I'm pretty sure I'm gonna be at DHS to give it a shot...I could swear we were doing DHS this morning too, I'm gonna have to check my schedule...

We're definitely doing MK magic hours that night! Maybe I'll see you there! Brandon hates magic hours though, so I don't know how late we'll be there, but I'm actually hoping they extend it til 2! Since I was so tired on our December trip, I want to stay out really late and get up early on the whole trip and take in as much of Disney as possible!

 

[MEK]

7 rides on RnR in one day....that's impressive. I love the picture you took inside the queue. That is one attraction I don't have any pictures of. I guess I better change that.

Great plans for the day. Love the Kona cafe.

 

[wakica]

so much to say, where to start...

i'll start off with GET WELL SOON!!! It's no fun being sick at all however I'm the same as you - I actually think well, if I'm getting it out of the way now then i'll be good for the trip at least Totally makes sense to me!!!

Rope Drop at DHS - I hope you get early entry that day. It's been sporadic on the actual tiimes - when they started it they opened as soon as 8:30 but it seems like lately it's been more like 8:45 to 8:55 so it's anybody's guess but I'd get there more like 8:30 if it's at all possible. We will be aiming for 45 min before rope drop to be amongst the first in the park and it'll be nice to not have the mad rush over to TSMM.

TSMM - I'm so looking forward to this one too b/c it'll be a new ride for us

RnR - that's our 2nd stop too!!! AWESOME RIDE! and we try for multiple times too But it's tricky bc we spread our time between RnR and ToT - no ToT for you???

the KONA food looks SOO yummmy now stop it or i'll have to make a dinner ressie there too.

Your description of watching the fireworks on the beach gave me a warm fuzzy feeling - i could just remember how BEAUTIFUL the nights are there!!! That is such a happy feeling for me b/c up here it's SO RARE for us to have warm evenings even in the summer when the temps hit 30 degrees - it still cools down at night and we need a sweater. So the sitting on the beach watching fireworks and digging your toes in the soft sand just gave me the warm fuzzies - now i don't know how i'm going to wait 49 days!!

Anyway, again - get better soon and I will look forward to seeing your movie night

 

[teekathepony]

Feel better soon! Dayquil knocks me out, I sympathize.
Star Tours makes me really motion sick too! Worse than any other ride at Disney.
Watching Wishes from the Poly beach is on my to do list for next trip!

 

[amazingact21]

DHS has modified their opening to avoid the "running of the bulls!" I believe they start letting people in ahead of posted opening time---don't have all the details clear, but I read about it on Josh's blog---easywdw. You might want to do a search on these boards or take a look at his blog.

I love Kona! It's absolutely one of our favorites. We've had the teriyaki steak, and also the rib-eye --They're both delicious.

I love the parks at night-- the BEST time to be there!

I can't believe I forgot about this! I remember reading it, but it just slipped out of my mind. Thank you so, so much for mentioning it! Of course, now Alex won't be happy to hear that we have to wake up a half hour earlier.

I was going to say, I've heard that they are letting people in to DHS at 8:30 now to get FP's...it's not widely known yet, but I'm pretty sure I'm gonna be at DHS to give it a shot...I could swear we were doing DHS this morning too, I'm gonna have to check my schedule...

We're definitely doing MK magic hours that night! Maybe I'll see you there! Brandon hates magic hours though, so I don't know how late we'll be there, but I'm actually hoping they extend it til 2! Since I was so tired on our December trip, I want to stay out really late and get up early on the whole trip and take in as much of Disney as possible!

Haha, the same 2 parks on the same day. Guess we have very similar park ideas. Because MK is usually pretty dead during late EMH I'm sure I'll run into you at some point! If I do, I'll be sure and say hello. I hope they extend it until 2, as well! My mom will probably leave earlier than that, so it'll be just Alex and I there.

7 rides on RnR in one day....that's impressive. I love the picture you took inside the queue. That is one attraction I don't have any pictures of. I guess I better change that.

Great plans for the day. Love the Kona cafe.

I took a ton of pictures of RNRC last year but most turned out blury. If you take some on your next trip, I know I'll enjoy seeing them, because you take amazing photos! I remember seeing your Hilton pictures in your TR and wanting to go there just based on how you captured it!

 

[amazingact21]

so much to say, where to start...

i'll start off with GET WELL SOON!!! It's no fun being sick at all however I'm the same as you - I actually think well, if I'm getting it out of the way now then i'll be good for the trip at least Totally makes sense to me!!!

Rope Drop at DHS - I hope you get early entry that day. It's been sporadic on the actual tiimes - when they started it they opened as soon as 8:30 but it seems like lately it's been more like 8:45 to 8:55 so it's anybody's guess but I'd get there more like 8:30 if it's at all possible. We will be aiming for 45 min before rope drop to be amongst the first in the park and it'll be nice to not have the mad rush over to TSMM.

TSMM - I'm so looking forward to this one too b/c it'll be a new ride for us

RnR - that's our 2nd stop too!!! AWESOME RIDE! and we try for multiple times too But it's tricky bc we spread our time between RnR and ToT - no ToT for you???

the KONA food looks SOO yummmy now stop it or i'll have to make a dinner ressie there too.

Your description of watching the fireworks on the beach gave me a warm fuzzy feeling - i could just remember how BEAUTIFUL the nights are there!!! That is such a happy feeling for me b/c up here it's SO RARE for us to have warm evenings even in the summer when the temps hit 30 degrees - it still cools down at night and we need a sweater. So the sitting on the beach watching fireworks and digging your toes in the soft sand just gave me the warm fuzzies - now i don't know how i'm going to wait 49 days!!

Anyway, again - get better soon and I will look forward to seeing your movie night

Nope, no ToT... I went on it when I was 13 and that was the first and last time for me. I'm just not a huge fan of big drops, so that's the only ride in all of WDW I skip. Which just gives me more time for RNRC.

30 degrees at night?! That is wayyyy too cold for me. I'm miserable when it hits 40 degrees in the middle of the day! I guess I have gotten way too spoiled living in FL.

Feel better soon! Dayquil knocks me out, I sympathize.
Star Tours makes me really motion sick too! Worse than any other ride at Disney.
Watching Wishes from the Poly beach is on my to do list for next trip!

Dayquil's not so bad with me, but with Nyquil I am a zombie!!

Yeah, those simulator rides can be pretty brutal. Do you have to do the easy version on MissionSpace, because I sure have to. Even Alex, who has an iron stomach has to opt out of that attraction.

You should definitely and try and do Wishes on the Poly beach! It's so relaxing. The view isn't as good as when you're inside MK, but not having to deal with the park crowds makes the whole situation more serene.

 

[wakica]

Nope, no ToT... I went on it when I was 13 and that was the first and last time for me. I'm just not a huge fan of big drops, so that's the only ride in all of WDW I skip. Which just gives me more time for RNRC.

30 degrees at night?! That is wayyyy too cold for me. I'm miserable when it hits 40 degrees in the middle of the day! I guess I have gotten way too spoiled living in FL.

Sorry!! i normally remember I'm mostly talking to Americans and get my handy dandy temperature translation charts to explain it but I guess I didn't.

I meant to say when it's 30C here in the daytime (86 or 87F) it still dips down to pretty cool at night so we still need a sweater in the evenings on most summer nights except for maybe one or two times in the summer when we get a heat wave and can enjoy the evenings but it's a rare occurance here to go without sweater in an evening. Then there are also so many gosh darn mosquitos to fight off b/c they hide in the heat of the day and come out and feast on us in the chilly evenings. lol. can't win so it's definitely a HUGE pleasure to enjoy the warm Florida evenings without bugs.

 

[pinkxray]

I read through your whole report the other day on my Kindle Fire and meant to comment once I got on a computer, but totally forgot that I never commented.


AsSp has always been last on my places to stay for some reason. Probably b/c no one in our family likes or watches Sports. Now that I now there will be creepy football faces watching me in the shower, it's completely off the list


We haven't tried Kona yet for any meal since DH and DD love 'Ohana so much. But we have booked 'Ohana breakfast and dinner and usually end up eating at the Poly twice in one day. We haven't stayed at the Poly but I am determined to one day. I think we would just eat at Kona and 'Ohana everyday.


I love all of your ADRs. I want to try PF breakfast so badly but DD is afraid of the Mad Hatter. Plus neither DD or DH has seen Alice in Wonderland or Mary Poppins I need to get some Disney movie nights going so that I can book it next time.


Crystal Palace breakfast is my favorite breakfast at Disney


We haven't tried Via Napoli, I booked it last year but ended up cancelling to stay at the resort.


We had not so great time at 50's in May 2010 but I think it was just b/c we had to wait an hour. It was Memorial Day Weekend and Star Wars Weekend though. I really want to give it another try one day though.



Ooooohhh, I love you Vinylmation display case. I haven't started buying Vinylmation because I didn't know what to do with them, but now that I have seen your display case I must buy it and fill it with Vinylmation My bank account is not liking this PTR.



I love the picture of your DH in his camis. I had a little flashback when I saw it. When I was 21, DH was in the Marine Corp and we lived in North Carolina close to Camp Leguene. I always loved seeing DH in his camis. Weird, I know.



Mmmm.... Disney coffee. I thought I was the only one who doesn't have a problem with it. I don't know if I love it, but I certainly LIKE it a whole lot.. which is more than most people say. I don't know if you have a Keurig or not but I found a k-cup that reminds me of it. Caribou Daybreak is the name I think, and when I drink it I am magically transported to a Disney food court holding a travel mug of Disney coffee.


Sorry for the longest post ever.... so much good stuff to comment on

 

[amazingact21]

Sorry!! i normally remember I'm mostly talking to Americans and get my handy dandy temperature translation charts to explain it but I guess I didn't.

I meant to say when it's 30C here in the daytime (86 or 87F) it still dips down to pretty cool at night so we still need a sweater in the evenings on most summer nights except for maybe one or two times in the summer when we get a heat wave and can enjoy the evenings but it's a rare occurance here to go without sweater in an evening. Then there are also so many gosh darn mosquitos to fight off b/c they hide in the heat of the day and come out and feast on us in the chilly evenings. lol. can't win so it's definitely a HUGE pleasure to enjoy the warm Florida evenings without bugs.

Ahhhh....That makes a whole lot more sense. If I wasn't fighting this cold I probably would've stopped and thought about it for a second and realized what you were saying.
Ugh, I lived in Louisiana for 2 years and the mosquitos were terrible, so I understand your trouble.

I read through your whole report the other day on my Kindle Fire and meant to comment once I got on a computer, but totally forgot that I never commented.


AsSp has always been last on my places to stay for some reason. Probably b/c no one in our family likes or watches Sports. Now that I now there will be creepy football faces watching me in the shower, it's completely off the list


We haven't tried Kona yet for any meal since DH and DD love 'Ohana so much. But we have booked 'Ohana breakfast and dinner and usually end up eating at the Poly twice in one day. We haven't stayed at the Poly but I am determined to one day. I think we would just eat at Kona and 'Ohana everyday.


I love all of your ADRs. I want to try PF breakfast so badly but DD is afraid of the Mad Hatter. Plus neither DD or DH has seen Alice in Wonderland or Mary Poppins I need to get some Disney movie nights going so that I can book it next time.


Crystal Palace breakfast is my favorite breakfast at Disney


We haven't tried Via Napoli, I booked it last year but ended up cancelling to stay at the resort.


We had not so great time at 50's in May 2010 but I think it was just b/c we had to wait an hour. It was Memorial Day Weekend and Star Wars Weekend though. I really want to give it another try one day though.



Ooooohhh, I love you Vinylmation display case. I haven't started buying Vinylmation because I didn't know what to do with them, but now that I have seen your display case I must buy it and fill it with Vinylmation My bank account is not liking this PTR.



I love the picture of your DH in his camis. I had a little flashback when I saw it. When I was 21, DH was in the Marine Corp and we lived in North Carolina close to Camp Leguene. I always loved seeing DH in his camis. Weird, I know.



Mmmm.... Disney coffee. I thought I was the only one who doesn't have a problem with it. I don't know if I love it, but I certainly LIKE it a whole lot.. which is more than most people say. I don't know if you have a Keurig or not but I found a k-cup that reminds me of it. Caribou Daybreak is the name I think, and when I drink it I am magically transported to a Disney food court holding a travel mug of Disney coffee.


Sorry for the longest post ever.... so much good stuff to comment on

Thanks for reading!

I was really hoping we wouldn't stay at ASSp again, but alas...I just look at as I barely ever stay in the resorts, as is.

Alex and I are the opposite of you guys. We have never tried Ohana's before because we can't seem to give up Kona. Maybe one day we'll both be brave and try the restaurants.

I'm not exactly thrilled with the characters at PF, but my mom loves the GF so much, I felt like this would be the perfect meal for her. They haven't seen Mary Poppins??! I was about your DD's age when I saw it for the first time, and I was awed by the way the kids got to misbehave.

We saw one of the DISUnplugged members bought a shot glass display case for their Vinylmations, and I kid you not, Alex was ready to jump in the car and get one himself. I had to beg him to wait a week until Black Friday.


I love seeing DH in uniform, too. Guess it just makes them look put together and mature.

My mother in-law has a Keurig and now I'm going to buy the Daybreak and give it a try. Thank you for letting me know about it! Every great once in awhile I'll make myself a Dole Whip to remind me of Magic Kingdom, so I'm all for trying out a Disney-like coffee.

 

[PirateKate]

RnRC is so much fun! Too bad BTMRR will be closed while you're there. It's always the best at night, especially when you can ride again and again with no waiting.

 

[amazingact21]

RnRC is so much fun! Too bad BTMRR will be closed while you're there. It's always the best at night, especially when you can ride again and again with no waiting.

Big Thunder is my favorite ride at Disney, so I'm going to be pretty bummed to miss it, but I understand the need to work on and improve the attraction. I'm sure I'll walk by the ride and become a tad bit sad, but getting annual passes will help. I know I'll be able to go on it later in the year.

 

[TanzUnited99]

Great DHS plans!

Good luck with the TSMM rush and the RnRC marathon!!