There's a Great Big MARATHON Tomorrow: Goofy Challenge/Marathon Weekend '15 FINALLY COMPLETE!

[emilyindisney]

Emily - I have that EXACT same hoodie! The Roots one! So glad I brought it for this trip!! I could not believe how cold it was on this day.

Love the pictures with the toys!!

That's crazy because I swear I saw sooooo many people in Roots- especially the salt and pepper color! Hahaha, people kept asking me where in Canada I was from!

I also thought the Christmas decorations would be down and was thrilled when they weren't! The Hollywood Studios tree may be my favorite. I think the film strips are really a nice touch!

The giant santa heads on the DHS tree made me giggle

Joining in with you girls! I really enjoyed your last trip report. Can't wait to read about Goofy! My husband and I just completed our first Goofy too. The hotel looks great. I love Andy's room. We actually enjoyed getting to see some of the Christmas decorations since we've never been at Christmas time before. Looks like a great character interaction with Woody and Buzz. Love it.

Congratulations on finishing your first Goofy!!!! I loved Andy's room too! The giant door and the race car were my favorite!

All Stars is a super cute place. I particularly like Andy's door.

I've been really intrigued about the concept of sharing a Memory Maker Package. I've never had a real photopass (other than ride) or memory maker before. It's attached to your Magic Band, right? So can everybody in the share have it on their MB? It sounds like a real money saver.

I have to admit, being best in vehicle on TSMM feels like such an awesome achievement!!

What a great meet with the toys. It looks like they sent a good amount of time with you both which makes it so much more worthwhile.

Yes- everyone in the party uses their magicband to get their photos. Disney isn't a huge fan of this though they haven't officially pulled the plug on it yet. The savings is definitely great!

Buzz and Woody spent quite a bit of time with us- I was surprised! It was nice!

Your Buzz and Woody meet n greet looks so cute! We've never seen them, but it looks like they had a lot of personality!

It's crazy seeing sweatshirts at Disney - was it chilly for your whole trip? I'm probably nuts, but I'm hoping it's a bit chilly for the PHM - I run much better when it's cold

Buzz and Woody were full of personality this day- very feisty!

My goodness- it was quite cold this day! We were happy to go back to the hotel room because we were so sick of being cold. It wasn't frigid per say, but the real feel was 40ish which was uncomfortable to be out in all day. It definitely got a little warmer over the course of the week but the only really 'nice' day (IMO) was Tuesday. When we were there for Princess last year it was much nicer than this.

 

[ursalita]

That looks like a really fun meet and greet with Woody and Buzz!

 

[emilyindisney]

That looks like a really fun meet and greet with Woody and Buzz!

It was!

 

[emilyindisney]

Single Rider Dating Service

We decided to checked in with Pixar Place’s resident Green Army Man!


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We were in a character greeting mood so we ducked into Animation Academy and got to meet our girl, Minnie Mouse with no wait!


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She was really cute and I loved the sparkly touches on her dress. I don’t think many people know she’s tucked in that back room which contributed to the lack of wait.

Before leaving the area we stopped for another Photopass picture!



It was time to start making our way towards our first FP for the day by heading down Sunset Boulevard.


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We stopped for a few PP again:







Before out FP time window opened we decided to jump in the RnR single rider line which took us about 35 minutes. Once I was front of the line, the Cast Member left it up to a party of 11 middle school age kids to decide who was going to ride with me. He tried to entice them by introducing me by name and including that I liked long walks on the beach and a good book, haha! The kids were way weirded out, haha! The teacher volunteered to ride with me which settled that. Hopefully someone else has better luck with RnR’s single rider dating service, haha!





Once we got off it was time for our first FP- Tower of Terror!


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Always love that one!

Our FPs for the rest of the day were on the other side of the park so we said goodbye to Sunset Boulevard and made our way back to the Animation Academy for some drawing lessons. The artist was really easy to follow and included some sarcastic humor that was a good touch! I was so excited to draw Eeyore since he is so cute, but I wasn’t thrilled with how my drawing came out-I want a redo! Also, now Emily can cross Animation Academy off her bucket list!

After this it was time for a second spin on TSMM with our FP!


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Caitlin won this time!​

 

[emilyindisney]

“I’ve got Bieber fever!!!...In my armpits!!”

We were hungry now so we decided to grab some snacks. More like lunch-its vacation, why deny that I ate a cupcake for lunch? (Clearly, I am not one of those runners who eats super healthy for that all around healthy lifestyle-nope, I run so I can cake! Caitlin wanted a cupcake so we walked to Starring Rolls first. They had these super cute Baymax cupcakes!


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She decided on the Butterfingers cupcake:


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Eating cupcake at Starring Rolls was a specific list item. I wanted to try this since I had heard so much about it, and it was good, but overall it was a little overwhelming both in size and richness. Part of this problem could have been because | was so hungry I was trying to eat it on the move while we found Emily’s lunch.

I wanted a cream cheese stuffed pretzel so we headed over to the Streets of America to grab that.


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The pretzel was yummy, and I tried some of Caitlin’s cupcake but it was a little rich for my taste. After we finished up our snacks and looked at the sad shell that once was the Backlot Tour entrance and decided to take a walk through of the Honey I Shrunk the Kids playset. Another bucket list attraction for Emily!


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I stuck my hand in the dog’s nose so that means I can cross this experience off my bucket list, right?

On our way to our next FP we stopped for some pictures on the Streets of America.


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It wouldn’t rain though!!

Now it was time for our next FP- the Frozen Singalong.


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We were kind of just doing this to say we did it but it turned out to be pretty funny. The story-tellers definitely include some humor geared towards the adults who love their kids enough to sit through yet another rendition of Let it Go! It’s where the quote to this update came from and is definitely worth a watch if you’re looking for an air conditioned seat! I enjoyed this more than I thought I would, considering I am usually “Frozen-ed Out”. The comedians had some great one liners (including the chapter title, which came when one of them confused Kristoff with Justin Bieber) and it was fun to sing along even though our audience wasn’t really into it.

After the singalong we stopped to meet Lightning McQueen and Mater!


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I sort of thought they talked at their meet and greet but I guess not!

After that we were headed to our last FP of the morning but stopped for a quick photo op first:


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As you hopefully guessed, Star Tours was our last FP of the morning so we hopped on that, rode, and made our way out of the park. It was time to give our legs a mid day rest before we were back later for dinner!​

 

[Biggie Smalls]

Buzz and woody were some of the best characters we met all week, your interaction look just as awesome. I am totally frozen end out too and really ok with skipping all the frozen stuff at DHS.

I couldn't believe how cold it got during the week. Florida is sooo. It meant to be experienced with fleece coats

 

[DisneyKid4Life]

Haha, maybe it's just me, but I get totally creeped out by the green army men. I always enjoy their antics, but that blank face is just unsettling.

I really do need to meet Minnie in that spot. This really has to be one of the best backdrops of any Meet and Greet in Disney.

OMG that RnRC story is both hilarious AND awkward all at the same time. I'm kinda surprised the boys weren't fighting over that honour though. I mean, what middle schooler doesn't want a girl who likes long walks on the beach???

"I run so I can cake!" I just flat out like that!!

Yeah, I liked the Sing-A-Long too, mostly because the story-tellers were so funny. It sounds like your audience was as bad as mine though as far as participation.

 

[Ariel484]

Nice Toy Story scores, ladies!!

Next time you go to Starring Rolls, try the red velvet cupcake. It's pretty fab. Their sandwiches are really good, too!

 

[ZellyB]

We also did the Frozen singalong and I enjoyed it a lot more than I expected. Love the dating service line in RnR coaster. That's hilarious!

Love all the pictures, but that one of Caitlin under the umbrella is especially adorable.

 

[broadwaybookworm]

That Minnie is really hidden. We stumbled upon her thinking that we were going to the drawing class, since the sign says drawing room!

The Frozen singalong sounds like fun, especially if you enjoy Frozen.

I also had an awkward single rider line experience, with a Brazilian tour group. Doing that line has its upsides and its downsides.

 

[NMW]

subscribing

 

[emilyindisney]

Buzz and woody were some of the best characters we met all week, your interaction look just as awesome. I am totally frozen end out too and really ok with skipping all the frozen stuff at DHS.

I couldn't believe how cold it got during the week. Florida is sooo. It meant to be experienced with fleece coats

I'm definitely Frozen-ed out so I didn't miss all the summer-Frozen-fun-hoopla-whatever. I do with they kept the fireworks around though! I heard there were logistically issues with having to close of certain areas of the park early that made it too difficult for those to be a permanent fixture.

Haha, maybe it's just me, but I get totally creeped out by the green army men. I always enjoy their antics, but that blank face is just unsettling.

I really do need to meet Minnie in that spot. This really has to be one of the best backdrops of any Meet and Greet in Disney.

OMG that RnRC story is both hilarious AND awkward all at the same time. I'm kinda surprised the boys weren't fighting over that honour though. I mean, what middle schooler doesn't want a girl who likes long walks on the beach???

"I run so I can cake!" I just flat out like that!!

Yeah, I liked the Sing-A-Long too, mostly because the story-tellers were so funny. It sounds like your audience was as bad as mine though as far as participation.

When they're out on the race courses they always talk (and I actually think the guy on the marathon course this year had a green painted face with no mask) with a little microphone. It was weird to have him miming, lol!

It was kinda of awkward because even though other people in the line were laughing the kids all had this 'ummmm...what?' look on their faces, haha!

The story-tellers were hilarious and definitely made the show enjoyable! Yeah- most of our audience wasn't really into singing.

Nice Toy Story scores, ladies!!

Next time you go to Starring Rolls, try the red velvet cupcake. It's pretty fab. Their sandwiches are really good, too!

Almost all their food looked really yummy! I was surprised- I've always heard such good things about their cupcakes that I guess I didn't really realize all the other types of food they sold.

We also did the Frozen singalong and I enjoyed it a lot more than I expected. Love the dating service line in RnR coaster. That's hilarious!

Love all the pictures, but that one of Caitlin under the umbrella is especially adorable.

Do you remember how to make the umbrella rain? Either it wasn't working, or we just couldn't figure out what to hold on to or press hahaha!

That Minnie is really hidden. We stumbled upon her thinking that we were going to the drawing class, since the sign says drawing room!

The Frozen singalong sounds like fun, especially if you enjoy Frozen.

I also had an awkward single rider line experience, with a Brazilian tour group. Doing that line has its upsides and its downsides.

Hahaha, awkward! Sounds like hitting the front of the single rider line the same time as a large, odd numbered group is the root of the awkwardness!

subscribing

Welcome!

 

[ursalita]

You two are just adorable. Makes me wish I had a sister I could do stuff with.

That story about the single rider line had my LOLing.

I have to admit that cupcakes don't really appeal to me, the icing is too sweet or the cake is too dry. But OMG that Baymax cupcake. Chocolate cake, banana buttercream, caramel drizzle? Yes, please! I might have to try it.

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

All the cool weather reports from last week have me totally freaked out! We're headed down in 2 weeks (for something unrelated to WDW...but squeezing in a MK day) and then again for the GSC and I will be SO MAD if it's cold! It's not like I can't handle the cold, I live with it every single day, but when I go to Florida, it's to get a break from this horrible winter, so Florida better get the memo and warm up for February!

I've never been to Movies and it looks really cute! I would say I have to try it but have no idea when that will happen b/c my daughter is in LOVE with Pop, like wants to marry Pop, so she insists we stay there every time.

I never eat cupcakes unless I'm at Disney and then all bets are off. I think I get my yearly (or decade) quota eaten when I am there though! I love that butterfinger cupcake. Rich and huge...just how I like my cupcakes. I'm losing weight right now just so I can gain it all back at Disney eating all this junk!

 

[courtneybelle]

I love the DHS tree!!

Oh my gosh, Woody kissing your hand is too cute.

My green army man!!

HAHAHA how cute would it be to meet your future husband through the single rider line, though?

 

[emilyindisney]

You two are just adorable. Makes me wish I had a sister I could do stuff with.

Aww, well thanks! If you told our mom that we'd be frolicking around WDW on a semi-regular basis when we were little she would have scoffed at you! Needless to say, we haven't always been friends like this, lol!

I have to admit that cupcakes don't really appeal to me, the icing is too sweet or the cake is too dry. But OMG that Baymax cupcake. Chocolate cake, banana buttercream, caramel drizzle? Yes, please! I might have to try it.

That cupcake didn't look food allergy friendly for me so I couldn't sample but boy, didn't it sound good?!

All the cool weather reports from last week have me totally freaked out! We're headed down in 2 weeks (for something unrelated to WDW...but squeezing in a MK day) and then again for the GSC and I will be SO MAD if it's cold! It's not like I can't handle the cold, I live with it every single day, but when I go to Florida, it's to get a break from this horrible winter, so Florida better get the memo and warm up for February!

The key is to check the weather as last minute as possible and prepare if it's going to be cooler. I would have been much happier walking around Disney with a coat on rather than trying to bundle myself in sweatshirts.

I've never been to Movies and it looks really cute! I would say I have to try it but have no idea when that will happen b/c my daughter is in LOVE with Pop, like wants to marry Pop, so she insists we stay there every time.

I actually think I liked Movies a little bit better than Pop (I know- blasphemy on the DIS!) That being said we had a little bit of a sub-par service experience when we stayed at Pop so maybe I need a second visit!

I never eat cupcakes unless I'm at Disney and then all bets are off. I think I get my yearly (or decade) quota eaten when I am there though! I love that butterfinger cupcake. Rich and huge...just how I like my cupcakes. I'm losing weight right now just so I can gain it all back at Disney eating all this junk!

Umm, isn't that what we all do?!

I love the DHS tree!!

Me too! I love where it's placed too- outside the park. It's in the perfect spot, I think!

Oh my gosh, Woody kissing your hand is too cute.

He was quite flirty that day! Even after his attendant threatened to tell Bo Peep!

HAHAHA how cute would it be to meet your future husband through the single rider line, though?

That would be a Disney dream come true because that literally means my future husband probably would love Disney as much as I do (and than I wouldn't have to try and explain my weird obsession that only we DIS-ers can really understand!)

 

[cadek]

Following along, and can't wait to read more! I've got the Dopey Challenge 2016 on my mind. I already have 2 fall marathons I want to do, so I sense a running burnout coming for me!

Too funny about your RnRC experience!

 

[emilyindisney]

Following along, and can't wait to read more! I've got the Dopey Challenge 2016 on my mind. I already have 2 fall marathons I want to do, so I sense a running burnout coming for me!

Too funny about your RnRC experience!

2 fall marathons and Dopey 2016?! Good luck- that's an awesome accomplishment if you can make it (I know I'd be fighting burnout too if that was my plan!)

 

[emilyindisney]

Mangia with Mama! (Mama Melrose dinner review)

It was nice to hang out at the hotel was a little bit and warm up during the afternoon. We dressed in a few extra layers and headed back to the park around 4 to get some dinner. On our way in we stopped at the FP kiosk and figured we’d take advantage of our extra one and booked the Great Movie Ride for later.

We made it to our dinner destination, Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano, about 10 minutes before our 5:15pm reservation and were seated in approximately 20 minutes.


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We were super hungry so we scanned the menus quick and picked something out as soon as the waiter returned to take our drink order so we could eat ASAP! In the mean time, we enjoyed some bread and took in the scenery.


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The restaurant was a very modge-podge feel with mismatched lighting fixtures and a random assortment of decorations (both comical and with an Italian flair) hanging from the ceiling. Our food came pretty quick and we dove in. I got the Pappardelle Pasta:


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It’s yummy pasta with roasted butternut squash, mushrooms, cheese and truffle oil! It made it an exceptional dipping sauce for the bread.

Caitlin got the Penne alla Vodka:


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Overall this was a great meal! The service was good, the restaurant was fairly spacious (so you didn’t feel like you were on top of anyone) and the food was tasty. I would definitely recommend (especially if you’re looking for the Fantasmic dining package though we didn’t book that.) I second that recommendation-while the meal was nothing special (I was reminded of Olive Garden-which I do love), it was tasty and straight forward and would definitely be worth using for the Fantasmic package.​

 

[courtneybelle]

Mama Melrose has never appealed to me because we usually go to Via Napoli as our Italian restaurant…but WOW your pasta looks good!