We Only Had to Wait in Line Twice For This - An April 2024 runDisney TR *Updated 7/28

[amazingact21]

We LOVED Pym's and my daughter ate the pretzel all by herself! But our favorite food items were from Jolly Holiday and from Bengal Barbeque. You MUST get the meat sticks there. We still talk about them!

This makes me so excited for all the food at DL! I think those three locations are the top three places my family wants to try, so I'm happy to hear they live up to the hype!

I am mostly jealous of your child-free trip. That is something I really want to do but don't know if I could leave my girls, as they love Disney as much as I do! Maybe someday...

It was so special getting a WDW without the kids. I will cherish that time with my DH. Now that life circumstances have changed with my extended families, I'm not sure we'll get the opportunity again, so I'm grateful we got to experience it. Plus, my kids are becoming bigger and bigger park fans, and I think they'd protest it more if we tried it again.
Hopefully, one day you'll be able to make it to the parks with just your spouse. Even if it's after the kids have grown.

This trip we went on so many rides, and the big difference to me was how fast we got on rides with Genie+. I think most rides we were on in 5-10 minutes. So much faster than Disney World which we just visited in March. My husband and I would leave around 3 after going on so many rides. My daughter and grandson would stay later, much too late for these old folks. You will have a great time!

This is really good to know. Were there any Genie selections you were never able to get?

 

[Stacybaeasm]

This made me laugh so hard. I will say, when we watched Avengers: Age of Ultron and Captain America broke the wood with his bare hands, Evie went, "Ooohhh that was nice," next to me. Made me and Alex have to hide our giggles.

Evie is approaching those tween years. I feel like she and I will have a lot to talk about when she is older. I can't wait to hear her take on Rhysand in the Acotar series (when she is 18 and it is ok to read these books.)

 

[amazingact21]

April 19th Part 2:



Showered, snacked, and satisfied we hadn’t ruined our energy with running, Alex and I left our room at Wilderness Lodge and trekked to the bus stop.

Naturally, we needed to show off our Neverland 5K medals:




Most of the fun with doing a Disney race is the opportunity to sport the medal in the parks later in the day. You see a fellow runner and immediately think, “They’re running on no sleep and adrenaline, too!” It’s a big conversation starter with other guests in lines, and it gives you a free pass to gorge on snacks.

Look, I did my cardio. I can have all the cupcakes.

Of course, seeing the medals does have its drawbacks.

For a lot of runners, Springtime Surprise was the race used to complete the Coast to Coast Challenge, which is participating in a 10 mile or longer run in both WDW and DL.

Seeing all those Coast to Coast medals the following Monday gave me some serious jealousy.

“Alex, we gotta do a Disneyland race.”

“Yeah, honey, but we really need to just GET to Disneyland first. Then we can talk about a race weekend.”

Alex was right. But that didn’t help me feeling like Tamatoa, vying for all the shiny jewelry.



Unlike DAK, an Epcot bus arrived in no time and the two of us were entering the park shortly after park opening. My goal was to take the day easy; I didn’t buy Genie nor plan on riding many attractions.

The first thing I wanted to do was see the new Dreamer statue and get a real look at the new World Celebration area.





There were a lot of Photopass Photgraphers out and about and not a lot of guests were taking photos with them. I know there were bigger and better attractions to get to, but I felt like grabbing pictures before slathering on the sunscreen and getting hot and sweaty was the smarter call.





We had one photographer who was very enthusiastic and kind. She posed us in several ways and at the end went, “Show off your medals. You’re proud of them, I know you are. Yeah, you are!”





Once finished with the photos, Alex and I decided to continue our expedition of new sights and check out Journey of Water. The area was really crowded, so we didn’t do many of the water features, but it was nice to see the new area. I appreciated all the green and the sound of water. It gives a little escape from the modern architecture of the buildings in Future World.



And Te Fiti was pretty impressive. Definitely worth a peek for anyone who hasn’t seen it yet.

(Do you hear Landon grumbling in the background: “I haven’t seen it yet.” He’s none too happy we’ve seen some stuff in Epcot that he has not. I’m loving these preteen years. LOVING THEM.)



By this point in the day it was time for Alex’s ILL for Guardians. Since I didn’t want to feel like Lucille 2 from Arrested Development, I sent him off solo while I went and visited some marine friends on The Seas.

Pretty sure Alex will never ride this attraction again, because it’s become my go-to while he rides Guardians.

What a shame.

He won’t get “In the Biggggg Blue World” stuck in his head for hours.


I know Alex told me what song he got on Guardians, but I don’t remember.



I just know he still stands that this is his favorite WDW coaster, and he feels no qualms leaving me in the hot Florida sun to fend for myself while he experiences it.

If there was ever evidence that we’ve been married over a decade…



Once Alex texted me that he was done, I walked over to meet him and we tried to see if we could get into our lunch reservation early. Alas, when we walked up there was a massive line and from ahead of us there was a big hubbub happening. We weren’t sure what was going down, but the two of us felt like it didn’t bode well for getting seated almost an hour early.

So, shifting gears, we headed to the Land.

I needed a snack to tide me over and settled on the Peanut Butter Whoopie Pie from Sunshine Seasons.



This was a solid dessert. It very light and fluffy with a nice peanut butter flavoring in the whipped frosting.



Fortified with sugar…remember we ran 3 miles earlier that morning! And it was, like, 9 hours after we woke up!...Alex and I got in a short line for Living with the Land. I love this attraction on a normal day, but it’s elevated during festival season. I was excited to see what they added for Flower and Garden.

It turned out there were several picnic areas set up with Disney themes:


I loved them. I could have hopped back on and rode again.

However, our lunch reservation was actually coming due, so we headed out.



Alex and I were very excited to try this new and hard to get reservation. It was our top priority when booking ADRs, and we were pleased to have gotten it on the day we wanted.

Everyone and their brother has been talking about Space 220, and we wanted to experience it for ourselves.



And oh boy.

Did we get an experience.



Up Next: I’m Having the Worst Day Ever

 

[hpygrll]

Here! We were there for Springtime Surprise Weekend as well - LOVE those races. I can't wait to hear about your Space 220 experience - we've eaten there twice and love it.

 

[Wayland10]

No fair, cliffhanger!

 

[suse66]

The first thing I wanted to do was see the new Dreamer statue and get a real look at the new World Celebration area.

I love it there! Your photos are lovely!

Once finished with the photos, Alex and I decided to continue our expedition of new sights and check out Journey of Water. The area was really crowded, so we didn’t do many of the water features, but it was nice to see the new area. I appreciated all the green and the sound of water. It gives a little escape from the modern architecture of the buildings in Future World.

I really enjoyed the Moana area, especially the ocean.

By this point in the day it was time for Alex’s ILL for Guardians. Since I didn’t want to feel like Lucille 2 from Arrested Development, I sent him off solo while I went and visited some marine friends on The Seas.

Marine friends are good friends.

Fortified with sugar…remember we ran 3 miles earlier that morning! And it was, like, 9 hours after we woke up!...Alex and I got in a short line for Living with the Land. I love this attraction on a normal day, but it’s elevated during festival season. I was excited to see what they added for Flower and Garden.

It really was fantastic for F&G this year.

Everyone and their brother has been talking about Space 220, and we wanted to experience it for ourselves.

And????

Did we get an experience.

Holy cliffhanger Batman!

 

[disneyAndi14]

I hope you had a fun trip to Florida and visiting MK after hours and DS.

It is nice to have a slow paced morning after the first race!
I love LWTL and would ride it several times in a row, no problem!
Oh no I’m curious to know what happened at Space 220! We loved our dinner and lounge visit there!

 

[erinch]

Lurker who LOVES your writing style. I checked into Disneyland Hotel today for a 3 day solo trip, when my wonderful hubby said why don't you go to Disneyland and get it out of your system before you go to that conference in Salt Lake City. And here I am! Let me know if you have any questions. It is crazy crowded, that's for sure. I am currently seated on the ground for the second Fantasmic,--Dinner package--after watching the fireworks in the hub.

 

[erinch]

My current view

 

[Stacybaeasm]

That's right you earned those medals and should be proud. But that dessert. That's not a snack, that's a meal. You totally earned that whoopie pie but holy wow! I'll have to stop by and look at those next visit.

 

[vamassey1]

Most of the fun with doing a Disney race is the opportunity to sport the medal in the parks later in the day. You see a fellow runner and immediately think, “They’re running on no sleep and adrenaline, too!” It’s a big conversation starter with other guests in lines, and it gives you a free pass to gorge on snacks.

I love seeing all the people with their medals. I may have never done it but enjoy everyone's accomplishments.

Seeing all those Coast to Coast medals the following Monday gave me some serious jealousy.

New goal for you.

And Te Fiti was pretty impressive. Definitely worth a peek for anyone who hasn’t seen it yet.

It really is beautiful!

This was a solid dessert. It very light and fluffy with a nice peanut butter flavoring in the whipped frosting.

I think I might like this too.

I loved them. I could have hopped back on and rode again.

I really enjoyed the Character extras too.

 

[piglet1979]

I had intended to make our DL trip a whole CA vacation, but that just wasn't going to be possible for the next few years. And the last year in England was incredibly hard and stressful for Alex, so I wanted to make sure he got a vacation he'd been wanting for a long while now. But hopefully one day I'll be able to get back to CA and visit the San Diego Zoo and San Francisco.
Do you have specific places you already know you want to visit during a 2 week trip?

Lots of things. Jeff wants to do Napa so I will do that. I don't drink but I am sure it is beautiful. I want to do all the Hollywood/LA stuff. My cousin lives in LA so I am sure I can talk him into being a tour guide. The last I talked to him, he works on Rodeo Drive. I also want to go to DL, the San Diego zoo, San Fran (Jeff has no desire to go here), Alcatraz, and the Joshua trees. Basically all of the touristy things.

I’m loving these preteen years. LOVING THEM.)

I can't believe he is a pre-teen. I think he was about 5 when I started reading your reports. That time has flown by. The middle school age is fun but not for the faint of heart. I am not sure how my mom was a teacher for 6th, 7th and 8th graders. She just retired a few weeks ago.

just know he still stands that this is his favorite WDW coaster, and he feels no qualms leaving me in the hot Florida sun to fend for myself while he experiences it.

If there was ever evidence that we’ve been married over a decade…

I tried to do this with Jeff. He did not want to go on a ride without me. I had really talk him into several. This being one of them. I did do the chicken out line in a few though.

 

[luvpoohandcompany]

Love your medal photos.
Too right you’re proud!
If it was me ( not likely to ever happen) I’d wearing those medals for weeks afterwards. You name it I’d be there with my medal- school run, grocery store, city centre walk about - there I’d be wearing my medal
I’m laughing at you’re loving the pre-teen years. The joys of parenthood
I don’t know why I didn’t know that you don’t ride GotG. How come? At least you get to enjoy singing along all by yourself under the ocean blue.
What a cliffhanger to leave us hanging on. Tell Alex he’s gotta take over all the parenting/ household duties until we get our next instalment

 

[Stasieki]

Me and my friend just did Disneyland last July for her 50th. Oh my - what a amazing experience. Be sure to get on Radiator Springs as much as possible. Nothing quite like it. We did have DAS due to my friend so it helped us. If can't get there first thing I feel like the line slowed a little at the end of the night. They do have single rider and 9 times out of 10 you will end up in same car. Use that if you can. We loved PYMs - had the pretzel and that chicken sandwich. Pretzel was the better of the two. Had some fun drinks there too. We had the lobster nachos at Lamplight Lounge. They were pretty good but wouldn't go out of my way. That tomato soup and grilled cheese was by far my fav. I think I had twice when there... and that raspberry macaroon. SOOOO good. The food is way better at DL.

We also ate at the restaurant that overlooks Pirates. Felt kinda overpriced for what you got but was very cool experience. I think we did the exact amount of days you are doing and I felt was the perfect amount. You will be surprised how easy the parks are. It really brought me back to early days of DW... characters just roaming around freely. Also, let me tell you... the people there. So so nice. No rudeness, CMs and park goers just so happy and friendly. I am from the South and thought I knew friendly. Nope... they were amazing out there. My friend wore a birthday button and random people would just break out in song singing her happy birthday. Almost more than the cast members.

You are going to LOVE it.

 

[amazingact21]

Here! We were there for Springtime Surprise Weekend as well - LOVE those races. I can't wait to hear about your Space 220 experience - we've eaten there twice and love it.

Welcome! Another SS runner! Isn't it such a fun weekend? I feel like we're a pretty strong group, for enduring the humidity of an April weekend in FL.

No fair, cliffhanger!

The picture limit here on the DIS is to blame. I'd reached my 10 uploads.

It really was fantastic for F&G this year.

I love that LwtL is leaning into these additions and hope they continue during future festivals.

 

[amazingact21]

I hope you had a fun trip to Florida and visiting MK after hours and DS.

We had a really nice visit to FL. The kids absolutely loved the After Hours party, and it was a great way to get a taste of WDW without getting an entire trip.
Evie was also excited to discover that since she's grown about 4 inches since last summer, Tron is a lot more comfortable now.

when my wonderful hubby said why don't you go to Disneyland and get it out of your system before you go to that conference in Salt Lake City. And here I am! Let me know if you have any questions. It is crazy crowded, that's for sure. I am currently seated on the ground for the second Fantasmic,--Dinner package--after watching the fireworks in the hub.

Sounds like one smart hubby.
Were the fridges in the fridges in the rooms actual fridges or beverage coolers like in WDW? Did you find the mornings or evenings to be more crowded? Any snacks or food items that you tried that I should make sure to grab?

That's right you earned those medals and should be proud. But that dessert. That's not a snack, that's a meal. You totally earned that whoopie pie but holy wow! I'll have to stop by and look at those next visit.

If it's any consolation, Alex helped me with most of that pie. It's definitely a shareable item.

 

[amazingact21]

New goal for you.

My hope is once the kids are in high school and can drive themselves to their activities and be left alone, I'll be able to knock out the WDW Marathon and the Coast to Coast Challenge. But who the heck knows where we'll be living at that time and what our life will look like.

I want to do all the Hollywood/LA stuff. My cousin lives in LA so I am sure I can talk him into being a tour guide. The last I talked to him, he works on Rodeo Drive. I also want to go to DL, the San Diego zoo, San Fran (Jeff has no desire to go here), Alcatraz, and the Joshua trees. Basically all of the touristy things.

That's convenient that you have someone who can hopefully show you around and help you navigate L.A. Sounds like you already have an itinerary mapped out, which is great. I really hope you can make it to CA one day. I keep encouraging you to take trips after your DD graduates as a gift to yourself and your DH. But it's only because I haven't even gotten a taste of the high school years but I already know they are wild! And you both deserve to reward yourselves for surviving them.

I can't believe he is a pre-teen. I think he was about 5 when I started reading your reports. That time has flown by. The middle school age is fun but not for the faint of heart. I am not sure how my mom was a teacher for 6th, 7th and 8th graders. She just retired a few weeks ago.

There's so much change that happens in the middle school years! It's kind of baffled me.
I am amazed by middle school teachers. They have the lion's share of patience. My best friend has been working in a middle school the past three years, and the stories she shares with me. I can always count on her for a good laugh.

 

[amazingact21]

If it was me ( not likely to ever happen) I’d wearing those medals for weeks afterwards. You name it I’d be there with my medal- school run, grocery store, city centre walk about - there I’d be wearing my medal

I love this. I had a friend ask me at a parent pickup the day we flew back why I didn't have my medals on. I missed an opportunity!

I’m laughing at you’re loving the pre-teen years. The joys of parenthood

I love Landon and his group of friends, but sometimes I have to send them away.

I don’t know why I didn’t know that you don’t ride GotG. How come?

It causes me to have wild vertigo. I'm usually the person in the group that can handle any ride, but Guardians gets me.

Tell Alex he’s gotta take over all the parenting/ household duties until we get our next instalment

Hah! If only. We had a video appointment concerning Landon in the middle of the day last week, so he came home from work to be there for it. And I think the chaos of summertime surprised him. Our kids raiding the pantry for snacks, the neighbors' kids knocking on our door, Landon blasting music from his room, shoes falling off the rack by the front door....I swear he ran back to work as quickly as he could.

 

[amazingact21]

Be sure to get on Radiator Springs as much as possible. Nothing quite like it.

I was on the fence about setting some money aside for buying ILLs for this attraction, but after reading this I bit the bullet and allocated at least one turn for everyone. It sounds like it's worth the hype.

We loved PYMs - had the pretzel and that chicken sandwich. Pretzel was the better of the two. Had some fun drinks there too.

I am so excited!

The food is way better at DL.

It's probably bad that one of the things I'm most looking forward to in a new Disney park is the food. But it'll be a nice change of pace from Disneyland Pairs where the food is severely lacking.

I think we did the exact amount of days you are doing and I felt was the perfect amount. You will be surprised how easy the parks are. It really brought me back to early days of DW... characters just roaming around freely. Also, let me tell you... the people there. So so nice. No rudeness, CMs and park goers just so happy and friendly. I am from the South and thought I knew friendly. Nope... they were amazing out there. My friend wore a birthday button and random people would just break out in song singing her happy birthday. Almost more than the cast members.

I read your post out loud to my husband and if it's possible, we became even more excited for our trip! It sounds like DL is an amazing park to visit and worth the trek out to CA. Thank you so much for sharing your experiences and building our anticipation.

 

[rdkeim]

Caught up! I'm very excited to read about your DL trip! I've been twice and really loved both visits. It just feels more manageable than WDW but has most of the "good stuff". My sister and I are doing a Disney trip next year. I tried to talk her into DL but she's pretty set on Florida. She doesn't get to travel very often so I'm giving in Enjoying your race trip - you should be VERY proud of your medals!