We Only Had to Wait in Line Twice For This - An April 2024 runDisney TR *Updated 9/18 New TR Link

[amazingact21]

All caught up again. Congrats on completing your race in record time!

Thank you! I am still really proud of how that 10 Mile race went.

Very impressive race times! Congratulations on your accomplishments!

Thanks so much! I'm so grateful I got the opportunity to run in that year's Springtime Surprise and that my training was successful.

 

[amazingact21]

I’m going to catch up and then jump back into my ongoing TR. I’d also love to write about our most recent spring break trip - it may be my favorite Disney trip of all-time!

Oh, that's exciting to hear! So the redemption trip stayed true to its name? I cannot wait to read the report when you write it.

I hear you on selectively sharing photos and information about your kids. I don’t share much of my kids on social media, but I feel okay sharing here as so few people see it (and most of them I’ll never see in real life).

It's such a fine line. Not to mention, with how much we move around, I cherish when friends from past bases share photos, because I miss seeing these kiddos I used to spend so much time with. But on the flip side, I understand why they don't share any. Hopefully, we can all find a nice balance.

I think it would be hard for me to skip the Disney parks if I were staying on property… I bet you’ll end up with the three day pass.

*cough* Uh-hmm.
We might or might not be doing the 3 Universal parks (I refuse to call Volcano Bay a park) and all 4 Disney parks and 1 water park.
It spiraled out of control very quickly.

 

[amazingact21]

July Pre-Trip Update:

I suppose with only 10 days left to go until our big trip, I should share what the final plans ended up being.
In a surprise to absolutely no one, we caved and got tickets to everywhere.


Alex coerced me into getting base 4 day tickets for Disney, and days later I made all our park and dining reservations.

Naturally, it was shortly after those bookings that Disney began announcing all their openings and we realized we'll be missing all the new openings by the skin of our teeth.
Oops.

Sunday: Check-in to Stella Nova and pop into Universal.
Monday: Our Epic day!
Tuesday and Wednesday: Universal days
Thursday: Move over to All Star Music and visit Typhoon Lagoon (a surprise for the kids!)
Friday: DAK with a Boma dinner reservation
Saturday: MK with a Liberty Tree Tavern lunch.

Yes. We will be there the day before the nighttime parade. Any luck they'll do a soft opening??? Fingers crossed.

Sunday: Epcot with a Via Napoli lunch.

This will be a mere 2 days before Test Track reopens.

Monday: DHS with a Roundup Rodeo lunch and tentative Oga's reservation.
Tuesday: Check Out and either a Toppolino's breakfast or a Homecoming lunch.


I'm torn on where to eat for our check-out day. I've heard nothing but amazing things about Toppolino's for breakfast, and we all love the dinners there.
But over 50 dollars for Landon to eat a meal he usually skips?! That's a tough, tough pill. I just can't get over the prices for the kids who don't even like breakfast.
Is it really worth it, friends? Will it be the perfect cap to a 9 night Orlando vacation?

Or should we just hop over to Disney Springs and stroll around and grab a lunch at a place we know we like?


I wish we could have a break at some point, but it just wasn't possible with our schedule. We figured we'll take afternoon breaks and catch indoor shows. Since we've been to MK last summer and last fall for MVMCP, Alex and I feel like if we need down time, that'll be the day we take it. So long as we go on Tiana's and ride Tron at night, the kids will be happy.


The four of us are incredibly excited for our upcoming trip. Us going to Epic has been the talk of the neighborhood. All the kids' friends are checking our countdown and telling the kids what they have to do while there. Evie is so impatient to get to Berk. She has also already planned all her outfits for the park days and instructed all of us on what to wear.

In case it wasn't apparent, we are eating at a lot of all you care to eat/buffets. That's thanks to Landon now being 12 and developing a voracious appetite. Would it make me a bad person to say I'm most looking forward to not having to cook copious amounts of food for him every day?
Talk about a break!

Alex's work schedule is insane leading up to the trip, so I'm sure the days will pass quickly as I gather everything we need and shuffle the kids to their activities and playdates. Before we know it, we'll be going to sleep and waking up to make the 3 day drive to Orlando. (Fortunately, one of those nights will be at my parent's house so we can visit.)

Until my next update, hope you all have a safe and happy 4th of July and enjoy the summer season!

 

[piglet1979]

No Steak House 71? We tend to not eat at a sit down restaurant for breakfast. I am not a breakfast eater and Nick isn't much of one either. Jeff and Elizabeth do though, so going to a quick service where Jeff and Elizabeth can eat more and Nick and I can get something small to hold us over works. great.

This looks like an awesome trip. I can't wait to hear about Epic. I am not a big US fan since there is not much I would ride but Epic looks so much better. I really want to go. I just can't talk Jeff into it yet. I think a new house will come first.

 

[luvpoohandcompany]

*cough* Uh-hmm.
We might or might not be doing the 3 Universal parks (I refuse to call Volcano Bay a park) and all 4 Disney parks and 1 water park.
It spiraled out of control very quickly.

Your trip plans sound fab!
Wishing you all a very happy holiday.
Enjoy every moment not having to cook is definitely one of the best things about vacation in my books)

 

[Stacybaeasm]

I can't comment on whether Toppolino's breakfast is worth it to you all since the kids don't really like breakfast, but I have done it twice now and I LOVE it. The food is delicious, the character interaction is great! (I love their artist costumes) and the views are to die for. Yes, it is expensive. But I have never regretted my breakfasts there. I am skipping it at Thanksgiving only because I think the only way to make sure I get a good seat for Fantasmic is to do the dining seating and I will probably do Hollywood and Vine breakfast for that.

 

[Stasieki]

The July trip sounds fabulous!!! Do you have hopper passes? Maybe you can monorail over Sunday to see the new nighttime parade on opening night.

 

[SimplyGoofy]

It spiraled out of control very quickly.

Seriously, though, your trip sounds fabulous! Your meals also sound fabulous - Diamond Horseshoe (which has the same menu as LTT) and Boma were two add-on meals that were our favorites from our last trip. The food was SO good and would be at the top of my list on our next trip. And if Landon is still hungry after those meals the kid must have eight stomachs.

As for Topolino’s vs. Homecomin’… I’d maybe stick with Homecomin’? Don’t get me wrong, I loved our brunch at Topolino’s (it was SO good!) and the characters and views were lovely, but it is an expensive brunch if you don’t love the food choices. Would Landon be interested in one of the more lunch-ish options like the Steak and Eggs or the Quiche? (I had the quiche and it was excellent!) If the food doesn’t appeal, you may be happier at Homecomin’.

I’d love to visit Epic (and the rest of Universal as well) but will likely wait a few years until my girls are older (and taller!). I think we’d enjoy it much more once both girls can ride most of the attractions. I love reading about others’ trips in the meantime.

 

[vamassey1]

I suppose with only 10 days left to go until our big trip, I should share what the final plans ended up being.
In a surprise to absolutely no one, we caved and got tickets to everywhere.

How exciting! We arrive on the 12th.

Alex coerced me into getting base 4 day tickets for Disney, and days later I made all our park and dining reservations.

Of course you did!

Naturally, it was shortly after those bookings that Disney began announcing all their openings and we realized we'll be missing all the new openings by the skin of our teeth.
Oops.

I'm in the same boat. So much happening right after we leave. You should be able to catch the new verse on Small World if your family will ride it

Monday: Our Epic day!

You're going to love it!

Friday: DAK with a Boma dinner reservation

If this is the 17th, we'll be in DAK too. Our dinner plans are 'Ohana's. We drive home the next day. We should try to meet up.

Yes. We will be there the day before the nighttime parade. Any luck they'll do a soft opening??? Fingers crossed.

I know the CMs are blocked out starting on the Friday.

This will be a mere 2 days before Test Track reopens.

I'm going to try for an AP preview the week before. If I get it I'll be riding alone since I'm the only AP.

I'm torn on where to eat for our check-out day. I've heard nothing but amazing things about Toppolino's for breakfast, and we all love the dinners there.
But over 50 dollars for Landon to eat a meal he usually skips?! That's a tough, tough pill. I just can't get over the prices for the kids who don't even like breakfast.
Is it really worth it, friends? Will it be the perfect cap to a 9 night Orlando vacation?

We loved Toppolino's but we were with kids that were under 10 and enjoyed breakfast. I know the adults loved the food. The kids enjoyed the characters.

Evie is so impatient to get to Berk

My favorite portal.

She has also already planned all her outfits for the park days and instructed all of us on what to wear.

She fit right in with Michelle and I.

 

[rdkeim]

I was excited to find more updates! I'm so impressed with all the races - great accomplishment! The kid free time sounded awesome. I'll be looking for how you wrapped this trip up and for the new TR!

 

[amazingact21]

We’re back!





Sadly, our trip to Florida is over, and my family is back to sweltering in the Texas heat. To be technical, we got back last weekend, but the back to school meetings and the workload walloped our schedules. When the school texts and phone calls started rolling in while in Florida, I decided I’m never traveling this close to the school year again. Because who doesn’t love having to pull out their laptop and find a PDF and send it in the middle of vacation? Yuck.

Anyways! This was the first opportunity I’ve gotten to look at my photos and check in with all you lovely DISers.



What an interesting vacation this turned out to be. I know this is a common theme here on trip reports, and it might be redundant to say, but really: No two trips are ever the same.

I never in a million years could have predicted that this trip would play out as it did.

To say it was completely unexpected would be an understatement.


For starters, we were at the theme parks for 10 nights. You perceptive friends will remember that is 1 more additional night than I listed on my pre-trip update...


Stella Nova provided an amazing view:




And staying at All Star Music was a trip down nostalgia lane. I kept asking myself, “Am I here with my two kids? Because it feels like I’m walking with Alex and it’s back when we’re dating.”





It’s amusing, because on paper, this trip sounds like it shouldn’t have been as good as it was. There were many, many curveballs thrown our way. The biggest aspect being that my Core 4 family did not spend an entire park day together until Day 8 of the trip.

That’s right. Flabbergasting.

It was not until the final 3 park days that the four of us spent a measurable amount of time with each other.

Pretty wild!



That is not say we did not pivot and adjust at every turn. Making this a really special vacation full of unique memories. (Despite Epcot being the Disney park I spent the most time in!)



Alex and I were able to see the Starlight Parade during one of its soft openings:





Numerous delicious snacks were procured:




Oh so much shopping happened:



I even had a wonderful surprise DISmeet!



But what made this trip as good as what it was had to be the amazing Cast and Team Members we interacted with. I have so many stories about friendly, happy, skilled individuals that went out of their way to make our day better. Alex and I were constantly filling out Compliment cards, because we felt like we were being helped left and right.










Alex and I realized this trip that when our plans go out the window, we throw the baby out with the bath water. If something goes awry, might as well lean into the chaos and go a little crazy! What do I mean by that?

First off, Epic was so amazing that a day after our visit, Alex and I bought a second day. Spontaneous, for sure. But probably one of our favorite decisions we made. Two days at Epic was necessary.

The other?




Because who doesn’t go into a trip and buy 4 more tickets to a theme park on Day 3, and then a few days later promptly make a passing statement at 10 a.m. about upgrading a pass, and by 1 p.m. make the decision to do it?



I’m telling you, this was a wild and wonderful and interesting trip. I cannot wait to write about it and share our love of Epic and the magic of Disney through updates. I cannot wait to talk about all the different configurations that happened with who hung out with whom. I’m looking forward to sharing Easter Eggs about the new park for those who want to hear about it. (I’ll preface them with warnings.) And I hope we all can laugh together at how many of my plans never came to fruition but instead of being sour, my family looked on it as hilarious side effects of the tornado that was this vacation.


Until then, I’m going to start catching up on your reports and appreciating the way you all are helping me get over the post Disney blues! And I’m going to celebrate my kiddos going back to school and the ability to drink my morning coffee in silence again.

 

[luvpoohandcompany]

I can’t wait to hear all the details! Sounds fab!

 

[rdkeim]

Oh my, following for sure!

 

[Stasieki]

Looking forward to hearing about it!!!

 

[vamassey1]

I'm looking forward to reading about your trip too.

I almost ditched the family to catch the parade on Friday night.

 

[Stacybaeasm]

Can't wait to hear about your trip!!!

 

[amazingact21]

I can’t wait to hear all the details! Sounds fab!

Oh my, following for sure!

Looking forward to hearing about it!!!

I'm looking forward to reading about your trip too.

I almost ditched the family to catch the parade on Friday night.

Can't wait to hear about your trip!!!

Thank you all! I'm looking forward to getting there. The kids start their various schools this week, so I'm hoping I'll be able to find some time to finish this report and keep them moving along!

 

[amazingact21]

Monday, April 22 Part 1:


Thanks to runDisney, Alex and I had been waking up at the horrendous hour of 2:00 a.m. Fortunately, for our last Disney day, we allowed ourselves to sleep in until 6:00 a.m.


Sounds just as bad, but Disney’s Animal Kingdom had early morning magic hours, and I wanted to be there for park opening. This is my favorite park, and I never want to miss a moment inside the immersive lands.

I woke up feeling really tired and groggy, a little congested, but I assumed it was my body’s reaction to running 3 races in 3 days. My system was rebelling against the strain. I ignored the aches and pains and got ready to go.



Alex ordered an Uber for us, because we did not have the patience to wait for a bus this morning, and it was arriving a few minutes earlier than we scheduled. Because of that, we were rushing out the door right before seven a.m.

Not to worry.

As we are taking the stairs down to the lobby, I instructed Alex on what to do inside the MDE app.

“Okay. You are going to buy individual passes for Tron. Please get them for the afternoon. Got it?”

Alex nodded.

“You are going to do that while I grab us lightning lanes. Understand?”

He gave me a thumbs up.



Our feet hit the ground floor as the clock struck 7. Our fingers did their tappy tappy magic as we exited through the front doors and found our Uber waiting for us.

In the hustle and bustle to verify our driver, hop inside, and try not to gasp at our crazy driver’s antics, Alex and I simply gave each other a quick, “Done,” when we were finished with our respective tasks.



The two of us made it to Animal Kingdom in record time. Our Uber driver was efficient, I’ll give him that. Not necessarily something I’d want to take if my children were on board, but we gave him kudos for speed.



Alex and I grabbed a selfie in front of the park:



And then got in line for Photopass pictures by the Tree of Life. While we were in line, we got to chatting with some nice ladies who asked about our medals and wanted to know the difference between each medal. It was a lovely conversation, and when it petered out, Alex popped in with the suggestion that perhaps we should get a photo of our medals in all 4 parks.

“Four medals, four parks, it could be fun.”



Fun…Not exactly the term I would use to describe the challenge. But also: I wasn’t surprised in the least. Why wouldn’t Alex want to hit up all 4 parks after a 3-day race challenge?

When it comes to Disney, Alex is all about go hard and go big. There’s never such a thing as “too much.”

His train of thought was, “We’re already going to the MK after lunch to watch the parade and ride Tron. Might as well catch a monorail to Epcot and then Skyliner over to DHS.”


Ehh.

Did I want to do that? Not particularly. Did I understand that Alex had done this big athletic feat on my behalf and this was his one full Disney day to celebrate?

I did.

Did I feel like I should give him this goal since he’d been such a good sport about the races?

I did indeed.



So let’s begin:


Can you tell I’m not feeling 100% in this picture? The walk into the park and being out in the morning sun was doing nothing to make me feel better. Again, though, I just thought I was really, really tired.



In the hubbub of being in a NASCAR and taking photos and deciding to make this a 4 park day, Alex and I hadn’t had any time to check back into the MDE app and verify our Lightning Lane selections.

As we were walking away from the Photopass photographer and strolling into Africa, I logged on.


“Alex!”

“Yes?”

“Remember what I told you to do this morning?”

“You told me to get Tron passes.”

“Right. But which ones?”

Alex got that panicked look on his face. The one all husbands who get thrown a trick question get. A flicker of panic crossed his features.

“Alex!”

“I was doing virtual, right?”

Nooooo.


This was not bad in and of itself. It would save us a few dollars.

Except there was one problem.


The boarding group Alex landed us was NUMBER 9!!!



How?!?!

How in the world did Alex manage to get the first group of the day when every other time it’s usually in the hundreds? What are the odds that the one time he was not trying, he gets a coveted spot?





It was so hilarious we could do nothing but stop and laugh.

And my sweet, darling husband, to try and remedy the error, immediately hopped on the app and booked ILLs for the afternoon.

“ALEX!!!!”

“What? That’s what you wanted, right?”

“But why pay when we now have free ones?”



I’m telling you, it was a comedy of errors.



Alex and I were left standing on the sidewalk of Animal Kingdom, disoriented and trying to get our brains to catch up with our new plans. We now had quite the dilemma on our hands.

We were in DAK. It was 7 in the morning. The MK opened at 9. We probably had until 10 to make it to Tron. And then we had to get BACK to MK after lunch to use the newly paid for Tron passes.

And then still make it to the other two parks.


Who needs a nice, slow, simple Disney day after a runDisney weekend? Not us!



I told Alex we would figure it out as we went and that, for the time being, we should enjoy the park we were in. So strolling along, we found the backside area of the Tree of Life was completely empty. I thought since the medal colors were lots of oranges and greens, that DAK would be a good choice to get a shot of all them together.



Before that, though, had to grab an individual pic:



And then one of just the Lion King 10-Miler:




Finally, all of them on display:




It was still very early, so Alex and I headed to Expedition Everest to visit the yeti:




Then we were feeling hungry. And tired. Coffee was calling my name. We decided to head to the Kusafiri Snack Stand and grab an order of breakfast totchos and their specialty coffee, which was an iced Joffrey’s coffee with coconut and sweetened condensed milk.



Oh my goodness, both items were delicious! Halfway through our bowls, Alex and I admitted we wished we had each gotten our own serving. Hands down, one of our new favorite quick breakfast spots on property.

I can attest that it held up to the test of time, as well. We got it last month and it was just as good!



With food in our bellies and a drink to sip, Alex and I began making our way out of the park. We stopped inside the shops to pick up the Lion King mug I found a few days prior, then we headed to the exit. I’m sure other guests thought we were crazy, leaving right at park opening!

However, they had no idea we needed to get allllll the way across property in a reasonable amount of time.

Thanks, hubs.


We walked to the bus stop area and were told by a nice security guard that park-to-park buses don’t begin running until 11 a.m.

Of course. Because who is crazy enough to go to different park at 8 in the morning?
Yeesh.



That left us trying to decide the best next course of action. We had less than 90 minutes to get all the way to the Tron entrance.

Let’s get going!



Up Next: Nothing Like a Long, Brisk Walk After 19.3 Miles to Get the Heart Pumping

 

[rdkeim]

Oh my what a crazy morning! Great pictures of your medals - they are very colorful and photogenic Something to be proud of! I'm worried you came down with C*V*D - hope I'm wrong.....

 

[Stacybaeasm]

what a morning already! I can't even imagine trying to get to all 4 parks after a race weekend. And you feeling ill??? Oh dear.

I have to laugh about the Tron thing though. It makes total sense. And only the universe can get you boarding group 9 when you want something like 50. Now, if you had WANTED the morning group, I guarantee you'd be looking at boarding group 75 or something.