WISHes Minnie Marathon Tour and Travel

[Mouse Skywalker]

Greetings WISH teammates:

OK, this may get long-winded, but here goes. As some of you may know, this has been a very trying Fall for me. My mother passed away in September, and I've been receiving a lot of funding pressure here at work. This month I was told there is only guaranteed funding for my position for another year, and I might be wise to keep my eyes out for other positions here at the University.

This has got me thinking about what it is I want to do when I grow up. During one of my long runs training for the Marine Corps Marathon, I was thinking that I would love to organize tours/trips for runners to go to races. I would especially like to organize trips to Disney races. Then, a light bulb went off - why don't WE as a WISH team organize ourselves as a group in order to take advantage of some of the group travel opportunities Disney has to offer. I think we had over 100 runners and walkers participate in the Tower of Terror 13K weekend, and we have over 100 runners and walkers signed up to participate in the Marathon Weekend events in January. Last year, we did take advantage of organizing an Illuminations Dessert Party which was fantastic (thank you Rhonda).

Let me state up front, I am NOT looking to make any money from my fellow WISH teammates, but here's where my WISH teammates come in. How much interest would there be in trying to organize team/group events for the Minnie Marathon Weekend? I have a call in to a Disney group planner to get some details. How much a block of rooms would be? How much would certain events be, etc.

I was thinking I could even rent a 15 passenger van to shuttle people around to events for the weekend. I could be the WISHes Express and take people from the airport to their hotel, take people to events, take people to the starting line, and take people back to the airport. I look at this as a test case to see how it would be to organize some running tours. I'm thinking I would ask for money to offset the cost of a rental van or any group events we do, but I am NOT looking to make money off of this. I would be more than willing to be the driver, gopher, and helper to make a WISH trip even that much more special.

Whaddya think? Would you be interested?

 

[ultramickeymouse]

I am Mega DVC'er and already have BWV rooms booked. I(&DW) would be interested in transport to the races as well as possible WISH meets. I use ME for to and from MCO.

Keep me updated!

Thanks for the offer and efforts!

 

[Kristi1357]

Dave - I think it's a great idea!
If I come down for the Minnie, I'd be all over this (unless I use DVC pts).

I'd also be all over being your partner in NH. I need to figure out what I want to do when I grow up as well. Things in TV Land are getting to be too much for me anymore. I'd really love to be a travel agent. I looked into it just before 9/11, then gave up that idea. Other than that, I have no idea what I want to do.

 

[windwalker]

Dave - I think it's a great idea!
If I come down for the Minnie, I'd be all over this (unless I use DVC pts).

I'd also be all over being your partner in NH. I need to figure out what I want to do when I grow up as well. Things in TV Land are getting to be too much for me anymore. I'd really love to be a travel agent. I looked into it just before 9/11, then gave up that idea. Other than that, I have no idea what I want to do.

Hey now wait a minute, I have dibbs on being the pretty WISH princesses resident cabana boy.

Seriously Erica and I would be players on group rates and activities. We have even thought how wonderful it would be to do a WISH cruise, even something like a WindJammer sailing ship. Count us in.

Goofy Challanger Panda

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Hey now wait a minute, I have dibbs on being the pretty WISH princesses resident cabana boy.

Seriously Erica and I would be players on group rates and activities. We have even thought how wonderful it would be to do a WISH cruise, even something like a WindJammer sailing ship. Count us in.

Goofy Challanger Panda

You're not doing the Flying Pig in '08 Dave?

 

[windwalker]

No Mouse buddy, the Pig and the last Minnie are the same weekend. We decided to do the last Minnie and then see what replaces it for next year. The Pig will always be there.

Goofy Challanger Panda

 

[chimera]

Dave,

I've looked into the group discount for the team for marathon weekend the past 2 years. The rate usually isn't any better than AP or AAA discounts. The two years I checked into it, we didn't have enough people interested to book the rooms, but we get more teammates each year. We usually stay on DVC points, but if there was a good group rate available, we might do a cash ressie for that weekend.

It's pretty easy, you only need 10 rooms and they can be spread across multiple resorts. You need one person to be the contract holder (the 'responsibility' party) but every guest can pay their own deposit.

I also looked into a group dinner for the marathon last year. With the numbers we had at Pop, WDW wanted us to have a catered event (min was $35 per plate). That seemed waaay to expensive. For Minnie, we've been pretty casual...just meeting at EOS. We had a pretty big group for Minnie last year so something more WISH team-ish would be cool.

Transportation would definitely be helpful! I usually have a car since we drive up, but the folks that fly in don't get a lot of options on getting to the start.

And I agree with Kristi...I'd love to have an adventure travel business. That would be cool if you do something like that.

 

[CynthiaCindy]

Dave - There is (I hope) a very good chance that I will be doing the Minnie in '08 and if so, I would be interested - it would be great to meet you and some other WISHers! Whether I do the Minnie depends on my sister. I have been encouraging her to try running but she doesn't think she would like it, its too much work, etc. Anyway, I decided that a bribe was in order. And what better to bribe with than a trip to Disney World! I told her that if she would commit to training to be able to walk/run the 15 min/mile pace, then I would take her to Disney for the weekend so that we could run the race. She is going to get back to me in the next few days as to whether she is willing to commit to the training so I can let you know for sure then.

 

[princessrunner]

Dave - There is (I hope) a very good chance that I will be doing the Minnie in '08 and if so, I would be interested - it would be great to meet you and some other WISHers! Whether I do the Minnie depends on my sister. I have been encouraging her to try running but she doesn't think she would like it, its too much work, etc. Anyway, I decided that a bribe was in order. And what better to bribe with than a trip to Disney World! I told her that if she would commit to training to be able to walk/run the 15 min/mile pace, then I would take her to Disney for the weekend so that we could run the race. She is going to get back to me in the next few days as to whether she is willing to commit to the training so I can let you know for sure then.

If she backs out....I'll go LOL

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Dave,

I've looked into the group discount for the team for marathon weekend the past 2 years. The rate usually isn't any better than AP or AAA discounts. The two years I checked into it, we didn't have enough people interested to book the rooms, but we get more teammates each year. We usually stay on DVC points, but if there was a good group rate available, we might do a cash ressie for that weekend.

It's pretty easy, you only need 10 rooms and they can be spread across multiple resorts. You need one person to be the contract holder (the 'responsibility' party) but every guest can pay their own deposit.

I also looked into a group dinner for the marathon last year. With the numbers we had at Pop, WDW wanted us to have a catered event (min was $35 per plate). That seemed waaay to expensive. For Minnie, we've been pretty casual...just meeting at EOS. We had a pretty big group for Minnie last year so something more WISH team-ish would be cool.

Transportation would definitely be helpful! I usually have a car since we drive up, but the folks that fly in don't get a lot of options on getting to the start.

And I agree with Kristi...I'd love to have an adventure travel business. That would be cool if you do something like that.

Mel- Thank you for looking into this. I remember now that you mention it. I'm willing to look into this and try organizing it. I would definitely be willing to be the chauffeur for the weekend and could shuttle people around. And I would definitely be willing to organize something for a group event too. I'm looking at this as kind of a dry run to try to get used to organizing these types of events so maybe I could offer it as a side business to the more general public. If the WISH team wouldn't mind being guinea pigs, and helping me get this off the ground, they would get the benefits of my services for free - well, nearly free as long as I cover expenses (but we could all talk about that).

You guys are all the best, and I couldn't think of a better group of people to try this out with. I'm really excited about it right now.

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Dave - There is (I hope) a very good chance that I will be doing the Minnie in '08 and if so, I would be interested - it would be great to meet you and some other WISHers! Whether I do the Minnie depends on my sister. I have been encouraging her to try running but she doesn't think she would like it, its too much work, etc. Anyway, I decided that a bribe was in order. And what better to bribe with than a trip to Disney World! I told her that if she would commit to training to be able to walk/run the 15 min/mile pace, then I would take her to Disney for the weekend so that we could run the race. She is going to get back to me in the next few days as to whether she is willing to commit to the training so I can let you know for sure then.

You can tell your sister you'd have a driver and porter... I'm so sorry I missed you in DC this weekend.

 

[wtpclc]

Dave - Great idea! I'm a DVCer, so the rooms would not do much for me, but group activities would be great. I hope you can figure out someting that you love!

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Dave - Great idea! I'm a DVCer, so the rooms would not do much for me, but group activities would be great. I hope you can figure out someting that you love!

Yay! More people!!! How's your new job going Carrie?

 

[Jodi]

Dave - HI Are you doing Minnie this year? Sign me up for your travel endeavor. When you figure out what you want to be when you get bigger let me know, too. I need a change of pace . Something where I could work from my home & huge $ would be great

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Dave - HI Are you doing Minnie this year? Sign me up for your travel endeavor. When you figure out what you want to be when you get bigger let me know, too. I need a change of pace . Something where I could work from my home & huge $ would be great

Sweet!

 

[Jen117]

I am pretty much in for Minnie unless something tragic comes up. I am currently blocking that weekend off and telling people I will be gone!!!!! Definately let me know the details!!!!

 

[princessmomma]

Dave, you know I am there too, buddy!

 

[escape]

Dave, this sounds great! Thanks for looking into it. I'm looking into doing the Minnie and I'm all for saving some $$$.

I know what you mean about the funding. My job is coming to an end next May. Our department now requires a Ph.d for my position and I only have a master's degree.

 

[cobbler]

I would need a room for Friday and Saturday night right now. We are DVC as well and staying on points Sun - Thursday before but really don't want to fork over 109 per night (rack) for a value resort. Right now we are looking at doing the AAA rate and hoping that AP rates will come out or something.

So I am interested in a getting a room.

 

[TnTsParty]

I might be interested in doing a group event but I would probably book the room using AP or Florida resident rates. And we wouldn't need transportation because we drive up.

But I think its a great idea.