![]() Even though I've been to Walt Disney World many times, I enjoy experiencing new things with each visit back. There are always new attractions opening, stage shows debuting, improvements to classic favorites, and more. And along with those new things, I also have a list of "dream experiences" I consider to be somewhat of a Disney bucket list that I've compiled over the years. While some of these dreams have little likelihood of coming true, I can't help but hope to cross all of these off someday! Check out my personal bucket list for all of Disney's Theme Parks & Resorts across the globe, and dream along with me! *Visit all of Disney theme parks across the world Since the Disney name is widely-known across the world for their iconic characters, beloved stories, and USA's Disneyland and Walt Disney World, there have been other parks built to enjoy in other parts of the world! In France there's the Disneyland Paris Resort, which is comprised of two parks, seven resort hotels, and a shopping, dining, and entertainment district. I had the amazing opportunity to visit for two days about a decade ago when my mom and I vacationed in Paris, and I am so dying to go back soon! I like to describe it as a more elegant Disney Parks & Resorts experience all around, with softer colors, a lot of gold, and that refined French touch. Plus, there's a dragon living underneath their version of Sleeping Beauty Castle! And in Asia, there is so much more Disney magic to behold, with three unique destinations to visit! There's Hong Kong Disneyland with one theme park and two resort hotels, the Tokyo Disney Resort with two theme parks and three resort hotels, and the upcoming Shanghai Disney Resort, which will feature one theme park and a shopping, dining, and entertainment district. The Asian parks really take everything to the next level in storytelling and theming, and their parades and shows look like they're beyond anything currently showing the American parks. All of these places are definitely at the top of my Disney bucket list! *Spend the night at all of Walt Disney World's resort hotels Another task right at the top of my list is to spend at least one night in each and every resort hotel at Walt Disney World. I'm off to a good start with stays at Pop Century (our go-to resort), Caribbean Beach, and Coronado Springs, but there are so many others to explore! It's fun to visit other resorts for meals, shopping, and strolling between park days on longer vacations, but I really want to rest my head for a night in each! Some of the resorts I'm particularly interested in? Definitely the Grand Floridian, the Polynesian (those new bungalows!!!), and Animal Kingdom Lodge. That just means I have to take more frequent trips, right?! *Spend the night in the Cinderella Castle suite inside the Magic Kingdom My inner princess wants to see the inside of this very special suite more than anything! Tucked away high up inside Cinderella Castle, there is an ornately-decorated suite that was originally going to be an apartment for Walt and his family before he passed away in the beginnings of constructing the Magic Kingdom. The suite is now used for promotional giveaways and special events, when celebrities visit the park, etc. It cannot be booked and you can't just walk in, so this one is going to be a tough one to cross off! *Make it though the entire day at one of the Magic Kingdom's 24-hour events A few years back on leap day, Disney decided to keep both Disneyland and Florida's Magic Kingdom open for 24 hours straight as part of a campaign known as "One More Disney Day." Since that event was so successful, they've since hosted more like this, particularly to kick off the Summer season. I haven't yet gotten the chance to spend time at the Magic Kingdom for any of these events, but I certainly hope to someday. I already enjoy staying in the park from open to close, so why not take it up a notch and go for 24 hours?! *Go on a private cruise over Seven Seas Lagoon during Wishes I often see families taking special boat cruises around Seven Seas Lagoon (and Crescent Lake near the Boardwalk) to take in the Magic Kingdom's nightly fireworks, and I would love to do the same! Whether it would be to celebrate something special, enjoy a private meal, or just to say I did it, it would be amazing! It's worth noting that there are no prices listed on the information page of the Walt Disney World website though, which leads me to believe this experience doesn't come cheap! *Go on a Wild Africa Trek at Disney's Animal Kingdom Taking a ride on Kilimanjaro Safaris is one of my favorite parts of each day at Disney's Animal Kingdom park, so why not get one step closer during this guided tour?! You get to walk on suspension bridges right over hippos and crocodiles, ride up closer to giraffes, learn more from a personal guide, pose for complimentary photos, and so much more. It may come at a high price (up to $250 per person during peak times of the year), but all of the guest reviews say it's worth it! *Complete the RunDisney Wine & Dine half marathon Now that I've completed my first RunDisney race, I'm itching to run another! The annual Wine & Dine half marathon at Walt Disney World is at the top of my list, which is held in the Fall season, and at night! It's themed around EPCOT's annual International Food & Wine Festival, and even includes a special finisher's party in the park afterwards with plenty food and drink samplings. I already thoroughly enjoy visiting WDW at this time of year, so why not add another amazing RunDisney experience to the plans?! *Take a tour through Walt Disney's apartment above the Disneyland fire station and the Dream Suite above Disneyland's Pirate of the Caribbean attraction This is another one that isn't very easy to come by (at all), but a girl can dream, right? Walt had a small apartment over the fire station right on Main Street for himself and his family that allowed him to stay right in the middle of the magic, quickly come down to meet guests, and be close enough to attend to any issues and help Cast Members. The Disney Dream Suite above Pirates of the Caribbean was an idea originally conceived by Walt himself so he could invite friends and celebrities to stay right in the park as well, but also so they didn't have to be bothered by other visiting guests. The suite was eventually completed and furnished a few years ago using Walt's original renderings, and like the Cinderella Castle Suite, is only used for promotional purposes and special events. *Ride Space Mountain with the lights on This may be a trivial one to have amongst my list of big Disney dreams, but it's still something I really want to do one day! I've seen many photos and videos, plus stories from guests on how the lights really add to the thrill factor (those tracks come very close together!), and I think it would be another great memory to make on one of my favorite attractions. Some things may be harder to accomplish on this list than others, but anything is possible! Disney is always dreaming up new magical experiences to be had at their theme parks and resorts, so I'm sure my list will continue to grow with each visit and announcement from the Imagineers. Be sure to visit the Disney Parks Blog regularly for announcements like these and more to help you build your own Disney bucket list! And please share yours with me in the comments below; I want to share in your Disney dreams! Until the next post, see ya real soon!
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![]() This Disney Princess loves to shop, and I make sure to save a separate budget for souvenirs during any and all trips to Walt Disney World. Yes, some items can be on the pricey side, and it might be hard justifying $30 for a stuffed animal, but the memories that go along with them can last forever! From pins to autograph books to t-shirts, I hold many special memories with each souvenir that I know I'll remember and share for years to come. Take a look at some of my favorite merchandise I've picked up on visits over time, and what I think every Disney fan should have: 1. Disney pins I was hesitant at first to jump on the bandwagon when Disney Pin Trading first came out, but now I've become a fanatic! Disney Pins come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and costs, with pins for every character you can think of, favorite attractions, seasonal events, and more. I've accumulated enough pins to now fill three lanyards (with a few left over that I like to carry with me as everyday accessories), and I still like to peruse new offerings on each trip for something new. In the photo above, you'll see I have a lanyard entirely filled with Princess pins, a "theme park" lanyard with attraction and resort pins, and a Disney Cruise Line lanyard that still needs some work! Some pins are sold individually, some in packs, and some in "mystery sets" (my favorite!), so you can build up a collection rather quickly once you get started. Plus, most Cast Members are required to wear/carry pins for trading with guests, so be on the look out for some unique ones as you walk through the parks! I personally don't like to trade, but it's fun to see just how many pins Disney has available. 2. Mickey Mouse ear hats/headbands You can see in a previous post just how much I love my mouse ear headbands! It's a given that anyone who visits Walt Disney World should own at least one pair of ears, no matter their personality. There are hats and headbands for Princess fans, Pixar lovers, Villian appreciators, those who like to keep things "classic," and more. I've created a tradition of purchasing a new pair of ears every time I visit, so now I have enough to wear something different for each park day! These are great too as conversation starters with characters, and like I mentioned, really show off your Disney personality. And you can forget about personalization too! Definitely a must-buy! 3. Plush stuffed animals You might be thinking, "Okay, you're in your 20s and still buy Disney stuffed animals?!" Yes, of course; I don't think you can have enough stuffed animals! Disney carries plush friends from most of their franchises, and in many sizes and themes. Some plush also have interchangeable outfits to dress them in, which can be extra special fun! I love the recent additions of Pillow Pets to the plush world, including classic characters like Mickey, Minnie, and Dumbo alongside newer friends like Sulley, Simba, and Stitch. Even if you're a big kid (I don't like the term "adult"), it's definitely still worth picking up a new plush on your next trip. Who doesn't want to bring home a new cuddly buddy?! ![]() 4. Mickey & Minnie Holiday plush Going along with the plush theme, I'm a big fan of the Holiday/seasonal versions of Mickey & Minnie that are released throughout the year. I now have a 9" set of the famous couple for Christmas, Halloween, Easter (purchased during my most recent trip), Summer, and a special set from "The Year of a Million Dreams" back a couple of years ago. These guys are great to remember specific trips from, and can even be set out as decorations during their associated time of year. I love to put mine out on the sofa or atop a shelf! While each plush might cost you upwards to $18, they really are a great alternative to the classic versions you may already have at home. And who could pass up those adorable outfits? 5. Antenna toppers Another set of collectibles I've become addicted to! Disney makes a ton of themed antenna toppers to adorn your vehicle that can really show off your Disney personality back at home. There are Holiday/seasonal toppers, character-specific toppers, attraction-specific toppers, and more! I'm a big fan of the different varieties for Christmas (including Santa Mickey, Mickey with reindeer antlers, and a Mickey-shaped ornament), Mickey in a yellow rain poncho, and a pink Minnie with a gold princess crown. But it's so hard to decide which is my favorite! These are very reasonably priced items, usually offered at two for $8, so they're great souvenirs if you're traveling on a limited budget. Plus, they can help you find your car quickly in busy parking lots - an added bonus! 6. Christmas ornaments Definitely a must-purchase on any trip! You can find special Christmas ornaments around almost every corner at WDW, and they're another great way of remembering specific visits. Whether you want to get something with the date of your trip, represent a special event like an engagement, graduation, or new baby, or simply pay tribute to your favorite character, there are tons to choose from! I especially love visiting Disney's Days of Christmas at the Downtown Disney Marketplace to pick up something on each trip and spend extra time looking at the hundreds of offerings. Most locations also offer personalization for your ornaments, which does come at an extra cost, but adds a little extra pixie dust to your purchase. Just be sure to get them wrapped tight for travel and carry them home on the plane rather than packing them away! 7. Dooney & Bourke bags These might be splurge items, but I like to save up a little extra cash before a visit so I can purchase the latest and greatest handbag from Dooney & Bourke for Disney! They've released bags for everything from the Disney Princesses to the parks to the Haunted Mansion, and I fall in love with each new pattern they release. They typically have a variety of styles for each pattern, which have past included a cross-body, bowler, and tote, and sometimes even carry smaller items like wallets and wristlets. These items can usually be found in the jewelry room at World of Disney at Downtown Disney and in Uptown Jewelers at the Magic Kingdom, among other locations (we usually find the biggest selections at these stores). While they definitely will take a large chunk out of your souvenir budget, I promise you'll want to carry them everywhere you go once you're home. 8. Alex & Ani bracelets Disney certainly knows how to capitalize on trends, and partnering with Alex & Ani was a very smart move! These made-in-the-USA, positive energy-touting bangles are the perfect accessories for every girl. They have varieties representing each park at Walt Disney World, the Disney Princesses, the Fab Five classic characters, and famous Disney quotes, among others. They even carry their popular birthstone varieties with an extra little Mickey silhouette hanging from the bangle to signify where you got it from. These pieces start at around $38 each and go up a little from there, and they're easy to get addicted to (if you're like me anyway!). I love to stack a bunch of mine and wear them at once, like the photo recently posted to my Facebook page, but they're also nice to wear one at time for a more delicate look. These can be found at the main retail locations for each park (think Emporium and Mouse Gear-sized stores), and both World of Disney and Tren-D at Downtown Disney. Word of advice though: If you see a style you like, buy it right away! These things sell out quickly at bigger locations, especially if it's a newly-released style! 9. Vera Bradley bags Can you tell I'm a girly-girl?! Much like the Dooney & Bourke bags, I've fallen in love with the few Disney patterns by Vera Bradley that have made their way to the parks within the last year. These can also be on the higher-priced side, but come in a variety of sizes to fit your style and budget. I really like the smaller backpack size, because it's perfect for taking to the parks! The Disney element of the patterns is subtle too, so you can definitely continue to carry your bag when you get home. These can usually be found in the same locations as the Dooney & Bourke bags all around property as well. 10. Animator's Collection dolls These dolls, mostly of the Princess variety, are great sit-on-a-shelf items to bring home if you're a collecting type like I am. Introduced a few years back, these guys share a little information about the animator who designed them on the back of their box, in addition to their cute faces. I really love learning all I can about how Disney's animated classic films were produced, so I enjoy having little pieces of history to bring back home after a visit to WDW. Some of the dolls can be found outside of the parks, but most are only available on-property, or at least offer something a little bit extra (see the little Olaf Anna is holding in the photo below?). I'd recommend using the shipping service Disney offers so you don't have to run the risk of damaging the box en route home, or stock up on your favorites if you're driving home from Walt Disney World in a car. Even if you're visiting Walt Disney World on a budget, be sure to save a little cash for some souvenirs to bring home. You don't want to limit yourself and then make it back saying "Oh, I wish I would have picked up that gift!" After all, you never quite know when you'll be back again. I have many fond, magical memories attached to things I've brought home from Disney vacations, and I'll treasure them forever. Be sure to check out https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/shops/ for comprehensive WDW shopping information to plan your attack. Do you have any favorite souvenirs from past visits? Share them with me in the comments below! I always love to hear your about your magical memories! Until the next post, see ya real soon! ![]() Even though I've visited Walt Disney World more times than I can count, I still find new things to discover every time I come back. And this year's trip for the Disney Princess Half Marathon was no exception! Between new attractions, snacks, and experiences, this WDW veteran got to do many new things, and do it all alongside a first-timer to boot - There's nothing quite as magical as that! Check out my favorite "firsts" from my most recent trip: ![]() 1. My first RunDisney race I ventured to Walt Disney World and structured our vacation around the 2015 Disney Princess Half Marathon, so that was easily the biggest highlight of the trip! 13.1 magical miles through the parks, 50,000 runners with amazing costumes throughout the weekend, and characters galore! Nobody hosts races like Disney, and this event is definitely something I'd recommend to any runner! I may already be planning another go at it for next year's event... Glass Slipper Challenge or Castaway Cay Challenge, anyone?! Check out my previous post for more info on the race and my experience! 2. Getting evacuated from an attraction While WDW is an amazing world of enchantment, fantasy, and innovative technology, their attractions do sometimes need quick tune-ups in the middle of the day. I experienced my first ever ride evacuation on The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh in Fantasyland during this trip, in which everything shut down so something could be fixed. It may not have been as exciting of an evacuation like some guests have experienced with Disney's thrill rides (AKA not as cool as seeing Space Mountain with the lights on), but it gave us another fun memory to bring home with us. Plus we got a free paper FastPass to use at one of a few select attractions, and we eventually got to come back later when the ride opened up again. Ah, paper FastPasses - Nostalgia at it's finest! 3. Finally enjoying a Dole Whip I'm sure some of you are reading this and saying, "You've been to Disney that many times and never had a Dole Whip?!" Yes, this was my first time ever enjoying the iconic pineapple treat. I truthfully never had an interest in trying one, as pineapple isn't my favorite fruit, but boy was I missing out! I went with the pineapple and vanilla twist soft serve option and it was wonderful! Definitely lives up to the hype other guests give it. You can find the different varieties to try at the quick-service Aloha Isle in Adventureland in the Magic Kingdom, which is on the right-hand side as soon as you enter the land from the Castle Hub. 4. Experiencing Disney's Festival of Fantasy parade If you've been following my blog for a while now, you know it's no secret that I'm a big parade, show, and street entertainment fan at WDW. Well the last time I visited prior to this trip was in August of 2013, in which the daily Celebrate a Dream Come True parade was still entertaining guests at the Magic Kingdom. Disney's Festival of Fantasy parade debuted in early spring of 2014, so I finally got to see it in person after watching it many times on YouTube in anticipation! I did thoroughly enjoy Celebrate a Dream Come True and was sad to see it go at the time, but Festival of Fantasy was even more amazing and fun than I expected it to be. The floats were spectacular, there were a ton of both classic and new characters, including Anna and Elsa from Frozen, and the costuming was so detailed. This parade was easily one of my favorite things from this trip (if not my top). A must-see the next time you visit the Magic Kingdom! 5. Purchasing my first Duffy plush I've had a longtime crush on Mickey's teddy bear Duffy the Disney Bear, and finally purchased my own plush version of him during this trip! If you're not familiar with Duffy or his story, here's the short version: When Mickey was preparing to go on a long journey, Minnie made him a teddy bear to take along and keep him company. Mickey named him Duffy, and they've gone on many adventures together since first meeting. You an actually meet Duffy yourself at the front of World Showcase in EPCOT and ask him about those adventures, get his autograph and photo, and give big hugs. He's so cute and cuddly and will definitely become my own travel companion now that I have my own! 6. Staying until the Kiss Goodnight at the Magic Kingdom When I visit the theme parks at Walt Disney World, I enjoy staying from open until close as much as possible to ensure I get in everything I want to do. Well at the Magic Kingdom, there's a short little show called the "Kiss Goodnight" that announces the park closing, and it's really a special way to end your day. Up until this trip I had never actually stopped to sit and watch the 3-minute announcement on my way out, as we usually visit during the Holidays and have to shuffle out with the crowds, so I made sure we got to see it at least once during our two visits to MK this trip. It really capped off the evening with extra pixie dust and made me tear up a little bit. A Cast Member told us they usually play the Kiss Goodnight at park closing, and then both 30 minutes and an hour afterwards (depending on the day of the week and time of year), so be sure to save those last few minutes of your day for it. I promise you it will be worth staying until the very end. 7. Dining with Pooh and friends at The Crystal Palace During my 2011 Disney College Program, I worked many shifts at the famous Crystal Palace buffet restaurant with my dear character friend Winnie the Pooh, but never got to actually sit down and eat there. As I planned this vacation I knew we had to make a reservation! It was definitely a magical breakfast as we met Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, and Piglet and celebrated Friendship Day in the "Pooh-rade" with other guests. The food was delicious, and it was really nice to fill our tummies before starting our day at the Magic Kingdom. It certainly lived up to it's wonderful expectations, and I would eat there again! 8. Dining with Donald and friends at Tusker House Another buffet restaurant that I heard so many good things about, but never visited! The Tusker House can be found in the Africa area of Disney's Animal Kingdom park, and is another great place to fill up and meet characters (only at breakfast, FYI). We enjoyed a spread of both traditional American buffet favorites and unique African offerings, and got to meet Mickey, Goofy, Donald, and Daisy in their safari gear. It was a little loud inside, but I really enjoyed everything - Especially their house jungle juice. YUM! And since we had a 9 AM reservation, we got to enter the park early and take a ton of pictures in front of the Tree of Life icon without any crowds in the background! An extra perk! 9. Adding more FastPasses at a FastPass+ kiosk I've said before in a previous post that I'm a big fan of Disney's new MyMagic+ technology and all that comes with it, including FastPass+. Well this trip was the first time I tried out adding on more FastPasses at the kiosks located inside the parks once our initial three had been used. And I found it to be really easy and convenient! When I pre-scheduled our first FastPasses for our park days (in which you get to choose three ahead of time), I made sure to choose the earliest possible times available so we could then continue to add on more throughout the day. At the FastPass+ kiosks, you can add one more FastPass on to your party's (or individual's) itinerary at a time for the park you're in. The lines to use the technology got a little long at times, but I knew exactly what I wanted before I got up there, so I was able to get in and get out quick. Definitely utilize this service when you're in the parks, because we were able to add on many more FastPasses each park day. Tip: If meeting the current popular characters (think Anna & Elsa, Princesses, and Mickey) is on the top of your must-do list, get your FastPasses ahead of time as part of your first three. We found that character greeting FastPasses were pretty much all gone by early afternoon. 10. Experiencing the extra special magic of a friend's first visit In all my past visits to WDW, I traveled with the same people (my family) who had been to the parks before. I was very fortunate to be traveling with a first-timer this trip, a friend from work, and being there with her and experiencing everything through her Disney-novice eyes was absolutely amazing. Between her "firsts" of seeing Cinderella Castle, giving Mickey a hug, riding Tower of Terror (my favorite!), and seeing Wishes light up the sky, I was on an emotional roller coaster throughout the week. I am so blessed to have been able to grow up going to the Disney Theme Parks & Resorts and sailing with Disney Cruise Line many times, that being with someone who has never gone before really had me flashing back to all of the magical moments from previous trips with my family. If you ever have the chance to take a first-timer, help them plan their trip, or even just connect with them when they come back, do it. It makes you see just how powerful and wonderful the magic of Disney really is. I can only imagine how it will be when I'm able to take my own children one day... Even if you're headed to Walt Disney World for the 100th time, there may be some things you've missed or skipped along the way. Take extra time to experience all of the little moments, because you never know what kind of magic they might add to your trip! As always, be sure to check out https://disneyworld.disney.go.com for comprehensive information as your plan your visit, and do your research. What are your favorite "firsts" from previous trips to WDW? Do you have anything on your list you want to do during your next visit that would be a first? Tell me about them in the comments below! Until the next post, see ya real soon! ![]() My first experience with RunDisney at this year's Disney Princess Half Marathon was nothing short of magical! While I've ran a half marathon, multiple 5Ks, and other distance races before, this race was definitely a good course for athletes of all backgrounds and abilities. I set a personal fitness goal a year ago to prepare for this event, and despite a little bit of nervous energy, I really felt ready. Plus, there were characters and entertainment along the course, tons of positive energy from Cast Members, volunteers, and fellow runners, and fireworks at the race start to get the party started. You really can't find a race location better than Walt Disney World! Here's some highlights from my race experience this year, as well as some helpful tips for registering for RunDisney events and getting ready: The registration process: Maybe you've never heard of RunDisney and all of their annual events, but trust me, THOUSANDS of other people have. If you're interested at all in participating in one of their races, be prepared to sign up the minute your event opens. My running group and I knew exactly what date and time registration for the Princess Half was set for, gathered our necessary personal and payment information, and situated ourselves at our computers 15 minutes prior to that time so we could get on right away. And boy, were we thankful to have done so! I believe this year's main event (the half marathon) sold out within 6 hours. The accompanying 5K, 10K, and Kids Races weekend events took a little longer to fill up, but everything happened much quicker than I initially anticipated. There a few things you'll need to know and have before you register. First, you really want to make sure you know exactly what kind of event you're signing up for and be prepared to commit MONTHS in advance. For the Princess Half February 2015 event, registration opened up in mid July (about 6 months ahead of time). Registrations are non-transferable to other runners, so you can't chicken out once you're signed up. Plus, your registration fees are non-refundable as well. It looks like the open early bird registration cost for the 2016 Disney Princess Half Marathon is $175 (without commemorative items). You may be eligible for an even earlier registration date if you're an Annual Passholder, member of the Disney Vacation Club, etc., so pay attention to the RunDisney website leading up to registration and sign up for their reminder emails! Secondly, know if you want to pre-purchase any commemorative items or participate in any of the weekend's special challenges. You'll be able to pre-order items like the event's special pin (what I chose to do), Mickey ear hats, and limited edition apparel, so I'd suggest adding on anything you know you'll want ahead of time, as a lot of merchandise does sell out quickly. And same goes with the challenges - If you're up to the task, get yourself signed up right away. These also fill up quickly! Thirdly, have all of your personal and payment information ready on registration day. This will just make the process quicker. As soon as registration opened for this year's event, I could tell that a lot of other people were also trying to get signed up, as the website was really moving slowly. Just be prepared with all of the necessary info you'll need, and you should be set to go in no time. Preparing for the race and training: Even though this is a fun Disney race, it's still a tough test of physical endurance. TRAIN, TRAIN, TRAIN! And start early. RunDisney offers a lot of really great training and nutrition resources for free to help you prepare, so take advantage of everything you can. Get involved in local running events and races, find a running buddy/group, do whatever you need to do and hit the pavement. You want to be fully prepared. Definitely set a training pace of a 15-minute mile or quicker, as there will be pacing in effect on race day (but I'll get to that in a minute!). You can even submit a proof of time to RunDisney (which I'd recommend) ahead of the event to help get a corral placement closer to the initial start. There are a few stipulations to submitting a proof of time, as well as a deadline, so pay attention to your event's rules. I submitted an earlier half marathon time from November of 2014 for this particular event. Also take time before your race to prepare a special costume! I saw so many amazing and creative costumes during the race that brought a smile to my face, and you really were in the minority if you weren't dressed up. Whether you want to get advanced with props, makeup, and headpieces, or would rather DisneyBound with a more simple, character-inspired look, get into it and have fun! Also take your event theme into consideration - I obviously saw a lot of Princesses during my race, but their corresponding villains and sidekicks were also popular. I of course had to dress up as my favorite Princess Aurora, but I saw everyone from Cinderella to Maleficent to Flounder! Booking an accompanying stay at Walt Disney World: Whether you want to make your race a long girl's weekend or a week-long stay with extended family, it's fun to add a couple of extra days to explore WDW before or after your run. Upon registering and getting your confirmation, start looking into what kind of vacation you want to plan, and when you want to arrive/depart. RunDisney races bring in thousands of runners, spectators, and family members (there were close to 50,000 runners alone for the three Princess weekend races), so hotels will fill up quickly, and especially those close to the race start/along the course. I stayed at Disney's Pop Century Resort in the EPCOT and Wide World of Sports areas, which is extremely close to the race start and Health and Fitness Expo. For some of the smaller events, RunDisney will designate some resort hotels as Host Resorts, which are essentially the only resorts you can get direct race transportation to and from. All of the WDW resort hotels were considered to be host resorts for the Princess weekend events, but some like The Expedition Everest Challenge only have three or four resort hotels as host resorts. Having direct transportation really helps on race day and getting to/from the Expo, so be sure to check where you can get that during your event. RunDisney also partners with some third-party travel providers for special vacation packages if you'd rather have someone else do the planning, so look into those opportunities as well. I personally prefer to book everything directly and independently through Walt Disney World, but that's just me. Race weekend and race day: Once you've arrived at your race destination (Walt Disney World, obviously, for the Princess Half), you must attend the accompanying Health and Fitness Expo to pick up some necessary materials before race day. These include your race bib with your timing device, gEAR check bag, and free race t-shirt. You will have to present a signed waiver to pick these items up, which will be emailed to you directly a few weeks out from the race so you can have it ready ahead of time. This waiver will also list your bib number and corral assignment, which is fun to know before you get to your race. The expo will also have numerous exhibitors with merchandise for sale, including official race items from RunDisney, Dooney & Bourke, and NewBalance. If you're particularly interested in any of the "official" items, be sure to get to the expo on the first day, and early. I was told later that all of the event's Dooney & Bourke bags had sold out within hours of the the expo opening. If you can't make it until later, there will still be plenty of other items to shop for from the other exhibitors and RunDisney, but some of the more popular items will go first. When race day arrives, be prepared for an early morning. And I mean EARLY. Depending on your event and first corral start time, buses could begin running as early as 3:00 AM. I personally think you should strive to be on those first round of buses to assure you get to the race start within plenty of time to fuel, stretch, warm up, take specialty character photos, check your bag, use the restroom, and get to your corral before the designated start time. Remember when I said that thousands of people participate in these events? Well they'll all be trying to get to the same place as you, at the same time, so get to everything early! My group and I pretty much made it to the buses at 3 and didn't feel rushed at all. You will feel like there's some downtime at the race start, but it's better to be relaxed than rushed! And if you're preparing to run in costume, be sure to have tear-away warmups with you in event of inclement weather. It was a little chilly the morning of the half (only to then get boiling hot!), but the 5K and 10K earlier in the week had near record-low temps. If you have to shed some layers once you get running, anything you leave along the course will be donated to local charities. So don't be afraid of losing some sweats to just be thrown away - Everything will go to someone in need! The magical course: The Disney Princess Half Marathon course is AWESOME! Coming from a particularly hilly area and having completed really hilly courses, this one was fairly flat and offered great places to vary your pace. Plus, the best part of RunDisney races are the characters, entertainment, and theme parks! This race started just outside of the EPCOT parking lot, moved along WDW roadways to go through the gates to the Magic Kingdom, around the Transportation and Ticket Center, into the Magic Kingdom via Main Street USA, then through Tomorrowland, Fantasyland, and Frontierland, out back past the Grand Floridian, down more property roadways, and back into EPCOT for the last mile and a half. There are a few exit ramps and uphill slopes, but they really aren't all that bad. And there are also a few areas where the road really narrows, so be prepared to have to move onto grass for a little bit. I definitely ran on grass a lot to weave through walkers. Just give a little shout to your fellow runners as to where you're moving or when you're slowing down. And if you ever need to walk, be sure to move to the side so faster-moving runners can move through. All of the character and entertainment stops really add extra pixie dust and magic to the course, so have a plan in place before you start as to how much you want to stop. Some Disney friends will attract more fans (think the Heroes and Villians gatherings, as well as the Cinderella Castle photo spot), so know that you may have to wait for some pictures. The photographers and character attendants really try hard to keep things moving, so have your camera/phone out and turned on so you can move through quickly and get back to running. Also know that characters will NOT sign autographs during races. There are plenty of water stops, bathrooms (port-a-potties and formal restrooms alike), and medial tents along the route, and the mile marker signs make for cute photo ops as well. Definitely bring some form of camera with you during your race, because you won't want to miss any magical moments! What you need to be mindful of though are the notorious balloon ladies, or the pacers. These volunteers cross the start line last in the last corral and keep a 16-minute mile pace throughout the entire race. If you were to ever drop back behind these gals, you may get swept up before you finish the course and miss out on receiving a medal. I started in corral M (out of A through P), and I came very close to falling behind after a few photo stops. Proper training and a photo stop game plan will help in staying as far away from being swept up as possible. Post race fun: Once you've made it past that finish line, it's time to PARTY! You'll receive your medal as you move a little further down the chute, as well as some snacks, Powerade, water, and congratulatory greetings from all of the wonderful volunteers. There's also a photo spot for finishers and some additional entertainment, like a live DJ and character greetings. My travel party headed right to a buffet brunch at Chef Mickey's at the Contemporary, but really Walt Disney World is your oyster! I'd definitely recommend heading to Downtown Disney for the finisher's party that evening, where you'll see tons of other runners with their medals and can take advantage of some shopping and dining discounts at select locations (like T-Rex, where we had dinner!). Whether you want to take it easy by your resort hotel pool, or head right to the parks, be sure to celebrate your triumph! I'd highly recommend tackling the Disney Princess Half Marathon to interested athletes, and I myself am considering running again next year. Be sure to pay attention to registration dates, train properly, book your vacation early, and have fun! This event was definitely one of the most fun and engaging races I've ever participated in, so be prepared for a lot of smiling all along the course! For more information on RunDisney and all of their other events at Walt Disney World and Disneyland, check out http://www.rundisney.com. Have you ever done a Disney race before? Tell me about it in the comments below! Until the next post, see ya real soon! |
About MeA twenty-something alumni of the Disney College Program looking to help others plan the Disney vacations of their dreams! Living that Disneyland AP dream in SoCal. Archives
February 2018
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