Jessica Holmes, Author at Neverland Press

Wine & Dine Race Weekend: Lumiere’s Two-Course Challenge

Thanks to the busy, messy, craziness of life, my race recap is much later than I anticipated. But I enjoyed these two races so much that I still wanted to share that experience!

Disney’s Inaugural Wine & Dine 10k

It was another early morning, with race transportation starting at 3:30 a.m. for the first leg of Lumiere’s Two-Course Challenge. The Challenge consists of the 10k and the Half Marathon, and runners who complete the challenge earn an extra medal. I boarded one of the first buses to head to the start line, which was in the Epcot parking lot. The first thing I noticed was that there were significantly more people here than there had been for the 5k. Even though I knew this would be the case, it was still a bummer to see how long the lines were already for characters in the pre-race area. I quickly jumped in line for Lumiere, but after about 20 minutes, I realized that I was still back so far that I probably needed to ditch the line and head to my corral. The other characters available were Mickey & Minnie, Remy & Emile, and Donald & Goofy.

I like being early to my corral, and today that was especially important – it was my first time in corral A! I was thrilled to be there. Once we started moving toward the official start line, I was able to meet up with my co-blogger Jacqueline. We run about the same pace and we both love character stops, so we decided to run together. I’m so glad we did! We ended up having a blast.

The first three miles of the race are out on the road – fairly boring, other than the character stops. We stopped for a spot of tea with Mary Poppins’ penguins, then saw Flik and Atta.

Before we knew it, we were backstage at Epcot and heading for my absolute favorite part of this course. Just past mile 3, you enter World Showcase. It’s dark, the torches are lit, and music is playing. It’s absolute magic!

There are also some good character stops back here – Pinnochio & Gepetto, Vacation Genie, as well as lots of Cast Members offering support.

We left World Showcase and headed down the International Gateway over to the Boardwalk – another gorgeous place to run! We stopped for a picture with our sporty pals Chip & Dale, and then ran on past the Beach Club and Yacht Club and made our way back toward Epcot.

We ran past Spaceship Earth, and before we knew it, we were crossing the finish line!

After we got our hands on the coveted post-race boxes and had our pictures taken with our medals, we split up for pictures. Lumiere is one of my favorites, so meeting him was a must-do for me. Jacqueline got to show her new bling to Remy & Emile. I think they approve!

I’ll never get tired of running this course – I loved it. Starting in Corral A was a new experience for me, and it was awesome – the course was never crowded and the character lines were short! This was such a fun experience, and I can’t wait to do it again.

Disney’s Wine & Dine Half Marathon

For the third morning in a row, I was up in the middle of the night. Only this time, we did get the benefit of an extra hour of sleep, thanks to Daylight Savings Time! Transportation began at 3:00 a.m. again for another 5:30 start, but this time at the ESPN Wide World of Sports. The same characters from the 10k were at the pre-race area, so I got a quick picture with Mickey & Minnie and then I made a quick stop to see some of my Mickey Miler teammates before heading to my corral.

Once I was in my corral (I would be starting from D today), I met up with Jacqueline, and we decided to run together again. It really is awesome when people that you’ve met online turn out to be someone you want to be friends with IRL! We didn’t have to wait long to hear those magic words: “Runners, Set, Goooooooo!” And we were off!

This was a bit of a different course. We ran down Victory Way and then onto Osceola Parkway. For the first 3 miles, it was nothing but highway, with a couple of character stops that we opted not to stop for (Country Bears), and a screen playing old-school Disney cartoons and music. We arrived at Animal Kingdom (Rafiki was out front, just like at the 5k, but we didn’t stop this time). The Tree of Life Awakenings was playing as we entered the park. It was beautiful! I’m a big fan of AK and I absolutely love the Tree of Life, so this was a great moment for me.

We ran on through the park, stopping for pictures at Everest but passing up character stops that had also been available at the 5k.

We exited backstage and stopped to say hello to Meeko. We also ran past the Tembo House (for Elephant Care and Conservation), and past the greenhouses where we saw some fun topiaries. Chip and Dale were also back here in their Western gear, but we opted to skip them.

From there, it was back to the highway for about the next 6 miles, as we made our way toward Epcot. There were some fun characters out, and all of the lines were short. Mike and Sully, Darkwing Duck and Launchpad McQuack (AWESOME!!!), Lilo and Stitch (who seem to be a staple of runDisney events), and the Green Army Man who motivates runners to get up the hill. Hint: if you want a selfie with him, you’ll have to earn it by doing push-ups!

As we approached Epcot, the crowd support increased, and that always gives me a second wind. It’s so fun to see all the creative ways that people cheer! There was also an unexpected rare character stop – Clarabelle Cow and Horace Horsecollar!

Once inside Epcot, we ran past Spaceship Earth and did a turnaround at the entrance to World Showcase. I got my first-ever jumping picture – and it was a success!

The gospel choir sang us home right before Mile 13, and Jacqueline got her first-ever finish line shout-out! And deservedly so – she PR’d both races!

Final thoughts: This race was vastly different than it has been in years past, switching from a night race to morning. This was my third time doing it, and this course wasn’t my favorite. However, I am hopeful that will change once all the construction is done at DHS. I still had a great time – running with a friend is always fun, and to be running on a course that isn’t congested can make all the difference!

I thought they did a great job with on-course photos. There were so many photographers inside the parks, and since I’m an annual passholder, they were all included and I was able to download them shortly after the race. I was also happy to see some new – and rare – characters out on the course. I would’ve liked to have seen a couple more stops, especially with sooooo much highway running. But there’s nothing like the atmosphere of running at Disney – the level of energy, camaraderie, and crowd support is just phenomenal. I’m addicted, and this is one that I’ll be doing again!

Wine & Dine Race Weekend: Mickey’s Holiday 5k

Mickey’s Holiday 5k (formerly known as the Jingle Jungle 5k) is the first race of the Wine & Dine weekend. I was excited to be doing this race for several reasons – I’d never done it, and I was looking forward to running through Animal Kingdom and experiencing the holiday theme. I was also excited to have two of my best friends doing their first runDisney race!

Race transportation began running at 4:30 a.m., so we were up and at the bus stop shortly after that. When we got to the pre-race area, the lines for characters were already long, especially for Mickey & Minnie in their holiday attire. We hopped in line for a fun nutcracker background instead, and admired the creative costumes that were around us.

After our picture, we decided to head over to the corral. We were technically in three different corrals, but we had decided to all start together with our friend who was still recovering from a past foot surgery. Helpful hint: at any runDisney event, you can join corrals that are further back than where you are assigned, but you can’t move forward. I knew we’d be walking a good portion of the race, which would be a new experience for me, so my only goal was to make sure my friends had as much fun as possible.

At 6:30, the first corral took off amid a swirl of snow and smoke. Soon it was our turn, and we were off! The course for the 5k started and finished in the Animal Kingdom parking lot. There was a good bit of parking lot before we reached the entrance to Animal Kingdom. We stopped for a quick picture with Rafiki, then headed into the park.

We skipped the next character stops – Baloo and Terk – and took our time enjoying the gorgeous Tree of Life!

I love running through Animal Kingdom, and with the sun just starting to rise, it was truly beautiful. We got to run around the entire park – Asia is my favorite, then we were in Dinoland and another mandatory photo op – Santa Goofy and Holiday Donald!

One thing I really liked about this race was that there were lots of photographers on the course. Since our only goal was fun, we took lots of silly pictures!

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Right past Mile 2, the course took us on an out and back loop backstage, which was pretty boring, other than the occasional glimpse of props and other things we wouldn’t normally see. I was excited to see some floats from the upcoming Rivers of Light show. There was also a DJ on this section, and Pluto was greeting runners at the turnaround.

Right after the end of the out and back was the marker for Mile 3, and before we knew it, we were crossing the finish line!

After digging into our cheese and chips (the best part of the finish line box!), we headed into Animal Kingdom for some more fun photo ops. This was a great 5k that I will definitely run again!

Wine & Dine Race Weekend: Expo Overview

It’s the event that officially kicks off race weekend – the runDisney Health and Fitness Expo! As I mentioned before, I love going to the expo – the excitement, the photo ops, the merch – I love everything except the crowds. Going on opening morning definitely means braving the crowds, but it seems to have become my tradition.

On Thursday morning, my friends and I got up and headed to the bus stop around 8:45. There was no signage up about the race weekend at Pop Century, which was unusual. We asked a Cast Member to make sure we were in the right location (we were), and soon a bus arrived to take us to the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Drop-off was a little different than I remembered it being in the past, but I’m guessing that was due to the construction that is going on.

We stopped for the obligatory photo ops before heading into the complex. These signs always get me so excited for the medals that I will be earning!

Once we got closer to the buildings, there were Cast Members directing us to either go to the Field House for packet pickup and challenge shirts, or the Jostens Center for merch and other shirts. Both buildings had long lines, as it was about 30 minutes prior to opening. We had our plan, and we chose the Jostens Center first. The line was long but organized, and since the weather was nice, I didn’t mind standing outside. While waiting, we heard that some of the 10k merchandise had been pulled due to having the word ‘inaugural’ spelled wrong. As you can imagine, lots of jokes ensued.

When it was time to go inside, they slowly allowed the line inside and down the stairs. Most people rushed straight back to the official merchandise. It didn’t seem like they were limiting the number of people inside (at least at opening), and it got crazy very quickly! My friends and I split up – they were on a mission to get wine glasses, and I was after a sweatshirt. The wine glasses went quickly and it was a bit of a mob scene. The Challenge and Half Marathon magnets also went quickly, and we were told by a CM that there were more, but the box had been misplaced. Luckily another CM overheard me telling this to my friend as we were walking to the checkout, and she went back and found some.

After checking out (I’m still impressed by how efficiently they manage to handle the long lines), we made a couple of stops at other vendors. Sparkle Skirts, Raw Threads, and New Balance are always favorites. We also stopped to have a little fun at the Misfit jump rope challenge. I made it onto the leaderboard, at least briefly! Before leaving, we made one final stop where our spectator decorated some signs and Cheer Squad buttons to show her support. This is the first time that I’ve seen the buttons and thought they were pretty cool.

Action shot at the Misfit jump rope challenge!

When we walked across to the Field House, packet pickup was quick and painless – the lines were very short. After grabbing my Challenge shirts and taking a few pictures, we quickly made our way back over to the other building (which was still so crowded that we had to wait in line again just to get in) to get the 5k shirts, and then headed back to the bus to return to the resort.

Who doesn’t love a photo op with a giant bottle of bubbly?

I checked in with friends who attended on other days, and heard that it wasn’t crowded at all on Friday, but a couple of items in the official merch booth were sold out. By Saturday, it was described as a ghost town. Unless you’ve got your heart set on a specific item (which I usually do), you’ll probably have an easier time if you wait and don’t attend on opening morning.

Were you at the Wine & Dine Expo? What was your experience like? We love hearing from you!

Kicking off a Magical Race Weekend: Tips for a Successful Expo Experience

We are less than three weeks away from the Health and Fitness Expo that will kick off Disney’s Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend! I love going to the expo. For me, it’s the start of the race experience. It can be crowded and overwhelming, but with proper planning, you can see (and hopefully buy!) everything that you want. Remember, you have to go to the expo to pick up your race bib, and you have to show ID – no one else can pick up your bib! If you’ve pre-ordered items (pins, a Dooney, etc.), you will also pick those up at the expo.

Tip #1: Arrive Early

The expo is held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports, and officially opens at 10:00 am, but in my experience, they usually open the doors early on the first day. If there’s specific merchandise that you have your heart set on, you will want to arrive as early as possible – lines will be L-O-O-O-N-G just to get in the door. If you don’t care about merch and just want to get your bib and get out, then you might want to consider waiting until later in the day, or even going on another day when the crowds are much lower.

What’s the best way to get to the expo? I have taken a bus from the resort (follow the signs for the race transportation, DO NOT go to the regular bus stop for the parks), and I have also driven and taken a taxi. The only advantage to driving is that you can get there earlier than on the bus. In my past experience, the bus came in a timely manner and wasn’t too crowded. I believe they start running 30 minutes prior to the expo opening, so be at the bus stop early!

Tip #2: Know Your Plan

Many times you have to go into two different buildings – the HP Field House for your bib, and the Jostens Center for your shirt (usually the shirts are at the very back of the room on the left side). At some events, the shirts will be with the bibs, but the vendors will always be in the Jostens Center. If there is specific merchandise that you have your heart set on, go to the Jostens Center FIRST. There will be signs and cast members directing you where to go. This will mean going back and forth – buying merch, then going across the street for your bib, then coming back again for your shirt(s). But the merchandise goes quickly, especially jackets and wine glasses. Hit the official runDisney merchandise booth first, and go in with some idea of what you want. In the past, runDisney has provided a preview of some of the merchandise on Facebook a few days in advance. I usually decide which are the “must-have” items for me, and try to grab them first, before I peruse the rest of the booth. Expect to see jackets, tech shirts, “I did it!” shirts, wine glasses, pins, sweaty bands, car magnets, etc. If you are with a friend, it may be wise to divide and conquer for the most coveted items. Know what sizes you need, and each of you have a designated item to get.

If this is your first expo, you may also want to take a look at the expo map beforehand, to get an idea of which vendors will be there. Budget for how much you’ll want to spend – there are LOTS of vendors! Sparkle Skirts and Raw Threads are usually there with big displays, and there will be lots and lots of other eye-catching booths with running attire, headbands, jewelry, medal racks, and other running gear.

Tip #3: Pack Your Patience

Especially if you are attending the first morning, expect to stand in lines. Lots and lots of lines. A line to get in the door, sometimes a line to get into the runDisney merchandise booth. Definitely a long line to check out with your newfound runDisney merch (and don’t forget – you can use your AP or other discounts for your official gear!). There will also be lines to get your bib. And if you don’t bring a signed copy of your waiver along, you’ll have to wait in another line to print one off before going in for your bib. Just like at the parks, the expo is going to involve some waiting.

Tip #4: Allow Yourself Enough Time

Plan for enough time that you won’t feel rushed if you have to stand in lines, and also time to walk around and take everything in. The expo should be a fun experience, not a stressful one. Remember to allow a few extra minutes for walking from the parking lot inside, and then to two different buildings. Also remember that the expo buses only run to the resorts, they will not take you to a park. Be mindful of this when planning your day or any dining reservations.

Tip #5: Sign Up in Advance for New Balance!

Want a pair of those coveted runDisney New Balance shoes? Typically at 6:00 am each morning, you will be able to sign up for a virtual queue to try them on. You will be able to select a style/size that will be held for you, and you will receive a text when it is your turn to go to the booth. There may not be as much of a demand later in the year (and since the older models were just on sale at the outlets), but for new models at the races early in the year, the demand is extremely high. If you don’t sign up for a time slot, you will have to wait in yet another line just to get into the New Balance booth.

Getting my hands on these beauties was definitely a highlight from my first expo!

Tip #6: Take Pictures!

There will be opportunities for pictures from the time you walk up the sidewalk (large banners with the race logos or medals on them). Inside, there is usually a background or two for photos. If you follow runDisney on Instagram, you can usually have a fun picture taken with some sort of special effect (you just have to show them on your phone that you follow them). Occasionally there is even a character, but this isn’t the norm. At the Star Wars Dark Side expo, I waited about 40 minutes to meet BB-8 (he was in a separate tent). This was unusual for an expo, but it was definitely worth it, since I didn’t have to wait the following mornings in the long pre-race lines.

Fun effects from the 2015 Wine & Dine Expo.

Tip #7: Take Advantage of the Speaker Series

Another really cool thing about the runDisney expo is the Speaker Series. At various times throughout the day, there will be short seminars on running, training, and nutrition. You can get some advice from Jeff Galloway, Tara Gidus, and other running professionals. They usually run 30 minutes to one hour, and past seminars have included information for spectators, costume inspiration, training tips, and race nutrition. There is occasionally a celebrity speaker, as well.

Tip #8: Socialize!

Walking around the expo (and standing in those aforementioned lines) is a great way to meet fellow runners. If you are part of a running team or even just one of the many Disney Facebook groups, odds are good that you’ll see someone that you know – or at least someone that you recognize from social media. Don’t hesitate to say hello! One of my favorite things about runDisney events is getting to see my running teammates and meet new people.

Coachmen outside the doors of the Princess Expo.

Jeff Galloway is also usually at the expo. He is extremely friendly and approachable, and many runners who have followed his program enjoy meeting him and sharing their success stories with him. There is usually a line to meet him, but he is always willing to take pictures and sign autographs. I have even seen runners have him sign their bibs or magic bands.

You can also interact with professionals and learn about new products, try fuel samples, and play games. The expo was the first place where I experienced The Stick, which is one of my favorite things now. Many runners also use this opportunity to get taped at the KT Tape booth.

If you’re feeling a little thirsty from all the shopping, there is usually a stand with beer and snacks somewhere on the expo floor. There will also be concessions on your way out of the Jostens Center (where the merchandise is found), and usually there is a stand outside with things like lemonade and pretzels.

Whether this is your first expo or you are an old pro, enjoy yourself and have patience with others. This is the beginning of an exciting, magical race weekend!

Do you have any questions about navigating the expo? Any additional tips? Let us know! We’d love to hear from you.

Resort Overview: Art of Animation

Six months ago, our family expanded by one teenager, and I knew that one thing that would change was where we stayed for our Disney trips. One small room at Pop Century just wasn’t going to be big enough for all of us anymore! My mom was also coming along on this particular trip, so I knew we were going to need more space. We had always talked about staying in one of the suites at Art of Animation, and we decided that this was the perfect opportunity.

The completely immersive theming begins in the lobby. I love the beautiful wall of light and color, and there are sketches filling the opposite wall. There’s even a beautiful light fixture made from drawings – so many great details! There is the usual gift shop (called The Ink & Paint Shop), which leads into Landscape of Flavors, the resort food court. It’s also worth noting that the food here is better than at the other value resorts; there is a Create-Your-Own Pasta bar and a large selection of gelato, among other things.

The Art of Animation resort is split into 4 sections: Nemo, Cars, The Lion King, and The Little Mermaid. The Little Mermaid rooms are value-priced (picture the same size and layout as Pop Century), but the rest are family suites. Each section is beautifully themed with larger than life statues and sketchbooks, and if you look closely, even the landscaping reflects the theme. This makes each section feel more authentic and adds to the experience.

There are also three pools – The Big Blue Pool in the Nemo section, which is the largest (and according to the Walt Disney World website, it is the single largest hotel pool on property); the Cozy Cone pool in the Cars section (so cute!), and the Flippin’ Fins pool in the Little Mermaid area. One fun feature of the Big Blue Pool is that there is music playing underwater, and there is also a walkup bar and an outdoor refill station for resort mugs.

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Let’s talk about those suites! Even though I had done my research, I still wasn’t entirely sure about how the suite would work for our family. As it turns out, it was perfect! When you walk into the room, there is a table that converts into a bed. There is also a small kitchenette and a living room area where the sofa converts into a bed. There was also a bathroom with a tub in this area.

In the bedroom, there was a bed, dresser, and another bathroom (this one only had a shower stall). There was a door separating the two rooms, which was nice. Another bonus of our room (which was on the 2nd floor) was that we were able to see fireworks from Hollywood Studios from our window. All of the family suites have indoor entrances: you have to go inside of the building to get to your room. The Little Mermaid rooms are just like Pop, they have exterior entry. Fun fact: The Little Mermaid buildings were originally intended to be part of a second phase of Pop Century. After tourism slowed post 9/11, the second phase was scrapped and eventually Art of Animation was created instead. You can read more about it here: http://www.yesterland.com/legendary.html

My absolute favorite thing about this resort (and also about Pop Century) is the running trail that circles Hourglass Lake. It is a 1.38 mile loop, and it is gorgeous at sunrise! It’s fun to run around the lake and stop for silly pictures with all the oversized statues, or just read the little signs that have different facts on them. In the middle of the lake is a bridge that separates Pop from AoA, so it’s very easy to walk from one resort to the other.

Art of Animation was a lot of fun – we all loved the theming, we enjoyed walking around, and the waits for the bus were minimal. Of course, returning from the parks at closing time was another story, but that’s to be expected. Full disclosure – we did have a small snafu upon arrival. We were told that our room was ready, so we trekked over to unload our stuff instead of heading straight to the park as we had initially planned. When I opened the door to our suite, I was greeted with the aftermath of what looked like quite the party scene – beer cans, liquor bottles, and other trash littered the room, and all the beds were unmade. The resort went above and beyond to make up for our trouble. Since we had lost time, they treated us to breakfast and added fast passes to our Magic Bands. We hadn’t asked for anything, and we weren’t upset – we understand that mistakes happen. But the care they took to correct the situation was a further testament to the excellent customer service that I have come to expect from the Disney corporation.

Would I stay here again? Yes, absolutely! The price for a suite is quite a bit higher than that of the Little Mermaid rooms, so that will be a consideration. But we enjoyed the resort and the location, and we will definitely be back. I’d love to stay in The Lion King section next time!

Do you have any questions about the resort, or things you would like to see on our next visit? Please let us know – we love to hear your thoughts and questions!