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The Long Walk-26.2 Miles of Dopey Fun

The Age-Old Running Question

Can you walk the (insert runDisney race) without being swept? Visit any runDisney Facebook page or social media forum and you will see this question asked hundreds of times, especially as challenge weekends loom and nerves build. And people ask for lots of reasons…first time runners, life events, lack of training, injuries, illness, corral placement. But the stakes are even higher for Dopey-four races over four days totaling 48.6 miles.

The problem was…I didn’t realize I would soon know the answer first-hand, and that answer was YES!

Walt-We Have a Problem!

About halfway through the Half Marathon, I felt some pain on the outside of my left knee. It was simply a nuisance at first…didn’t affect my speed or my gait-I didn’t even think to tell my running friend, Meghan. From Corral D we easily made the castle by dark and I just assumed the pain would subside.

The calm before the (overused IT band) storm…

It didn’t. The last five miles had longer and longer walk intervals, and shorter running ones. The pain was sharper and more acute. I could have favored one leg if I allowed myself. I knew I was going to need a plan to tackle the full on Sunday, another 26.2 miles on top of the 23.9 I’d already run over the last three days. (If my math seems faulty it’s only because I logged an extra 1.4 miles…I wanted to run a full 50 miles to celebrate my 50th birthday this past November!) LOL!

Proactive Prep

I was hopeful I could get myself set up for success for the full marathon the next morning. We rolled and buffed (Yes, my friends and I travel with a handheld car buffer-our economy version of the Expo’s BFF!). I taped. We agreed to shorten our intervals from the 1:30/:30 the day before to :30/:30. It wasn’t enough.

I was so nervous I even checked my ears-a first.

We crossed the start line and I did two rounds of intervals. I knew immediately-the stopping and starting was not going to work. I think my exact words to my friend Jess were, “Just go. You actually have a shot of finishing this thing.” It seems overdramatic-but the wear of tear of four days of running combined with the four early wake-ups inspires doubt in the best of us. I wasn’t the only one questioning if I would be able to finish.

And it was a feeling I’d had once before…when I ran the Glass Slipper Challenge with Bronchitis and Walking Pneumonia (read about that here!) But this time was different-it was my legs versus my lungs, the distance was doubled and the Dopey Challenge medal was on the line.

Miles 1-5: Castle Bound

One of the perks of walking-all my pics came out nice and clear!

Once I resigned myself to walking and I knew I wasn’t holding my friends back, my new plan was easier to accept. I was still nervous, though. I had no idea of knowing how long my knee would hold up. Luckily, I also had some great friends spectating, and they were tracking both me and the Balloon Ladies. (They are the last runners to cross the start line, and maintain a 16 minute mile. If they pass you at any point on the course you are in danger of being swept.) I was already at mile 3 when they began, and that was the biggest lead I had all day.

My first goal was hitting the castle, so I chose to pass character stops for Pirates, Guardians of the Galaxy and Zootopia characters, as these were all ones I’d met on previous runs and trips. My only stop was for a real bathroom at the TTC location!

Magic Kingdom-One Magical Mile

Entering the Magic Kingdom was a huge boost! It was gorgeous all lit up and still decorated from Christmas, which was a surprise. The crowds were amazing with all their clever signs, and it made me want to break into a run. It was hard to walk in front of a cheering crowd!

This moment never stops being special or surreal…!

The best was yet to come though…I had two things to look forward to-Cinderella Castle and my friends cheering for me on Main Street, USA!!!

Cheering crowds as we make our way down Main Street, USA!

I was thrilled to see Jess and Sharon right by Casey’s Corner! They assured me I was doing great and would be able to stay ahead of the Balloon Ladies at my current pace. I just had to keep it up. Just love my runDisney peeps!

Jess and Sharon-runDisney cheerleaders extraordinaire!

It was noticeably lighter than the day before by the time I reached the castle. I also knew I was only going to get slower once the sun came out and the miles piled up. I had to make a decision about characters. Though I love my photos and character stops are my weakness, I decided I would only stop IF the line was extremely short (under ten people) or it was a rare character I’d never met before.

Cinderella Castle lit up in the early morning hours-perfection.

I passed Buzz in Tomorrowland, but I was thrilled to see this guy in Fantasyland! It was Ulf-the mime from Tangled!! I was so excited, and shocked that there were only five people in line! Maybe they didn’t know who he was?? This was my favorite character stop of the entire race!!

Doing “jazz hands” with Ulf-the mime from Tangled!

I walked through the castle (it really took restraint) and I got the requisite castle pic. I knew better than to try my trademark jump-I needed to play it safe with twenty (twenty!!!!) miles still in front of me. It wasn’t hard to pass on a character stop in Frontierland with Woody and Jessie, as I got Bullseye the day before, but passing on the male villains was harder-when do you ever get to see Dr. Facilier and Jafar together? The line was simply too long.

No jump pic today…have to show a little restraint!

Miles 6-13: Grand Floridian and Highway

The next stretch was highway, but had plenty of photo ops to keep it interesting and mark the passage of time. First stop were the groomsmen. They represent the Wedding Pavilion at the Grand Floridian. Just the day before we were cracking jokes about “bad girls” (I was dressed as Maleficent for the Half) but today just a quick smile and moving on!

The Groomsmen from the Grand Floridian! Not too shabby!

Starting in Corral D and only stopping for three photos up to this point meant I still had a ton of people behind me. Perfect time to stop for these fun photo ops with no line! First up were retired ride vehicles! Loved seeing the sub from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea-so nostalgic-loved this ride from my childhood! Also represented was Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, Snow White’s Scary Adventures and Star Jets. Star Jets??? Then some interesting busts (never quite figured these out) and the iconic Orange Bird!

Seeing the Nautilus from 20,000 Leagues was particularly nostalgic!

My daughter and I are both big fans of Orange Bird!

The sun was also still low enough in the sky not to be a factor, so I stopped for this fun photo op with the Adventurers Club. They were mic’d up and pretty funny…he quipped how I wasn’t doing that bad, but I wasn’t doing that great, either! That got some laughs from the crowd, and reminded me I needed to keep moving!

Oh how I wished that oversized Martini was real…! LOL!

As a Disney fanatic, I’m ashamed to say I didn’t know who Bowler Hat Guy was. But I did know this was a rare appearance and a very short line, so I stopped to meet him. I did rectify this as soon as I got home…watching Meet the Robinsons with my kids. What a great movie! *sniff*

Not sure what my pose is supposed to be (?) but still funny!

Animal Kingdom-A Wild Mile!

Hitting mile 13 means things were starting to get real! The sun was up and it had already taken me close to four hours to get to the half way point. By now I was hitting each and every medical tent-loading up on Biofreeze and taking the maximum number of Tylenol. (They mark your hand with a Sharpie so you can’t request too many!) The knee was twingy but holding up. I was tired though…I could feel the last few days catching up with me.

Sunglasses came out for the first time just outside the AK entrance.

I was still excited to see this frame opportunity right before the entrance to Animal Kingdom, though! There was also an animal handler a few paces away but the line was too long. I know my friends got some great shots with donkeys and exotic birds, depending on when they passed by! I was also pretty excited to see the ostrich from Fantasia-with no line!

A rare character AND a nonexistent line-a win win!

This is where I started to get a little in my head. One of the perks of running the full is that if you time it just right, you can ride Expedition Everest during your race. It was something I was really excited about and planned to do. Except I never saw it, or even thought about it. (Which was good considering the narrow margin at which I finished!!)

I was starting to get preoccupied. If there was a photo op by the Tree of Life, I don’t remember that either. When I stopped for this photo-I wasn’t quite sure who they were…Lion King or Festival of Fantasy parade performers? (They were in fact parade performers from the Little Mermaid section.) I had started to go on autopilot.

Sure, I’ll pose with you ladies, whoever you are!

Miles 14-18: We’re on a Road to Nowhere

There was an awesome surprise waiting for me in the parking lot just outside Animal Kingdom at mile 14-the parking lot was filled with cheering spectators-including my friends! Jess and Sharon had been joined by our friend, Jenn, and hearing them call out my name was pure joy! It was great to grab a selfie, some sweaty hugs (mine) and assurance that I was still well ahead of the Balloon Ladies, though the lead was narrowing.

All of these girls are multiple Dopey finishers-I’m not worthy!

Another awesome perk was all the organized cheer groups-many of which were offering runners snacks! I’m pretty sure I remember stuffing chocolate (Twix, KitKats?) in my pockets-but I had my eye on the prize-someone was handing out jello shots!! I was ridiculously excited to see these and pretty sure I remember choosing green to match my Dole Whip outfit. I really wasn’t thinking clearly at this point. LOL! A fellow runner and I sucked these down together-instant bonding! Cheers!

I’ve always had a weakness for jello shots…!

Pride is a funny thing. I had always coveted the race photos I saw with the Grave Diggers, Haunted Mansion-style, and this was my chance! Common sense told me to stay upright, but no, I couldn’t pass up on this ultimate photo op! Getting down was easy, and I remember popping up as if I was perfectly fine. (Nothing to see here…!) It cost me for sure…but I didn’t regret it. I still don’t!

The Grave Diggers claim their next victim!

Once I exited the parking lot, it was highway. Miles and miles of highway. Miles of up and backs with nothing to really break up the monotony. Now walking in full sun, no shade. Tired. Knee hurting. No characters. Too much time to think…

This was the first time it occurred to me that walking, even brisk walking, is very different from slow running. I trained to run 26 miles, not speed walk 26 miles!! It is a very different skill that uses totally different muscles! I was now “running” a race I hadn’t trained for. It was humbling.

Pluto doing some “excavating” at the construction site!

By the time I realized I probably should have put on sunscreen the medical tents had run out. It was okay-I was still a frequent flier with my Biofreeze fix. Pluto was a sight for sore eyes when I finally saw him around Mile 18 with no line. I was now headed for ESPN’s Wide World of Sports for the first time ever!

Miles 18-20: ESPN’s Wide World of Suck

I didn’t coin that phrase-a veteran Dopey friend did, and I have to say I didn’t buy in. Initially. With the exception of picking up my bib, I had never spent any time at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports. I was excited to see something new-and anything that wasn’t highway miles! What was really cool was that it was an up and back…as we were entering the Sports Complex, you could see all the runners ahead of you pouring out! (This is an important part of my narrative…and contributes to the “suck” factor!)

The first nice touch were the wet sponges! It was hot, and a Heat Advisory had been issued for the day of the race. Walking instead of running meant I was spending a lot more time on my feet in the heat of the day, but it also meant I was expending less energy. Luckily, I love the heat and was not uncomfortable. My friends poke fun at me for running with my hair down, but even that felt okay. I did not use my sponge (and mess up my hair and outfit??) but I did take one for a photo op…my runDisney friends and I have an inside joke about, what else?…sponge baths. LOL!

There were some super cute character interactions along the course here, including Mickey and Donald in referee gear and Goofy in sportswear. The lines were longer here than for other meets, so I only stopped for my Home Girl, Minnie. This was also the last time I remember having my readers. (see hand) LOL! Turning 50 means readers in your Sparkle Skirt pockets are a necessity if you want to read anything!!

My Sparkle Skirt pockets are seriously like Mary Poppin’s carpet bag-they have everything in them!

I had met Joy and Sadness from Inside Out before, but since there was no line I jumped in. My expression here says I’m over it. Still more joy than sadness, though.

Still more Joy than Sadness twenty miles in…but not much!

The last lap through ESPN had us running (walking) through the stadium. That was pretty cool and some runners were called out by name! Some wonderful spectators were camped out by the exit, and I helped myself to both a mini-Coke and a handful of potato chips. Omg sooo good!!!!

A nice distraction…walking through ESPN’s stadium.

The moment of truth was coming, though. As I exited Wide World of Sports, I saw something that struck fear in my heart. There was no runner traffic coming in the opposite direction. None. The road was deserted. No one was entering ESPN because sweeps were happening. The party buses were making their rounds. I had to face the reality that the Balloon Ladies could catch up with me. I may not be able to finish this race.

Miles 20-25: Hollywood Studios Bound… Freak Out Edition

The three miles between ESPN and Hollywood Studios were stressful ones. I kept turning my head to look over my shoulder to make sure there were people behind me. I had been on my feet for over five and a half hours. No sign yet of the Balloon Ladies-but I saw something even scarier. The medics on bikes. I was officially a back-of-the-packer.

They started to check on runners…asking them if they were okay. I literally avoided eye contact. On one hand, I was feeling something close to shame, but on the other hand, understood there was a legitimate need to keep close tabs on us, bringing up the rear for so many different reasons! One guy stopped to change his music and they approached-he hustled right back on the course. I remember increasing my pace as well. Show no weakness!

Still feeling strong despite a long day in the sun!

I finally entered Hollywood Studios around mile 23. It was either a blur or we only traveled through a small section of the park because I don’t remember much at all. I do remember posing with the Incredibles right inside the park. (When you’re already walking and there’s no line it’s literally a drive-by…taking up seconds, not minutes!) I was feeling strong here, and relieved to be off those empty highways!

Feeling like the end could (finally!) be in sight!

Relegated to a much narrower course, there was comfort in being part of a bigger group again, compared to how spread out we were on the highway. In this photo in front of the Chinese theater you can see plenty of people behind me, as well as one of the infamous bike medics! Could I pull this off?

Miles 25-26.2: Epcot-the Holy Land

One short highway mile and I was finally, finally in Epcot! It was a rush-pure joy! At this point I was pretty much guaranteed my medal-all of my medals-as long as I didn’t blow out my knee!

Nothing short of a disaster could take me off the course at this point!

There were various Princesses (Aurora, Jasmine, Snow White) meeting in their respective countries, but I wasn’t even tempted to stop. Epcot had already opened to the public and the lines, while short, were a mix of runners and park goers. I had a very different stop to make that was top priority!

A few miles before, I noticed my hands felt sore, and hurt when I clenched them. They had become swollen from the heat and water retention. The salt chews I used only got me so far…what I needed was a MARGARITA!!

Enter Team Margarita! As I rounded World Showcase, I made a quick stop in Mexico. My bib number was checked, and my pre-paid Margarita (with salt!!) was handed over. So grateful for this group who organized this genius idea online!! Absolute Nirvana!!!

That is one happy runner in front of Spaceship Earth!

My mood was 100% turned around! Margarita in hand, I happily posed in front of Spaceship Earth. To be honest-I was in the home stretch and considered a jump here-but I didn’t want to spill my Margarita! LOL!

Evident relief on all three faces here in the final stretch!

I could tell my friends were relieved and happy to see me around Mile 25! I had been on the course for over seven hours at this point, so they had been cheering all day, and I was the last of our little group to head towards the finish line. Now they could wrap up, too! What good sports!

Hey! Look at this! Got myself a Margarita!!

I was really tickled to have this Margarita! The day before I had crossed the Half finish line with a creamsicle, so this was a definite upgrade! One of the perks of running through the Parks later meant that food and drink kiosks were open. I did hear afterward (through the grapevine) that I was one of the last runners allowed to carry a drink over the finish line. I guess the rationale was that we were already taking quite a while to finish…don’t encourage bad behavior! LOL!

Crossing the finish line for the fourth and final time that weekend!

Crossing the finish line was an absolute rush! I honestly can’t remember if I mustered up the energy/strength/courage to shuffle across in something resembling a run, but I’m pretty certain I did! It was just too exciting to walk it in-what’s a little more discomfort at this point?

This photo was taken the split second my Margarita was about to be liberated from its cup, arms raised victoriously! As the runDisney volunteer placed the medal around my neck, I had a rare moment of emotion. Not just elation…I was choked up. I felt an overwhelming sense of pride as I collected my commemorative Marathon Ears, blue Gatorade (clearly the best) and the requisite snack box and banana.

Jubilation! Crossing only my second marathon finish line.

Post-Race Celebration

I was all smiles as I took my Finisher and I Did It! photos. I grabbed my checked bag, put my ears back in their rightful position and couldn’t wait to find my friends in the Reunion area! My final net time? 7:24:23

I Did It! Showing off my new medals in my finisher photo!

Reunited and it feels so good! Lots of hugging and congratulations and catching each other up. We determined that the Balloon Ladies finished just 3/4 of a mile after me, which translates to about ten minutes. While that seems like enough of a buffer, that’s about how long it would have taken me to ride Expedition Everest back in Animal Kingdom. It still gives me chills thinking about how riding could have been the difference between being a finisher and being swept. Choose your stops wisely!

Who says you shouldn’t meet up with people you meet on the Internet?

Lessons Learned-Every Mile Still Magic?

Most people are curious if I felt compromised, if I was disappointed. After all, the reality I got was very different from the reality I trained for. Did I compromise? Yes. I completed a marathon injured. I walked instead of ran. I wasn’t able to experience it with my friends. I didn’t get a PR or a fast POT to brag about…my per mile pace is clearly even over runDisney’s generous 16 minute mile guidelines. (16:57 to be exact.)

Even so, my stats paint a different picture. I walked fast enough from Corral D that even those who started dead last couldn’t catch me. I stopped fifteen times to take pics with characters, made three location stops (Cinderella Castle, Spaceship Earth, Choza de Margarita), at least three bathroom breaks plus stops at every single medical tent.

My training did not disappoint. Though not required to run, proper training ensured that even when I was on the course hours longer than anticipated, I had not one blister, not one chafed spot, more than enough fuel. Heck-I didn’t even get sunburnt!

Was I disappointed? No way. All that talk about running being just as much a mental sport as a physical one? Totally true-all about mental toughness. I was committed to doing my very best, regardless of outcome. I never considered not starting just because I could fail-which was a very real possibility. I was alone with my thoughts for almost seven and a half hours. No music. No conversation. You have to be kind of okay with yourself to be in your own head like that all that time. I thought about all kinds of wonderful and interesting things…

And my friends? They’re the best! They were rooting for me every step of the way! Tracking me, texting me, taking the monorail all over tarnation to cheer along the course! They think I’m a Badass!! Imagine that! Who am I to correct them?!!

When everything was said and done, I logged the same 26.2 miles that every finisher did. My race, my pace. I just got to do it with a Margarita in my hand.

Undeniably Dopey. Four runs over four days totaling 48.6 miles…complete. Run, eat, sleep, repeat.

Jacqueline lives in Connecticut with her family and a cat, Rocky Road. You can follow her on Instagram at @morphingintominnie.

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party: the Final Night!

When I found out that I would be arriving in Orlando on November 1st, the last night of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party , I knew I had to be there. I have been to the party before, but it had been a few years. I had originally planned to hit the party solo, but my friend Kerry ended up rearranging her schedule to join me. I’m so glad she did – we had such a great time!

Costumes are allowed (although there are some rules!), and I usually jump at the chance to wear something fun. However, since whatever I was going to wear had to be worn or carried onto my flight that morning, I kept it light and recycled my Officer Judy Hopps costume from last year’s Wine and Dine Half Marathon.

We ended up arriving right around 4:00 pm, which is when you can enter the park with your party ticket (even though the party technically doesn’t begin until 7:00). Party-goers are given special wristbands and then guided into a backstage area by cast members, where we were given our trick or treat bags, along with the first candy of the evening. There were also several photo ops along the path, before we were routed back out into the park.

Around 7:00, when the party officially began, the atmosphere of the park changed dramatically. The lighting and music changed to a festively spooky tone. Guests were also asked to show their wristbands in order to go on any attractions, and I saw several cast members explaining to day guests that it was time to leave unless they wanted to purchase a separate party ticket.

Spooky lighting (and a perfect sky to match!) at Pirates.

My friend and I had both previously been to the party, and we knew the importance of having a plan. We each had a couple of must-do’s, but we also knew that it would be impossible to do everything. Since we had both previously met the most popular characters, standing in a 2+ hour long line wasn’t on our agenda.

Party-Exclusive Snacks

One thing that was on the agenda was trying as many party-exclusive snacks as possible. My favorite of these was easily the Pumpkin Mickey Waffle at Sleepy Hollow Refreshments. It came with two waffles, delicious vanilla ice cream, and a caramel drizzle. Perfect for sharing!

The next set of treats on my list were the Haunted Mansion desserts that were found in five different locations (Liberty Square Market, Aloha Isle, Storybook Treats, Galactic Goodies, and Auntie Gravity’s). The first one we tried was filled with Raspberry Compote and topped with white chocolate mousse. This was tucked inside a chocolate tart shell and had a white chocolate piece on top, with the Haunted Mansion design on it. It looked great, but unfortunately tasted a bit like cardboard. Neither of us were impressed.

We decided to give these one more shot, so we tried the chocolate peanut butter tart. Waaaaaaay better than the first one! You really can’t go wrong with peanut butter! However, we decided that we’d probably be disappointed with the other variations of this snack and agreed to abandon our mission to try them all.

Unfortunately, time passes way too quickly at these parties, and we weren’t able to try everything (although we did enjoy some delicious popcorn while waiting for the parade). The other party exclusive treats included:

-Mickey Pumpkin Cheesecake Dome

-Jack Skellington Push-pop style dessert

-Candy Corn Ice Cream (word on the street is that this is actually just vanilla soft serve)

-Worms n’ Dirt

-Vampire Mickey brownies

Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular

Hocus Pocus has been very popular around my house this year, so I couldn’t wait to see this show! It was funny, and I loved seeing favorite classic Disney villains incorporated into the story. The projections onto the castle were also amazing to see!

Mickey’s “Boo to You” Halloween Parade

This parade runs twice per night, and is kicked off by the Headless Horseman riding down the street! There are classic characters dressed up for Halloween, villains, pirates, and the crowd favorites – the Haunted Mansion gravediggers and ballroom dancers! All of this, along with a catchy song that will surely be stuck in your head for days, makes for the best parade at Walt Disney World! If you’ve never seen it, I strongly suggest heading to YouTube ASAP!

We watched the second parade, which meant that crowds were significantly lighter. In fact, when we walked back to Frontierland about 30 minutes prior to the start of the parade, the area was pretty much deserted. We had a great view and got several interactions with characters.

I love all of the detailed floats in this parade!

Wreck-it-Ralph is riding on my dream truck!

Happy Hallowishes Fireworks

Another party must-do is the special fireworks. The crowds were pleasantly light on the final night of the party, so we were able to get a great view front and center. This is not always the case, so if you are attending on a crowded night, you’ll want to stake out a spot early. Don’t get too close, though, or you’ll miss the awesome effects of the circumference fireworks. So cool!

Special Character Meet and Greets

One of the biggest draws of the holiday parties is the opportunity to meet rare characters, or classic characters in holiday attire. The most popular characters at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary are Jack and Sally from Nightmare Before Christmas and the Seven Dwarfs. Both lines can easily run 2-3 hours (or more!), so it is advised to line up for those right at 4:00 if you are interested.

Other characters at the party included: Mickey and Minnie, Donald and Daisy, Alice and the Mad Hatter, Queen of Hearts with Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle-Dum, the Winnie the Pooh gang, Ariel and Eric, Belle and Gaston, Lotso, Anastasia and Drizella, Cruella DeVil, Tarzan, Jane, and Terk, Moana, Captain Jack Sparrow, Aladdin and Abu, Genie and Jasmine, and Belle and Gaston.

Since we had met many of the most popular characters (thanks, runDisney!), characters weren’t high on our list of priorities. However, with about 10 minutes left in the party, we stopped for a quick photo with the Queen of Hearts with Tweedle-Dum and Tweedle-Dee.

If you intend to meet characters, I strongly suggest deciding beforehand which ones are most important. Character lines can eat up a lot of valuable party time!

Trick or Treating

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary is the one place where adults are encouraged to trick or treat! There are stations set up across the park, clearly marked with a light-up sign. Lines were short on our party night, and since it was the last night, cast members were giving out handfuls. This year, the candy was Mars brand, which meant lots of Snickers, M&Ms, Twix, and Skittles. There was also an area guests could go to get some allergy-free treats. Everyone is included at Mickey’s party!

If you plan to focus heavily on trick or treating, you may want to bring your own bag. Guests are given small bags when entering the party, but they can fill up quickly! One more tip: trick or treating lines get much shorter at the end of the night!

Rides

During the party, lines for rides are typically very short, since many guests are focusing on other special experiences. The exception to this is Haunted Mansion, since it gets some special party treatment! This is the one ride that I would consider a must-do during the party. There is fog, cast members have on additional makeup, and there is a special ghost out front, chatting (aka heckling) guests, and she is hilarious!

We had ridden earlier in the evening, but made sure we stopped by just to watch Madame Carlotta (she sometimes switches out with her sister Rinotta) interact with guests. She was great – a definite must-see!

We also managed to get a ride on 7 Dwarfs Mine Train right as the party was ending. I got to walk through the queue for the first time ever (I don’t ever ride this one without a fastpass!), and our ride was a great way to end the evening.

Party-Exclusive Magic Shots

This year there seemed to be more opportunities for special Magic Shots than ever before! We wanted to try as many as we could, and several of them turned out great! My favorites were the Headless Horseman and the Haunted Mansion lantern. There were several others that we just didn’t have time for or didn’t see.

One of the coolest things we saw while waiting in line for a picture was a beautiful bride and groom in their wedding attire. They said they’d gotten married a week earlier, but jumped at the chance to be able to take pictures in the park in the wedding dress!

Monstrous Scream-o-Ween Ball

Instead of the usual dance party back in Tomorrowland, Mike and Sully (and some of their pals) take over and party with the crowd. We made a quick stop when we saw George Sanderson dancing – who doesn’t want a picture with him?!

Final Thoughts

Maybe it was because everyone was already over Halloween, but November 1st seemed like a great night to be at the party! The crowds were light, everyone was still feeling festive, and we accomplished more than I had ever accomplished at a party before. I had such a wonderful time, and I’m already plotting to make it back for a party next year.

One other thing that I thought was really cool was that I exited the park around 12:30 am, and it was still fully decorated for Halloween. The next morning I entered around 8:00 am, and just like magic, it was Christmas! It really is amazing how things like this happen literally overnight.

If a party is in your future, just remember that there is no possible way to do EVERYTHING! Managing expectations and having a plan is going to be the key to a successful night. And once you make a plan, be willing to be somewhat flexible, as things can change depending on crowds and weather. Relax, enjoy it, and be ready for a magical, not-so-scary night!

Pirates League-Mermaids, Makeovers and More!

Ahoy there, Mateys! Is your child obsessed with all things pirate? Are you? Are you jealous you missed Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow in Disneyland recently? Me, too! Pirates League is a fun-for-all-ages experience found in Adventureland in Magic Kingdom…and will turn any landlubber into a fearsome pirate or mesmerizing mermaid!

Mermaid makeover photo op at the castle!

My daughter loves Princesses and everything sparkly, but after two makeovers at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique in Cinderella Castle, she was ready for something new! Pirates League offered all kinds of makeovers, for both boys and girls, kids and adults! This was perfect, as we also have a son with autism, and wanted to find an experience that he could participate in, too!

Planning and Preparation

Like many of Disney’s experiences, Pirates League makeovers can be booked 180 days in advance. Since they are only open 9:00-4:00, there is no opportunity to book a pre-park opening appointment, so think about how it will fit into your day. (Right before your Splash Mountain Fastpass may not be ideal! LOL!) At 180 days out, they had no problem accommodating both children at our preferred time, so book early if you want first dibs!

Next, we had to choose a package. For girls, you can choose a Mermaid or Empress (female pirate) package. Boys can choose between First Mate Pirate packages or Captain Hook himself! Younger boys (ages 3 and up) also have the option to be made up as Jake from the popular Neverland Pirates Disney Junior show! Most packages also had a “deluxe” option, where for $15-$55 more you could add a themed costume or costume T-shirt! (Clothes were only provided in “youth” sizes…adults are out of luck!)

For our daughter, Lola, we chose the basic Mermaid package for $39.95. (The packages range from $39.95-$99.95!) It included hair, nails and make-up, and we already had scored an adorable mermaid dress off of zulily, so we didn’t feel we needed to upgrade to the Deluxe Package. (And I think we got off pretty easy…The Captain Hook Deluxe Package will run you just about $100!)

For my son, Luke, we had some different criteria. Being on the spectrum, he had some sensory issues, so we brought a familiar pirate T-shirt from home. Though he agreed to and was excited about the makeover, we also weren’t sure just how long he’d be willing to sit, so we wanted to keep his simple. We ultimately booked the First Mate package. That meant we still had to choose between a Ghosted Pirate, Zombie Pirate, Captain Hook, Blackbeard and Black Eyed Jack! We chose Blackbeard because it had minimal make-up, and we still wanted him to look handsome! (Okay-that’s just me! I wasn’t ready to see my baby looking like a ghostly skull or zombie pirate yet!)

Swearing In Ceremony

As requested, we showed up 15 minutes prior to our appointment time to check in. The location was easy to find…right between Pirates of the Caribbean and the Plaza del Sol Bazaar in Adventureland. The check-in area had awesome theming…ships’ wheels, leather trunks, all kinds of loot and pirate flags flying!

Both kids were checked in, and then my pirate-to-be was asked to spin the ship’s wheel to find out his pirate name.

He spun it twice, once for the first name and once for the last.

Ship’s wheel to determine his pirate name!

It turns out his pirate name was Jamie Barrelwalker! The oath (signed by Captain Jack Sparrow himself!) was read, and Luke…I mean Jamie…was sworn into the Pirate’s League! Within just a few minutes both kids were invited in to start their makeovers!

We got to take this home as an awesome souvenir!

Mermaid Makeover

Lola’s Mermaid Master was very engaging-telling pirate jokes and stories and keeping her at ease! She got right to work painting Lola’s nails after covering her mermaid dress with a cape to stay clean. Just like at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, the unused makeup goes home with you in a little bag!

Next she started right in on her hair. The hairstyle is simple, but very pretty! The hair is twisted around her face and secured with a flower clip that responds to temperature, with a dusting of glitter. (Of course!) In the air-conditioned space, it was white. Once out in the hot Florida sun, you will see it turn purple!

(Much better behaved than when I try to do her hair!)

Now the fun part-makeup! I loved the palette of colors they use, and it matches the nail polish perfectly! (I’m a sucker for matchy-matchy!) I could not wait to see how they added the special “scales” effect for the mermaids-but my timing was off! I looked away for a second to check on my son, and as soon as I turned back her scales had been added…so the mystery remains unsolved!

Once complete, they removed the cape for the big reveal! Lola was so excited to see her reflection! She was also given a Pirate’s League sash and a shell necklace, which I held onto because she was already wearing one from home.

Finally, Lola posed with her awesome Cast Member before she was allowed to enter the hidden chamber…shhhhhh!

First Mate/Blackbeard Makeover

Luke lucked out with the perfect Pirate Master! Knowing Luke had autism, he spent the first few minutes just developing a rapport with him and making sure he felt comfortable. Lots of smiles all around!

The Blackbeard package, like many of the other pirate makeovers, called for eyeliner. Our sensory-sensitive son was a trooper, and allowed it. We were happily surprised!

There was also no fussing when his bandanna was affixed, his eyepatch added and even when a clip-on earring was attached to his ear! He was also given a Pirates League sash and a plastic sword. I don’t know what kind of Disney magic they were dealing in, but it was working!

The only snafu was the facial fair. Blackbeard called for both a beard and a mustache to be added to the face. Luke was going through a phase where no one or nothing was allowed to touch his nose or his upper lip after a nose bleed over the winter. When it was clear this wasn’t an option, I asked about the possibility of just adding the beard. This part turned out to be pretty interesting…since it was a trademarked look, based on Johnny Depp’s Captain Jack Sparrow, they were not at liberty to modify it! Who knew?? Even so, Luke was pretty taken with his new pirate look!

Secret Chamber

After their makeovers were complete, both kids were invited (separately!) into a hidden chamber they referred to as the Treasure Room! A Photopass photographer was there to capture the moment as they spun the over-sized globe and chose a treasure from the chest!

Though it is confirmed that there is no longer a Photopass photographer available inside Pirates League, there is frequently one stationed just outside by the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. More interestingly, recent guests report some varying experiences inside the Treasure Room. Some have been invited by Cast Members to take pictures and video, while others have been told it is forbidden. I would suggest bringing your own camera and asking very nicely! 🙂

Park Photo Ops

At the time, Pirates League invited all their guests to return each afternoon at 4:00 for a “Pirate Parade”. They would march through Adventureland with a Cast Member holding a pirate flag, showing off their new looks. We declined, as parades aren’t my son’s thing, but we understand they are no longer doing this.

However, we did have a lunch reservation at Be Our Guest, so after we rode Pirates of the Caribbean, we took our time traveling from Adventureland to Fantasyland! Between our camera and Photopass we got some great shots of the kids dressed up by Cinderella Castle and the fountain, as well as Main Street, USA!

The hair clip changed from white to purple in the Florida heat!

Though the Pirates League makeover didn’t last three days like the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique version, it provided a full day of fun for both my little mermaid and pirate! I would even consider joining her myself next time! Yo-ho! Yo-ho! A pirate’s life for me!

Disney Princess 5K Race Recap

It’s hard to believe I ran the Disney Princess Half Marathon 5K race just two weeks ago today! As always, Princess Weekend never fails to disappoint! Just two years ago I ran my first ever runDisney event, the Princess 5K and the Glass Slipper Challenge, and I haven’t looked back!

Ready, Set, Jet!

Packing for a quick weekend getaway is easy…race costumes each in their gallon ziplock bags, plenty of Sports Beans and KT tape, and a spare rain poncho and mylar blanket. Throw in some mouse ears, Sparkle Skirts and a Magic Band and I’m ready to go!

Late to Bed, Early to Rise!

Second only to the training, the hardest part of any Disney race is the early wake-ups, especially if you’re running more than one race! This morning was no different, except the 5K starts at 6:15 a.m. instead of the 5:30 a.m. start times for the 10K and the Half Marathon! Woot! Woot!

Knowing we had to be on the bus from Pop Century no later than 4:00 a.m., we staggered our wake-ups at 2:30 and 3:00. Luckily, we laid out our race outfits the night before and just had to take turns jockeying for the sink and mirror! (The most challenging part was getting my Pocahontas’ tattoo on straight! Getting it off is another story…!)

Pocahontas (me) and Cruella (my bff Tiffany) headed for the buses! Pop Century is a fabulous host hotel…a single bus stop and always plenty of buses. We were quickly loaded and whisked away to the ESPN parking lot!

Corral 101

Once we made the trek through bag check, we split up. Tiffany wanted to check out how long the character lines were. (It looked like both Snow White and Sleeping Beauty were meeting separately.) I still had to pick up my bib-my flight had been delayed and I missed the Expo!

I headed to the Runners Relation tent and showed my signed waiver and license. Though this is highly unpublicized, this is still offered to runners as a courtesy due to unforeseen circumstances. Though I am careful not to abuse it, I would gladly pay the fee they piloted a few years ago in order to have my bib waiting for me at my hotel, stress-free!

Once my bib was pinned and bag checked I felt so much better! We decided the character lines were too long, and instead, people watched while listening to the DJ! We snapped a bunch of photos and selfies, and looked for photographers. Since the switch from Marathonfoto to Photopass there don’t seem to be as many photographers roaming around early morning-but we knew they’d be all over the course!

As we headed to Corral A, it was one last stop for water and porta-potties! We moved to the front of the corral and waited to be released. They informed us of a new procedure…that corrals would be released in mini-waves to limit the number of runners starting at once. Similar to the procedure they use at rope drop at the Parks, two Cast Members holding a rope would walk each new group up to the starting line.

After the National Anthem and an awesome preview of the new Disney movie, Beauty and the Beast, it was our turn! We were in the third mini-wave for Corral A. It was a really nice change to be able to run right away, instead of having to walk, waiting for the bigger crowd to dissipate!

On Course

A 5K is 3.1 miles, and we knew the first mile would primarily be highway. It’s a nice, easy way to warm up and get into the groove. The weather was perfect, not too hot, not too cold. No Mylar blankets or throw-away clothes needed! (Did you know Disney collects, washes and donates every piece of the runners’ discarded clothing?)

Nothing can quite prepare you for rounding the corner into Epcot and seeing the World Showcase lit up in pink lights for Princess Weekend! It is spectacular! You almost wish you could stop right in your tracks-but another Princess would be sure to run right into you-keep moving!

Epcot’s World Showcase lit up in all pink.

Running in the dark before the park opens is such an amazing experience! Photopass photographers were busy on the course snapping away! I typically get between 15-20 course photos per race, so it’s a great deal!

As the sun came up, we completed the loop around World Showcase and made our way past the Seas with Nemo and Friends. Another water stop (Powerade only after finishing) and less than a mile to go! My prop, Meeko, was easy to hold and run with. I actually kind of forgot about him!

Another on-course perk is running into your running buddies! The camaraderie you develop with other runDisney runners is amazing-even when they live all over the country! I’m an admin for a small running group on Facebook and I love these women! Shout-out to all of the Princesses in Disney’s PHM Fabulous and Fantastic Corral F and Beyond! (You may have noticed brevity is not my thing!)

Always time for a quick pic with friends!

One of my favorite parts of the course is when we approach Spaceship Earth! I attempted to get my signature jumping picture but the photographer insisted I hold my bib down so it wouldn’t flap up and obscure my number. (I guess next time I should remember to use safety pins on the bottom of my bib, too! LOL!)

Character Stops

As always, character stops were plentiful and varied during the 5K! I wish I had stopped for the first ones I saw-the Vikings in front of Epcot’s Norway! (I am a Swede after all…my maiden name is Johansson!) Even though the 16 minute mile pace isn’t as strictly enforced during the 5K, (I have never heard of a single person being swept) it’s tricky not always knowing what lies ahead!

I did, however, stop for a photo with this awesome Pocahontas! We were definitely a minority amongst all the Belles and other princesses!

I feel like I willed the next character stop-it was Meeko!!! Dressed as Pocahontas, carrying a little plush Meeko of my own, there was no way I wasn’t stopping! Meeko even held baby Meeko-I was so excited I almost dashed off without him!

Meeko!! Holding little Meeko!! See?? See??

As we headed into Germany we saw a long line, and then realized why…it was Dopey! Though he was out for Wine & Dine this past November, he is still a pretty rare character and we were psyched! Most people don’t ever meet him unless they wait hours at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party for the money shot with all seven dwarfs! This one was non-negotiable!

As we made our way around World Showcase we also stopped for Abu in Morocco (not particularly cute), and then Cinderella’s mice, Suzy and Perla, in France! I was so excited to meet both, especially because they were frequently being switched in and out, and most people only got their picture with one of them! (Confession: It was much less exclusive than I thought…they were meeting later that day in Magic Kingdom by the castle wall! LOL!)

Cinderella’s mice, Suzy and Perla, in France!

The final characters were the performers from the Festival of Fantasy Parade posing with runners near The Seas with Nemo! Typically found on the Ariel float, they looked like beautiful and exotic sea anemones! I chose not to stop for this photo op, but I did get a selfie with the iconic Spaceship Earth!

Will Run for Bling!

Before we knew it, we were crossing the finish line! I was so excited to get my first runDisney 5K medal that was actually metal and not plastic! The Chip design from Beauty and the Beast was adorable! We posed for our finisher pics, grabbed our banana (phones) and snack boxes, and got in line for a celebratory pic with Snow White!

A metal medal! So excited for this Mrs. Potts and Chip bling!

Post-Race Celebration

Shower? Nap? Ice bath? Nope! We hopped on a bus to Magic Kingdom via the Polynesian…time to open the Parks! Our first stop was to show off our new medals to Tink. She sprinkled me with Pixie Dust so I could continue to run fast for the rest of the weekend. (My friend suggested she should have sprinkled me with antibiotics…I was still recovering from a sinus infection and bronchitis!)

While hitting the hub for the obligatory castle/medal photo op, we ran into the Dapper Dans just milling around! Not only were they happy to pose for pictures-they SANG the Cruella Deville song to Tiffany! I have to admit…I am STILL jealous! (They also told me they loved my Sacagawea costume-LOL!)

Finally, we made our way to Crystal Palace for a well-deserved breakfast, followed closely by everyone’s favorite snack-the Dole Whip! The only thing that would have made our perfect morning any better was rum!

Run??? We thought you said rum! We’ll be sure to come back for the Disney Princess 5K next year-especially if we can find some rum!

Jacqueline lives in Connecticut with her husband, two children and cat. You can follow her on Instagram at @morphingintominnie and @neverlandpress.

A Pirate’s Adventure: Treasures of the Seven Seas

Did you know that there’s a place in the Magic Kingdom where you and your little (or big) buccaneers can go on an interactive pirate adventure? Until our last trip, I had always passed it by without a second glance. On a particularly busy park day when I was off at a race meetup, my husband decided to try it as an alternative to standing in another long line with the kids. When I met back up with them, all I heard about was how much fun it was and how they couldn’t wait for me to try it. Everyone loved it – from the toddler to the teen to the grown-up, it was a hit!

On our next day at Magic Kingdom, they insisted we go play. We walked over to the “Crow’s Nest”, located just past the Adventureland sign as you’re heading toward Frontierland. One person in our party went inside, since it’s a fairly small space, and picked a map they hadn’t previously completed. The game is loaded onto your Magic Band, and each child is given their own map. Within just a couple of minutes, we were off!

The maps are really cool souvenirs. There are five different adventures, and they are all contained within Adventureland. Each map has around six clues, each one leading to the next. If you’re familiar with the area, you will probably complete each one within about 20 minutes. When you discover the clue, you tap your Magic Band to activate it. There are some really fun effects! We had a great time discovering each one.

Once you complete the entire map, you can return to the Crow’s Nest and select another adventure. We were given special cards for completing each one, and got an even cooler reward when we told the Cast Member we had completed the entire set. I won’t spoil what that one was, but I will be happy to share if you’d like to know.

When you’re exhausted but can’t bear to let go of your treasure map!

This is one adventure that we’ll definitely be embarking on again! We all enjoyed it, and I’d recommend it for pirates of all ages.