Vlog: Walt Disney World 5K

As promised, I brought my camera along with me on all of the Marathon Weekend races I recently ran on my quest for the Dopey Challenge medal!

Beginning with the 5K, here's a quick video recap of our time on the course through EPCOT and World Showcase!

For a full recap of our WDW Marathon Weekend experience, check out these links below:

• Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend Expo & Vlog
• Walt Disney World 5K & Vlog
• Walt Disney World 10K & Vlog
• Kids Races (100 m Dash) & Vlog
• Walt Disney World Half Marathon & Vlog
• Walt Disney World Full Marathon & Vlog

(I'm sorry the video is dark - this was my first time to finish a runDisney event when the sun hadn't quite risen all the way yet!)

Thanks for following along on our journey!

Vintage Minnie & Dopey Challenge Costumes

Happy New Year! 

This weekend was full of fun things, especially those related to our upcoming Walt Disney World trip for Marathon Weekend! Our bags are mostly packed and we are ready!

We will be spending our week at Port Orleans Riverside with plans for visiting all four theme parks over the course of seven days. Jason's even taking a Disney fishing excursion with a friend of ours where they will have the opportunity to fish in World Showcase Lagoon before EPCOT opens for the morning! He is SO excited!

As far as other plans go, we will be at the Expo on Wednesday afternoon and Brayden will be participating in his first 100m dash on Friday morning! 

For the races, I'll be sporting several different outfits, most of which I've already worn...whoops. The full marathon is a different story, though! A friend of mine wanted to run the full dressed as Steamboat Willie Mickey and that's where the idea for Vintage Minnie came into play!

Putting this outfit together was SUPER easy as it didn't require any extra work on my part. With running the full marathon, I wanted everything to be functional and easy to run in.

For the costume itself, I put together the following pieces:

• Solid black dry fit BCG brand shirt from Academy
• Sparkle Skirts sparkle light vintage blue skirt
• Legend Compression sleeves in black
• Vintage Minnie ears from Etsy (my running buddy purchased her Steamboat Willie ears from the same vendor so we will match!) 

I used this picture as my inspiration....

...and voila! 

Easiest costume ever!

For the 5K, 10K, and Half, I decided to bring back a few oldies to wear again. We had so much fun running as Anna & Elsa several years back for the Enchanted 10K, so that was a no brainer. Lilo definitely needed a redemption race since most of that one was spent under a poncho in pouring down rain (the Wine & Dine Half of 2014 aka the "Splash & Dash"). We couldn't decide what to run as for the 5K and as a last minute (literally) idea, we threw in Mousketeers to the mix (from the Disneyland Half of 2013).

Mousketeer - 5K

Anna & Elsa - 10K

Lilo - Half Marathon

So, if you happen to see me out there, please don't hesitate to say hello!

If you're running this weekend, have a GREAT time and enjoy every moment! If it's your first runDisney race, I hope you have a blast!!

Disney Traditions

While listening to a recent Disney podcast, the topic of Disney traditions was discussed - something you do each and every time you visit Walt Disney World. It got me thinking and I realized I do have a few. For starters, we always stop by the Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop when we visit Disney Springs. Another is picture taking. I LOVE to bring my camera along for pictures (much to my husband's dismay). Traditionally, I have two photo stops I always make (apart from the normal castle pictures, of course). The first is in the Germany Pavilion where I take a picture at the courtyard fountain. Since that explanation is a bit longer, let's just say that it's because I'm a HUGE nerd and it has something to do with NSYNC...maybe.

My second stop is at the One Man's Dream attraction in Hollywood Studios.When Jason and I visited for our honeymoon, we discovered a Mousketeer exhibit inside One Man's Dream showcasing which Mousketeer? If you guessed Karen, then you're correct! Ever since 2007, I have a picture with "Karen" on each and every trip to the world. It's funny to see how the exhibit (and myself) have changed over the years! Here's just a few that I found after digging through various Disney albums...

Our Honeymoon in 2007

2009

2010

2012

2013

2014

During our Wine & Dine trip in 2014, I made a startling discovery...

Karen had been replaced by CUBBY! As I'm sure you can imagine, I was incredibly saddened by the turn of events and assumed he had replaced Karen for good.

During our most recent trip to the World in December of 2015, we stopped by One Man's Dream just for kicks and giggles. 

Much to my surprise, Karen had RETURNED!!

I might have jumped up and down for a few seconds like a mad pregnant woman when I discovered her costume in the window! I'm sure I scared a lot of people as well...whoops...but I just couldn't believe my eyes! I composed myself long enough to take a picture and was very glad we stopped by "just to"! It's the little things, people. Sometimes you have to truly look to find them...

Do you have a Disney Tradition? If so, what is it?

Disneyland Half Marathon Costume?

I’ll admit, I struggled on my ideas of what to wear for the Disneyland Half Marathon next weekend. Mind you, I already know exactly what I’m going to wear for the Princess Half Marathon and 10K (Glass Slipper Challenge) next February….but up until a few days ago, I couldn’t pinpoint exactly what I was going on wear for the Disneyland Half Marathon. Isn’t that race just a few short days away? Yeah…it is.

Know when inspiration hit?

Inspiration for my Disneyland Half costume hit while watching an episode of Walt Disney’s Disneyland (the old black and white specials that used to play on ABC every Sunday night).

See this Mousketeer? Her name is Karen.

Here’s a #ThrowbackThursday one for you! On our Honeymoon in 2007, I discovered Karen’s Mousketeer costume on display in Hollywood Studios – and I’ve taken a photo in this same location every trip since!

In 2009 while on a trip with my family…

2

2010 during Marathon Weekend (and my first runDisney experience at that!)

After the 2012 Princess Half Marathon

(Apparently I need to broaden my spectrum of clothing. Despite what it looks like, my wardrobe IS full of colors other than blue!)

Her name is Karen…my name is Karen….perfect, right? Even better, I purchased that very same (ok…similar) Mousketeer hat at Disney World in January after Marathon Weekend! How’s that for “Coast to Coast” for you?

 

Enter a Sparkle Skirt for necessary bling…

…and as soon as I receive the top back from my seamstress (aka my mom), the costume will be complete!

So folks, there you have it! If you see a Mousketeer named Karen run by during the Disneyland Half Marathon, say hi! :0)

Have you ever dressed in costume for a race? If you are running the Disneyland Half, are you running in costume?