Post-Trip Report: Jon’s runDisney Dopey Challenge (January 2025)

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ALEX: Hello there, it's Alex again, stepping in from my mom for today's intro and outro.

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ALEX: My mom's voice has been very hoarse from the cold she's been fighting, so naturally, I'm her first choice to substitute.

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ALEX: Plus, I get co-host credit when I do these, so why wouldn't I step in to add to my resume?

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ALEX: Don't worry, these episodes were recorded weeks ago, so you'll still hear her voice on the actual trip report.

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ALEX: Today, we're launching season four of the podcast, and I'm happy to report that during the break, we got a new podcast review submitted through Apple Podcast from listener, MeggieMac78, titled Fun and Magical Podcast.

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ALEX: Meggie says, Listening to Where I Long To Be is such a great way to feel like I'm still in the Disney bubble when I can't be at the parks.

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ALEX: I always learn a new tip or trick.

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ALEX: Listening to Virginia's podcast keeps the magic alive when I don't have my own trip planned.

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ALEX: Thank you so much for submitting that review, and definitely keep listening.

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ALEX: I know my mom was very excited to see it.

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ALEX: You're a real one, Meggie.

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ALEX: If you haven't reviewed the show yet, please make sure you do soon.

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ALEX: It helps the podcast get noticed and leads new listeners to the show.

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ALEX: You can rate the show on most podcast platforms and can leave a written review like Meggie did on the Apple Podcast or by submitting a review through the podcast website, which is whereilongtobepodcast.com.

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ALEX: And now it's time to jump into today's post-trip report with Jon, who is the WDW runner on Instagram, who is from North Carolina.

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ALEX: In case you didn't listen to the pre-trip report, Jon and his wife were planning this trip to the most magical place on earth to take part in the RunDisney Marathon weekend.

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ALEX: Jon was going for the Dopey Challenge, meaning he was doing the 5K, the 10K, the half marathon, and the full marathon all in one weekend.

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ALEX: His wife was joining in on the half marathon.

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ALEX: They stayed one night in Disney's All-Star Sports Resort, and the remainder of the trip was spent at Animal Kingdom Lodge in a DVC studio at Jambo House.

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ALEX: That should be enough to catch you up.

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ALEX: And now here's my mom, Virginia, and the WDW runner himself, Jon.

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VIRGINIA: Welcome back, Jon.

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JON: Thank you.

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JON: I'm glad to be back.

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VIRGINIA: Are you?

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JON: Not really.

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JON: It's good to be back on the podcast, but yeah.

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JON: Definitely wish I was still down in Disney.

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VIRGINIA: Yeah.

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VIRGINIA: Well, you came back on Monday, January 13th, and today is the 16th.

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VIRGINIA: So you've had a couple of days to get back used to your regular swing of things, but also a couple of days, presumably to just kind of chill and let your muscles take a break.

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VIRGINIA: Are you sore?

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JON: I am.

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JON: I'm still a little bit sore.

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JON: Usually the day of and then the day after are the worst, and then after that, you're good to go.

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JON: You still have some sore muscles, of course, but it's not as bad as you would think.

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VIRGINIA: Doing the Dopey Challenge like you did is so impressive to me, and the fact that you're able to recover that quickly just tells me how well-prepared you were for the races to begin with.

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JON: Well, I did train quite a bit, and you could do it in a quicker manner, but I try to stretch it out over the year to make it, you know, to keep me doing something, keep me active and exercising throughout the year.

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JON: So at least six months worth of training, and I just spread it out over as long as I can and just try to just build, build, build until we get to that point of going down for Marathon Weekend.

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VIRGINIA: And you said that you're going to be taking the next month or so off, right?

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JON: Probably, and also it's freezing cold.

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VIRGINIA: Oh, my gosh.

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JON: Yeah.

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VIRGINIA: How cold is it where you are today?

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JON: Well, today it was around 19 this morning, and then I think the high got to maybe the mid 30s.

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JON: So North Carolina, that's pretty cool.

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JON: We're not used to that, that cold weather.

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JON: So you're probably more used to that in New York.

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VIRGINIA: But I mean, today our high was around 30 and our low 24.

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VIRGINIA: So your low was actually lower than my low.

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JON: Yes, yes.

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JON: But and surprisingly, during Marathon weekend, it was very cool for Central Florida.

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JON: So it was the cold front was the entire East Coast, I believe.

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JON: And so it wasn't your normal Florida trip.

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VIRGINIA: Yeah, I did notice from your pictures, you were pretty well bundled up for your run.

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VIRGINIA: So was that more comfortable to be running in such cool temperatures or was it just strange?

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JON: No, it actually, I was used to it because leading up to marathon weekend, all my longer distance runs were done in November and December here in North Carolina.

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JON: So while that weekend in Florida was cool, I was used to it because of the cool weather that I was used to running in North Carolina.

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JON: So it wasn't a huge shock to the system.

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JON: I'd actually like it better when it's cool, not quite that cold, but I like cooler running weather than warm.

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JON: The warm weather would tire you out a lot faster.

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JON: So yeah, I like the cool.

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VIRGINIA: How did you enjoy the courses?

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JON: They were good.

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JON: They were a little different this year.

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JON: I don't know if you or the listeners are familiar with it, but they kind of went almost backwards this year into the Magic Kingdom.

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JON: You used to come in and run through the Magic Kingdom, and then come out and go behind Grand Floridian and Polynesian.

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JON: And this time you went in that way, and we actually ran across the walkway to the Magic Kingdom from the Grand Floridian, and came in that way and then exited the way we used to enter.

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JON: So they switched it up a little bit.

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JON: But for the most part, it was similar from years past.

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VIRGINIA: Okay.

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VIRGINIA: So you were running down the walking path that any of us would have been walking.

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VIRGINIA: Should we have been at the Magic Kingdom and chosen to walk to Grand Floridian?

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JON: Yes.

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JON: But it was at 5 a.m., 6 a.m.

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JON: Right.

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JON: Yeah.

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JON: And they had everything blocked off from pedestrians at that point in time.

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JON: And then everything opened up as the day went on.

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VIRGINIA: But that's not a...

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VIRGINIA: The reason I'm curious about it is really because that's not a very wide sidewalk.

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VIRGINIA: It's not like a road.

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VIRGINIA: So how did that work with so many people?

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JON: Well, when you get to that point, you're at about a mile nine or 10 when you're going to the Magic Kingdom.

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JON: So it's thinned out a little bit at that point.

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JON: But I will say the course had some very narrow spots this year, more narrow than I can remember in the past.

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JON: So there were some tight quarters and then it had rained.

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JON: So there were wet spots.

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JON: So a lot of times people would go off into the grass, but that really wasn't an option, you know, this year.

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JON: And there was a lot of construction back there too.

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JON: So it was pretty narrow in several spots.

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VIRGINIA: How much rain are we talking?

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JON: Not much, but the morning of actually the half marathon was the only morning it was caught on rain.

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JON: And of course it started about 5 a.m.

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JON: But actually a little bit before that, while we were in the corrals, it rained pretty good little downpour and then it steadily drizzled and misted.

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JON: And then once the rain started, it subsided a little bit, but it was enough to make it kind of messy around there, especially with all the construction.

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VIRGINIA: Okay.

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VIRGINIA: Nothing to get your shoes falling apart or anything like that.

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JON: No, I mean, but just sitting in the corral and getting soaked, some people were prepared.

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JON: I had a poncho and so I was covered up pretty good and I would stay dry.

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JON: But some people were not prepared at all and they were just getting drenched out there.

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JON: So it was bad.

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JON: I felt bad for them because it's miserable.

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JON: They can't go anywhere.

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JON: There's nowhere to hide from it.

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JON: You just got to sit out there and take it.

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VIRGINIA: Yeah.

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VIRGINIA: Wet clothes, wet shoes are just miserable to begin with, but then to have that and have to start running, that sounds like a nightmare to me.

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JON: Terrible.

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JON: Worst case scenario.

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VIRGINIA: Yeah.

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VIRGINIA: All right.

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VIRGINIA: Well, let's get into all of the trip details.

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VIRGINIA: So you arrived on Tuesday, January the 7th, and you were flying out in the afternoon because I think your wife was working for the day.

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VIRGINIA: So everything with your flights went okay?

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JON: Yeah, it went perfect.

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JON: No delays.

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JON: I think they always give you a little bit more time than you need.

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JON: We got to Orlando early and smooth.

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JON: It was the quickest baggage claim ever.

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JON: We took the little tram over to the main terminal, went down, got our baggage.

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JON: As soon as we walked down there, it was coming down and going around the little conveyor belt.

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JON: So I've never seen it go that fast.

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JON: So we grabbed our bags, got an Uber, and we were pulling in at All-Star Sports at probably around, it's close to around 6 o'clock, I think, when we finally arrived there.

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JON: It might have been a little bit before that.

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JON: So made really good time.

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VIRGINIA: And I assume that your room was ready because it was 6 p.m.

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VIRGINIA: It was.

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JON: It was, so we, yeah.

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JON: So we went and put our things down and then headed straight to the Magic Kingdom because, like I always say, you have to start the Magic Kingdom on any Disney trip, I think.

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VIRGINIA: Mm-hmm.

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VIRGINIA: So tell us about this evening.

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VIRGINIA: What did you do?

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VIRGINIA: And I think you were aiming to try to stay through fireworks.

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JON: Yes, yes.

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JON: That was the goal because we did not have a race on Wednesday morning.

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JON: So this was going to be really our opportunity to see fireworks and maybe stay late in the parks, at least until all the races were finished.

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JON: So first things first, we had to go get some dinner.

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JON: So we went to the Columbia Harbor House, which is a favorite of mine.

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JON: It's kind of a unique theme park restaurant.

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JON: So we went straight there and it was really, really cold that day.

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JON: So clam chowder was on point.

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JON: And so we sat there and we always go upstairs and overlook fantasy land and we ate our dinner and then decided to try to ride a few rides before the fireworks started.

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JON: So we actually rode Space Mountain and we rode Pirates of the Caribbean.

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JON: And then we went to the hub and watched the fireworks show.

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JON: So it was really nice start to the trip.

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VIRGINIA: Did you get a good spot?

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JON: We did, we did right in the middle, right in front of the Waltz Statue, Castle Side.

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JON: So we're behind it.

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JON: We're facing the hub there.

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JON: But yeah, it's easier with two people.

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JON: We can kind of squeeze in and make space.

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JON: And then when they make everybody stand up and move in, you have plenty of room.

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JON: So it worked out great.

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VIRGINIA: Because this was a big race weekend, I imagine that crowds might have been higher than normal.

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VIRGINIA: What was the crowd like on this night?

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VIRGINIA: Did it give you a sense of what it was going to be like for the rest of the week?

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JON: Yeah, when we first got to the Magic Kingdom, when we're walking around, I thought the crowds were low, especially compared to last year when Marathon Weekend was kind of tied in to New Year's.

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JON: So I think it started, I think we arrived on the third last year.

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JON: And so I was hopeful that some of those crowds would be gone, being back from people going back to work.

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JON: And so I think it was a little bit lighter.

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JON: But of course, in the Hub, it's crazy no matter what time of year.

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JON: But I did think that crowds were lighter overall on this trip.

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VIRGINIA: Oh, okay.

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VIRGINIA: All right.

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VIRGINIA: So Wednesday, January the 8th, this morning you switched over to Animal Kingdom Lodge, and you had a Savannah view.

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VIRGINIA: So before we get into the details of your day, just overall, how was your room?

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JON: Oh, it was great.

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JON: Like I said, we rented DVC points.

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JON: So we were on the fifth floor, which is the vacation club rooms.

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JON: And we did have the Savannah view, had a great view.

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JON: We could actually see Expedition Everest and some of the Avatar floating mountains from our balcony.

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JON: So that was neat.

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JON: And at night it was really lit up so you could see it, but you could see it during the day as well.

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JON: And then there were several giraffes and zebras and all kinds of other little animals running around at all points of the day.

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JON: So it was really, it was really nice.

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JON: So that was a smooth transition too.

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JON: We, as soon as we got up, we just got our bags and headed over, we actually just ubered over because we had, I don't know if people realize, but Marathon Weekend, any run weekend, especially a cold weekend, you've got to, you might have two sets of clothes.

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JON: So you have your normal clothes that you would wear to the park and then you've got your running clothes and then you have layers.

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JON: And this weekend, so cold, we had hoodies and jackets.

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JON: So it's so much luggage.

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JON: So we just had to Uber and it was like eight or 10 bucks to Uber from All-Stars over to Animal Kingdom Lodge.

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JON: So it just made sense to do it that way.

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VIRGINIA: And you've stayed at Animal Kingdom Lodge before.

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VIRGINIA: Yes.

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VIRGINIA: And when you stayed there before, was it also in Jambo House or were you over at Kidani?

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JON: Yes, I've only stayed in Jambo House.

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JON: I think they both are vacation resorts.

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JON: But when I rent through David's DVC, that's the one we always choose.

00:12:48.885 --> 00:12:50.385
JON: It's got the bigger lobby.

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JON: So I don't know if that's why I like it more.

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JON: But it's just like our home resort, I guess.

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VIRGINIA: Right.

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VIRGINIA: Kidani Village is only DVC and Jambo House is half and half.

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JON: Both, yeah.

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VIRGINIA: That is the one that I think once I make it over there, I would like to try to do Jambo House just because having access to that lobby, it's just like you have more options available to you.

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JON: Definitely.

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JON: And then quick service, I'm not sure about the quick service options at Kidani, but Jambo House has got a great quick service option.

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JON: And then, of course, the main restaurants too.

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JON: Although we didn't eat there, those are definitely good options to have.

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VIRGINIA: Right.

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VIRGINIA: Yeah.

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VIRGINIA: All right.

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VIRGINIA: So this was an Epcot Day and you were also combining that with going over to the expo.

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VIRGINIA: So you said that the Virtual Queue started at 7.

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VIRGINIA: So is that just like as if you were getting into Virtual Queue for anything else at Disney in terms of going through your My Disney Experience and all that kind of stuff?

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JON: Yes.

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JON: You go to join Virtual Queue and I could have sworn it was at 7 in the past, but maybe not.

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JON: This year it started at 8.30.

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JON: So we're able to get on and secure our Virtual Queue for the Expo and it gives us just like you said for the rides, it gives you an estimated call back time.

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JON: I can't remember what it said.

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JON: It was like 134 minutes or something.

00:14:14.925 --> 00:14:21.705
JON: That was the whole plan about going to Epcot that first day is because it was close to where the Expo is at.

00:14:21.705 --> 00:14:31.925
JON: We could hop over quickly to a resort like Beach Club or Boardwalk and take a bus over to the Expo because there's no buses from the parks to the Expo.

00:14:33.025 --> 00:14:36.645
JON: It was just easier to do it that way and that's how we've done it in the past.

00:14:36.645 --> 00:14:40.085
JON: We were just kind of strolling around World Showcase.

00:14:40.085 --> 00:14:53.285
JON: We didn't really even do anything and then we decided to head on over to the Expo because our plan was to go through and get our bibs first and then the virtual queue is actually for the RunDisney merchandise.

00:14:53.545 --> 00:14:58.305
JON: You don't have to join it if you don't want to go through the merchandise part of it.

00:14:58.625 --> 00:15:02.165
JON: You can just go get your bib at any time once it opens.

00:15:02.165 --> 00:15:05.925
JON: So that's what we tried to do is time that just right.

00:15:05.925 --> 00:15:10.865
JON: But now it's such like an event to go through and just get your bib.

00:15:10.865 --> 00:15:25.005
JON: The lines were unbelievable but in the past we had always flown in on Wednesday and gone to the Expo later that evening and so the crowds were never as crazy as they were this time so I don't know how to make an adjustment for next year.

00:15:25.865 --> 00:15:32.565
VIRGINIA: So is the Expo usually open the day before the 5K or does it ever open earlier than that?

00:15:32.565 --> 00:15:38.325
JON: No, Wednesday is always the first day and I think it opens at 10 a.m.

00:15:38.325 --> 00:15:40.265
JON: and it's open till 8 p.m.

00:15:40.265 --> 00:15:45.365
JON: and then the hours vary but it's basically those hours every day of marathon weekend.

00:15:45.365 --> 00:15:49.585
JON: So you can go back over and they want to try to get rid of as much of that merchandise as they can.

00:15:51.065 --> 00:15:55.265
JON: But yeah, there's like four different arenas that you go through.

00:15:55.265 --> 00:15:58.485
JON: The first one is you pick up your bibs for the race.

00:15:58.485 --> 00:16:02.905
JON: The second one you go pick up your RunDisney shirts and then it's got all the vendors.

00:16:02.905 --> 00:16:05.725
JON: So you have the running shoe companies.

00:16:05.725 --> 00:16:08.425
JON: You've got anybody that sells any type of running apparel.

00:16:08.425 --> 00:16:16.285
JON: You've got all your energy goos and foods that you can take with you on the race.

00:16:16.345 --> 00:16:17.305
JON: You've got your sunglasses.

00:16:17.305 --> 00:16:19.585
JON: You've got your recovery vendors.

00:16:19.585 --> 00:16:23.305
JON: I mean anything you can imagine that you would need to be a runner.

00:16:23.305 --> 00:16:25.125
JON: They've got it in the second arena.

00:16:25.125 --> 00:16:28.265
JON: And then the last one is the RunDisney exclusive merchandise.

00:16:28.265 --> 00:16:31.085
JON: And that's the one that you need the virtual queue for.

00:16:31.085 --> 00:16:34.045
VIRGINIA: Do they frequently sell out of things?

00:16:34.045 --> 00:16:35.145
JON: Oh, definitely.

00:16:35.145 --> 00:16:37.365
JON: And they need to change the way they do it.

00:16:37.365 --> 00:16:38.925
JON: But I don't know that they will.

00:16:38.925 --> 00:16:45.225
JON: But by the time we got there and we were one of the first ones, a lot of stuff had been sold out.

00:16:45.585 --> 00:16:48.465
JON: But then you go check eBay and it's all over that.

00:16:48.465 --> 00:16:50.905
JON: So they've got to do something to clean that up.

00:16:50.905 --> 00:16:56.565
JON: My idea has always been to, on the first day, it should be to present your bib.

00:16:56.565 --> 00:16:59.705
JON: And it's one item per person per bib.

00:16:59.705 --> 00:17:02.225
JON: And then, you know, of each item that you want to buy.

00:17:02.225 --> 00:17:08.185
JON: And then second day, you know, open up whoever and let it just to be a free for all then.

00:17:08.185 --> 00:17:12.705
JON: But give the people who are actually doing the races the opportunity to buy these things.

00:17:12.765 --> 00:17:21.625
JON: And instead of the eBay-ers, because these people, you know, they don't even run the race, but they can go in there and go buy the merchandise up.

00:17:21.625 --> 00:17:22.325
VIRGINIA: Wait a second.

00:17:22.325 --> 00:17:32.025
VIRGINIA: Okay, so like if I had been there this past week, even though I wasn't registered for any of the races, I would have had the option to join the Virtual Queue?

00:17:32.025 --> 00:17:32.805
JON: Yes.

00:17:32.805 --> 00:17:35.045
VIRGINIA: Ew, I don't like that.

00:17:35.045 --> 00:17:36.605
VIRGINIA: Disney, do better.

00:17:36.605 --> 00:17:38.885
VIRGINIA: That's not good.

00:17:38.985 --> 00:17:40.525
JON: And it's packed out.

00:17:41.025 --> 00:17:52.285
JON: And I think people, I don't know how they do it, but they abuse the system and there's people that are not running and they'll get in there somehow and they'll have like a bib or something.

00:17:52.285 --> 00:17:52.945
JON: I don't know.

00:17:52.945 --> 00:17:54.065
JON: You don't have to present your ID.

00:17:54.065 --> 00:17:55.965
JON: You just have to have the My Disney Experience.

00:17:55.965 --> 00:17:58.205
JON: So, yeah, it's a mess.

00:17:58.205 --> 00:17:59.425
JON: They got to clean it up.

00:17:59.425 --> 00:18:00.065
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:18:00.065 --> 00:18:02.445
VIRGINIA: So did you end up purchasing anything?

00:18:02.445 --> 00:18:07.605
JON: My wife got a shirt for the half marathon, and so she was able to find one that she liked.

00:18:07.605 --> 00:18:09.925
JON: I didn't really find anything that I liked.

00:18:10.045 --> 00:18:18.645
JON: I wanted either Marathon, Weekend or Dopey, and those, of course, they get sold out the fastest.

00:18:18.645 --> 00:18:28.805
JON: So I ended up just getting a pin, because I usually get one of the pins each trip just to commemorate that, and then I'll look online and maybe try to get something later.

00:18:28.805 --> 00:18:32.045
JON: But you do get one shirt for every race and each challenge.

00:18:32.045 --> 00:18:33.865
JON: So I got six shirts.

00:18:33.905 --> 00:18:36.945
JON: So it's kind of hard to, yeah, it's not a total loss there.

00:18:36.945 --> 00:18:37.705
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:18:37.705 --> 00:18:42.645
VIRGINIA: And sometimes I do see the RunDisney merch show up at Character Warehouse as well.

00:18:42.645 --> 00:18:49.305
VIRGINIA: So I've never let myself purchase any, because I'm one of those people that's like, you're not allowed to get it until you actually do one.

00:18:49.305 --> 00:18:52.105
VIRGINIA: And same thing with the Cruise Line stuff that they sell there.

00:18:52.105 --> 00:18:53.825
VIRGINIA: I'm like, you haven't done the Disney Cruise.

00:18:53.825 --> 00:18:55.325
VIRGINIA: You have not earned it yet.

00:18:55.325 --> 00:18:55.865
JON: That's right.

00:18:55.865 --> 00:18:56.725
JON: Yeah, you get it.

00:18:56.725 --> 00:18:58.005
JON: It's got to be legit.

00:18:58.065 --> 00:18:59.945
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:18:59.945 --> 00:19:00.245
JON: All right.

00:19:00.245 --> 00:19:03.285
VIRGINIA: Well, after the Expo, you were planning to head back to Epcot.

00:19:03.285 --> 00:19:05.265
VIRGINIA: Is that what actually ended up happening?

00:19:05.265 --> 00:19:05.665
JON: Yes.

00:19:05.665 --> 00:19:10.245
JON: But we were, I mean, I'm telling you, the Expo wore us out more than if we were in the park.

00:19:10.245 --> 00:19:14.285
JON: So I think we were there for four hours to end total.

00:19:14.285 --> 00:19:15.685
JON: And the lines were nuts.

00:19:15.685 --> 00:19:18.425
JON: And by that time, you're kind of hungry.

00:19:18.425 --> 00:19:25.465
JON: They've got some food options there, but you're just really trying to just get through and get all your stuff together.

00:19:25.465 --> 00:19:27.425
JON: So by the time we finally left, we were hungry.

00:19:27.705 --> 00:19:42.365
JON: We were kind of grumpy from just the whole way that it was handled and the way they had everything set up and the crowds of people and the frustration of things being sold out when we even got the opportunity to even see it, much less buy it.

00:19:42.365 --> 00:19:44.705
JON: So we did head back to Epcot.

00:19:44.705 --> 00:19:51.805
JON: We did have Lightning Lane that we purchased for the day to where we could ride some of our favorite things.

00:19:51.805 --> 00:20:00.705
JON: And we did have, well, I had the 5K the next morning, so I had to, you know, my time, my time was getting a little short because I had to get back and I wanted to eat before it was too late.

00:20:00.705 --> 00:20:02.925
JON: And I wanted to get back to the room and get a little bit of rest.

00:20:02.925 --> 00:20:10.805
JON: Even though the 5K, you know, it's not as long of a race, it's still an early get up and you still have to run three miles.

00:20:11.825 --> 00:20:16.025
JON: So I got back a little bit later than I normally would.

00:20:16.025 --> 00:20:21.625
JON: And then that first night, it's always harder to fall asleep because you're nervous, you're excited, you're anxious.

00:20:21.965 --> 00:20:24.425
JON: After that, it's pretty easy because you're just exhausted.

00:20:24.625 --> 00:20:26.625
JON: It takes over and you fall asleep pretty easy.

00:20:26.625 --> 00:20:29.965
JON: But yeah, the first night is a challenge usually.

00:20:29.965 --> 00:20:38.165
VIRGINIA: For your multi-pass, when we previously spoke for your pre-trip interview, you had not booked anything in advance yet.

00:20:38.165 --> 00:20:43.465
VIRGINIA: Did you end up doing any advance bookings before you actually left for this trip?

00:20:43.465 --> 00:20:49.305
JON: Yes, actually, after we talked to that night for the pre-trip report, I booked them that night.

00:20:49.305 --> 00:20:51.445
JON: I was like, man, I shouldn't have waited this long.

00:20:51.945 --> 00:20:54.905
JON: I went ahead and booked those all that I could that night.

00:20:55.565 --> 00:21:02.765
JON: Three at a time is what you can book ahead of time plus any individual lightning lanes that you want to buy.

00:21:02.765 --> 00:21:05.045
JON: We were able to get pretty much everything.

00:21:05.305 --> 00:21:12.845
JON: If those of you that remember the old FastPass system to where they had the different tiers, that's how they do it now at Epcot.

00:21:12.845 --> 00:21:18.825
JON: So you have to choose from Frozen, Remy's and maybe one other.

00:21:18.825 --> 00:21:19.845
JON: And that's like Tier 1.

00:21:19.845 --> 00:21:24.825
JON: And then Tier 2 is like Soarin, Spaceship Earth, the Seas, when they move in France.

00:21:24.825 --> 00:21:26.585
JON: All Frozen is in that first Tier 2.

00:21:28.025 --> 00:21:30.285
JON: But that's just for the pre-purchase.

00:21:30.285 --> 00:21:37.265
JON: Once you get there and you use your first lightning lane, then you're eligible to go pick another one, whatever is available.

00:21:37.265 --> 00:21:37.885
VIRGINIA: OK.

00:21:37.885 --> 00:21:42.105
VIRGINIA: So what did you end up getting on for your Epcot Day?

00:21:42.105 --> 00:21:44.165
JON: So we got Ratatouille.

00:21:44.165 --> 00:21:45.305
JON: So we did that.

00:21:45.305 --> 00:21:46.745
JON: We did Soarin.

00:21:46.745 --> 00:21:48.425
JON: We did Spaceship Earth.

00:21:48.425 --> 00:21:51.465
JON: We did, of course, I did Guardians.

00:21:51.465 --> 00:21:52.105
JON: Yeah, yeah.

00:21:52.105 --> 00:21:53.105
JON: Got to do that.

00:21:53.125 --> 00:21:54.305
JON: I had that.

00:21:54.305 --> 00:21:55.905
VIRGINIA: What song did you get?

00:21:55.905 --> 00:21:57.785
JON: Oh, what song?

00:21:59.025 --> 00:22:01.445
JON: Oh, we got September, the first day.

00:22:01.445 --> 00:22:03.265
JON: And then we wrote it again later in the trip.

00:22:03.365 --> 00:22:05.705
JON: And we got, which one was it?

00:22:05.705 --> 00:22:07.645
JON: Oh, gosh, I have to get back to you on that.

00:22:07.645 --> 00:22:10.185
JON: It will come to me here in a minute.

00:22:10.185 --> 00:22:12.125
JON: But yeah, yeah, I like that one.

00:22:12.125 --> 00:22:15.305
JON: Either September or everybody wants to rule the world.

00:22:15.305 --> 00:22:17.505
JON: My favorite two on that.

00:22:17.505 --> 00:22:19.565
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:22:19.565 --> 00:22:20.185
VIRGINIA: OK.

00:22:20.185 --> 00:22:27.445
VIRGINIA: And this was the night when your wife did not have to go to bed early because she had nothing to run the next morning.

00:22:27.445 --> 00:22:29.925
VIRGINIA: So she was going to do some solo time.

00:22:29.925 --> 00:22:31.445
VIRGINIA: Did she end up staying in Epcot?

00:22:32.525 --> 00:22:32.965
JON: She did.

00:22:32.965 --> 00:22:33.385
JON: She did.

00:22:33.385 --> 00:22:36.205
JON: She went around to all the countries in World Showcase.

00:22:36.205 --> 00:22:38.145
JON: Our daughter actually had a project.

00:22:38.145 --> 00:22:39.525
JON: She's in third grade.

00:22:39.525 --> 00:22:45.085
JON: And so she had a project that the teacher had just sent out a couple of days prior, which was perfect.

00:22:45.085 --> 00:22:50.205
JON: And it was about how many postcards they could get from around the country or around the world.

00:22:50.205 --> 00:22:51.265
JON: And so it was perfect.

00:22:51.265 --> 00:22:54.225
JON: So she went around to all the kid cop stops.

00:22:54.225 --> 00:22:57.945
JON: And so she's going to have the best grade for her little project.

00:22:58.165 --> 00:23:00.985
JON: She's got 11 different countries and postcards.

00:23:00.985 --> 00:23:04.185
JON: And the cast members really went above and beyond.

00:23:04.185 --> 00:23:06.865
JON: And I wrote her name in the native language.

00:23:06.865 --> 00:23:10.145
JON: Like she's got her name written in Japanese on one.

00:23:10.165 --> 00:23:10.805
JON: It was really neat.

00:23:10.805 --> 00:23:11.385
JON: It was really cool.

00:23:11.385 --> 00:23:15.305
JON: She was she was super surprised and excited about it.

00:23:15.305 --> 00:23:15.985
VIRGINIA: Oh, cool.

00:23:15.985 --> 00:23:17.925
VIRGINIA: I hope she does get a grade.

00:23:17.925 --> 00:23:19.305
JON: Yeah, she will.

00:23:20.385 --> 00:23:20.925
VIRGINIA: All right.

00:23:20.925 --> 00:23:24.085
VIRGINIA: And then so that was really her focus for for the night.

00:23:24.085 --> 00:23:25.405
VIRGINIA: Did she do anything else?

00:23:26.205 --> 00:23:30.225
JON: No, she she just stayed at Epcot and went around.

00:23:31.485 --> 00:23:34.305
JON: I think she did catch some of the fireworks show as she was walking around.

00:23:34.305 --> 00:23:36.105
JON: But she said the crowds were light.

00:23:36.105 --> 00:23:39.765
JON: So she you know, she got a great view without having to sit there and wait.

00:23:39.765 --> 00:23:42.345
JON: But she can do it at Epcot because there's so many viewing areas.

00:23:42.345 --> 00:23:47.605
JON: But yeah, she she had had a good time there.

00:23:47.605 --> 00:23:52.425
JON: Like you said before, there's nothing like a good solo time in the parks.

00:23:52.425 --> 00:23:53.885
JON: But you know, I had gone back.

00:23:54.385 --> 00:23:55.805
JON: It took me a while to get to sleep.

00:23:55.805 --> 00:24:04.165
JON: And then she said that she came in not too long after what I think the last time I saw the clock was probably around 9 or 930.

00:24:04.165 --> 00:24:11.265
JON: And then she said she came in and enjoyed some coffee out on the balcony with a Savannah view at night.

00:24:11.265 --> 00:24:15.845
JON: And then yeah, my alarm went off at about 2 15 a.m.

00:24:15.845 --> 00:24:16.925
JON: the next morning.

00:24:16.925 --> 00:24:17.805
JON: Yikes.

00:24:17.805 --> 00:24:19.685
VIRGINIA: Was she able to sleep through that?

00:24:19.685 --> 00:24:20.005
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:24:20.105 --> 00:24:21.385
JON: Oh, yeah.

00:24:21.385 --> 00:24:26.465
JON: Well, she always gets up and takes my picture, you know, with my bib and everything right before the race.

00:24:26.465 --> 00:24:29.285
JON: But then she's able to go back and crash after that.

00:24:29.285 --> 00:24:30.985
JON: So it was crazy this year.

00:24:30.985 --> 00:24:33.865
JON: I had to take my picture with my running stuff and my bib.

00:24:33.865 --> 00:24:37.565
JON: And then after that, I went throwing on all my layers to go and run.

00:24:37.565 --> 00:24:45.125
JON: So yeah, I had a couple of charities that I was running kind of for, but I didn't really get to represent them because it was all covered up.

00:24:47.685 --> 00:24:51.845
VIRGINIA: And you had things to throw away if you got hot.

00:24:51.845 --> 00:24:52.245
JON: I did.

00:24:52.245 --> 00:24:55.285
JON: We went to, apparently Walmart had a special one.

00:24:55.285 --> 00:24:59.705
JON: It was advertised on one of the Facebook groups for the RunDisney community.

00:24:59.705 --> 00:25:02.545
JON: And they had these fleece blankets for $2.50.

00:25:02.545 --> 00:25:05.965
JON: So we went and bought like five or six of them one night.

00:25:05.965 --> 00:25:10.585
JON: And that was what we used in the crowds and we threw those away.

00:25:10.585 --> 00:25:12.345
JON: I had a big hoodie on over everything.

00:25:12.525 --> 00:25:13.565
JON: I wore it.

00:25:13.565 --> 00:25:14.385
JON: I didn't even take it off.

00:25:14.565 --> 00:25:17.485
JON: It was so cold and the race is fairly short that morning.

00:25:17.485 --> 00:25:20.325
JON: So I just kept it on the whole time.

00:25:20.325 --> 00:25:21.765
JON: I was bundled up.

00:25:21.765 --> 00:25:22.925
VIRGINIA: Okay.

00:25:22.925 --> 00:25:27.825
VIRGINIA: So after the 5K, you came back, got ready for your day.

00:25:27.825 --> 00:25:29.405
VIRGINIA: Did you end up taking a nap?

00:25:29.405 --> 00:25:30.165
JON: I did.

00:25:30.165 --> 00:25:34.405
JON: I laid down for a little bit, probably maybe an hour, hour and a half.

00:25:34.405 --> 00:25:37.385
JON: Just kind of like a power nap after my shower.

00:25:37.385 --> 00:25:42.445
JON: And then we were up and ready for our park day, which was Animal Kingdom.

00:25:43.145 --> 00:25:43.545
VIRGINIA: Okay.

00:25:43.545 --> 00:25:45.505
VIRGINIA: And what time did you end up getting there?

00:25:45.505 --> 00:25:55.785
VIRGINIA: Because when we spoke before, you made it sound like you might actually make it there for rope drop just based on how early you would be up for the race and the fact that it was only 5K.

00:25:55.785 --> 00:25:57.505
JON: Yeah, not quite.

00:25:57.505 --> 00:26:16.605
JON: We got there a little after and that's the beauty of doing those pre-selected fast passes or lightning lanes, whatever you want to call them, is that you really don't have to rope drop anymore if you budget and decide that that's the route you want to do as far as your rides are concerned.

00:26:18.225 --> 00:26:24.665
JON: I think we had Kilimanjaro Safaris for maybe 9.30, so we got there a little bit later.

00:26:24.665 --> 00:26:31.885
JON: It wasn't anything crazy, but I always like to stop at Starbucks at Animal Kingdom.

00:26:31.885 --> 00:26:39.085
JON: Then they have a really good sausage egg and cheese biscuit over right in front of the safari that I always get.

00:26:39.085 --> 00:26:40.205
JON: You know what I'm talking about?

00:26:40.205 --> 00:26:40.465
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:26:40.465 --> 00:26:44.185
VIRGINIA: It's at the same location where they sell the corn later in the day.

00:26:44.185 --> 00:26:44.965
JON: The fresh fruit.

00:26:44.965 --> 00:26:45.185
JON: Yeah.

00:26:45.605 --> 00:26:46.405
JON: It's a good spot.

00:26:46.405 --> 00:26:48.485
JON: That's like our breakfast stop.

00:26:48.485 --> 00:26:51.165
JON: I usually get an iced coffee, but that wouldn't happen in this trip.

00:26:51.165 --> 00:26:51.865
JON: It was too cold.

00:26:53.185 --> 00:26:56.525
JON: We had to get a hot coffee and get our biscuit.

00:26:56.525 --> 00:26:58.125
JON: Then we hopped on the safari.

00:26:58.305 --> 00:26:59.685
JON: It was so cold.

00:26:59.685 --> 00:27:02.805
JON: It was a very cool safari ride.

00:27:04.545 --> 00:27:09.245
VIRGINIA: Did you see a lot of animals or were they trying to stay warm themselves?

00:27:09.245 --> 00:27:11.065
JON: Yeah.

00:27:11.065 --> 00:27:15.485
JON: All the hippos were out laying in the sun.

00:27:15.485 --> 00:27:17.245
JON: Usually, they're underwater.

00:27:17.245 --> 00:27:22.925
JON: A lot of the animals were out laying, trying to find any type of sun because it was cool.

00:27:22.925 --> 00:27:25.025
JON: The thing was this weekend, it was just so windy.

00:27:25.765 --> 00:27:30.105
JON: I can handle some cool weather, but the wind is what gets me.

00:27:30.105 --> 00:27:31.805
JON: You could definitely feel it on the safari.

00:27:32.165 --> 00:27:43.185
JON: We were bundled up and we tried to stay out of it, but a lot of it was outside, so you just have to suck it up and make the best of it.

00:27:43.185 --> 00:27:51.945
VIRGINIA: What other rides did you do before you were into your normal evening run routine with dinner by five and in bed by seven or eight?

00:27:53.285 --> 00:27:54.245
JON: Yes.

00:27:54.245 --> 00:27:56.305
JON: We did both of the Pandora rides.

00:27:56.305 --> 00:27:59.925
JON: We had Flight of Passage and Navi River Journey.

00:27:59.925 --> 00:28:02.745
JON: We always have to watch Festival of the Lion King.

00:28:03.265 --> 00:28:05.025
JON: We watched that show.

00:28:05.025 --> 00:28:06.145
JON: We did Dinosaur.

00:28:06.145 --> 00:28:08.545
JON: We did Everest, which is freezing cold.

00:28:08.545 --> 00:28:16.545
JON: I'll have to send you a picture of that one where we had our hoodies on with the spring cinched, but it was freezing cold.

00:28:16.585 --> 00:28:17.145
JON: But it was fun.

00:28:17.145 --> 00:28:19.225
JON: It was like, what the heck?

00:28:19.225 --> 00:28:20.365
JON: But I wouldn't tell you.

00:28:20.745 --> 00:28:21.585
JON: It was funny.

00:28:21.585 --> 00:28:25.405
JON: I need to rewind a little bit back to the first night at the Magic Kingdom.

00:28:26.125 --> 00:28:28.885
JON: I was messing with my phone, looking at my Disney experience.

00:28:28.925 --> 00:28:33.845
JON: I noticed Tiana's had a virtual queue available.

00:28:33.925 --> 00:28:35.445
JON: This is what, 6 p.m.

00:28:35.445 --> 00:28:36.385
JON: All right?

00:28:36.385 --> 00:28:37.745
JON: I'm like, well, it's freezing cold.

00:28:37.745 --> 00:28:38.545
JON: Who's going to ride it?

00:28:38.545 --> 00:28:39.725
JON: And I'm like, let's ride it.

00:28:39.965 --> 00:28:42.325
JON: Let's ride the last ride of the night.

00:28:42.325 --> 00:28:44.345
JON: And if we get wet, we get wet.

00:28:44.345 --> 00:28:46.045
JON: But we sat in the back row.

00:28:46.265 --> 00:28:48.325
JON: We didn't even hardly get a drop of water on us.

00:28:48.325 --> 00:28:49.705
JON: But it was crazy.

00:28:50.485 --> 00:28:53.525
JON: We rode that before and got soaked.

00:28:53.525 --> 00:28:55.325
JON: But we noticed that the back row didn't get it.

00:28:55.325 --> 00:28:57.845
JON: So we took that chance on the freezing cold night.

00:28:58.105 --> 00:29:01.525
JON: I'm thinking it was like 43 degrees or something.

00:29:01.525 --> 00:29:03.785
JON: But yeah, so we were, it was a walk on.

00:29:03.785 --> 00:29:05.505
JON: We didn't even need the virtual queue.

00:29:05.505 --> 00:29:06.985
VIRGINIA: Did you request the back row?

00:29:06.985 --> 00:29:08.585
VIRGINIA: Or is it just happening?

00:29:08.585 --> 00:29:09.425
VIRGINIA: Okay.

00:29:09.465 --> 00:29:11.765
JON: No, I said that's the only way I wrote it.

00:29:11.765 --> 00:29:14.945
JON: Because I know the first few rows get it pretty good.

00:29:14.945 --> 00:29:17.585
JON: So yeah, we said back row please.

00:29:17.585 --> 00:29:22.645
JON: And there's a couple of other people in there with us, but it was pretty empty.

00:29:24.785 --> 00:29:27.805
JON: So yeah, but then back to Thursday.

00:29:28.385 --> 00:29:32.185
JON: After that, Animal Kingdom did everything that we wanted to do.

00:29:32.185 --> 00:29:36.045
JON: I decided I might go ahead and head on back to the room.

00:29:36.045 --> 00:29:38.525
JON: I think she stayed for a little while, but she wasn't too far behind me.

00:29:38.925 --> 00:29:48.545
JON: That was the thing, once the sun went down, it just got so chilly and with the wind, it wasn't too fun to be out in the parks.

00:29:48.545 --> 00:29:50.025
VIRGINIA: So what did you end up doing for dinner?

00:29:50.025 --> 00:29:52.005
VIRGINIA: Did you just eat back at All-Star?

00:29:52.005 --> 00:29:54.505
VIRGINIA: Or no, excuse me, Animal Kingdom Lodge?

00:29:54.505 --> 00:29:56.845
JON: No, no, no, we grabbed something.

00:29:57.045 --> 00:30:02.245
JON: I like flame-free barbecue at Animal Kingdom, so I always try to make a stop by there.

00:30:02.245 --> 00:30:10.305
JON: So we ate there and found us a little spot in the sun, coming through the trees there, across the lake, right across from Everest.

00:30:10.365 --> 00:30:12.025
JON: So we ate dinner there.

00:30:12.925 --> 00:30:20.045
JON: I think after that, we had, I think it was Dinosaur that we did after that, and then it was about time for me to head back.

00:30:20.045 --> 00:30:22.805
VIRGINIA: All right, Friday, January 10th.

00:30:22.805 --> 00:30:24.925
VIRGINIA: This was the 10K.

00:30:24.925 --> 00:30:25.845
JON: 10K, yeah.

00:30:27.645 --> 00:30:29.145
JON: It went good.

00:30:29.145 --> 00:30:32.925
JON: I slept really good that night because I was already tired.

00:30:32.925 --> 00:30:39.065
JON: So I was able to get up, same time, around 2.30, headed over to the 10K.

00:30:39.065 --> 00:30:45.265
JON: It was cold again in the corrals and not quite as windy, but still, still cool.

00:30:45.265 --> 00:30:47.545
JON: So bundled up again.

00:30:47.545 --> 00:30:48.805
JON: But yeah, it went smoothly.

00:30:49.205 --> 00:30:56.085
JON: They really have a down to a science on getting everybody lined up and getting them started on the course and then getting everybody off the course.

00:30:56.085 --> 00:30:58.305
JON: So they know what they're doing.

00:30:58.305 --> 00:30:59.505
JON: So it went good.

00:30:59.505 --> 00:31:00.445
JON: It was a good race.

00:31:00.445 --> 00:31:05.505
JON: It's actually probably one of my favorite distances because it's not too long.

00:31:06.705 --> 00:31:11.405
JON: But it's long enough to get the blood flowing and everything.

00:31:11.405 --> 00:31:14.825
JON: So and then by the time you really get going, you're done.

00:31:14.825 --> 00:31:15.805
JON: So it's not too bad.

00:31:15.805 --> 00:31:23.405
JON: And it's on the 10K, you get to run through Epcot and just really around on the roads there, around Epcot.

00:31:23.405 --> 00:31:28.425
JON: And it's a little bit longer distance, but not quite long enough to get to any of the other parks.

00:31:28.425 --> 00:31:30.685
JON: So you're still kind of staying in that Epcot area.

00:31:32.025 --> 00:31:43.245
VIRGINIA: And what time would you recommend somebody who's doing a RunDisney race, me, very soon, get to the corrals?

00:31:43.245 --> 00:31:46.205
JON: I always try to get the first bus that leaves the resorts.

00:31:46.205 --> 00:31:50.625
JON: So the first bus would leave the resort at 3 a.m.

00:31:50.625 --> 00:31:53.005
JON: for the 5K and the 10K.

00:31:53.005 --> 00:31:57.285
JON: So I always recommend to get on that bus, go straight to your corral and get to the front of that corral.

00:31:58.245 --> 00:32:05.805
JON: So if you're worried about finishing or getting swept, if you get to the front of that corral, you're going to have at least a couple thousand people behind you.

00:32:05.805 --> 00:32:07.485
JON: So you got that good buffer.

00:32:07.485 --> 00:32:08.625
JON: So that's what I recommend.

00:32:08.625 --> 00:32:10.405
JON: Get there early, get to the front of the corral.

00:32:10.405 --> 00:32:14.925
JON: You're going to be sitting for a while or standing for an hour and a half or so.

00:32:14.925 --> 00:32:18.585
JON: But the other option would be taking some chances.

00:32:18.585 --> 00:32:20.505
JON: So that's what I like to do.

00:32:20.545 --> 00:32:22.405
VIRGINIA: Okay, all right.

00:32:22.405 --> 00:32:26.625
VIRGINIA: So this was a Magic Kingdom Day after the 10K.

00:32:26.625 --> 00:32:27.745
VIRGINIA: Yes, yes.

00:32:27.745 --> 00:32:31.825
JON: We decided to go back to Magic Kingdom to make it a full park day.

00:32:31.825 --> 00:32:35.825
JON: We went there on the first day, but it was just for a couple of hours.

00:32:35.825 --> 00:32:38.605
JON: So we wanted to go back and make a full day of it.

00:32:38.605 --> 00:32:44.265
JON: So we bought the Lightning Lane again for this day.

00:32:44.265 --> 00:32:45.545
JON: We got Space Mountain.

00:32:45.965 --> 00:32:54.525
JON: I believe we had Haunted Mansion, and then we had Pirates, and then we were able to ride a couple of other things as well.

00:32:54.525 --> 00:32:57.465
JON: Of course, we had a Tron, individual Lightning Lane.

00:32:57.465 --> 00:32:58.425
VIRGINIA: Oh, you did, okay.

00:32:58.425 --> 00:32:59.165
JON: Oh, yeah.

00:32:59.165 --> 00:33:00.345
JON: Definitely.

00:33:00.345 --> 00:33:06.285
JON: Peter Pan was sold out before I could, after we rode our first ride, I tried to get a look at it.

00:33:06.285 --> 00:33:09.325
JON: Maybe it was like 8 or 9 o'clock at night.

00:33:09.325 --> 00:33:10.265
JON: I'm like, I can't do that.

00:33:10.745 --> 00:33:11.405
JON: I'll be gone.

00:33:11.465 --> 00:33:17.025
JON: Then you don't want to push them out too far because then you can't stack fast passes.

00:33:17.025 --> 00:33:21.085
JON: So I like to continually have them going throughout the whole day.

00:33:21.085 --> 00:33:23.325
JON: Big Thunder Mountain was down this trip.

00:33:23.325 --> 00:33:27.825
JON: It's going to be closed for pretty much all of 2025.

00:33:27.825 --> 00:33:30.345
JON: They were actually removing some of the track while we were there.

00:33:30.345 --> 00:33:32.145
JON: So I got a good video of that.

00:33:32.625 --> 00:33:36.045
JON: We rode the train around the Magic Kingdom when they were removing the track.

00:33:36.045 --> 00:33:41.585
JON: So I guess they're going to do a pretty extensive refurb on it.

00:33:41.585 --> 00:33:42.265
JON: I'm trying to think.

00:33:42.265 --> 00:33:43.725
JON: We were doing it at Small World.

00:33:43.885 --> 00:33:46.765
JON: We did, I think we did Barnstormer.

00:33:46.765 --> 00:33:48.085
VIRGINIA: You did Barnstormer?

00:33:48.085 --> 00:33:50.445
JON: I always think I did Barnstormer.

00:33:50.445 --> 00:33:51.605
JON: Guilty.

00:33:52.585 --> 00:33:57.765
JON: It was just seeing us trying to squeeze in there and like, this is not made for two adults to sit in here.

00:33:57.765 --> 00:33:59.265
JON: One adult, one child maybe.

00:34:00.165 --> 00:34:02.345
JON: So we did that.

00:34:02.345 --> 00:34:03.165
JON: We did PeopleMover.

00:34:03.165 --> 00:34:04.985
JON: We did Carousel of Progress.

00:34:06.025 --> 00:34:09.565
JON: I think that was about it for that day.

00:34:09.565 --> 00:34:12.705
JON: We decided to eat at Pinocchio Village House for dinner that night.

00:34:13.385 --> 00:34:13.605
VIRGINIA: Okay.

00:34:13.605 --> 00:34:16.365
VIRGINIA: What did you end up getting there and was it okay?

00:34:16.365 --> 00:34:21.165
VIRGINIA: Because most people do not enjoy Pinocchio Village House, I'll say.

00:34:21.165 --> 00:34:24.545
JON: It has gotten better over the years, but it does have a bad rep.

00:34:24.545 --> 00:34:27.645
JON: But we got the flatbread, which I thought was good.

00:34:27.645 --> 00:34:30.745
JON: And then we split a Caesar salad.

00:34:30.745 --> 00:34:33.585
JON: So it was, I thought it was fine.

00:34:33.585 --> 00:34:35.705
JON: Yeah, we enjoyed it.

00:34:35.745 --> 00:34:39.585
VIRGINIA: Just for variety's sake, not going back to Colombia.

00:34:39.585 --> 00:34:41.785
JON: Yeah, we didn't want to switch it up a little bit.

00:34:41.785 --> 00:34:43.745
JON: There's not a whole lot of options out in the Magic Kingdom.

00:34:43.745 --> 00:34:49.805
JON: So you have to kind of, I mean, you can book a sit down, but we didn't want to do that one to be more flexible.

00:34:49.805 --> 00:34:52.165
VIRGINIA: Do you ever go to Pico Spills?

00:34:52.165 --> 00:34:53.465
JON: We have in the past.

00:34:53.465 --> 00:34:58.945
JON: I haven't been since it became more of like a Tex-Mex.

00:34:58.945 --> 00:35:04.805
JON: But I went back when they more or less served burgers and they had the toppings bar and everything.

00:35:04.945 --> 00:35:07.225
JON: So I haven't been back since.

00:35:07.225 --> 00:35:11.645
JON: And then we used to go to Cosmic Rays quite a bit too, but then they changed it around.

00:35:11.645 --> 00:35:18.825
JON: They used to have some really good options for, you know, they had like a rotisserie chicken with green beans and mashed potatoes at one point.

00:35:18.825 --> 00:35:20.245
JON: But I don't think they have that anymore.

00:35:20.245 --> 00:35:23.105
JON: It's kind of more of a standard menu now.

00:35:23.105 --> 00:35:23.745
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:35:23.745 --> 00:35:30.425
VIRGINIA: The thing I don't really like about Cosmic Rays is I just find how you have to order it, all of those different counters, the bays.

00:35:30.525 --> 00:35:30.865
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:35:30.885 --> 00:35:31.325
VIRGINIA: Right.

00:35:31.325 --> 00:35:36.805
VIRGINIA: And then finding a place to sit in that space at certain times of day is just a nightmare.

00:35:36.805 --> 00:35:37.145
JON: Yeah.

00:35:37.145 --> 00:35:37.385
JON: Yeah.

00:35:37.385 --> 00:35:39.625
JON: I think they could do better with that space for sure.

00:35:39.625 --> 00:35:40.805
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:35:40.805 --> 00:35:41.445
VIRGINIA: All right.

00:35:41.445 --> 00:35:44.325
VIRGINIA: And what time did you end up getting in bed this night?

00:35:44.325 --> 00:35:49.965
VIRGINIA: Because this was the night when both of you needed to be to bed early because it was the half marathon the following morning.

00:35:49.965 --> 00:35:50.645
VIRGINIA: Yes.

00:35:50.645 --> 00:35:50.905
JON: Yes.

00:35:50.905 --> 00:35:52.245
JON: So we headed back.

00:35:52.245 --> 00:35:55.425
JON: I think we got back to the resort around seven.

00:35:55.425 --> 00:36:01.685
JON: And no matter, you can make a plan all you want, but it's always going to get a little wrenched on into it.

00:36:01.685 --> 00:36:10.945
JON: Not because anything crazy happened, but just if you're relying on Disney transportation, you may wait on a bus for who knows how long and then it's just out of your control.

00:36:10.945 --> 00:36:18.845
JON: So we got back a little later and then you want to get a shower from the parks and then try to get in the bed and get some rest.

00:36:18.845 --> 00:36:22.805
JON: But I think we were actually in the bed and asleep by nine o'clock.

00:36:22.805 --> 00:36:27.065
JON: So not terrible, but not ideal either.

00:36:27.225 --> 00:36:32.325
JON: But we did have a plan to come back and to get us a good nap after the race.

00:36:32.325 --> 00:36:33.945
JON: So we were able to do that.

00:36:33.945 --> 00:36:34.305
VIRGINIA: Right.

00:36:34.305 --> 00:36:43.385
VIRGINIA: I'm just sitting here for the very first time in this conversation doing the math of if you happen to be in bed and asleep by nine o'clock, that's like five hours of sleep.

00:36:43.385 --> 00:36:44.665
JON: Yeah.

00:36:44.665 --> 00:36:46.305
VIRGINIA: Not so great.

00:36:46.745 --> 00:36:47.405
JON: Not the best.

00:36:47.405 --> 00:36:51.025
JON: I got a little bit better as the week went on and then I'll recover.

00:36:51.165 --> 00:37:00.185
JON: I'll get my sleep on a marathon night that night and sleep in a little bit on Monday, but we'll get to that in a minute.

00:37:00.185 --> 00:37:01.325
VIRGINIA: All right.

00:37:01.325 --> 00:37:13.325
VIRGINIA: Saturday, January 11th, your half marathon day and I know that last year, because of weather, the half marathon did not get to actually happen in its entirety.

00:37:14.265 --> 00:37:20.705
VIRGINIA: You were really crossing your fingers, especially for your wife's sake, that she would get to complete because she'd been working so hard.

00:37:21.885 --> 00:37:28.685
JON: She had trained so hard last year and it was all the buildup for it and it was super pumped.

00:37:29.605 --> 00:37:32.225
JON: We look at the forecast ahead of time as early as you can see it.

00:37:32.445 --> 00:37:35.685
JON: Of course, that's the only day it's gone on rain and stuff.

00:37:35.685 --> 00:37:40.265
JON: Then the same thing this year and I was like, no, any day for this day.

00:37:41.645 --> 00:37:47.105
JON: Then the weather changes so much down there and one day it'd be 50 percent, the next day it'd be 24 percent.

00:37:47.105 --> 00:37:52.705
JON: It was just wild changes and swings and then finally got a little bit more consistent.

00:37:52.925 --> 00:38:03.445
JON: The closer we got and it got down to a low percentage, but of course, the two hours that we're going to be in the queue from three to five, was the highest chance of rain.

00:38:03.445 --> 00:38:04.885
JON: So we're like, great.

00:38:04.885 --> 00:38:06.185
JON: So at least we're prepared.

00:38:06.185 --> 00:38:14.705
JON: So she's got some type of waterproof spray that she sprayed her shoes and clothes and everything down with and I did mine.

00:38:14.705 --> 00:38:16.905
JON: Then I had a big poncho that I had on.

00:38:16.905 --> 00:38:17.865
JON: She had her rain jacket.

00:38:18.785 --> 00:38:22.725
JON: And so stayed fairly dry for the most part.

00:38:22.725 --> 00:38:25.905
JON: I think she got a little bit more wet than I did.

00:38:25.905 --> 00:38:26.925
JON: We were in different corrals.

00:38:26.925 --> 00:38:29.685
JON: So we weren't able to be together on the corrals.

00:38:29.685 --> 00:38:32.705
JON: But it all worked out.

00:38:32.705 --> 00:38:34.585
JON: We got a little bit wet in the crowd.

00:38:34.585 --> 00:38:37.085
JON: Once the race started, the rain had stopped.

00:38:37.085 --> 00:38:39.185
JON: And we were able to finish.

00:38:39.185 --> 00:38:40.645
JON: And she did great.

00:38:40.645 --> 00:38:42.925
JON: So super proud of her.

00:38:43.625 --> 00:38:45.685
JON: She worked hard and accomplished the goal.

00:38:45.685 --> 00:38:54.905
JON: And I'm just glad she got to do it in its entirety at the Disney race and not have to improvise and go back to the resort and finish it on her own.

00:38:54.905 --> 00:38:55.665
JON: Yeah.

00:38:55.665 --> 00:38:57.745
JON: So it worked out really good.

00:38:57.745 --> 00:38:58.965
VIRGINIA: So what do you think?

00:38:59.285 --> 00:39:01.745
VIRGINIA: Is a marathon next for her?

00:39:01.745 --> 00:39:02.265
JON: I don't know.

00:39:02.265 --> 00:39:02.745
JON: I don't know.

00:39:03.105 --> 00:39:03.865
JON: She did great.

00:39:03.865 --> 00:39:06.705
JON: But I think the half may be it.

00:39:06.705 --> 00:39:07.045
VIRGINIA: I don't know.

00:39:07.045 --> 00:39:07.805
JON: But she could do it.

00:39:07.805 --> 00:39:08.765
JON: I mean, if I could do it.

00:39:08.765 --> 00:39:10.845
VIRGINIA: Well, I'm sure she could do it, yeah.

00:39:11.245 --> 00:39:12.705
JON: She could do anything she wants to.

00:39:12.705 --> 00:39:15.025
JON: So it may be in the cards.

00:39:15.025 --> 00:39:15.465
JON: Who knows?

00:39:15.465 --> 00:39:15.805
JON: Who knows?

00:39:15.805 --> 00:39:16.605
JON: We'll see.

00:39:16.605 --> 00:39:16.865
JON: Yeah.

00:39:16.865 --> 00:39:24.025
VIRGINIA: She may need to have some time to just kind of forget how much pain she was in at the end of this or whatever.

00:39:24.045 --> 00:39:24.545
JON: Exactly.

00:39:24.545 --> 00:39:26.825
VIRGINIA: It's like when people go to have their second child.

00:39:26.945 --> 00:39:31.825
VIRGINIA: It's like you have to wait just enough time to forget what it was like the first time.

00:39:31.825 --> 00:39:32.045
JON: Yeah.

00:39:32.045 --> 00:39:33.105
JON: Do I want to do this again?

00:39:33.125 --> 00:39:34.705
JON: I'm not sure about this.

00:39:34.705 --> 00:39:35.345
JON: Yeah.

00:39:35.345 --> 00:39:36.265
JON: No, I think she'll do good.

00:39:36.325 --> 00:39:39.925
JON: I think she wants to definitely have one where it's got decent weather for once.

00:39:39.925 --> 00:39:43.045
JON: That would make her change her mind a little bit.

00:39:43.045 --> 00:39:44.345
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:39:44.345 --> 00:39:44.645
VIRGINIA: All right.

00:39:44.645 --> 00:39:53.405
VIRGINIA: Well, after your showers and naps that day, it was a Hollywood Studios day for the two of you.

00:39:53.405 --> 00:39:56.985
VIRGINIA: Which Lightning Lanes did you get at Hollywood Studios?

00:39:57.145 --> 00:39:59.585
JON: It's the same as Epcot.

00:39:59.585 --> 00:40:01.265
JON: It's got the tiered system.

00:40:02.125 --> 00:40:03.985
JON: We ended up getting Mickey and Minnie's.

00:40:04.605 --> 00:40:10.285
JON: If we had our kids with us, we would have probably picked Slinky Dog because that's their favorite.

00:40:10.285 --> 00:40:17.985
JON: So we did Mickey and Minnie's, we did Tower of Terror, and I think we did Toy Story Midway Mania.

00:40:17.985 --> 00:40:22.905
JON: Then we were going to try to do a single rider for Rock and Roller Coaster.

00:40:23.105 --> 00:40:27.845
JON: We got all the way up to, not on the ride, we were next in line and it broke down.

00:40:27.845 --> 00:40:27.985
JON: Oh, no.

00:40:27.985 --> 00:40:32.545
JON: They evacuated everybody, but they give us all Fast Passes to use for later.

00:40:32.725 --> 00:40:37.245
JON: So we were able to actually roll that over to the next day.

00:40:37.245 --> 00:40:40.345
JON: Because by the time it broke down, that was going to be like our last ride of the day.

00:40:40.345 --> 00:40:44.545
JON: So we were, at least I was heading out of the park when that happened.

00:40:44.545 --> 00:40:49.325
VIRGINIA: So she did not have a race the following day, but she had just run a half marathon.

00:40:49.385 --> 00:40:54.025
VIRGINIA: So I'm guessing she probably also went to bed early this night.

00:40:54.025 --> 00:40:54.525
JON: She did.

00:40:54.525 --> 00:40:56.585
JON: She didn't quite go back as early as I did.

00:40:56.585 --> 00:41:03.785
JON: I went and waited on the bus and then apparently there was a wreck on the road in front of Animal Kingdom Lodge and the bus couldn't get through.

00:41:03.785 --> 00:41:08.225
JON: So I probably waited on the bus at Hollywood Studios for an hour.

00:41:08.225 --> 00:41:10.345
JON: And then, yeah, so.

00:41:10.345 --> 00:41:14.265
VIRGINIA: Did you have any kind of word from from cast members while you were waiting?

00:41:14.265 --> 00:41:17.665
VIRGINIA: Like what was going on or were you just standing there not knowing?

00:41:17.665 --> 00:41:18.645
JON: No, I had no idea.

00:41:18.645 --> 00:41:20.105
JON: There was one cast member there.

00:41:20.105 --> 00:41:23.505
JON: He was actually waiting on the bus because it was going to be his shift.

00:41:23.505 --> 00:41:24.665
JON: So he was going to take over.

00:41:24.665 --> 00:41:26.105
JON: He had no clue.

00:41:26.105 --> 00:41:29.345
JON: I got on the My Disney Experience and they have a chat option.

00:41:30.205 --> 00:41:36.005
JON: I actually got in touch with someone but she's like, I don't have a way to get in touch with transportation.

00:41:36.005 --> 00:41:38.985
JON: So just ask the cast member.

00:41:38.985 --> 00:41:39.345
JON: I did.

00:41:39.345 --> 00:41:40.405
JON: They don't have a clue either.

00:41:40.405 --> 00:41:47.805
JON: So somebody else waiting in line pulled up the Maps app and looked at the traffic and saw red right in front.

00:41:47.805 --> 00:41:49.885
JON: So there had to be a red there.

00:41:49.885 --> 00:41:53.125
JON: So at least we knew it was something.

00:41:53.125 --> 00:41:55.305
JON: But then we're all, I hope everybody's okay.

00:41:55.625 --> 00:42:00.325
JON: And eventually the bus came and I was back to the resort.

00:42:00.325 --> 00:42:07.865
JON: But she actually rode the Skyliner over to Epcot, which surprised me because that's always been my favorite part, but not hers.

00:42:07.865 --> 00:42:10.665
JON: So I was like, oh, I'm wearing it down there, I guess.

00:42:10.665 --> 00:42:13.185
JON: I guess you're starting to like it.

00:42:13.185 --> 00:42:16.085
JON: And but yeah, she was like, I can't believe you're still.

00:42:16.085 --> 00:42:21.165
JON: So I was waiting on the bus and she's riding the Skyliner and going back over to Epcot and everything.

00:42:21.165 --> 00:42:22.585
JON: So that's kind of funny.

00:42:22.725 --> 00:42:29.305
JON: But she did come back a little earlier that night as well, because you're worn out after a run like that.

00:42:29.305 --> 00:42:38.205
VIRGINIA: Yeah, I'm surprised that they said they couldn't get in touch with transportation because if memory serves, you're the person who told me about how to find this help in the app.

00:42:38.205 --> 00:42:39.625
VIRGINIA: I've done it before.

00:42:39.625 --> 00:42:43.645
VIRGINIA: Yeah, because I feel like it was at Animal Kingdom, deja vu.

00:42:43.645 --> 00:42:51.585
VIRGINIA: We've had this conversation before where you had to wait a long time and you told me, oh, if you go here, you can figure out what's going on.

00:42:51.865 --> 00:42:53.685
JON: Yeah, that was my first instinct.

00:42:53.685 --> 00:42:54.685
JON: I'm like, oh, hold on a minute.

00:42:54.685 --> 00:42:55.845
JON: Let me just see you.

00:42:55.845 --> 00:42:56.685
JON: Just let them know.

00:42:56.685 --> 00:42:58.905
JON: Just please, just send the box.

00:42:58.905 --> 00:43:00.265
JON: You know, they forget about us.

00:43:00.265 --> 00:43:01.065
JON: I don't know.

00:43:01.065 --> 00:43:05.765
JON: But and maybe they lied to me the first go around and just say, oh, yeah, we'll get we'll get one right over.

00:43:05.765 --> 00:43:08.545
JON: And, you know, one comes every 20 minutes or whatever they say.

00:43:08.545 --> 00:43:11.405
JON: But yeah, that's what that's what this cast member told me.

00:43:11.405 --> 00:43:12.285
JON: So who knows?

00:43:12.285 --> 00:43:13.685
JON: I guess it's still a mystery.

00:43:13.685 --> 00:43:15.045
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:43:15.045 --> 00:43:15.745
VIRGINIA: All right.

00:43:15.745 --> 00:43:26.245
VIRGINIA: So then Sunday, January 12th, you had a full marathon to run and to wrap up your Dopey Challenge.

00:43:26.245 --> 00:43:27.105
JON: Yes.

00:43:27.185 --> 00:43:32.805
VIRGINIA: And for listeners who are not familiar with RunDisney, I'm I'm not criticizing Jon's challenge.

00:43:32.805 --> 00:43:36.285
VIRGINIA: That is the literal name of it when you do all the races in the one weekend.

00:43:36.285 --> 00:43:37.625
JON: Yes, that is a dopey.

00:43:37.625 --> 00:43:39.965
JON: And you have to be a dope to do all that.

00:43:39.965 --> 00:43:47.165
JON: But yeah, it's it's pretty daunting knowing that after you run the half, you're like thinking, I can do this tomorrow.

00:43:47.285 --> 00:43:49.465
JON: And then once I'm done with the half, I got to do it again.

00:43:49.465 --> 00:43:53.565
JON: I mean, you know, it's like double that it's doubled it every day pretty much.

00:43:53.565 --> 00:43:57.545
JON: And so if you think about it, you'll psych yourself out.

00:43:57.545 --> 00:44:00.445
JON: But you just got to just get up and push through.

00:44:00.445 --> 00:44:03.325
JON: And and your body is as amazing.

00:44:03.325 --> 00:44:06.125
JON: It recovers a lot quicker than you can think.

00:44:06.125 --> 00:44:07.785
JON: But it does.

00:44:07.785 --> 00:44:11.165
JON: Once you get, you know, the worst part again is standing in the corral.

00:44:11.165 --> 00:44:15.545
JON: And, you know, on the for the half marathon on Saturday, it was a lot warmer.

00:44:15.985 --> 00:44:17.605
JON: But you had the rain come in.

00:44:17.605 --> 00:44:21.565
JON: So Sunday, the rain was gone, but it was back to cool weather again.

00:44:21.565 --> 00:44:31.125
JON: And even the race announcers said, you know, we've never seen a marathon weekend like this or a race weekend like this, where it's cold, cold, warm and rainy and then cold again.

00:44:31.125 --> 00:44:32.965
JON: So it's just Florida weather.

00:44:32.965 --> 00:44:33.725
JON: You can't predict it.

00:44:33.725 --> 00:44:36.285
JON: And it's always it always keeps you guessing.

00:44:36.285 --> 00:44:40.245
JON: So but yeah, the marathon actually started earlier this year.

00:44:40.245 --> 00:44:42.285
JON: So it started at 430.

00:44:42.285 --> 00:44:44.425
JON: So the buses started running even earlier.

00:44:44.585 --> 00:44:47.785
JON: So the first bus left at like 2 a.m.

00:44:47.785 --> 00:44:50.365
JON: So I had to get up at like 130.

00:44:50.905 --> 00:44:52.725
JON: It was even earlier to get up.

00:44:53.445 --> 00:45:02.305
JON: And my wife always gets up with me and comes and watches and kind of follows me throughout the marathon and cheers me on at different locations.

00:45:02.305 --> 00:45:04.605
JON: And then is there at the end of it too.

00:45:04.605 --> 00:45:13.365
JON: So even though she wasn't running, she still had to get up and get going and like said, follow me basically around on the journey throughout that day.

00:45:14.085 --> 00:45:17.825
VIRGINIA: How does she get around to follow you on the journey?

00:45:18.465 --> 00:45:22.005
VIRGINIA: Is there transportation between the different viewing sites?

00:45:22.005 --> 00:45:26.985
JON: There is for spectators and they have a digital guide.

00:45:26.985 --> 00:45:31.065
JON: You scan with a QR code and it tells you all the information you need.

00:45:31.065 --> 00:45:37.265
JON: And they make it really easy and convenient to get around if you want to the different viewing areas.

00:45:37.265 --> 00:45:43.185
JON: I don't know if it's possible to do every single one that they have, but you pick and choose a few that you want to make sure.

00:45:43.185 --> 00:45:48.325
JON: And then you got to get a good spot because there's so many people out there, you know, watching and cheering people on.

00:45:48.325 --> 00:45:56.845
JON: So it's very, very motivating when you're there because you please strangers and they're just cheering like you're in the Super Bowl or something.

00:45:56.845 --> 00:45:58.865
JON: When you're run by, it's really, it's really cool.

00:45:58.865 --> 00:45:59.885
JON: It's a cool experience.

00:45:59.885 --> 00:46:02.085
JON: I can't wait for you to experience yourself.

00:46:02.085 --> 00:46:03.405
JON: You'll understand.

00:46:03.405 --> 00:46:04.185
VIRGINIA: Oh, I can't wait.

00:46:04.605 --> 00:46:08.825
VIRGINIA: I have been, I've been to the New York City Marathon once as a spectator.

00:46:09.545 --> 00:46:21.045
VIRGINIA: And waiting at the finish line as the people are coming in, it's like, I don't know these people, but I'm just crying because I'm so happy that they did it.

00:46:21.045 --> 00:46:31.185
VIRGINIA: So, you know, it's, I think there's, there's such good vibes going on between the people who are cheering on all of these people, whether they're friends and family or complete strangers.

00:46:31.185 --> 00:46:37.185
VIRGINIA: And then the vibes between the runners and everything, it just, it goes back and forth between, between the two.

00:46:37.305 --> 00:46:46.085
VIRGINIA: And it just, it seems like it's, in my experience, watching that sort of thing, just like, they're just, I don't even know what to call it besides good vibes.

00:46:46.085 --> 00:46:47.045
VIRGINIA: Like, you can just feel it.

00:46:47.045 --> 00:46:48.765
VIRGINIA: There's an energy in the air.

00:46:48.765 --> 00:46:49.685
JON: It is definitely.

00:46:49.685 --> 00:46:53.485
JON: And as corny as it sounds, it does help.

00:46:53.485 --> 00:47:00.025
JON: I mean, you're, you could be, I'm not saying you're going to give up, but you may be like, oh, this, I'm starting to hurt here.

00:47:00.025 --> 00:47:02.045
JON: I'm getting super tired or I'm thirsty.

00:47:02.045 --> 00:47:08.845
JON: I need something, but that just kind of gives you an extra boost to energy or adrenaline or something, to have all these people cheering.

00:47:08.845 --> 00:47:12.445
JON: And then they have signs and a lot of them are funny.

00:47:12.445 --> 00:47:21.145
JON: They're like, who needs, you don't need toenails or toenails are overrated or you got up this early to do this or the worst parade ever.

00:47:21.145 --> 00:47:23.925
JON: You know, you see these funny signs, so it's humorous.

00:47:23.925 --> 00:47:25.465
VIRGINIA: Worst parade ever.

00:47:25.465 --> 00:47:26.985
JON: Yeah.

00:47:26.985 --> 00:47:29.185
JON: Especially the one I saw that on on Main Street this year.

00:47:29.185 --> 00:47:30.525
JON: I thought that was funny.

00:47:30.525 --> 00:47:33.425
JON: But yeah, you'll see, you'll see all kinds of stuff like that.

00:47:33.465 --> 00:47:34.865
JON: So it's, it's good.

00:47:34.865 --> 00:47:43.345
JON: But it's, it is definitely a, a journey, because it's like five, five or six hours.

00:47:43.345 --> 00:47:52.545
JON: You just have to pace yourself and do your best and rely on what you've, your training and make sure you hydrate, stop at every water stop that they have.

00:47:52.545 --> 00:47:55.125
JON: They have, they have water and power aid.

00:47:55.125 --> 00:47:59.605
JON: Make sure you take advantage of that because you want to make sure you're, you're hydrated.

00:47:59.605 --> 00:48:06.105
JON: And they even said, you know, when it's cool, you don't think you'll, you'll need water as much because you think water hot, you know.

00:48:06.105 --> 00:48:09.205
JON: But no, they said you'll dehydrate even faster when it's cool.

00:48:09.205 --> 00:48:12.445
JON: So, you know, always hydrate.

00:48:12.445 --> 00:48:15.345
JON: But yeah, so it was, it was good.

00:48:15.345 --> 00:48:22.085
JON: I actually, I started out, they say start slow too, because you don't want to start out too fast and you'll tire out.

00:48:22.085 --> 00:48:27.065
JON: So I started out kind of at a medium pace, like I've, like I've done in other races.

00:48:27.065 --> 00:48:30.685
JON: And then I actually felt stronger this year and got stronger as I went.

00:48:30.845 --> 00:48:34.565
JON: So, you know, send them to the PR.

00:48:35.325 --> 00:48:37.245
JON: I told you before, I did.

00:48:37.245 --> 00:48:38.565
VIRGINIA: I told you.

00:48:38.585 --> 00:48:39.705
JON: Like 10 minutes too.

00:48:39.705 --> 00:48:40.885
JON: I'm like, what's going on here?

00:48:40.885 --> 00:48:41.985
VIRGINIA: What the heck?

00:48:41.985 --> 00:48:44.625
VIRGINIA: Jon, 10 minutes?

00:48:44.625 --> 00:48:46.185
VIRGINIA: That's crazy.

00:48:46.185 --> 00:48:53.325
VIRGINIA: I mean, I'm not a runner, but I know that, you know, if you're increasing your time, usually it would be sort of very incremental.

00:48:53.325 --> 00:48:53.725
JON: Yeah.

00:48:53.725 --> 00:48:55.345
VIRGINIA: 10 minutes is a big jump.

00:48:55.345 --> 00:48:56.165
JON: It was a big jump.

00:48:56.165 --> 00:48:59.965
JON: In other races, I didn't even, I don't think I did a PR.

00:49:00.145 --> 00:49:14.225
JON: I mean, it was just something similar or slower than in the years past, but this one, for some reason, and even my wife said, this was later in the race, toward the finish line, she said, you actually looked decent running across, you know, the finish line.

00:49:14.225 --> 00:49:24.785
JON: She said, in the years past, it was kind of hard to watch, you know, it's like a struggle, you know, like it was like a labor into the finish, but this year it was more, I don't know, I just felt better all around.

00:49:24.785 --> 00:49:34.445
JON: So I don't know if it was, I don't think I trained any harder, if anything, I didn't train as much this year, but maybe I hydrated better or something, maybe the weather had something to do with it.

00:49:34.445 --> 00:49:34.925
JON: I don't know, I did.

00:49:34.925 --> 00:49:36.105
VIRGINIA: Maybe, yeah.

00:49:36.105 --> 00:49:36.905
JON: Maybe.

00:49:36.905 --> 00:49:37.865
VIRGINIA: Hmm.

00:49:37.865 --> 00:49:45.005
VIRGINIA: And I did see in your pictures that at some point, I don't know if it was the marathon day or not, you ran into, I think Mike Rahlmann.

00:49:45.005 --> 00:49:45.925
JON: Mike Rahlmann, yes.

00:49:45.925 --> 00:49:46.865
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:49:46.865 --> 00:49:47.165
JON: Yeah.

00:49:48.325 --> 00:49:57.705
JON: So I listened to his podcast too, and so I met him one other time, but it was really, it was during the marathon, so it was like quick picture and then keep going.

00:49:57.705 --> 00:50:01.765
JON: And so this was actually in the Magic Kingdom that night after the marathon.

00:50:01.765 --> 00:50:08.965
JON: And so we talked, he was there solo, so sometimes he has friends with him, sometimes his family, but he was by himself this time.

00:50:08.965 --> 00:50:13.425
JON: So we talked to him for probably 20 minutes there in the hub and he was just the nicest guy.

00:50:13.425 --> 00:50:13.725
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:50:13.725 --> 00:50:14.005
JON: Yeah.

00:50:14.005 --> 00:50:17.205
JON: It was really cool to kind of chat with him for a few minutes.

00:50:17.205 --> 00:50:17.445
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:50:17.445 --> 00:50:30.205
VIRGINIA: I'll link to that in the show notes for everyone because he does a lot of RunDisney stuff, but he also is just a big time park goer and he's a travel agent and all of that kind of stuff.

00:50:30.205 --> 00:50:32.805
VIRGINIA: So I've listened to his podcast for a long time too.

00:50:32.805 --> 00:50:33.025
JON: Yeah.

00:50:33.025 --> 00:50:33.905
JON: He does.

00:50:33.905 --> 00:50:34.645
JON: This is kind of cool.

00:50:34.645 --> 00:50:36.305
JON: He does different things.

00:50:36.305 --> 00:50:44.085
JON: So he used to be a school teacher and then he actually quit his job to do travel agent full-time, then he does the podcast.

00:50:44.085 --> 00:50:48.485
JON: But he does like trip reports on one day and then he'll do like a listener questions on one day.

00:50:48.485 --> 00:50:49.965
JON: So he does like three or four a week.

00:50:49.965 --> 00:50:50.445
JON: It's crazy.

00:50:50.445 --> 00:50:54.205
JON: I don't know how that would take up all somebody's time.

00:50:54.565 --> 00:51:05.665
VIRGINIA: Listen, knowing how long it takes to edit a podcast, like I don't know, either you're just getting it right the first time without having to do any editing or I don't know what.

00:51:05.665 --> 00:51:07.265
JON: I don't know how he does it.

00:51:07.265 --> 00:51:08.205
VIRGINIA: Yeah, that's really cool.

00:51:08.205 --> 00:51:11.545
VIRGINIA: And it's always fun to spot somebody like that.

00:51:11.545 --> 00:51:16.365
VIRGINIA: I'm going to call it out in the wild because people blend in very easily.

00:51:16.365 --> 00:51:25.765
VIRGINIA: Like it's hard to notice somebody, even somebody like that whose face you're familiar with, just because you're not expecting to see them necessarily.

00:51:26.245 --> 00:51:27.425
JON: How many people down there?

00:51:28.325 --> 00:51:29.045
JON: But she'll do that.

00:51:29.045 --> 00:51:34.425
JON: I don't know if you notice this, but it seems like every trip there's two or three people that you see throughout the trip.

00:51:34.425 --> 00:51:36.705
JON: You'll see them, you know, ten different times.

00:51:36.705 --> 00:51:44.665
JON: And I always think that's crazy because so many people down there, but you always, there's always one or two people you'll always continually see throughout a trip.

00:51:44.665 --> 00:51:47.245
VIRGINIA: Yeah, no, you just got to keep your eyes open for it.

00:51:47.245 --> 00:51:56.085
VIRGINIA: I've recently noticed that, you know, you get on the subway, you go to work or whatever, and you're really not paying attention.

00:51:56.085 --> 00:52:00.385
VIRGINIA: But lately I've begun to spot some of the same people on the train.

00:52:00.385 --> 00:52:04.865
VIRGINIA: Normally, I'm just totally half asleep, but you open your eyes to it.

00:52:05.005 --> 00:52:09.745
VIRGINIA: You wouldn't believe how many times you're, you're passing the same people over and over again.

00:52:09.745 --> 00:52:11.725
VIRGINIA: So it really is a small world, isn't it?

00:52:12.245 --> 00:52:14.065
JON: It really is, after all.

00:52:15.945 --> 00:52:16.805
VIRGINIA: All right.

00:52:16.805 --> 00:52:21.745
VIRGINIA: So after this marathon, how long of a nap did you take?

00:52:21.785 --> 00:52:30.645
JON: Oh gosh, I went back, of course, shower your body after you're sitting on the bus, after that going back, then you're like, your body locks up.

00:52:30.645 --> 00:52:33.045
JON: So there's like a struggle just to get up and walk.

00:52:33.045 --> 00:52:39.645
JON: And then you're going down these steep bus stairs because they have a charter buses for the, after the races, it's not a Disney bus.

00:52:39.645 --> 00:52:42.465
JON: And so they've got the steep stairs and that's a struggle.

00:52:42.465 --> 00:52:45.405
JON: Going down the stairs is worse than going up.

00:52:45.405 --> 00:52:54.085
JON: So once you get back and you're trying to get rid of all these layers and try to get a shower and then it was pretty easy to crash.

00:52:54.085 --> 00:53:02.385
JON: And you're not even really hungry even after doing all that because your body is, I don't know if it's in shock or if it's just like, what are you doing?

00:53:02.385 --> 00:53:03.965
JON: Why did you just do this to me?

00:53:03.965 --> 00:53:09.845
JON: But so I always, just you're thirsty, so I get some Gatorade.

00:53:09.945 --> 00:53:12.085
JON: I always like to drink chocolate milk for recovery.

00:53:12.085 --> 00:53:14.425
JON: I heard that's the best thing.

00:53:14.425 --> 00:53:23.625
JON: And then probably two, maybe a two hour nap and you know, we wanted to still get back to not miss out on some part time.

00:53:23.625 --> 00:53:31.225
JON: So we were good to go after a couple of hours and just get recharged and re-energized and ready to go for the rest of the day.

00:53:31.225 --> 00:53:34.965
JON: So we decided to go back to Animal Kingdom first.

00:53:36.145 --> 00:53:38.545
JON: So we changed plans a little bit there.

00:53:38.545 --> 00:53:42.325
JON: We still want to end the night at Magic Kingdom and do that again.

00:53:42.325 --> 00:53:43.885
JON: But we do want to hit Animal Kingdom.

00:53:43.885 --> 00:53:45.485
JON: That's my wife's favorite part.

00:53:45.485 --> 00:53:49.405
JON: So we wanted to go back there one more time before the end of the trip.

00:53:49.405 --> 00:53:55.405
VIRGINIA: For photo purposes, did you, I know you put on clean clothes and just to be clear for that for everybody.

00:53:55.405 --> 00:53:58.245
VIRGINIA: But did you put your bib back on for photos?

00:53:58.245 --> 00:54:00.545
JON: Not bib, no, I just took my medals with me.

00:54:02.645 --> 00:54:07.925
JON: So I just had my medals and then I always tried to take a picture with all the medals in front of the castle.

00:54:07.925 --> 00:54:10.025
JON: So that was the goal.

00:54:10.025 --> 00:54:12.085
VIRGINIA: How does that work with security?

00:54:13.325 --> 00:54:17.425
VIRGINIA: Do they stop you at security for having some kind of medal on you?

00:54:17.425 --> 00:54:18.705
JON: No, they did not.

00:54:18.705 --> 00:54:20.125
JON: They didn't even beat when we went through.

00:54:20.125 --> 00:54:27.565
JON: So I don't know if they turned it down for a marathon or race weekends or what, but it didn't even beat when we went through.

00:54:27.565 --> 00:54:33.245
JON: So we didn't get stopped once, which is a first for us for sure.

00:54:33.245 --> 00:54:38.345
JON: Normally, with the kids, we have a backpack full of stuff, so we're always having to get searched.

00:54:38.345 --> 00:54:39.565
JON: But I guess it's a good thing.

00:54:39.705 --> 00:54:44.205
JON: I'd rather them be more picky on that than lenient.

00:54:44.205 --> 00:54:49.805
JON: So I don't mind having that happen, if it means that everybody's staying safe.

00:54:50.985 --> 00:54:51.385
VIRGINIA: All right.

00:54:51.385 --> 00:55:01.805
VIRGINIA: So after Animal Kingdom, you headed back over to Magic Kingdom, and what was your agenda for the evening at that point?

00:55:01.805 --> 00:55:04.345
JON: We had a Tron individual, Lightning Lane.

00:55:04.345 --> 00:55:07.725
JON: This was another day where we did not buy the multi-pass.

00:55:07.725 --> 00:55:14.385
JON: So Animal Kingdom, I wanted to ride Everest, because that's other than Guardians, that's my second favorite attraction.

00:55:14.385 --> 00:55:17.325
JON: So I wanted to ride that, and I knew I could get on single riders on that.

00:55:17.325 --> 00:55:24.365
JON: So did that, and then back over to Magic Kingdom, we had Tron, we ended up riding pirates.

00:55:24.445 --> 00:55:26.385
JON: I'll send you a funny picture of that from Photofast.

00:55:26.385 --> 00:55:31.425
JON: We're the only one on the ride, just me and my wife in the boat by ourselves on pirates.

00:55:31.425 --> 00:55:34.765
JON: So we're riding through, what else did we do that night?

00:55:34.765 --> 00:55:40.165
JON: I think we did, I don't think we did Hauna Mansion that night, we may have.

00:55:40.165 --> 00:55:42.605
JON: Just did a couple of things and just kind of took it easy.

00:55:42.845 --> 00:55:48.005
JON: We were gonna stay for fireworks, we actually left during the fireworks because we were just worn out.

00:55:48.005 --> 00:55:49.565
JON: We were just like, are you ready to go back?

00:55:49.565 --> 00:55:51.065
JON: Yeah, let's just get back.

00:55:51.065 --> 00:55:59.825
JON: So we went back and actually just packed everything up, for the next day, because it was gonna be our last day, but we had to check out on Monday morning.

00:55:59.825 --> 00:56:02.325
JON: So we wanted to get everything packed up and ready to go.

00:56:02.325 --> 00:56:08.745
JON: That way in the morning, we could just get up and go and enjoy one last day or partial day in the parks.

00:56:08.745 --> 00:56:15.165
VIRGINIA: When we spoke before, you were going back and forth between whether you would check your bags at Bell Services or do the $10 a bag thing at the park.

00:56:15.165 --> 00:56:18.105
VIRGINIA: So what was the end result?

00:56:18.105 --> 00:56:30.165
JON: Well, the only reason we were having the dilemma was because of the time that it takes to come back from the park to Animal Kingdom because that's going to take an hour out of your day.

00:56:30.165 --> 00:56:38.145
JON: But ultimately, that's what we decided to do because we had four bags and then we were like, do we want to take these big suitcases on the Disney bus?

00:56:38.145 --> 00:56:43.905
JON: And then so we ended up just checking them at Bell Services and that's free other than if you want to do a tip.

00:56:43.905 --> 00:56:54.925
JON: But then we just checked them there and then went to Epcot for the day and we had several rides that we wanted to do one last time and then just enjoy one last day in the park.

00:56:54.925 --> 00:57:08.985
JON: So that's what we did and the road soaring, living with the land, Guardians of course, we did Remy's, we did, we never did Frozen on this trip, it was always either way too long of a line.

00:57:08.985 --> 00:57:16.365
JON: I mean that line is ridiculous even as long as that road has been open and still it's crazy.

00:57:16.365 --> 00:57:25.005
JON: Then so we just walked around, it's just fun just to walk around now, you don't have to do anything, just walk around and just take everything in.

00:57:25.005 --> 00:57:32.025
JON: They had the booths set up for the Festival of Arts that's starting, I think next week maybe.

00:57:32.025 --> 00:57:34.165
JON: So they were getting everything ready for that.

00:57:34.165 --> 00:57:39.485
JON: So you see everybody walking around with their medals and everybody's congratulating each other.

00:57:39.605 --> 00:57:41.565
JON: So it was a really cool time.

00:57:41.565 --> 00:57:43.545
VIRGINIA: Your flight was at 6 p.m.

00:57:43.545 --> 00:57:47.765
VIRGINIA: So what time did you end up leaving the park to go back and get your bags?

00:57:47.765 --> 00:57:53.105
JON: Well, we bought a Guardian's Lightning Lane, I think it was at like 3.

00:57:53.105 --> 00:57:57.365
JON: And then so we were kind of second guessing that, we were like, we need to try to see if we could change that.

00:57:57.365 --> 00:57:58.685
JON: So actually went to a-

00:57:58.685 --> 00:58:01.465
VIRGINIA: That's kind of living on the edge.

00:58:01.465 --> 00:58:15.445
JON: Especially if we had our bags at Epcot, we could probably be no problem, lead straight from there, but knowing we had to go back to Animal Kingdom Lodge first, we went to one of the blue drum umbrellas there and talked with the guest experience team.

00:58:15.445 --> 00:58:19.605
JON: And we were able to get our guardians moved up to like 12 noon.

00:58:19.605 --> 00:58:22.085
JON: So we felt a little bit better about that.

00:58:22.085 --> 00:58:24.525
JON: So we were able to able to do that.

00:58:24.525 --> 00:58:30.545
JON: And then we did have a spaceship Earth, but we ended up leaving without doing that one last time.

00:58:31.405 --> 00:58:33.185
JON: We were just cutting it too close.

00:58:33.185 --> 00:58:37.865
JON: We still left probably around, it was close to 3 o'clock, maybe around 2.30.

00:58:37.865 --> 00:58:39.725
JON: And we got back to Animal Kingdom.

00:58:39.725 --> 00:58:41.165
JON: I called an Uber.

00:58:41.165 --> 00:58:45.785
JON: And then we were at the airport and went through security, which was crazy.

00:58:45.785 --> 00:58:47.225
JON: I mean, the line was outrageous.

00:58:47.225 --> 00:58:54.645
JON: Luckily, the security guard came and grabbed a group of like 10 or 12 of us and we went through this little sideline and kind of skipped the line.

00:58:54.645 --> 00:58:55.545
JON: I don't know how we did that.

00:58:55.545 --> 00:58:58.445
JON: I guess that was the Lord looking out for us or something.

00:58:58.525 --> 00:59:05.785
JON: But yeah, we got through it and got over to our gate with probably about an hour to wait.

00:59:05.785 --> 00:59:06.885
JON: So we had plenty of time.

00:59:06.885 --> 00:59:08.805
VIRGINIA: And did the flight leave on time?

00:59:08.805 --> 00:59:12.605
JON: Left on time, no delays, no trouble at all.

00:59:12.605 --> 00:59:19.925
JON: Landed early in Charlotte, went down, had to wait for our bags for just a few minutes, but nothing crazy.

00:59:20.945 --> 00:59:24.325
JON: And then we were off and heading home, heading home to see the kids.

00:59:24.325 --> 00:59:25.665
JON: So we were excited.

00:59:26.225 --> 00:59:34.885
JON: And it's never fun to leave a Disney trip, but you're always ready to come back home because there's no, there's nothing like being at home, sleeping in your own bed.

00:59:34.885 --> 00:59:36.645
JON: And then you want to see your family too.

00:59:36.645 --> 00:59:39.645
JON: So it made it an hour that it was a whirlwind trip.

00:59:39.645 --> 00:59:40.785
JON: It was fast.

00:59:40.785 --> 00:59:46.245
JON: It was nonstop action, but it flew by, but it was very fun.

00:59:46.245 --> 00:59:46.925
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:59:46.925 --> 00:59:50.165
VIRGINIA: I have to ask, when is your next trip?

00:59:50.165 --> 00:59:51.705
JON: Well, we're actually going back.

00:59:51.705 --> 00:59:54.405
JON: I think today is 50 days that we'll be back.

00:59:55.005 --> 00:59:58.805
JON: We're going for spring break, which is really early for North Carolina this year.

00:59:58.805 --> 00:59:59.725
JON: It's March.

00:59:59.725 --> 01:00:04.025
JON: I think it's night through the 14th or something like that.

01:00:04.105 --> 01:00:05.765
JON: That's really early.

01:00:05.765 --> 01:00:06.745
JON: Yeah, it's very early.

01:00:06.745 --> 01:00:15.345
JON: So I'm hoping early compared to the rest of the country, and it's not too crazy down there during that time because we are going back with the kids this time.

01:00:15.345 --> 01:00:17.745
JON: So it'll be a completely different trip than this.

01:00:17.765 --> 01:00:27.485
JON: So we'll be no super early morning get ups, and we'll be able to stay out a little bit later, enjoy hopefully some warmer weather as well.

01:00:27.485 --> 01:00:28.345
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

01:00:28.345 --> 01:00:32.845
VIRGINIA: Most of the Northeast I think is usually Eastern Passover.

01:00:32.845 --> 01:00:33.645
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

01:00:33.645 --> 01:00:33.845
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

01:00:34.105 --> 01:00:42.385
JON: I think that's what it was last year because it was the first year that I can remember that my brother and our spring breaks lined up together.

01:00:42.665 --> 01:00:46.045
JON: His kids are about the same age as our kids and he lives in California.

01:00:46.745 --> 01:00:52.985
JON: Our spring breaks had never lined up, but last year it did and we actually were able to do a trip together.

01:00:52.985 --> 01:00:56.305
JON: But yeah, theirs is like a month after ours this year.

01:00:56.305 --> 01:00:57.345
JON: It's crazy.

01:00:57.345 --> 01:01:12.305
VIRGINIA: Well, Jon, it is always a pleasure to talk to you, and I thank you so much for being willing to come back and share all the details and for putting up with how often I tag you because of Buffalo cheese sandwiches.

01:01:12.345 --> 01:01:12.945
JON: No, I love it.

01:01:14.125 --> 01:01:16.005
JON: I had two of those on this trip.

01:01:16.005 --> 01:01:19.845
JON: I had to get my fix while I was there.

01:01:19.925 --> 01:01:23.145
JON: I sent you the one picture of me just taking a big bite of it.

01:01:23.145 --> 01:01:24.625
JON: Yeah, that's great.

01:01:24.625 --> 01:01:27.965
JON: You can post that one if you want, but that's it.

01:01:27.965 --> 01:01:29.305
VIRGINIA: Yeah, I love it.

01:01:29.305 --> 01:01:29.945
VIRGINIA: All right.

01:01:29.945 --> 01:01:32.865
VIRGINIA: Well, listeners, make sure you give Jon a follow.

01:01:32.925 --> 01:01:40.385
VIRGINIA: He's the WDW runner and make sure you check out the photos that will be on the Instagram page.

01:01:40.785 --> 01:01:44.525
VIRGINIA: Hopefully, we'll talk again at some point in the future.

01:01:44.525 --> 01:01:45.305
JON: Yeah, sounds great.

01:01:45.305 --> 01:01:46.225
JON: Thanks for having me back.

01:01:46.225 --> 01:01:48.205
JON: Thank you.

01:01:48.205 --> 01:01:49.785
ALEX: Thank you again to Jon.

01:01:49.785 --> 01:01:52.365
ALEX: We love having you on the show and you're always welcome back.

01:01:52.365 --> 01:01:53.965
ALEX: Thank you all for tuning in today.

01:01:53.965 --> 01:01:57.805
ALEX: We hope you'll continue to listen to the podcast and share the show with others.

01:01:57.805 --> 01:02:01.305
ALEX: If you haven't been a guest yourself yet, we hope you'll consider joining us someday.

01:02:01.545 --> 01:02:02.745
ALEX: That's all for now.

01:02:02.745 --> 01:02:11.005
ALEX: You can expect my mom back next week for the intros and outros, but if you want to send her a message to tell her how much you like mine, that would be cool of you.

01:02:11.005 --> 01:02:14.625
ALEX: Yeah, have a magical day and keep daydreaming about where you long to be.