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

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ALEX: Hello, this is Alex stepping in for the intro and outro today because my mom is getting over a bad cold and barely has a voice.

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ALEX: She should be back at it for next week's episodes.

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ALEX: And with that, welcome back to season four of Where I Long To Be, a Magical Trip Report Podcast.

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ALEX: If you're a new listener, thank you for joining us, and we hope that you'll keep listening.

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ALEX: To learn more about the show and about my mom, please make sure you visit the podcast website, which is whereilongtobepodcast.com.

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ALEX: There, you can search for episodes of your favorite guests, like me, or search based on basically anything else you're looking for.

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ALEX: If you want an episode that involves Pop Century, just use the search bar and you'll easily find them.

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ALEX: Today, we are happy to be welcoming back Jon, who is the WDW runner on Instagram.

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ALEX: Jon was last on this show for his November of 2023 Wine and Dine Run Disney trip, and this time he's planning his marathon weekend.

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ALEX: And now, without further ado, here is my mom, Virginia, and her guest, Jon.

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VIRGINIA: Welcome back to the podcast, Jon.

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JON: Thank you.

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JON: Thanks for having me back.

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VIRGINIA: Your ears must ring all the time, because I'm constantly mentioning you in episodes.

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JON: Well, you do tag me quite a bit, so it's good to be remembered, I guess, on that.

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VIRGINIA: You know what?

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VIRGINIA: It's the ABC Commissary's fault.

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JON: That's it.

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JON: Every time I hear that, I'm like, all right, this is my spot right here.

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JON: She's going to mention me.

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VIRGINIA: So funny.

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VIRGINIA: It's so good, though.

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VIRGINIA: It's so good.

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VIRGINIA: It is.

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JON: It is.

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VIRGINIA: It's opened my possibilities to maybe liking other buffalo-flavored things, because that's why I had not tried it, was because I was like, oh, I don't like buffalo flavor.

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JON: Yeah.

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JON: I'm like you.

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JON: I don't like a lot of it or a really strong amount, but that is just kind of subtle, so I like it a lot.

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VIRGINIA: It's the perfect amount.

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JON: It is.

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VIRGINIA: Okay.

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VIRGINIA: For listeners who have not heard an episode with you on it before, why don't you tell us who you are and your Disney background?

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JON: Yes.

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JON: My name is Jon.

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JON: I'm on Instagram as the WDWRunner.

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JON: That just stems from my love for Disney and then my passion for RunDisney and the races that they hold down at Walt Disney World.

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JON: I want to dedicate a page solely to that and everything that's on that page is RunDisney related or Marathon related, Running related and then I throw in some Disney stuff there as well.

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JON: But it's just probably a way for me to get my Disney fix when I'm not in the parks.

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VIRGINIA: So yeah.

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VIRGINIA: And I dare say as much as you love running, I think it's also an excuse to go to the parks.

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JON: Oh, 100 percent.

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JON: Yeah.

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JON: Just tell myself that it's the running, but it does keep me in shape throughout the year because I'll do the marathon every year.

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JON: So training for that, it's pretty much a year long process.

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JON: I'll take a, sometimes I'll take about a month off once I get back, but then it's time to pick it up again.

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JON: And it's a gradual process.

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JON: So start slow and then gradually increase the distance each week and I can spread it out across the year.

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JON: And it keeps me somewhat healthy and active.

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JON: And then, you know, the ultimate goal is to get back down to the parks.

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VIRGINIA: So when you take that month off and you come back, you start as if you have not run a marathon before.

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JON: Correct.

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VIRGINIA: Okay.

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VIRGINIA: So in your mind, you're like, I literally, I'm pretending I did not just do this a month ago.

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JON: Yeah, you do.

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JON: You almost start from scratch when you take, it doesn't seem like that's much time off, but a month off from running, it's a big difference.

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JON: So you will start from scratch.

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JON: And I usually start with three miles is like my minimum.

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JON: So that may seem like a lot to some people, but I can usually pick that up pretty quickly.

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JON: Now, my time won't be near what it could be, but just like I said, I ease into it gradually.

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JON: And I know that's a good thing about knowing that I've got 11 or 10 or 11 months until the next one, I can really take my time and ease back into it.

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VIRGINIA: When you are training at home, are you doing runs outside on the treadmill or combination?

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JON: Mostly outside.

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JON: If it's any type of decent weather, I'll be outside, even if it's really cold.

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JON: The only time I don't run outside is if it's raining.

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JON: And I have before for the longer distances, because if you ever run on a treadmill, the longer distances are miserable on a treadmill.

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JON: So anything longer than three miles, I'll do outside if at all possible.

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JON: And then I'm flexible too on my training.

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JON: I only do three days a week.

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JON: I'll do like two, three mile runs during the week and then a distance run on the weekend.

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JON: So if it's supposed to rain on Tuesday and I'm scheduled to run, I can move it to Wednesday or Thursday and I can adjust my schedule.

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JON: So I usually can work around the weather pretty well.

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VIRGINIA: So this trip is centered around running because it's for the marathon.

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VIRGINIA: So do you know how many RunDisney races this will be for you?

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JON: Oh gosh, this will be my fourth marathon weekend.

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JON: I'll have to count up, but I've done the springtime surprise race weekend twice.

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JON: I've done princess weekend once and then wine and dine weekend once.

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JON: So probably, oh gosh, total races, I'm not sure, but it's got to be around 20, I'd say at least.

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JON: I'll have to get you a final count and I'll send that to you.

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VIRGINIA: Do you think you'll ever go out and do one in California?

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JON: I thought about it.

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JON: I was going to try to do it this past year because this past year I did all the Walt Disney World races.

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JON: So I had the perfect race season is what you say, but that's why I went so much in the end of 23 and all of 24, was just trying to do the complete race season.

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JON: So it actually starts in November with Wine and Dine, the half marathon there.

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JON: So I did that one and then I did Marathon Weekend and then Princess and then Springtime Surprise.

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JON: So that's the full season.

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JON: But then, like you said, now I need to add in Disneyland to it.

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JON: But I've never been to Disneyland, so I want to do that anyway.

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JON: But tying in a race weekend would just top it off.

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JON: Plus, that gives me a good excuse to go out there.

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VIRGINIA: Right.

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VIRGINIA: Then you get the Coast to Coast Medal.

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JON: Yes.

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JON: Definitely want to do that.

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JON: So it's on the bucket list.

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JON: So I don't know if I'll do the full race season again, because even with the annual pass, it gets pretty expensive to do all those weekends.

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JON: But definitely the Coast to Coast, because you only have to do one qualifying race on each Coast to get that Coast to Coast Medal.

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JON: So I think it's a half marathon or greater at each Coast.

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JON: So if you do that, then you'll qualify for it.

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VIRGINIA: Yeah.

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VIRGINIA: But then that does add on to the cost, because like annual pass here, well here, I'm sitting here in New York City.

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VIRGINIA: I'm saying here as an in Northland.

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VIRGINIA: East Coast.

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VIRGINIA: But not having that, then that's a whole other expense you have to think about going out to New Zealand.

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VIRGINIA: But definitely well worth it.

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JON: I think so.

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JON: I'm looking forward to trying it at some point.

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JON: I will have to come back on and talk about it once that happens.

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VIRGINIA: All right.

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VIRGINIA: Let's get into your trip details.

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VIRGINIA: So like we said, this is for marathon weekend.

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VIRGINIA: So what are your actual travel dates?

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JON: Okay.

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JON: So we are leaving out on Tuesday, January 7th around lunchtime.

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JON: So my wife has to work until around 12 or 12.30.

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JON: Marathon weekend, normally just my wife and I go, we leave the kids at home for that one.

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JON: And then the other race weekend, I've always done solo just because it's not your traditional Disney trip.

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JON: You're going to bed early, getting up really early, maybe taking a nap in the morning before.

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JON: And so I always like to maximize my part time.

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JON: It's not a typical Disney trip that people think of.

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JON: So it's a little bit different.

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JON: So but marathon weekend, we always have gone together.

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JON: And she's been my biggest supporter.

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JON: But last year and this year, she's running the half marathon.

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JON: So she's joined in with me.

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JON: Yes, I guess I've motivated her.

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JON: But she's really been training.

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JON: And last year, the half marathon got cut short because of storms in the area.

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JON: So we only ran only ran like six miles on the course.

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JON: And then they called it and a lot of people were upset.

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JON: So a lot of us went back and finished the miles at the resort because you get your medal.

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VIRGINIA: I remember this.

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JON: Yeah, you don't want to get a half marathon medal and run six miles.

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JON: And, you know, it's funny.

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JON: You can see a lot of people in the parks wearing them.

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JON: And we're like, yeah, they definitely didn't finish their distance.

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JON: They just took it and ran on with it.

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JON: But we did.

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JON: We finished hours at the resort.

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JON: And a lot of the people did as well because we saw them out there running.

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JON: It was pouring down rain.

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JON: But she wants to go back and definitely finish it 100% on the race, this, you know, on the race course this year.

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VIRGINIA: Well, I hope that you have good weather for that.

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VIRGINIA: I mean, I'm not so sure about rain.

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VIRGINIA: It will be colder than normal.

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VIRGINIA: Does that make it easier?

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JON: Yeah.

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JON: For me, I like it.

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JON: I like it cool because the most of the distance runs for my training are done in North Carolina in the months of like pretty much October, November and December.

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JON: So I'm used to running in the cold.

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JON: So as long as I can handle the cold, I can bundle and layer.

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JON: What I can't handle is that terrible wind or the rain, but we'll just set to make the best of it.

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JON: So far, the forecast is looking pretty good.

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JON: It is cool in the mornings.

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JON: In the rain, I think the highest percentage right now is like 24 percent.

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JON: Of course, that's the morning of that half marathon.

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JON: But I think, I don't think it's calling for it that early because all the races start so early in the morning, it'll be probably later in the morning hours before lunch.

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JON: If it does rain, but Florida weather, though, you never know.

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JON: It could change hourly, so you don't really know what you're getting into.

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VIRGINIA: You're going down on Tuesday the 7th.

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VIRGINIA: What day do you come back?

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JON: Yes, we come back on Monday the 13th.

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JON: Our flight leaves Orlando at 6 p.m.

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JON: So we will have to get there a little bit early to get through security and everything, but we should touch back down in Charlotte a little bit before 8 o'clock.

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JON: So that will get us home to probably about 10 o'clock to where we live.

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VIRGINIA: Okay.

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VIRGINIA: You have the annual pass.

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VIRGINIA: Does your wife have the annual pass?

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JON: She does.

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JON: She does.

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JON: We did the math on it, and the break even point for us, if you do park hoppers, is 13 days in the park.

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JON: So we're going back for spring break this year and taking the kids and everything.

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JON: And so I think we're doing six days then or seven days then, six days for marathon weekend.

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JON: So 13 is the magic number.

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JON: So it's good to have that.

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JON: You get the discounts on merchandise, 20 percent off of everything.

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JON: Merchandise-wise, some sit-down meals, no counter service, unfortunately, but you are eligible for some resort discounts and things like that.

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JON: And it's 20 percent off at the RunDisney Expo.

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JON: So that's always a big deal.

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VIRGINIA: Oh yeah.

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VIRGINIA: I forgot that that is the case.

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VIRGINIA: So I feel like I've already told you this, but I am doing the Princess 5K this year.

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JON: Nice.

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JON: Yes, I think you did mention that.

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JON: It's awesome.

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VIRGINIA: It will be my very first RunDisney event and I had forgotten the 20 percent off.

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VIRGINIA: And that's exciting.

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JON: Yes.

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JON: Yeah, because you can be dangerous going in there.

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JON: You'll see.

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VIRGINIA: Yeah, I'm looking forward to it.

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VIRGINIA: But I wasn't even thinking about that.

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VIRGINIA: So now I need to go back and look at all my plans and go, okay, when am I going over to the Expo?

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JON: And that's the thing now, the Expo is all virtual now.

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JON: So it's kind of like the Ultron used to be.

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VIRGINIA: Yeah, the virtual queue sort of.

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VIRGINIA: Yeah.

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JON: So first thing that morning of the Expo, you go in and join the queue and then they'll give you like an estimated callback time and then you can make your way over.

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JON: The good thing is once you get your estimated callback time, you can kind of plan your day and then you'll go over and you can go through and get your bib first and then you can go through the actual merchandise queue for the RunDisney stuff, which all the race specific merchandise.

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JON: You could spend all day over there but I try to time it to where I'm not spending too much time over there.

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VIRGINIA: Sure.

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VIRGINIA: Where will you be staying on this trip?

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JON: So we're actually doing a split stay.

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JON: We originally were going to arrive on Wednesday the 8th and stay through the 13th but we ended up adding an extra night.

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JON: So we're coming in on Tuesday the 7th.

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JON: We're doing a split stay that first night.

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JON: We're going to be staying at All Star Sports and then we're going to transfer over to the Animal Kingdom Lodge for the rest of our stay.

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JON: The reason we added an extra night is in the past, we've always arrived on Wednesday before marathon weekend.

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JON: Then the races start Thursday morning, like I said, 5 a.m.

00:12:48.083 --> 00:12:49.943
JON: That's cutting it close.

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JON: Yeah.

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JON: One year we had delayed flight, so we were late getting in.

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JON: We couldn't get to the expo to get our bibs.

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JON: We had to pick them up the morning of and it was just hectic.

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JON: So it was actually cheaper to come in on Tuesday than Wednesday, so it worked out but that'll give us a little extra some time to, it's not quite as stressful.

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VIRGINIA: I know that you stayed at the All Stars before, but have you stayed at Animal Kingdom Lodge?

00:13:13.363 --> 00:13:14.143
JON: Yes.

00:13:14.143 --> 00:13:19.263
JON: I stayed there several times and we've never stayed there through Disney.

00:13:19.263 --> 00:13:24.003
JON: We always rent Vacation Club Points and it's worked out really, really well.

00:13:24.003 --> 00:13:26.003
JON: They're doing it that way.

00:13:26.003 --> 00:13:27.303
JON: You can get it for so much cheaper.

00:13:27.303 --> 00:13:29.663
JON: You can get it about for the price of an All Star.

00:13:29.663 --> 00:13:33.823
JON: If you go through the point rental programs, and there are several different websites.

00:13:35.043 --> 00:13:36.963
JON: But yeah, I think that's a game changer.

00:13:36.963 --> 00:13:46.983
JON: If you can swing that, I think everybody should try that to experience some of these rewards that are kind of outrageously priced if you try to go through Disney.

00:13:46.983 --> 00:13:49.043
VIRGINIA: Which website did you use this time?

00:13:49.043 --> 00:13:51.203
JON: We used David's DVC.

00:13:51.203 --> 00:13:52.123
VIRGINIA: I've used them before.

00:13:52.123 --> 00:13:53.503
JON: Yeah, they're really good.

00:13:53.503 --> 00:14:01.263
JON: I think they're based out of Canada and it's non-refundable, so that kind of scares some people off, but we've always had pretty good experiences with them.

00:14:02.303 --> 00:14:13.563
VIRGINIA: Yeah, I think that with David's, you're right, it is non-refundable and I think that you have to be ready to pay for the whole thing the minute they have something matched.

00:14:13.563 --> 00:14:23.803
VIRGINIA: But if you know for a fact you're going and there's no way barring like a national emergency or something that you're canceling this trip, then I think it's fine.

00:14:23.803 --> 00:14:28.683
VIRGINIA: There is one other one and I can't remember which one it is that will let you cancel.

00:14:29.283 --> 00:14:29.823
JON: Really?

00:14:29.823 --> 00:14:37.743
VIRGINIA: And I don't know how they work that because the person who owns the points, I don't know what they're doing.

00:14:38.123 --> 00:14:45.303
VIRGINIA: I'm sure they get to keep their money or something or maybe they just move points around in the background to somebody else's trip or I have no idea.

00:14:45.303 --> 00:14:51.403
JON: Yeah, there's got to be a way to do it because there's no way, they're not going to eat those points.

00:14:51.443 --> 00:14:53.383
JON: Somebody will buy them at some point.

00:14:53.383 --> 00:14:56.643
JON: Disney's, it's always crowded, it's always packed.

00:14:56.643 --> 00:14:58.683
JON: There's not an off season anymore.

00:14:58.683 --> 00:15:01.483
JON: So they're always going to be able to get rid of those points.

00:15:01.483 --> 00:15:04.023
JON: Maybe to a little bit of a discount, but they'll be able to do it.

00:15:04.023 --> 00:15:05.443
JON: And that's the only reason we do it.

00:15:05.643 --> 00:15:12.163
JON: We did David's the very first time because we wanted to stay at Animal Kingdom Lodge and we didn't want to pay $500 a night or whatever it was.

00:15:12.163 --> 00:15:16.843
JON: And so we went through them, had a good experience, and so we've done it several other times since.

00:15:17.563 --> 00:15:18.383
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:15:18.383 --> 00:15:19.903
VIRGINIA: Well, I hope you enjoy that stay.

00:15:20.063 --> 00:15:22.583
VIRGINIA: That is one of the few that I have not stayed at, and it's on my list.

00:15:22.583 --> 00:15:23.203
JON: Oh, that's awesome.

00:15:23.463 --> 00:15:24.403
JON: That's awesome.

00:15:24.403 --> 00:15:29.483
JON: I'm hoping they still have the Christmas decorations up because Marathon Weekend is a little bit later this year.

00:15:29.483 --> 00:15:34.003
JON: Last year, I think we came home on the 8th, and this year we're not getting down there until the 7th or 8th.

00:15:34.003 --> 00:15:36.143
JON: So I can't remember.

00:15:36.143 --> 00:15:39.643
JON: I think hopefully they'll have the Christmas trees and everything.

00:15:39.643 --> 00:15:42.863
JON: They have a huge one in the lobby, a lot like Wilderness Lodge.

00:15:42.863 --> 00:15:46.363
JON: So I'm hoping that's up for at least a couple of days during our stay.

00:15:47.283 --> 00:16:03.343
VIRGINIA: I heard that they put it up later than some of the other resorts, specifically at Animal Kingdom Lodge, because I had people I was interviewing that were looking at decorations at different resorts and kind of made that part of their trip and went over to Animal Kingdom Lodge expecting to see the huge tree and it wasn't even up yet.

00:16:03.343 --> 00:16:07.123
VIRGINIA: So maybe it will stay up a little bit longer because it went up later.

00:16:07.223 --> 00:16:07.843
JON: Hey, I hope so.

00:16:07.843 --> 00:16:09.063
JON: I like that line of thinking.

00:16:09.063 --> 00:16:11.523
JON: So I'll definitely keep you posted on that.

00:16:11.523 --> 00:16:13.103
JON: That will be 2BD.

00:16:13.103 --> 00:16:14.123
VIRGINIA: Okay.

00:16:14.123 --> 00:16:14.783
VIRGINIA: All right.

00:16:14.783 --> 00:16:19.223
VIRGINIA: So the All-Star Sports checking in on the 7th.

00:16:19.223 --> 00:16:22.123
VIRGINIA: And what time did you say your flight lands that day?

00:16:22.783 --> 00:16:27.783
JON: We leave Charlotte at around 3, so we'll land at like 445 at MCO.

00:16:27.783 --> 00:16:35.683
JON: We will be checking a bag just because race weekends, you have to have a whole wardrobe for the races and then you have a wardrobe for the parks.

00:16:35.883 --> 00:16:39.143
JON: And then with this time of year, you've got to have your layers.

00:16:39.143 --> 00:16:41.903
JON: So you about have to check a bag.

00:16:41.903 --> 00:16:43.123
JON: So we're going to be doing that.

00:16:43.123 --> 00:16:44.663
JON: So that will take a little bit longer.

00:16:44.663 --> 00:16:50.463
JON: So we probably won't get to the resorts until, I'm saying, maybe 6 o'clock or later.

00:16:50.463 --> 00:16:58.383
JON: And then we're just going to drop our stuff off in the room and head directly to the Magic Kingdom and try it, because it's open until 10 o'clock on Tuesday nights.

00:16:58.383 --> 00:17:09.323
JON: We want to run over there and grab dinner and maybe catch the fireworks, maybe ride a couple of things if there's some walk-ons, but just kind of get that first taste.

00:17:09.403 --> 00:17:11.923
JON: You have to start it out in the Magic Kingdom, I think.

00:17:11.923 --> 00:17:15.763
VIRGINIA: So Wednesday, January 8th, this is the day before your race.

00:17:15.763 --> 00:17:18.623
VIRGINIA: So how does that affect your plans for the day?

00:17:18.623 --> 00:17:24.223
JON: Okay, so what we're going to do in the very morning as soon as we get up is just we're not even going to unpack.

00:17:24.223 --> 00:17:27.623
JON: So we're going to get our stuff, head on over to Animal Kingdom Lodge.

00:17:27.623 --> 00:17:31.503
JON: If our room is not ready, they'll hold your bags at Bell Services for you.

00:17:31.503 --> 00:17:35.323
JON: And then we're going to head straight to Epcot at 7 o'clock that morning.

00:17:35.323 --> 00:17:39.403
JON: I will have entered us into the virtual queue for the expo.

00:17:39.403 --> 00:17:47.523
JON: The good thing about Epcot is we can walk right out of the international gateway to probably Beach Club and jump on a bus right to the expo.

00:17:47.523 --> 00:17:50.623
JON: So you have to go there from a resort.

00:17:50.623 --> 00:17:54.903
JON: I don't think they have buses to the expo from the parks.

00:17:54.903 --> 00:17:58.143
JON: I could be wrong about that, but I think in the past that's how we've done it.

00:17:58.143 --> 00:17:59.923
JON: So we'll go straight to the expo from there.

00:17:59.923 --> 00:18:02.383
JON: And like I said, they'll give you an estimated return time.

00:18:02.483 --> 00:18:11.923
JON: So once you get that, you can kind of plan to go ahead and be in that area around that time and you can go through and get your bib and then you can go through the merchandise expo.

00:18:11.923 --> 00:18:18.283
JON: And then we'll go right back at the Epcot and finish the day, you know, pretty much do a whole day there.

00:18:18.283 --> 00:18:24.223
JON: I don't know if you remember in the past episodes, I'll make sure that I eat dinner before 5 p.m.

00:18:24.223 --> 00:18:27.303
JON: And then, yeah, because you don't want to have too much on your stomach.

00:18:27.303 --> 00:18:30.883
JON: At least I don't, I can't, some people can go eat and then go run right after.

00:18:30.883 --> 00:18:31.483
JON: I can't do that.

00:18:31.583 --> 00:18:35.703
JON: I've got to have some time there for my digestion and everything.

00:18:35.703 --> 00:18:43.363
JON: So I'll make sure I eat an early dinner and then I'll head back and I'll try to be in the bed by 7 or 8 at the very latest.

00:18:43.363 --> 00:18:45.943
JON: And then my wife gets some alone park time.

00:18:45.943 --> 00:18:51.503
JON: So she really likes that part of the trip too, because she always went with her family or then she's gone with me.

00:18:51.503 --> 00:18:53.863
JON: So she doesn't, she never had that solo time in the park.

00:18:53.863 --> 00:18:55.663
JON: So I think she really likes that part.

00:18:55.743 --> 00:18:56.303
VIRGINIA: Oh, yeah.

00:18:56.603 --> 00:19:00.183
VIRGINIA: If you have the opportunity to do solo time, you definitely should.

00:19:00.183 --> 00:19:01.643
VIRGINIA: It is not scary.

00:19:01.643 --> 00:19:02.763
VIRGINIA: It is fun.

00:19:02.783 --> 00:19:05.343
VIRGINIA: And if you want to talk to people, they're planning people to talk to.

00:19:05.343 --> 00:19:08.103
VIRGINIA: And if you don't want to talk to anybody, you don't have to.

00:19:08.103 --> 00:19:08.683
JON: That's right.

00:19:08.683 --> 00:19:10.003
JON: You can just kind of do your own thing.

00:19:10.003 --> 00:19:12.403
JON: And you don't have to worry about somebody.

00:19:12.403 --> 00:19:14.923
JON: They want to go here to eat or they want to ride this ride.

00:19:14.923 --> 00:19:16.703
JON: You can just do whatever you want or you can do nothing.

00:19:16.703 --> 00:19:19.163
JON: So that's a game changer.

00:19:19.163 --> 00:19:23.283
VIRGINIA: For that dinner, do you have a reservation somewhere or you'll just grab quick service and up God?

00:19:23.883 --> 00:19:25.743
JON: Yeah, we're just going to do quick service.

00:19:25.743 --> 00:19:28.343
JON: And honestly, we don't have an ADR for this trip at all.

00:19:29.143 --> 00:19:32.863
JON: We usually eat at Ohana the morning after the marathon.

00:19:32.863 --> 00:19:35.043
JON: That's been our tradition.

00:19:35.043 --> 00:19:36.723
JON: But we canceled it this year.

00:19:36.723 --> 00:19:43.443
JON: We had it booked and then canceled it just because last year it was over $100 for the two of us to eat breakfast.

00:19:44.023 --> 00:19:47.723
JON: It is good, but what you get is it's hard to justify that.

00:19:47.723 --> 00:19:57.063
JON: You probably go get quick service there at Captain Cook's and get the same food for a fourth of the price, but also with our flight ban earlier.

00:19:57.063 --> 00:20:07.083
JON: In the past, we've left at the latest possible flight around nine o'clock at night, and the earliest one to leave this year is six o'clock, so we're losing a couple hours there in the park.

00:20:07.083 --> 00:20:13.463
JON: We just wanted to maximize our park time, and we'll just grab something on the go, save a little bit of money that way also.

00:20:13.463 --> 00:20:16.883
VIRGINIA: Are you going to be eating at Boma by chance?

00:20:17.023 --> 00:20:20.223
VIRGINIA: I know that would involve a reservation, but do you think you might?

00:20:20.323 --> 00:20:25.223
VIRGINIA: Because you're at Animal Kingdom Lodge, and I consistently hear that that is the best breakfast.

00:20:25.583 --> 00:20:26.663
JON: I've heard that too.

00:20:26.663 --> 00:20:34.663
JON: We do not have a reservation that may check back and see if there's one available throughout the week, but I'm not sure.

00:20:34.663 --> 00:20:37.883
JON: But I can do a breakfast after a run.

00:20:37.903 --> 00:20:39.363
JON: I just can't eat anything right before.

00:20:39.363 --> 00:20:41.703
JON: So maybe something I'd definitely check into.

00:20:41.703 --> 00:20:45.563
JON: But yeah, as of right now, we're just going to do a whole quick service.

00:20:45.623 --> 00:20:50.203
VIRGINIA: Okay, so Thursday, January 9th, is the marathon morning?

00:20:50.203 --> 00:20:51.643
JON: No, it's the 5K morning.

00:20:51.643 --> 00:20:52.923
VIRGINIA: Oh, it's the 5K morning.

00:20:52.923 --> 00:20:53.883
VIRGINIA: Oh, yes.

00:20:53.883 --> 00:20:55.123
JON: But I'm doing the Dopey Challenge.

00:20:55.123 --> 00:20:56.583
JON: I don't know if we mentioned that.

00:20:56.583 --> 00:21:00.163
VIRGINIA: Okay, so explain what the Dopey Challenge is for those who don't know.

00:21:00.163 --> 00:21:00.543
JON: Sorry.

00:21:00.543 --> 00:21:00.903
JON: Okay.

00:21:00.903 --> 00:21:03.043
JON: So I first had to mention that first, but all right.

00:21:03.043 --> 00:21:07.583
JON: So the Dopey Challenge is all four races on marathon weekend, all consecutive days.

00:21:07.583 --> 00:21:16.463
JON: So on Thursday morning is the 5K, Friday morning is the 10K, Saturday morning is the half marathon, and then Sunday morning is the full marathon.

00:21:16.463 --> 00:21:18.763
JON: So all together, that's the Dopey Challenge.

00:21:18.763 --> 00:21:24.603
JON: You've got to be dopey to do something like that, but it's 48.6 total miles.

00:21:24.603 --> 00:21:28.443
JON: So this will be my fourth consecutive one.

00:21:28.443 --> 00:21:31.263
JON: So we'll see if I can survive another one.

00:21:31.263 --> 00:21:31.743
VIRGINIA: Wow.

00:21:31.743 --> 00:21:32.223
VIRGINIA: Okay.

00:21:32.223 --> 00:21:39.603
VIRGINIA: You go to bed that early and do the food restriction thing even before the 5K?

00:21:39.603 --> 00:21:40.663
JON: Oh, yeah.

00:21:40.663 --> 00:21:43.083
JON: Now, I might be a little bit more lenient on that one.

00:21:43.123 --> 00:21:48.203
JON: Not that, you know, if I don't get but five or six hours that night, I will be fine.

00:21:48.203 --> 00:21:58.603
JON: But because that is a shorter race and it's actually you can go back and take a nap and get back up and get to the parks before rope drop because it starts so early.

00:21:58.603 --> 00:22:04.943
JON: But it's good to go ahead and train your body and get that rest because you're going to need it later in the week.

00:22:04.943 --> 00:22:09.243
VIRGINIA: On any of the races, will you be stopping to take a photo with a character?

00:22:09.483 --> 00:22:12.363
VIRGINIA: Are you going to just try to do your best time on each one?

00:22:14.683 --> 00:22:16.223
JON: Well, I could try to do my best time.

00:22:16.223 --> 00:22:21.063
JON: I never have stopped for the character stops before just because there's always such a long line.

00:22:21.063 --> 00:22:27.043
JON: Once I get going, if I stop, it takes me a minute to get my pace back up and I can get into a rhythm.

00:22:28.023 --> 00:22:29.083
JON: I'll just keep going.

00:22:29.083 --> 00:22:34.983
JON: I can see all the characters and I've snapped some pictures like running by but I've never stopped and waited in the line for it.

00:22:34.983 --> 00:22:37.203
JON: But some people, that's what they live for.

00:22:37.203 --> 00:22:40.843
JON: That's why they do a Disney race, so more power to those people.

00:22:40.963 --> 00:22:49.943
JON: But you can usually see those characters in the parks or like I said, you'll see them on the race course, but I have not stopped in the past.

00:22:49.943 --> 00:22:51.643
JON: So I don't plan on doing that.

00:22:51.643 --> 00:22:56.623
JON: I'm not saying that I won't because sometimes they do have rare characters out there that are not available at any other time or place.

00:22:56.623 --> 00:22:59.063
JON: So never say never, I guess.

00:22:59.063 --> 00:23:02.523
VIRGINIA: Will you know in advance who will be on the course?

00:23:02.523 --> 00:23:05.703
JON: I'm not sure because it does change from year to year.

00:23:05.703 --> 00:23:09.183
JON: I don't know if there's a resource that tells you that.

00:23:09.743 --> 00:23:15.383
JON: I've never looked that much into it, but yeah, not that I know of.

00:23:15.383 --> 00:23:21.123
VIRGINIA: Yeah, because I am not planning on stopping for a photo with a character that I could see in the park.

00:23:21.363 --> 00:23:26.503
VIRGINIA: But if I knew there was going to be a rare one, then I might stop and get a photo, I guess.

00:23:26.503 --> 00:23:27.843
JON: Yeah, yeah, it can't hurt.

00:23:27.843 --> 00:23:38.963
JON: I mean, a lot of people do it during the marathon, there's such a long race that the parks start opening and some rides are open, so people go ride rides during the marathon.

00:23:40.263 --> 00:23:46.283
JON: I haven't done that either yet, but I'm like, oh man, if I do this, I might not get back up because your legs are jelly at that point.

00:23:46.283 --> 00:23:54.103
JON: But yeah, I'm just there to get my rhythm, finish the race, and then I can worry about the parks and the characters later.

00:23:54.143 --> 00:24:02.043
VIRGINIA: I feel like I spoke with somebody before who was doing one of the races and rode Tower of Terror on their way past it.

00:24:02.063 --> 00:24:05.123
VIRGINIA: Which I'm like, that's funny.

00:24:05.123 --> 00:24:07.703
JON: That would be, that would mess my stomach up even more.

00:24:07.703 --> 00:24:09.843
JON: I don't think I could do that one.

00:24:09.843 --> 00:24:10.663
VIRGINIA: Oh my word.

00:24:10.663 --> 00:24:13.643
VIRGINIA: Okay, so 5K on Thursday.

00:24:13.643 --> 00:24:13.883
VIRGINIA: Yes.

00:24:13.883 --> 00:24:17.603
VIRGINIA: And will your wife be cheering you on or No.

00:24:17.603 --> 00:24:19.043
VIRGINIA: Will you sleep in?

00:24:19.043 --> 00:24:20.843
JON: In her dream, she may be, yeah.

00:24:20.843 --> 00:24:23.363
JON: No, she doesn't get up for those.

00:24:23.863 --> 00:24:29.863
JON: She'll get up and follow me throughout the checkpoints on Marathon Sunday, but we'll talk about that.

00:24:29.863 --> 00:24:37.263
JON: But no, she sleeps in on those because it's so early and the race is so fast, and there's not really a whole lot of places.

00:24:37.263 --> 00:24:40.363
JON: You're basically just running around Epcot for the 5K.

00:24:40.363 --> 00:24:46.723
JON: And then like I said, I'm back and I'll be showered and take a nap, and then we'll get up and do the part day.

00:24:46.723 --> 00:24:49.223
JON: And you don't really miss a beat.

00:24:49.223 --> 00:24:50.483
JON: You're just so early.

00:24:51.003 --> 00:24:58.943
JON: Those races, like we have to be, I think the corrals open around 3 o'clock, and then the races will start at 5.

00:24:58.943 --> 00:25:04.723
JON: That's when the, depending on what corral you're in, starting with A, it goes through the progression there.

00:25:04.723 --> 00:25:06.323
JON: So it just depends.

00:25:06.323 --> 00:25:09.883
JON: You can be done and back at the resort in no time at all.

00:25:09.883 --> 00:25:12.683
VIRGINIA: And you plan on getting there at 3?

00:25:12.683 --> 00:25:13.703
JON: Oh yeah, I'll get there.

00:25:13.703 --> 00:25:17.203
JON: I'll take the first bus so I can be at the front of the corral.

00:25:17.203 --> 00:25:22.203
JON: If you're thinking about doing a Disney race, that's a big tip.

00:25:22.203 --> 00:25:24.183
JON: So get there early as you can.

00:25:24.183 --> 00:25:25.323
JON: Get at the front of your corral.

00:25:25.323 --> 00:25:30.523
JON: Even if you're in the very last corral, get at the front of that corral, you're still going to have a couple thousand people behind you.

00:25:30.523 --> 00:25:37.023
JON: So that gives you a buffer to where you're not to worry about getting swept if that's a worry of yours.

00:25:37.023 --> 00:25:38.723
JON: You've got that buffer.

00:25:38.723 --> 00:25:44.283
JON: If you're the last one to start the race, you can average a 16 minute mile pace and you'll be fine.

00:25:44.283 --> 00:25:54.683
JON: So I know a lot of times people are scared that something like that might happen, but it's got to be a very rare case or have an injury or something to get swept, I would think.

00:25:54.683 --> 00:25:57.963
VIRGINIA: So what park are you going to after the 5K?

00:25:57.963 --> 00:26:04.043
JON: So that day is our Animal Kingdom Day and we'll head there pretty much at rope drop.

00:26:04.043 --> 00:26:08.863
JON: I'm not sure exactly what time it opens that morning, but probably around 8 o'clock, I'd say.

00:26:08.863 --> 00:26:29.683
JON: So we'll head over there and a good thing about Animal Kingdom is we can ride everything, see every show that we want to see, and plenty of time to get in bed by my 7 PM or 8 PM rule, and probably have some time to spare because I love that park, but there's not as much to do, and especially if you've been there as many times as we have.

00:26:29.683 --> 00:26:35.523
JON: We can go on all the trails and everything again, but that's not something you have to do every time.

00:26:35.523 --> 00:26:37.003
VIRGINIA: Right.

00:26:37.003 --> 00:26:43.883
VIRGINIA: Now for your wife, because she's not running until Saturday, will she get some more alone time this night in a park?

00:26:43.883 --> 00:26:44.443
JON: Definitely.

00:26:44.443 --> 00:26:44.903
JON: She will.

00:26:44.903 --> 00:26:48.763
JON: She'll do it every night except for, well, she's running the half.

00:26:48.763 --> 00:27:01.103
JON: So on Friday night, she'll probably go to bed early, and then she'll probably go to bed a little earlier on the night before the marathon because she does get up with me and go to all of the spectator viewing spots on that day.

00:27:01.103 --> 00:27:03.863
JON: So it's an early morning for her too on those days.

00:27:04.583 --> 00:27:07.623
JON: So we'll come back in and get us a good nap in after that.

00:27:07.623 --> 00:27:13.363
VIRGINIA: OK, so Animal Kingdom during the day, where will she do her solo time, do you think?

00:27:14.103 --> 00:27:14.963
JON: She may stay there.

00:27:15.283 --> 00:27:16.583
JON: That's probably her favorite park.

00:27:16.583 --> 00:27:21.503
JON: So she may stay there and enjoy that park, but it does close a little earlier normally.

00:27:21.503 --> 00:27:23.703
JON: So honestly, I haven't even looked.

00:27:23.703 --> 00:27:28.423
JON: Usually I look ahead at all the park hours for the trip, but no one I've got to get to bed so early.

00:27:28.423 --> 00:27:31.823
JON: I haven't paid attention to the ones that are open really late or later.

00:27:32.163 --> 00:27:39.123
JON: So if there's Safe Magic Kingdom or maybe Hollywood Studios is open later that night, she may hop over there.

00:27:39.123 --> 00:27:42.243
JON: She's got that option, but she may just stay at Animal Kingdom that night.

00:27:42.383 --> 00:27:44.663
JON: That's her favorite stuff.

00:27:44.663 --> 00:27:50.483
VIRGINIA: This is one of the rare times of the year where if you stay, you're actually going to see darkness.

00:27:50.483 --> 00:27:51.403
JON: Yes.

00:27:51.403 --> 00:27:52.363
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:27:52.363 --> 00:27:58.943
VIRGINIA: Because if you want to experience Pandora in the dark, you cannot do that year-round based on when the sun sets.

00:27:58.943 --> 00:28:00.943
JON: You cannot, and it closes so early year-round.

00:28:02.523 --> 00:28:09.203
JON: But also, it's going to be a little cold down there, and seasonably cold for Orlando especially.

00:28:09.203 --> 00:28:12.123
JON: So it'll just depend on that too.

00:28:12.123 --> 00:28:13.943
JON: That may cut her nights a little bit shorter.

00:28:13.943 --> 00:28:14.623
JON: I don't know yet.

00:28:14.623 --> 00:28:15.943
JON: She may stick it out.

00:28:15.943 --> 00:28:17.043
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:28:17.043 --> 00:28:17.343
VIRGINIA: All right.

00:28:17.343 --> 00:28:20.763
VIRGINIA: So Friday, January 10th, you're doing the 10K.

00:28:20.763 --> 00:28:21.383
JON: 10K.

00:28:21.703 --> 00:28:23.243
JON: That morning.

00:28:23.243 --> 00:28:24.783
JON: Same start time, five o'clock.

00:28:24.783 --> 00:28:26.943
JON: I'll still try to get there by three.

00:28:26.943 --> 00:28:31.803
JON: I'll try to get that first bus and get there, get the front of my corral, whichever that'll be.

00:28:31.803 --> 00:28:35.343
JON: And then something, you don't know what corral you're in until you go pick your bib up.

00:28:35.343 --> 00:28:40.683
JON: So I won't know that until Wednesday morning or Wednesday afternoon, whenever I go to the expo.

00:28:40.683 --> 00:28:42.103
JON: So the earlier, the better.

00:28:42.103 --> 00:28:48.163
JON: That way I can get through the race, finish that, get back to the resort and start my part day.

00:28:48.163 --> 00:28:50.343
JON: Because that's honestly, that's what it's all about.

00:28:50.343 --> 00:28:56.143
JON: So the 10K day, that day we're going to the Magic Kingdom afterwards.

00:28:56.143 --> 00:29:00.583
JON: So that way we can go and do all the rides and things that we want to do there.

00:29:00.583 --> 00:29:10.543
JON: Because the first night is just going to be, like I said, grabbing something to eat, just being, starting our trip off in the right way and just being in the magic and then catching the fireworks show.

00:29:10.543 --> 00:29:15.523
VIRGINIA: I didn't ask before, but what is the theme for Marathon Weekend this year?

00:29:15.523 --> 00:29:17.723
JON: It's the same every year.

00:29:17.723 --> 00:29:22.643
JON: One year it was like the 90s theme, but the characters and stuff are usually the same.

00:29:22.643 --> 00:29:25.563
JON: So the 5K has traditionally been Chippendale.

00:29:26.463 --> 00:29:29.503
JON: One year it was Oswald, which was pretty cool.

00:29:29.503 --> 00:29:31.743
JON: But every other year it's been Chippendale.

00:29:32.863 --> 00:29:36.303
JON: I'm sorry, the 10K is Chippendale.

00:29:36.303 --> 00:29:41.123
JON: The 5K is, I'll have to get back to you on that one.

00:29:41.123 --> 00:29:45.203
JON: But the half marathon is always Donald and Daisy.

00:29:45.203 --> 00:29:48.363
JON: And then the marathon is always Mickey and Minnie.

00:29:48.363 --> 00:29:53.303
JON: And then there's the thing called the Goofy Challenge, which is the half and the full.

00:29:53.303 --> 00:29:57.523
JON: So if you're just doing those two races, that's considered the Goofy Challenge.

00:29:57.523 --> 00:30:00.863
JON: And so you get an additional medal for that.

00:30:00.863 --> 00:30:05.663
JON: But if you're going to do that, I think you might as well just do all four of them and do the Dopey Challenge.

00:30:05.663 --> 00:30:09.363
JON: So then of course, Dopey is the challenge theme for that.

00:30:09.363 --> 00:30:13.223
VIRGINIA: So does this mean that you will walk away with six medals?

00:30:13.223 --> 00:30:14.423
JON: Six total, yes.

00:30:14.423 --> 00:30:17.063
JON: I mean, the 5K is Pluto.

00:30:17.063 --> 00:30:17.783
VIRGINIA: Okay.

00:30:17.783 --> 00:30:18.943
JON: Pluto is always the 5K.

00:30:18.943 --> 00:30:20.323
JON: The 10K is the one that's changed.

00:30:20.323 --> 00:30:23.523
JON: It was Oswald the first year I did it in 2022.

00:30:24.483 --> 00:30:27.543
JON: And it's been Chippendale ever since.

00:30:27.543 --> 00:30:28.143
VIRGINIA: Okay.

00:30:28.143 --> 00:30:29.783
VIRGINIA: So you're getting a medal for each of those.

00:30:29.783 --> 00:30:34.403
VIRGINIA: You're getting a goofy challenge medal and you're getting a dopey challenge medal.

00:30:34.403 --> 00:30:34.823
JON: Correct.

00:30:34.823 --> 00:30:41.343
JON: So you get six medals and six different race theme shirts that go with each race.

00:30:41.343 --> 00:30:43.003
VIRGINIA: Oh, I didn't even think about the shirts.

00:30:43.003 --> 00:30:43.723
JON: Yeah.

00:30:43.723 --> 00:30:47.623
JON: I got a whole closet full of RunDisney shirts.

00:30:47.623 --> 00:30:54.403
JON: And some of those race weekends that I go, try to pack just to carry on, I won't even take like changes of clothes.

00:30:54.403 --> 00:30:59.003
JON: I know I'll be getting three or four shirts while I'm there, you know, including with my registration fee.

00:30:59.003 --> 00:31:02.283
JON: So that's usually what I wear during my park days on those weekends.

00:31:02.283 --> 00:31:05.343
JON: But like I said, Marathon Weekend is different because of the weather.

00:31:05.343 --> 00:31:09.023
JON: And, you know, it's just so different this year, especially.

00:31:09.023 --> 00:31:12.343
VIRGINIA: What kind of DVC room are you staying at in Animal Kingdom?

00:31:12.343 --> 00:31:13.363
VIRGINIA: Is it a studio?

00:31:13.363 --> 00:31:14.183
JON: Studio, yeah.

00:31:14.183 --> 00:31:14.443
VIRGINIA: Okay.

00:31:14.463 --> 00:31:15.263
JON: It's just the base of it.

00:31:15.263 --> 00:31:22.223
JON: We did do Savannah View because we've gotten just their standard view in the past and tried to kind of sweet talk ourselves into an upgrade.

00:31:22.223 --> 00:31:24.343
JON: But sometimes that works and sometimes it doesn't.

00:31:24.343 --> 00:31:27.563
JON: So we wanted to make sure we had the Savannah View this time.

00:31:27.563 --> 00:31:31.483
VIRGINIA: Yeah, I was asking more so for the washer dryer purposes.

00:31:31.483 --> 00:31:32.003
VIRGINIA: Gotcha.

00:31:32.003 --> 00:31:32.743
JON: Gotcha.

00:31:32.743 --> 00:31:33.743
JON: Yeah.

00:31:33.743 --> 00:31:36.723
JON: We've never done laundry on property.

00:31:36.723 --> 00:31:41.203
JON: So we would just always pack more but probably smarter to do it that way.

00:31:41.203 --> 00:31:42.783
JON: But we've never done it.

00:31:43.303 --> 00:31:47.883
VIRGINIA: When you have access to it, it does make things easier because you don't have to pack as much.

00:31:47.883 --> 00:31:49.203
VIRGINIA: And I don't know.

00:31:49.203 --> 00:31:56.843
VIRGINIA: There's something kind of fun about doing something as mundane as laundry in Disney and just feeling like, oh, I live here.

00:31:56.843 --> 00:31:58.043
VIRGINIA: I'm doing my laundry.

00:31:58.043 --> 00:31:59.283
JON: Yeah, you're home.

00:31:59.283 --> 00:32:05.943
VIRGINIA: Typically, when I do my laundry at Disney, I will get a drink from whatever lounge is in the resort I'm in.

00:32:05.943 --> 00:32:06.583
VIRGINIA: There you go.

00:32:06.583 --> 00:32:16.503
VIRGINIA: Because if you're in a studio, you can access free laundry, but you have to go to the DVC laundry on the hall because you don't have one in your room.

00:32:16.503 --> 00:32:19.883
VIRGINIA: It's only the one bedrooms and higher that have it inside the room.

00:32:19.883 --> 00:32:26.743
JON: Yeah, we've only done the studio because when we rented points, it's been on race weekend, so it's only been the two of us.

00:32:26.743 --> 00:32:27.723
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:32:27.723 --> 00:32:29.623
VIRGINIA: Plenty of space for the two of you.

00:32:29.623 --> 00:32:30.603
JON: Oh, yes.

00:32:30.603 --> 00:32:31.063
VIRGINIA: All right.

00:32:31.063 --> 00:32:33.063
VIRGINIA: Saturday, January 11th.

00:32:33.063 --> 00:32:38.223
VIRGINIA: It's the morning of the half, so you and your wife will be running this day.

00:32:38.223 --> 00:32:38.783
JON: Yes.

00:32:38.783 --> 00:32:39.843
JON: We're getting up early.

00:32:39.923 --> 00:32:48.583
JON: Well, hopefully, we'll both be going to bed earlier on Friday night, and then we'll get up, make our way over to Epcot, and we'll knock the half out together.

00:32:48.583 --> 00:32:55.043
JON: Now, the corral assignments are random, so we've never been in the same corral before.

00:32:55.043 --> 00:33:03.103
JON: We may get lucky this year, I don't know, but we'll probably be separated that morning and then meet up again after the race, as ever with.

00:33:04.463 --> 00:33:07.083
VIRGINIA: What park will you be going to afterwards?

00:33:07.083 --> 00:33:08.643
JON: We're going to Hollywood Studios that day.

00:33:09.703 --> 00:33:14.323
JON: We'll go through and hit all our favorites once we recover.

00:33:14.323 --> 00:33:20.363
JON: We might get a little bit later to start that day because 13 miles is not a joke at all.

00:33:20.363 --> 00:33:21.963
VIRGINIA: No, it is not.

00:33:23.883 --> 00:33:28.103
JON: There may be a nap in our future after that race and then we'll get started a little bit later.

00:33:28.103 --> 00:33:37.683
JON: But I think with the, not FastPass, but with the Lightning Lanes, the way they are now, you can get a later start and you can still get done and get the things done that you want to do.

00:33:38.203 --> 00:33:40.363
VIRGINIA: The 5K goes through UPCOT.

00:33:40.363 --> 00:33:42.883
VIRGINIA: What parks does the 10K go through?

00:33:42.883 --> 00:33:46.023
JON: 10K is UPCOT and just some on the road.

00:33:46.023 --> 00:33:49.283
JON: So you don't really go through any other park on the 10K.

00:33:49.283 --> 00:33:53.363
JON: The half goes through Magic Kingdom and then part of UPCOT.

00:33:53.363 --> 00:33:56.223
JON: And then the Marathon goes through all four parks.

00:33:56.223 --> 00:33:56.843
VIRGINIA: Okay.

00:33:56.843 --> 00:33:57.523
VIRGINIA: All right.

00:33:57.523 --> 00:33:58.123
VIRGINIA: That's cool.

00:33:58.123 --> 00:34:03.043
VIRGINIA: I would love to go through all four parks, but I don't think I will ever be doing a Marathon.

00:34:03.043 --> 00:34:03.503
JON: You can do it.

00:34:05.343 --> 00:34:07.283
VIRGINIA: No.

00:34:07.283 --> 00:34:09.723
VIRGINIA: I'm just an ordinary person, Jon.

00:34:09.723 --> 00:34:12.403
VIRGINIA: So am I.

00:34:12.403 --> 00:34:15.283
VIRGINIA: The 5K is a big enough challenge for me.

00:34:15.283 --> 00:34:16.163
JON: You're going to get hooked.

00:34:16.163 --> 00:34:17.743
JON: I'm telling you, you're going to get hooked.

00:34:17.743 --> 00:34:21.263
VIRGINIA: I mean, I've done 5Ks before, so I'm not worried about the distance.

00:34:21.263 --> 00:34:25.563
VIRGINIA: I typically will walk and run like a combination of them.

00:34:25.563 --> 00:34:28.823
VIRGINIA: And I just did one last June, so I'm not really worried about that.

00:34:28.823 --> 00:34:32.143
VIRGINIA: But I mean, I'm not somebody who runs.

00:34:33.103 --> 00:34:35.503
VIRGINIA: I'm not even somebody who works out consistently.

00:34:35.503 --> 00:34:38.883
VIRGINIA: I do a ton of walking, obviously, because I live in New York City.

00:34:38.883 --> 00:34:40.443
VIRGINIA: And I do a lot of stairs.

00:34:41.563 --> 00:34:43.183
JON: That's half the battle right there.

00:34:43.183 --> 00:34:45.523
JON: But that's the good thing about Disney.

00:34:45.523 --> 00:34:46.803
JON: You can go do a Disney race.

00:34:46.803 --> 00:34:48.783
JON: It's so low pressure.

00:34:48.783 --> 00:34:50.923
JON: Like you said, there's people taking pictures of characters.

00:34:50.923 --> 00:34:52.763
JON: They're riding rides in the middle of these races.

00:34:52.763 --> 00:35:00.003
JON: So there are the serious ones, the serious runners who are out there to set records and try to beat their personal best.

00:35:00.123 --> 00:35:03.883
JON: But it's definitely one you can go and just go at your own pace.

00:35:03.883 --> 00:35:06.623
JON: No judgments from anybody.

00:35:06.623 --> 00:35:08.183
JON: I've seen people walk the entire thing.

00:35:08.183 --> 00:35:11.423
JON: I mean, it's so low pressure, but it's so much fun.

00:35:11.423 --> 00:35:12.443
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:35:12.443 --> 00:35:12.763
VIRGINIA: All right.

00:35:12.763 --> 00:35:16.703
VIRGINIA: So that brings us to Sunday, January 12th, which is the full marathon day.

00:35:16.703 --> 00:35:17.903
JON: Oh, yes.

00:35:17.903 --> 00:35:19.943
JON: So that one actually starts earlier.

00:35:19.943 --> 00:35:22.223
JON: So all the other races start at 5 a.m.

00:35:22.223 --> 00:35:25.783
JON: They changed the marathon start time this year to 430 a.m.

00:35:25.783 --> 00:35:30.543
JON: I guess to try to get people off of the course and out of the parks a little sooner.

00:35:30.543 --> 00:35:36.503
JON: Because, you know, it's a six, five to six, sometimes seven hour race, I guess, depending on your pace and when you start.

00:35:36.503 --> 00:35:41.543
JON: So it goes well into park opening.

00:35:41.543 --> 00:35:47.403
JON: The other races traditionally be over by the time park opens, except for maybe the half.

00:35:47.403 --> 00:35:48.803
JON: But this one is going on.

00:35:48.803 --> 00:35:50.623
JON: It kind of dominates the park.

00:35:50.623 --> 00:36:01.243
JON: So if you're in, I wouldn't go to Epcot if I was a non-runner on that Sunday, because there's going to be a pathways are going to be closed or there's going to be delays and that type of thing.

00:36:01.243 --> 00:36:05.923
VIRGINIA: So what's the order of the parks for Marathon Marathon?

00:36:05.923 --> 00:36:10.183
JON: It's you start out every every race starts in the Epcot parking lot.

00:36:10.183 --> 00:36:15.623
JON: And you go out on the road and then you come in and usually run around World Showcase.

00:36:15.663 --> 00:36:19.803
JON: And then you go out the back of Epcot, get on the road and go to Magic Kingdom.

00:36:19.803 --> 00:36:28.223
JON: And then you go to Hollywood Studios and then Animal Kingdom is the I think it's the last stop or it may be Animal Kingdom and then Hollywood Studios.

00:36:28.323 --> 00:36:30.363
JON: It does change from from year to year.

00:36:30.363 --> 00:36:35.863
JON: They usually put the course maps out a few weeks ahead of time.

00:36:35.863 --> 00:36:37.383
JON: And you can kind of gauge it.

00:36:37.383 --> 00:36:41.583
JON: But I look at it, but I don't really put that much stock into it because I just follow the crowd.

00:36:42.243 --> 00:36:43.123
JON: I don't really matter.

00:36:43.123 --> 00:36:45.423
JON: Yeah, like, I don't know.

00:36:45.423 --> 00:36:50.303
VIRGINIA: So yeah, I'm just thinking about the people who will be there who are not racing.

00:36:50.303 --> 00:36:55.883
VIRGINIA: Whatever the last park is, is probably the one that would impact their park days the most.

00:36:55.883 --> 00:36:56.403
JON: Yeah.

00:36:56.403 --> 00:36:57.863
JON: And it all finishes in Epcot.

00:36:57.863 --> 00:37:01.063
JON: So you always you come through Epcot at the end.

00:37:01.063 --> 00:37:03.943
JON: So that's the one that's that's always crazy.

00:37:03.943 --> 00:37:10.403
JON: I made the mistake of I think it was last year of once we finished, went back into Epcot and it was just a nightmare.

00:37:10.483 --> 00:37:12.523
JON: So we ended up just leaving and go back to the resort.

00:37:12.523 --> 00:37:21.203
JON: But it was so crazy with all the people and all the spectators and then the traffic jams that it causes because the pathways are blocked, a lot of them.

00:37:21.203 --> 00:37:24.663
VIRGINIA: So which park are you going to after the full marathon?

00:37:24.663 --> 00:37:29.723
JON: So after that one, we're going back to the Magic Kingdom, basically just for pictures.

00:37:29.723 --> 00:37:34.483
JON: You have to get pictures with all your medals after you do an accomplishment like that.

00:37:34.483 --> 00:37:38.543
JON: So we'll go back and try to catch the fireworks that night as well.

00:37:38.703 --> 00:37:45.603
JON: And that's the one where we'll get a very late start because you have to have a rest after that.

00:37:45.603 --> 00:37:53.483
JON: And I've got some ice packs that I always put on my knees for a couple of hours, and a nap, and I should be good to go.

00:37:53.483 --> 00:37:56.703
JON: I might be moving slow, but I'll be okay.

00:37:56.703 --> 00:38:00.963
VIRGINIA: So what time would you anticipate getting into the park that day?

00:38:00.963 --> 00:38:06.143
JON: It'll probably be, I'll usually have finished up around noon or so, I guess you would say.

00:38:06.783 --> 00:38:08.983
JON: So probably two or three o'clock, maybe.

00:38:08.983 --> 00:38:10.003
JON: No rush at all.

00:38:10.003 --> 00:38:13.863
JON: It'll be a very short park day.

00:38:13.863 --> 00:38:25.783
JON: We'll go in and you think you'll be so hungry, you're about to, especially eating so early the night before, but running that kind of a distance, at least for me, it just kind of messes up my whole system.

00:38:25.783 --> 00:38:27.103
JON: It doesn't know what to think.

00:38:27.103 --> 00:38:29.603
JON: So sometimes I'm not even really hungry.

00:38:29.603 --> 00:38:30.603
JON: It's just kind of weird.

00:38:30.603 --> 00:38:32.923
JON: During the race, I'm sitting here, I'm craving different things.

00:38:33.063 --> 00:38:34.163
JON: I can't wait.

00:38:34.163 --> 00:38:36.323
JON: But then once you're done, you're just really thirsty.

00:38:36.323 --> 00:38:42.343
JON: I'm always just want something to drink, and then by that evening around 7 o'clock, I'll eat something.

00:38:42.963 --> 00:38:46.503
JON: Then that's why we always did the breakfast the next morning on Monday because of that.

00:38:46.503 --> 00:38:46.963
JON: Okay.

00:38:46.963 --> 00:38:47.683
JON: It's kicked in.

00:38:47.683 --> 00:38:53.063
JON: I've burnt 3,500 calories the day before, so I'm ready to eat something.

00:38:53.063 --> 00:38:56.603
JON: But yeah, we'll just do a quick service that night.

00:38:56.823 --> 00:38:59.803
JON: We'll probably do Columbia Harbor House.

00:38:59.803 --> 00:39:07.003
JON: Maybe we may do a different option, but I think that's kind of my go-to in the Magic Kingdom right now.

00:39:07.003 --> 00:39:08.123
VIRGINIA: Okay.

00:39:08.123 --> 00:39:13.483
VIRGINIA: And Monday, January 13th, your flight is not until 6, so you have some time to play with.

00:39:13.483 --> 00:39:15.143
JON: Yes, we do.

00:39:15.143 --> 00:39:16.663
JON: We're going to go to Epcot that day.

00:39:16.663 --> 00:39:19.803
JON: And I haven't decided exactly what we're going to do.

00:39:19.863 --> 00:39:29.623
JON: If we can check our bags for free, at Animal Kingdom Lodge Bell Services, but then we'd have to leave Epcot to come back there to get our bags before leaving to the airport.

00:39:29.623 --> 00:39:37.063
JON: So we may take all of our baggage to Epcot, and they will store them there for $10 for bag.

00:39:37.063 --> 00:39:41.803
JON: At the place where you can get strollers and scooters and everything, you can store your bags there.

00:39:41.803 --> 00:39:43.103
JON: So we may end up doing that option.

00:39:43.103 --> 00:39:46.043
JON: That way we can maximize our part-time.

00:39:46.043 --> 00:39:51.963
JON: Because if not, we'd have to leave an hour earlier to get back to Animal Kingdom and then Uber back to the airport from there.

00:39:51.963 --> 00:39:55.483
JON: So that may be what we end up doing.

00:39:55.483 --> 00:39:57.783
VIRGINIA: Well, that can be a game time decision, I'm sure.

00:39:57.783 --> 00:39:58.283
JON: Yes.

00:39:58.283 --> 00:40:00.163
JON: Yes, it will.

00:40:00.163 --> 00:40:07.303
VIRGINIA: With the weather being what it's going to be, I have heard about people wearing their layers.

00:40:07.303 --> 00:40:14.923
VIRGINIA: Because when you get to the park that early, it's obviously going to be very chilly because it's going to be a chillier day anyway.

00:40:16.943 --> 00:40:22.703
VIRGINIA: Do you buy something to wear in the morning that you're okay throwing away?

00:40:22.703 --> 00:40:25.043
JON: Yes, I've done that in the past.

00:40:25.063 --> 00:40:32.683
JON: Or I'll get something from my closet that I haven't worn in a year or something, and something I'm okay to get rid of.

00:40:32.683 --> 00:40:43.103
JON: The good thing is they don't get away, so they come along and pick all that stuff up, and I'm pretty sure that they donate those to something in the Orlando area, like homeless shelter or something.

00:40:43.623 --> 00:40:44.503
JON: At least that's what I've heard.

00:40:44.623 --> 00:40:46.103
JON: So I think that's a good thing.

00:40:46.103 --> 00:40:49.403
JON: But this year we went to Walmart, and we got a few items.

00:40:49.403 --> 00:40:53.103
JON: They had some blankets, fleece blankets on sale for like $250.

00:40:53.103 --> 00:41:04.823
JON: So we got a fleece blanket, one for each morning, and that'll be good to wrap up, because it's one thing to run in that weather, but it's another thing just to sit in the parking lot in the corral for two hours in that type of weather.

00:41:04.823 --> 00:41:06.883
JON: The good thing is you'll be surrounded by people.

00:41:06.883 --> 00:41:11.243
JON: So even if it's windy, you should be shielded from that for the most part.

00:41:11.243 --> 00:41:14.743
JON: But it's still just sitting there, and it gets pretty cold.

00:41:15.083 --> 00:41:20.023
JON: It's gotten cold in the past, and this is going to be the coldest race weekend that I've experienced.

00:41:20.023 --> 00:41:20.563
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:41:20.563 --> 00:41:21.363
VIRGINIA: Okay.

00:41:21.363 --> 00:41:22.743
VIRGINIA: It's another thing to add to my list.

00:41:22.743 --> 00:41:25.683
VIRGINIA: I wasn't even thinking about that until talking to you.

00:41:25.683 --> 00:41:25.963
JON: Yeah.

00:41:25.963 --> 00:41:30.663
JON: If you don't want to deal with the cold, you got to do springtime surprise.

00:41:30.663 --> 00:41:34.083
JON: There's princesses in February and winedons in November.

00:41:34.083 --> 00:41:40.683
JON: Those are usually pretty safe, but if you do springtime surprise, you're 100 percent, you're going to be good.

00:41:41.643 --> 00:41:44.343
JON: You're going to get those warm mornings.

00:41:44.343 --> 00:41:47.063
JON: But in marathon weekend, it's hit and miss.

00:41:47.063 --> 00:42:00.963
JON: We've had mornings where I've worn shorts and a t-shirt type to run in, and then I've had a ski mask on with a hoodie that I've run in, and then shed it and throw it off as the race goes on.

00:42:00.963 --> 00:42:02.903
JON: But you do what you got to do.

00:42:02.903 --> 00:42:03.783
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:42:04.323 --> 00:42:06.823
VIRGINIA: They really don't care where you throw it?

00:42:07.283 --> 00:42:07.503
JON: No.

00:42:07.503 --> 00:42:11.783
JON: Normally, it's right before the race starts or that first mile.

00:42:11.783 --> 00:42:21.123
JON: After that, you don't see a whole lot of people shedding their clothes because really just, like I said, sitting in the crown, you're not able to move and get the blood flowing.

00:42:21.123 --> 00:42:23.163
JON: Once you get going, you're good to go.

00:42:23.163 --> 00:42:23.823
VIRGINIA: Okay.

00:42:23.823 --> 00:42:24.803
VIRGINIA: All right.

00:42:25.303 --> 00:42:28.823
VIRGINIA: For your park time, you mentioned multi-pass earlier.

00:42:28.823 --> 00:42:31.763
VIRGINIA: Are you going to get multi-pass every day?

00:42:31.763 --> 00:42:32.803
JON: Probably not every day.

00:42:32.803 --> 00:42:38.863
JON: I know not the first day for sure because we won't be there just for a couple of hours, but probably for the other days.

00:42:38.863 --> 00:42:41.223
JON: Yeah, we won't do the...

00:42:41.223 --> 00:42:41.923
JON: I can't even remember.

00:42:41.923 --> 00:42:42.923
JON: They've changed it so much.

00:42:43.183 --> 00:42:46.743
JON: We won't do the one where we have a fast pass for every ride that we want.

00:42:46.743 --> 00:42:53.563
JON: We won't do that one, but we'll do probably the multi-pass, like you said, where you have to go on the app and select your return.

00:42:53.563 --> 00:42:54.263
VIRGINIA: Oh, yeah.

00:42:54.263 --> 00:42:55.103
VIRGINIA: No.

00:42:55.103 --> 00:43:01.883
VIRGINIA: I wasn't even asking about the one where you can do all of the rides because you might as well do a VIP tour at that point.

00:43:01.883 --> 00:43:02.563
JON: Exactly.

00:43:02.843 --> 00:43:04.223
JON: It's outrageous.

00:43:04.363 --> 00:43:08.263
JON: I guess some people can do it, but more power to them, but no, I just can't.

00:43:08.263 --> 00:43:09.763
JON: That's hard to justify that.

00:43:10.023 --> 00:43:17.023
VIRGINIA: I've been saying for years that I wanted something like that and that I was willing to pay more money for it because I like that service at Universal.

00:43:17.023 --> 00:43:21.423
VIRGINIA: But when they came out with the price, I was like, I cannot justify that.

00:43:21.523 --> 00:43:28.883
VIRGINIA: At Universal, at least when you stay in one of their deluxe resorts, you get it included with your room.

00:43:28.883 --> 00:43:32.503
VIRGINIA: That's how I've justified it over there because it's pretty expensive over there.

00:43:32.503 --> 00:43:33.783
VIRGINIA: It's a couple of hundred dollars a person.

00:43:34.363 --> 00:43:41.463
VIRGINIA: But if you book one night at one of their deluxe resorts, you get the benefit on your check-in day and your checkout day.

00:43:41.463 --> 00:43:42.343
VIRGINIA: That's what I just do.

00:43:42.343 --> 00:43:47.643
VIRGINIA: I book one night in a deluxe resort and just knock everything out I want to do there.

00:43:47.743 --> 00:43:50.923
VIRGINIA: So for years, I was like, I wish Disney would do that and they did it.

00:43:50.963 --> 00:43:53.703
VIRGINIA: I was like, you didn't do it right.

00:43:53.703 --> 00:43:54.823
JON: You had to do it your own way.

00:43:56.023 --> 00:43:57.263
JON: Those prices are outrageous.

00:43:57.263 --> 00:44:02.763
JON: I never dreamed it would be that expensive, but they still say that people do it.

00:44:02.863 --> 00:44:05.283
JON: So I guess, like I said, more power to them.

00:44:05.483 --> 00:44:09.783
JON: I'll stick with my multi-pass and I'm perfectly content with that.

00:44:09.783 --> 00:44:14.123
VIRGINIA: So with the multi-pass, you are able to book a week in advance.

00:44:14.123 --> 00:44:18.663
VIRGINIA: So have you booked some rides in advance already at this point?

00:44:18.663 --> 00:44:19.363
JON: I have not.

00:44:19.363 --> 00:44:20.023
JON: I need to get on there.

00:44:20.023 --> 00:44:21.563
JON: I might do that tonight actually.

00:44:21.563 --> 00:44:23.263
JON: So I've been slack.

00:44:23.363 --> 00:44:24.043
JON: I've been slack.

00:44:24.043 --> 00:44:26.763
JON: It snuck up on me with the Christmas and everything.

00:44:26.763 --> 00:44:28.523
JON: It's just been chaos.

00:44:28.863 --> 00:44:30.503
VIRGINIA: That year has been crazy.

00:44:30.503 --> 00:44:31.723
JON: It has been.

00:44:31.723 --> 00:44:36.143
JON: But yeah, I definitely will do that prior to, but I guess I'm very good on it.

00:44:36.163 --> 00:44:37.463
VIRGINIA: Okay.

00:44:37.463 --> 00:44:37.803
VIRGINIA: All right.

00:44:37.803 --> 00:44:41.143
VIRGINIA: Anything else about the trip you want to share?

00:44:41.143 --> 00:44:42.183
JON: Not what I could think of.

00:44:42.443 --> 00:44:43.483
JON: I'm excited to go.

00:44:43.483 --> 00:44:46.343
JON: Like I said, it's different this year.

00:44:46.343 --> 00:44:47.763
JON: It's going to be a lot cooler.

00:44:47.763 --> 00:44:50.083
JON: So that's going to be something different to experience.

00:44:50.083 --> 00:44:59.943
JON: And after last year's half marathon fiasco, I'm looking forward to that going off smoothly so that my wife has a good experience with that.

00:44:59.943 --> 00:45:03.723
JON: Because I feel like I got kind of taken away from her last year.

00:45:03.723 --> 00:45:07.723
JON: You know, I don't want to sound ungrateful because we still got to go and enjoy our time.

00:45:07.723 --> 00:45:14.803
JON: But you know, you train all this time and then the race that you're going to do that you've trained for gets cut in half and it's just kind of a letdown.

00:45:14.803 --> 00:45:22.843
JON: So looking forward to that and letting her be able to complete that and get that sense of accomplishment for all the hard work that she's put in for it.

00:45:23.143 --> 00:45:23.683
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:45:23.683 --> 00:45:24.323
VIRGINIA: All right.

00:45:24.323 --> 00:45:27.343
VIRGINIA: Well, I wish you smooth travels.

00:45:27.343 --> 00:45:32.803
VIRGINIA: I wish you good weather and I wish you personal bests on all your races.

00:45:32.803 --> 00:45:33.183
JON: All right.

00:45:33.183 --> 00:45:33.563
JON: Appreciate it.

00:45:33.563 --> 00:45:34.243
JON: I'll take that.

00:45:34.243 --> 00:45:37.483
JON: I'm not, no guarantees, but I'll definitely draw my best.

00:45:37.483 --> 00:45:39.043
VIRGINIA: I think you did that last year though.

00:45:39.043 --> 00:45:39.683
JON: I think I did.

00:45:39.683 --> 00:45:40.223
JON: I did.

00:45:41.103 --> 00:45:47.263
JON: I just get, I don't know, I got motivated once I got down there and just, I always tell myself, I'm just going to take it easy.

00:45:47.263 --> 00:45:49.903
JON: I don't care if it takes me an hour over long.

00:45:49.903 --> 00:45:55.823
JON: But then I guess the competitive juices kick in and when the race starts, it's just a different story, but we'll see.

00:45:55.823 --> 00:45:56.623
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:45:56.623 --> 00:46:00.503
JON: The cold weather may prevent me from doing that this year.

00:46:00.503 --> 00:46:01.063
VIRGINIA: All right.

00:46:01.063 --> 00:46:04.623
VIRGINIA: Well, I wish you all the best and I will talk to you when you get back.

00:46:04.623 --> 00:46:05.023
JON: All right.

00:46:05.023 --> 00:46:05.423
ALEX: Sounds good.

00:46:05.423 --> 00:46:07.503
JON: Thank you.

00:46:07.503 --> 00:46:10.223
ALEX: Thank you again to Jon for being on the show.

00:46:10.223 --> 00:46:12.783
ALEX: Jon's post-trip episode is out and ready for you now.

00:46:12.783 --> 00:46:15.183
ALEX: Make sure that's up next in your podcast queue.

00:46:15.183 --> 00:46:23.563
ALEX: If you're interested in being a trip report guest, you can find that link in the show notes or by visiting the website, which is again, whereilongtobepodcast.com.

00:46:23.563 --> 00:46:26.643
ALEX: The sooner you submit, the better chance you'll have of being selected.

00:46:26.643 --> 00:46:28.843
ALEX: It's a lot of fun and my mom makes it easy for you.

00:46:28.843 --> 00:46:30.163
ALEX: So what are you waiting for?

00:46:30.163 --> 00:46:33.043
ALEX: You know, just submit yourself to be a guest like today.

00:46:33.043 --> 00:46:34.083
ALEX: That's all for now.

00:46:34.083 --> 00:46:38.423
ALEX: Have a great week and please don't forget to keep daydreaming about where you long to be.