Category Archives: when you wish upon a star

pretend I’ve blogged

So, pretend that I’ve blogged about my half-marathon training experience.

Pretend I blogged in April about how I was thinking of trying the new Wine & Dine Half Marathon at Disney even though I could only run 2 1/2 miles without stopping to walk.

Pretend I blogged about looking at ~2348 half-marathon training plans and finally putting together my own to run 4 days/week and gradually increase my distance to run 12 miles prior to the race.

Pretend I blogged about running a 10 minute mile at my max effort in May.

Pretend I blogged about getting up at 5:30 AM almost every Sunday morning this summer to get my long run done before the temperatures climbed into the 90′s.

Pretend I blogged about my running skirt and how much I love it.

Pretend I blogged about gu’s, bars, and the differences in Powerade vs. Gatorade.

Pretend I blogged about running a 9 minute mile at my max effort in August.

Pretend I blogged about booking yet another DisneyWorld vacation.

Pretend I blogged about the ~650 miles run, the ~15 pounds lost, and the ~2-3 clothing sizes dropped this summer.

Just pretend I actually typed up all those blog posts I wrote in my head during the 75 or so hours I’ve spent running in the past six months, okay?


cold & rainy Disneyworld is better than no Disneyworld, right?

Thanks to some Delta vouchers and unused DVC points, we planned a surprise trip for our boys over President’s Day weekend. They were supposed to be out of school on Friday & Monday and we planned to put them in the car straight from the school bus and head to the airport without telling them where we were headed. Then we had snow & ice storms in January and Friday’s day off from school was suddenly a school day again. Not just any school day, but VALENTINE PARTY DAY.

We already had flights booked & rooms reserved, so we became “those parents”. You know, the ones who take their kids out of school for travel. Off we headed to the airport. As we turned in with boys asking “where are we going? what are we doing?”, Thing One burst into tears. “I hope we’re not going to DISNEYWORLD!!!. I don’t want to miss my VALENTINE PARTY!!!”. Not exactly the way I had envisioned this going…

After a long cheerleader filled ordeal on Magical Express, we finally made it to our savanna view studio in Jambo House at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge and pretty much went straight to bed. It wasn’t until the next morning they got to see the wonderland outside our window.

We bundled up to face the wind & cold for some time at the parks. Eventually, Thing One overcame his horror at missing out on valentine cards and candy.

I also took a moment to re-stage some Toontown shots first taken in 2005 when they were not-quite-two-years-old. I’m not sure what Toontown will look like on out next visit.


The Ultimate Magic Kingdom Touring Plan, part two

Finally I have time to sit down and put this all together!

We did complete the Ultimate Magic Kingdom Touring Plan. It took 14 hours and 15 minutes. We would NOT have seen every attraction if it had not been an Extra Magic Hours evening, but we likely would have not needed the extra time if it had been an Extra Magic Hours morning. Having completed this once, I’d like to try it again to see if I can match or beat the record, but I would definitely only try it on a morning EMH day in a very low crowd situation. I’d also visit the MK a day or two in advance for a bit of research ahead of time.

I think the key to getting this done in record time is entering Fantasyland at 8 AM on EMH morning and seeing all available Fantasyland & Tomorrowland attractions plus Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain RailRoad before Toontown opens at 10 AM.

Overall, I felt like we did a lot of running back and forth across the park, more than I would normally do if I wasn’t trying to follow the plan. If I was doing this on my own, I’d do Dumbo, Peter Pan, EMH Tomorrowland attractions, remaining EMH Fantasyland attractions, then be at rope drop near Haunted Mansion at 9 am for SM & BTMRR. I’d come back to finish up any remaining Fantasyland attractions, then be at 10 am rope drop for Toontown before starting on the shows and parades and using fastpass as much as possible for everything else in Frontierland and Adventureland.

We followed the plan for a while, but by the afternoon, the plan became more of a checklist than a touring plan. We did see all shows, parades, and fireworks from beginning to end. We may have been eating or plotting our next move during the show, but we did witness all of each one.

Here’s how it all went down.

Continue reading


Success!

Despite my iPhone dying, we had a successful day. In 14 hours and 15 minutes, we saw almost every attraction. We missed Space Mountain and the Tomorrowland Arcade because they are closed. We missed the Main Street Vehicles since they stop at noon and the Barnstormer went 101 as we were touring Toontown. I do have photos and notes to update the blog later.


8:45am here we go

We’re here, ready to begin the Ultimate Magic Kingdom Touring Plan


arrived!

Plane landed 3:45pm, no line for Disney’s Magical Express. Even with a quick potty stop, I’m on a bus headed for All Star Music at 4:08pm.

ETA: bus actually leaving MCO at 4:25pm


busted!

I got busted by two five-year-olds this morning. All along, my WDW trip has been billed as a “visit to Aunt T in Florida”. Aunt T is my friend from when we lived in Florida and I will be visiting with her, just not at her house.

Thing One finally put it together this morning and asked if I was going to Disneyworld. Mommy had to ‘fess up that yes, I was going to WDW and I hoped to take him again soon. They both took it pretty well, and makes me think that I’ll definitely make our February trip a complete suprise.

I’m boarding soon…


The Ultimate Magic Kingdom Touring Plan

A recent episode of the WDW Today Podcast piqued my interest in the Ultimate Magic Kingdom Touring Plan.  I’m a big fan of Matt, Mike, Mike, & Len, the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World and www.touringplans.com.

So, here’s the scoop on the Ultimate Magic Kingdom Touring Plan.  I’m leaving in two days for a quick girls’ trip to WDW and of course, the 14th annual International Food and Wine Festival at Epcot is the focus of our trip.  I first experienced the Food & Wine Festival in 1998 when I was there for the Walt Disney World College Program and have been every year since except 2003 when I was seven months pregnant with Thing One & Thing Two and 2004 when we had just moved from South Florida to Kentucky and Thing One & Thing Two were less than a year old.  But we can’t spend four days just at Food & Wine Festival, so the Ultimate Magic Kingdom Touring Plan will be a good diversion for E & I, both Disney “Level Five’s” (to quote another podcast), for next Monday, November 2.  E is also a mom of twin boys (+ another boy), so she’s every bit as crazy as I am!

We’re at a bit of a disadvantage since Monday is an extra magic hours evening at the Magic Kingdom and conventional wisdom says that is typically a more crowded day at the MK, but it’s the day that works for us.  We hope to be joined mid-day by another friend, T, who is a Florida native and also a Disney Level Five.

Here’s the plan with my notes.  Space Mountain is closed and a new show has been added since the plan was originally written, the Jack Sparrow Pirate Tutorial.

We both have iPhones and will try out the free Disney World Wait Times app.

If all goes well, we’ll be posting pictures here to the blog as we go along and also tweeting at stateofchaos

Ultimate Magic Kingdom Touring Plan
Standard Version
Used by J & E & T on Monday, November 2, 2009 (evening extra magic hour day)

Park opens 9 am
Disney’s Celebrate A Dream Come True Parade 3 pm
SpectroMagic Parade 7 pm
Wishes™ nighttime spectacular  8 pm

Have at least two dollars in quarters (for games) before starting the touring plan.

If any other attractions are closed during your attempt, note those attractions here, and skip those steps in the plan.

                a.  Space Mountain

Show Schedule

        Captain Jack Sparrow’s Pirate Tutorial
                Daily at 10:15 & 11:20am, 12:25, 2:15, 3:20 & 4:25pm

        Dream Along With Mickey @ Castle Forecourt
                Daily at 10:35 & 11:40am, 1:15, 2:15, 4:15 & 5:15pm

        Storytime with Belle
                Daily at 9:55 & 10:55am, 12:00, 2:35, 3:45 & 5:00pm

        Move it, Shake it, Celebrate it Street Party
                Daily at 11:00am, 12:30 & 5:40pm

1 Arrive at the Magic Kingdom at least 30 minutes prior to official opening.
2 Ride Dumbo the Flying Elephant in Fantasyland.
3 Ride Astro Orbiter in Tomorrowland.
4 Obtain a FASTPASS for Space Mountain.
21 Obtain a FASTPASS for Buzz Lightyear in Tomorrowland.
5 Ride the Tomorrowland Speedway in Tomorrowland
6 Ride The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh in Fantasyland.
7 Quickly tour the Hundred Acre Wood opposite the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.
8 Ride Peter Pan’s Flight.
9 Ride It’s a Small World.
10 See Snow White’s Adventure.
11 See Mickey’s PhilharMagic.
12 Ride The Mad Tea Party.
13 Ride Splash Mountain in Frontierland.
14 Ride Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
Toontown opens 10 AM
15 Ride the Barnstormer in Toontown.
16 Tour the Toontown Hall of Fame.  You must get one character autograph, and it can be from the character with the shortest wait.  Princesses usually have the longest waits, so avoid that line.
17 Tour Mickey’s Country House
18 Tour Minnie’s Country House
19 Tour Donald’s Boat.
20 Ride Space Mountain in Tomorrowland.
21 Obtain a FASTPASS for Buzz Lightyear if not already done.
22 Enjoy Cinderella’s Carousel in Fantasyland
23 Walk through Ariel’s Grotto in Fantasyland.  You do not need to meet Ariel.  opens 10 AM ?
24 See The Haunted Mansion in Liberty Square.
25 Ride Pirates of the Caribbean.
26 Ride one of the Main Street vehicles.
27 Tour Tom Sawyer Island in Frontierland. See the fort and mill.  You must spend at least 15 minutes on the island.
28 Tour Fort Langhorn on Tom Sawyer Island.
29 Ride the WDW Railroad – Frontierland.  Take the round-trip ride.
30 Obtain a FASTPASS for Jungle Cruise, then see Enchanted Tiki Birds.
31 Ride the Magic Carpets of Aladdin.
32 Explore the Swiss Family Treehouse.
   You may want to switch the next two attractions depending on which is available first
33 Experience the Liberty Belle Riverboat.
34 Experience The Hall of Presidents.
35 See the afternoon parade.  You must watch the entire parade.  3 PM.
36 Ride Buzz Lightyear in Tomorrowland.
37 See the Country Bear Jamboree.
38 Experience the character greeting at the Diamond Horseshoe Saloon Revue.
39 Experience the Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade.  Each game costs $1.
40 Experience Tomorrowland Transit Authority.
41 Play one game in the Tomorrowland Arcade near the exit to Space Mountain.  Find the fastest game to play.
42 See Storytime with Belle (Fairytale Garden) 9:55 & 10:55am, 12:00, 2:35, 3:45 & 5:00pm 
43 See Dream Along with Mickey at the Castle Forecourt.  Daily at 10:35 & 11:40am, 1:15, 2:15, 4:15 & 5:15pm
44 See Flag Retreat scheduled for 5 PM.
45 If the Carousel of Progress is operating, see that.
46 See Stitch’s Great Escape – use FASTPASS if necessary
47 See the Monsters Inc Laugh Floor Comedy Club in Tomorrowland
48 Experience some interactive feature in the Exposition Hall on Main Street.  For example, take a picture of yourself in one of the cut-out scenes in the back of the hall.  Or watch one entire cartoon in the theater.
49 See the evening parade 7 PM.
50 Ride the Jungle Cruise.
51 Experience Shrunken Ned’s Junior Jungle Boats – one game.
52 See the evening fireworks 8 PM.

=====================================
= Some basic rules for all attempts =
=====================================
1) The ticket media used for admission must be available to the general public at the entrance to the
   Magic Kingdom.  No VIP “front-of-the-line” passes, “Unlimited FASTPASS” or other special perks may be used.
   Exception: Extra Magic Hours are permitted.

2) You must obtain your own food, drinks and FASTPASSes.  No assistance with these items is allowed.

3) Using “spotters” in the park to relay instructions or wait times is prohibited. 

4) Only one Main Street Vehicle need be experienced.

5) Complete viewing of the afternoon and evening parade is required.

6) Live shows are included in the Ultimate Plan.

7) The following arcade attractions are included in the Ultimate Plan:
        Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade
        Shrunken Ned’s Junior Jungle Boats


what will you celebrate?

We still haven’t decided if we’ll be taking a trip to DisneyWorld this year. I’ve been in October for 4 years running now, the family didn’t go in 2007, I went with a friend instead. Our DVC dues statement is on the counter, waiting to be paid and we have points that need to be used or banked.

The 2009 celebration is tempting though. With the “what will you celebrate” promotion, you can get in free on your birthday. Since the boys have the same birthday, this could work out well for us. If we used tickets we already have, they could get a gift card to spend on souvenirs instead. Unfortunately, their birthday will be on Thanksgiving Day this year and that’s not a time I want to be at WDW. Too crowded and way too many DVC points need for a stay.

Here’s video of the guy who was the first to get free admission this year.


Disney’s newest celebration

Just got word of Disney’s newest celebration.

Full scoop here!


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