I thought I’d take this Throwback Thursday to go back through Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend in Pictures. The following represents only a small portion of the total pictures taken while on this LEGENDARY week! Hopefully, it will you all a hint of my experience before I get to typing the actual recaps for next week.
Tuesday, January 7
Half way to Orlando! Virgin America is a great airline to fly with!
We’re here! Our first “ride” of the trip was on the “monorail” at the Orlando Airport.
My favorite store at the Orlando Airport.
Time to take the Magic Express off to Walt Disney World!
Loved the sun set we got to watch on our way to Walt Disney World.
All Star Sports! We didn’t stay in this wing. However, I loved the football wing.
Wednesday, January 8
Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend Expo Day at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex!
The free instagram photo…
Love the sign at the New Balance booth!
Waited 2 hours in line to get a reservation number. Then, waited another 5 1/2 hours at the Expo for our reservation number to be called. However, I was able to purchase the Sorcerer Mickey Mouse runDisney New Balance Shoes!
While waiting, got this drawn for free!
The Boardwalk Area is so nice!
Thursday, January 9
Started the day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Met Mickey and told him how excited I was to be running in his race!
Got Inspired
Finally made it to Toy Story Midway Mania at Disney’s Hollywood Studios! I love this attraction at Disney’s California Adventure and loved it at Disney’s Hollywood Studios as well. The queue line is amazing!
Spent the evening at EPCOT.
Friday, January 10
Brooke and I were up before the sun to run in the Inaugural Walt Disney World 10K race!
After the race, we got to tell Minnie Mouse how much we loved running her race at the Cape May Cafe character breakfast!
In the afternoon, we took off for Universal Studios Orlando.
We visited the Universal Islands of Adventure first to check out the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Of course, we had to sample Butter Beer. All I can say is that Butter Beer is AMAZING!
We saw the Minions at Universal Studios Orlando…
and learned how we can become one of them.
We also ran into Optimus Prime. It was a fun-filled 2 theme park day!
Saturday, January 11
After 2 days in a row of 2 theme parks per day, a 10K race, and a full day at the Expo, it was time to relax at the Senses Spa at the Grand Floridian Resort.
Ah! Just what the doctor ordered. This was the day to spend some time relaxing in preparation for the marathon.
After the spa, we made our way over to check out the Art of Animation Resort….AMAZING place!
Brooke loved the Little Mermaid wing!
It was a Hakuna Matta kind of day!
Not quite Cars Land East, but still cool!
I am Speed! Hey Lightning McQueen!
The lobby of the Art of Animation is seriously cool! Lightning McQueen was getting me ready for my big race.
After the Art of Animation, we headed to Downtown Disney for dinner. I met up with Buzz and asked how I could make it to Infinity and Beyond!
Dinner as Splitsville was really fun!
Up next…the Marathon!
Sunday, January 12
Marathon Day!
Mickey was there to get us off to a fantastic start!
LOVED running up Main Street U.S.A. at the Magic Kingdom!
The Mile 6 marker was the inspiration for my running costume…To Infinity and Beyond!
The crowds at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and EPCOT were unbelievable! They really perked me up.
Brooke was close to the finish line and snapped this picture of me coming down the home stretch.
Ah….the finish line for the Marathon! I was about to join the ranks of the marathon finishers!
Since I shared my “money shot” yesterday, here’s a pic of Brooke and I after the race. Still smiling!
On our way to the Whispering Canyon Cafe to celebrate my first full marathon.
Monday, January 13
The Partners Statue and Cinderella’s Castle at the Magic Kingdom!
The picture I have been dreaming about for almost a year! Marathon Finisher with my medal at Cinderella’s Castle in the Magic Kingdom.
Can’t forget the Minnie Mouse inspired Walt Disney World 10K race.
We had lunch at the Be Our Guest restaurant in the new Fantasyland. This room is where we ate. Both Brooke and I thought it was a better room than the main ballroom. LOVED this place!
Had to tell Mickey Mouse how happy I was with finishing his race. He was pretty happy for me as well!
With Mickey’s race in the books, I was already thinking about my next runDisney race…the Dumbo Double Dare at Disneyland. This time I will be an official Dumbo and get my Coast to Coast medal.
It was so great to see the Main Street Electrical Parade again! I haven’t seen it since it left Disneyland back in the 1990’s.
Wishes was spectacular! I can now understand why so many Walt Disney World fans say it’s the best fireworks show! Seriously amazing!
We ended the night with Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters.
Tuesday, January 14
So, there it is…my past week or so in photos. I had a blast at Walt Disney World and can’t wait to share in more detail about the experience of becoming a marathon finisher.
Why I runDisney 
Looks like you had an awesome time, so glad you guys made the most of visiting orlando! hubby and I have Universal AND disney passes!
Thanks! My wife and I had a blast in Orlando! If only there were airline annual passes we could get to make it out to Orlando more often! You know, I was in all of the Disney and Universal theme parks in North America over a 30 day period. I went to Disneyland, DCA, and Universal Studios Hollywood in December. Then, we made it to the Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, DHS, Animal Kingdom, Universal Orlando, and Universal Islands of Adventure in January during Marathon Weekend.
Great recap and congratulations on your marathon! I am running the LA marathon (my first!) and I am starting to get really nervous!
Thanks! I completely understand your nerves about the LA Marathon. At the end of the day, you’ve just got to trust the training you did in preparation and go out and have fun with it. Also, remember, no matter what time you finish in, it will be a marathon PR for you! That’s what’s awesome about completing a distance for the first time. It’s an automatic PR!
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