Pre-Trip George and Scott plan a family-free ToT Ten Miler trip

I guess you could say that the beginnings of this thread started in another Trip Report. Mine actually. In November of last year I took a trip to run in my first runDisney race, the Wine and Dine 1/2 Marathon. I finished the race, had a good time, got home, wrote up my trip report. Next thing I know, I get a message in my WDWMagic Inbox from @George

Scott,
I read the beginning of your trip report and it gave me an idea. Since my kids are school age, the Disney races aren't at good times, would you consider doing a half marathon or Tower of Terror Ten Miler with me? We could pick the exact dates and times later, since there are 4 or 5 options.
Thoughts?
- - George

With this, the seeds of a trip were planted.

We've had a few brief conversations via phone and PM to set some of the basics. We decided upon the Tower of Terror Ten Miler race, in October 2014, mostly because we're excited for the afterparty at DHS. We've registered for the race.

We've also somehow gotten the blessings of our spouses that this trip will be "solo". Just two gentlemen heading down for some wholesome fun, to run a 10 mile race through the WDW Property, to ride some rides, enjoy some of the fine food options, and have a good time enjoying the parks without kids slowing us down there to join us in the fun. I've even got my wife to let me put off telling my kids until just about a week before I leave for the race, so I don't have to spend the next 8 months with my children openly hating me.

What I thought would be fun though is if @George and I would make the plans for our trip out here in the trip report forum under a Pre-Trip heading. That way we can solicit the opinions of anyone who would be so inclined to read this little thread, and we can utilize the vast knowledge of our fellow WDWMagic fans to prepare a great short vacation.

So, to start off @George I think we firm up the dates. I'm thinking we fly down on Thursday, 10/2 and return on Monday 10/6. That'd give us a couple days in which we're not being asked to run ungodly distances where we can enjoy the parks. A day or two prior to the race, and a day or two limping around after the race.

I think the flight schedules open up soonish, so if you'd like to fly out of your local airport and meet me down there, or if you'd like to pop up to my place and stay on Wednesday night and we fly together out of Midway, that would work as well. If we did that, it would give me the added benefit of staging a faux kidnapping in front of my kids so that I can claim plausible deniability in knowingly leaving them to go to WDW.

 

[Nemo14]

It may get quiet in a few areas of the forum. Of course, since @George is MIA recently, it wont impact things that much.

Speaking of which, is he just too busy training?

 

[sshindel]

Speaking of which, is he just too busy training?

I'm sure he'll come up with a much more exciting explanation of where he's been, but I think the truth is just too busy with work.

 

[Bob]

I'm sure he'll come up with a much more exciting explanation of where he's been, but I think the truth is just too busy with work.

@George has been stalking Jurgen Klinsmann since the end of the World Cup.

 

[sshindel]

@George has been stalking Jurgen Klinsmann since the end of the World Cup.

I thought @George had been studying to become a world famous affineur, creating and aging his own selection of runny cheeses in the south of France.

 

[Nemo14]

@George has been stalking Jurgen Klinsmann since the end of the World Cup.

I thought @George had been studying to become a world famous affineur, creating and aging his own selection of runny cheeses in the south of France.

or he's been spending all his time playing Minecraft...

 

[Bob]

I thought @George had been studying to become a world famous affineur, creating and aging his own selection of runny cheeses in the south of France.

or he's been spending all his time playing Minecraft...

I just checked and it appears that @George has been busy putting together a team for his run for President in 2016.

 

[George]

Well, we have less than 25 days left until we land, I just ordered my custom designed EPCOT psychopath shirt (It does not say EPCOT psychopath, but only an EPCOT psychopath would spend the time I did to draw/make a shirt, and spend more than Disney prices to get it made).

That means we're finally getting down to the real honest to goodness countdown to our trip.

I'm finally starting to get close to thinking I'll be able to run the 10 miles. No where near even the pace I was able to do in July for a 10 mile training run before all my injury problems, but I think I'll at least be able to jog from start to finish! At this point, I'll take it!

Still not told the kids, still hoping my wife will let me get away with lying, still not holding my breath on that one. At least the kids now know that we are going to WDW again in December of this year, so I hope that will soften the blow. I also hope to tell them that my trip down will be used to set up that December trip, which is a complete lie, but might not make me look like Keyser Soze in their eyes. Wait, they don't know who he is. Maleficent? Nope, I'm decidedly not green. Dr. Facilier? Nope, he is WAY too skinny to be me. Maybe Mr. Snoops from the rescuers is more apt.

I'm starting to get pumped up. I'm looking forward to hanging out with everyone from WDWMagic that will be joining us at one point or another. I don't know why I keep losing track, but as of now, I've got the list of I think around 12 WDWMagic folks that we might run into at some point or another that weekend!

@George do you have our Magic Bands yet? I can't recall how early they send those suckers out.

Another question @George . Based on how our weekend already looks like it's going to be overly-planned out, do you think I even bother packing the old swim trunks? I'm thinking I throw them in just in case we want to try and have a late night of super-secret pool hopping and refillable drink stealing. Do you think we can find on Ebay some of the refillable mugs that were put out eons ago that supposedly guaranteed unlimited refills 4 life? How much experience do you have hacking RFID technology?

Whatever the case, I have 3 more long runs (which is how I'm counting weeks now) before I head out. 10 miles this Sunday, 12 next Sunday, then a bit of a taper down to 8 on the Sunday after that and then it's race time.

I always go swimming when at the world. Otherwise, the lady friends complain about the lack of gun shows. Also, as I already told you on the phoney mcring, mcring, your magic band is in the trash since I find it to be an incredibly onerous proposition to carry the extra weight with me, unless you decide to pay me some type of shipping upcharge.

On the drink issue, I'm showing up with a cooler full of Dr. Thunder, Sam's Club cola, and Keystone Light to sell to all the mush headed rubes.....

 

[George]

I decided that in the ramp up to our upcoming trip, for which I am very excited, I wanted to capture the things I'm looking forward to. I figured I'd capture the Top 21 things I'm looking forward to on the ToT Ten-Miler trip. Actually, I figured I'd capture the top 22 things, but totally forgot to post yesterday, so now one thing is moved to not-looking-forward-to-as-much status. I'll hopefully post of of these a day, and if I don't, well, I guess another one bites the dust. Not all will be long, some shorter than others. So, as these things always start,
Without further ado and in no particular order:

A list of 21 things that I am looking forward to on the upcoming sshindel and George ToT ten-miler trip

Day 1

Trying Mission:Space again

Admission. I've been on Mission:Space exactly once, many years ago. My wife gets motion sick, so we tried it once, it didn't sit well with her, and out of all attractions it's one I've never really felt the need to leave her behind and ride it by myself.
I've had varying opinions on my dislike (or more like indifference) towards that ride.
First I thought it was it is what replaced Horizons, which I do not think is 100% true. EPCOT Center was always supposed to have a NASA sponsored space pavilion. While I don't agree with taking down Horizons to build it instead of just adding another pavilion, I can't really hold it against M:S, which I have.
I've thought it was poorly done, which I believe is not true as well, likely just a projection based on my one experience on it.
I've thought that it was going to be a totally different experience, since it was built before I was an internet Disney Nerd, I didn't know much about it, but pictured a space pavilion very different. Again, my personal expectations based on unfounded assumptions really aren't relevant.

So, with all that in mind, I want to give it a fresh set of eyes. I want to try and see it and reevaluate it.
I still think it will fail on a few personal wishes, but I want to give it a fair shake. Judging something once based on a potentially incorrect set of assumptions is not really a good way to go. As someone who constantly rants about Future World, I need to be sure I'm ranting without (too much) bias.

Cool beans. The family always wants to do the lame-o version so I'm looking forward to a bit of thrill with the accompanying nausea.

 

[George]

Let's do a quick one today since it's Saturday.

Spending time in World Showcase (before Frozen kills it)

With kids, I haven't spent any decent time in WS in years. The last time I was able to spend even a few hours there, I was chasing after my kids doing the whole Perry thing, not actually seeing anything.
I'm looking forward to changing that. And it is times just right, with Anna and Elsa about to render the whole showcase meaningless.
I want to have a cocktail and listen to my favorite act there Mariachi Cobre. I want to set foot in Rose and Crown, which I've never done. I need a tasty German Beer. I want to look at the little things, see what is in the Japan museum. I need to see American Adventure (that may be a whole new post).

Definitely on my to do list as well.

 

[George]

Get ready for the PML "Golden Dreams" singalong...I am

I love to sing that garbage. However, be prepared to be sick if I'm singing anywhere near you.

 

[sshindel]

I always go swimming when at the world. Otherwise, the lady friends complain about the lack of gun shows. Also, as I already told you on the phoney mcring, mcring, your magic band is in the trash since I find it to be an incredibly onerous proposition to carry the extra weight with me, unless you decide to pay me some type of shipping upcharge.

On the drink issue, I'm showing up with a cooler full of Dr. Thunder, Sam's Club cola, and Keystone Light to sell to all the mush headed rubes.....

I'll send you a letter with a stamped addressed envelope inside of it. I don't expect you to send the magic band, but instead send me the bill for your courier service to Orlando to carry my Magic Band with you.

 

[Tiggerish]

I love to sing that garbage. However, be prepared to be sick if I'm singing anywhere near you.

We will sit on the end and the rest of 'em can call us the tone-deaf section.

 

[sshindel]

I missed one yesterday! Oh well, whatever it was I guess I am no longer looking forward to it.

One just popped up that I hadn't even though of. It just so happens I've been strolling down memory lane today thinking about Epcot (I know... shocker!), and then Steve posted a new photo update:

http://www.wdwmagic.com/events/inte...enter-at-the-epcot-food-and-wine-festival.htm

So, that leads me to today's thing I am looking forward to (I swear, I will get off of Epcot someday!)

Odyssey

I have not been in Odyssey since it closed (circa 1994 I think).
I don't have super fond memories of the place. I don't remember how often I ate there. It is not #1 on my list of things I wish were still active at Epcot.

Still

For someone slightly obsessed with Future World from it's heyday, the chance to step into a piece of it long forgotten is a treat.

And since they are having craft beer inside there, I will have a great reason to at least poke my head into it and take a couple minutes looking around.

It's not a big thing. It's not the highest of priorities. But I do think I'll pop in, drink a tasty beer, look around, and see if anything is left from the Good Old Days.

 

[sshindel]

By the way. 2 weeks from today I will be walking through the Magic Kingdom.

 

[FlaggNL]

just 2 weeks left we have to wait 2 more!!

 

[sshindel]

Today's thing I'm looking forward to is once again in Epcot, and oddly small and specific.

The Spicy Kimchi Dog at the South Korea booth at Food and Wine

Those that know me well know that I am a hot dog fiend. Love 'em. Favorite food. I'm considering giving up 4-5 hours this week or next week to stand in line at Hog Doug's in Chicago because it's closing it's doors in October and is my favorite eatery in the history of mankind. At the rarest mention of the words Hot Dog today, I spend my lunch hour seeking out (and enjoying) a little hot dog joint I heard someone talking about here at work. What can I say, I loves 'em.

I think it was last year at F&W that the South Korea tent added a new item. The Kimchi Dog with Spicy Mustard.

Last year I spent scant little time at Epcot. These days I'd honestly spend an extra day in the MK with my kids than a day at Epcot. I had planned on getting one of these upon successful completion of the 1/2 marathon. There I made a couple mistakes.
First, I didn't pick up a map of the fest. Once we finished the race, rode SSE and Soarin, we headed into the World Showcase, and since we were on the right-hand side of the park, went right, past Canada and UK. After looking a little over there for it, I stopped a CM who pulled out a map and pointed out it was directly across the lagoon on the other side. This led into my 2nd mistake.
Underestimating how tired I'd be after running a 1/2 marathon. We took one look across the lagoon and headed directly to the Hawaii tent for some sliders and beer, then went to the busses and back to the hotel to go to bed.

So, long unnecessary story short, I didn't get my dog!!!
This year I'm not leaving Epcot without one, because as my Hot Dougs T-shirt states:

 

[abeachchick]

Make sure that we all know what FP+ time window we're looking for...

Edit: taking into account that late breakfast/practically lunch, I grabbed a 2:55-3:55 FP+

Couldn't get that exact time but was able to get 2:30-3:30.

 

[abeachchick]

Today's thing I'm looking forward to is once again in Epcot, and oddly small and specific.

The Spicy Kimchi Dog at the South Korea booth at Food and Wine

Those that know me well know that I am a hot dog fiend. Love 'em. Favorite food. I'm considering giving up 4-5 hours this week or next week to stand in line at Hog Doug's in Chicago because it's closing it's doors in October and is my favorite eatery in the history of mankind. At the rarest mention of the words Hot Dog today, I spend my lunch hour seeking out (and enjoying) a little hot dog joint I heard someone talking about here at work. What can I say, I loves 'em.

I think it was last year at F&W that the South Korea tent added a new item. The Kimchi Dog with Spicy Mustard.

Last year I spent scant little time at Epcot. These days I'd honestly spend an extra day in the MK with my kids than a day at Epcot. I had planned on getting one of these upon successful completion of the 1/2 marathon. There I made a couple mistakes.
First, I didn't pick up a map of the fest. Once we finished the race, rode SSE and Soarin, we headed into the World Showcase, and since we were on the right-hand side of the park, went right, past Canada and UK. After looking a little over there for it, I stopped a CM who pulled out a map and pointed out it was directly across the lagoon on the other side. This led into my 2nd mistake.
Underestimating how tired I'd be after running a 1/2 marathon. We took one look across the lagoon and headed directly to the Hawaii tent for some sliders and beer, then went to the busses and back to the hotel to go to bed.

So, long unnecessary story short, I didn't get my dog!!!
This year I'm not leaving Epcot without one, because as my Hot Dougs T-shirt states:

I am also a hot dog freak AND also missed out on this last year, so I'm in!

 

[sshindel]

I am also a hot dog freak AND also missed out on this last year, so I'm in!

Yes! A fellow aficionado to enjoy it with!!!

 

[Tiggerish]

Couldn't get that exact time but was able to get 2:30-3:30.

That works.