Lace up your running shoes and get your Magic Bands out. It's time for a trip to Walt Disney World for another runDisney race.
Let's face it, at this point you are either a Disney lover or Disney hater. Our family tends to hang out with the former. We convinced our friend Joe to sign up for the Princess Half Marathon and have his wife, Brittany, join us for a long weekend of Disney Adulting.
An early morning road trip stopped at Buc-ee's - IFKYK followed by a long drive down I-95. We picked up our bibs, visited the expo, posed for pictures with Louis, and settled into our resort before dinner at Raglan Road in Disney Springs.
We spent an entire day in Hollywood Studios, arriving before Rope Drop and getting on Rise of the Resistance and Smuggler's Run before most people even got into the park. We did all the rides! Star Tours, Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railroad, Tower of Terror, Slinky, Toy Story Mania, and even went in to see the Indiana Jones Stunt Show.
It really was different going around with other adults and no kids. The distinct absence of having to stop for whining, nagging, fighting, or low blood sugar crankiness. Nope, it didn't feel stupid at all. in fact, it was fun. We picked some great friends to go away with for our first adulting trip. We love Joe and Brittany. They are so easy to get along with and they let us relax and be ourselves.
Sunday morning, Joe and I got up early with the ladies rising shortly behind us. We had our morning rituals, mine being coffee with a toasted bagel with crunchy peanut butter, and headed out to Epcot. I love disney races because of the enthusiasm of the runners and the spectators. Joe and I had our princely shirts on but other people went all out on full costumes, tutus, a Kermit onesie, and even a Captain Jack Sparrow look alike. We joined the thousands of runners in our corral and waited for the race to start. I might not visit all the characters along the racecourse, but I will always stop for Goofy, and any rare character along the way. Lisa and Brittany met us along the way to cheer us on and have their own little adventure bouncing through parks and resorts.
I left Joe shortly after we completed the run through the Magic Kingdom. I saw him briefly from an overpass as I was heading back to Epcot. I hit Epcot as the sun was rising over Spaceship Earth for another awesome finish. After half a dozen or more races through Disney World, it is still a worthwhile experience that leaves me with goosebumps.
We all circled back up in the Epcot parking lot for smiles, sweaty hugs, and champagne. Another runDisney race done.