The Half Marathon Comeback Run-Final thoughts(1/21)
About This Page: This is a discussion on The Half Marathon Comeback Run-Final thoughts(1/21) within the Sharing the Adventure: Disney World Trip Reports, part of the PassPorter Community - Message Boards and Forums; Great start Kim, and you survived, so you couldn't have done too bad!!!...

**LizardCop** · 01-11-2005, 09:21 PM

Great start Kim, and you survived, so you couldn't have done too bad!!!

**katspjs** · 01-11-2005, 10:44 PM

Great start Kim! Hurry back with more!

**DopeyGirl** · 01-11-2005, 10:54 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Great start Kim -- I know how I did, and I know how Cheryl did -- so spill it -- how did you do (you skinny-fast you!!!)

[/ QUOTE ]

I know how Terri and Cheryl AND Vicky did . . . what was your time?

More report please!!!

**Colexis Mom** · 01-12-2005, 07:08 AM

What a great start Kim

Looks like things are falling your way! Hurry back with more

KimandMark · 01-12-2005, 08:23 AM

Where was I? Oh, that's right, not telling you guys my time yet....

Okay, so we hop in the car and head over to Boardwalk for our dinner Spoodles. We liked Spoodles so much that we ate there twice on our last trip. We liked it again, although this time was not a good as the last two. We were seated right away at a nice corner table in the far room that's smaller. We looked over our menus, talked for quite awhile about what we wanted to try and waited for our server. And waited some more. I passing server noticed and asked if we had been helped yet and brought us some water, telling us that he was sending our waitress over. She finally appeared and I was left with the impression that she might be new. She seemed to need quite a bit of help from other servers and just forgot things like straws and refilling waters as often as she should have. She wasn't bad, just slow, and very friendly and apologetic. It was also clear that English was her second language, not that we couldn't understand her, but I wondered if it added to her difficulties.

Other than the slow pace, the food was outstanding! We decided to share some tapas plates, ordering the Lemon Garlic Shrimp, the Four Cheese Flatbread, and the tapas platter that included Grouper Cheeks (kind of breaded and fried with a sauce that was lemony and green and really good), Potato thingys (like little tiny pancakes with a hint of mint), Lamb Cigars (my favorite, philo dough with a spicy lamb mixture and a cumin flavored sauce), Lamb Skewers (like mini shishkabobs with pita and yogurt). All of it was fabulous! Oh, and I forgot the focaccia bread and oil. I ate a ton, well after I was even full I ate. I believe our bill was $50 including tip and one specialty drink.

We headed out to stroll around the boardwalk and looke for the dock where our Illuminations cruise was departing from. I thought it was at boardwalk, but its not and realized that we would have to go over to Yacht Club. We strolled easily over, stopping for a Cookies and Cream ice cream cone on the way (like I needed that!). We were a little early for the boat and after determining that we were in the right place we went into Yacht Club to use their potties and check out the gift shop. SWANKY! The restroom has cloth hand towels, not just paper towels! And the gift shop sells Tommy Bahama clothes. I want to stay here!!

We left the lap of luxery and met the family we were sharing the cruise with. I found a cruise to share on the disboards with a nice lady from Pennsylvania and her boys. I sent her our portion of the bill before hand in case we couldn't make it, I just wouldn't want her to get stuck with the bill if she was expecting help paying for. Unfortunately the other family that was joining us did not do the same and did not show up. I offered to send Jen another check when we got home to cover more of the bill, but haven't heard from her (we didn't have any cash on us, rewards card only!). The other bummer about that is that my parents are also in Disney and if we had known this other family wasn't coming my parents could have joined us. Other than this small glitch, the cruise was wonderful.

The boat leaves the dock and shows you around the resorts and goes almost over to MGM before turning around and taking you to Epcot. We had a perfect night with no wind and a nice temperature, so we hoped that the smoke wouldn't come our way. The boats pull up under the bridge and we waited. Jenn's son Joe was very chatty and I think she thought he was bugging us, but I enjoyed his conversation, we talked about favorite rides and stuff we were scared of, you know, Disney talk! The show begins and I couldn't believe how much cooler it is to see it from the boat. YOu are only a few feet lower than those on the sidewalks, but it seems like a totally different perspective. I highly recommend doing this if you can.

The boat took us back to Yacht Club and we again strolled over to Boardwalk, past Jellyrolls and the Dance Hall and the Magician and the girl who got her high heel stuck in the boardwalk planks and was trying to pull her shoe out with her hands. The trip home was speedy and we went right to bed, but not before setting a wake up call (hopefully from Stitch)for 5:55 the next day.

**LizardCop** · 01-12-2005, 08:49 AM

Great Update....

**Jillybean** · 01-12-2005, 08:49 AM

Your meal at Spoodles sounds yummy - - despite the slow service - - you guys were so sweet to understand why though.

Can't wait to hear all about the race!

Jill

MontiMouse · 01-12-2005, 08:56 AM

Great update Kim! Now hurry back and tell us your time!!

**DrDolphin** · 01-12-2005, 08:58 AM

Great update -- still want to know how the race went!!!

**Colexis Mom** · 01-12-2005, 11:24 AM

Another great update Kim

Keep it coming

luvnwdwgal · 01-12-2005, 06:54 PM

Great update but didn't you forget to tell us something?

Tara O'Hara · 01-12-2005, 07:23 PM

Great update, Kim!!

Can't wait to hear more!!

KimandMark · 01-13-2005, 04:06 PM

Is it race time yet? Nope!!

It is Stitch time though, he woke me at 5:55 AM just like I asked. I found my running clothes and discovered just how nice the curtain that separates the vanity from the rest of the room at CBR is. It doesn't black out the light, but it certainly allowed Mark to sleep through my getting ready. I went out to do a nice easy loop around the lake and some buildings, trying to get in 2 miles or so, just to loosen up any kinks. The weather felt great, quite humid, but cool enough that it didn't matter much. I ran this morning in shorts and a sports bra, no shirt and was very happy, but I saw plenty of other runners in long sleeve shirts, tights, even gloves!! They must be southern, because 60 degrees is not tights weather, not when you're running!

While on my run I stopped to walk around the main pool at Port Royale. I was looking for the hot tub but couldn't find it! Weirdly, there were people sitting at the deck tables at 6:15 AM, reading or something. It just seemed early if you didn't have to get up then. I got back to the room before 6:30, showered and even did my hair! I put on my favorite pants (army green cargo capris from the gap that are a little to loose) and a tank top! and flip flops! in January!! Yippee!!

Our plan was to meet Mom and Dad at AK around 7:45 so we could be among the first into AK. When we arrived they weren't letting anyone in yet, so Mom and Dad pulled up a few cars behind us. They are really easy to spot as the drive what I refer to as the white elephant. Its Ford Navigator and its white and it has a bike rack on the roof. You can see it from a mile away. They claim they need to pull their camper, but I think its just that they like being bigger than everyone else. Anyway, they finally open the gates and the crappy blue Cavalier with no leg room and the White Elephant park next to each other and we walk on over to the entrance.

Mark wants to see ITTBAB first, but I convince everyone that because its cool out and the animals have just been fed that the safari is the best choice for the first attraction. All agree and on the way I buy a banana and water for breakfast (I brought bagels, but in the excitement to get to the parks I forgot to eat one this morning!). The safaris turns out to be the best one we've ever been on! It starts out pretty normal, you see the black rhino and the hippos and the tommies and elephants, but then we stop. One of the white rhinos is standing in front of the truck in front of us and we can see it. It take awhile to get him/her/it to move and when he/she/it does he/she/it is confronted by another rhino. Our truck slows down to look and they bump horns lightly a few times when a third rhino comes out and stands in front of our truck. This one also did not want to move. We were so close to these rhinos that I could have reached out to touch them. I've never had that happen and I've been on the safari probably 10 times.

The safari continued and we got great views of the lions. The male was walking around, more than I've ever seen him do and the female was on the outcropping so we could see here really well too. The warthogs that come next were very busy eating and I think the lions can see them from their rock! We all agreed that this was the best safari trip we'd had.

Next we went over to ITTBAB. This show makes me laugh every time, so much that my face hurts when I'm done. My Mom loves it too and I laugh so hard when she jumps up after the bees sting you. We know its coming, but she jumps everytime. Our plan then is to head over the the FOTLK and then come back for Flights of Wonder.

The Lion King show is good as usual, it was the first performance of the day, so some of the singers were probably at their best and others seemed to need more warm up. We were in the Lion Section and when it was time to teach us how to roar, the kid called up to teach us was so funny. First, he was dressed like he was going on safari, complete with hat and vest and camoflage shirt to match. Then, when telling us where he was from, he was very sure to not just say New Jersey, but also to tell us how to spell the name of his town. Very funny!

I suppose we did alot of walking to go from ITTBAB to FOTLK to FLights, but that's how the show times worked out. We walked back to Asia and were seated right in the middle for the bird show. Let me tell you! SEE THIS SHOW! Its funny and educational and the vulture will fly straight at your head. I'm not kidding, the vulture flew straight at my head, even Mark said "That thing flew straight at your head". My head. A vulture. WOW. Seriously, there are tons of birds, they do fly over the audience and they are mere inches from your head. Do not duck. They come closer then. They are trained, I guess, to fly just inches over the head of the crowd, if you duck they just fly lower to be inches over your ducked head. I've never seen this show and I wouldn't have it Mark hadn't insisted. But again I say, GO!

Now its time for lunch, 11:10AM! We decide to got to Restaurantosaurus and then discover that they don't open til 11:30! Now I'm cranky because I'm hungry. I get over it quickly and we decided to kill the 20 minutes by going on Dinosaur. The waits have all been brief today, and in 3 1/2 hours we manage to do two shows, a movie and two rides all while walking at a leisurely pace. When we get back to eat, there is already a line, but its only a couple of people long.

I order a hot dog. Hot dogs in Disney are way better than hamburgers. The hot dogs do something that most hot dogs don't do; they fill the bun. The hamburgers are just poorly cooked McDonald's burgers, but the hot dogs, now there's perfection. Our two value meals (value, right) come to $18. What a rip off. I would say its the thing that bugs me the most, the expensive and not that good counter service food. While I enjoy my hot dog, I'd like to pay less than $9 to get it.

After lunch we leave the park, which make me think we should have gone somewhere else for lunch. Oh well, I guess that's were unplanned days get you. We all head back to our respective resorts for some rest and relaxation as well as to get additional shirts before heading to MK for the night.

**Jillybean** · 01-13-2005, 06:11 PM

Great (and jam packed) morning at AKL! Love the sound of those cargo capri pants also!

Jill

Tara O'Hara · 01-13-2005, 06:38 PM

Sorry about your 'value' meals, Kim, but other than that, it sounds like you had a pretty great morning at AK!!

01-12-2005, 08:23 AM	#35 (permalink)
KimandMark Community Rank: Traveler Join Date: May 2002 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 371	Re: The Half Marathon Comeback Run-Day 1B(1/12) Where was I? Oh, that's right, not telling you guys my time yet.... Okay, so we hop in the car and head over to Boardwalk for our dinner Spoodles. We liked Spoodles so much that we ate there twice on our last trip. We liked it again, although this time was not a good as the last two. We were seated right away at a nice corner table in the far room that's smaller. We looked over our menus, talked for quite awhile about what we wanted to try and waited for our server. And waited some more. I passing server noticed and asked if we had been helped yet and brought us some water, telling us that he was sending our waitress over. She finally appeared and I was left with the impression that she might be new. She seemed to need quite a bit of help from other servers and just forgot things like straws and refilling waters as often as she should have. She wasn't bad, just slow, and very friendly and apologetic. It was also clear that English was her second language, not that we couldn't understand her, but I wondered if it added to her difficulties. Other than the slow pace, the food was outstanding! We decided to share some tapas plates, ordering the Lemon Garlic Shrimp, the Four Cheese Flatbread, and the tapas platter that included Grouper Cheeks (kind of breaded and fried with a sauce that was lemony and green and really good), Potato thingys (like little tiny pancakes with a hint of mint), Lamb Cigars (my favorite, philo dough with a spicy lamb mixture and a cumin flavored sauce), Lamb Skewers (like mini shishkabobs with pita and yogurt). All of it was fabulous! Oh, and I forgot the focaccia bread and oil. I ate a ton, well after I was even full I ate. I believe our bill was $50 including tip and one specialty drink. We headed out to stroll around the boardwalk and looke for the dock where our Illuminations cruise was departing from. I thought it was at boardwalk, but its not and realized that we would have to go over to Yacht Club. We strolled easily over, stopping for a Cookies and Cream ice cream cone on the way (like I needed that!). We were a little early for the boat and after determining that we were in the right place we went into Yacht Club to use their potties and check out the gift shop. SWANKY! The restroom has cloth hand towels, not just paper towels! And the gift shop sells Tommy Bahama clothes. I want to stay here!! We left the lap of luxery and met the family we were sharing the cruise with. I found a cruise to share on the disboards with a nice lady from Pennsylvania and her boys. I sent her our portion of the bill before hand in case we couldn't make it, I just wouldn't want her to get stuck with the bill if she was expecting help paying for. Unfortunately the other family that was joining us did not do the same and did not show up. I offered to send Jen another check when we got home to cover more of the bill, but haven't heard from her (we didn't have any cash on us, rewards card only!). The other bummer about that is that my parents are also in Disney and if we had known this other family wasn't coming my parents could have joined us. Other than this small glitch, the cruise was wonderful. The boat leaves the dock and shows you around the resorts and goes almost over to MGM before turning around and taking you to Epcot. We had a perfect night with no wind and a nice temperature, so we hoped that the smoke wouldn't come our way. The boats pull up under the bridge and we waited. Jenn's son Joe was very chatty and I think she thought he was bugging us, but I enjoyed his conversation, we talked about favorite rides and stuff we were scared of, you know, Disney talk! The show begins and I couldn't believe how much cooler it is to see it from the boat. YOu are only a few feet lower than those on the sidewalks, but it seems like a totally different perspective. I highly recommend doing this if you can. The boat took us back to Yacht Club and we again strolled over to Boardwalk, past Jellyrolls and the Dance Hall and the Magician and the girl who got her high heel stuck in the boardwalk planks and was trying to pull her shoe out with her hands. The trip home was speedy and we went right to bed, but not before setting a wake up call (hopefully from Stitch)for 5:55 the next day.

01-12-2005, 08:56 AM	#38 (permalink)
MontiMouse Community Rank: Globetrotter Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Lafayette, LA & BCV Posts: 3,820	Re: The Half Marathon Comeback Run-Day 1B(1/12) Great update Kim! Now hurry back and tell us your time!!

01-12-2005, 06:54 PM	#41 (permalink)
luvnwdwgal Community Rank: Legend Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: North Central Ohio Posts: 17,526	Re: The Half Marathon Comeback Run-Day 1B(1/12) Great update but didn't you forget to tell us something?

01-12-2005, 07:23 PM	#42 (permalink)
Tara O'Hara Community Rank: Legend Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Newtown Square, PA Posts: 17,661	Re: The Half Marathon Comeback Run-Day 1B(1/12) Great update, Kim!! Can't wait to hear more!!

01-13-2005, 04:06 PM	#43 (permalink)
KimandMark Community Rank: Traveler Join Date: May 2002 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 371	Re: The Half Marathon Comeback Run-Day 2A(1/13) Is it race time yet? Nope!! It is Stitch time though, he woke me at 5:55 AM just like I asked. I found my running clothes and discovered just how nice the curtain that separates the vanity from the rest of the room at CBR is. It doesn't black out the light, but it certainly allowed Mark to sleep through my getting ready. I went out to do a nice easy loop around the lake and some buildings, trying to get in 2 miles or so, just to loosen up any kinks. The weather felt great, quite humid, but cool enough that it didn't matter much. I ran this morning in shorts and a sports bra, no shirt and was very happy, but I saw plenty of other runners in long sleeve shirts, tights, even gloves!! They must be southern, because 60 degrees is not tights weather, not when you're running! While on my run I stopped to walk around the main pool at Port Royale. I was looking for the hot tub but couldn't find it! Weirdly, there were people sitting at the deck tables at 6:15 AM, reading or something. It just seemed early if you didn't have to get up then. I got back to the room before 6:30, showered and even did my hair! I put on my favorite pants (army green cargo capris from the gap that are a little to loose) and a tank top! and flip flops! in January!! Yippee!! Our plan was to meet Mom and Dad at AK around 7:45 so we could be among the first into AK. When we arrived they weren't letting anyone in yet, so Mom and Dad pulled up a few cars behind us. They are really easy to spot as the drive what I refer to as the white elephant. Its Ford Navigator and its white and it has a bike rack on the roof. You can see it from a mile away. They claim they need to pull their camper, but I think its just that they like being bigger than everyone else. Anyway, they finally open the gates and the crappy blue Cavalier with no leg room and the White Elephant park next to each other and we walk on over to the entrance. Mark wants to see ITTBAB first, but I convince everyone that because its cool out and the animals have just been fed that the safari is the best choice for the first attraction. All agree and on the way I buy a banana and water for breakfast (I brought bagels, but in the excitement to get to the parks I forgot to eat one this morning!). The safaris turns out to be the best one we've ever been on! It starts out pretty normal, you see the black rhino and the hippos and the tommies and elephants, but then we stop. One of the white rhinos is standing in front of the truck in front of us and we can see it. It take awhile to get him/her/it to move and when he/she/it does he/she/it is confronted by another rhino. Our truck slows down to look and they bump horns lightly a few times when a third rhino comes out and stands in front of our truck. This one also did not want to move. We were so close to these rhinos that I could have reached out to touch them. I've never had that happen and I've been on the safari probably 10 times. The safari continued and we got great views of the lions. The male was walking around, more than I've ever seen him do and the female was on the outcropping so we could see here really well too. The warthogs that come next were very busy eating and I think the lions can see them from their rock! We all agreed that this was the best safari trip we'd had. Next we went over to ITTBAB. This show makes me laugh every time, so much that my face hurts when I'm done. My Mom loves it too and I laugh so hard when she jumps up after the bees sting you. We know its coming, but she jumps everytime. Our plan then is to head over the the FOTLK and then come back for Flights of Wonder. The Lion King show is good as usual, it was the first performance of the day, so some of the singers were probably at their best and others seemed to need more warm up. We were in the Lion Section and when it was time to teach us how to roar, the kid called up to teach us was so funny. First, he was dressed like he was going on safari, complete with hat and vest and camoflage shirt to match. Then, when telling us where he was from, he was very sure to not just say New Jersey, but also to tell us how to spell the name of his town. Very funny! I suppose we did alot of walking to go from ITTBAB to FOTLK to FLights, but that's how the show times worked out. We walked back to Asia and were seated right in the middle for the bird show. Let me tell you! SEE THIS SHOW! Its funny and educational and the vulture will fly straight at your head. I'm not kidding, the vulture flew straight at my head, even Mark said "That thing flew straight at your head". My head. A vulture. WOW. Seriously, there are tons of birds, they do fly over the audience and they are mere inches from your head. Do not duck. They come closer then. They are trained, I guess, to fly just inches over the head of the crowd, if you duck they just fly lower to be inches over your ducked head. I've never seen this show and I wouldn't have it Mark hadn't insisted. But again I say, GO! Now its time for lunch, 11:10AM! We decide to got to Restaurantosaurus and then discover that they don't open til 11:30! Now I'm cranky because I'm hungry. I get over it quickly and we decided to kill the 20 minutes by going on Dinosaur. The waits have all been brief today, and in 3 1/2 hours we manage to do two shows, a movie and two rides all while walking at a leisurely pace. When we get back to eat, there is already a line, but its only a couple of people long. I order a hot dog. Hot dogs in Disney are way better than hamburgers. The hot dogs do something that most hot dogs don't do; they fill the bun. The hamburgers are just poorly cooked McDonald's burgers, but the hot dogs, now there's perfection. Our two value meals (value, right) come to $18. What a rip off. I would say its the thing that bugs me the most, the expensive and not that good counter service food. While I enjoy my hot dog, I'd like to pay less than $9 to get it. After lunch we leave the park, which make me think we should have gone somewhere else for lunch. Oh well, I guess that's were unplanned days get you. We all head back to our respective resorts for some rest and relaxation as well as to get additional shirts before heading to MK for the night.

01-13-2005, 06:38 PM	#45 (permalink)
Tara O'Hara Community Rank: Legend Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Newtown Square, PA Posts: 17,661	Re: The Half Marathon Comeback Run-Day 2A(1/13) Sorry about your 'value' meals, Kim, but other than that, it sounds like you had a pretty great morning at AK!!

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