Have you ever runDisney?

By: Laurie Olivieri

It is exciting, fun, thrilling and all the races are very early! The Disneyland half marathon (13.1 miles) started at 5:30 am on August 31st.  It was my very first Disneyland Race.  I had run the Princess HalfM arathon in February in Walt Disney World and thus qualified to receive my very first coast to coast medal!

I was bib #8606 and in corral I.  That was not the last corral..I am not a fast runner..I am more a molasses type of runner with lots of determination to finish!  As long as one maintains pretty close to a 16 minute mile average and stays ahead of the "Balloon Ladies", you will be allowed to finish!

I run for the WDW Radio Make A Wish Team.  I love the support I have received and also the friends I have made. Along the 13.1 miles, I heard Go Blue!  Yeah WDW Radio! a couple times.  It is so encouraging.

We ran through California Adventure..it was my first time seeing Carsland in person.  I got all choked up!  We ran into Disneyland!  Through the Castle!  Where Walt once walked!  Yep, got choked up again.

I was struggling..It was hot to me!  I am an early morning runner - less than 60 degrees is fine with me.  It had started creeping past that and I was not having the happiest of moments with about 2 miles left to go.  I was still maintaining my run/walk/run of 3 to 1..run 3 minutes, walk one minute, etc.

Then I saw the pigtails of someone I knew.  Julie - an online friend.  We belonged to the same workout group online and a couple other groups.  I said hello, we chatted and then my timer went off.  I went to run again and noticed she was limping.  She had lots of blisters on her feet and she just wanted to finish!  I decided to walk it with her! I have met many of my Disney friends in person and decided this was perhaps the best way to celebrate our Disney friendship.  

We talked and walked and we finished together!

Sometimes a race is not about your time, but more your timing!

Meeting Red, Lightning McQueen, and Mater at the Cozy Cone

In Cars Land at Disney California Adventure you can meet Red the Fire Engine...

 ...Lightning McQueen...

... and Tow Mater!

Lightning and Mater can be seen at the Cozy Cone, an awesome backdrop.

And, as an added bonus, Mater and Lightning talk!
Here is a look at a meet up with Mater.

Wordless Wednesday: Disney in the Details, Cars Land at Disney California Adventure

 

 

 

Art of Animation Cars Suites Review

By: Nick

On our last trip to Walt Disney World, my wife and I had the great pleasure to stay in a Cars Suite at Disney's Art of Animation Resort.

Some background. I love the movie Cars. When Cars was released in June of 2006, I had just the month before driven a portion of Route 66 from Flagstaff, Arizona to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and had seen many of the sites that are referenced visually in the film, including staying in a Teepee (or cone) Motel (not as cool as you'd expect, by the way). I'd also seen many a lovely small town now abandoned, as Radiator Springs is at the beginning of Cars. In other words, the film really connected with me on an emotional level.

Jump to 2012, and we visited Disneyland, and I was absolutely enthralled with Cars Land at Disney California Adventure, and actually spent a very large portion of our 4 days in "Radiator Springs".

Now, you can actually STAY in Radiator Springs at Disney's Art of Animation Resort!

The theming of this section of AoA is extensive.
As you approach, you are greeted by billboards, and the Sheriff, to let you know to keep your speed down.

 You then travel up Route 66, to one of 3 themed buildings, or the Cozy Cone pool area.

The building to the left is themed after Luigi's Tires, where you'll find the proprietor and Guido.

To the right is Tow Mater's Towing and Salvage.

At the far end is The Wheel Well Motel, where Sally and Lightning McQueen can be found. This is where we stayed!

The theme extends inside as Red welcomes us.

On to the room. The family suites can easily sleep 6. There is a dining /sleeping area (yes, you read that right, more on that in a bit), small kitchen area, 2 bathrooms, a living room, and a bedroom.

The bathroom to the right is a full bath with a tub.

The bedroom has a queen size bed. The mattress was a bit on the firm side for me.

It has a flat screen TV.

The bath off the bedroom has a shower and no tub. Water pressure was great, and this was easily my favorite shower of all the resorts we've stayed in at Walt Disney World.

The cars theme is everywhere in the suites, with cone lamps, a fold out sofa bed that looks like a car seat, a table with a map of Radiator Springs, etc.

The kitchenette has a small refrigerator, sink, coffee maker, and microwave.

Our view was terrific as well, but of course, this is not a guarantee. One evening my wife made the mistake of asking how one family enjoyed the rooms and view, and the father replied in a rather churlish manor "The room's great, but we've got a fantastic view of the parking lot." Oops.

We were on the 3rd floor, and one evening we were able to see the higher fireworks from Wishes at the Magic Kingdom (left) and Illuminations at Epcot (right) at the same time!

I mentioned the dining/sleeping area earlier. Here we see a table. There are usually 4 chairs around it, we are in the process of moving them here.

Why are we moving the chairs? To pull the murphy bed down of course! We actually found this bed more comfortable than the the one in the bedroom, and slept here a couple of nights!

Overall, the room was fantastic. The one and only complaint I have is that you cannot lower the temperature below 68 degrees. And, you could possibly get a view of the parking lot.

The pool is themed after the Cozy Cone.

The cones, are cabanas, which is first come, first serve. Also, bring towels. We were not aware you needed to do this, and I had to run back to the room on our first swim.

 

It's well lit at night.

Speaking of night, the place is really magical in the evening.

This is easily the best themed resort on Disney Property.
Don't forget to get your pictures taken with some of the citizens of Radiator Springs!

Barbie with Flo, owner of one of our favorite eateries at Disney California Adventure.

Me and Mater.