Say Please in French - A June and Sept. 2018 DLP TR *Updated 4/22

Getting to parades an hour beforehand is especially hard in WDW in the summer months. I remember waiting for FOF right when it first premiered and practically melting on the sidewalk. By the time the show began, I was just wanting to leave and find some air conditioning.
The kids had a blast at Disney together! Ashley and I keep trying to plot more Disney adventures with them; it's so convenient having kids that have friends, because everyone is entertained!

I forget what it’s like since I don’t do it! I mean not in years! Last few times we showed up like 5-10 minutes before and just stood in the back. I have a feeling this won’t go over well when my daughter figures out what she is actually missing!

We are planning a trip with cousins this year and I’m mixed extremely excited and extremely anxious!!!
 
I think you're right. I haven't been to DHS during the holidays since the Osborne Lights were still happening. Man, that was a long time ago. I think I need to start planning a holiday trip down the road.

While a Christmas trip was nice and I'm glad I did it once, I think I still enjoy Fall more. If I happened to be there during December, great but I wouldn't go out of my way to plan it that way over a Halloween trip. The weather is better and the decorations are so fun during the Fall.
 
I have a feeling this won’t go over well when my daughter figures out what she is actually missing!

Ehh, you never know. You can always make the argument that the characters can't stop and meet guests, so it's no different seeing them a few rows back versus at the front. It could work....


We are planning a trip with cousins this year and I’m mixed extremely excited and extremely anxious!!!

That's very exciting! I love going with a new group of friends and/or family. It's become really fun to watch how they react to the parks and what kind of trip forms when you're with certain groups.



While a Christmas trip was nice and I'm glad I did it once, I think I still enjoy Fall more. If I happened to be there during December, great but I wouldn't go out of my way to plan it that way over a Halloween trip. The weather is better and the decorations are so fun during the Fall.

You make a really good point about the weather. Now that I don't live in Florida anymore, I desperately miss the warmth and sunshine. After months and months of cold, wet, gray Europe I will probably want to stay outside as much as possible when we're there this summer. Alex doesn't miss the humidity one bit, but it doesn't bother me. So you're right. Given fall or Christmas, the warmer weather would probably win out.
 
Saturday, September 22, 2018:


Race weekend had kicked off! This morning, Alex got up around six o’clock and began to dress for his 10K race. While he was getting organized, I asked him multiple times: “Are you going to stop for any character meets?”

His answer was always the same. “Probably not. I just want to run my 6 miles and be done.”

:sad2:

Unlike me, Alex does not like to run. He has to stay physically fit for his job, but that’s the only motivation he has to work out five times a week. Truth be told, I don’t know what convinced him to run the 10K. He probably knew a 10K was doable at his current fitness level so it wouldn’t require any extra training or additional runs.

Knowing my husband, he saw the 10K race when he was signing everyone else up and went, “Meh, what’s a Saturday run on a Disney trip. At least this way I get a cool medal.”


Needless to say, Alex was getting ready for this race completely calm and cool. While I was sitting on the bed with the kids going, “Why aren’t you freaking out? You should be nervous. Or amped up? Or both!”

Alex rolled his eyes at my antics, kissed me goodbye, and headed for the starting corrals at 6:45 a.m. It took him about ten minutes to reach the Expo tent and another ten to check his bag inside the building.

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Then he followed the path and entered into the corral area. Each one was separated by fencing, and when it was the corral in question’s turn to head to the starting line the front fence was moved and everyone was led to the start.


Alex took this photo when he was being sheparded out:

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The 10K was a Hercules theme so Meg and her “workout buddy” were in charge of pumping up the crowd:

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Shortly after 7:30 a.m. Alex was staring down the starting line:

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The race began in the Studios Parc, entering through the front of the park:

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Past the Toy Story and TOT area and then back out of the park.

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Into Disneyland he went, down one side of Main Street and into Discovery Land.

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Back at Sequoia Lodge, I had gotten the kids dressed and ready for the day. I was going to wait and get breakfast with Alex after he was finished with his race, but the kids were claiming they were starving so I got them situated and headed to Starbucks for some fortification. The shop was empty when I arrived but filled up very quickly as I waited for my coffee to be made. Most runners from the A and B Corrals were finishing up and looking for post-race fuel.

It made me think Alex wouldn’t be too far off, so once I had my order in hand I told the kids to walk with me farther into Disney Village. We didn’t have wristbands for spectator viewing spots, but I figured the next best thing would be to greet Alex as soon as he finished.



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While I was delighting in a white mocha latte, Alex was tracking down a rogue pole sticking out in the middle of a road and gracefully tripping over it.


He went down, breaking his fall with his hands and knees and his phone screen.

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A few people stopped to help him up and ask if he was all right. He told them he was fine; his pride was hurt more than anything else. My husband is very clumsy so if anybody was going to find something to trip on, it would be him.



The course took Alex into a backstage area:

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And back into the park via Fantasyland. Alex slowed down long enough to take a photo with Landon’s favorite attraction:

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Then made his way down for another circuit by the castle. Two turns near the iconic building and this was the best selfie he got with the structure:

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Slowing down and getting a good photograph was not high on his priority list. He knew he’d already lost a minute or two of time with his trip and didn’t want to risk losing any more.

Clearly his runDisney priorities were not as important as some! :rotfl:



Farther along on the course, Alex grabbed a picture near Pirates and the Cast Members cheering runners on from the sidelines were so nice, he made a point to get a selfie with one of them:

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Anyone who has participated in a runDisney event understands that the Cast Members cheering runners on is one of the best parts. They give an enormous amount of encouragement to the runners, and a lot of time just seeing someone standing nearby in their costumes is enough to keep tired participants going during a rough stretch.

The Cast Members and spectators are what make runDisney so special. A lot of people might disagree with me, but I stand by that belief.



The 10K race dropped Alex in a backstage road once again:

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And back into the Studios Parc.



It was at this point in the race that I was sitting out in front of World of Disney with the kids and I received a text from Alex.

“Changed my mind. Stopping for a character meet.”


I smiled at my phone.

There was only one character that would get Alex to stop. It’s his favorite and one he can’t meet on a regular basis. And I had this strong hunch he would be on the race course.

“Who is it?”

It took Alex some time to answer.

I texted him again.


“It’s Kronk, isn’t it? You found Kronk!”

I got this in response:

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Alex was meeting Kronk!
:cheer2:

I was overjoyed for my husband. He’s not a big character meet and greet fan, but he’s always loved Emperor’s New Groove and this was a very rare opportunity.

Can you tell by this picture how excited and happy he was?

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This is now my absolute favorite Disney photo of my husband. He’s so giddy and completely overcome with the Disney feels. Alex is a reserved guy, and while I know he’s having fun at Disney it doesn’t come through on his face. You won’t see my husband smiling ear to ear after getting off his favorite attraction or watching the fireworks from Main Street; large displays of emotions such aren’t his style.

So for him to have that huge grin on his face during the Kronk meet means a lot.

He was having a blast, and I couldn’t have been more pleased. It warmed my heart to hear that his race was going well.


After Kronk, the finish line was right around the corner:

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With medals and Hades waiting for him once he crossed over:

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Alex picked up the snack box being handed out, a banana, and a Powerade then left the Studios and found where we were camped out:

0086 by Alicia Wolchick, on Flickr



And then he told me about his tumble on the course.

0088 by Alicia Wolchick, on Flickr


The fall was wedged together between a slew of information. Alex was talking nonstop about the race, sharing what other characters were on the course, how quick the time passed, and how entertaining the race turned out to be. The thing that stuck out to him the most was the course layout. He said it was amazing getting to run almost the majority of the race inside the parks, with very little road or backstage time.

Alex proclaimed that was going to be his favorite race course he would ever do and was sad that it was over.

The 10K had won my husband over, hard.


It was a successful morning, and the kids and I listened to Alex tell us all the details as we walked back over to the Expo Center to pick up his checked bag. I waited near the water as he went inside to retrieve said items and snag the spectator wristbands for the following morning.

Once he was finished, Alex looked at the time and made the call that he had enough time to rush back to Sequoia Lodge and shower before the kids’ races began. Feeling lazy, I told him he could head back alone; I would stay in the Disney Village area and let the kids run around until their race time.




Up Next…That’ll Be One for the Wedding Slideshow
 


Strange, my friend got them on Thursday and on Friday they told me there were none left (and there wouldn't be new ones later on)

I think there was miscommunication in the expo center. Like how some people could get their corral bumped up to A and some couldn't. Or how they were letting people swap shirt sizes and running out of that size for the people who ordered them. It doesn't surprise me that they told people the wristbands were sold out but then told Alex to come back Saturday morning and they'd have some...
 
I'm so glad Alex enjoyed the race! Stinks that he took a little tumble but sounds like he recovered quickly. And that pic with Kronk is awesome!!
 
Alex looks like he had a great race -- I have the Star Wars 10k next month, and I hope to be half that happy!

Also, Hercules is such a fun race theme. Bring that to the US, runDisney!
 
“Changed my mind. Stopping for a character meet.”

I smiled at my phone.

There was only one character that would get Alex to stop. It’s his favorite and one he can’t meet on a regular basis. And I had this strong hunch he would be on the race course.

“Who is it?”

It took Alex some time to answer.

I texted him again.


“It’s Kronk, isn’t it? You found Kronk!”

I got this in response:

0062-jpg.388058



Alex was meeting Kronk!
:cheer2:
Haha, I love that you guys are so in tune that you knew exactly which character he would stop to see!

Can you tell by this picture how excited and happy he was?

0064-jpg.388059
That really is adorable!

The fall was wedged together between a slew of information. Alex was talking nonstop about the race, sharing what other characters were on the course, how quick the time passed, and how entertaining the race turned out to be. The thing that stuck out to him the most was the course layout. He said it was amazing getting to run almost the majority of the race inside the parks, with very little road or backstage time.

Alex proclaimed that was going to be his favorite race course he would ever do and was sad that it was over.

The 10K had won my husband over, hard.
You can see how excited he is in the photos! I'm so glad he had a fun time!
 
Alex's picture with Kronk is amazing. I too love ENG and I think it doesn't get enough love in the parks.
 
I'm so glad Alex enjoyed the race! Stinks that he took a little tumble but sounds like he recovered quickly. And that pic with Kronk is awesome!!

Alex is so clumsy that I wasn't surprised. He's always tripping on random things...


Alex looks like he had a great race -- I have the Star Wars 10k next month, and I hope to be half that happy!

Also, Hercules is such a fun race theme. Bring that to the US, runDisney!

Good luck with the 10K next month! My friends in this report are participating in that race weekend, and it sounds like so much fun!

The 2019 Disneyland Paris race theme is going to be Adventure, so I'm really looking forward to seeing what they do with that. I was really impressed with their themes last year. The 5K was a Marvel theme with Thanos on the finisher medal. (Which tied in with the overall villains theme) and each kilometer marker was an infinity stone! I am not a big Marvel fan, but even I thought that was creative.




Haha, I love that you guys are so in tune that you knew exactly which character he would stop to see!

That really is adorable!


You can see how excited he is in the photos! I'm so glad he had a fun time!

I'm happy he had fun doing the race, too, because leading up to it was pretty indifferent about the whole thing. I think that 10K course and the Kronk meet and greet changed his perspective.



Alex's picture with Kronk is amazing. I too love ENG and I think it doesn't get enough love in the parks.


Kronk is pretty cool. On my race, they had both him and Yzma out!



How exciting for Alex! He even has battle wounds to show for it.

I wasn't surprised at all when Alex told me he tripped; he's one of the clumsiest people I know!
 
Oh, bummer about his fall but otherwise it looks like he had an amazing time! Cool character meet!
 
Great update! The fall - ugh. Glad it didn't ruin the experience for him. Looking forward to seeing how your kids did!
 
Sorry to have fallen so far behind, but I just got caught up! So cute that Alex was able to find the one character to make him stop the race for!! Hopefully I can stay caught up now.
 
You make a really good point about the weather. Now that I don't live in Florida anymore, I desperately miss the warmth and sunshine. After months and months of cold, wet, gray Europe I will probably want to stay outside as much as possible when we're there this summer. Alex doesn't miss the humidity one bit, but it doesn't bother me. So you're right. Given fall or Christmas, the warmer weather would probably win out.

Alex proclaimed that was going to be his favorite race course he would ever do and was sad that it was over.

It was a successful morning, and the kids and I listened to Alex tell us all the details as we walked back over to the Expo Center to pick up his checked bag. I waited near the water as he went inside to retrieve said items and snag the spectator wristbands for the following morning.
 

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