So who knows what’ll happen with on course characters, but for this week’s Sundays are for Disney let’s pretend they’re on like Donkey Kong (never say never - the Goof Troop has a lot of sway). What characters would you like to see on the course?
With no more Star Wars races, I would love to see a Star Wars character out along the course. I decide on character photos based on how much I like the movie/character and the length of the line and how I'm feeling at that moment. As a slower runner, I have to balance everything and finishing the race takes precedence.
I think Phineas & Ferb have been on-course characters before so that is a possibility
I got a photo with Ferb in Epcot during the early part of the 2020 marathon.
So, are you wearing costumes for this year's races? Have you worn them in the past? What's your favorite costume you've worn? If you haven't worn costumes, what's the best one you've seen?
My first rule of race costume is that race appropriate clothing is rule one. So usually it will be much more loosely inspired by, but also hopefully somewhat obvious. That hasn't always worked.
2012 Wine & Dine Half I dressed as Prince Phillip from Sleeping Beauty. Wasn't very recognizable.
2015 Star Wars Half (
Disneyland): Luke Skywalker Return of the Jedi. Black works.
2016 Star Wars 10K (Disneyland): Darth Vader fanboy Kylo Ren. All black, Kylo Ren lightsaber and a Darth Vader mouse ears hat. A few people were upset with me for killing Han Solo and when I crossed the finish line, they played Kylo Ren's theme.
2017 Star Wars 10K (Disney World): Jedi Knight Prince Phillip. A toy lightsaber attached to my belt and the back of my cape read "Once Upon a Dream In a Galaxy Far, Far Away. . . ." This is the sort of costume that people who recognized it loved it.
2017 Star Wars Half (Disney World): Darth Vader sort of. Under Armour Vader tech shirt, but with BYU shorts. BYU colors are dark royal blue and white.
2017 Avengers Half Marathon: Batman being trained by Yoda. To honor the superhero theme and "protest" the cancellation of the 2018 Star Wars Half at Disneyland, I wore a Batman tech shirt and ran with the Yoda backpack. Lots of people loved it. I got some good natured teasing since Batman is not in the Marvel Universe. Perhaps my favorite comment came from the Disney CM dressed as Nick Fury who said "looks like someone is watching your back." For those who may not know, Samuel L. Jackson plays both Nick Fury and prequel era Jedi Mace Windu.
For last year's Princess virtual races, I went the etsy route and purchased Mandalorian armor shirts in yellow for Belle and pink and blue for Sleeping Beauty. I plan on using at least one of them for marathon weekend since they'll be greatly appreciated in Disney World.
I have tossing around ideas for this year. We'll have to see what actually happens as I will always follow the race appropriate clothing rule first especially for the marathon.
Tenative plan:
5K: Mandalorian armor Belle or super secret if I can pull it off mashup involving Marvel.
10K: Mandalorian armor Sleeping Beauty or something else.
Half and Full: TBD depending on weather.
SAFD: I love a mashup costume! Some of the favorites I've worn are Jungle Cruise Skipper Rey (got interviewed pre-race on the big screen with that one) and Darth Elsa. I always strive to come up with something unique that not everyone will do, or a true favorite that means something to me personally.
For MW, I'm doing all new costumes, and all things related to WDW in 1971 for the 50th.
5K: to be revealed... I'm SO PROUD of this idea but I'm still working out exactly how to do it and I'm terrified of someone stealing it. When it's ready, I'll share it.
10K: 1971 VIP tour guide (including the riding crop if it doesn't drive me crazy)
Half: Haunted Mansion umbrella portrait girl
Full: Orange Bird
At the 2015 Disneyland Half, I saw a runner dressed as Elsa Fett, complete with Han Solo frozen in carbonite. I would love to see photos of those costumes. I've also seen Wayne's World Garth Vader, and some people dressed as Captain Picard and even Dumbledore.
- Barf and Dot from Space Balls
I was so excited to get a picture with Barf after the 2017 Star Wars Half at Disneyland.
Watched a marathon vid with a few guys dressed as Marvel characters and the guy dressed as Doctor Strange was apparently totally gassed by the end of it (well, more than usual for a marathon at least). Part of that was due to the weather that day but it doesn't help if you're wearing a costume with long sleeves, a cape, and you're holding props the whole time.
Rules for running with a lightsaber.
1. Toy lightsabers only.
2. Belt clip is a necessity. Otherwise, your arm will hurt after carrying that lightweight toy lightsaber for miles.
Some favorites off the top of my head: Peter Pan and his shadow, the guy dressed as Kronk carrying that giant Yzma-in-a-tent thing, George Lucas, my friend who dressed as holiday Mary Poppins complete with 3D cardboard carousel horse.
During the 2015 Star Wars 10K in Disneyland I got a picture with "George Lucas" complete in jeans, a flannel shirt, and a megaphone. He was awesome.
Which begs the question - Where are people booking celebratory dinners?
I've decided to make that decision based on dessert. If a dessert sounds incredible, that's where I'm eating. Whatever I feel like for the stuff before dessert will figure itself out. This mentality has served me well in both 2019 and 2020 with different choices both years.
Since folks are booking some ADRs this week, let’s talk celebrations! For this week’s Sundays are for Disney, how are you celebrating at Marathon Weekend? If you don’t have any plans, what was your favorite past celebration? Or what’s your dream celebration?
I chose Liberty Tree Tavern based on dessert. There will be more celebratory meals in the days after the marathon, but the comfort food of Liberty Tree Tavern sounds safe and the dessert is a known great choice for me. I learned that I enjoy places like Le Cellier far more after my body has settled back to normal. So I have Space 220 on Monday after the marathon and Le Cellier on Wednesday after the marathon as the final meal of the trip.
I did Artist's Point with Dopey after 2019 and that was fun. In 2020, I opted for the Cinderella's Royal Table Celebration meal with fireworks viewing and dessert party after the fireworks. While that was expensive, it was pretty cool to sit in the fireworks viewing area with lots of room and just reflect on the events of the day and weekend. Being seated next to a window during sunset worked out really well. And the timing of the dessert party in relation to the end of dinner meant that I could enjoy all the desserts from various Magic Kingdom restaurants. It's an experience I will never forget. Glad I did it once. Would consider again for the right circumstances.