2010 Princess Half Marathon and Flower & Garden Fest Trip!

[UGAFan0829]

Awesome updates!!! It seems as though we were pretty close to each other, as our finishing times weren't far off--mine was 3:33:25!!

I had NO idea that there were buses there in the parking lot to go back to the resorts. Mike and I actually ended up walking to the Epcot bus depot and taking a bus from there. I'm not quite sure how I missed the other buses. Where exactly were they located?

Are you planning to run the Princess again in February? I'm interested to see how the weather is going to turn out. This year wasn't too bad--it could have been as bad as the January races, but I sure hope it's a least a little warmer next year!

And I'm totally in awe of how you made it that long in the MK! We went straight back to the resort, and before we could even make it back, my muscles were already sore and stiff as boards. I was stubborn and wanted to take the stairs to our room since we were only on the 2nd floor, and I literally had to pick my legs up to get up the steps. I guess I learned my lesson--next time I'll make sure to keep moving!

 

[LBKB]

Was just checking in

 

[UsMcWifeForever]

reading along

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

I think your next trip should be for food & wine.

It probably won't be , but that would be fun!

Awesome updates!!! It seems as though we were pretty close to each other, as our finishing times weren't far off--mine was 3:33:25!!

I had NO idea that there were buses there in the parking lot to go back to the resorts. Mike and I actually ended up walking to the Epcot bus depot and taking a bus from there. I'm not quite sure how I missed the other buses. Where exactly were they located?

Are you planning to run the Princess again in February? I'm interested to see how the weather is going to turn out. This year wasn't too bad--it could have been as bad as the January races, but I sure hope it's a least a little warmer next year!

And I'm totally in awe of how you made it that long in the MK! We went straight back to the resort, and before we could even make it back, my muscles were already sore and stiff as boards. I was stubborn and wanted to take the stairs to our room since we were only on the 2nd floor, I literally had to pick my legs up to get up the steps. I guess I learned my lesson--next time I'll make sure to keep moving!

You probably were near me then! The buses were across the parking lot from the merchandise tents. You walked all the way to the Epcot buses! That sounds brutal and I would have been self conscious riding a bus with people who had not just done a half marathon! Most of us looked quite a bit disheveled by the end!

I am not doing the Princess this time. My friend Morgan that I did the 2010 one with is going again. This will be her third. If we had not just bought a house, I might have considered going again, but I need to rebuild my savings account. SO not as much fun as a trip to WDW!

I was stiff when I got to the hotel. I was on the 3rd floor and the thought of taking the stairs did not even come close to crossing my mind. I am convinced that the "therapy" bath bomb from Basin really helped my muscles. They were sore later, but not miserably so. I've heard that using cold or cool water after a race is good. I heard that LATER, but since I fell asleep in the tub, I did end up soaking in some cool water before I woke up. I guess it worked out for the best.

And that late night in the MK caught up with me very quickly in Epcot.

Was just checking in

reading along

Thanks to both of you! I was considering writing a trip report for my Disneyland Half Marathon trip, but I am so bad at getting this one done that I don't think I should start another!

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

Since I had never been to the Flower and Garden Festival, I decided I wanted a picture of ALL the topiaries. ALL of them.

Fortunately for me, and others like me, they have a GUIDE MAP.

You can see how crumpled mine is. In this picture, you can see why. You see, I crossed them off as I found them!

We entered Epcot through the International Gateway and Lori and I split up.

Lori had already been to Epcot while I was doing the half marathon, so she had already seen the flowers. She went on the rides while I headed out on my quest. I decided to go to the right, towards France.

The first topiaries I came across were labeled "Classic Disney Couples".

First up was Princess Aurora and Prince Phillip.

Then I saw Cinderella and Prince Charming.

The map lists "Fragrance Garden" in the France Pavilion. I did take a quick look at them before coming across the "Beauty and the Beast Topiary" located on the lake in front of the France Pavilion. This was a large topiary with several characters.

There was a section called "The Art of Green Living" between the France and Morocco Pavilions. It was a set up of a hypothetical backyard and it was very nice. I could not capture with photos the whole set up. It believe it had an outdoor seating area with a tent, along with a little path through a garden and a wall for climbing plants and a water feature. It was very nice and I would love to have a yard like that!

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

The next topiary I came across was Aladdin. As you might expect, he was in front of the Morocco Pavilion.

I am the type that has to read all the little information charts at a museum, zoo, etc.... so these little information tidbits at each topiary were really interesting to me.

It's probably a good thing that Lori left me to browse this by myself.

I put this second picture of Aladdin because you can see he is standing on his magic carpet and he is in Morocco, so the setting is so convincing!

The next set of plants I came across was the "Bonsai Collection" in the Japan Pavilion.

It was about this time that I started to notice I was getting a little tired. That's right....3 pavilions into Epcot and I'm starting to power down. However, I continued on in my quest to see ALL of Epcot's beauty!

The next scene was "A Salute to Community Gardens" and it was in the America Pavilion. In this scene, the little info cards were suggestions to "eat the rainbow" and "ABC's of Nutrition"....suggestions on creating vegetable gardens. I liked this scene because it had the Fab 5 Disney Characters! It also reminded me of working at a school (inner-city) that had part of the school yard fenced off to create a community garden. People from the neighborhood could have a plot in the garden, and the school also had a plot. The kids got a chance to garden, and they really enjoyed it.

I continued on to Italy, where I came across "Amore nel Giardino (Love in the Garden)", featuring Lady and the Tramp.

Looking at the pictures, sometimes it's hard to remember these are all created from plants! The ears on Lady are so convincing!

It makes me want to watch the Rose Parade...they only use flowers and plant material for every visible portion of the floats! Incredible!

This is not anything special for the Garden Fest, but it's still cool. The obligatory photos from the train display in the Germany Pavilion:

I love the details!

This picture looks like the little town IS celebrating their own mini-garden fest! Mini-topiaries!

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

I continued my trek around World Showcase and just past the Germany Pavilion found the Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Topiary. They had all 7 dwarfs, Snow White, and a few accessories in one scene. This was one of my favorites.

The next pavilion is China.

The big topiary is a dragon in the pond in the middle of the pavilion. This is one of the few topiaries I remember seeing in early June 2005. I don't recall seeing it on every trip, so I think it is a part of the Garden Festival. The title in the Guide Map for the China Pavilion is "Bromeliad Dragon and Chinese Zodiac".

I'm not really into the zodiac, but they had one topiary for each year in the 12 year cycle. The signs for each animal included the animal name, the years for that animal, and the information about the personality of that animal.

Eleven of the twelve animals were located on the pathway outside the main building. I walked around this path several times before giving up and asking a CM where the 12th animal was! The 12th animal - the Tiger - had been given a more prominent position along the main World Showcase pathway! It got a special spot since this was the Year of the Tiger.

The pictures are probably not in the right order, but they are all here!

Description of the Chinese Zodiac:

Monkey:

Rooster:
Apparently my birth year makes me a Rooster. The description, in my opinion, doesn't totally fit, however!

Dog:

Snake:

Dragon:

Sheep:

Rat:

Ox:

Rabbit:

Pig:

Horse:

And, the special display for the Year of the Tiger:

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

I was REALLY starting to drag by this point, but I continued on.

I saw the "Tricky Troll Topiary" in front of the Norway Pavilion.

I kind of wanted to stop and ride the ride here, but I was getting so tired and I just wanted to see the flowers, but first I wanted to stop and sit for a little bit.

I went to Mexico to try to find the "Beautiful Bromeliads". I was looking for something really cool like the dragon in China. However, this pavilion was under construction out front, and I think I came to the conclusion that the plants here were potted on the steps of the pavilion. Despite having spent the longest time at this pavilion out of all of them, I have no pictures of any flowers!

I had gone in the pavilion to take some pictures of the wood carvings. I have a friend who has lived in Oaxaca, Mexico - the focus of the display in the entry to the pavilion. She has given me an authentic wood carving (as in, from the real Oaxaca, not Epcot) and I wanted to show her the display. The pictures I got are terrible, however, and she is a professional photographer! She has not yet seen the pictures, and I'm not sure she will!

So why did I spend so long here, the longest of any pavilion? Well, I fell asleep on a bench in the market. I went inside, where it was dark and cool. My whole body felt so heavy and all I wanted to do was rest. When you enter the nighttime market inside the pavilion, you can go down a ramp (stairs?) on the right or the left. There is a little balcony in the middle to overlook the market. Under the balcony is a bench....I found it!

I was feeling so crummy that I actually considered going to first aid. I ended up not going, for a few reasons:
1. The walk to the Odyssey (from Mexico - next door!) felt sooooo far!
2. Seriously?! I was thinking about going to first aid?! Because I was TIRED?! They were going to tell me to TAKE A NAP!!

I stayed put on the bench and took a little power nap in the dark to recharge a bit before continuing. I couldn't just STAY there all day...I eventually had to make it back to the resort to catch the towncar to the airport!

I did make it over to the main walkway to Future World. I had seen the Mickey and Minnie topiary during the half marathon, and I wanted to get a better look.

I thought this one was cool. The guide says it was "Presented by Disneynature Oceans". This was back around the time they were advertising for the new movie! (Sorry I have been SO INSANELY SLOW in posting this report! )

 

[LBKB]

Ok I love the pictures. But now I want to go to Disney soooo bad.

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

Ok I love the pictures. But now I want to go to Disney soooo bad.

Thanks!

I am having the same side effect while writing this. I want to go back!!

 

[LBKB]

Maybe we should have a contest to see how cheaply we could go for.

 

[portocall]

Bethany, I am loving your updates. The pictures are beatiful of the garden festival. I have been to Epcot many times during it but never cared enough to give it more than a sideways glance as I ran by. It might be the fact that my thumb is so brown I was afraid of killing them just by association.

You are the only one I know who has to read every word on every placard. I am glad you were left in peace to do so.

Napping all over the World! I am sure that is not how you hoped to end your trip but I am glad you fell asleep in relatively safe locations. I always used Spaceship Earth and the ride through Mexico as great power nap locations but you needed so much more than a power nap.

And yum on that milkshake. Now I really want one.

 

[MamaPotts]

Nice updates! Wondering if you made it over to the UK, and if they had the different kinds of plants included in Twinings tea. I'd loved that the year we went for F&GF and yes, I read every single placard.

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

Maybe we should have a contest to see how cheaply we could go for.

I've been playing that "game" for the past few trips. I think the only way I can get much cheaper is by staying home!

I suppose I COULD stay off-site, but I like the DME, the package pick up, the Disney transit, etc... too much for that! For me at WDW at this point in time, it's on-site or not go! Granted, I didn't use a lot of the perks on this Princess trip, but the one that was MOST important, I did use - the Disney Race Transit that was only offered at select resorts.

I do stay off-site at Disneyland. They have a ton of motels right across the street, and the perks for on-site aren't substantial enough to make up the massive cost difference for me.

Bethany, I am loving your updates. The pictures are beatiful of the garden festival. I have been to Epcot many times during it but never cared enough to give it more than a sideways glance as I ran by. It might be the fact that my thumb is so brown I was afraid of killing them just by association.

You are the only one I know who has to read every word on every placard. I am glad you were left in peace to do so.

Napping all over the World! I am sure that is not how you hoped to end your trip but I am glad you fell asleep in relatively safe locations. I always used Spaceship Earth and the ride through Mexico as great power nap locations but you needed so much more than a power nap.

And yum on that milkshake. Now I really want one.

LOL at the brown thumb and death by association!

No, naps are not how I envisioned the last day of the trip to go! And the Mexico nap was not the only one of the morning.....

Nice updates! Wondering if you made it over to the UK, and if they had the different kinds of plants included in Twinings tea. I'd loved that the year we went for F&GF and yes, I read every single placard.

At least I'm not the only one to read all the placards!!

You'll have to keep reading to see if I made it to the UK or not...

More updates should be coming later today! Thanks for still reading along!

 

[Happy Mom2]

Thank you so much for your wonderful trip report. You have inspired me to participate in the 2012 Princess 1/2 Marathon.

 

[Shannon84]

What beautiful pictures!!! I really love the lady and the tramp one (cause of lady's ears ) and the Snow White with the dwarfs is adorable!!

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

Thank you so much for your wonderful trip report. You have inspired me to participate in the 2012 Princess 1/2 Marathon.

Awwww, thanks! Good luck with your goal!

What beautiful pictures!!! I really love the lady and the tramp one (cause of lady's ears ) and the Snow White with the dwarfs is adorable!!

Thanks! All the topiaries were fantastic. I liked them all!

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

During the half marathon, we passed a group of fairies that were cheering us on. Aside from Tinker Bell, I am not familiar with the Disney fairies. I know they have a meet and greet area now in the Magic Kingdom, but these are characters I am not familiar with.

Well, what luck! Epcot had a "Pixie Hollow Fairy Garden" that had little scenes for each fairy as well as an info placard. I was about to get a little Disney Education! This area also had a little butterfly pavilion. It was nice, but not as cool as the butterfly pavilions at the Bronx Zoo or the Audubon Insectarium. I didn't spend a lot of time inside it.

This, apparently, is Iridessa, a light fairy. "She can bend a sunbeam or make a rainbow." Cool.

The info placards had little metal spots where kids could take paper and crayons and make a rubbing. I declined to participate in that portion of the Garden Festival.

Here she is with her rainbow....

As a kid, sometimes we would pretend there were fairies living in a tree next door. We didn't have very many trees where I grew up, but we were pretty sure elves and fairies lived in the one at my friend's house. We had vivid imaginations...

I think I would have loved this whole scene as a kid. They had Tinkerbell's plans for her balloon, and the balloon!

This is the "21 Butterfly Salute", which according to the sign is "a carefully planned demonstration created for celebrations of all kinds. Signaled by Fawn's whistle blow, 21 butterflies simultaneously fly into the air creating a beautiful airborne display."

This is Fawn. She is an "animal fairy".

It's her butterfly house.

For a temporary display, it's pretty nice:

I believe this was outside the butterfly house. It's a cute little display that reminds me of the kind of stuff my friends and I tried to create as children.

This is Rosetta, a "garden fairy", so her scene includes a garden!

Here is a lot of people's favorite fairy, Tinker Bell! Since she is the only one I was aware of prior to this, she's my favorite by default!

Since they have her standing on a rock, I was interested to find out what her title was and how they described her.

Turns out, she's a "Tinker Fairy".

She "invents time saving tools for the other fairies." Hmmm...maybe she could help me out! Maybe she is still my favorite, if only for that reason!

This is Vidia...her crayon rubbing includes a tornado! Apparently she is such a fast flier that she creates wind.

Here's the only boy fairy, Terrance. He "gives fairies the dust that helps them fly." Interesting.

 

[portocall]

Thanks for the fairy lessons. When I first read it, I read Tinker Bell was a stinker fairy. I didn't realize you could make the etchings of the name plates. That would be cool and remind me of my childhood. We had plenty of trees to play on but nothing beat playing bank where we would use the sides of crayons to make "credit card" etchings of IOU's... good times those were.

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

One of the topiary scenes I was looking forward to seeing after looking at the Guide Map was the "Princess Tiana's Wedding Bayou" scene. I really liked the movie, and all the topiaries around Epcot were really cool. After seeing the Fairy Garden (which also included a children's playground!), I was thinking it could be really cool.

Well, it wasn't all that exciting.

The entrance was cute, but not nearly as detailed as the Fairy one.

They did have the crayon rubbing things and info placards about each character. Those were kind of cool.

Unlike the fairies, the rubbings were not names. Louis had music notes and Naveen had lips! The riddle under the rubbing said "...to reveal what he's looking for"!

Princess Tiana got hearts:

And Ray got a little "buzz" icon. Ray is one of my favorite characters in this movie.

Here's why this scene wasn't as exciting:

They weren't topiaries! All around Epcot, everything was a topiary! These were cut-out characters placed in front of a fake tree!

It's not terrible, but....it's not fantastic like all the rest of the scenes! I can't find a *pout* smiley on this list. HMPH.

I was REALLY starting to drag by this point. I had seen most of the Lion King topiaries during the half marathon, but I still wanted to find Stitch. I found him in front of Mission:Space.

By this point, I was done. I think I texted Lori to see if she wanted to meet up to go to wait around at All Star Sports. She had just started the Longest Ride At Disney World - Ellen's Energy Adventure. I have not been on that ride in years; I considered going on it at this point. However, I was toast. Stick a fork in me, I was done. I just wanted to go home!

Yes, I has been in WDW for just over 48 hours and I wanted to go HOME!

I just wanted to sleep. So, I found a bench and took a nap. Seriously. I slept on a bench in Epcot. A concrete bench, no less!

There is a path that runs all the way from Mission: Space to the Land. It goes under the monorail path and between the Innoventions buildings between Electric Umbrella and Mouse Gears, and keeps going across to the land. It gets a fair amount of traffic...so where do I go to relax? In a quiet spot? NO. I just found the nearest bench, and it happened to be directly under the monorail beam and on this busy pathway.

Now, I didn't lay down to sleep. I used to live in NYC and I have plenty of practice dozing on subway trains. So, I put that practice to good use. I use a drawstring backpack at WDW, so I just folded my arms through the straps, titled my head forward a little, and dozed off. It was a really light sleep; I kept waking up every time the monorail passed, and I woke up a few other times, but at least I got a little power nap in. I was on that bench until Lori was done at Universe of Energy - so 30 to 45 minutes!