"Get your elbows off the table!!!" A marathon weekend TR completed 3/22

[rteetz]

Hello and Welcome to my second trip report!

My name is Ryan, the director, teen, disney fanatic, planner, and newbie runner. I am 16 years old and this is my 7th WDW trip. My first one was when I was 8 months old. I play high school football and my dream is to go into engineering and become an imagineer.



Last year I found out about marathon weekend and was just dying to participate. So when registration opened in April I jumped in and registered for the 10k. I wanted something that would be a little bit of a challenge but not crazy since I had never run any type of race before. That made me settle on the 10k, which now made me want to do even more, but we will get into that later. I registered and didn't have a trip planned, and didn't know who I was going with. I talked to my Aunt and Uncle about going and low and behold for my 16th birthday I get a trip to Disney!

So for the first trip ever being without my parents and sisters, I am with my wonderful Aunt Pauline and Uncle Craig and my Grandparents George and Joan. We are all from the Badger State and home of the Green Bay Packers, the great and cold state of Wisconsin.

My Aunt and Uncle are from northern Wisconsin and don't have any kids but have three dogs that are basically their kids. They haven't been to WDW since about 1985.



My Grandparents are long time Disney goers they took their kids from 1974 until about 1990. Their last time was around 1999. My grandpa has been a high school football coach for 50 years in Wisconsin and was a teacher so they would always go for spring break.




Some facts about our trip.
Resort- Port Orleans Riverside
Four day base ticket
Disney Regular Dining Plan

So lets get the Trip Report started!

 

[rteetz]

Table of Contents

1. Day 1. 1/7
Arrival Day http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=52911822&postcount=9

Day 2. 1/8
Are we back in Wisconsin? http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=52914862&postcount=16
Grandma is holding on for dear life Part 1 http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=52923974&postcount=21
Grandma is holding on for dear life Part 2 http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=52945237&postcount=36
Festival of the Lion King! http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=52946041&postcount=39
Pauline would not have liked this one! http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=52954803&postcount=50
Just take all of my money!! and a Surprise... http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=52962845&postcount=55

Day 3. 1/9
Race Day!!! http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=52968153&postcount=64
Race Day part 2 http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=52968368&postcount=66
Elsa must be angry! http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=52980856&postcount=77
Elsa must be angry! part 2 http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=52981041&postcount=79
Its a German Biergarten! http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=52995818&postcount=89
The longest day ever! #98
Part 2 #99

Day 4. 1/10
Its a Magical day in the MK #103
Reunited and it feels so good! #107
Reunited and it feels so good! Part 2 #108
A million pictures of a parade! #111
A million pictures of a parade! Part 2 #112
A million pictures of a parade! Part 3 #115
Its January but Christmas isn't over #116
Try the Grey Stuff its delicious! #117
Heigh-Ho Heigh-Ho its off to the Mine Train we go! #120
Its time for something new... #124
Its time for something new... Part 2 #125
Yeehaw! #126

Day 5. 1/11
Rain and Runners #131 photopass photos #135
GO Pack Go! and a lot of runners #136
GO Pack Go! and a lot of runners Part 2 #137
Get your elbows off the table!!! #140

Day 6. 1/12
The Tragical express ay its finest #143

Final Thoughts #144

 

[emilyindisney]

Hi Ryan, count me in!

I love the WDW 10k course (highway sections and all) so I can't wait to hear your thoughts on it! I'm also excited to hear about POR- that place is just too gorgeous!

How fun that this is the first trip your grandparents have taken to WDW since 1999!

 

[rteetz]

Hi Ryan, count me in! I love the WDW 10k course (highway sections and all) so I can't wait to hear your thoughts on it! I'm also excited to hear about POR- that place is just too gorgeous! How fun that this is the first trip your grandparents have taken to WDW since 1999!

I loved the course as well and I'll talk more about that later. This was my second stay at POR and I love that place. My grandparents were definitely tired after our trip but it was a lot of fun. Thanks for following along.

 

[Pluto0809]

Thanks for the invite! I can't wait to read all about your trip. The races have always fascinated me but I broke my ankle very badly about 12 years ago so running is not an option for me. It will be fun reading all about it though!

 

[Biggie Smalls]

Following along... I did the 10k too so I'm interested to hear your take on the race!

 

[rteetz]

Thanks for the invite! I can't wait to read all about your trip. The races have always fascinated me but I broke my ankle very badly about 12 years ago so running is not an option for me. It will be fun reading all about it though!

thanks for coming aboard. I was fascinated too that's why I decided to try one. Sorry about your ankle tho that's gotta suck.

 

[rteetz]

Following along... I did the 10k too so I'm interested to hear your take on the race!

Thanks for following along.

 

[rteetz]

Arrival Day!

I got to sleep in because I didn't have to go to school because of course I was going to DISNEY! The prior day we actually got out of school early because we had a bomb threat. We left my house at 10 am to go pick up my aunt, uncle, and grandparents to head to the airport. By 11:30 we were through security and sitting in an airport restaurant. Turns out I wasn't missing anything at school because some idiot made a copycat bomb threat. What is with people these days! We go on the plan at around 1:50 which was 15 minutes late due to technical issues because we were leaving on the coldest day of the year. Just after 2 PM we were in the air and headed to the warmer but actually not a whole lot warmer Orlando.

We landed at 5:40 PM



and got on the Magical Express at 6:15. We had a 7:20 ADR at Portobello and I just knew we were going to be late because we landed late. Checked in at POR, got our room, and called Portobello to tell them we were going to be late. We finally got to Portobello at 8:10 almost an hour late. Thankfully we were seated in about five minutes.







I don't have any dining photos of Portobello but it was very good. I got the Spaghetti, my uncle Lasagna, my aunt and grandpa the Steak, and my grandma one of the chicken dishes. We really enjoyed the dinner after a day of travel. For dessert my grandma and I got the berry sorbet, my aunt got the coffee dessert, and my uncle and grandpa for the custard.

After dinner we headed back towards the marketplace. We didn't head to west side at all this trip.

I took a photo of the new amphitheater and a band was playing.



We went to TrenD because my mom wanted scares that she saw here last time so I got her two because they were 2 for 36. We also stopped in the Co-op but I didn't buy anything this time. Final stop was World of Disney, I bought a new vinylmation for my collection and some antenna toppers because my mom collects those.

It was cold and we weren't prepared for it so we headed back for bed.

DTD still had some Christmas decor up.



We got the Disney Infinity wrapped bus for out trip back to POR.



Once back at the room we realized our luggage wasn't there. So we called and they got confused because originally we were supposed to be in a second floor room but we switched to a first floor because of my grandparents. So they brought it and we got settled in for the night.

Up Next: Are we back in Wisconsin?

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

following!!

 

[emilyindisney]

Ahhh- I LOVE the Louis pillow in your room! That's awesome!

I'm glad your reservation got moved without a hitch. I know it's stressful to be running behind and worrying about missing things because of flight delays!

Yeah...we were a little unprepared for the cold too! We tried not to complain though because obviously it was still better than sub zero temps at home!

 

[rteetz]

following!!

Thanks for following along!

Ahhh- I LOVE the Louis pillow in your room! That's awesome!

I'm glad your reservation got moved without a hitch. I know it's stressful to be running behind and worrying about missing things because of flight delays!

Yeah...we were a little unprepared for the cold too! We tried not to complain though because obviously it was still better than sub zero temps at home!

Yes we were very glad that they moved it without any problems. I agree that the Florida cold was much better than where we came from. When we left it was -30 wind chills.

 

[broadwaybookworm]

Following. Just got back from my trip which came at the end of marathon weekend. Excited to hear about the other side.

 

[Biggie Smalls]

I couldn't believe how much of the holiday decor was still up too. I loved that pillow on the beds- I want to stay there on future trips for sure!

 

[rteetz]

Following. Just got back from my trip which came at the end of marathon weekend. Excited to hear about the other side.

Thanks for coming along for the ride!

I couldn't believe how much of the holiday decor was still up too. I loved that pillow on the beds- I want to stay there on future trips for sure!

Definitely try and stay at POR its one of my favorites. The resort is a bit spread out but its quite beautiful and I really like their food court.

 

[rteetz]

The start of day 2 was a cold one that was for sure, hence the title of the thread because it sure felt like we were back home except for all the sun. This was our Animal Kingdom day but before that we had an ADR at Boma for breakfast. This would be my first time eating here. Actually every place we ate at this trip I had never eaten at before so it was a trip of trying new things. Our ADR was at 8 AM so we had to be up early to get there.

We hopped on a bus to Epcot and then transferred there to AKL. We arrived, checked in and got seated in a matter of minutes. I really love AKL. I have never stayed there but that is like number one on my list of places I want to stay at.



Our server came and gave us our jungle juice, and all of us got hot tea or coffee because we were so cold.



The buffet was really good. Especially the carved meat station. Boma also had special Simba waffles along with the regular mickey waffles so I had one of each. I am a big bacon eater but I have a complaint about Disney bacon everywhere you go its never very crispy its usually very greasy and soggy. Its not terrible but it could be better.

This was only one of my many plates.



I just love how well themed this resort is.







Boma was a great time. I would most definitely eat there again. After we filled our bellies we stopped in the gift shop.







We didn't buy anything but it was nice to look around because that gift shop is quite a bit different than the typical Disney hotel gift shop. After that we headed to the bus stop to go to our destination for the day Animal Kingdom. AK is really a beautiful park its my second favorite, my first being MK.

While waiting we stood out in the sun so we could at least be a little warmer.





Up Next: Grandma is holding on for dear life!

 

[emilyindisney]

Boma looks so yummy! Isn't AKL's lobby seriously amazing? It's one of my top places to stay soon too!

I love all the wooden cravings they sell at both AKL and AK. I actually have one of the giraffe ones but I'd love an elephant one too!

 

[rteetz]

Boma looks so yummy! Isn't AKL's lobby seriously amazing? It's one of my top places to stay soon too! I love all the wooden cravings they sell at both AKL and AK. I actually have one of the giraffe ones but I'd love an elephant one too!

Yes I love everything about AKL.

 

[ursalita]

Joining in!

 

[rteetz]

Joining in!

Welcome!