The princess expo didn't sound as crazy as it did in years past this year. Maybe people are starting to realize it's not worth being crazy?
I don't know, but after reading reports of last year's expo insanity, I am pleased that it was downright boring this year.
That half pin is really strange. That doesn't even look like Belle.
For real though! They did her eyes/eyebrows in yellow for some reason. I may try to "fix" it.
For a female centered race I really like those think medals. I plan on running that one year just because it's right around my birthday and some years falls on my birthday.
Me too, and I am no Tink fan!
I've never been to Sanaa. Everyone raves about it and the bread service. I have to get over there some day.
It's so good, I highly recommend it!
Going in the afternoon for Princess is such a better experience! That is our plan for next year for the 10th anniversary (we also don't care about that merchandise!)
Yes, definitely wait and go later! So much more relaxed this way!
Sanaa looks great! We love it there! We'll probably end up staying at AKV for Princess so Sanaa will be our post half meal before heading home!
Isn't it the best? Love it there. The food is always good and interesting!
Those Tink medals look so much better than previous years! I love the challenge metal!
Me too, I am SO glad they re-designed it!
What does butter chicken taste like? I must know!
It tastes like heaven.
In actuality, it's hard to describe.
Disney Food Blog says: "[it] has a rich, delicious sauce, full of complex flavors. Traditionally made with a combination of butter (natch), tomato puree, garam masala, and other spices..." It's just really good!
Btw if you need a lobbyist for female-cut tech 5k shirts and red head emojis just let me know. I can make free time for those important causes.
I appreciate that. You are a true hero.
Wow - an easy breezy princess expo! I must say I am SHOCKED!
Me too!
Love the I Did It shirts - the vneck and the design on the back is great! Disney is really getting better at shirt design! (mostly)
I agree. I really like the cut of shirt they (runDisney) uses for the I Did It shirts - part of why I get them for most races. They're pretty comfortable!
That half pin...WTH happened to poor Belle??? I love the pins that are medal replicas with the little tiny ribbons on them - those are my favorite!
I like them too! Normally I don't get them (because I gotta draw the line somewhere when it comes to merchandise) but I do like having them for Coast-to-Coast!
Yummy Sanaa! Love that place! Wine and bread make the perfect pre-race meal!
I totally agree! A winning combination!
I was at the expo about an hour early and it was a breeze then too! I bought the same sweaty band but never got to wear it...wah
so sad! I love me some naan and super embarrassed to say as many times as I've stayed at AKL I've never eaten there! I'm a loser, I know!!!!
I'm sorry. I hope you are feeling better!!
You have to try Sanaa, it's so good!
The Belle pin for the Half is so weird. I don't know what happened with the printing process this year, but I really hope they get it together. I have really liked the pins in the past, but I would have been so disappointed with this year's Half pin.
Ugh, I know! I think they just did her facial features in a totally wrong color. It's so strange!
I do really like the new Tinkerbell and Pixie Dust medals. I did the inaugural Pixie Dust and I'm proud of my medal, but that one was a little strange.
I agree with you there! I am happy that they re-designed the PDC medal!
Good to know about the expo being less crowded in the afternoon. I'll have to keep that in mind for the future!
Yes - it was the same at Tink and Wine & Dine. At Marathon Weekend in January I (unknowingly) got to the expo 30-45 minutes after it opened and it was INSANE. Later in the afternoon is the way to go!
Nice expo haul! But yeah, that half pin is kinda weird. Is it actually supposed to look like Belle? Because it really does not.
Like...yes? Maybe?
I'm glad you survived the expo with no injuries! You know how I feel about going later in the day ... I really think it does make such a difference!
Hey, me too! I am totally a convert to going later in the day, it is SO much better!
That naan looks really good. (Then again, I like pretty much all bread, so it's rare for me to say that a bread doesn't look good)
Also, I'm very entertained that you're so in love with the butter chicken. I'm guessing it tastes as good as it looks.
Yeah bread is pretty much always good. And I am not afraid to hide my love for Butter Chicken.
I wonder if they'd let me get double butter chicken instead of the non-meat portion of that meal? I bet not...
Another
@Ariel484 Trip Report! My sunday evening just improved. Can't wait to hear about the races!
Thanks for reading!!
Like everyone else I agree that half pin is odd, Belle looks creepy,where's her nose?!?! But I'm glad to see it was the logo pins for pre-order, hope it's like that for Darkside & the Dopey bundle being mini medals was just a mix up. I'm annoyed that for the marathon '18 you can't just pre-order a single pin. I'm sure they won't sell out, but it's nice having it pre-ordered especially after the wine & dine 10k pin problem.
Exactly!! The ink they used is too light. I have black and brown fine-point permanent markers, I may try to fix it. On the other hand, I also have zero artistic talent, sooo....
I like the shirts, especially the 5k one! Yeah women's cut would be nice for sure. I like doing expos later in the day too, think we might aim for 2-3 too for Darkside. The last few we've done at night after my brother gets off work, but he isn't running (even though my sis-in-law texted saying she signed him, but never really did come to find out, fake news I guess) so we won't meet him. It's fine then but so close to closing I feel a little rushed & no characters out still.
Fake news, haha. I saw a lot of "fake news" signs during the half (at mile 1: "the race is almost over. Fake news!" stuff like that). But at Princess they did seem to do a good job re-stocking stuff later that first day so I'm sure you could show up late and still have a decent variety of stuff, you know?
At Wine & Dine expo they had characters out from 2-6 at the expo. Not sure if that's the same for all, but at Princess they did have Princesses out meeting (didn't feel like waiting in line).
"Do or Do not, there is no try"--Yoda You WILL get them!
Thanks!!
Maybe you are right about HM. She kept saying, "isn't this a little scary for kids?" and I was just like "Disney isn't just for kids!!"
Alright then!
THIS DOES NOT COUNT AS A CHARACTER STOP, RUNDISNEY!!! ARG!! 
I think my fast-for-me first mile combined with just eating the granola bar that morning was catching up to me. The 94% humidity and, shall we say, *very light* training I had done for this weekend didn't help!
