Marathon Weekend 2020

Has anyone done Whispering Canyon Cafe? Do you recommend it? I know I could do it solo, but would I miss out by not doing it in a group?

Also, what are the chances of walking into California Grill an hour before fireworks?

I’m trying to plan my first day (early afternoon arrival on Thursday 1/9, expo and no parks) and leaning between these two or Disney Springs, most likely Polite Pig.

I've eaten there quite a bit, never done this one solo yet, but they seem to pay pretty good attention and if you play along with them, it would still be fun. Ask for ketchup if you go. I like the food, though I will be honest and say that the brisket at Polite Pig was better than Whispering Canyon. Whispering Canyon is more lively and you get a good variety and all you can eat.
 
Has anyone done Whispering Canyon Cafe? Do you recommend it? I know I could do it solo, but would I miss out by not doing it in a group?

Also, what are the chances of walking into California Grill an hour before fireworks?

I’m trying to plan my first day (early afternoon arrival on Thursday 1/9, expo and no parks) and leaning between these two or Disney Springs, most likely Polite Pig.
I’m good with that. I just want to shoot fireworks up there.
You can join me at Top of the World. View should be the same as CG. Let me know!

I've eaten there quite a bit, never done this one solo yet, but they seem to pay pretty good attention and if you play along with them, it would still be fun. Ask for ketchup if you go. I like the food, though I will be honest and say that the brisket at Polite Pig was better than Whispering Canyon. Whispering Canyon is more lively and you get a good variety and all you can eat.

Agree with @Neon Cactus , I would choose Polite Pig over Whispering Canyon.
Not sure if they still do the ketchup thing. I read a while ago that they stopped doing that but it's quite possible they re-introduced it.
 
SAFD:

MK:
Eating a waffle with strawberries and whipped cream from Sleepy Hollow
EP: Watching July 4th fireworks from Italy
DHS: Finding a spot to sit with a blue or green milk and just watch the Batuuan world go by in GE
AK: TIGERS!!! I can spend an hour or more just watching the tigers be their best tiger-y selves ♥
 


Advice on flights needed! American Airlines changed my red eye AGAIN. So now I have two options, one requires more time off work and another evening away from my family but would put me in Orlando at 9am on Wednesday. The second option has me landing in Orlando at 4:03pm. Expo closes at 8:00. Do you think that would leave me enough time to pick up my Dopey Bib?
 
Advice on flights needed! American Airlines changed my red eye AGAIN. So now I have two options, one requires more time off work and another evening away from my family but would put me in Orlando at 9am on Wednesday. The second option has me landing in Orlando at 4:03pm. Expo closes at 8:00. Do you think that would leave me enough time to pick up my Dopey Bib?
If you can make the logistics work, the 9 am would be much, much better. You don’t want to go into Dopey stressed over the schedule, and exhausted from trying to make it all come together. If the flight is delayed, or changed again, you’d be cutting it awfully close. It would be so much nicer to get to the expo, then have time to relax and decompress before Dopey.
 
Advice on flights needed! American Airlines changed my red eye AGAIN. So now I have two options, one requires more time off work and another evening away from my family but would put me in Orlando at 9am on Wednesday. The second option has me landing in Orlando at 4:03pm. Expo closes at 8:00. Do you think that would leave me enough time to pick up my Dopey Bib?

My recommendation would be to go with the earlier flight. Flying cross-country that time of year and landing at 4:00pm doesn't leave any wiggle room for flight delays anywhere and would make for a very stressful flight and trip to the Expo. Not to mention that late trip to the Expo will lead to less opportunity for sleep prior to the super early wake up call for the 5k the next morning. I'd plan on the earlier flight both to be on the safe side and to make sure you're not overly stressed by the timing so you can get a more relaxed start to Dopey.
 


Advice on flights needed! American Airlines changed my red eye AGAIN. So now I have two options, one requires more time off work and another evening away from my family but would put me in Orlando at 9am on Wednesday. The second option has me landing in Orlando at 4:03pm. Expo closes at 8:00. Do you think that would leave me enough time to pick up my Dopey Bib?

if you can make the 9 am arrival work that would be my suggestion for multiple reasons:

1) the airline is likely to change your flight again.
2) weather delays
3) other flight delays
4) just missing the Magical Express to your hotel, having to wait 30 more minutes to get to your hotel and then having to wait for the shuttle to the expo
5) traffic accident between MCO and WDW that delays or shuts down the roadway.

It also lets you have a more relaxing evening.
 
If you can make the logistics work, the 9 am would be much, much better. You don’t want to go into Dopey stressed over the schedule, and exhausted from trying to make it all come together. If the flight is delayed, or changed again, you’d be cutting it awfully close. It would be so much nicer to get to the expo, then have time to relax and decompress before Dopey.
My recommendation would be to go with the earlier flight. Flying cross-country that time of year and landing at 4:00pm doesn't leave any wiggle room for flight delays anywhere and would make for a very stressful flight and trip to the Expo. Not to mention that late trip to the Expo will lead to less opportunity for sleep prior to the super early wake up call for the 5k the next morning. I'd plan on the earlier flight both to be on the safe side and to make sure you're not overly stressed by the timing so you can get a more relaxed start to Dopey.
if you can make the 9 am arrival work that would be my suggestion for multiple reasons:

1) the airline is likely to change your flight again.
2) weather delays
3) other flight delays
4) just missing the Magical Express to your hotel, having to wait 30 more minutes to get to your hotel and then having to wait for the shuttle to the expo
5) traffic accident between MCO and WDW that delays or shuts down the roadway.

It also lets you have a more relaxing evening.

This is what i figured as well....even though I don't like it....But it also has 2 layovers...so 2 chances for delays and bag losses vs just one. Ugh, I wonder if they'll let me cancel without a penalty.
 
Advice on flights needed! American Airlines changed my red eye AGAIN. So now I have two options, one requires more time off work and another evening away from my family but would put me in Orlando at 9am on Wednesday. The second option has me landing in Orlando at 4:03pm. Expo closes at 8:00. Do you think that would leave me enough time to pick up my Dopey Bib?
Are you coming from Orange County? As much as it would suck being away from your family another evening, I would take the earlier one to give yourself some wiggle room. It doesn't help you any, but as a side note, my husband and I are taking Delta out there and American back from Orange County. I couldn't find any good American flights out there.
 
This is what i figured as well....even though I don't like it....But it also has 2 layovers...so 2 chances for delays and bag losses vs just one. Ugh, I wonder if they'll let me cancel without a penalty.

If your flight change was over an hour, then you should be able to get a refund.
 
Are you coming from Orange County? As much as it would suck being away from your family another evening, I would take the earlier one to give yourself some wiggle room. It doesn't help you any, but as a side note, my husband and I are taking Delta out there and American back from Orange County. I couldn't find any good American flights out there.
Flying out from Sacramento. I was just looking at Deltas schedules and I definitely found one that works.

If your flight change was over an hour, then you should be able to get a refund.
Great to hear this. I'm going to call in a bit and try to cancel. Delta and United both have flights that work out better though they cost a bit more.
 
Advice on flights needed! American Airlines changed my red eye AGAIN. So now I have two options, one requires more time off work and another evening away from my family but would put me in Orlando at 9am on Wednesday. The second option has me landing in Orlando at 4:03pm. Expo closes at 8:00. Do you think that would leave me enough time to pick up my Dopey Bib?
I opted for a longer stay myself and would not risk being super stressed to obtain your Dopey bib.
 
I'm going to be staying off-resort for the first time for a race. I will have a rental car but was curious what the process is if you drive for one of the bigger races (half and full) Do you leave the car in one lot and return from the finish (other park) Has anyone had experience? Was it an easy task or complicated?
 
I'm going to be staying off-resort for the first time for a race. I will have a rental car but was curious what the process is if you drive for one of the bigger races (half and full) Do you leave the car in one lot and return from the finish (other park) Has anyone had experience? Was it an easy task or complicated?

You will drive to Epcot. The races will start and end there, so no need to move. There will be road closures to deal with--but they are published in advance and suggested routes are given by RunDisney to get there, if driving.

I have driven to races and had no issues.
 

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