Marathon Weekend 2021

[jeff_h]

At MK, when I first get through the gates, it hasn't quite sunk in, yet.

Round the corner, I see the flagpole, still hasn't sunk in, yet.

Round the next corner, I look down Main Street, and then see Cinderella Castle.

NOW it's sunk in!

When DD was 16 we bought her friend with us and it was the friend's first visit... when we went under the railroad station and past the flagpole and then saw the castle in the distance, DD's 16yo friend said "OMG, THIS is the best day of my life"... so yup that's a common location where it's "sunk in."

 

[kirstie101]

SAFD:
At Disneyland it’s drinking a cup of coffee and eating Mickey beignets in New Orleans Square while looking out at Rivers of America before the crowds arrive.

At WDW, since I’ve only been on one trip, I have to go with the finish line at the races. Hard to beat the feeling of finishing Dopey and your first Full!

 

[CDKG]

For this week's SAFD, where is your Happy Place at Disney?

My happy place at Disney is Epcot. My first glimpse of Spaceship Earth when entering the park. The sights and sounds as I wander around World Showcase. A margarita and cheese empanadas at La Cantina or the vegetarian platter at Tangierine Cafe. Continuing to wander World Showcase by torchlight. Finally, seeing Spaceship Earth lit up in pinks, blues and purples on my walk out at the end of the night.

 

[opusone]

SAFD: my happy place changes with every visit, because it occurs wherever the “magic” happens… at the hotel when my daughter starts skipping with joy to the resort bus stop, at a park when a cast member does something above and beyond to make some kid’s day (or year), on a boat at the end of the day on Seven Seas Lagoon when the captain starts singing Disney tunes, when the monorail pilot picks your family to sit in the front of the monorail, in a restaurant when the chef personally comes out to talk to you about your son’s allergies, and the list goes on

 

[lhermiston]

Just to clarify, @lhermiston, is our Disney Happy Place the same as our Laughin’ Place?

It sure can be!

 

[pluto377]

My happy place is pretty much anywhere! If I had to choose I'd say Main St USA. I love just walking along looking at the people and shops and enjoying the atmosphere. Another favorite is seeing spaceship earth all lit up before it's completely dark, like when it's still twilight. So beautiful.

 

[Dis_Yoda]

My Disney Happy Place is that feeling when I walk through the Boardwalk arch getting ready to check into my room as its "home".

The other is strolling through the grounds at Grand Floridian.

 

[Jason Bryer]

Anyone else not get an email about canceling registration? I sent a support email two days ago but haven't received a response from that either (and I have been checking my spam folder).

Just a heads up I finally got a response from support. Took almost four days, but they said the cancelation will go through in mid-November.

 

[Jason Bryer]

SAFD: Here are a couple:
* Wandering round boardwalk area
* Monorail (and now Gondolas too) for the quiet
* Anyplace in Epcot really, but especially the world showcase with beer in hand

 

[ZellyB]

SAFD: This is a hard one...there are so many

- Riding People Mover with my husband and kids
- Sitting in the hub with my family eating hot dogs and waiting for HEA
- The gasps from the crowd when people see Tink flying down from the castle during HEA (chills every time)
- Seeing my kids become the Disney lover that I am

There are too many to list honestly.

 

[PrincessV]

SAFD: I have entirely too many spots in WDW! Some faves...

The Poly beach at sunset
Fireworks from behind the castle in MK
In EP: the gardens in China, UK, and Japan, the galleries in Japan and Morocco, the "shortcut" from FW to WS past the Odyssey, the far side of France near the water (though I expect that's a goner with RAT opening) - love sitting a spell in all of those spots
The trails in Africa and Asia in AK
Anywhere in Batuu I can sit and watch the galaxy go by
The upstairs (4th floor?) fireplace in WL
Coral Reef restaurant in EP - the only quiet meals I've had in all of WDW

Really, any place that provides some respite from the hustle & bustle of busy parks and resorts makes me happy.

 

[stitchfan18]

Has anyone dealt with a registration refund for either of the previously cancelled races that was paid for with a gift card? Will Disney issue the refund as a new gift card or refund back to the gift card that was used? I'm not 100% sure I kept the gift card I used for payment. I'm just wondering if I need to email them to get my refund on a new gift card.

 

[Jason Bryer]

SAFD: This is a hard one...there are so many

- Riding People Mover with my husband and kids

I can't believe I forgot People Mover. One of my favorites. Great way to relax mid afternoon.

 

[Donald-Duck-QUACK-TASTIC]

SAFD: This is a hard one...there are so many

- Riding People Mover with my husband and kids
- Sitting in the hub with my family eating hot dogs and waiting for HEA
- The gasps from the crowd when people see Tink flying down from the castle during HEA (chills every time)
- Seeing my kids become the Disney lover that I am

There are too many to list honestly.

Are you me???

Haha you basically listed my exact ones. I will say, we're leaving WDW now to head home and it's sad in so many ways. My wife and I came down without the kids (3, 7, 9) before our family trip with the grandparents mid November this year. So many things we loved we're different or closed, etc. No Casey's Corner hot dogs while watching the main street traffic / HEA fireworks. No random pops of music and fireworks from the stage show. No Festival of Fantasy surprising our kids and watching them light up with happiness. No ending the night at Epcot with Soarin and test track after spending all day at one of the other parks. No ending the night at Ohana and catching the fireworks across the lake.

The fireworks, closures (Main Street Ice Cream, Casey's, Ohana), character meets, all hurt the experience a lot more than I thought they would.

I'm praying things are mostly back to normal for Disney World by our holiday trip next November 2021. My little ones are growing up quick...

 

[Livelovedance]

So after looking at the math, I’ll be taking the full refund and then signing up for the virtual. If I were to switch I’d lose out on the majority of the 6.6% fee. Depending on which race(s) you’re doing, it ranges from a few dollars to over $20. I realize it’s not a lot of money, it’s really just the principle of it. I don’t think rD should make those of us who signed up to run in person pay more then those who will sign up after us.

I know this is old news but thank you for posting this! I didn’t think to check the prices on the refunds...

 

[KevM]

SAFD: the first couple that come to mind;
1) Walking around World Showcase in the morning before it’s open and/or shortly before it opens.

2) Walking around the Boardwalk area in the early morning sipping a cup of coffee.

3) Sitting on the balcony at CR, sipping a decaf coffee (or a decaf tea) watching the Electrical Water Pageant.

4) It’s gone now, but taking a cool break in Writer’s Stop at HS.

 

[Livelovedance]

Joining in for SAFD. Now that Marathon 2022 is in my sights I feel more comfortable participating (vs watching from the outside!)

SAFD:
- Main Street, USA is definitely my happy place in the parks. It has that feeling of home for me. It also makes me think of the old Sing Alongs... “I’m walking right down the middle of Main Street, USA...”

-Stepping off the Magical Express, entering the porte-cochère at Wilderness Lodge and hearing the wonderful male CM (I wish I knew his name and I hope he’s still there when we return) greet us by name and welcome us home! A small gesture, but its our first true dose of Disney magic for the trip and is missed when he’s not there!

- Be Our Guest (prior to the menu change). This restaurant was a favorite of mine, because I’m a huge Beauty and the Beast fan. I liked the first menu, but the new menu and pricing structure just isn’t worth it for us anymore. The restaurant is beautiful though!

 

[Dopey 2020]

Has anyone dealt with a registration refund for either of the previously cancelled races that was paid for with a gift card? Will Disney issue the refund as a new gift card or refund back to the gift card that was used? I'm not 100% sure I kept the gift card I used for payment. I'm just wondering if I need to email them to get my refund on a new gift card.

All my races are paid with a GC that I keep just for runDisney, even though I keep it any refunds have been new emailed gift cards that I can transfer back to it or spend on something else. Never had to call and never a problem(knock on wood). I think they just assume gift cards are gone and issue a new one.

 

[xjillianpaige]

Good morning, runDisney all-stars! Welcome to another week of Sundays are for Disney!

For this week's SAFD, where is your Happy Place at Disney? It could be a ride, but it could be a restaurant, a spot at a resort or anywhere else on property. i.e. the Epcot entrance at rope drop, Boardwalk at sunset or California Grill during the fireworks. Wherever gives you those happy, Disney feelings.

My spot is The Hub. Before the rope drop change at MK, I loved the Hub first thing in the morning, with the sunrise hitting the castle and a largely empty park. Nowadays, I love it pretty much anytime of the day and can sit there just listening to the background music. At night, it's the ideal spot for shooting fireworks and after fireworks, it's a great spot to take photos and soak in that Magic Kingdom ambiance.

Have a safe and healthy week, everyone!

I have three.

1. The Jungle Cruise. I laugh SO hard during this ride. I know almost every joke but it is still just SO funny to me. I cry laughing.

2. The first time you step onto Main Street and you can pause for a moment and just take in the smells and sounds.

3. The boardwalk at night right after an afternoon/evening storm when the rain glistens.


Sometimes I'm up really early in late August and something about the New England humidity will remind me of an early morning in Florida and it just takes me back.

 

[jmasgat]

Sometimes I'm up really early in late August and something about the New England humidity will remind me of an early morning in Florida and it just takes me back

This happens to me, too--just the other day even. I can close my eyes, and I'm at OKW.