The Long Walk-26.2 Miles of Dopey Fun

The Age-Old Running Question

Can you walk the (insert runDisney race) without being swept? Visit any runDisney Facebook page or social media forum and you will see this question asked hundreds of times, especially as challenge weekends loom and nerves build. And people ask for lots of reasons…first time runners, life events, lack of training, injuries, illness, corral placement. But the stakes are even higher for Dopey-four races over four days totaling 48.6 miles.

The problem was…I didn’t realize I would soon know the answer first-hand, and that answer was YES!

If you can dream it, you can do it!

Walt-We Have a Problem!

About halfway through the Half Marathon, I felt some pain on the outside of my left knee. It was simply a nuisance at first…didn’t affect my speed or my gait-I didn’t even think to tell my running friend, Meghan. From Corral D we easily made the castle by dark and I just assumed the pain would subside.

The calm before the (overused IT band) storm…

It didn’t. The last five miles had longer and longer walk intervals, and shorter running ones. The pain was sharper and more acute. I could have favored one leg if I allowed myself. I knew I was going to need a plan to tackle the full on Sunday, another 26.2 miles on top of the 23.9 I’d already run over the last three days. (If my math seems faulty it’s only because I logged an extra 1.4 miles…I wanted to run a full 50 miles to celebrate my 50th birthday this past November!) LOL!

Proactive Prep

I was hopeful I could get myself set up for success for the full marathon the next morning. We rolled and buffed (Yes, my friends and I travel with a handheld car buffer-our economy version of the Expo’s BFF!). I taped. We agreed to shorten our intervals from the 1:30/:30 the day before to :30/:30. It wasn’t enough.

I was so nervous I even checked my ears-a first.

We crossed the start line and I did two rounds of intervals. I knew immediately-the stopping and starting was not going to work. I think my exact words to my friend Jess were, “Just go. You actually have a shot of finishing this thing.” It seems overdramatic-but the wear of tear of four days of running combined with the four early wake-ups inspires doubt in the best of us. I wasn’t the only one questioning if I would be able to finish.

And it was a feeling I’d had once before…when I ran the Glass Slipper Challenge with Bronchitis and Walking Pneumonia (read about that here!) But this time was different-it was my legs versus my lungs, the distance was doubled and the Dopey Challenge medal was on the line.

Miles 1-5: Castle Bound

One of the perks of walking-all my pics came out nice and clear!

Once I resigned myself to walking and I knew I wasn’t holding my friends back, my new plan was easier to accept. I was still nervous, though. I had no idea of knowing how long my knee would hold up. Luckily, I also had some great friends spectating, and they were tracking both me and the Balloon Ladies. (They are the last runners to cross the start line, and maintain a 16 minute mile. If they pass you at any point on the course you are in danger of being swept.) I was already at mile 3 when they began, and that was the biggest lead I had all day.

My first goal was hitting the castle, so I chose to pass character stops for Pirates, Guardians of the Galaxy and Zootopia characters, as these were all ones I’d met on previous runs and trips. My only stop was for a real bathroom at the TTC location!

Last mile marker before Magic Kingdom!

Magic Kingdom-One Magical Mile

Entering the Magic Kingdom was a huge boost! It was gorgeous all lit up and still decorated from Christmas, which was a surprise. The crowds were amazing with all their clever signs, and it made me want to break into a run. It was hard to walk in front of a cheering crowd!

This moment never stops being special or surreal…!

The best was yet to come though…I had two things to look forward to-Cinderella Castle and my friends cheering for me on Main Street, USA!!!

Cheering crowds as we make our way down Main Street, USA!

I was thrilled to see Jess and Sharon right by Casey’s Corner! They assured me I was doing great and would be able to stay ahead of the Balloon Ladies at my current pace. I just had to keep it up. Just love my runDisney peeps!

Jess and Sharon-runDisney cheerleaders extraordinaire!

It was noticeably lighter than the day before by the time I reached the castle. I also knew I was only going to get slower once the sun came out and the miles piled up. I had to make a decision about characters. Though I love my photos and character stops are my weakness, I decided I would only stop IF the line was extremely short (under ten people) or it was a rare character I’d never met before.

Cinderella Castle lit up in the early morning hours-perfection.

I passed Buzz in Tomorrowland, but I was thrilled to see this guy in Fantasyland! It was Ulf-the mime from Tangled!! I was so excited, and shocked that there were only five people in line! Maybe they didn’t know who he was?? This was my favorite character stop of the entire race!!

Doing “jazz hands” with Ulf-the mime from Tangled!

I walked through the castle (it really took restraint) and I got the requisite castle pic. I knew better than to try my trademark jump-I needed to play it safe with twenty (twenty!!!!) miles still in front of me. It wasn’t hard to pass on a character stop in Frontierland with Woody and Jessie, as I got Bullseye the day before, but passing on the male villains was harder-when do you ever get to see Dr. Facilier and Jafar together? The line was simply too long.

No jump pic today…have to show a little restraint!

Miles 6-13: Grand Floridian and Highway

The next stretch was highway, but had plenty of photo ops to keep it interesting and mark the passage of time. First stop were the groomsmen. They represent the Wedding Pavilion at the Grand Floridian. Just the day before we were cracking jokes about “bad girls” (I was dressed as Maleficent for the Half) but today just a quick smile and moving on!

The Groomsmen from the Grand Floridian! Not too shabby!

Starting in Corral D and only stopping for three photos up to this point meant I still had a ton of people behind me. Perfect time to stop for these fun photo ops with no line! First up were retired ride vehicles! Loved seeing the sub from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea-so nostalgic-loved this ride from my childhood! Also represented was Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, Snow White’s Scary Adventures and Star Jets. Star Jets??? Then some interesting busts (never quite figured these out) and the iconic Orange Bird!

Seeing the Nautilus from 20,000 Leagues was particularly nostalgic!
Mardi Gras? Haunted Mansion? Hmmm….
My daughter and I are both big fans of Orange Bird!

The sun was also still low enough in the sky not to be a factor, so I stopped for this fun photo op with the Adventurers Club. They were mic’d up and pretty funny…he quipped how I wasn’t doing that bad, but I wasn’t doing that great, either! That got some laughs from the crowd, and reminded me I needed to keep moving!

Oh how I wished that oversized Martini was real…! LOL!

As a Disney fanatic, I’m ashamed to say I didn’t know who Bowler Hat Guy was. But I did know this was a rare appearance and a very short line, so I stopped to meet him. I did rectify this as soon as I got home…watching Meet the Robinsons with my kids. What a great movie! *sniff*

Not sure what my pose is supposed to be (?) but still funny!

Animal Kingdom-A Wild Mile!

Hitting mile 13 means things were starting to get real! The sun was up and it had already taken me close to four hours to get to the half way point. By now I was hitting each and every medical tent-loading up on Biofreeze and taking the maximum number of Tylenol. (They mark your hand with a Sharpie so you can’t request too many!) The knee was twingy but holding up. I was tired though…I could feel the last few days catching up with me.

Sunglasses came out for the first time just outside the AK entrance.

I was still excited to see this frame opportunity right before the entrance to Animal Kingdom, though! There was also an animal handler a few paces away but the line was too long. I know my friends got some great shots with donkeys and exotic birds, depending on when they passed by! I was also pretty excited to see the ostrich from Fantasia-with no line!

A rare character AND a nonexistent line-a win win!

This is where I started to get a little in my head. One of the perks of running the full is that if you time it just right, you can ride Expedition Everest during your race. It was something I was really excited about and planned to do. Except I never saw it, or even thought about it. (Which was good considering the narrow margin at which I finished!!)

I was starting to get preoccupied. If there was a photo op by the Tree of Life, I don’t remember that either. When I stopped for this photo-I wasn’t quite sure who they were…Lion King or Festival of Fantasy parade performers? (They were in fact parade performers from the Little Mermaid section.) I had started to go on autopilot.

Sure, I’ll pose with you ladies, whoever you are!

Miles 14-18: We’re on a Road to Nowhere

There was an awesome surprise waiting for me in the parking lot just outside Animal Kingdom at mile 14-the parking lot was filled with cheering spectators-including my friends! Jess and Sharon had been joined by our friend, Jenn, and hearing them call out my name was pure joy! It was great to grab a selfie, some sweaty hugs (mine) and assurance that I was still well ahead of the Balloon Ladies, though the lead was narrowing.

All of these girls are multiple Dopey finishers-I’m not worthy!

Another awesome perk was all the organized cheer groups-many of which were offering runners snacks! I’m pretty sure I remember stuffing chocolate (Twix, KitKats?) in my pockets-but I had my eye on the prize-someone was handing out jello shots!! I was ridiculously excited to see these and pretty sure I remember choosing green to match my Dole Whip outfit. I really wasn’t thinking clearly at this point. LOL! A fellow runner and I sucked these down together-instant bonding! Cheers!

I’ve always had a weakness for jello shots…!

Pride is a funny thing. I had always coveted the race photos I saw with the Grave Diggers, Haunted Mansion-style, and this was my chance! Common sense told me to stay upright, but no, I couldn’t pass up on this ultimate photo op! Getting down was easy, and I remember popping up as if I was perfectly fine. (Nothing to see here…!) It cost me for sure…but I didn’t regret it. I still don’t!

The Grave Diggers claim their next victim!

Once I exited the parking lot, it was highway. Miles and miles of highway. Miles of up and backs with nothing to really break up the monotony. Now walking in full sun, no shade. Tired. Knee hurting. No characters. Too much time to think…

This was the first time it occurred to me that walking, even brisk walking, is very different from slow running. I trained to run 26 miles, not speed walk 26 miles!! It is a very different skill that uses totally different muscles! I was now “running” a race I hadn’t trained for. It was humbling.

Pluto doing some “excavating” at the construction site!

By the time I realized I probably should have put on sunscreen the medical tents had run out. It was okay-I was still a frequent flier with my Biofreeze fix. Pluto was a sight for sore eyes when I finally saw him around Mile 18 with no line. I was now headed for ESPN’s Wide World of Sports for the first time ever!

Miles 18-20: ESPN’s Wide World of Suck

I didn’t coin that phrase-a veteran Dopey friend did, and I have to say I didn’t buy in. Initially. With the exception of picking up my bib, I had never spent any time at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports. I was excited to see something new-and anything that wasn’t highway miles! What was really cool was that it was an up and back…as we were entering the Sports Complex, you could see all the runners ahead of you pouring out! (This is an important part of my narrative…and contributes to the “suck” factor!)

The first nice touch were the wet sponges! It was hot, and a Heat Advisory had been issued for the day of the race. Walking instead of running meant I was spending a lot more time on my feet in the heat of the day, but it also meant I was expending less energy. Luckily, I love the heat and was not uncomfortable. My friends poke fun at me for running with my hair down, but even that felt okay. I did not use my sponge (and mess up my hair and outfit??) but I did take one for a photo op…my runDisney friends and I have an inside joke about, what else?…sponge baths. LOL!

Time for your sponge bath, Bergatroids!

There were some super cute character interactions along the course here, including Mickey and Donald in referee gear and Goofy in sportswear. The lines were longer here than for other meets, so I only stopped for my Home Girl, Minnie. This was also the last time I remember having my readers. (see hand) LOL! Turning 50 means readers in your Sparkle Skirt pockets are a necessity if you want to read anything!!

My Sparkle Skirt pockets are seriously like Mary Poppin’s carpet bag-they have everything in them!

I had met Joy and Sadness from Inside Out before, but since there was no line I jumped in. My expression here says I’m over it. Still more joy than sadness, though.

Still more Joy than Sadness twenty miles in…but not much!

The last lap through ESPN had us running (walking) through the stadium. That was pretty cool and some runners were called out by name! Some wonderful spectators were camped out by the exit, and I helped myself to both a mini-Coke and a handful of potato chips. Omg sooo good!!!!

A nice distraction…walking through ESPN’s stadium.

The moment of truth was coming, though. As I exited Wide World of Sports, I saw something that struck fear in my heart. There was no runner traffic coming in the opposite direction. None. The road was deserted. No one was entering ESPN because sweeps were happening. The party buses were making their rounds. I had to face the reality that the Balloon Ladies could catch up with me. I may not be able to finish this race.

Miles 20-25: Hollywood Studios Bound… Freak Out Edition

The three miles between ESPN and Hollywood Studios were stressful ones. I kept turning my head to look over my shoulder to make sure there were people behind me. I had been on my feet for over five and a half hours. No sign yet of the Balloon Ladies-but I saw something even scarier. The medics on bikes. I was officially a back-of-the-packer.

They started to check on runners…asking them if they were okay. I literally avoided eye contact. On one hand, I was feeling something close to shame, but on the other hand, understood there was a legitimate need to keep close tabs on us, bringing up the rear for so many different reasons! One guy stopped to change his music and they approached-he hustled right back on the course. I remember increasing my pace as well. Show no weakness!

Still feeling strong despite a long day in the sun!

I finally entered Hollywood Studios around mile 23. It was either a blur or we only traveled through a small section of the park because I don’t remember much at all. I do remember posing with the Incredibles right inside the park. (When you’re already walking and there’s no line it’s literally a drive-by…taking up seconds, not minutes!) I was feeling strong here, and relieved to be off those empty highways!

Feeling like the end could (finally!) be in sight!

Relegated to a much narrower course, there was comfort in being part of a bigger group again, compared to how spread out we were on the highway. In this photo in front of the Chinese theater you can see plenty of people behind me, as well as one of the infamous bike medics! Could I pull this off?

Miles 25-26.2: Epcot-the Holy Land

One short highway mile and I was finally, finally in Epcot! It was a rush-pure joy! At this point I was pretty much guaranteed my medal-all of my medals-as long as I didn’t blow out my knee!

Nothing short of a disaster could take me off the course at this point!

There were various Princesses (Aurora, Jasmine, Snow White) meeting in their respective countries, but I wasn’t even tempted to stop. Epcot had already opened to the public and the lines, while short, were a mix of runners and park goers. I had a very different stop to make that was top priority!

Team Margarita…with SALT!

A few miles before, I noticed my hands felt sore, and hurt when I clenched them. They had become swollen from the heat and water retention. The salt chews I used only got me so far…what I needed was a MARGARITA!!

Best. Day. Ever!!!

Enter Team Margarita! As I rounded World Showcase, I made a quick stop in Mexico. My bib number was checked, and my pre-paid Margarita (with salt!!) was handed over. So grateful for this group who organized this genius idea online!! Absolute Nirvana!!!

That is one happy runner in front of Spaceship Earth!

My mood was 100% turned around! Margarita in hand, I happily posed in front of Spaceship Earth. To be honest-I was in the home stretch and considered a jump here-but I didn’t want to spill my Margarita! LOL!

Evident relief on all three faces here in the final stretch!

I could tell my friends were relieved and happy to see me around Mile 25! I had been on the course for over seven hours at this point, so they had been cheering all day, and I was the last of our little group to head towards the finish line. Now they could wrap up, too! What good sports!

Hey! Look at this! Got myself a Margarita!!

I was really tickled to have this Margarita! The day before I had crossed the Half finish line with a creamsicle, so this was a definite upgrade! One of the perks of running through the Parks later meant that food and drink kiosks were open. I did hear afterward (through the grapevine) that I was one of the last runners allowed to carry a drink over the finish line. I guess the rationale was that we were already taking quite a while to finish…don’t encourage bad behavior! LOL!

Crossing the finish line for the fourth and final time that weekend!

Crossing the finish line was an absolute rush! I honestly can’t remember if I mustered up the energy/strength/courage to shuffle across in something resembling a run, but I’m pretty certain I did! It was just too exciting to walk it in-what’s a little more discomfort at this point?

This photo was taken the split second my Margarita was about to be liberated from its cup, arms raised victoriously! As the runDisney volunteer placed the medal around my neck, I had a rare moment of emotion. Not just elation…I was choked up. I felt an overwhelming sense of pride as I collected my commemorative Marathon Ears, blue Gatorade (clearly the best) and the requisite snack box and banana.

Jubilation! Crossing only my second marathon finish line.

Post-Race Celebration

I was all smiles as I took my Finisher and I Did It! photos. I grabbed my checked bag, put my ears back in their rightful position and couldn’t wait to find my friends in the Reunion area! My final net time? 7:24:23

I Did It! Showing off my new medals in my finisher photo!

Reunited and it feels so good! Lots of hugging and congratulations and catching each other up. We determined that the Balloon Ladies finished just 3/4 of a mile after me, which translates to about ten minutes. While that seems like enough of a buffer, that’s about how long it would have taken me to ride Expedition Everest back in Animal Kingdom. It still gives me chills thinking about how riding could have been the difference between being a finisher and being swept. Choose your stops wisely!

Who says you shouldn’t meet up with people you meet on the Internet?

Lessons Learned-Every Mile Still Magic?

Most people are curious if I felt compromised, if I was disappointed. After all, the reality I got was very different from the reality I trained for. Did I compromise? Yes. I completed a marathon injured. I walked instead of ran. I wasn’t able to experience it with my friends. I didn’t get a PR or a fast POT to brag about…my per mile pace is clearly even over runDisney’s generous 16 minute mile guidelines. (16:57 to be exact.)

Even so, my stats paint a different picture. I walked fast enough from Corral D that even those who started dead last couldn’t catch me. I stopped fifteen times to take pics with characters, made three location stops (Cinderella Castle, Spaceship Earth, Choza de Margarita), at least three bathroom breaks plus stops at every single medical tent.

My training did not disappoint. Though not required to run, proper training ensured that even when I was on the course hours longer than anticipated, I had not one blister, not one chafed spot, more than enough fuel. Heck-I didn’t even get sunburnt!

Was I disappointed? No way. All that talk about running being just as much a mental sport as a physical one? Totally true-all about mental toughness. I was committed to doing my very best, regardless of outcome. I never considered not starting just because I could fail-which was a very real possibility. I was alone with my thoughts for almost seven and a half hours. No music. No conversation. You have to be kind of okay with yourself to be in your own head like that all that time. I thought about all kinds of wonderful and interesting things…

And my friends? They’re the best! They were rooting for me every step of the way! Tracking me, texting me, taking the monorail all over tarnation to cheer along the course! They think I’m a Badass!! Imagine that! Who am I to correct them?!!

When everything was said and done, I logged the same 26.2 miles that every finisher did. My race, my pace. I just got to do it with a Margarita in my hand.

Undeniably Dopey. Four runs over four days totaling 48.6 miles…complete. Run, eat, sleep, repeat.

Jacqueline lives in Connecticut with her family and a cat, Rocky Road. You can follow her on Instagram at @morphingintominnie.

Restaurant Review: Woody’s Lunchbox

Eating at Woody’s Lunchbox was one of things I was most excited to do in Toy Story Land! The food looked delicious, the seating area was adorable, and I couldn’t wait to experience all of it! The small menu made it even easier to try all the things!

Breakfast

Our first visit was during morning Extra Magic Hours, and we knew we wanted to try breakfast. I was particularly excited to try the Lunch Box Tarts, so we got both the Raspberry (which is coated in strawberry fondant) and Chocolate-Hazelnut (coated in maple fondant and candied bacon). Both sounded wonderful, but were very, very sweet – even for this girl who has a super sweet tooth! My son liked them, but the rest of us were done after just a bite. These are reminiscent of a pop-tart, but are served all day as a dessert.

Chocolate-Hazelnut Lunch Box Tart

Raspberry Lunch Box Tart

We also tried the Breakfast Bowl, which contained Potato Barrels (aka Tater Tots) smothered in Brisket Country Gravy with scrambled eggs on top. I like these things separately, but I wasn’t a huge fan once they started all getting mixed together. My husband liked it, but I would probably try something different next time. The S’more French Toast Sandwich is definitely on my list to try!

Breakfast Bowl

 

Lunch/Dinner

During our trip, we were fortunate enough to make two more trips back to Toy Story Land, and we tried almost everything on the lunch and dinner menu. You may have already heard that one menu item has been removed since the restaurant opened. There was originally a Monte Cristo sandwich on the menu, but it was quickly removed. The sandwich did not get good reviews, but the official cause of the removal is unknown.

The Grilled Three-Cheese Sandwich was a favorite with our group! This grown-up grilled cheese features melted provolone and cheddar, along with a cheddar cheese spread on Garlic Bread. It was creamy and delicious, and I would definitely recommend!

Grilled Three-Cheese Sandwich – delish!

My husband and son both enjoyed the BBQ Brisket Melt – sliced smoked brisket, cheese, pickles, and BBQ sauce on sourdough bread. The sandwich was big (my 12-year-old couldn’t finish his), flavorful, and they both agreed they’d eat it again. Available sides with this sandwich are Potato Barrels, Tomato-Basil Soup Dipper, Vegetable Macaroni Salad, or a Mandarin Orange.

BBQ Brisket Melt

My other favorite was the “Totchos” – definitely something I’d only eat on vacation! This was a bowl of Potato Barrels covered in beef and bean chili, shredded cheese and queso, with a sprinkling of corn chips, and topped with sour cream and green onions. Using the Mobile Ordering app (more on that in a minute), I was able to customize this exactly the way I wanted it.

Totchos – modified for a picky eater!

The only entrée we didn’t try was the Smoked Turkey Sandwich, but from all accounts, this is just a typical turkey sandwich and nothing extraordinary.

Woody’s Lunchbox offers several fun drink options – Mystic Portal Punch, which has a base of Powerade Mountain Berry Blast with flavors of lemon lime and tangerine. As you may have guessed, it is a green alien-themed drink, and for an extra charge, you can get it served in a cute souvenir cup with the claw and an alien. They also have classic root beer floats and your usual fountain beverages.

For the adults, there are several drink options including beer and hard cider. They also have a Grown-Up’s Lemonade that was absolutely delicious! It features Odwalla lemonade mixed with cherry vodka. If you’re using mobile ordering, you will also have the option to turn this refreshing drink into a float by adding a scoop of ice cream! This (currently) is not an option on the regular menu.

Photo of the Grown-Up Lemonade by the great Robert Schulz.

There are so many cute details around Woody’s Lunchbox, starting with the restaurant itself, which is literally a lunchbox propped open by a thermos! Our favorite is the table made from a note that Andy’s mom put in his lunchbox. Who doesn’t want to have dinner sitting on a huge piece of cheese? My boys absolutely loved this table.

Sitting on giant CHEESE!

Cutest table top ever!

All of the seating is outdoors, but there are umbrellas over the tables, which come in really handy when those “just an average summer day in Florida” thunderstorms roll in.

 

Mobile Ordering

Mobile ordering is like having a Fast Pass for a restaurant! Using the My Disney Experience app, you can select a restaurant and enter your entire order right from your phone. It allows you to customize your order if there are things you want to add or remove to an entrée. Best of all, it recognizes the Disney Dining Plan and will apply your credits accordingly. When you arrive at the restaurant, there is a button to press in the app to let them know you’re there so your food is prepared fresh.

Pro tip: click on any item to see a picture of it! You can also customize to make it just the way you want it. So easy!

I highly recommend using Mobile Ordering, especially when lines are long! There is a special counter for mobile orders, so you don’t have to wait through the regular line. It doesn’t seem like a whole lot of people are using this service yet, but I’m a big fan of anything that will save me time while I’m at the parks!

 

Final Thoughts

Hollywood Studios has historically been my least favorite park when it comes to dining options. Woody’s Lunchbox brings a much-needed breath of fresh air with some unique menu items. I will be interested to see if the menu will be changed or expanded at all in the upcoming months. This will definitely be a must-do for me, and a place I look forward to taking friends. The details are wonderful – each time I walked around, I noticed new things. Even if I wasn’t hungry, I’d be happy to stop for a Grown-Up Lemonade and enjoy the scenery!

Grab a friend and march on over to Woody’s Lunchbox!

Show Review: The Music of Pixar Live!

The show takes place in Hollywood Studios at the Theatre of the Stars located on Sunset Boulevard, home to Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage.  The concept:  combine Pixar movie scenes with the accompaniment of a live orchestra.

As I am not a fan of musicals, the concept was something that I didn’t find overly appealing.  Yet, after experiencing the show, I can say it was very enjoyable and one I would watch again.

15-20 minutes before the orchestra took to the stage a small contingent of Toy Story’s Green Army Men began assisting cast members with seating.  The soldiers interacted with guests and their leader, Sarge began hilarious pre-show activities.

What proceeded was a musical trip to some of the most memorable scenes in  beloved Pixar movies.  On large screens snipets of Toy Story, Up!, Finding Nemo, Cars, Monsters Inc. and The Incredibles all came to life as the orchestra went from score to score.  Before the start of each segment, guests were treated to appearances by characters such as, Mike, Sully, Woody, Buzz and others.

Between the sets, the screens would play interviews offering a introspective as to how or why the music was created for the movies.

The peices played were beautiful, moving, fun and created to discover the force of emotions that one musical score can invoke. Despite it being such a long show, I found myself not wanting it to end.

It culminated with all the characters joining on stage to the popular “You’ve Got A Friend In Me”

The show does not disappoint and I applaud the cast members and orchestra for a job well done.

Tips:
Get there at least 30-45 minutes prior to showtime. Depending on the day there may be heavy crowds and guests have been known to line up an hour or more before the show starts.

If at all possible try to catch the 2nd or 3rd show.  The performance has beautiful lighting around the stage that can only truly be appreciated when it’s darker out.

Be prepared to sit for a long time the show last a good 45 minutes but not to worry, Disney opted to place cushions over the normally hard metal benches of the theatre.

There is a dining package available for the show and those participating have reserved seating.

The show will be available from May 26 through August 27, 2017 and offers 3 times beginning at 5:00, 6:45 and 8:00pm.