Just in time for the school year, ABC will celebrate groovy and educational jams with The ABC’s of Schoolhouse Rock on Sunday, Sept. 7 at 7 p.m.
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Dark Disney by Heather Holley
I have been a Disney fanatic for as long as I can remember. I have also been a “darker” person for most of my life. Surprisingly (to me at least) the two go together well. Especially since it appears to me that Disney has been boosting its “dark side” the past few years. This week, I’m going to share some of my favorite darker Disney things.
Nothing says dark like hanging out with the dead. There are two attractions that really excite my dark side in the Magic Kingdom. The first is the Haunted Mansion. It’s my all-time favorite ride, and it always seems to lift my spirits. The second is Pirates of the Caribbean. How can you go wrong with ghosts and pirate skeletons? Merchandise for Pirates of the Caribbean has always been easy to find, but I’ve noticed more Haunted Mansion goodies in the past few years. I guess it’s done well since Disney recently announced it’s turning the Yankee Trader shop in the Magic Kingdom into a store dedicated to the hauntingly fun attraction. I hope Disney feels my sympathetic vibrations and opens the store by my October visit!
The darkness doesn’t stop there. There are also two events whose attendees are probably like me. “Villains Unleashed” is a new event being held at Hollywood Studios on August 23rd. There will be more than 50 villains in the park and it sounds like it’s going to be a frightfully good time. I’ve also noticed more villains merchandise is now available year round. Now, I can guarantee the next event is screamingly fun for all. “Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party” takes place several nights September-October in the Magic Kingdom. This will be my fourth year attending the special event, and I’m so excited I’ve already started working on my costume. The fireworks and parade are my favorite parts of the evening. The parade features some amazing characters like the Headless Horseman, a skeleton band, pirates, the hitchhiking ghosts, and all of you classic favorites (in costume of course.)
Finally, I want to highlight some of my favorite Disney movies that lean towards the darker side of things. First, my favorite movie ever, The Nightmare Before Christmas. I have to say I love that this movie has made its way into the parks. The Haunted Mansion in Disneyland turns into a Nightmare ride in the fall. I hope I get to ride it one day, but for now, I’ll have to appreciate all the merchandise available in Walt Disney World. Another movie I’m fond of is Maleficent. I really didn’t expect to like it, but I do enjoy this strong, dark female character who isn’t a villain. Other favorites include Pirates of the Caribbean, Hocus Pocus, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Beauty and the Beast, and The Princess and the Frog.
I can’t be the only grim grinning girl out there! Tell me your favorite dark Disney things on Twitter @hoodie_life.
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9 Nerdy Marvel Facts Backed by Science
There are comic book nerds, and there are science nerds — and there are those so smart across all boards, even Stan Lee is baffled. That spot of academic excellence is reserved for the geniuses who put together the Marvel Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. (Scientific Training and Tactical Intelligence Operative Network), an interactive experience at the Discovery Museum in Times Square, New York City.
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Family Friendly Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Begins Sept. 1 at Magic Kingdom
Halloween’s happiest haunts will reappear for 26 “spook-tacular” nights of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom.
From Sept. 1 through Oct. 31, the after-hours special ticket event will immerse guests in the Halloween spirit. The bewitching “Happy HalloWishes” fireworks spectacular will illuminate the sky in bursts of orange and green fireworks. In “Mickey’s Boo-to-You Halloween Parade,” the Headless Horseman parades a gang of ghostly characters down Main Street, U.S.A. for a haunted, but happy, Halloween season.
Disney villains take center stage in 2014 with “Villains Mix & Mingle — Live on Stage” castle show; and Club Villain, an all-new nightly character dance party experience takes over the Diamond Horseshoe Saloon in Frontierland. Mischevious villains will be available for guests to meet all night long in locations throughout the park.
The night of ever-so-slightly frightful fun begins at 7 p.m. and runs until midnight, with guests encouraged to don their favorite Halloween costumes and partake in trick-or-treating around Magic Kingdom.
Party dates in 2014 are:
Sept. 1, 9, 12, 14, 16, 19, 21, 23, 26 & 28
Oct. 2, 3, 5, 9, 10, 13, 16, 17, 19, 21, 23, 24, 26, 27, 30 and 31
To purchase advance tickets, guests can visit disneyworld.com/halloween or call 407-W-DISNEY.
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“Fresh Start, New Me!” by Laura Weyand
Isn’t it crazy how fast the year has been gone by? I can’t complain about the year that I have been having but I can say I’m excited for the new year to come. The start of 2014 was kicked off in EPCOT surrounded by great friends from my Disney College Program experience (which I will write more about in my next article!) As the year progresses I can’t help think, did I cross anything off my bucket list? Or maybe an even better question, do I even have a bucket list? Well, 2015 will start off with something I KNOW that is on my bucket list (if I had one)! This special something is my first trip back to Disney World since my CP!
My final day in MK, the sky was crying too!
It’s not only just that either though! I will be participating in the 2015 Walt Disney World Half Marathon and this will be my first official run EVER! Needless to say I’m beyond ecstatic to go back to my favorite place doing one of my favorite activities! This will be a new goal that I will start my training for very soon!
RunDisney:
I want to start off by writing about RunDisney for a bit. This is something that I’ve been following for quite some time and fantasized about the day that I would be able to participate. Just by going to their website you are able to learn about all of the races that they offer in both Disney World and Disneyland, training in both running and nutrition, their blog, information on travel and postings of results from previous races. I signed up to get updates about registering for races at Disney World so I would know when each one opened up so I wouldn’t miss out of the opportunity this time. I suggest this to anyone interested in racing because they fill up very fast!
Running for a cause:
This is something I knew I wanted to do the moment I hit confirm on my race registration. I immediately researched different organizations. I stumbled upon Alex’s Lemonade Stand and immediately registered to raise money on my own. I continue to struggle to find ways and put my page out in order to collect donations but I will be organizing some sort of fundraiser very shortly! My page is http://www.alexslemonade.org/mypage/1114299 and you can click on that link and follow to the donation page in order to help fight childhood cancer! Any amount is helpful even if you only donate $1.00! I appreciate it! I’ve been running since I was very young by participating in the track and field program my whole life but I am learning something new every day! As I guide myself to the training section of the RunDisney website I find it especially helpful with participating in the 18-20 week training program that leads you up to race day and into the week after. I find it helpful because it will keep me on a strict running schedule by telling me how many miles or minutes you should run each day. I’m hoping by race day I will feel comfortable enough with the distance without straining too much and feeling exhausted.
Planning our trip:
This is beyond exciting for me! Booking the room, the tickets, the restaurants, the fastpasses, everything is just so exciting to me! This will be my first experience with Fastpass+ so I can’t really get into the specifics of it but I will do a follow up article as I start to get more into the planning! As of right now, the Caribbean Beach Resort will be home for 7 days and 6 nights! I plan to purchase a 4 day base ticket to stay on budget and be able to experience one park at a time per day. Dinner will include places like Ohanas, Cape May Cafe, Boma’s, maybe some Hollywood and Vine, through in a little bit of Biergarten who knows! Anything is possible if you just believe!
So what’s on your bucket list?! And if you don’t have one, what is something that you have always wanted to do? I’m very lucky to be pursuing something I’ve been dreaming of for a while now and would love to hear some of yours! Follow me on twitter @LauraWeyand and tell me what you think!
Thanks guys!
Love and pixie dust
-Laura 🙂
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UNIVERSAL ORLANDO RESORT AND WARNER BROS. TO HOST SECOND ANNUAL “A CELEBRATION OF HARRY POTTER” EVENT IN JANUARY 2015
Universal Orlando Resort and Warner Bros. announced today that they will host the second annual “A Celebration of Harry Potter” event – a special event for fans celebrating the global phenomenon that is Harry Potter.
Beginning January 30, 2015, fans will enjoy three days of incredible experiences – including the “A Celebration of Harry Potter” Expo, Q&A sessions with Harry Potter film talent and more. Special vacation packages, including annual passholder packages, will go on sale August 21 and will include exclusive benefits such as access to an exclusive evening event in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade and the all-new The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley. Full vacation package details are below.
All general admission park guests will have the opportunity to:
- Attend Q&A sessions with Harry Potter film talent and other special guests (talent attendees will be announced at a later date)
- Experience and participate in the interactive and unique exhibits of the “A Celebration of Harry Potter” Expo
- Enjoy special discussions regarding various aspects of the Harry Potter franchise
- Visit The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade at Universal’s Islands of Adventure and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida.
- Plus, ride the Hogwarts Express between the two lands with a park-to-park ticket.
- And much more!
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley officially opened in Universal Studios Florida on July 8, 2014 bringing even more of Harry Potter’s adventures to life at Universal Orlando Resort. The new land features incredible shops with windows full of magical surprises, authentic dining experiences, a fire-breathing dragon and the new multi-dimensional thrill ride, Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts. Guests with a park-to-park ticket will also be able to board the iconic Hogwarts Express and enjoy a unique journey as they travel between London and Hogsmeade. The new immersive area expands upon The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade, launched in 2010 in Universal’s Islands of Adventure, and doubles the size of the sweeping area already dedicated to Harry Potter’s adventures to create a spectacularly themed environment across both Universal theme parks.
While most of the activities for “A Celebration of Harry Potter” will be open to all Universal Orlando park guests and annual passholders, only guests who purchase the exclusive event vacation package or annual passholder package will enjoy certain special benefits and reserved seating for select events. Packages are limited and will go on sale at noon EST on Thursday, August 21, 2014. See below for full package details.
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Packages for “A Celebration of Harry Potter” at Universal Orlando Resort
On Sale at Noon EST on August 21, 2014 |
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On-Site Hotel Celebration Vacation Package ~ Starts at $219 per adult per night, tax inclusive |
3-night on-site hotel accommodations at Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort, Universal Orlando Resort’s all-new retro-themed moderate & value priced hotel
3-day park-to-park ticket to both Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure (includes access to the Hogwarts Express) Exclusive Q&A session with select Harry Potter film talent Access to an exclusive evening event in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade, including light desserts and Butterbeer Specially themed Welcome Parcel and complimentary commemorative merchandise item Special Guest access to the “A Celebration of Harry Potter” Expo Reserved seating or viewing area for select Celebration events Early Park Admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter one hour before the parks open Breakfast at the Three Broomsticks in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade, one per person Complimentary on-site transportation to and from both theme parks and Universal CityWalk Note: This package does not include complimentary Universal Express Unlimited ride access |
On-Site Deluxe Hotel Celebration Vacation Package ~ Starts at $219 per adult per night, tax inclusive |
3-night on-site hotel accommodations at one of Universal Orlando’s spectacular deluxe on-site hotels: Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel or Loews Royal Pacific Resort
3-day park-to-park ticket to both Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure (includes access to the Hogwarts Express) Complimentary Universal Express Unlimited ride access to skip the regular lines in both theme parks for all three days – a FREE benefit worth up to $89 per person, per day Exclusive Q&A session with select Harry Potter film talent Access to an exclusive evening event in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade, including light desserts and Butterbeer Specially themed Welcome Parcel and complimentary commemorative merchandise item Special Guest access to the “A Celebration of Harry Potter” Expo Reserved seating or viewing area for select Celebration events Early Park Admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter one hour before the parks open Breakfast at the Three Broomsticks in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade, one per person Complimentary on-site transportation to and from both theme parks and Universal CityWalk |
Universal Partner Hotel Celebration Vacation Package ~ Starts at $185 per adult per night, tax inclusive |
3-night accommodations at a Universal Partner Hotel near Universal Orlando
3-day park-to-park ticket to both Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure (includes access to the Hogwarts Express) Exclusive Q&A session with select Harry Potter film talent Access to an exclusive evening event in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade, including light desserts and Butterbeer Specially themed Welcome Parcel and complimentary commemorative merchandise item Special Guest access to the “A Celebration of Harry Potter” Expo Reserved seating or viewing area for select Celebration events Early Park Admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter one hour before the parks open Breakfast at the Three Broomsticks in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade, one per person Free scheduled transportation between the hotel and Universal Orlando Resort Note: This package does not include complimentary Universal Express Unlimited ride access |
To book special annual passholder event vacation packages, please call 1-888-343-8991 starting August 21, 2014 at noon EST.
Access to select events within “A Celebration of Harry Potter” is included in regular admission to Universal Orlando or with an annual pass. For more information about the event, tickets and vacation packages, visit www.universalorlando.com/celebration.
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Cars Land at Disney California Adventure Park Fact Sheet
Walt Disney on creating Disneyland: “I don’t want the public to see the world they live in while they’re in the Park. I want them to feel they’re in another world.”
Overview: Cars Land invites guests to step right into Radiator Springs and meet all of their favorite friends from the hit Disney•Pixar films “Cars” and “Cars 2.” Spanning a whopping 12 acres in Disney California Adventure Park, Cars Land is truly a must-see for anyone visiting the Disneyland Resort. Cars Land is home to one of the largest and most elaborate attractions created for any Disney theme park, Radiator Springs Racers.
What’s new: Cars Land opened in June 2012 and is what Bob Iger, president and CEO of The Walt Disney Company, calls the “crown jewel of our Disney California Adventure expansion.” The entire land is an exciting experience for the entire family that captures the essence of Disney storytelling.
Don’t miss:Cars Land features three attractions. Cars Land’s only FastPass attraction is Radiator Springs Racers, where the entire “Cars” gang welcomes guests to take the wheel and zoom through Radiator Springs and Ornament Valley. Radiator Springs Racers combines classic storytelling in Disney “dark ride” fashion with a thrilling, high-speed race as its grand finale. In Luigi’s Flying Tires, Luigi invites guests to test-drive his new shipment of Fettuccini-brand “Cuscino D’Aria” tires as they float over a cushion of air. At Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree, Mater has everyone join in a “tow-si-do” square dance. Score some roadside souvenirs at Sarge’s Surplus Hut, Radiator Springs Curios and Ramone’s House of Body Art.
Attractions:
Radiator Springs Racers
Luigi’s Flying Tires
Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree
Entertainment: The cast of “Cars” makes sure guests have plenty of entertainment during their journey down Route 66. Lightning McQueen, Mater and Red interact with guests and pose for pictures throughout the day. DJ’s Dance ‘n’ Drive brings popular music into the town of Radiator Springs that gets guests dancing in the street.
Dining: Modeled after roadside eateries along the original Route 66, Flo’s V8 Cafe is a delicious quick-service dining location for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Some of the menu’s highlights include the Coca-Cola BBQ Sauce drizzled on pork loin, brioche French toast with salted caramel and bananas and house-made pies for dessert. If you’re looking for a snack, Cozy Cone Motel and Fillmore’s Taste-In offer a wide variety of delicious treats from organic fruits to chili “cone” queso.
Imaginative landscaping: The landscape throughout Cars Land continues the legendary, detail-oriented storytelling that can only be found at Disney Parks. From the tail-light “flowers” at Cozy Cone Motel to the tire-inspired topiaries just outside Casa Della Tires, the landscape looks as if the beloved cast of “Cars” decorated each of their homes in Cars Land. The dry, rocky look of Cars Land also immerses guests in the Route 66 theme.
Did you know?
The peaks of Cadillac Range (from left to right), represent Cadillac tail fins from 1957, 1958, 1959 (the pinnacle), 1960, 1961 & 1962. The mountain range is inspired by an art installation of old Cadillacs half-buried nose-first into the ground, known as “Cadillac Ranch” in Amarillo, Texas.
The rockwork of Cars Land spans more than 300,000 square feet – making it the largest rockwork construction in any domestic Disney theme park
Radiator Springs Racers covers six acres – the largest attraction by acreage at the Disneyland Resort.
Luigi’s Flying Tires attraction is a nod to the classic Flying Saucers attraction, which operated in Tomorrowland from 1961 to 1966.
Larry the Cable Guy (voice of Mater from “Cars”) recorded seven original songs for the Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree attraction.
Cast member tips:
See Radiator Springs at sunset when 16 neon signs light up the night sky.
Arrive to Disney California Adventure near park opening if you are planning on picking up a FASTPASS for Radiator Springs Racers – they run out very quickly.
The Single-rider line for Radiator Springs Racers is an option to minimize your wait time. However, your group will be separated and each member of your party must be at least seven years old to experience the attraction as a single rider.
On most days, Mater and Lighting McQueen escort the first guests into Cars Land.
Look for the Hidden Mickeys on the hoods of the cars in the windows of Ramone’s House of Body Art.
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Disney World’s Guest Assistance Card (GAC) by Katie Gilarde
Hello all! My words have appeared on your computer screen once again! This time I am going to give you my review of Disney’s new Guest Assistance Card. As many of you know, this is a new system put in place earlier this year after the old guest assistance program was being taken advantage of.
Let me start off by saying why I need to use the GAC. I have a rare bladder disease known as Interstitial Cystitis. It causes frequent urination (sometimes every 20 minutes), it also causes abdominal and pelvic pain. I often get scolded by other park goers because I “don’t look sick”. Bottom line is, I need this card because I can’t wait in line standing for long periods of time because I will need to pee and I will experience severe pain.
I went to Disney World in June 2013 when the old system was still in place. Keep in mind, the whole scandal with the New York moms had just happened where they were paying disabled people to get them to the front of the lines. When I went to guest services to get my card, the cast member was hesitant about giving it to me. Although it was not necessary, I showed the cast member a letter from my doctor and I received my card. Using the card was so easy; I can see why people took advantage of it. All I had to do was show it to the cast member at the front of a ride or attraction and I was placed in the FastPass lane. It was great; the longest wait I had was about fifteen minutes. They let me keep hoping back in line too if I wanted to go on the ride again. There were barely any restrictions.
Let’s fast forward to the trip I just took in June 2014 with the new Guest Assistance Card (GAC). You can tell that Disney put some major thought into this new system. I went to guest services to get the card. I had to answer a few quick questions and have my picture taken. Boom Done. I had my card. The card has a lot of restrictions on it now. It works a lot like an old fastpass. This is how it works, you go up to an attraction you want to get on. Then a cast member will give you a return wait time which is about the same amount of time as the actual line. You cannot go and get another return time until you have entered the previous attraction and the cast member has crossed it off your card. To me, it seems like a lot more work on the cast member’s end. Disney has drilled them to strictly follow this policy to avoid history repeating itself.
With the new FastPass + system in place, cast members rather that you rely on that than on the GAC. As you can tell from the photo below, I only used my GAC a handful of times. This may also be due to the fact that I had complained to guest services the first day on my trip after a malfunction with our magic bands. Our buddy Nathan at Guest Services hooked us up with three additional fast passes a day. As you could probably assume, as long as you are strategic with planning your fast passes, there is little need for the GAC.
If you have any questions tweet me or Instagram me both have the username @foreverkatastic
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Meet ‘Captain America’ Stars Sebastian Stan & Anthony Mackie At Wizard World Chicago Comic Con This Weekend
Captain America: The Winter Soldier has achieved critical acclaim — and huge box office numbers — and now fans can meet two of the stars that have made it so successful when Sebastian Stan and Anthony Mackie appear at Chicago Comic Con on Saturday and Sunday.
Stan, who plays “Bucky” Barnes in both Winter Soldier and the 2011 Cap hit The First Avenger, has also had recurring roles on the TV series “Once Upon a Time” and “Gossip Girl” and has a Broadway track record that includes stints on hits “Talk Radio” and “Picnic.”
Mackie, who portrays “Sam Wilson” in this year’s blockbuster, had key roles in last year’s action hit Pain & Gain and the war film The Hurt Locker. He also has an extensive Broadway background.
See these popular young stars together at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center this weekend.
GET YOUR CHICAGO COMIC CON TICKETS HERE!
GET YOUR ‘CAPTAIN AMERICA’ VIP EXPERIENCE TICKETS HERE!
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RunDisney Continues to Grow With the New Race Weekends and Challenges by Kate Melody
The popularity of runDisney events seems to have hit an all time high this year, and runDisney is answering the call with the addition of several new events. Earlier this year came the announcements of both the Avengers Half Marathon Weekend, and the Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend, both at the Disneyland Resort.
The popular Tinkerbell Half Marathon, which had been in January, has been moved to Mother’s Day Weekend in May. This should allow more ladies to participate in both of the runDisney women’s focused events, the Princess Half Marathon at Walt Disney World, and the Tinkerbell Half Marathon at Disneyland. Some runners felt that having the Tinkerbell in January and the Princess in February, did not allow enough time for recovery. Those that complete both women’s focused events in one calendar year receive a special pink edition Coast to Coast Medal. Moving the Tinkerbell Half to May should mean more ladies have the chance to earn that coveted pink bling.
Also growing in popularity is the runDisney “Challenge”. The Goofy Challenge, which premiered in 2006 involves running both a half marathon and a full marathon on back to back days. While a noble goal, the Goofy is a bit intense for more casual runners. Disney has responded with the smaller challenges, which began with the Inaugural Glass Slipper Challenge during Princess Half Marathon Weekend in 2014. By completing a 10K on Saturday and a half marathon on Sunday, runners are awarded a medal for each individual race, plus an additional medal for completing both events. The new Star Wars race weekend includes the Rebel Challenge, and just last week runDisney announced that Tinkerbell Half Marathon Weekend would have its own, the Pixie Dust Challenge!
This spring I participated in the Princess Half Marathon. While neither speedy nor overly athletic, the allure of running through Cinderella Castle in a princess costume got me off the couch and on the treadmill! Somehow, I actually crossed the finish line upright. We’ve decided to return for this year’s Princess Half Marathon, and since I have a competitive spirit I decided to present myself with a new goal, the Glass Slipper Challenge. Once I decided I could actually do both a 10K and a half marathon on the same weekend, I decided to up it one more notch and go for a pink Coast to Coast medal by doing the Tinkerbell Half. My mom walked the Princess Half last year and is going to join me for both half marathons. While we will have the entire family for our February Princess Half trip, we will celebrate Mother’s Day on a mother-daughter only vacation to run (and walk) the Tinkerbell Half. When runDisney announced the new Pixie Dust Challenge two weeks ago, I’m sure you can guess what happened, “Go big or go home”, right?
While Princess Half Marathon Weekend is sold out, as of Friday August 15th there were still spots left for both the Pixie Dust Challenge and the Tinkerbell Half Marathon. I suspect the timing of the race being on Mother’s Day has deterred a few runners who might want to spend the weekend with their family. It’s good to know that when runDisney races do sell out, spots are usually still available through travel agencies if you purchase a travel package, or through charities. You can race like a Princess while raising money for worthy causes.
I plan to keep our readers updated as the events get closer, and with a race recap afterward. I’m hoping to get in better shape, and maybe my waistline will get as thin as my wallet after those runDisney race fees! If you have ever considered doing a runDisney event I encourage you to sign up and experience the only races where, “Every Mile is Magic!”
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