Day 1

Our story opens on Friday morning at 9:15am, with Terri fast asleep on her couch.  Her household goods were delivered the day before, and while the bed is assembled - she could not locate sheets or a pillow - so she slept on the couch.  Our heroine jumps up, looks at the clock on her cell phone - yelps an expletive and realizes - "I was supposed to be in the car 30 minutes ago - I'm late, I'm late for a very important date!”

Luckily, our heroine packed her suitcase for Disney the day before, after a quick shower and a change of clothes - she jumps in the 1998 silver Honda and heads south on I-95.  Within 2 hours and 30 minutes - she arrives at her hotel and checks into her room (all the way in the back).  The Jordan clan would be staying at the Royal plaza near Downtown Disney. ---All right - enough 3rd party.

I called Sherry and Ward on the cell phone and met them in the Disney Christmas store at Downtown Disney.  After the required Disney purchases were made (charm for the bracelet and Tigger ears for the race) we headed to Fulton’s for lunch (yum -- however, based on the prices, the fish flew first class).  We headed over to Disney Quest for an afternoon of grown up video games.  I have discovered that Virtual Reality makes me sick to my stomach.  Designed my own roller coaster and survived it -- Leaned that Team Jordan/Crawford is pretty good at bumper cars with cannons and that I love the 3D Pirates of the Caribbean.

After a long day of video gaming, we headed to Bongos for dinner.  Sherry and I head great meals - Ward was not so lucky. After dinner, headed back to the hotel to await Cheryl's arrival from the airport.  Cheryl arrived about 10pm - much later than planned.  So room service was in order followed quickly by BED!!

Day 2

Here is where things get interesting. I woke up at 3am for no reason. Could not go back to sleep to save my life!  Watched TV until 5am, then I broke down and woke Cheryl up.  We watched TV for about an hour, got up and got dressed, then headed to Shades of Green to purchase our park passes.  After Shades - went by McDs for breakfast and out to the Expo to pick up all the necessary items.  I had to change my address and change to my personal chip.  We bought some official race gear - note to the wise -- check the size before you walk away with your purchase - more on that later.

Headed to EPCOT to meet Ward and Sherry to finish the park we didn't get to finish last year.  Tried to ride TEST TRACK again this year (it was broken last year) and it was broken again!!  So, instead we headed to Mexico for lunch (where I later discovered they charged my credit card $173.00 for lunch - working on fixing that one too).  Went over to Norway and rode Maelstrom, as well as visiting lots of countries that we missed last year.  Left the park and headed over to
DTD to meet the Penguins for our encounter.

Had a great time with the people at Wolfies - Cheryl and I were the last to eat since the chef burned our first pizza - or at least that is what we were told. 

Day 3

The 3am wake up was really beginning to get to me - so we headed to our room to get ready for bed.  My sister and her husband had arrived that afternoon and she came by the room - gave me the camera that I had forgotten to pick up (on 3 separate occasions) and wished me luck for the race in the morning.  She and Jamie (BIL) were headed to the airport to get my parents and my niece where were arriving at 10pm!!

The race morning came way to early at 3:45am!!!  This was the second day in a row I was up at this time and my body was none too happy.  Got dressed and headed toward the door.  Drove over to EPCOT, somehow missed the turn and had to follow all the other cars to the parking lot.  Disney did not make us pay to park!! However, I later learned that cars of runners there after the race was finished (those without parking passes) would be towed from the lot.

Luckily I dressed correctly for this race.  I wore tights, a long sleeve shirt, singlet, waterproof windshirt and throw away gloves.  Fanny pack was packed and thanks to sister - I had the camera. Met up with the Penguins at the P tent.  This year did not seem quite as bone biting cold as last year.  This year also seemed to be more organized than last year.  We moved into the runners’ staging area and were quickly walked 1/2 mile to the start.  Unlike last year - the marathoners and half marathoners were split - so this year we were on the other side of the road.  Donald and Mickey started us off and with some fireworks and about 3 minutes - we crossed the mats.

The first 2.5 miles are on the highway - then into World Showcase in the dark! Cool - all the lights on and the music playing.  Stopped in UK to ditch some clothing (unlayer that is - kept everything with me) - now down to tights and the singlet.  Came out of World Showcase and out onto the highway.  7am.  A little behind the 3:30 goal (big caveat -- only a little training in the last 30 days).  Given the characters and everything else with this race - I knew there was NO WAY I was PRing!  Called my BIL - they were in the car headed to MK to see us.  Next few miles were almost enjoyable.  The sun came up, didn't shine much, but it came up.  Two cups of water and 2 cups of powerade at every water stop.  Carried a full water bottle - but that was a JIC.  Took a few photos - but nothing like last year!  Ran into Snow White and Dopey between 6 & 7.  Saw Ward & Sherry approaching the finish line at the Ticket and Transportation Center - we yelled, but they couldn't hear us. Ran "under the water" approaching MK - the Monorail honked and we waved.  Overall - I was in a good mood - enjoying the leisurely pace.  Entered Mk and there was my mom, dad, sister, BIL and niece.  Jolene (niece) looked at me like I was from another planet. 

They had cameras and video cameras.  Took our cold clothes from us - and we were off - headed toward Cindy's castle.  Made a right turn into Tomorrowland - and there was Buzz Lightyear - right where I left him last year!!  Keep going and saw TIGGER!!!  Of course - I yelped - ran off and hugged him.  Cheryl took photos for me.  Saw Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum and the Queen of Hearts.  Saw Pooh too - but couldn't wait.  Then we saw my sister.  Come to find out - my father forgot to put the tape in the video camera.  So - she took more pictures.  I told her we were headed to Cindy's castle.  Ran through Cindy's castle - and the official race photographer was there (unlike last year).  Over to Liberty Square - hear people squealing for Goody & Pluto - but didn't want to stop now.  Out the back gates and then the skies opened.  Of course - the waterproof wind shirt was with my mother.  So now I am wet and cold.  I have decided I like dry and cold better than wet and cold.  Kept moving.  In with a bunch or walkers.  Would occasionally have to run on the side of the road to get around then - which was hard since the ground was not even. Mile 12, Mile 13 -- I can hear the music at the finish.  Cheryl wants to run fast.  Go ahead I tell her.  Meet you on the other side.  I round the corner -- I can see it.  Kick to finish. OUCH!! CRAMP! Right calf says I don't think so.  Hobble to the finish.  Watch says 3:39.  No official time.  I don't care.  I got a medal.

After the race, walked over to the Poly to catch the monorail to EPCOT and met Ward and Sherry.  This resulted in discussions about next year and where to stay?? We are thinking a Deluxe.  Rode over to EPCOT, went to the car and changed clothes in the car!! It is extremely difficult to get out of wet, sticky running clothes and into dry clothes while sitting in the drivers seat of a Honda civic (thank god for space blankets!). 

Headed over to MGM for the rest of the day.  Ate lunch at the Sci Fi Café – really cute place (I had the chili and tomato salad - yum)!!  Rode Aerosmith Roller Coaster; Tower of Terror; Great Movie Ride; Star Tours (not a good idea right after lunch) and saw Muppets in 3D.  Ran into Mom, Dad & Jolene – who had also come from Muppets.  Decided to meet them from dinner (sans Ward and Sherry) at Rose & Crown in EPCOT for dinner and to watch Illuminations.  Got back to the hotel after 11pm.

Day 4

Woke up and headed for Magic Kingdom on the bus provided by the hotel.  Went over to Tomorrowland with Cheryl for the morning.  Weather was cold and wet, not really comfortable. Rode Space Mountain, the Tomorrowland Transit Authority and The Tea Cups!!  Cheryl was not prepared for those!  After SM, we headed to the Crystal Palace for an 11:30 reservation for lunch at the character breakfast.  Characters – Pooh, Eeyore & Tigger!!  Jolene was selected “Chef of the Day”!!  She “made” a wonderful chocolate brownie with a TON of whip cream.  She loved it!  We had been afraid she would be afraid of the characters, since she is not quite 3 yrs old – but she ran up to Chip and Dale during the race, and was so happy to see Pooh, Tigger and Eeyore!  She hugged and kissed them and was quite upset when they left to go to other tables.  I was so happy for her.  Sherry got to see Eeyore and we took lots of photos.  Ward and Sherry said their goodbyes, my sister and BIL headed off on their own and I spent the afternoon with Jolene, mom and dad.  Jolie and I rode Dumbo and the Carousel as well as Winnie the Pooh.  That was enough for all of us.  It was cold, wet and windy.  The family met up for dinner at Fultons (dinner by myself was $40.00).

Day 5  -Last Day

Cold and windy.  Decided to head for EPCOT since it is mainly inside.  Mom and I took Jolie to Living Seas (my first visit this trip – amazing, huh??)  We saw the turtles, manatees and dolphins.  After LS – we went over to Journey into the Imagination and looked at the Jumping water fountains.  Jolie was quite taken with these.  She got mad when we left them.  At about 11:00 am, the family decided to head over to Animal Kingdom to finish out our trip.  The sun was out and it was finally drying out.  We took Jolie to Camp Minnie Mickey.  Saw Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, and Goofy. Jolie was very happy to see all of them. She kissed and hugged. I am so happy she enjoyed the characters.  After characters, mom and I took her to Kilaminjaro safaris and we looked at the animals.  She likes animals. After we finished, they all had to leave to catch their plane, so I got in my car and headed home.

Now I am back, get to unpack all of my stuff.  Work on filing claims for all the stuff the movers broke, getting the phone and cable turned on – you know – all that fun moving stuff!!

 That’s it – the end of my 2002 Walt Disney World Half Marathon report.