I can’t believe it’s been TEN years.

Wayyy back in the summer of 2014 I was training for my first Ironman Triathlon and pitched the idea of dressing up for the Disney World Princess Half Marathon to my friends. And here we are, a decade later, still running it!
And it’s continued to be an amazing experience that is now filled with tons of friends we’ve met over the years. And 2024 was another race weekend filled with people coming to say hello and laugh about years past when they’ve seen us, or showing us old photos they have with us from the last time they were at the race several years ago!

And this year was another triple-race-weekend for myself, and this time for Chris and Naidymar as well!

So let’s just jump right into my recap of 2024 PHM Weekend!

Wednesday

I’ve come to definitely prefer a Wednesday travel day for myself these last two years. Coming all the way out from California is a long day in general. And since I’m flying in from Orange County, California, there’s aren’t really direct flight options unless I want to drive out to LAX… and that’s just not worth it for me.
So I flew in that day, with a night arrival. I picked up our rental car for the week – this year it was a brand new Toyota Sienna minivan hybrid – which honestly was pretty damn great for the whole group and getting around this trip. And then late that night I picked up Kellie from the airport after her night flight landed.

Thursday

This year for race check-in I didn’t drag my friends there first thing in the morning like I did with Naidymar in 2023. My day started with hitting Starbucks and then Waffle House with Kellie – she had amazingly never been to Waffle House even though she’s from Florida. So obviously that’s the breakfast choice to start our day for some eggs and toast.
Afterward we went and got checked into the Hilton resort I had booked for our whole group – same place we typically stay at. And Naidymar came over to join us and hang out while we waited for Chris’ flight to arrive.

While it took just slightly longer than Chris expected for him to get out of the Orlando airport, he eventually made his way to us and we were able to get over to Wide World of Sports to do our check in and pick up our bibs and shirts.
This year I wasn’t as excited about the artwork or anything like last year’s Jasmine designs and theming. But we still had to hit the expo and checkout what merchandise looked like. I always buy an event pin (to add to the box of them i have at home and STILL haven’t done anything with, of course). But I was shocked to find that at 2:30pm, on Thursday, the first day of the Expo, all the Event Pins were sold out! I had to buy it on Ebay from a reseller!!! And I was there the first afternoon of the Expo! It had only been open like four hours! Oh well. It cost me 29.99 on Ebay. So that’s like, what? $9 over retail?

That evening was pretty low key with the four of us grabbing some wings for dinner, and then just relaxing at the resort while Biggs and I got our costumes laid out for the next morning. We had an early morning ahead.

The funniest part of the night, though, was that outside our building was one of the resort pools… and they were having karaoke going til about 9:30pm. And the singers were definitely not great, hahaha! Fortunately they did end right at 930p as scheduled, since we had to try and get some sleep at least.

Friday – 5K Race Day

3:00 AM, and a chilly start to the race weekend
A new course route this year compared to last, with a full run around the World Showcase.

As soon as I woke up, just before 3am when my alarm was scheduled, I heard a door close in our hotel room. It was Beau arriving from driving all night to get into Orlando. He got there right at 3am, said hello, and went right to bed!

Having run in the 5k last year with Amanda, I knew what to expect in terms of ease-of-arrival and parking. However it also became clear that the “new” checkin/entrance to the races being at the entrance of Epcot that they introduced in 2022 was definitely a permanent change. So, just be ready to walk all the way to the entrance regardless of how good you might think your parking spot is.

This year I was once again running with Amanda, who brought back her Rajah outfit once more! And Chris was here, too, as Mulan, with Lorren joining as Mushu! Naidymar was running the race too, but she did it at her own pace and didn’t dress up. Me and Amanda kept a casual jogging pace through the course that was enough to stay warm-ish, and still be able to have a conversation.

Back at resort we got Beau up, everyone showered and changed for the day, and we headed out to IHOP and then back to the Expo so Beau could check in.

The rest of our afternoon/evening was spent hanging out at the resort relaxing.

And that night we grabbed dinner with a few of my co-workers from my team that were in town for an industry event.

Saturday – 10K Race Day

3:00 AM, again, and still chilly
Challenge, Day 1, for me, Beau, Biggs, and Naidymar!

Heading out for the 10k was another chilly morning. Not as bad as it could have been, but it definitely felt a tad cooler than the day before.

The 10k is another great race course to do, though. Passing through both the Studios and Epcot you get a lot of great photo opportunities in both parks. And of course there’s sunrise over the Boardwalk and World Showcase to enjoy while you’re running.
That morning only about 2miles into the race course Biggs got tripped up and rolled his ankle. Not horribly bad, thankfully. And as it turned out, this kinda worked out for the Half the next day with our friend Aaron being injured. The race itself was a lot of fun as always. But there’s plenty of photos of that down below that I’ll share.

Our race morning was of course followed up by Brunch/Lunch at IHOP. And then I headed out to meet up with the Lanza family (Belle and Beast) for our usual family photoshoot.

That afternoon everyone was invited to just come over and hang out at resort with us since we had no real solid plans for anything.
And honestly, this hour or so was one of my favorite moments of the trip. Everyone was together, in one spot, just catching up on life. It’s so hard to get everyone together these days between work and life. So to see everyone hanging out, moving around the room to chat with different groups of people, and conversation happening was both nostalgic of “the old days” and a reminder that we can still all pull off these moments together.

Probably the craziest part of that afternoon was when Aaron arrived and told us the story of injuring his back at work a few days earlier – a deep laceration from hip to shoulder that required 100 stitches and staples. So when he walked in and saw Biggs with his ankle elevated with ice on it, he immediately asked if Chris wanted to walk the Half Marathon tomorrow with him.
Aaron was certain that he wanted to race with us and that walking would not affect his bandages/injury. So we all decided that we would walk the first five miles of the race to the castle at Magic Kingdom, take our group photo together, and then split from there to regroup after the finish.

 

Sunday – Half Marathon Day

2:30AM, another cold morning for everyone
A very different year – a few injuries and plan to do some walking.

Aaron arrived at our resort at 3am exactly. The rest of the group was still finishing up getting ready. Naidymar arrived a short bit later and we piled into the minivan to head to the race.

The last two races we had picked up mylar blankets at the finish to keep for the morning of the Half – and boy did those help. It was a colder morning and there was a slight breeze. Going through the metal detectors I was once again stopped, like I had been the last two mornings, due to my metal necklace I had for my Jasmine costume. The security lady said “did you get that on Amazon!? you’re the third one this morning!” Haha!

Heading into the corrals we met up with Ric/Elsa. We were starting in C corral, dead center as usual. A couple people in our group had C placement, otherwise we probably would have started earlier since we had plans to walk the first hour and a half or so.

And oh boy, if you want an AWKWARD start to your race…. trying walking. hahaha! We were just casually strolling by the bleachers of all the people cheering right at the start line and we couldn’t help but laugh at how weird that felt for us since we’ve never started a race with walking.
It was also COLD. We all pretty much immediately regretted throwing away our mylar blankets before the start line. And we picked up some other random, discarded blankets off the side of the road from other runners. It was definitely needed since we were going to be walking for several miles and definitely NOT warming up any time soon

But honestly, it was a GREAT start to the race day. We were all chatting and talking and having a good time together. It wasn’t any different than our usual Half Marathon start, other then being a much slower pace. I did try to keep us at a brisk walking speed of 16min/mi or so, because i knew that we had to stay ahead of any chance of cut off. I didn’t want Aaron/Biggs to have to worry about getting swept by the end of the day.

Naidymar caught up to us around mile 3 or so, having started two corrals back from us. She stayed until the castle group photo, and then went ahead and finished her race on her own.

The back half of the race was great. We bumped into several friends from past events. stopped for photos here and there. And otherwise enjoyed “only running a 10k!”

After the finish line and back in the meeting area we got to see and chat with so many friends! This year really reminded me how social this event really is some years. Because there are times we don’t bump into people we know, and there are times like this weekend when past friends actively seek us out because they haven’t seen us in a while!

Another amazing year was already finished. And already looking forward to 2025 with everyone!

Back at the resort we got cleaned up and went to brunch for our usual IHOP trip with the whole crew. Joe/Belle caught up with us to eat even though he didn’t run this year. And that afternoon we just hung out together talking and joking at the resort.

That night we headed over to Kobe for dinner, like we have in years past. I wouldn’t say this is a tradition, but it’s starting to look like it. Honestly I had wanted, and tried, to get us reservations at Ohana as a group. But those slots fill up SO fast that even the day they opened (back during Christmas) all the desirable times were taken when I checked that morning.

After dinner Beau got on the road right away to head home/back to school in Georgia. Aaron and Danielle had to get home to their kids. And Joe and Erin had get their kids home to bed, too. It left me, Kellie, Naidymar, and Chris. At first we were going to head to Downtown Disney for Ghirardelli – the one thing we didn’t do this trip – but everyone was tired and not really feeling it. So we instead went back to the hotel and started our cleanup and packing.

It’s always amazing how fast these weekends fly by once they start. But I’m so lucky to have wonderful friends who make such an effort to make this trip each year and spend time with each other.

 

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Now, on to all the photos from the weekend!

Wednesday

Getting ready to leave Orange County

Never much leg room in a non-exit row. Oh well

Tacos in Austin for lunch – ended up being only actual meal that day

When you travel but gotta have your snacks…

Rollin family style this weekend!

So turns out this is a hybrid, which of course the guy didn’t tell me when I paid for the full-tank-pre-pay as part of my rental…

Got upgraded to a Suite for the one-night booking at Marriott

 

Thursday

We got a first timer for Waffle House, guys!

Heading to Check In!

 

It really does feel like we were just here for the last race..

It’s about 2p or so on Thursday, not too busy at all

Guess who didn’t do their online release forms…

A-Corral! …cuz I’m fast, boi

Ok as a former lifeguard for the water parks, these are pretty cool

Dinner of champions before our morning race

Some last minute prep by Biggs for his three costumes for the weekend

I brought my Slave Jasmine costume, but didn’t really have plans to wear it. Ended up being a chilly weekend so I opted not to

 

Friday

Ugh, time to wake up…

Two hours til run time

Alright, we ready! Just waiting for Naidymar to arrive and we’re out!

Time to go!

there was NO ONE on the roads

Arrival for the 5k is pretty quiet vs. the Half

Kellie came to hang out and wait for us even though she wasn’t running

We’re ready!

Surprisingly chilly waiting in a very slow release of all the corrals

Gotta get plenty of selfies in the dark on the course, haha! Sunrise wasn’t for a while

And let’s jump into the runDisney PhotoPass photos real quick here: 

Three different people complimented Amanda on her “Tigger Costume”… uh, no guys

Ok, but at the finish they knew she was Rajah!

Biggs was losing his wing by the end of the race apparently

 

And back to cell phone pics: 

Done! A far less-sweaty 5k this year since it wasn’t super muggy, and actually kinda cold. haha!

All the full-color medals now are handed wrapped to people. I imagine this caused the amount of “scratched medal” complaints to completely disappear

First race of the weekend, done!

Back at the resort Beau was sleeping after getting into town at 3am. So, we of course all climbed into bed with him…

Back at the Expo for Beau’s check in

Gonna list this on Ebay to finance my next Disney race..

Some of my co-workers were in town, so we all grabbed dinner together

I should have taken a before photo of Beau’s wig… it’s amazing that he combed this back to new..

Saturday

Gross… 3am already

Here we go again

Adding to our collection of ridiculous photos together

Chris was going as live-action Mulan today

 

 

 

Naidymar off to the side eyeing us totally makes this photo tho

And we’re off!

Leeeetle bit more traffic today

Ran into Dan! Beau and Dan were roommates

Getting a lot of time in the parks in the 5k and 10k is pretty great for photos though

Sunrise during the 10k is gorgeous, too

I say over and over that if you’re running these races for speed, you’re doing it completely wrong. You really gotta go at a pace you can enjoy the morning light and views

“John there’s a button to fix those shadows, right?” – Biggs

Home stretch!

Race Two. Done!

Photos from the PhotoPass guys:

So we stopped almost immediately so Biggs could get a photo with Mulan

Here we are, making all these people’s photos better by photobombing right behind them

..Matching that girl’s energy right there

And back to cell phone pics:

Sydnee came and found us after the race!

And met John at the finish, too! Sorry Scott… you’ve been replaced by a new Rapunzel

So Jennifer came up to us and said she had a photo with us from three or four years ago and needed a similar one…

So Beau and I did the same pose we were doing with her in the old photo she had just showed us, hahaha

it’s seeing all the past people from events each year, like Susan, that really make this so much fun

Sanda and Olga came to say hello, too! We’ve met them previous years also

And Belinda came and found us too!

it was only about an hour after breakfast that everyone started to pass out…

Meeting up with the Lanza fam for photos while I’m in town. Maybe next year Belle/Beast will randomly make a return to the races… what do you guys think? … (we can hope, anyway)

On the 10k course that morning Biggs got tripped up and rolled his ankle. Not terrible, but enough to be an issue

Naidymar, side-eyeing me for taking photos of everyone sitting around.

That afternoon though everyone came by to hang out for a bit. Which honestly was among my favorite parts of the trip

For those unaware, we all used to lifeguard together on the College Program.

And now with some of the group being married, having families, etc, it’s hard to get together and hang out. So trips like these mean that much more

And with me being from California, I enjoy the limited time I have to catch up and see everyone like this

Dad Mode, Activated. … When the kids rather sit on you and you just want your wings brought to you so you can eat dinner…

 

Sunday

Whew, last early morning on the trip.

Princess Half is already here. These weekends fly by

Oh man, getting ready I saw that Naidymar’s bib was here at our resort. I texted her immediately so she wouldn’t be panicking at her house before coming to meet us

Helping with Kellie’s part so she could updo/braid her hair … BUT LOOK AT WHAT TIME IT IS, UGH, ONLY 3AM

AARON HAS ARRIVED!! WATCH OUT FELLAS!

So, Aaron got injured in a work accident three days before this race and had over 100 stitches and staples put in his back.

We were all going to be walking together for the first half the race though to stay together for photos

Nearly ready to go!

Anddd Naidymar has arrived!

Having Aaron back after a few years of him not racing with us was off to a great start, lolll

Definitely was missing Joe/Belle though :(

And we’re out!

One last early drive!

Already chilly! We broke out the mylar blankets right after this

These were definitely needed this morning. It was the coldest of the three race mornings

Not my first choice of snack that day… maybe later if it warms up

Heading to the corrals

Ric found us in the corrals to meet up

His costume/wig gets planty of compliments out there

Still cold! but we’re ready to go

Ok, so the weirdest feeling is starting this race and just walking. So we’re laughing at the anti climatic “everyone ran away and we’re still here” and the fact that it was damn cold

“Just out for a little stroll!”

Jokes aside, walking and talking with each other was so great in it’s own very unique way.

It was NOT warm though. We ended up finding/using blankets that others had discarded on the road. And kept those the next 3 miles or so

Made it the Magic gate!

Pocahontas and Elsa, running to the ladies room

Sun’s coming up!

Man, you would think I knew nothing about photography based on my camera phone pictures. haha

Aaron’s bandages were starting to come loose. So, had to get taped up a bit

Making our way into Magic

So right around here we saw Colleen in the crowds with a sign for us! But we missed stopped to say Hello as usual because I was expecting to do that at the Grand :( Such a bummer to miss people. But I guess they changed up some viewing areas last minute

 

 

Big crowd down Main!

Hey once the sun is up those selfies come out much better!

So Aaron ran over to get a photo with himself…

He hit, and NAILED the pose…

And then Penny ran up, took this photo that I don’t think she realized Aaron was a key feature of… and later sent it to me online. HAHAHA, So. Good.

I kinda sorta did want to get a photo with Aladdin and Jasmine, but we settled for a quick selfie instead

Ric looks PISSED. hahaha

Our group photo came out great this year! And was SO worth all of us walking to Magic together.

And after the castle pic, we split up a bit with Biggs/ Aaron continue to walk due to their injuries, and the rest of us jogging the remaining 7 miles

The stretch by the Grand was super crowded, as always

Belinda found us again!

Makin our way through the crowds

It was bright as hell this stretch though

BLINDEDDD BYYY THE LIGHTTTTT

Met another Aladdin and Jasmine out here! Marianne and Santander

So on the backside of the course I thought I heard my name being yelled. And it took took her two times to get my attention, but Ashleigh stopped me to say hello when she saw me run by with the guys. Last August I had asked everyone who follows me on Facebook that were teachers whose Amazon wishlists I had missed, and Ashleigh was one of my teacher-friends who replied!
Help your teacher friends everyone! They can never have enough support!

Another one done!!

Ok, PhotoPass photos before we completely wrap up everything!

This is us all looking like very serious runners because we were walking at this point in Tomorrowland

We all look very fast, right?

Sorry Naidy… Aaron makes this photo

We look great. I already said it before with this photo, but we do. haha

Heading out of Magic at this point

Had to stop for the Pocahontas photo!

I think Beau wore it better, tho

Ric and I are just one of the girls here with Kristin and … nameicantread

These guys danced across the finish and showed off Aaron’s bandaged backside, lol

 

And back to the cell phone photos:

Leave your phone with Kellie, it comes back with selfies

Nicki and Julia came to say hi. See those colors ovals on Julia’s bib (right side)… She’s a Perfect Princess Challenge Runner!

Kelly and Laura came and said! More familiar faces from past races!

As I’m typing this I’m totally blanking on his name, but we met a previous year at Orlando airport prior to the race! He lives out in SoCal too

Maria and Wendy came to say hi again!

And Sydnee came by with her little girl!!

And Sydney the Service Dog came by also!

“Dad?!?”

Bill came by to get a photo with Aaron because they kept seeing each other on the course.
Later on he told me that he had heard of our group prior to the race and was looking forward to bumping into us out there. So this matchup was clearly perfect. hahaha

How can you not be excited to meeting Sydney tho.. LOOK AT HER LOKI FIT!

Jennifer came to say hello and get a photo as well! Another past race friend!

And that’s another great race weekend done! One last group shot of the crew

Oh and Biggs’ mom was there, so of course we gotta get a pic with Mom!

Two Elsas walked by and I shouted to Ric and pointed. he immediately ran after them

Lookin great boys!

Kellie nailed Beau’s leg pop in this shot with Amanda, Lorren, Jillian, and Cathy

“Hey if you guys aren’t brining the boxes home, I’m taking them..” – Biggs

They make you walk the longggg way back to the cars though..

And with that… another Challenge weekend is done

We all hit IHOP for lunch, Joe came to join

And he and Aaron split the pancakes that were still sitting there after we all had finished

Just a romantic lunch with the homies, hahaha

That afternoon we didn’t do too much until dinner that night

This guy though… UPSIDE DOWN VOLCANO!? Now he’s just showing off

But a great dinner together for our last night in town. These trips really do go too fast

Joe and Erin’s boys had a great time though with the cooking and fire show

Back at the resort we starting packing and cleaning up

Beau was already gone, so it was just me, Kellie, and Chris to clean up our stuff

Shortly after this I had a mild panic attack because I “lost” my car keys for back home in CA when they were in the very bottom of a pocket of my bag lodged in a way I couldn’t hear them or feel them the first THREE times I checked that bag. That was stressful for about 30 minutes

hmm… TWO different cheese style. On The Go. Regular…

 

Monday

Man, I put so few miles on this car this trip. And used basically no gas. Hybrids for the win, man

Still a few lines to deal with after leaving Disney

One last monorail ride

I think the line for Starbucks was longer than bag drop.
But for future reference, this place apparently allows ordering ahead in the app!

Marginally better leg room on this flight

By Florida!

And Helloooo Orange County, California!

It was another awesome trip to Orlando with everyone. As always it went too fast. But I’ll look forward to the next race and seeing everyone once again