The night before I left for Florida was a whirlwind of events. As I made very clear in my last entry, I was not 100% costume ready for the races coming up. On our way home from work, Carolyn and I, brainstormed. What were easy costumes that we could put together?
We had a great time brain storming about my possibilities and in the end we came up with the perfect costumes for me. Easy and cheap! Just how I like it.
The second I got home from work, I ran to the mall with my sister (at 8;40 PM and the mall closed at 9:00) to buy last minute things for my half marathon costume (thanks Arielle, for helping me decide which top worked best)!
My costumes, 85%, are thanks to Carolyn, 7.5% thanks to Arielle, & 7.5% thanks to Brad. I could NOT have done this without them!
We had a great time brain storming about my possibilities and in the end we came up with the perfect costumes for me. Easy and cheap! Just how I like it.
The second I got home from work, I ran to the mall with my sister (at 8;40 PM and the mall closed at 9:00) to buy last minute things for my half marathon costume (thanks Arielle, for helping me decide which top worked best)!
My costumes, 85%, are thanks to Carolyn, 7.5% thanks to Arielle, & 7.5% thanks to Brad. I could NOT have done this without them!
Expo:
Once my flight landed, I took the Magical Express to the Carribean Beach Resort, and Elsbeth picked me up from there. Off to the expo we went!
The last time I was here for a Disney race, the Expo was held at Disney's Coronado Springs hotel. The area was much too small for bib pick up, packet pick up, and all of the vendors and it did not go over well with the runners. This time the Expo was at ESPN's Wide World of Sports. Also known as the home to the Atlanta Braves Spring Training.
The Expo was spread out so beautifully.
Once my flight landed, I took the Magical Express to the Carribean Beach Resort, and Elsbeth picked me up from there. Off to the expo we went!
The last time I was here for a Disney race, the Expo was held at Disney's Coronado Springs hotel. The area was much too small for bib pick up, packet pick up, and all of the vendors and it did not go over well with the runners. This time the Expo was at ESPN's Wide World of Sports. Also known as the home to the Atlanta Braves Spring Training.
The Expo was spread out so beautifully.
They had one area for Dopey and Goofy bib and packet pick ups.
Another area for Family 5K/Minnie Mouse 10K/and the half marathon bib pick ups (don't mind me),
And the vendors were in a completely separate building.
Things I loved about the expo:
- The six banners in the front of ESPN Wide World of Sports with all of the run's on them! (pictures below)
- The layout
- The Vendors (Team Sparkle Athletics!)
- The free food
-The ENERGY! ****
The one thing I did not like about the expo:
- The fact that I was unable to get The Run Disney New Balance sneakers, because, once again they were not prepared for the crowd!!
- The Minnie Mouse Sportsbra, that I was so excited about, was cheaply made.
I tend to be very superstitious, so last year at the Princess Half I did not buy the "I did it" t-shirt because I was so worried I would not complete the half-marathon (it was my first). But this year I loved the "I did it" t-shirt so much for the Dopey Challenge that I bought it ... at the expo ... before I actually completed the challenge. I joked, if I didn't finish the challenge I was sure I could sell it on e-bay.
- The six banners in the front of ESPN Wide World of Sports with all of the run's on them! (pictures below)
- The layout
- The Vendors (Team Sparkle Athletics!)
- The free food
-The ENERGY! ****
The one thing I did not like about the expo:
- The fact that I was unable to get The Run Disney New Balance sneakers, because, once again they were not prepared for the crowd!!
- The Minnie Mouse Sportsbra, that I was so excited about, was cheaply made.
I tend to be very superstitious, so last year at the Princess Half I did not buy the "I did it" t-shirt because I was so worried I would not complete the half-marathon (it was my first). But this year I loved the "I did it" t-shirt so much for the Dopey Challenge that I bought it ... at the expo ... before I actually completed the challenge. I joked, if I didn't finish the challenge I was sure I could sell it on e-bay.
Our first 5K together!
Getting excited!
After a meal at the expo Brad and I headed back to the hotel around 6:00 PM. We arrived at the room for the first time to NO suitcase. Disney says it will take a maximum of three hours for the suitcase to arrive in your room. So why, 6 hours later, had my suitcase still not arrived??
I panicked. and blamed the "I did it shirt." I knew I shouldn't have bought it before the challenge was over!! Brad and I were both running the next morning and all we had were the sneakers on our feet and the clothes we were wearing (on a positive note: our sneakers were the most important part)!
I called Disney and they told me that my "U.S Airways flight ..." and I stopped them right there. I did NOT fly U.S Airways! They told me to give them an hour to figure out the problem. An hour later, they told me to give them another hour. At this point it was 7:00 PM and the expo closed in an hour. With only the clothes I was wearing, I headed back to the expo, since it was closing at 8:00 PM to buy shorts to wear the next morning. The shorts I bought I strongly dislike, but they worked given the situation.
I get back to the room, exhausted (we left CT at 3:30 am), to find out there were still no answers. Finally, I get the dreaded call "JetBlue has no records of your bag ever arriving in Orlando."
....
WHAT ???
I needed this bag to be here!! I had to submit a baggage ticket so I called JetBlue's Baggage Claim number, but they closed at 7:00 PM. I tweeted to JetBlue with no help. I called their main number and was told all they could do for me was give me the number to MCO's JetBlue baggage claim because they were open until midnight.
I called and called and called and it would ring a few times then tell me the mailbox is full. Out of desperation I decided it was best I just go to MCO myself. At this point it is 10:30 PM. I arrive at MCO JetBlue baggage claim to this:
I panicked. and blamed the "I did it shirt." I knew I shouldn't have bought it before the challenge was over!! Brad and I were both running the next morning and all we had were the sneakers on our feet and the clothes we were wearing (on a positive note: our sneakers were the most important part)!
I called Disney and they told me that my "U.S Airways flight ..." and I stopped them right there. I did NOT fly U.S Airways! They told me to give them an hour to figure out the problem. An hour later, they told me to give them another hour. At this point it was 7:00 PM and the expo closed in an hour. With only the clothes I was wearing, I headed back to the expo, since it was closing at 8:00 PM to buy shorts to wear the next morning. The shorts I bought I strongly dislike, but they worked given the situation.
I get back to the room, exhausted (we left CT at 3:30 am), to find out there were still no answers. Finally, I get the dreaded call "JetBlue has no records of your bag ever arriving in Orlando."
....
WHAT ???
I needed this bag to be here!! I had to submit a baggage ticket so I called JetBlue's Baggage Claim number, but they closed at 7:00 PM. I tweeted to JetBlue with no help. I called their main number and was told all they could do for me was give me the number to MCO's JetBlue baggage claim because they were open until midnight.
I called and called and called and it would ring a few times then tell me the mailbox is full. Out of desperation I decided it was best I just go to MCO myself. At this point it is 10:30 PM. I arrive at MCO JetBlue baggage claim to this:
HUNDREDS of missing/unclaimed bags (I could only get 1/3 in a pic).
When I told them my dilemma I got a "Yes, it seems your bag never arrived," As we are discussing my options (none, but wait) I hear Brad from outside the office "Daniella, is this your bag?" and there he is holding my suitcase!
Someone had taken it off the baggage belt and threw it on the floor (still by the baggage belt). And it sat there for over 12 hours. Obviously, I was angry at the lack of answers I was getting at that point. How does a suitcase go unattended for 12 hours?? This is an airport for crying out loud!
But I was so relieved to have my bag. And clean clothes. And my running costumes that I was so stressed over the past few weeks.
Someone had taken it off the baggage belt and threw it on the floor (still by the baggage belt). And it sat there for over 12 hours. Obviously, I was angry at the lack of answers I was getting at that point. How does a suitcase go unattended for 12 hours?? This is an airport for crying out loud!
But I was so relieved to have my bag. And clean clothes. And my running costumes that I was so stressed over the past few weeks.
Lesson learned: Don't just wear your sneakers. Pack AT LEAST one days worth of running clothes and normal clothes.
Although I was so excited for the next few days, these bibs made me so sad. I missed my family terribly knowing we were all supposed to do the Family Fun 5K together.
But as I went to bed with my best friend right beside me, I couldn't help but be so happy and excited for the next four days a head.
Getting to this point was a team effort. I could not thank everyone involved enough.
Getting to this point was a team effort. I could not thank everyone involved enough.