(Can’t wait for AP reviews to start coming out, by the way!)
I've already seen one. It was a mostly positive review. Some great food and some not so great food, really enjoyed the characters. Said it's one of the better character meals overall on property.
This week's Sundays are for Disney is about characters. For the runners planning on making a bunch of character stops, who do you hope to see along the route? For those of you on the fence/not planning to make character stops, which character or characters would get you to stop? For those of you who have run past races, who has been the best character you've seen along the course (in any race)?
I'm somewhat unique in the realm of character photos. I enjoy them and get some every trip, but I only focus on characters or movies that I really love. For races I tend to choose based on what I can absorb time wise and how much I really want the photo. I'll skip super short character lines if they don't interest me and wait in longer lines (5-10 minutes max) if they do interest me. Since the most important characters for me are also in the parks after the race, then I don't worry if the line is too long during the race if they're even out on the course.
Characters I've stopped for in races:
Prince Phillip and Princess Aurora, Darth Vader, Goofy, Chip and Dale, lots of Star Wars, Doctor Strange, Nick Fury, and Black Widow.
Would especially love to get my hands on a picture with Elvis stitch!
As an Elvis fan, I would so stop for that if I felt I could absorb the time hit. If not, selfie it is and move on.
I'm halfway tempted to carry the 5k medal for the rest of the races so I can get a picture of it with Oswald.
Vacation Genie is one I'm hoping will be out again and will definitely try to stop for.
I'd love a race photo with Oswald since he's on the medal, but the line will probably be insane for that same reason. I have photos from Disney California Adventure with Oswald, so I can skip that if necessary. Vacation Genie is one I would definitely consider if the line worked for me. Finishing is more important to me than being swept which means that sometimes I have to make decisions.
I have never stopped for a character picture during a race. That said, I do love to see them on the course. I really should try it sometime!
It really is quite fun. I find it's a nice respite.
Since it's my first Marathon I'm not sure I'm going to stop for any characters. It really depends upon the line, how I'm doing time wise and how I'm feeling at that point.
I refused to stop for any photos during my first half because time spooked me. I'm tweaking that approach for my first marathon. I will stop for photos. They may be limited to photo opportunities in the parks with minimal lines, but I'm okay with that. I just want to have a visual reminder of the experience. The "missed" photos from my first half never came up again.
Also, Mittens from Bolt, mostly because I still haven't seen Bolt.
Rhino the Hamster from Bolt is my new running mantra coach.
The old ride vehicles are awesome.
That sounds like a great quick photo op.
I don't stop as much as I think I should in hindsight.
I've learned from Star Wars races at Disney World that I have more time to absorb than I think they do. I've still skipped some great characters, but that worked out okay in the end. I skipped Emperor Palplatine in the 2017 Dark Side Half, but I got an even better Imperial group shot including Vader and the Emperor in the 2018 Dark Side Half.
The Mime guy from Tangled
I love Tangled and that I would consider stopping for if the line was short enough.
Gus Gus and Jaq rule. Almost Chip and Dale level cool.
SAFD: I probably won't stop. I have serious issues getting started again after I stop, primarily late in the marathon but I do love seeing the characters as I go by and I think this year, I'll probably take some selfies with the characters!
I did that with BB-8 at the Star Wars races at
Disneyland. I was very happy when he was in the prerace area for Dark Side races and no selfie necessary.
SAFD: I love Chip & Dale and I have plans to finally get a castle photo!
I love my photo from the 2012 Wine & Dine Half with Chip & Dale and Goofy in their SpectroMagic costumes by the big piano from that parade.
What are good stops for non-character pics for the wdw half marathon? I am a fan of stopping for atmospheric pics especially if a CM is around to take one and also like their usual lack of long lines. At Tink I got a Mickey's fun wheel, a castle, a carsland, etc...all not with characters.
I love this because sometimes atmospheric pics can be just as memorable as characters. I got a great photo with a Tower of Tower bellhop and a luggage cart with the tower in the background during one of the Dark Side races this year. They also had a trapped in Tivan Collection photo op out at the 2017 Avengers Half. Almost no line at all.
