Anisum
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- May 15, 2015
Part 2: Tiana Room & Expo
So Magical Express took us to the hotel (Riverside) and L being the Disney pro she is suggested she get the bags from the bus while I go to check-in (or really find our room number because our friend who lives down there henceforth known a D already checked in for us on her way to work) I ended up in a line that grew rather long behind me but it was no big deal. After a few minutes of waiting we were ready to go. We had requested a bottom floor room near transportation and as far as Riverside is concerned (it's one of the big sprawling resorts) we pretty much got that. We entered our Royal Room and it was of course magic.
This is pretty much what our room (sorry if the image is large) and it was epic. It was also disorienting because that letter on the desk looks real and it's not and the magic carpet looks like a separate carpet but again, is not. The sink faucet is the magic lamp and the whole room is full of little bits of magic. This may not have been as luxurious as a Deluxe resort but it was probably one of the coolest Disney rooms I stayed in. We didn't have long to check it out though because it was almost noon which meant expo time.
We had decided in advance to worry about our bibs and then determine whether the merch line was worth waiting in based on the size. We had a few goals 1. Pick up our bibs. 2. Find L a Flip-Belt 3. Try and pick up my mom's ChEAR Squad Packet. 4. Pre-Order Merch 5. Determine whether or not runDisney merch was worth it.
While we got on a bus just before it left our resort we were still immediately subjected to the mass chaos that is a runDisney expo on opening day. We found the Dopey (and Goofy) line easily and wound around to get our stuff. Since L and I were consecutive bib numbers it was easy not to lose each other at pick up. They gave us our bibs and our complimentary race dots or whatever they're called and of course our luggage tag. L thought ahead and asked about our pins (meaning our pre-order Disney pins) but they handed her pins to attach her bib instead. This would be of great use to me since I didn't think to ask and didn't trust the dots I had never used before. Then it was off to shirts. I got my shirts, make sure they were a women's set instead of a men's set (I had only done the Princess and Tink where the majority of the shirts were women's sizing so I didn't worry about checking). I do wish I had checked closer because since all of my shirts were my women's size, the 5k shirt is giant on me since it's the unisex equivalent so that will be a nightgown or pajama top.
Next was Flip-Belt. We went into the area where most of the vendors were to see if Fit2Run carried them since L got a discount there. They did not however which kind of makes sense since the Flip Belt company was there in one of the other buildings. We tried them on and I liked it enough that I felt it was worthwhile to get one myself. Part of that was because I had read that you shouldn't carry camelbaks or other superfluous water delivery systems on your body during races because of the stress it puts on your shoulders. I don't really need extra water but I had brought my camelbak because I can only store so much fuel and for me a marathon was 3 packs of gummies and four gels. I also was able to carry suntan lotion and lip balm day of which was nice.
Next was trying to pick up my mom's ChEAR squad using only my receipt (I bought it) and my mother's waiver. Fun fact, ChEAR Squad waivers are the same as athlete waivers but without a bib number. There was a slight line for this as people who didn't pick up their race retreat entry were doing so along side ChEAR Squad pick-up which blew my mind since they had already lost out on what to me is one of the biggest perks, early expo entry? Come on guys? I hope your flights at least got delayed to make you miss out on that. When I got to the front they let me pick up the packet but the volunteer had to call over a runDisney cast member to approve it since I didn't have my mom's ID.
Meanwhile inhellthe magical official race merch line.
L waited. She decided to see how fast it moved while I got the packet. In 20 minutes we were almost under the tent thing that led to the entrance (and by almost I mean halfway there). It was already 2:30 which is around when the expo usually starts to calm down but it was just getting worse. More importantly our pre-purchased pins were in there and at the time cast and volunteers were still telling people they could only pickup said merch by waiting in the line. We decided to just wait it out. Whether or not that was a good decision I still don't know.
After another 20 minutes we got inside, only to run into ANOTHER LINE! This was truly Disney.
Another 20 minutes passed before we were let in. The expo space was much larger which made sense because runDisney needed to sell their official line of Disneybound Running Costumes or whatever they were calling it in addition to regular merch. Our first stop was the Dopey aisle where the last of the men's blue hoodies were going fast with only XL and XXL still on the shelves. A cast member was passing and when someone asked her to look for something L jumped on and asked about getting a size large. It was nice to be able to get a hoodie that was bigger since it was a departure from the light jackets we usually are able to get at expos. The women's Dopey stuff was bypassed by us because while I adored the gray tank I didn't like the texture and both of us found the purple/pink/magenta color of the women's jackets disorienting. I can't find a picture online that does the men's hoodie justice but I love it. Then it was off to get our magnets (3x Dopey and a 10k for D), our tervis tumblers (mug for D and big bottle for myself and my mother), bondi bands (5k, Marathon, and Dopey), and ornaments (one for each of us), and look around picking up and putting down random articles of clothing and merch before deciding to check out. That line was also a mess but it was super fast with cast members lined up ready to take your money.
Then we headed to pick up our pre-purchased pins. After making our way through that final line it was almost 4pm so we headed back to the hotel for a late/light lunch and a quick nap while we waiting for D to get out of work and do the expo. We each had a flatbread for lunch (I had chicken and L had meat lovers) and our quick nap had us discovering another hidden treasure in our hotel room. You may see a button on the top of the headboard. It makes fireworks happen on the headboard which is kind of the best thing ever.
After our nap D came to pick us up after her own expo adventures which involved picking up her 10k bib, a few odds and ends for herself, and some secret stuff. We headed to Disney Springs for dinner. We had hoped to do Homecoming but it was a 50 minute wait so we looked online and were able to get a reservation at Frontera Cocina. It was going to be a little while so we hit World of Disney. Then we headed back for dinner and had guacamole, salsa, and finally some delicious chicken tortilla soup. It was delicious!
Then D dropped us off (she had to work the next day and not at 3:00am when we were getting up for the 5k) and we headed straight to bed after setting out our clothes for the morning.
So Magical Express took us to the hotel (Riverside) and L being the Disney pro she is suggested she get the bags from the bus while I go to check-in (or really find our room number because our friend who lives down there henceforth known a D already checked in for us on her way to work) I ended up in a line that grew rather long behind me but it was no big deal. After a few minutes of waiting we were ready to go. We had requested a bottom floor room near transportation and as far as Riverside is concerned (it's one of the big sprawling resorts) we pretty much got that. We entered our Royal Room and it was of course magic.
This is pretty much what our room (sorry if the image is large) and it was epic. It was also disorienting because that letter on the desk looks real and it's not and the magic carpet looks like a separate carpet but again, is not. The sink faucet is the magic lamp and the whole room is full of little bits of magic. This may not have been as luxurious as a Deluxe resort but it was probably one of the coolest Disney rooms I stayed in. We didn't have long to check it out though because it was almost noon which meant expo time.
We had decided in advance to worry about our bibs and then determine whether the merch line was worth waiting in based on the size. We had a few goals 1. Pick up our bibs. 2. Find L a Flip-Belt 3. Try and pick up my mom's ChEAR Squad Packet. 4. Pre-Order Merch 5. Determine whether or not runDisney merch was worth it.
While we got on a bus just before it left our resort we were still immediately subjected to the mass chaos that is a runDisney expo on opening day. We found the Dopey (and Goofy) line easily and wound around to get our stuff. Since L and I were consecutive bib numbers it was easy not to lose each other at pick up. They gave us our bibs and our complimentary race dots or whatever they're called and of course our luggage tag. L thought ahead and asked about our pins (meaning our pre-order Disney pins) but they handed her pins to attach her bib instead. This would be of great use to me since I didn't think to ask and didn't trust the dots I had never used before. Then it was off to shirts. I got my shirts, make sure they were a women's set instead of a men's set (I had only done the Princess and Tink where the majority of the shirts were women's sizing so I didn't worry about checking). I do wish I had checked closer because since all of my shirts were my women's size, the 5k shirt is giant on me since it's the unisex equivalent so that will be a nightgown or pajama top.
Next was Flip-Belt. We went into the area where most of the vendors were to see if Fit2Run carried them since L got a discount there. They did not however which kind of makes sense since the Flip Belt company was there in one of the other buildings. We tried them on and I liked it enough that I felt it was worthwhile to get one myself. Part of that was because I had read that you shouldn't carry camelbaks or other superfluous water delivery systems on your body during races because of the stress it puts on your shoulders. I don't really need extra water but I had brought my camelbak because I can only store so much fuel and for me a marathon was 3 packs of gummies and four gels. I also was able to carry suntan lotion and lip balm day of which was nice.
Next was trying to pick up my mom's ChEAR squad using only my receipt (I bought it) and my mother's waiver. Fun fact, ChEAR Squad waivers are the same as athlete waivers but without a bib number. There was a slight line for this as people who didn't pick up their race retreat entry were doing so along side ChEAR Squad pick-up which blew my mind since they had already lost out on what to me is one of the biggest perks, early expo entry? Come on guys? I hope your flights at least got delayed to make you miss out on that. When I got to the front they let me pick up the packet but the volunteer had to call over a runDisney cast member to approve it since I didn't have my mom's ID.
Meanwhile in
L waited. She decided to see how fast it moved while I got the packet. In 20 minutes we were almost under the tent thing that led to the entrance (and by almost I mean halfway there). It was already 2:30 which is around when the expo usually starts to calm down but it was just getting worse. More importantly our pre-purchased pins were in there and at the time cast and volunteers were still telling people they could only pickup said merch by waiting in the line. We decided to just wait it out. Whether or not that was a good decision I still don't know.
After another 20 minutes we got inside, only to run into ANOTHER LINE! This was truly Disney.
Another 20 minutes passed before we were let in. The expo space was much larger which made sense because runDisney needed to sell their official line of Disneybound Running Costumes or whatever they were calling it in addition to regular merch. Our first stop was the Dopey aisle where the last of the men's blue hoodies were going fast with only XL and XXL still on the shelves. A cast member was passing and when someone asked her to look for something L jumped on and asked about getting a size large. It was nice to be able to get a hoodie that was bigger since it was a departure from the light jackets we usually are able to get at expos. The women's Dopey stuff was bypassed by us because while I adored the gray tank I didn't like the texture and both of us found the purple/pink/magenta color of the women's jackets disorienting. I can't find a picture online that does the men's hoodie justice but I love it. Then it was off to get our magnets (3x Dopey and a 10k for D), our tervis tumblers (mug for D and big bottle for myself and my mother), bondi bands (5k, Marathon, and Dopey), and ornaments (one for each of us), and look around picking up and putting down random articles of clothing and merch before deciding to check out. That line was also a mess but it was super fast with cast members lined up ready to take your money.
Then we headed to pick up our pre-purchased pins. After making our way through that final line it was almost 4pm so we headed back to the hotel for a late/light lunch and a quick nap while we waiting for D to get out of work and do the expo. We each had a flatbread for lunch (I had chicken and L had meat lovers) and our quick nap had us discovering another hidden treasure in our hotel room. You may see a button on the top of the headboard. It makes fireworks happen on the headboard which is kind of the best thing ever.
After our nap D came to pick us up after her own expo adventures which involved picking up her 10k bib, a few odds and ends for herself, and some secret stuff. We headed to Disney Springs for dinner. We had hoped to do Homecoming but it was a 50 minute wait so we looked online and were able to get a reservation at Frontera Cocina. It was going to be a little while so we hit World of Disney. Then we headed back for dinner and had guacamole, salsa, and finally some delicious chicken tortilla soup. It was delicious!
Then D dropped us off (she had to work the next day and not at 3:00am when we were getting up for the 5k) and we headed straight to bed after setting out our clothes for the morning.