A few days ago the Official Disney Blog posted a quick blurb saying that on 9/28 they were going to make an announcement for a 'one-of-a-kind opportunity' for a few of the runners at Wine & Dine. I didn't think anything of it at all and went about my day. I mean, no offense to Disney, but their 'HUGE' announcement about the Making Memories campaign and having your photos on the castle was kind of a letdown for some of us.
Fast forward to yesterday, 9/28, the day of the announcement. I was keeping an eye out on twitter as well as ROTE (RunningoftheEars.com). A little before 11, I go and check the Disney blog and the announcement had been posted....
"Meet-Up and Warm Up for the Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon with Running Guru Jeff Galloway"
Hmm...this could be interesting! I quickly skim over the blog post and it explains that they will be selecting 20 people to join Jeff Galloway, runDisney’s official training consultant and marathon guru, for a meet/greet and training run. Friday before the big half marathon, Jeff will offer tips and training secrets to the qualified runners and then lead them on a special 3-mile run through one of the theme parks.
Problem was? They don't list a time that this event will take place on Friday. I take my chances, realize it was a first come first served RSVP, see the clock ticking so quickly send over my reply email saying I'm interested. What are the chances that I get picked anyway? It was already around 11:14am and I'm sure there were a ton of people hounding the blog to see the announcement. Surely a lot more than 20 people have already replied, right???
The blog post said that if selected, you will receive an email around 2pm that same day. So I shrug, wish for the best, and continue with my work day. Again, realizing there's no way I would get picked!
2pm rolls around and.... I see the red blinking light on my Blackberry start flashing. Huh?! Must be some stupid spam mail again or a dumb forward from one of my friends. Open up my mailbox on my phone and staring at me is the beginning of the email subject line "Congrats! You've been selected to me---".... there's NO way. Really?! No way!!!
I quickly open up the email and sure enough, I was selected!!! I was skimming the email so quickly and getting so excited, I honestly have NO idea what I read the first few times. All I knew was that I got picked!!! But then one thing caught my eye.... "this Friday at 6:45am at Epcot...." Uhoh... Houston? We have a problem....
BIG problem! The meet and run was scheduled for Friday at 6:45am. My dilemma? My flight doesn't land until 9:30am. Big problem, HUUUGE problem. The wheels quickly start turning in my head (as they seldom do) and I tried to figure out a solution. How hard will it be to change my flight? How expensive would it be actually?!! And omg...do you REALLY think there will be any hotel rooms left over on Disney property, only 2 days before I want to arrive?!
Before rushing into anything....I quickly went over to ROTE and told them my news. I was selected!! But, before anyone congratulates me, we have issues with my flight, blah, blah, blah. Jumped over to JetBlue's site and see that there are 3 seats available on the flight I would need Thursday night. However, it wouldn't allow me to switch flights online. Pick up the phone and start calling as I multi-task and go to Disney's site and look for rooms using my Annual Passholder rate. To my surprise, there are a few rooms still available at the All Stars! Put the rooms aside and talk to the reservation agent on the phone. Change fee wasn't HORRIBLE, but the flight did go up in price. After an original price quote that almost made me choke, the agent put me back on hold and then came back with a MUCH nicer number. I don't know what she did but it was in my price range so I told her to go ahead and change the flight!
That hurdle down I took a deep breath and went back over to ROTE and saw that Tricia was selected as well! She also had asked me if I had any hotel plans for Thursday night since I had to switch my itinerary around. Quickly email her explaining that I found rooms using the AP rate but haven't booked anything yet. She writes back offering to book and split the cost of the room. Everything is falling into place and I still can't believe how fast everything was happening! A quick call to Tricia after work and the plans are officially made! We'll be at All Star Sports for the night, which works out perfectly for both of us.
In all seriousness, I still can't believe I was selected. I honestly RSVP'd for the heck of it not expecting ANY response. When that email came in at 2pm I definitely stared at my phone dumbfounded.
Oh, and did I mention that it was my 30th bday on Monday? And this whole Wine & Dine trip was a bday gift to myself to celebrate the big 3-0?! This Jeff Galloway news it totally icing on the cake and will make this trip just that much more memorable! Now just cross your fingers and hope this tropical storm that the northeast is supposed to get Thursday night just magically disappears and that I can get to Orlando some time before 6:45am on Friday. Even if I need a taxi to drive me directly to Epcot, I will be there!
To view the original blog post by Disney, including list of selected runners, click on this link.
Fast forward to yesterday, 9/28, the day of the announcement. I was keeping an eye out on twitter as well as ROTE (RunningoftheEars.com). A little before 11, I go and check the Disney blog and the announcement had been posted....
"Meet-Up and Warm Up for the Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon with Running Guru Jeff Galloway"
Hmm...this could be interesting! I quickly skim over the blog post and it explains that they will be selecting 20 people to join Jeff Galloway, runDisney’s official training consultant and marathon guru, for a meet/greet and training run. Friday before the big half marathon, Jeff will offer tips and training secrets to the qualified runners and then lead them on a special 3-mile run through one of the theme parks.
Problem was? They don't list a time that this event will take place on Friday. I take my chances, realize it was a first come first served RSVP, see the clock ticking so quickly send over my reply email saying I'm interested. What are the chances that I get picked anyway? It was already around 11:14am and I'm sure there were a ton of people hounding the blog to see the announcement. Surely a lot more than 20 people have already replied, right???
The blog post said that if selected, you will receive an email around 2pm that same day. So I shrug, wish for the best, and continue with my work day. Again, realizing there's no way I would get picked!
2pm rolls around and.... I see the red blinking light on my Blackberry start flashing. Huh?! Must be some stupid spam mail again or a dumb forward from one of my friends. Open up my mailbox on my phone and staring at me is the beginning of the email subject line "Congrats! You've been selected to me---".... there's NO way. Really?! No way!!!
I quickly open up the email and sure enough, I was selected!!! I was skimming the email so quickly and getting so excited, I honestly have NO idea what I read the first few times. All I knew was that I got picked!!! But then one thing caught my eye.... "this Friday at 6:45am at Epcot...." Uhoh... Houston? We have a problem....
BIG problem! The meet and run was scheduled for Friday at 6:45am. My dilemma? My flight doesn't land until 9:30am. Big problem, HUUUGE problem. The wheels quickly start turning in my head (as they seldom do) and I tried to figure out a solution. How hard will it be to change my flight? How expensive would it be actually?!! And omg...do you REALLY think there will be any hotel rooms left over on Disney property, only 2 days before I want to arrive?!
Before rushing into anything....I quickly went over to ROTE and told them my news. I was selected!! But, before anyone congratulates me, we have issues with my flight, blah, blah, blah. Jumped over to JetBlue's site and see that there are 3 seats available on the flight I would need Thursday night. However, it wouldn't allow me to switch flights online. Pick up the phone and start calling as I multi-task and go to Disney's site and look for rooms using my Annual Passholder rate. To my surprise, there are a few rooms still available at the All Stars! Put the rooms aside and talk to the reservation agent on the phone. Change fee wasn't HORRIBLE, but the flight did go up in price. After an original price quote that almost made me choke, the agent put me back on hold and then came back with a MUCH nicer number. I don't know what she did but it was in my price range so I told her to go ahead and change the flight!
That hurdle down I took a deep breath and went back over to ROTE and saw that Tricia was selected as well! She also had asked me if I had any hotel plans for Thursday night since I had to switch my itinerary around. Quickly email her explaining that I found rooms using the AP rate but haven't booked anything yet. She writes back offering to book and split the cost of the room. Everything is falling into place and I still can't believe how fast everything was happening! A quick call to Tricia after work and the plans are officially made! We'll be at All Star Sports for the night, which works out perfectly for both of us.
In all seriousness, I still can't believe I was selected. I honestly RSVP'd for the heck of it not expecting ANY response. When that email came in at 2pm I definitely stared at my phone dumbfounded.
Oh, and did I mention that it was my 30th bday on Monday? And this whole Wine & Dine trip was a bday gift to myself to celebrate the big 3-0?! This Jeff Galloway news it totally icing on the cake and will make this trip just that much more memorable! Now just cross your fingers and hope this tropical storm that the northeast is supposed to get Thursday night just magically disappears and that I can get to Orlando some time before 6:45am on Friday. Even if I need a taxi to drive me directly to Epcot, I will be there!
To view the original blog post by Disney, including list of selected runners, click on this link.
Congrats again, Jenn! It's so cool how it all fell into place! :)
ReplyDelete@Niffercoo - thanks again! :) Now lets just hope for decent weather so I can get out of NJ!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! It's great that you were chosen and that everything worked out for you. You get to spend time with an Olympian, how cool! That must have been a frantic couple of hours as you were getting everything changed.
ReplyDeleteAnd Happy Birthday! What a great present. Glad to hear that you treated yourself for your 30th. I just turned 30 earlier this year and bought myself a little present as well. Gotta splurge once in a while ... :-) Enjoy your trip!
Run well
- Patrick
@Patrick - Well I think my luck has sadly run out... I'm too tired to post a blog about it but I will eventually. My flight tomorrow night was canceled due to the pending storm. I was able to jump on another flight tomorrow morning at 7am but the weather isn't looking so great either. PLEASE think good thoughts for my flight! Going to head over to the airport in 2 hours *sigh*
ReplyDeleteThat's so cool! I'll have to hurry and go read your recap on that experience next!
ReplyDeleteAnd I agree - this whole new Making Memories campaign? LAME. Boring news. I was so disappointed.
@RR... Thank you! :) And hopefully in an hour or so I'll be posting my race recap. The Making Memories thing is a good idea...but I just think they made WAY too big a deal out of it... bleh.
ReplyDelete