Orlando!

The last leg of my US holiday trip was a visit to Orlando.  I had such a great time running the Disney Marathon last year, that we planned to make a return trip before we had even finished running the race last January. It was a great time to catch up with my running friends! 

 

Enjoying a pre-dinner drink with Ed and Marie!

 

 

 

If you haven't been to Disney World in years, or as an adult, you need to go.  It's hilarious - they take that "happiest place on Earth" thing very seriously!  Everyone is wishing you a Magical Day all over the place.  The wake-up call in our room was even a cartoon voice - maybe Mickey Mouse? We stayed at the Art of Animation Resort and specifically in the Little Mermaid building.  This was our room:

 

I would have died of happiness as a kid if my hotel room looked like this!  I was pretty amused even as an adult.  :)  They also had a Cars building and a Lion King building.  The pool and outdoor areas were equally covered with giant statues of characters from the movies.  There was actually a giant Ursula from the Little Mermaid near our pool and she is, and always was, scary!

 

On Friday we had to visit the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex to pick up our race packets. Apparently the Braves are holding spring training here in 2014 and they had a decorated Mickey to celebrate!

 

Since we had no other agenda and it was a beautiful sunny day, Beth and I spent the afternoon enjoying snacks and drinks at the Sports Complex.  Good times!