The Countdown is on - runDisney's Tower of Terror 10-mile!

I...

CAN'T...

WAIT!!!


In 9 (hopefully short) days from now, hubby and I will be on our way to Walt Disney World for runDisney's newest event - the Tower of Terror 10-mile race!  I can't think of a better way to celebrate our 4th wedding anniversary.  (Well, except next year, where we will celebrate it aboard the Disney Cruise Line's newest ship, the Disney Fantasy with a bunch of friends.)

Being that we are within 10 days of check-in, it was really a reality check today when I got to do our online resort check in.  We will once again be staying at our Disney Vacation Club home resort - Bay Lake Tower.  This amazing resort looks out, not only over its name-sake, Bay Lake, but also over the Magic Kingdom theme park!  The Top of the World Lounge, located on the 16th floor of this building, is a members only lounge popular for getting a bird's eye view of the nightly Wishes Nighttime Spectacular fireworks show at the park.  (During Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party this show is changed a bit for the season and is called HalloWishes, on select nights.  Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party also has its own version.  During these times of year, you can catch two variations of the show on different nights.)

Disney's Bay Lake Tower at the Contemporary Resort

We are definitely in need of a serious Disney fix - partly because it's been since April that we have been, and partly because we really need an escape from the stress of everyday life right now.  Work and moving to the new house and prepping the old house for rental while trying to maintain our running has really worn on us. 

And the thing that makes this trip even more exciting - we get to see a bunch of our ROTE friends, two of which we will actually be rooming with for 3 of our 5 nights in WDW.

I also get to see one of my favorite people - Leah Powell!  I'll be working the Sparkle Skirts booth with her at the expo from 4-8pm on Friday!  Come see us!!  Leah is going to have some awesome skirts available.  I can't wait to see some of the new designs in person.  I'm sure I'll be heading home with at least one new SparkleTech for my collection - I'm leaning towards one of the Peacock prints. (See my previous blog post - these skirts are my all-time FAVORITE and the ONLY skirts I will do long runs in!)  Leah has two available right now that are PERFECT for the Tower of Terror race and it's Villains theme - the Red Queen (Alice in Wonderland), and Magic Potion (Maleficent or Snow White's vain stepmother).  Other popular skirts for ToT costumes are Everest, Wild Animal, Flame and either of the two pirate skirts, the slim(A)-line PirateTech or the regular cut Black Pearl.

Another exciting tidbit during our 5-night stay in WDW, Epcot will be celebrating it's 30th anniversary on October 1st!  It opened in 1982. I have seen some of the newly themed pins and clothing for this event and it looks to be pretty awesome! 

Also, on Friday, Sept 28, the International Food & Wine Festival opens at Epcot.  This is one of hubby & I's FAVORITE events at WDW.  We generally don't bother making any reservations during trips where the Food & Wine Festival is going on - we prefer to snack our way around the world (World Showcase, that is) instead.  The portions are perfect for sampling.

Additionally, we'll get to tour parts of New Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom, which is opening in phases.


The finisher's medals for this new event are spectacular.  We've seen them at a few other race expos we've been to over the last year.  I can't wait to earn this one!  Not only is it the typical huge Disney medal, but it glows in the dark AND the elevator moves.

runDisney's Tower of Terror 10 mile Finisher's Medal

I have to say, I will likely be a bit jealous of my friends that are running the 5k the morning of this race.  They are getting a awesome addition to their Halloween decorations with runDisney's Happy Haunted 5k Trail Run.  (Which, by the way, is still open for registration, though I'd expect them to close the event no more than a week out from race weekend.)


Capacity updates for the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 10-miler Weekend:
Tower of Terror 10-miler: SOLD OUT!
Happy Haunted 5k Trail Run: 91%
runDisney Kid's Races: 83%
Disney Villain's Hollywood Bash: 88%

Important links:
Course map
Program Guide
iGiftBag
10-mile Final Race Instructions
5k & Kid's Races Final Race Instructions

**In the 10-mile Final Race Instructions, it states that the transportation only goes until 3:30am.  I have clarified with runDisney that this should be 4:30am since the Disney Hollywood Villain's Bash goes until 4am.


Health & Fitness Expo, ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
Friday, September 28, 2012, 12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, September 29, 2012, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Don't forget your ID and waivers!
And come see me at the Sparkle Skirts booth between 4-8pm on Friday!

Disney Happy Haunted 5K Trail Run
Saturday, September 29, 2012, 7:00 a.m.
ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex

runDisney Kids' Races
Saturday, September 29, 2012, 9:00 a.m.
ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex Field 27

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™ 10-Miler
Saturday, September 29, 2012, 10:00 p.m.
Start/Finish: Disney's Hollywood Studios

Disney Villains Hollywood Bash
September 29, 10:00 p.m. – September 30, 2012, 4:00 a.m.
Disney's Hollywood Studios