Mars to Disney World - Saturday, 23 February 2019

Sitting at dinner after our Wine Flight on 6 February, Amy asked if I would like to go to Disney with her when she ran the Princess Half Marathon. You could have knocked me over with a feather, and I, of course replied that I would love to go, if I could make it work. I spent Thursday searching flights and trying to make it work, and I did. 

So dark and early today I headed to PIT at 3:00 am for my flights to Orlando. 

I couldn't believe the plane was absolutely packed. Who is crazy to fly at 5:15? Most people, at least those seated around me,  seemed to be heading to Jamaica. We sat on the tarmac for about 20 minutes while a mechanic was located to fix trim on a seat. Really - just move the person to an empty seat. It was a pretty choppy flight to Charlotte so they did not do any beverage service. Needed some caffeine. 

Made it to Charlotte just on time, which meant that I had to sprint to catch the flight to MCO. Only had about 40 minutes and that is just what you need to go from the end gate in one concourse to the end gate in another concourse. No time for getting coffee or snapping a departure sign

Flight to MCO was comfortable. Read a bit, dozed a bit and arrived a couple of minutes late, because it took forever to get to a gate. Baggage Claim was a bit of stroll. Not sure why I bothered to walk quickly since it took forever for the luggage to arrive. Then a short walk to pick up the Magical Express to All Star Sports Resort, my home for the next 3 nights. 

Amy met me in the lobby since she had arrived on Friday. Headed to our room where I changed clothes (ditched the sweater, long trousers, and heavy top, and got settled in. We headed to the race expo via resort bus where Amy picked up her bib, our wrist  bands to get into the race retreat tent on Sunday, and then browsed some of the merchandise. Then to another ESPN building to get her souvenir race shirt. It was very hot on Saturday and I was thinking how miserable that was going to be for the runners. 

We went back to the resort, hung out at the pool for a bit, and then changed clothes again for dinner. We then headed for Disney Springs, which used to be called Downtown Disney, the infamous spot where, when we were there 22 years ago Amy escaped from the WCSD Select Show Choir to go to an 18+ comedy club without telling the chaperones. But Disney Springs does not resemble in any way Downtown Disney from that many years ago. It is a pretty upscale shopping and eating area. 

We did a walk around for a bit and found ourselves with about a half hour before our dinner reservations so it was time for some refreshment!

Dinner was at an upscale Mexican restaurant. 

The margaritas were wonderful and the food was probably the best that I have ever had. I had a spicy chicken enchilada and Amy carnitas. All the restaurants at Disney are so attentive to people with allergens and have made sure she has had choices with gluten free food.

Red Chile Chicken Enchiladas Just-made corn tortillas,
chipotle chicken filling, guajillo chile sauce, Queso Chihuahua,
crispy onions, black beans refritos 

Totally full, we opted to walk through the opposite end of Disney Springs looking for a gluten free muffin for race morning. Did not find one so it was back to All Star Sports for race prep and an early bedtime. 

Watched a bit of the Pens game and felt fairly confident of the win when we went to bed. 

Pirates won their first Spring Training Game -YAY!