I will be in Orlando during Wine & Dine Half Marathon Race Weekend. I will not be running a single race. I KNOW I CAN’T BELIEVE IT EITHER I ~
Okay. Deep breaths, self. I know it all feels so wrong. But there is a very good reason for all of this. You skipped Wine & Dine this year in favor of the Dopey Challenge. And you’ll be in Orlando that weekend for… Universal Studios?!
It’s true! It’s been five whole years since my last visit to ol’ USF. You may recall we last went because of the Ghostbusters Horror Nights house. Bustin’ really does make Pat feel good. Well, you’re never gonna guess – this year’s Halloween Horror Nights features a house based on Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire!
Oddly enough, however, I was not the first to float the idea of a trip to Universal – one of Pat’s friends was, and he selected dates subject to his less flexible work schedule. As it happens, our trip coincides with Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend.
The good news is, as I said, I didn’t sign up for any races this year, so I’m free! The bad news is I didn’t sign up for any races this year even though suddenly I’ll be in Orlando?!
I jest, I jest. Obviously it’s not that big a deal. But it feels weird all the same. runDisney has become such a big part of my life that it feels almost wrong to skip a race weekend in which I could conceivably participate. And yeah, trying to sneak in using the same methods as my last-minute Princess registration did cross my mind.
But I don’t think that would be in the spirit of the thing. I’ll be doing Halloween Horror Nights, which will keep me up late. I’m not staying on Disney property, so I’d have to figure out my own race transportation. It’ll be only a week after the Marine Corps Marathon, which I’ve managed before, but still. It just feels like it would be too much, you know?
Thus I am leaning in: I’m going to Universal Studios Florida, baby! I’m finally going to ride Velocicoaster, and hopefully get a second round in on Hagrid’s Magical Motorbike Tour Or Whatever It’s Called. This strikes me as a good time to go, too; I hope for a calm before the Epic Universe storm of 2025. Heck, maybe Wine & Dine will divert local crowds to WDW?
To all those running during Wine & Dine, I salute you! Know that I am, in my heart, a little jealous. Run like the wind – or perhaps a velociraptor?
Don’t forget, you can follow FRoA on Twitter @fairestrunofall and on Instagram @fairestrunofall. If you have any questions or thoughts, leave a comment or email fairestrunofall@gmail.com. See ya real soon!
I think the answer is that Universal needs to do races 😉
Yes! Time to diversify!