 Hey everybody and welcome to my long in-process blog from the Dopey Challenge 2025 at Walt Disney World. I know I've been sharing Vlogs about my Dopey Challenge Journey and I'll be linking them into this update as well. But I'm old school. I like being able to write down my thoughts about something so monumental that I was able to do in my life. Not only for myself personally, but also the ability to give something back through donations to the American Cancer Society. Something that is very meaningful to me. And while I'm still clinging to the Dopey being "one and done" for me, I will be back with Team Determination most likely in 2026 for the Wine and Dine Half Marathon. So stay tuned. Let's get on with it and move back to January 7, 2025. Over 2 months ago (and maybe close to 3 by the time I actually get this posted). As I made my way from Southern California to Orlando to begin my challenge. Day Zero - Travel Day  Seeing these signs made it more real  If you didn't take a picture of the MCO carpet, did you even go to Orlando?  Oddly enough, my first stop on my Dopey Challenge journey would not be at Disney World, but at Universal Orlando. I booked Aventura on my arrival night in hopes that I could head over to Islands of Adventure and get a nighttime ride on my favorite coaster.  I made it!  My first ever nighttime ride on my favorite coaster. It did not disappoint. And my first coaster of 2025. The year I also turn 50. So it was a good one to start with.    A few pics of the room at Aventura. I'll be honest, this was the 4th hotel we've stayed at on Universal Property, and it's 3rd out of the 4 for me. I much prefer Cabana Bay for a similarly priced hotel.  Only Dockside comes in below Aventura for me TBH. Day One - Expo Day Expo Day is here, but I've got some time to kill before my room at All Star Movies is ready, so after a quick boat ride I found myself back at Islands of Adventure.  Early entry is the best. 2 rides on Hagrid's and 3 on Velocicoaster before the park even opened!  And of course a quick trip to the Studios for a visit with my buddy E.T..  On my way to Disney World, had to make a stop for supplies. I think this makes me an honorary Floridian or something.  We'll get back to a tour of All Star Movies soon, but I absolutely love the decorations people had in their windows.  This was when it got REALLY real   I was wholly unprepared for how large the expo was, or what a party it is.   Merch Haul!
 After the expo I decided to head over to Disney's Animal Kingdom for a last (could have also been my first) ride on TriceraTop Spin.   And of course a ride on Everest. Below you'll see my training wrap-up and my day at the Marathon Weekend/Dopey Challenge Expo! Day Two - Walt Disney World 5kI have to be honest, on the mornings before my wife arrived my biggest concern was actually waking up. 5k Day, good start! Although it was so early, my phone still thought I was on CA time (11:33pm)
 The first of 4 VERY early mornings at Epcot  Customary morning picture in front of Spaceship Earth  Absolutely loved that they put a display of what characters would be out before the race.
 A full hour after the race started I finally began my Dopey Journey!   Since the 5k wasn't timed, I was in no rush at all.     It was then off to Disney's Hollywood Studios for some after race fun and pics.  It's one of the tips in our "10 Dopey Tips" video, but seriously, spring for the PhotoPass package. It's so worth it.  After a quiet morning at the park experiencing some of my favorite attractions and some gross pizza, I called it a day at about 1:00pm and headed back to the hotel.  Seriously, people are going to miss this?  This is what's going to be missed  After nap time and since I didn't think we'd ever be staying at the All Stars again, I decided to take a little tour around the hotel.  Nothing against the hotel, it's great for families. But our kids are grown. Maybe someday if/when we have grandkids we'll be back. Although we really do love the Moderates.  It was great for me for my first 2 nights of the Dopey as I was literally just in the room to sleep. Which did prove hard due to the thin walls.  If you'd like to see more of the All Star Movies resort, you can view the slideshow below.  After a quiet dinner in the room it was "put on a movie you've seen a lot and fall asleep early" time. 10k morning would be here before we know it! Day Three - 10k Day 10k Day is here! It's another cold one, but some running would actually be taking place today!   Customary morning picture in front of Spaceship Earth  Since I had to wait so long to start the 5k I made a point to get near the front of my corral so I could start a bit earlier for the 10k  Cold morning but ready to go!  I see you balloon ladies ...      Loved seeing the World Showcase Cast Members out for pictures!  On the boardwalk. I see you hotel we'll be checking into in just a few hours!   
 10k day was eventful, but also not photo worthy. Had a fantastic brunch with our American Cancer Society team, got to talk about my sister a bit. Checked into the Beach Club and then had to pick up my wife at MCO. We ended our night with a nice quiet dinner at Epcot before turning in early. Day Four - Walt Disney World Half Marathon Now at the Beach Club, I actually had somebody to take my picture before heading to the bus!  Customary morning picture in front of Spaceship Earth
 It was Poncho day/back-up running shoes day (another one of our upcoming tips)  For the first day we ventured outside of the Epcot area  Blurry selfie with our amazing American Cancer Society Development Manager Ashley!  Running down Main Street is so awesome 
 OMG, Derkwerng Derck! =)
 After a nice shower it was off to the Magic Kingdom for a day of fun!   I of course had to visit my buddy Donald and show off my medal. He was quite impressed.   Best time for Castle pics is when there is a cavalcade passing by.  Also went on the Liberty Belle for the first (and likely last) time  After a nice and chill few hours at Magic Kingdom, it was time for a monorail hop over to Epcot and a late lunch/early dinner at Le Cellier. Our first (definitely not last) time here.
 We had a lot of good meals during our trip, but this was probably the best one. The rest of the day was pretty much spent chilling at the hotel and we were in bed by 8:00pm. A very long day is coming up! Day Five - Walt Disney World Marathon Day Here we go! The last early morning and the culmination of everything!  Customary morning picture in front of Spaceship Earth  It was COLD and also the day of many hats! You'll see ...  I had thought about ditching my beanie before the start, then figured I'd just wear it until it got too sweaty and toss it. That was the right call!
 Just got this picture this week. At the TTC I got a fist bump from Ashley our American Cancer Society rock star! This is the kind of support that is priceless!  So many people warned me about the stretch between Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom, but TBH I didn't think it was bad. The loops around the MK parking lot were the worst IMO.
 Seriously, there is no better feeling of accomplishment. Look at all those smiles. We all know it's over!  And of course a celebratory ride on Guardians of the Galaxy to cap off the Dopey Challenge! Yes, we did this right after I ran a marathon!  Amazing dinner at 'Ohana. Lots of other fellow Dopey's there that night! Day Six to Ten - The Runcation! Shockingly enough, the next morning we found ourselves at Disney's Animal Kingdom to start our Runcation. We ended up spending 4 additional days in Florida and honestly, I was mostly okay for the duration.
 In fact, the only day I went back to take a nap at the hotel was the day after the Marathon. Of course, most of our days were VERY chill.
 Lots of fabulous meals, lots of medal pics in all of the parks and just a nice chill time.
 We even got to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Space Mountain and Carousel of Progress (at Magic Kingdom)  Customary morning picture in front of Spaceship Earth. Well, last night in Florida Spaceship Earth picture. Dopey Tips!I want to share our Dopey Tips video below, be sure you check it out if you are planning on taking on this challenge. I did a LOT of research for the Dopey, so I've incorporated some of that into this video. Surprisingly, I didn't find a lot of tips on spectating for the Dopey and most likely other WDW Race Weekends. So I've also included tips for spectators. I wanted to list them here in addition to sharing the video. Spectator Tips:
Runner Tips:
Thank you all for checking out our Dopey Challenge video series and reading all of this if you made it that far. I also want to give a shout out to my amazing wife and family for support through this entire thing. And most importantly, thank you to everybody who took the time out to donate to the American Cancer Society and all of the other charitable organizations. It's truly amazing to see the generosity of others, during a time when we can really use it. That last bit is kind of an extra bonus tip! If you want to do any runDisney race, and don't want to worry about registration issues, find one of the many charities that are offering bibs for any of the races (it's not just for Dopey). I promise you the satisfaction you will get from fundraising for an amazing charity will be just as amazing as the rewards at the finish line! Related Videos
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Yesterday marked the closure of one of the original attractions at Disney's Animal Kingdom, It's Tough To Be a Bug. I first experienced this attraction at Disney's California Adventure during the Annual Pass preview days and was a big fan of it from our first to last viewing this past January at Disney's Animal Kingdom. Since A Bugs Life is my favorite Pixar film (yes, I'm one of those), this attraction has always been a must-do at both Disney's California Adventure and at Disney's Animal Kingdom. We wanted to mark the closure of this attraction with some thoughts and pictures of the attraction at both Disney's Animal Kingdom and Disney's California Adventure. Join us for one last journey with our friend Flik.  Let's start off with the original at Disney's Animal Kingdom and a walk into the Tree of Life.
 Signs in the queue show off what you're going to see in the show. But give very little warning as to the intensity of the show (that parents would ignore anyway).
 Now playing ...  Remember, magnifying glasses are for looking at little things, not for burning them.  One last look at the Bugs Life theater at Walt Disney World. We will forever miss you and the screams of children that will echo through this theater forever. =)  Since It's Tough To Be a Bug was the last attraction based on A Bugs Life to close, let's take a look back at some other Buggy Attractions.  The entrance to It's Tough To Be a Bug at Disney's California Adventure.   Flik's Fun Fair opened about 18 months after Disney's California Adventure opened to give kids something to do at the park.   The only attraction inside Flik's Fun Fair that people actually miss.   It's too bad they didn't make a full dark ride out of this and put it in Pixar Pier.   Sorry for the Bluriness. Old camera and all.     During the Disneyland 50th there was even a Flik mural.  And lots of A Bugs Life representation in various parades including Block Party Bash.    DCA 1.0 ...  Flik gives it a thumbs up    Poor Heimlich ...   And in the Animation building, lots of Bugs here too.   We'll leave you with a few night pics   Bye Dot. Related Videos
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Disneyland Resort to ‘Celebrate Happy’ in 2025 with 70th Anniversary and Limited-Time Events3/6/2025
Beginning May 16, 2025, and running through summer 2026, the Disneyland Resort 70th Celebration will honor seven decades of happiness and many moments of joy in the making. You’ll get to “celebrate happy” with limited-time entertainment, colorful décor, themed food and beverages, collectible merchandise, and so much more!  Today, we’re sharing a closer look at the excitement to come, breaking lots of news like additional details on “World of Color Happiness!,” an all-new ticket offer, a sneak peek at the incredible merchandise and so much more!  Special Entertainment for the 70th Celebration Nothing says happy quite like dancing along the parade route or marveling at Mickey-shaped fireworks lighting up the skies above Sleeping Beauty Castle. Disneyland is known for its spectacular entertainment, and the 70th celebration will introduce all-new entertainment experiences alongside some returning fan-favorites across the resort. Plus, created in honor of the anniversary, an upbeat new theme song “Celebrate Happy” will be heard throughout the celebration. Let’s take a look at what’s in store! “World of Color Happiness!” at Disney California Adventure Park  This all-new “World of Color” show is inspired by Walt Disney’s words from the opening day park dedication from seven decades ago: “To all who come to this happy place… welcome!” This nighttime spectacular will explore “happy” through a kaleidoscope of emotions, hosted by Joy and the other Emotions from the hit Pixar Animation Studios films “Inside Out” and “Inside Out 2.” Along the way, the Emotions manifest music and moments from other favorite Pixar Animation Studios’ stories, including “Turning Red” and “The Incredibles,” as well as Walt Disney Animation Studios’ stories, including “A Goofy Movie,” “Tangled,” “Encanto” and so many more. “World of Color Happiness!” will transform Paradise Bay with a brilliant array of signature fountains, dynamic lighting, colorful lasers, fog and dramatic flame effects, painting musical memories with all the wonder that only “World of Color” can create. The show is an interactive joyride where guests are encouraged to sing and dance along. In addition to featuring classic Disney songs and other iconic favorites, Boyz II Men will lend their legendary R&B vocals in a rendition of “Rainbow Connection,” and FITZ — frontman and namesake of multi-platinum hitmakers Fitz and the Tantrums — will debut a new original song just for “World of Color” titled “Makes Me Wanna Move.” By journey’s end, you’ll discover that happiness is made up of many different emotional colors, and Disneyland Resort is the magical place at the end of the rainbow where all those colors come together. But that’s not all … the fun starts even before “World of Color” begins with a special message from some familiar faces. With the guidance of Joe the Legal Weasel, more than a dozen of The Muppets will deliver their message through vivid projections and expressive fountains ahead of the show. “Paint the Night” Parade at Disneyland Park  This fan-favorite, dazzling nighttime parade will make its grand return to Disneyland for the 70th celebration, lighting up Main Street, U.S.A., with stunning color and more than a million brilliant LED lights. Mickey Mouse uses his vivid imagination to harness the power of Tinker Bell’s pixie dust and “Paint the Night” in Disney dreams, bringing to light beloved characters and stories from Pixar films such as “Monsters, Inc.,” “Cars,” and “Toy Story” and Disney Animation films including “The Little Mermaid,” “Beauty and the Beast,” and more. The “Paint the Night” parade features innovative floats, vibrant costumes, incredible special effects, unforgettable music and energetic performances. Plus, Anna and Elsa will rejoin the parade on the fan-favorite float inspired by Disney Animation’s “Frozen” when it makes its return to Main Street, U.S.A., for the first time since its initial run. “Wondrous Journeys” at Disneyland Park At night, Disneyland will become a magnificent canvas with the return of this beloved nighttime spectacular. “Wondrous Journeys” celebrates the legacy of Walt Disney Animation Studios classics that have inspired Walt Disney’s original magic kingdom. Throughout the show, you embark on a journey filled with artistry, music, storytelling and heart as you experience moments from beloved stories like “Hercules,” “The Princess and the Frog,” “Peter Pan,” “Frozen,” “Big Hero 6,” “Moana,” “Encanto” and more. The show features state-of-the-art projection effects that transform Main Street, U.S.A., Sleeping Beauty Castle, “it’s a small world” and the Rivers of America. On select nights, the show will be enhanced with fireworks. “Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration!” Parade at Disney California Adventure Park  As part of the fun, “Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration!” returns to the streets of California Adventure. This delightful daytime parade is filled with incredible music, dynamic and colorful floats and more than two dozen favorite characters from Pixar Animation Studios films, including “Luca,” “Turning Red,” “Up,” and more. This parade showcases heartwarming stories from beloved Pixar films, celebrating friendship and beyond. “Tapestry of Happiness” at Disneyland Park At Disneyland, the facade of “it’s a small world” will come to life each night through light, music and projection effects. “Tapestry of Happiness” will create an animated mosaic of Disneyland attractions, moments and memories brought to life in a unique style inspired by the work of legendary Disney artist Mary Blair. It will feature the original 70th celebration theme song “Celebrate Happy,” along with nods to recognizable Disneyland tunes from across the decades. “Tapestry of Happiness” will be a visual love letter to Disneyland, bringing all of us together through memories of The Happiest Place on Earth. It will remind us that no matter how old we are or where we call home, we all come together in this magical place through the eyes of our inner child, finding happiness in a unique and personal way. Mickey and Friends’ New 70th Attire Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and their pals will all come dressed for the party in Town Square in Disneyland park, in custom looks designed just to celebrate the occasion. You won’t want to miss grabbing a photo with your favorite friends wearing these playful and contemporary designs, festive in their bright pops of color and sparkling embellishments. “The Celebrate Happy Cavalcade” at Disneyland Park  Disneyland park will debut a new character cavalcade called “The Celebrate Happy Cavalcade.” As it winds its way along the parade route, favorite characters will encourage you to dance and clap along in an energetic and contemporary celebration of seven decades of happiness. You may spot pals including Goofy and Max in their 70th attire, as well as friends not often seen at Disneyland, like Duffy and ShellieMay (fluffy and charming teddy bear characters from Duffy and Friends)! Anniversary Décor Throughout Disneyland ResortIn the esplanade between Disneyland and California Adventure, you won’t be able to miss the contemporary 50-foot sculpture inspired by Sleeping Beauty Castle with colorful glass panels and golden charms representing the five original lands. When you step through the gates of Disneyland park, floral Mickey will welcome you to the celebration with a display of vibrant flowers, and multi-colored banners and bunting will decorate Main Street, U.S.A. In the heart of Town Square, you’ll spot an installation featuring Mickey and Minnie created just for the anniversary. An elegant medallion will adorn Sleeping Beauty Castle. Carthay Circle Restaurant at Disney California Adventure park will also be decked out in 70th colors. In the evenings, the exterior of the restaurant will invite everyone to “celebrate happy” during a special moment filled with music, lights and projection effects. Set to the tune of “Celebrate Happy,” this interlude further illuminates Carthay Circle and Buena Vista Street with twinkling lights, dynamic projections and bursts of color. 70th décor will also extend into the Downtown Disney District and the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort. New Magic on Beloved Attractions  We’re even adding special touches to some attractions throughout Disneyland Resort in time for the celebration! In sunny Mexico in “it’s a small world” at Disneyland, Miguel and his trusted alebrije, Dante, from the Pixar film “Coco” will join the other children in song. Silhouetted by a stunning marigold bridge, you’ll be able to spot this new addition when the attraction reopens April 25, 2025.  Even the toys are celebrating! On Toy Story Midway Mania! in California Adventure, look for nods to the 70th anniversary as you compete for the highest score on carnival-inspired games. Must-Have Merch  Check out all the 70th celebration has to offer as you shop all-new merchandise collections designed just for the anniversary. From ears, apparel, and accessories to plush, toys, and home décor, there will be something for everyone to take home and commemorate their visit during this special celebration. Limited-Time Ticket and Hotel Offers To make the most of the 70th celebration at an even greater value, Disneyland Resort will offer a limited-time, multi-day theme park ticket for as low as $120 per day with a special 3-Day, 1-Park per day ticket, for a total price of $360. Or guests may save even more — as low as $100 per day — with a special 4-Day, 1-Park per day ticket, for a total price of $400. This Disneyland Anniversary Ticket Offer* will go on sale March 11, 2025, for visitation May 16-Aug. 14, 2025. Providing a variety of options and flexibility, guests may choose from 3-Day or 4-Day park tickets with options available to upgrade to Park Hopper tickets and to add on Lightning Lane Multi Pass. These tickets may be used consecutively or separately throughout the summer season to visit again and again! Get all the details on Disneyland.com/70TicketOffer. Park reservations required. There are even special savings at the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort, where guests can stay and play in the heart of the magic at the Disneyland Hotel, The Villas at Disneyland Hotel, Pixar Place Hotel and Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. By planning ahead, you can make reservations now and save up to 30% on select stays of four or more nights May 16-Sept. 26, 2025. Bookings must be made by May 15, 2025. Subject to availability and restrictions.** Look out for additional hotel offers available beginning March 11, 2025, to save up to 20% on select stays at a Disneyland Resort Hotel this summer, subject to availability and restrictions.*** Throughout the celebration, you can visit Disneyland.com/offers for details on available ticket and hotel options to help you save on your vacation. Related Videos
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