Hello and welcome once again to my inescapable series Thoughts While Watching, where we watch old Disney media with new eyes. And can you think of any more appropriate entry for December than the Wonderful World of Disney episode “Disneyland Around the Seasons”? This 1966 time capsule captures exactly what you’re craving this time of year: vintage footage of...
Continue readingTwo Kids + One Stroller + One Thanksgiving 5K = First Race Complete!
Today I am honored to introduce another guest race recap! My friend Andrea stroller-ran her kids through their first ever road race in her town’s Thanksgiving 5K, and she was kind enough to jot me up a post about it. Onward! Thanks Jenn for inviting me to contribute to your fun running blog! I’ve never written a blog post...
Continue readingCoping With Pre-Race Anxiety: Does Anyone Know How To Spell “Meteor”?
Hello! My name is Jenn, and I suffer from anxiety. As I get older it seems to be getting worse, not better, which strikes me as unfair. Alas, we must deal with the mental struggles we are given. I will be using Fear from Inside Out as my avatar during this post. Yes, I know Inside Out 2 features...
Continue readingThe Neurodivergent Guide To Universal’s Great Movie Escape
I did not plan for Universal’s Great Movie Escape, and it almost broke me. I kid, I kid! It’s just an escape room; it’s not that deep. But I did have to sit down in the lobby, close my eyes, and focus inward for awhile when it was over. After all that escaping, I was waaaaaay overstimulated. You might...
Continue readingIt’s Snack Time At Universal Studios Florida!
Okay, kids, here’s my hot take: Universal Studios Florida’s culinary scene is not that great. Listen! You know how everyone used to complain about how Walt Disney World food is just burgers and nuggets, and how over the last decade or so it’s experienced a culinary Renaissance? Yeah, that hasn’t happened at Universal Studios. I mean, sure, there’s some...
Continue readingWhat I Found Odd About Velocicoaster & Other Universal Observations
I decided not to do a proper trip report for my single Universal Studios Florida day. By the combined powers of Universal’s Express Pass and the touring style of my trip group, it was all very ride-to-ride-to-ride (and Velocicoaster three times!). Efficient, yes, but hardly entertaining when rendered in prose. Still, you know I can’t go to a theme...
Continue readingKate The Great Takes Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend
Hello runDisney friends! I know, I know, I famously did not run the 2024 Wine & Dine Half Marathon. Luckily, someone simultaneously much cooler AND hotter than me did. Enter my cousin-in-law (that’s a real term; I checked) Kate, the only member of my family who loves Disney parks as much as I do. She recently came over to...
Continue readingA Neurodivergent Tackles Horror Nights: I Escaped The Further!
Universal Studios Florida's 2024 Halloween Horror Nights event is over for the year, but I can't resist doing a debrief anyway. After all, I was a VERY brave girl. 😅 I will be approaching this post with a light overlay of the point of view of someone with neurodivergence. One thing many neurodivergent individuals love is INFORMATION; I am one...
Continue readingHow To Recover From A Marathon: Run Around A Theme Park
“Jenn, you just completed your fifth Marine Corps Marathon and twentieth marathon overall – what are you gonna do next?” Baby, I’m going to Universal Studios Florida for Halloween Horror Nights! You know I’m all about theme park life. That’s right – while the rest of you lucky suckers are running Wine & Dine Weekend races, I’ll be getting...
Continue readingHow Slow Can I Go? Marine Corps Marathon 2024 Recap
I set out with a unique goal as I approached the 2024 Marine Corps Marathon: my aim was to run the slowest non-runDisney marathon I’d ever clocked. Huh? Why would anyone want to do that? Isn’t the whole point of races trying to improve upon your time? Well, yes, but then again, no. In light of my lingering knee...
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