Saturday, December 17, 2022

Planning my final Ultimate Dopey Challenge

From the beginning of the Dopey Challenge, I've always stopped for all of the character stops en route (at least, those not repeated from the other races that weekend). That's the basic level of craziness during the marathon. Within a couple of years, my eyes were opened to doing rides during the marathon. I've only ever wound up doing rides in Hollywood Studios, as I get through Animal Kingdom before it opens, and I've always been too impatient to stop in Epcot, so close to the finish line. The most I've done in one race is three, I think: Toy Story Mania (when it was only barely off-course, before Toy Story Land was created and we came up from the Streets of New York area), and both Tower of Terror and Rock 'n Rollercoaster (when those were a sizable diversion from the course, rather than directly on course like they've been for several years now). One thing I've never done is buy any food or drink along the course.

This year is my last Dopey Challenge, and I well may be doing the most I've ever done on-course before. If all goes well, the plan is:

  • Toe the line at the front of the first corral, to cross the start line at 5am - maximize the amount of time I have to hit all my objectives
  • Stop at all character stops for photos
  • Arrive at Expedition Everest (~Mile 16.5) when Animal Kingdom opens at 7:30am. I've never managed this ride during the marathon. It'll be great to finally manage it! Averaging a little over 9 minutes/mile -- eminently doable.
  • Arrive at Tower of Terror (~Mile 22.75) when Hollywood Studios opens at 8:30am. That's averaging 9 - 9.5 minutes/mile from getting out of Everest, assuming that ride is a walk-on.
  • Immediately go across the way to go onto Rock 'n Rollercoaster. I can afford to take as much as 45 minutes between these two rides. And if they go really quickly, I can consider going back to Toy Story Land to see about going on a ride back there; preferably Toy Story Mania.
  • Arrive at Trattoria restaurant (~Mile 23.75 - on the Boardwalk) at about 10am, in time for a 10:05am brunch reservation that a group of 6 of us have -- all running the marathon. Looking forward to that breakfast pizza!
  • Depending on just how long it takes us to get and finish our food, there is the possibility of doing multipe rides in Epcot. I just need to make sure that I am always staying in front of the balloon ladies who, by this point in time, may be relatively close. They should arrive into Epcot approximately noon, finishing by ~12:30pm. The rides that are directly en route or have a minor diversion: Remy's Ratatouille (~Mile 24.25), Frozen Ever After (~Mile 25), and even Mission Space and/or Test Track (~Mile 25.5). I likely would not be allowed to get onto Guardians of the Galaxy (also ~Mile 25.5) since I won't have any semblance of reservation or Lightning Lane -- doubtful the CM would have pity on me and allow me on; but might be worth the brief diversion to give it a shot. After all, who knows when my next opportunity will be to go on this ride, since I have no idea how long it will be before I return to Epcot.
  • Assuming I can find one relatively easily at the end of the race, I'd like to have a Mickey Bar in hand as I cross the finish line.
Talk about a fair bit more than your usual marathon! Just hope that the weather is pretty good that day. Just over three weeks left!

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