All You Need to Know about the Creature Stall at SWGE

Are you a pet lover like myself?  Looking to adopt a galactic creature?   

Then look no further than the Creature Stall! 

At this exotic shop, located on Merchant Row, you’re able to take a look at various cargo and crates that are holding some of the rarest creatures that were acquired from across the galaxy – just waiting to be adopted!

Some of the animals looking for adoption include:

-       Kowakian Monkey-Lizards

-       Porg

-       Rathar

-       Tauntaun

-       Wampa

-       Puffer Pig

-       Neebray

-       Loth-Cat

-       Mynock

-       Krynka

-       Dewback

-       Worrt

-       Bantha

Each creature comes with a Tag showing their Name, Type, Home Planet and Diet.  These animals are from a planet in the Star Wars Universe and are important to the Star Wars story in some way.  All are interactive and most require batteries.  You can touch and feel each animal before you buy.  

So what did I decide to adopt?

Well, I chose a Loth-Cat!  The Loth-Cat was seen in the Disney Animated show Star Wars Rebels.  I really liked this particular animated series, and the Loth-Cats were apart of the story in many ways.  Since I love cats anyway, it was a natural attraction for me!  

You can see more on how the Loth-Cat interacts with its owner in the video at this link:

YouTube - Loth-Cat

The price for the Loth-Cat was $44.99 with tax, the total was $48.48.  He was one of the more pricer pets, with the prices for all pets ranging from $16.00 to $69.99.

The cardboard cage was easily taken apart, and I transported him back home in my checked luggage.  Not all pets are this big-some are small, so definitely easy to pack!

The Creature Stall is really a great shop for the whole family, and I know you will find the perfect galactic pet to adopt!

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kesselrunner77@gmail.con

Looking to Travel to SWGE?  Contact me for more information!

The New Star Wars Experience in Disney Springs!

Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire

At The Void

The galaxy needs you! Recruit 3 friends to go with you undercover, deep into the Empire, to retrieve intelligence vital to the Rebellion’s survival! Are you ready to help the Rebellion?

I've compiled important tips on the Beyond the Kessel Run Podcast.  Download the Broadcast for the Details!
Download this episode (right click and save)
No spoilers here!  (there is no way to capture the attraction on your phone... you are too busy blasting stormtroopers anyway!)


I was actually the one blown away!  It was unique and unlike any experience at any of the parks.  It is a must do for any Star Wars Fan!

Follow Beyond the Kessel Run - Your runDisney Galaxy Broadcast on Podbean, Stitcher, iTunes and Google Play for more Tips on runDisney and Beyond!

kesselrunner77@gmail.com

Star Wars Kessel Run Challenge Medal

I love my Inaugural Kessel Run Challenge Medal!
It is truly unique now that the Disneyland runDisney weekends are on indefinite hold. So, it seemed that we would never be able to achieve this medal again! But I was excited this week when runDisney announced that it will still be available – with a twist!

You have the chance to bring home 2 new Star Wars Medals! And I want to make sure everyone knows the best way to approach achieving these new medals – and here's how.

The Dark Side Half Marathon Course Description

A Detailed Look at What the Force has in Store for You!

April 2017:

You will not be complete in your Challenge to tame the Dark Side until you have completed the Half Marathon!  This was a very exciting and demanding race for me last year, and I know it will meet your expectations this year!

Here are the details:

This year's Half Marathon will have you traveling through 3 Parks:  Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios and ending at Epcot.  We went through Epcot early in the course last year, and it will be your last stop this year.

You will be starting in the Magic Kingdom Mulan parking lot.  The buses will drop you off near the staging area, or Welcome Plaza, where you can leave your check-in bag and head over to the porta potties.  From there, you will be guided into your corrals:  this will be about a 20 minute walk, so be sure and include this is your planning.   It will be early and possibly chilly, so plan for layering!

Dark Side of the Course!

A Look at the Dark Side 10K and Half Marathon Courses

April 2017:

Ah! You can not resist the Dark Side of the Force as it rules the 10K and half Marathon Courses this year!  Both races should be awesome, and I can't wait to see the Characters along the way!

I love looking at the race courses!  The Geek in me studies the courses and everything in between!  

So let's get started!

This year's 10K is packed with excitement as you begin on World Drive and head toward Hollywood Studios!  You will run down Hollywood Boulevard, past Disney's Yacht and Beach Club Resorts and into Epcot where your journey in the Force will be complete!

Begin Your Journey to the Dark Side... at the Magic Kingdom Parking Lot!

You will be starting in the Magic Kingdom Mulan parking lot.  The buses will drop you off in the Cruella Parking Lot and it's just a short walk over to the Ursula Lot to the staging area and security check.  This Welcome Plaza is where you can leave your check-in bag and head over to the porta potties.  From there, you will be guided into your corrals.   And you will be off!  

003 Why Run the Wonderful World of WDW?

Running in Walt Disney World can be so much fun! - Larger Races mean more excitement and a big, big party!

- More Options to stay on Disney property, and the value resorts make it affordable for the whole family to come along!

- Great Transportation Support to and from the race

- The Only weekend with a Marathon!

- Princess Half and WDW Weekends are the most popular to run!

runDisney at Walt Disney World by the Numbers!

WDW Marathon Weekend    

Held in Jan /  Register in February

Thu – Sun

Expo opens Wednesday         

Kids Races  $20 – 30  5K $80 10K $120 Half $185 Full $185 Goofy $365 Dopey $560 Castaway Cay  $70

Biggest Time Investment Largest $ Investment 52% First Time Runners Flagship Race Classic Disney Race

10K 11291 Half 17743 Goofy 7650 Dopey 5500

Princess Half Marathon Weekend

Held in Feb / Register in May

Fri - Sun

Expo opens Thursday

Kids Races  $20 – 30  5K $75 10K $120 Half $185 Glass Slipper $320

80% Women 52% First Time Runners Most Popular Half Princess Themed

Half 18099 Women Half  2039 Men Glass Slipper 6080

 Star Wars – Dark Side Half Marathon Weekend

Held in April / Register in May

Fri – Sun

Expo Opens Thursday

Kids Races  $20 – 30  5K $80 10K $120 Half $185 Dark Side $330

Large Half Star Wars Fans

Half 18183 Dark Side 6000

Wine and Dine Half Marathon Weekend

Held in November / Register in Jan

Fri – Sun

Expo opens Thursday

Kids Races  $20 – 30  5K $80 10K $120 Half $199 2 Park Challenge  $340

Food and Wine Festival Party

Half 12658 10K 9263 Challenge 5640

So Many Great Choices for Walt Disney World!

Which one will you run?

You can find my Podcast on these great stations! Podbean, iTunes, Tunein and Stitcher

Let me know! kesselrunner77@gmail.com

Rogue One: The Background Story

The most anticipated movie of the year hit the theaters this week:  Rogue One:  A Star Wars Story!! I was so excited to see this movie, and I know that many of you are, too!  We fell in love with Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker many years ago in that galaxy far, far away... And Rogue One is going to fill in a vital piece of that Saga, and get us right to the moment when Princess Leia beckons Her Only Hope!

If you want to know more about the background of the movie and what led up to the very desperate moments of Rogue One, here's how:

2017 Jedi Training!

The re-imagined Jedi Training has been updated with characters from Star Wars Rebels and a new stage show that really brings an excitement to this attraction.  If you want to be a part of this remarkable experience, follow these tips of the Force:

Star Wars: Betrayal - A Review

I am watching Star Wars: The Force Awakens as I relive my latest book, Star Wars, Legacy of the Force: Betrayal.   I chose this book on purpose:  to find some of the mystery behind Ben's dilemma in the Force Awakens as to why he would leave the call to the Light and receive the power of the Darkness.  I want to now more about what happened.  Why?  Why would he kill his Dad? Of course we know that all the books before The Force Awakens are not Canon anymore.  A new story is being built; a new world being woven with the movies.  Still, I think we can look back at the sagas to find the future of the movies.  The new world of Star Wars can't help but be influenced by those artist that came before.

So, I chose Betrayal to start looking for clues.  Even though Han and Leia's children are Jacen and Jaina, and Luke's son is Ben, we find Han's Jacen still at the center of the story.  Jacen, a Jedi Knight, taught by Luke Skywalker, is training Ben, as an apprentice.   In the midst of a building Galactic Conflict, Jacen and Ben are working through cryptic clues to find a murderer.  A murderer who holds a Dark Secret and lures Jacen into questioning the truth of the Light.  The Dark Temptress tells Jacen to train his mind to listen to other facets of the Force that he was taught to ignore; that his

A Few of My Favorite Things from Star Wars Half Marathon - The DarkSide!

This was the race we had all been looking for - The second leg of the Kessel Run!  It was so exciting for all of us who started this journey in January to finish in Walt Disney World! (It's still hard to believe that we have 2 Star Wars Races!)

And although I went into the weekend with bronchitis and not feeling well, I was still overjoyed to be there!  It was a weekend packed full of Star Wars fans and lots of fun! And I thought I'd share a few of my favorite things from the weekend:

runDisney Dark Side Half Marathon Expo

Aloha everyone!
  Syl (the Kessel Runner) is off buying EVERYTHING at the Dark Side Expo this morning, so she asked me to post some of the amazing things she found within the runDisney commemorative section. 

  As always, first rule is to get to the expo as early as possible, especially the

Running for the Star Wars Dark Side - In Costume!

My first runDisney race was in 2008, running both the 5K Mickey's Family Safari and Donald's ½ marathon at the WDW Marathon weekend. I was very serious in preparation, and nervous about the race... I had no idea what to expect.  This was my first Half Marathon and that was my focus:  run, run, run.  I never thought about what to wear; about having fun; or about stopping to get my picture made with Mary Poppins or at Cinderella's Castle!

Then I showed up for the race, and I saw and learned so much from that one weekend, than could I ever could have imagined.

Probably the most crucial thing I learned about runDisney was that looking “the part” was as just as important as actually running. Couples were dressed as Mickey and Minnie, flamingos, princesses, and many different variations of Goofy!  And in the case of a Star Wars Race, it is your mission to become a part of the Galaxy: Choose The Light or the Dark Side of the Force!  

For this race, The Kessel Run Team did Mash Ups between some of our favorite Disney Characters and Star Wars Personalities.

For the 5K you will find us running as
Darth Minnie

Heart Trooper protecting General Hearts

For the 10K, we will all be joining the Stormtrooper Crew,  and as a throw back to my old blog "Glisten While You Run",  I decided to wear a Snow White Stormtrooper!

And for the Half,
"There is no one as quick as Gaston!"

and or as inthralled in her Star Wars Books as Belle!

Star Wars Fans are some of the most passionate and creative people you will get to know... I am so excited to see everyone this weekend!  Be on the look out for a wide range of costumes!

We are still putting on last minute touches and will our post our final costumes on Instagram, so follow me there!

Will the Dark Side win out on costumes this year?  It is our Destiny!

#MTFBWY

Syl
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kesselrunner77@gmail.com

It's Time for The Dark Side - Star Wars Half Marathon at WDW!

April 13, 2016

It's Finally here!  The Inaugural Star Wars Race in Walt Disney World!  I remember all of us speculating that they would replace Expedition Everest with a Star Wars Race - and it has really happened!

The week will be exciting!  I am starting it off sick though, I've had a sinus infection and bronchitis.  However, my Dr has me well taken care of - I will be on Hyperdrive!  And here's what I have going on!

Expo
The Expo will be available Thursday, Friday and Saturday!  I have been asked by KT Tape to work their booth!! So come by and See me on Thursday from 11am - 2pm.  (And I'll be getting KT Tape Swag to give away next week!)

I plan on being in line for the Expo at 9:30am.  I want first choice of the Official Merchandise:  sizes and styles go very quickly!  Then I will head on over to pick up my packet before heading to KT Tape.

Races
I'll be participating in the 5K, Dark Side Challenge (10K and Half) and The Kessel Run Challenge: So excited to receive all of these medals!  I have been working with last minute ideas on costumes, and I'll be revealing costumes later this week - so stay tuned!

Oh! Have you Heard?  There is a Heat Advisory for this weekend and chances of Rain!  But, that's ok - Just be prepared!  Check Out my Tips on Being Weatherwise!


Meetup
I'll be heading over to Star Tours at 12:30 on Saturday.   I would love to see all of you there!  Let's say we meet up at noon in Front of Star Tours!   And take a Selfie and Group Picture!

Fun
Always have fun!  I am looking forward to seeing Season of the Force at Hollywood Studios!  Disneyland's version was awesome and I know WDW will be even more amazing!  There is just so much to see... the new Jedi Training, Meeting Chewie and Kylo Ren, the new merchandise... it will be my little taste of Star Wars Weekends that I need!

Be sure to Follow me on Instagram - If you are here this weekend, I would love to meet you!  track me down!  And as always #MTFBWY

Syl