RunDisney’s mantra is “every mile is magic.” As a runner who was originally less than enthusiastic about running, I believe every mile is definitely NOT magical. For me, there are times when endorphins soar and running feels like the best thing in the world, and there are times when self-doubt kicks in, and I find myself questioning why I’m doing it. That’s the low point and low points are the furthest thing from magical. But, thankfully, at a RunDisney race, those moments are short-lived, and that’s because we’re surrounded by runners of all ages, sizes, and athletic levels, encouraging one another to keep going. Regardless of whether you’re running along the highway or in the backstage area of Epcot when there’s a moment of doubt, you can look up and see random strangers cheering you on.
This year’s Springtime Surprise Race Weekend is a perfect example of runners supporting runners and how small acts of kindness create the best magical memories.
There’s excitement surrounding race weekend, and it kicks in the moment you arrive at the Race Expo.
That’s where you’ll pick up your race kit and participant shirt, browse the numerous booths of running-related items, and pose for photos with Disney characters.
This year, I arrived at the Expo on Friday, and from the moment I got off the bus, there was energy in the air. People were excited about the upcoming events; there was music playing, sponsors giving out free swag (including noise makers for spectators who were planning to cheer us on), Cast Members giving directions, and runners everywhere! That’s where the first magical moment started. Many of us want a cute photo with our race bib, and having been there solo was no problem; multiple people offered to snap a picture for me.
That small act of kindness has a huge impact on us solo travelers, and for everyone who took time out of their day to help me get a photo, I say, “Thank You!”
Waiting in line at the PhotoPass character spots provided the opportunity to chat with fellow racers and share their excitement. Whether it was their first event or their ninth race, it was nice to hear their stories and the words of encouragement to people striving for their own personal goals on race day. While the conversations may seem like a small part of the day, when I look back on the weekend as a whole, I remember little things like this, the most.
One thing that can’t be denied is that a RunDisney event means a VERY early morning. Free transportation is provided to the starting line (and from the finish line) for guests staying at a WDW resort. However, that means the busses have to arrive at the starting line with plenty of time before the road closures begin. To ensure that happens without issue, the busses are at the resorts for pick up times between 3:00-3:30am.
That feeling of “Why did I choose to wake up and run this early in the morning?” evaporated the moment I opened my door to head to the bus stop and another magical memory was created. Hanging from the door handle was a small packet, and inside was a note of encouragement, a mini-chocolate bar, and a gift from the Resort Cast Members. This unexpected bit of pixie dust was such a nice treat, and it instantly boosted my excitement for race day.
Speaking of excitement, my energy jumped once I reached the bus stop and saw other runners. Their enthusiasm was contagious, their costumes were fantastic, and with each passing moment, the tired feeling of being up so early in the morning faded.
A unique experience that has blasted its way into my long-term memory was the DJ dance party at 4:00 am.
Once the bus arrived at the starting line drop-off area, my energy spiked another few levels from seeing thousands of other runners. Once again, I was amazed at the costumes. There was one runner dressed as Llama Kuzco, and I was in awe of how she managed to run dressed as a Llama.
As I moved with the crowd towards the pre-race area, I noticed more character photo ops and a DJ dance party! A flock of Kevin birds all dancing together was quite the sight to see (and yes, as I was also dressed as Kevin, I joined in on the fun)!
Once in the race corrals, we continued to have music and MCs entertain us, and before long, it was time for the groups to head toward the starting line.
To minimize on-course crowding, the race was released in waves, and I LOVE that each wave had its own countdown and fireworks. Yep, that’s another core memory: fireworks at 5:00a.m. to start a run; it made me feel like a star!
Running through Epcot as the sun began to rise was another magical moment!
Throughout the course were multiple Character Meet and Greets, including some rarer characters like Little John and Lady Mariam from Robinhood, Disney Channel’s Pirate Jake, and even Starlord and Gamora were hanging out in Epcot near Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.
The characters were great to see, yet it was the other on-course entertainment who stole the show! The drummers and the choir near the end of the course were phenomenal; what a great way to wrap up the last mile.
Without question, the strongest magical memories are the people! The runners encouraging other runners throughout the course, the Cast Members cheering us on, and the spectators who didn’t just cheer for the runner they know; they cheered for all of us. These moments not only help propel each of us to keep going, but they remind us that small acts of kindness leave a lasting impact. It’s moments like these that I’m thankful to be out there running.
So, no matter the distance or your speed, if you’re debating whether you should participate in a RunDisney event, my answer is YES, you should! Get out there, put some miles on those running shoes and create your own magical memories!
~Kelly
Picture this: you’re on a fabulous cruise vacation, and as you walk around the ship, you see something yellow tucked against a railing. You make your way closer and realize it’s an adorable rubber duck with a tag that says, “ConQUACKulations, you found a cruising duck. Keep or hide, you decide!”
Where did this duck come from? Is it meant for me? What should I do next? These questions are just some of the one’s cruisers have when they first encounter this new activity of Cruising Ducks.
The story goes that in 2018, a young girl started leaving rubber ducks on the ship that she was sailing on as a way to make other people smile.
This idea anchored itself within the cruising world, and as the activity grew in popularity, the addition of tags on the ducks also surfaced. Nowadays, ducks are predominantly hidden with a tag attached to them that allows cruisers to share where the duck originated from, such as their country, dates of travel, ship it started sailing on, or the names of the cruisers who hid the duck.
Cruising Ducks have become so successful that cruisers of all ages are now hiding and searching for ducks on every cruise line.
1. It needs to be a duck. Ducks in various costumes, outfits, sizes, etc… are all acceptable, yet it needs to be some form of a duck.
2. They have to be hidden in public spaces and can’t be hidden in shops, pools, or hot tubs.
3. As mentioned above, ducks often come with a tag attached and share information on where their journey originated.
4. When you find a duck, it’s up to you to decide what to do. You can keep the duck or choose to hide it in a new spot for another person to find. Keep or hide, you decide.
5. For everyone’s well-being, ducks should not be placed in any areas that could interfere with safety equipment or a location where a person could be injured trying to retrieve the duck.
A duck’s journey can sail far beyond the ship. Once a person knows about Cruising Ducks, they can continue wanting to be involved in the Cruising Ducks community even when they aren’t on a cruise. Accordingly, social media groups dedicated to Cruising Ducks have hatched, and in these groups, people share photos of the ducks they’re bringing with them on their next cruise, ducks they found on their cruise, and all other cruising duck-related topics. In addition to the dedicated groups, there are countless posts across all social media that utilize hashtags specific to Cruising Ducks. For an example of this, check out our Cruising Ducks post.
While it’s not mandatory, people who find ducks often choose to make a post about their new nautical bird friend and utilize a hashtag to help others follow along on the duck’s adventures. Some of the popular choices are #CruisingDucks, #CruiseDucks and #CBCoCruiseDucks.
As of the date of this blog, the only article we’ve seen that suggests a cruise line may be opposed to Cruising Ducks comes from a PlanDisney post where the representative states, “Disney Cruise Line’s policy has been and continues to be that hiding any items, including Donald Duck’s little pals, in staterooms or anywhere around the ship is prohibited. These items pose a safety hazard to other passengers and the environment. Disney Cruise Line reserves the right to seize and secure any item deemed to pose a safety risk.” To be clear, TheCB.Co team does not support breaking a rule laid out by any company, especially when it has to do with safety. We’re in full support of cruise line personnel removing any ducks that have been placed in an area where a person’s safety is at risk. However, we’ll also note that this response is from a PlanDisney post and not directly from Disney Cruise Line’s site. From the various Cruising Ducks posts and groups on social media, hiding and searching for ducks on Disney Cruise Line (DCL) ships appears to be continuing at the same rate as all other cruise lines. We are patiently waiting to see if DCL offers clarification that is specific to Cruising Ducks.
As for other cruise lines, this activity continues to grow. I’ve encountered Cruising Ducks across every cruise line I’ve sailed, and I’ve even seen Cruise Line Team Members join in the fun of collecting ducks they find throughout their ship.
Royal Caribbean is so encouraging of Cruising Ducks they gave out a complimentary duck and tag to guests during the first handful of sailings on Icon of the Seas – their newest cruise ship. Royal Caribbean also began offering ducks and tags for purchase on their ships so that if a cruiser arrives onboard without ducks and wants to join in the fun of hiding them, the guests can buy ducks in the ship’s store.
Personal experience and the online community agree that, overwhelmingly, Cruise Lines, Cruise Line Personnel, and Cruisers support this bit of extra fun while sailing the seas.
Anyone on any cruise line can participate. If you’re searching for ducks, start searching from the moment you board your ship up to the day you debark.
If you’re hiding ducks, you’ll need to buy some ducks, make some tags, and you’ll be ready to go. Or, if you have an upcoming cruise, send our team an email to Info@theCB.Co, and we could provide you with some of our customized ducks and tags at no expense (this offer is subject to availability, and cruisers must have a mailing address in Canada or the United States of America). You then add the information you want on the tags and then be ready to hide the ducks once you board your ship.
So, there you have it: the story, rules, and social media side of Cruising Ducks. Whether you’re on a well-deserved break in the Bahamas, a Caribbean adventure, or sightseeing around Europe, the next time you’re sailing the seas, be on the lookout for these adorable ducks traveling the world with you.
~Kelly
Most stories start at the beginning, but not this story. For this story, it’s best to start at the action point. The moment when TheCB.Co transformed from an idea that kept circling in my brain into a force I couldn’t ignore, and I needed to act. That point in the story took place in Magic Kingdom’s Fantasyland.
It was March 2019, and it was a beautiful day at Magic Kingdom. The sun was shining, the sky was a perfect blue, and a few puffy clouds were floating in the air.
I spent the morning racing from one ride to the next, and around 10:30am, as I exited from Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid, I found myself in need of a snack, so I started strolling towards the main area of Fantasyland.
I knew there was a food cart behind the carousel and close to Pinocchio Village Haus, and that seemed like the perfect place to enjoy a Mickey Ice Cream Sandwich.
As I made my way to the food cart, I did one of my favorite things to do at WDW, and that was to slow down and look at the magic. For me, the magic isn’t always about the rides but rather seeing the magical memories being created for people around me.
From the excitement of watching a guest put on their new pair of Mickey Ears to the joy a grandparent has racing towards a ride with their grandchild, I LOVE it all. After I got my frozen treat, I found a bench to sit on and continued to enjoy the magic around me.
I saw children in costumes, families in matching shirts, wands bursting with bubbles, and then something else caught my eye. It was people character bounding. I’d seen it before; I myself had even bounded on previous trips, but as I sat in Fantasyland on that hot day in March, I realized I was seeing it more and more often, and I knew that this form of creativity and self-expression was something that resonated in my core.
For readers who may not be familiar with Character Bounding, the best way to answer the question of what is a Character Bound is to start at the beginning with the definition of a Disney Bound. “A Disney-bound (also referred to as a “Bound”) is an outfit – but not a full costume – inspired by your favorite Disney character using items that you can find in your own closet or at your local mall.” This definition comes from the person I consider as the original bounder, Leslie Kay, author of Disney Bound Dress Disney and Make it Fashion. TheCB.Co is not sponsored or endorsed by Leslie Kay. Yet, we believe it’s essential to acknowledge the person who asked themselves what a character would wear in their day-to-day lives and founded a community where like-minded people connect to share their inspirations and bounds.
In her book, Leslie stresses that “Disney bounding is not about being recognized, but about how your outfit makes you feel on the inside,” and it’s with that sentiment that The Character Bounding Company was created.
Character Bounding is wearing an outfit composed of everyday clothing and accessories inspired by a fictional persona. A Character Bound follows the idea of a Disney Bound yet opens it up for a character from any story, movie, theme park, TV show, etc.
So, there I was with my ice cream sandwich melting in my hand, and my attention focused on the people walking through the park in their character bounds. The idea of bounding made me smile. It crossed generations where children could be in costumes and adults could join in the fun with similar themed bounds, or groups of friends could bound together; the options are limitless. It was at that point that my mind shifted from the clothing of bounds to accessories, finishing pieces that elevate an outfit and could be used to complete the story to a person’s bound. Accessories can take an outfit from being something stylish to an ensemble that tells a story. It’s a subtle way to add to your bound and complete the overall look. Amongst the daydreaming of lantern scarves, rose necklaces, and poison apple bracelets, a clearer idea took hold; I decided this bit of happiness doesn’t have to be restricted to theme parks. We could bound in our everyday lives and we can add magic to every day! That realization was the action point for TheCB.Co. It was the moment when everything transformed from an idea to a dream that I was determined to make a reality.
Over the next few hours, my mind was bursting with ideas; I was calling my husband and talking at a pace that could only be described as equal to the speed Dash runs in the Incredibles. With inspirational ideas forming at a rapid rate, I needed to get them listed and logged as quickly as possible. I made video recordings to capture the pixie dust (my thoughts) as I walked past Peter Pan’s Flight.
I typed notes on my phone as I waited in line at Haunted Mansion. I was Tangled up in doing internet searches and looking at domain registrations while sitting in Fantasyland, and I was bursting from my Inside Out with Joy. This idea was one that I fell in love with, and I believe others would too.
Character Bounding is not about creating a replica outfit; it’s about being inspired by a character while embracing the freedom to express your true self. You can wrap yourself in a story and embrace a quality you admire from a character.
There you have it: the action point. It was sitting in Fantasyland when The Character Bounding Company transformed from an abstract idea into something more. With the belief that magic is real and anything is possible, TheCB.Co became part of your world, and I’m excited to share it with you.
~Kelly
