01 | Key West: America's little Hainan
🌴 Little Hainan in the United States, I don’t know how cold it is during New Year’s Eve.
🌊 The sea breeze blows ashore, the joy never stops!
Preface
I haven’t updated in a year, so I can’t write anymore.
🏝️ Key West, FL
🫠 Every time I want to write, I am persuaded to stop. Why?
Because the next destination is Florida, which has a large amount of content, high prices, and a long trip, so it is quite difficult to write...
😴 Besides, instead of writing a travel diary, I actually want to lie down for a while.
As a result, the whole year of 2024 has passed by this time. Looking back, the tweet update = 0, which is very shameful (comfortable).
🎊 2025 is here, new year and new KPIs!
This year I plan to publish at least one article every month, and try to clear out the inventory by the end of the year, otherwise this travelogue will be postponed until 2030...
🌍 Back at the end of 2023, we went to Key West, the southernmost tip of Florida, to welcome 2024!
📺 The first time I heard about this place was in the documentary "Couples"
It's about the "Conch Republic" - when Key West actually "went war" with the United States with bread and toilet paper, and then surrendered in seconds... This god-level event piqued my interest instantly! 😂
📍 Key West, the Chinese name is "Key West", also called "Key West"
But I'm not very good at this literary name. Maybe it's because I'm getting older and have become less and less interested in fresh and fresh names. I'll be done with it if it's rough.
💀 However, its Spanish name "Cayo Hueso" is very touching!
It means "an island made of human bones" - it is said that the Indians buried their ancestors here. This place may be a mixture of white coral and ancient bones...
😏 This Latin American dark style is much cooler than the "petty bourgeoisie island resort", so I say, Key West, go for it!
Landed in Miami, Florida does not support idlers
💨 Landing in Miami in the evening, I stepped into the tropical crowds of people at the end of the year. I felt like Northeasterners rushing into Hainan to spend the winter. The airport was full of travelers in vacation mode! 🏝️
🚕 I called an Uber to go to Airbnb, but ended up waiting for half an hour outside the sweltering airport passage. The driver took advantage of the traffic and walked up to us, as if he had just experienced a street survival battle...
⚡ After getting in the car, the driver drove straight on the highway and saw the traffic jam in front of him. He jumped into the emergency lane and fought his way out of the siege. I said "WOC! WOC!" on the spot: Florida really doesn't support idle people!
🏠 The Airbnb is close to Lake Mahar, with greenery everywhere and a tropical atmosphere. We take a breath under the coconut trees and face the challenge of renting a car tomorrow.
🚗 The next day, a lady who only spoke Spanish delivered the car to us. We took out the translation software and inputted it frantically, relying on AI to make the handover smooth.
🗣️ It can be seen that the Spanish level of 47 still has a lot of room for improvement... 😂
🔎 With a car, I don’t have to worry about anything. All I need is a mobile phone holder for navigation. As soon as I entered Walmart, I discovered that 70% of the people here speak Spanish!
🍽️ Everything is ready, let’s go to the Golden Corral to worship the five internal organs temple, and then the trip officially begins! Destination: Key West! 🚗💨🌴
Mysterious Night Road to Key West
🚗💨 US-1 is the most beautiful self-driving route in the world during the day, and a dark and unknown adventure at night...
🌑 The scenery along the way? It doesn’t exist because you can’t see it! Except for the few meters illuminated by the car lights, it all depends on imagination to complete the magnificent picture of the Atlantic Ocean🌊
🌴 Before dark, we stopped at Far Beach and watched a magical sunset! This is located in John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, one of the most famous state parks in the Florida Keys.
🔥 The pink and purple glow reflected on the water is dreamy and peaceful, definitely worth the price of admission! Although I missed the daytime sea view on Highway 1, the sunset + drone aerial photography here is completely another ultimate experience!
🚁 I flew a drone and photographed the "Fire Cloud" on the water. I once wondered: Is it reality or a movie special effect? 🌅
🌙 In the evening, the staff will explain Florida’s natural knowledge to the children here.
🏠 Arrive at the B&B late at night, tired from the journey and the beautiful movies in the camera, looking forward to officially exploring Key West tomorrow! 🌟
Key West New Year’s Eve party record: sunset, warships, cats
🏝️ Our Airbnb is located between Stock Island and Cow Key, which is considered a suburb of Key West. The small white houses are beautiful and the island has strong sunshine. It is quite pleasant to live there.
🚗 Follow the Overseas Highway, all the way through New Town and straight to Old Town. There are so many tourists and the parking fee is so expensive!
🅿️ After all my efforts, I finally found a parking lot near Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park. The environment is good and it’s free! 🐶🎉
🚶♂️ Parked the car and started exploring on foot along Truman Waterfront Park. First, we saw a super handsome warship - "USCGC Ingham Maritime Museum"!
⚓ This ship used to be the Coast Guard patrol ship USCGC Ingham (WHEC-35). It was later decommissioned and turned into a museum. It’s full of history!
🌊 The scenery on the coastline is excellent, the Florida sun is very comfortable, seabirds stand lazily on wooden piles, yachts are moored quietly on the water, everything is slow and leisurely.
🚶♂️ Key West is not big. After a short walk, we arrived at "Southernmost Point", which is known as "the end of the world in the continental United States" and is one of the most visited landmarks.
📸 But "ends of the world" all over the world seem to have the same routine - a big rock + a long queue for taking pictures. This is the case in Sanya, and it is the same here.
🍹The stone says “90” – meaning it’s only 90 miles from Cuba! But there were too many people, so we took a symbolic photo and quickly left.
🌬️ When walking to the nearby "Emma Carrero Cates Pier", the wind was super strong! The aroma of the food at Seaside Cafe is so enticing that 47’s hat will blow off! 😱
👀 Fortunately, a kind person with quick eyes and quick hands caught the hat and returned it to its original owner!
⌛ Look at the watch, it’s almost 2 o’clock, and my stomach is growling with hunger. I wonder if I can find Chinese food on such a remote island in the Atlantic Ocean?
📍 After searching on Google, I found "China Garden West". American-style Chinese food is indeed everywhere!
🥢 When we entered the restaurant, there were only us and 47 in the whole restaurant. The taste was not amazing, but it was better than filling us up.
📖 After eating, we went straight to the former home of Hemingway. This great writer moved to Key West in 1931 and wrote such classics as "The Old Man and the Sea", "The Snows of Kilimanjaro", and "The Green Hills of Africa".
💀 The inspiration for the book "The Old Man and the Sea" came from Key West. A fisherman went out to sea and had a fight with a big fish, but in the end he only dragged back a set of fish bones. It feels a bit realistic when you think about it.
🏡 This old house with yellow shutters and Spanish-style balcony was moved by Hemingway in 1931. At that time, he and his second wife Pauline moved in and stayed there for 8 years.
🔦 Opposite the former residence is the Key West Lighthouse. This light not only guides ships on the sea, but also guided countless drunk Hemingway.
🍺 Because he is a heavy drinker himself, he hangs out in Sloppy Joe’s Bar all year round. When he drinks to the point of unconsciousness, when he sees the lighthouse, he knows where his home is going.
🐱 But the biggest star of Hemingway House is the six-toed cat! This group of cats live leisurely in a two-story villa. They are very cute and not afraid of people at all. There are also the tombstones of Hemingway's four beloved cats in the yard!
🐾 There are more cats than people in this house, and there are more stories than cats. Romance, madness, and the smell of alcohol are the unique style of Key West.
🚗 After watching the cats, we picked up the car and drove to the southernmost point of Key West - Fort Zachary Taylor Beach, which is more private and has a wider view than Mallory Square and Southernmost Point!
🌊 The sea water is clear, and the sky is dyed into the color of burning clouds by the setting sun. This is definitely the second most beautiful sunset I have ever seen in my life, second only to the primitive wildness of Lingshui, Hainan!
📸 I originally wanted to take some selfies with the Hover drone, but as soon as I took off, I was stopped by the staff, so I quickly put it away and pretended like nothing happened. But at least some good photos were left behind.
🌃 As night falls, Key West enters New Year’s Eve carnival mode
🔥 Stop 1: Tiki House
The DJ was playing live upstairs, and the door was full of enthusiastic drunkards, making the atmosphere full!
🔥 Stop 2: Stumbled into the Bourbon St. Pub drag queen party
Drag queen Sushi sits in giant red high heels and is slowly lowered down to the highest LGBTQ+ party in Key West!
We strayed into the crowd and were unable to advance or retreat. In front of us were big high-heeled shoes dropped from the sky, and next to us was a fat dancing figure...
I once fell into the scene of social phobia. I am not suitable for such an atmosphere, but I also respect it.
🔥 Stop 3: Sloppy Joe’s Bar Official Countdown
The giant crystal ball counts down, and everyone holds up their mobile phones to record the New Year’s Eve moments!
2023 is over and 2024 is here. Looking back, the time in the past seems like just yesterday... but it has also come a long way.
🚶♂️ We walked back to the hostel in the dark, and Key West’s New Year’s Eve carnival was still going on.
🤣 Just before reaching the door, 47 completed the first fall of 2024!
🌟 Falling starts in the new year, everything takes off, the harder you fall, the harder you take off! 2024, keep rushing! 🚀
Day 1, 2024: Crossing the Seven Mile Bridge
☀️ When I woke up in the youth hostel, the sun was already high. This youth hostel is quite large and even has a swimming pool, and the water quality is quite clean.
🍽️ After breakfast, get ready to go back to Miami! The weather is very good today, and I can finally take a good look at the beautiful sea view of Highway 1.
🚗 Heading north, the first stop is the Seven-Mile Bridge!
🌍 This bridge is known as the "eighth wonder of the world", but to be honest, the "eighth wonder" of the world can be ranked in the rankings.
🌊 The Seven Mile Bridge is the longest of the 42 sea-crossing bridges in the Florida Keys. It was once a railroad bridge. Later, the hurricane came and the bridge collapsed. Now it has become a photo spot.
🛤️ The Old Flagler Railway Bridge still stands on the sea. It was once a railway passage, but now it has become a paradise for trails and fishermen. It is full of history!
🚘 The new bridge (now a highway bridge open to traffic) was built in 1982. Driving across the bridge, you will be surrounded by the endless blue sea on both sides, and the scenery is unparalleled!
📍 Park your car at Little Duck Key Wayside Park next to the Seven-Mile Bridge. This is a public boat dock and is also connected to the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail. Many tourists walk here and there are many people fishing.
💨 The wind was super strong, but I couldn’t help but fly the drone
I’ve seen other people use drones to follow cars to shoot blockbusters before. It’s really cool, but with the wind, I don’t have the guts to do it. I’m content with simply flying.
Across the bridge, there is a heart-shaped island on the sea, Little Money Key - Cyjan Island. It sounds mysterious, but it is actually a private island. You cannot go to the island, so you can only look at it from a distance.
🔄 After retracing our steps, we parked the car near the Old Flagler Railway Bridge. How can seeing such a beautiful sea view once be enough?
⚠️ Note: There was a police car parked on the bridge. In less than five minutes, three speeding cars were caught. Real Thunder Law Enforcement!
🌊 The sea water here is so blue that it looks like it has been filtered. Standing by the old bridge, looking at the traffic on the new bridge and the blue sea and sky in the distance, I feel very comfortable.
🚗 On the way back to Miami, it is still a tropical sea road.
🏝️ A small town pops up from time to time along the way, with fishing boats and docks parked on the roadside. Even if you are just passing by, it exudes the unique sense of relaxation of Key West.
👨👩👧 I met a Chinese family living in Miami on the beach. They looked like parents coming to visit their daughter, and then we went on a self-driving trip together, enjoying the beauty of Key West like us.
🌞 Heading north, leaving Key West, this beautiful view of the Atlantic Ocean has already been engraved in my memory. 🚘💨
A day off in Miami: drop off the car, hang out, and catch up on work in the middle of the night!
🌞 Last day in Miami, eat and shop, and return the car at the same time
🚙 The return point is in Hialeah, a typical Hispanic community. Legend has it that there are a lot of car thefts and property crimes here. We parked the car and handed over the keys. We didn't dare to relax. We looked around to make sure there was nothing unusual, for fear that the car would be gone as soon as we turned around.
🚶♂️ After returning the car, we walked nervously through the community, quickly got on the light rail, and headed straight to downtown Miami.
🏞️ After two laps of the light rail, we arrived at the Miami River Walk
🚤 Here you can see the yachts rushing from the Miami River to the bay, with music and laughter coming and going. It is a completely different world from Hialeah.
🏝️ Opposite is Brickell Key, a small paradise for the rich in Miami. The cheapest houses on the island cost several million dollars.
🥢 High-end Chinese food - Hutong: You have to weigh your wallet before eating
🌆 Before dark, we needed to fill our stomachs, so we settled on a Chinese restaurant - Hutong.
💰 This meal refreshed my understanding of Chinese food and also refreshed my wallet balance.
🍽️ The environment is amazing, the presentation is exquisite, and the dishes are exquisite. Sure enough, Chinese food can be so high-end.
💸 We didn’t dare to order too much. After all, the price of each dish was quite shocking, and it felt like we had a Michelin-like atmosphere.
🚎 After dinner, I took a bus back to the B&B, thinking I could finally get a good sleep.
📞 In the middle of the night, the phone rang, and I saw it was "Guide" - I still couldn't escape asking for leave.
🖥️ He was going to another school and needed to draw pictures and do PPT, which was quite anxious (of course I only found out about this later).
😤 It’s quite magical realism when I think about it - if he interviews for a job, what does it have to do with me?
🖥️ In desperation, I turned on the computer and started working on it like a tiger. I continued to work until 2:25 in the morning, but I still didn't finish it.
Postscript
The journey continues, next stop: Orlando
🏰Orlando, FL
🌟 Although traveling with a computer is a bit frustrating, this is the reality, so we don’t have to worry about it anymore. It’s time to play and eat.
🎢 Next, we’re going to Orlando! This journey was more exciting, with scares and surprises, and I rode a lot of roller coasters.
🎡 Florida “really” doesn’t care for idlers, see you in Orlando!
- The end -
Words | Arsenan
Photos | Arsenan
Design | Arsenan
02 | Orlando speedrun: Disney challenge and Universal
Disney, 5K, 10K, half marathon
Diagon Alley, dragon, magic wand, roller coaster
Preface
US-1 East Coast: Miami to Orlando
🏝️Orlando, FL
Leaving Miami, our next stop is "Orlando"
Going all the way north, we did not take the highway, but chose the "slowest" route - US-1 Highway 1 East.
Outside the car window are large mangroves and lagoons, and the Indian River is very close.
Occasionally, you can still catch a glimpse of the resorts on the Atlantic Ocean, standing alone on the sandbank.
But when I was in the car, the pace was not that slow. My computer was spread out in the passenger seat, and I had to work on the "leading" job hunting PPT.
Later, he really jumped to Florida State, and I deserved a lot of credit.
Very good, the body is ready to run away, the soul continues to work overtime, move forward, Orlando.
Arriving in Orlando, the Dumb Challenge begins!
This time I came to Orlando not just for traveling.
In fact, as early as half a year ago, I had an “online battle” with runners from all over the world.
Laptops, iPads, mobile phones, desktops, all squatting——
The purpose is to grab this Disney’s “Dopey Challenge” running spot,
Disney holds a marathon event called "runDisney" in Orlando every January.
There is only one most cruel one: "Dopey Challenge", also called "Dopey Challenge"
Dopey is the silly one among the seven dwarfs:
The official meaning is: "Challenge your limits",
Actual meaning: "The challenge of running stupid".
💥 Four races in four days, a total of "48.6 miles" (approximately 78 kilometers):
- 🏃♂️ Day 1: 5K (3.1 miles)
- 🏃♂️ Day 2: 10K (6.2 miles)
- 🏃♂️ Day 3: Half Marathon (13.1 miles)
- 🏃♂️ Day 4: Full Marathon (26.2 miles)
You can get "6 medals" after finishing all races (1 medal per race + Goofy challenge + Dopey challenge).
In the evening, we came to the Disney ESPN Universal Sports Center,
This is Disney’s park dedicated to sporting events and activities, and is also the area for the runDisney Marathon Expo.
The Airbnb I stayed in this time was also quite interesting. Each room has its own theme. Ours is the "Disney Villain" route:
There is a row of portraits of villains hanging on the wall, from Cruella and Ursula to all kinds of sinister smiling faces, which is very atmospheric;
There is a bowl of "poisoned" apples on the table, paired with a mirror shaped like a magic mirror. It seems like someone will say behind me at any time: "Mirror, mirror, who is the most handsome runner in the world?"
Disney 5K｜Travel through the Window of the EPCOT World under the Lights at Night
On January 5th, the day of the Disney 5K, we had to get up before dawn.
It was around four o'clock in the morning and it was dark outside the window. Siqi specially drove me to the starting point, thinking that this starting time is really inhuman!
The Disneyland park is full of runners wearing fancy costumes, some wearing princess dresses, some wearing superhero costumes, and some directly wearing string lights, like moving Christmas trees...
Although my mind was not awake at that moment, I was already drawn into the festive atmosphere.
The music was already playing, and the host was cheering on the stage, surrounded by lights and colorful balls, which even diluted the coldness of the early morning.
At 5 o'clock sharp, the first set of fireworks took off. It was no exaggeration, almost like a New Year's Eve countdown.
The runners set off amidst cheers, and the atmosphere was particularly relaxed. It didn't look like a race, but more like a "large-scale theme night tour."
The starting point is located in the outer parking lot of EPCOT. The first kilometer is on the service channel in the back yard of the park, which is dark.
The first mile into the park, running into EPCOT's main park, you can see the huge "Spaceship Earth" sphere at a glance.
It is the landmark of EPCOT. Its surface is a geometric sphere made of triangular metal sheets. It is very shocking when lit up at night.
Then I ran around the Window of the World Lake and passed through the exhibition halls of various countries. From "Japan's five-story pagoda" to "China's Temple of Heaven" and "Norway's cabin", every country's pavilion is lit up, like a night tour around the world.
There are actors greeting you at the door of every place - I like the "Chaoyang Gate" of the China Pavilion the most. The red pillars and gold tiles are so bright and impressive. Running through the door feels like returning to Laoga.
After about two miles, I ran to the "Coco" statue. The golden Miguel was playing and singing with his guitar in his arms, and Dante next to him looked cheerful.
Although it was still dark, this section was particularly warm, like a scene in a movie traveling through the world of the dead.
Not long after going forward, we arrived at EPCOT's landmark - the huge sphere "Spaceship Earth".
The lights kept changing colors, and the whole ball was lit up by lights. The colors kept changing in the dark night, making it look like a future planet.
Although it was still dark, the entire park was very lively. Most people take pictures while running and are not in a hurry.
I also took a photo, but I didn’t dare to run too far because I would be pulled back by the staff.
It probably took me less than 2 hours to finish the 5K. When I crossed the finish line, it was still dark.
At the finish line, I got a "yellow Pluto medal" with a gold base and "5K" written on it. It was very Disney.
5 kilometers, I ran around in the dark, but I still felt pretty good. The "Dopey Challenge" appetizer tasted good.
Rampage at Universal Studios｜It’s not impossible without VIP
In the afternoon we went to Universal Studios in Orlando.
🌍Universal Studios @Arsenan
🌍Universal Studios @Arsenan
To be honest, I wasn’t interested in these “rides” (roller coasters) at first. I thought they were just a child’s race while waiting in long lines and taking a ride.
But I changed my mind not long after entering. It was really fun, very hard-core, and the sound, light and electricity were very cool.
🌍Universal Studios @Arsenan
🌍Knight Bus @Arsenan
We walked around for a while and saw the purple "Knight Bus" parked on the street with an actor playing the driver.
We chose a project with a short queue time - ET. This is a classic old project with a very short queue. After entering, it simulates riding on a speeding car and flying through the forest and starry sky. Although the technology is a bit old-school, it is quite stylish.
🌍ET @Arsenan
Then I went to play "Fast and Furious" and queued in a garage. There was an orange modified sports car inside. While queuing, I could see many scenes and props from the movie.
🌍Fast & Furious @Arsenan
🌍Fast & Furious @Arsenan
The whole ride was a car chase, with extremely exaggerated lighting and sound effects. In the end, everyone escaped from the explosion scene together. It was warm and a bit like an immersive movie scene.
🌍Say cheese with Alex the Lion @Arsenan
Later, I saw a group of actors "dancing Latin dance on the street." As soon as the music started, the whole street got excited, and the audience formed a large circle. Later, they even invited the crowd to interact with each other.
💃Salsa on the street @Arsenan
💃Salsa on the street @Arsenan
There were more and more people in the afternoon, and the queue time for popular items was "one or two hours." Many people bought VIP tickets so they didn't have to wait.
We were walking and watching, and suddenly we turned a corner and arrived at the gate of the Harry Potter area. It was very hidden, but there was a hidden world behind it!
🌍The Wizarding World of Harry Potter @Arsenan
🌍The Wizarding World of Harry Potter @Arsenan
Facing the street is a street that looks like a London alley. At the entrance of the alley is a Ukrainian iron-bellied dragon - the dragon hanging on the roof of Gringotts Bank, with its mouth wide open and breathing fire!
🌍Ukrainian Ironbelly @Arsenan
🌍Ukrainian Ironbelly @Arsenan
🌍Ukrainian Ironbelly @Arsenan
This section really feels like entering a "magical world", with brick walls, signs, wand shops, and candy houses, every detail is specially restored to the original work.
🌍Ukrainian Ironbelly @Arsenan
🌍Ukrainian Ironbelly @Arsenan
🌍Ukrainian Ironbelly @Arsenan
We waited in line at Gringotts for almost an hour and a half, and finally got on the "Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts" ride. It was well worth it, with full visual effects, flying, falling, and magical duels.
🌍Diagon Alley @Arsenan
🌍Diagon Alley @Arsenan
After leaving Gringotts, we boarded the "Hogwarts Express" and drove from King's Cross Station to "Islands of Adventure"
🌍The Wizarding World of Harry Potter @Arsenan
🌍The Wizarding World of Harry Potter @Arsenan
The car window will show the scenery along the road, and you can hear Harry and the others talking. A short drive but a fulfilling experience.
Arriving at Islands of Adventure is another "Harry Potter" area, with snow-roofed houses, spiers, and stone paths. It looks particularly like "Winter at Hogwarts" at night. We walked around in front of the castle, took some photos of the night view, and experienced the "Late Night Campus" of the magical world.
🌍Hogsmeade @Arsenan
🌍Hogsmeade @Arsenan
The snow-roofed houses, spiers, and stone roads look especially like "Winter at Hogwarts" at night.
🌍Hogsmeade @Siqi
🌍Hogwarts @Arsenan
🌍Hogsmeade @Arsenan
🌍Hogwarts @Visitor
We walked around in front of the castle, took some night photos, and experienced the "late night campus" of the magical world.
🌍Universal’s Islands of Adventure @Arsenan
🌍Universal’s Islands of Adventure @Arsenan
🌍Hogsmeade @Arsenan
Finally, we sat back on the Hogwarts train, specifically to see the night view of the "dragon breathing fire".
The entire flame lit up half of the sky in the night, and was very warm and very impactful.
🌍Ukrainian Ironbelly @Arsenan
🌍Ukrainian Ironbelly @Arsenan
🌍Ukrainian Ironbelly @Arsenan
🌍Ukrainian Ironbelly @Arsenan
My legs were almost broken after walking all day, but it was okay, after all, I only ran 5k in the morning.
🌍Universal Studios @Arsenan
Disney 10K｜Run through lakeside towns and the lively BoardWalk
The day after running the 5K, the morning routine was the same—wake up at 4 a.m. and start running at 5 a.m.
The moment we started running, it was still dark, and the words “10K” on the starting arch were particularly flashing in the light.
Accompanied by a wave of pink and purple fireworks, the sleepiness was instantly gone.
As you can see from the map, this journey is richer than the 5K route. In addition to EPCOT, it also runs to another park all the way.
——Disney's BoardWalk Resort, running along the boardwalk by the lake, the street lights reflected in the water, like a morning jog in a European seaside town,
Although it was still dark, everyone was quite happy, and there were still many cosplayers and runners dressed up in fancy clothes on the road.
The staff kept shouting “Good job runners!” “You’re amazing!”
I thought to myself, "Isn't it just 10 kilometers? What's the point?" The emotional value of the old and American is indeed sufficient.
At one point along the way, I even saw the Incredibles family taking a group photo together.
In the second half of the period, the sky began to light up slowly.
When we reached the finish line, it was already dawn, and "Minnie" stood next to the finish line to greet everyone.
Siqi has been waiting for me at the finish line for a long time, and we finally took a photo with the female Donald Duck (Daisy).
🎖️ After finishing the run, I received a medal, which was a "Kiki and Didi themed 10K medal".
It has an orange base, two little squirrels jumping up and high-fiving on the medal, and there is an acorn pattern on the strap, which is very nice!
Take a walk around Orlando｜Orlando Urban Trail
After running the 10K, we drove to an Indian restaurant in Orlando - "Ahmed Indian Restaurant"
This shop is hidden in an inconspicuous community. The sign at the door is a bit old-school, but as soon as you enter, you can smell the familiar smell of curry.
They have a buffet for lunch. There are not many dishes, but the taste is very good.
Curry chicken, butter chicken, and naan are all special meals, and the prices are reasonable.
After eating, we went to the "Orlando Urban Trail", which starts next to Lake Formosa.
This trail is a bit like a green slow-moving belt in the city. There are lakes, bridges, and street murals along the way.
There are also some postmodern sculptures that are hard to describe but quite interesting.
We also saw a wall of colorful robot graffiti that said “You Matter”.
He also took selfies with various poses and hovers in front of the murals on the train.
It got dark while we were walking. At an intersection, a train passed slowly not far away. We waited for a while...
Then get back in the car and retreat, and the next day’s running Siqi will finally take place!
Disney “Shrunk” Half Marathon｜A Fantasy Journey with a Key
In the next "half marathon", Siqi finally takes the stage!
Originally, this day was supposed to be the highlight moment of the "Disney Half Marathon" running into the Magic Kingdom park. As a result, the weather was unfavorable. The organizing committee made a temporary notice before the start of the race:
"There is a risk of thunderstorms in the forecast, and the original plan of 13.1 miles has been reduced to 7.1 miles."
In order not to suffer such a loss, I ran 5 kilometers before the start of the race to "make up for it."
It was still dark, so we started from the end of the team, and the rain started to fall while we were running.
The route that had already been shortened was forced to cut off another section later. By the time we reached the end, it was almost "half marathon, half marathon, half marathon".
As runners, we are actually not afraid of wind and rain, and we compete with my favorite Cincinnati "Flying Fish".
Siqi didn’t even enter a single Disney park!
🌧️ I thought the worst was over here, but it turned out that an even bigger "shock"/"surprise" was yet to come.
Never expected——
We arrived at the finish line in the rain, collected our medals, and ran to the parking lot to prepare to return to our Airbnb.
Touching his pocket: the key is gone.
It wasn’t left in a hotel or put in the car, it was—it was really gone.
The rental car has no backup and is a sea of cars.
The rain was getting heavier, my clothes were soaked, and I was cold. I stood on the edge of the parking lot, not knowing what to do.
We tried asking a volunteer, and she said she could help us.
Neither of us had high hopes. After all, tens of thousands of people were stepping on each other in this competition.
If the key was dropped at the starting point, it would have been trampled on long ago; if it was dropped halfway, it would be even worse, it would definitely be sucked away by the garbage truck!
Just when he was worried, the volunteer suddenly came over and said: "Someone really picked up a key over there at the starting point. What kind of car do you have?"
One question and one pair, the password is passed! It’s true!
She quickly contacted another volunteer through the intercom to help us deliver it.
After a while, a young lady with a face full of joy danced and handed the keys to us!
The key is covered in scratches, and you can tell at a glance that it has been subjected to a "high-quality human trampling" scene, but - it still works! You can also control the door remotely! My mood instantly went from the bottom to the sky!
💙 At this moment, the resentment in my heart about the shrinking route was suddenly relieved.
🌤️ After the rain in the afternoon, the sky cleared up, so I went out for a run by myself again and covered the remaining distance.
The competition is “shrunk”, I don’t want to be too “stuck” yet
I couldn't run into the garden, which was a bit of a loss.
But after experiencing "shrinking the route", "running in heavy rain", "lost the key", "lost and found",
This "roller coaster" experience is truly more exciting than any other "ride"!
Postscript
To be honest, I don’t want to talk about “life is a journey, regrets are also scenery”, nonsense that makes my mouth twitch and hiss.
But whoever is responsible for this matter will feel a little "thump" in his heart.
Many times, things are just like this shrinking half marathon:
You were clearly prepared ahead of time, but the rain fell as soon as it came, and the route was cut as soon as it came.
Just as I was catching my breath after running, the car keys were gone, and I stood in the rain in a daze.
Just like my colleague, a tornado tree smashed his car two days ago, and everyone asked him how he could still laugh.
He said: "If you want to live a passable life, you have to live it cheerfully."
It sounds weird, but it makes sense.
Just like our key, we had no hope at all, but the volunteers in raincoats jumped around and returned it.
Anyway——
As soon as it comes, it’s done!
The next "Full Marathon"! Keep up the good work!
- The end -
Words | Arsenan
Photos | Arsenan
Design | Arsenan
03 | Run50 State 15: Orlando Disney Marathon
📍Location: Orlando, Florida
🎽Event: Walt Disney Dopey Challenge
Preface
After experiencing the 5K, 10K, and the “fake half marathon” that was shortened by the weather in the past few days, we finally came to the finale of the Disney Dopey Challenge: the full marathon (42.2km)!
After running this race, I not only officially unlocked Florida and became the 15th state on my American marathon map, but I could also collect three more medals at once: a full marathon medal, a Goofy Challenge medal (half marathon + full marathon), and a Dopey Challenge medal (four-day perfect attendance award).
The route map is provided. This trip is really a complete run through the park: starting from EPCOT, passing through Magic Kingdom, taking photos and checking in at Animal Kingdom, and finally passing by Hollywood Studios, and finally rushing back to EPCOT to complete the finish line. Not one of the four major Disney parks is missing.
The race is still the "early morning wake-up series", starting at 5:30, Siqi sent me to the starting point as usual, thank you for the hard work 47 Sherpa.
But I heard that the start time will be moved up to 4:30 in 2026... This is very Disney. It’s the park during the day and the track in the early morning, without any delay.
Starting point outside EPCOT: start early in the morning
The starting point is on the highway outside EPCOT, with flashing lights, loud music and a warm atmosphere. Among the people passing by, I also saw the running legend "Brother Ni" flashing by.
I was wearing Arsenal's gold jersey, listening to the host's spoken English, practicing my listening skills, and waiting for the start.
We finally set off. Spectators on the roadside were shouting with lights and signs, volunteers kept cheering, and runners were running and jumping.
After the third mile of running, there was a team playing drums and a neat brass band. The rhythm is very exciting, like running into some kind of "Disney version of military parade".
At the 4th kilometer, I saw a familiar figure on the roadside, red hat, green clothes, tool belt, Handy Manny!
I rushed over, stood in line, and took a photo with him.
Around the 5th kilometer, I queued for the toilet for five minutes. The queue for the toilet can be considered one of the scenery on the track.
After recovering, we continued on the road and passed the Magic Kingdom toll booth. We could see the morning light starting to shine in the direction of the castle in the distance.
The sky is getting brighter, and the shadow of the runner is getting clearer and clearer. I know that the truly “fun” “Disney Castle” is coming.
Miles 7~11: Magic Kingdom · Run into the big castle
Checking in at the 7th kilometer, Donald Duck cheered everyone on the street sign, and it was still not bright yet.
The section into Magic Kingdom is a surprising part. Ahead is a straight avenue with dense runners and rows of spectators. Everyone held fluorescent lights and slogans and cheered and cheered all the way.
Siqi was also in the crowd, but I didn’t look at him because there were too many people.
Turning into Main Street USA, the whole street is lit up with lights and there is the sound of Disney music. It has a contrasting feeling of traveling from the highway in the early morning to a fairy tale town.
Runners took out their mobile phones to take photos. At the end of the main street was Cinderella Castle under the early morning light.
I also took a lot of photos. I’m not a Disney fan, but this big castle is really pretty!
Go around the carousel and run under the castle. The sound of footsteps and cheers echoed in the arch. I looked up and saw that the lights were still changing colors.
Running out of the arch is another world. Frontierland, Liberty Square... streets with different styles are like visiting ten countries in one go.
No one here is chasing PB (except Brother Ni). Everyone is taking photos, posting on Moments, and making phone calls. Some people jumped forward, while others walked in circles while talking on the phone.
I didn’t stop for long, but I still posted it on Moments, proving that I was “here for the trip”
Miles 12-17: Animal Kingdom·Animal Kingdom
This journey is a bit long. After coming out of Magic Kingdom, the team entered a quiet road.
There are woods on both sides, the air is moist, and the sounds of footsteps and breathing are intertwined. Occasionally, we pass by one or two photography spots, where everyone lines up to take photos and take a breather.
I also joined the group of photographers on this stretch of road. Vanellope von Schweetz, the genius racing driver in "Wreck-It Ralph", was right on the side of the road.
She looked super cool, and her eyes seemed to say: "Run faster, you noobs." Of course I couldn't be cowardly, so I took a photo with her and continued without looking back.
Running further, I finally arrived at the main entrance of Animal Kingdom, and the excitement suddenly returned.
The first thing you see when you run into the park is the Tree of Life, which stands tall in the middle of the pool. The tree trunk is covered with animal totems. It is really cool! Disney can actually make nature look so artistic.
The theme areas in the park are constantly changing. From Asia to Africa, there are colorful flags all the way, which reminds me of Yubeng Hiking.
I ran near the "Everest Roller Coaster" and thought about doing a handsome "man's jump" in front of the Himalayas.
As a result, I dropped my Action 2 and it was damaged on the spot. But the photo was taken. It would be better if the photo behind me could be removed.
I also borrowed the restroom in the park along the way and "emptied" it properly. This is the hidden benefit of the Disney Marathon. You don’t have to squat on the side of the road or worry about toilet paper.
At the end of this section of the road, I met Princess Sofia the First. She was standing there quietly in a light purple dress. Many people ran by in a hurry, but I stopped and took a photo with her. After all, I am familiar with Sophia Cathedral.
Passing by the band conductor climbing the ladder, we soon reached mile 18. I'm not a fast runner, so it was pretty easy.
Miles 18~24: Hollywood Studios · Hollywood Studios!
It’s 18 miles. The heavy rain has stopped, the air is humid, and the soles of runners’ shoes are still making a “squeaking” sound. On the way into the park, Disney characters gathered together during this section.
Although the road in this section is covered with gray asphalt and we haven’t reached Hollywood Studios yet, the density of characters is very high.
First came Qiqi and Didi, wearing colorful polka-dot vests, one with rolled-up sleeves, and the other with arms folded across his chest. I was sandwiched in the middle and surrounded, as if I had joined their squirrel brotherhood;
Immediately after turning into "Frozen", Anna and Elsa stood in front of the icicles, one clenching their fists in encouragement and the other smiling, as if they had just participated in a beauty pageant;
Further forward, there are Officer Judy and Fox Nick, who have traveled directly from "Animal City". Judy crossed her arms and looked serious; Nick leaned against me, looking like an old man.
There was no kilometers running at all, and the whole process was a "photo sprint". I like this kind of social intensity!
Elsa, Anna and Olaf were standing in front of the 19th kilometer sign. They looked very relaxed. I was actually not tired either, after all, I had been queuing up for a group photo.
Further ahead, Fancy Nancy, wearing a rainbow skirt, pulled me into a temporary ballet hero;
The little vampire Vampirina raised her fists and shouted "Go!". I could only accompany "Gogogo" for fear of being "sucked" away the last breath of strength by her.
Not long after I continued running, a small talk show booth suddenly popped up on the left hand side. It was very interesting.
We soon entered the inner campus of Hollywood Studios. As soon as you look up, you will see the iconic Palm Avenue, surrounded by old Hollywood buildings full of cinematic feel.
Running in this area, I feel like I have become the protagonist in a Disney movie, surrounded by strangers in the audience who are constantly applauding and cheering, and various cartoon characters lining up to take photos.
On the boardwalk by the lake, I met Bruno from "Full House", the Bruno we won't talk about. He was wearing a green cloak and his movements were exaggerated.
After running not far, I met Mira again, the little girl from "Royal Detective". She was wearing an Indian-style blue and gold coat. She looked more like a serious runner than me. She stood upright and had a bright smile;
At the end of this section, after leaving Hollywood Studios, we ran along a lakeside plank road. The wooden boardwalk creaks when you step on it, with the sparkling lake on one side and the colorful Disney Hotel flags blowing in the wind on the other. It's very comfortable!
These seven miles are not short, but because of the company of these characters, it always feels like time flies by. The sky gradually cleared up, the sun shone down, and everything became light again.
Miles 24-26: Epcot finish line sprint
At mile 24, Luisa pumped her fists and had a "you can do it" look on her face. I nodded, that’s a must!
The boardwalk creaked underfoot, and more and more spectators gathered. They held signs: "Registration was harder than this." Indeed, compared to running, registration seems to be the most difficult part.
After entering EPCOT, the window to the world unfolds: the five-story pagoda in Japan, the wooden church in Norway, the Chaoyang Gate in China, the pyramids in Mexico, and the brick houses in Germany.
I ran over step by step, like flipping through a thick photo album in order, except that the photos would move.
At mile 25, Goofy was wearing a yellow protective suit and gestured "Come on" to me. Then there's Star-Lord. He asked me if I was a "Guardian of the Galaxy." I said, I am the guardian of 42 kilometers, and I will only guard this section of the road today.
The end of the world is not a steep slope, but a choir. Wearing bright yellow robes, they stood in front of EPCOT's "Future Earth" and sang, the lyrics unintelligible but the rhythm just right.
The moment I crossed the line, it was indeed quite relaxing. It took less than 5 hours, because I had been queuing up to take photos during these 42 kilometers. I couldn’t compare with Brother Ni, but I definitely took more photos than him!
Siqi was waiting for me at the finish line and used a 360 to take a video of me crossing the finish line!
It was quite satisfying to receive three medals at once. The quality of the medals was also very good, and the designs were quite happy. One piece says 26.2 miles, and Mickey and Minnie are jumping on it, which is for the main marathon. One is Goofy's swing, marked 39.3 miles, which represents running a half marathon and a full marathon in two days.
The last piece is Dopey, 48.6 miles, four races in four days, challenging to pass. Hanging on my chest, it's heavy, banging, and has great texture.
After returning to our accommodation, we ordered takeout. Burger + French fries, a "real" American meal!
We have a big plan in the afternoon. We want to really go to Magic Kingdom to have a look and replenish Siqi. It’s a bit of a loss not to go to a single garden. I can also take the opportunity to take pictures of the medals!
Postscript
Medals jingle all the way into Magic Kingdom
In the afternoon we went to Magic Kingdom. This is our second time here. The first time was a marathon in the morning. There were no events other than running.
At this moment, I was walking down the main street with my medal hanging on it, jingling like wind chimes. When I turned around, I realized that everyone was doing the same! They are all marathon runners!
The main street is full of official Disney photographers, taking super professional photos.
I bought a PhotoPass with an Indian buddy a few days ago. It only costs a few dozen dollars. It’s a 4-day competition + download photos of the park. It’s a sure profit.
In the afternoon, there was a Bruno-themed parade, and the whole crowd sang “Don’t talk about Bruno~”. We also stood on the street and swayed along, and the atmosphere was overflowing.
I lined up a few rides, and the overall feeling was more childlike, a children's version of a roller coaster. Universal Studios partygoers may not find it exciting enough, but I hear Animal Kingdom’s “Himalayas” is pretty good!
As the sky darkened in the evening and the castle was lit up, we found a spot among the crowd to wait for the fireworks.
The fireworks at night were great, with classic soundtrack + castle projection, accompanied by "Let It Go" and "A Whole New World". The sound bass was very strong, and the lights swept across the crowd, making everyone's face light up.
Although the race does not include tickets, the ticket is quite worth buying. Running and the fairy tale world are perfectly connected.
To be honest, I don’t have much interest in Disney, I’m not obsessed with Mickey, and I don’t watch princess movies. Four runs in four days, 48.6 miles. There are a lot of entertainment elements, but not many hardcore places.
However, on my Run50 map, I actually painted the 15th state marathon.
There are still 35 states short of 50.
- The end -
Words | Arsenan
Photos | Arsenan
Design | Arsenan