The Official 2013 Wine and Dine Half Marathon Thread

[StarGirl11]

I did my 2012 C2C through GET Travel as I didn't register for the Tinkerbell ½ soon enough.

No issues.

Port Orleans French Quarter is a moderate, so not the cheapest, but it is small. It may not be a host resort though.

It isn't a host resort unfortuanetly. I would book there in an instant if it was. It's my favorite resort. Only the Caribbean beach in the moderates is a host resort.

Still need suggestions. All stars is the only value host. Caribbean is too big for my comfort judging by the all ears map. So that leaves all stars, akl, boardwalk, and beach club I think.

 

[hokuspocus]

I would pick boardwalk out of those choices that way you can walk back after the race! We are trying to decide between boardwalk/dolphin/swan/yacht club!

 

[sillylily]

Just remember that the "official" list of host resorts isn't out yet; the ones they have on runDisney's website are for last year and haven't been updated yet. They are really slacking on the W&D info, IMO.

 

[StarGirl11]

Just remember that the "official" list of host resorts isn't out yet; the ones they have on runDisney's website are for last year and haven't been updated yet. They are really slacking on the W&D info, IMO.

Didn't realize that. Thanks for the info. Will keep that in mind and maybe keep my fingers crossed that they may add POFQ to this year's list. I consider it my 'home resort' and I would want to go back there more than anything.

 

[sillylily]

We're really hoping that they add POR, so I understand COMPLETELY! I so do not want to get stuck at CBR, the size of the resort is really intimidating.

 

[bellanotte10]

So I'm sad to say count me out for the race. We've switched our dates to late October so no more half for me!

 

[PlutoBaby]

Unless you are so beaten up by the end that the walk from the front of epcot through the international gateway and over to your room at the boardwalk seems like it is the longest stretch you've traveled ever. in your whole life. including the 13 miles you just ran.

I laugh now, but if anyone happened to see me after the race that night, I was not laughing then. Not on the bench outside the bathrooms, or the curb in the UK, or those outside the international gateway or the EPSN club, or the Boardwalk lobby. I swear I did not think I was going to make it back to my room and I practically begged my DH to carry me. I would sit down, try not to get sick or pass out, get up, speedwalk as long as I could and then repeat. When I finally made it back to the room I got sick, felt immediately better and spent the next three days enjoying the parks!

Lessons learned:
1. Do NOT sprint the end of your race. Especially not starting immediately when you enter Epcot. I seriously underestimated both the kick that I would have left in me at 12.5 miles due to adrenaline and how far I still had to go to the finish line. Had I kept to my pace, I would probably have felt a LOT better after.

2. Do not stop moving and drink beer while waiting to have your medal engraved. Have someone else stand in line and do that for you while you keep moving.

3. If you plan to go to the after party pick a meeting spot on the spaceship earth side of the fountain. Although appreciated as a runner, the herding of spectators across the course meant that 20 min after running for hours, you could be standing around, packed like sardines with 100 of your new best friends, some of whom smell like they just ran 13 miles waiting to cross the course when all you really want to do is collapse and/or stretch.

That being said - I can't wait to do it again!

Ditto! As soon as I crossed the finish line and found the DH, I burst out in tears, (why I STILL have no idea!), and swore I'd never do it again. Two weeks later, I couldn't wait to sign up again! Must have been all those crazy post-race chemicals bouncing around in my brain...

 

[jeanigor]

Just remember that the "official" list of host resorts isn't out yet; the ones they have on runDisney's website are for last year and haven't been updated yet. They are really slacking on the W&D info, IMO.

Seeing as how they just had the Princess ½ three days ago, I would expect more information to be available in the next week. Or the week registration opens at the latest.

 

[jeanigor]

Unless you are so beaten up by the end that the walk from the front of epcot through the international gateway and over to your room at the boardwalk seems like it is the longest stretch you've traveled ever. in your whole life. including the 13 miles you just ran.

I laugh now, but if anyone happened to see me after the race that night, I was not laughing then. Not on the bench outside the bathrooms, or the curb in the UK, or those outside the international gateway or the EPSN club, or the Boardwalk lobby. I swear I did not think I was going to make it back to my room and I practically begged my DH to carry me. I would sit down, try not to get sick or pass out, get up, speedwalk as long as I could and then repeat. When I finally made it back to the room I got sick, felt immediately better and spent the next three days enjoying the parks!

Lessons learned:
1. Do NOT sprint the end of your race. Especially not starting immediately when you enter Epcot. I seriously underestimated both the kick that I would have left in me at 12.5 miles due to adrenaline and how far I still had to go to the finish line. Had I kept to my pace, I would probably have felt a LOT better after.

2. Do not stop moving and drink beer while waiting to have your medal engraved. Have someone else stand in line and do that for you while you keep moving.

3. If you plan to go to the after party pick a meeting spot on the spaceship earth side of the fountain. Although appreciated as a runner, the herding of spectators across the course meant that 20 min after running for hours, you could be standing around, packed like sardines with 100 of your new best friends, some of whom smell like they just ran 13 miles waiting to cross the course when all you really want to do is collapse and/or stretch.

That being said - I can't wait to do it again!

This past year, trekking out the the event transportation to the All Stars, standing and waiting in the cold after the party was in my opinion far worse than hobbling back to BWV and BCV the two years previous.

I am thinking about renting points and staying at Kidani Village. And renting a car. I didn't do that last year and really missed having freedom. RunDisney does a decent job with event transportation, but having my own wheels is soooooo much faster.

 

[jpeka65844]

This past year, trekking out the the event transportation to the All Stars, standing and waiting in the cold after the party was in my opinion far worse than hobbling back to BWV and BCV the two years previous.

Do they have bag check like at all the other races? I anticipate taking a change of clothes/warmer stuff and putting it at bag check.

I'm not sure I like the idea of enjoying a party while still in my running gear.

We're hoping to stay at BWV but would be happy with AKV too. (provided they're still on the host list.....)

 

[jeanigor]

Do they have bag check like at all the other races? I anticipate taking a change of clothes/warmer stuff and putting it at bag check.

I'm not sure I like the idea of enjoying a party while still in my running gear.

We're hoping to stay at BWV but would be happy with AKV too. (provided they're still on the host list.....)

Yes, there will be bag check. It is a little different than the bag check at the Princess or Marathon Weekend, though.

For the Wine & Dine, you will bring your bag with you on the bus when you go to the ESPN WWoS and check it prior to getting into your corral. It is taken and sorted by the first letter of your last name and your bib number (like all other races) and put onto rolling carts, similar to what they transport linens in around the hotels. They then put these carts onto U-haul moving trucks and take them over to the finish area. Where the carts are unloaded and the bags are organized and sorted ready for you to pick up after the race.

If this year is like last year, bag check will be outside of Epcot. If you are going to the after party, you need to enter Epcot through the main gates and through security. Long lines, crowded cramped spaces and lots of folks smelling like they had just run a half marathon wasn't pleasant moments after crossing the finish line.

 

[bigtony777]

Do they have bag check like at all the other races? I anticipate taking a change of clothes/warmer stuff and putting it at bag check.

I'm not sure I like the idea of enjoying a party while still in my running gear.

We're hoping to stay at BWV but would be happy with AKV too. (provided they're still on the host list.....)

Yes, there is bag check. I recommend taking a washcloth and hand towel to clean up in the bathroom after the race. I have a change of clothes for the party and a sling back pack in my checked bag to carry everything around.

 

[jeanigor]

Yes, there is bag check. I recommend taking a washcloth and hand towel to clean up in the bathroom after the race. I have a change of clothes for the party and a sling back pack in my checked bag to carry everything around.

I try to pack baby wipes or wet ones in my check bag. It adds to the 'little bit fresher than Disney sink water' feeling.

 

[capeseal]

We are hoping to stay at Yacht Club if some standard rooms open up or we'll book at Boardwalk. It worked out really well for us to stumble back to YC after ToT so I figure it will be about the same level of difficulty to run another 3 miles and make the slightly shorter walk back to YC after . Hoping that running after more than a month's training (had a herniated disc that made training for ToT impossible until 4 weeks before) will mean I have more energy to enjoy the after-party as well.

 

[Skpnw]

I am planning on running the W&D half as well. I ran the Tink half back in January and would like to get the C2C medal.

I probably will have to stay at one of the value host resorts - unless one of the moderate host resort prices is manageable. But I don't see that happening.

I will not be able to purchase a package (tickets, dining plan, etc) as one of my friends will be joining me but she arrives a day after me and will not be visiting any of the parks.

Can I buy discounted tickets thru rundisney or should I go thru Undercover Tourist for the best deal?

Are the rundisney hotel prices much better than booking directly thru disney.com?

thanks!

 

[MoonFaerie]

I'm still debating, but I'm pretty sure I'm in for Wine & Dine. After all the $$$ I dropped on my Princess Half trip, I still need to figure out how to afford it.

 

[jeanigor]

I am planning on running the W&D half as well. I ran the Tink half back in January and would like to get the C2C medal.

I probably will have to stay at one of the value host resorts - unless one of the moderate host resort prices is manageable. But I don't see that happening.

I will not be able to purchase a package (tickets, dining plan, etc) as one of my friends will be joining me but she arrives a day after me and will not be visiting any of the parks.

Can I buy discounted tickets thru rundisney or should I go thru Undercover Tourist for the best deal?

Are the rundisney hotel prices much better than booking directly thru disney.com?

thanks!

RunDisney usually offers event tickets, which have a discounted price that is a better deal than an online ticket retailer such as Undercover Tourist (thumbs up to them though, I've got tickets from them for normal trips a bunch). Couple of things to note about the tickets though: 1) They are not upgradable. What you buy is what you get. You can't add days on later or something like that. 2) They are only valid one week on either side of the event.

As far as lodging goes, I am still a fan of using a travel agent to get the best possible deal (if you aren't a DVC member or are not comfortable renting points)

 

[cimrk01]

Just ran the Princess over the weekend and I'm already itching to do another Disney event. Several questions...

How large is this event compared to the Princess?

Should I be worried with the lack of basic running etiquette with this crowd? (ie: running more than two abreast, stopping abruptly without going to the side/raising arm/looking back etc.,)

What is the earliest spectators in your party who will be attending the after hours Finish Line Party can be allowed into Epcot?

No Race retreat/cheer squad package or assigned cheer spots along the course, correct?

A list of the characters on course and at what mile markers (understand they might or might not change it up)

Lastly, does anyone know of a list of what corral one can potentially get into with a 10k of 1:06? Understand the corral cut off placement can shift year to year depending on the volume. Just trying to roughly estimate where I might fall into if I stuck with that number and didn't register for another 10k prior to the race.

 

[PlutoBaby]

Just ran the Princess over the weekend and I'm already itching to do another Disney event. Several questions...

How large is this event compared to the Princess?

Should I be worried with the lack of basic running etiquette with this crowd? (ie: running more than two abreast, stopping abruptly without going to the side/raising arm/looking back etc.,)

What is the earliest spectators in your party who will be attending the after hours Finish Line Party can be allowed into Epcot?

No Race retreat/cheer squad package or assigned cheer spots along the course, correct?

A list of the characters on course and at what mile markers (understand they might or might not change it up)

Lastly, does anyone know of a list of what corral one can potentially get into with a 10k of 1:06? Understand the corral cut off placement can shift year to year depending on the volume. Just trying to roughly estimate where I might fall into if I stuck with that number and didn't register for another 10k prior to the race.

Let me see what I can do to answer these and if I'm way off on anything, everyone else jump in here.

Last year's race registered 14,500 runners and I believe something like 12,000 actually finished. I have no idea how many started the race though.

As far as the race etiquette goes- I think the further back you start makes a difference. I didn't have a proof of time so I started in the last corral, thinking it wouldn't make a difference. But I think that because I had so many walkers around me, it may have a made a difference as I ended up actually running an extra mile (according to my Nike+) zig-zagging through everyone for the majority of the race. Once I got to DHS , the crowd around me had thinned out alot, and I was able to pick up my pace until the sidewalk that takes you to Epcot. It's such a small area, unless you're Speedy Gonzalez and in the very front, you'd run into a crowd regardless. I really didn't have a problem with sudden stoppers or arms being thrown around. The couple of times that happened, I had plenty of opporunity to go around them. For the most part, everybody is super nice and just there to have a great time!

I don't believe there were any designated cheer areas other than at the finish, but somehow people managed to find their way all over the course to cheer everyone on. I think some of the best groups was the Lululemon peeps as you ran into DHS. They had the BEST signs!

As far as characters go, you get who you get, when you get them. The only one for sure seemed to be Pluto who was in his usual spot that he's always in at AK during the day. And I think the Darth Vader in front of Star Tours is a customary standby.

I'm going to guess with a 2-2.5 hour estimated finish time, maybe corral b-c? Opinions anyone??

Hope this helps some!

 

[jeanigor]

Just ran the Princess over the weekend and I'm already itching to do another Disney event. Several questions...

How large is this event compared to the Princess?

Should I be worried with the lack of basic running etiquette with this crowd? (ie: running more than two abreast, stopping abruptly without going to the side/raising arm/looking back etc.,)

What is the earliest spectators in your party who will be attending the after hours Finish Line Party can be allowed into Epcot?

No Race retreat/cheer squad package or assigned cheer spots along the course, correct?

A list of the characters on course and at what mile markers (understand they might or might not change it up)

Lastly, does anyone know of a list of what corral one can potentially get into with a 10k of 1:06? Understand the corral cut off placement can shift year to year depending on the volume. Just trying to roughly estimate where I might fall into if I stuck with that number and didn't register for another 10k prior to the race.

1) Guessing between 14K & 16K runners this year for 2013 the Wine & Dine Half.

2) This isn't going to be politically correct, but the Princess and the Tinkerbell have the largest amount of runners who lack etiquette, in my opinion. Most of this is based on the draw and appeal for new participants, which is great, but disrespectful to other racers.

3) I believe entrance into the after party is listed as 10:30pm. But last year they let people in at 7pm? Sort of how they let party goers in early for a Halloween Party at MK.

4) Due to safety concerns with the night race, runDisney doesn't officially condone on course cheering. However, that said, spectators are usually found:
-on the bridge/overpass near the McDonalds on Osceola Parkway (by All Stars)
-around the entrance to Hollywood Studios all the way up until where the course goes along the water
-along the land side of course from where the course comes out from under the bridge by the Boardwalk, by the Dolphin, by the Yacht and Beach Clubs all the way up until International Gateway, where the course goes back stage

5) Characters are not at Mile Markers as they are with other races, they are a little more spread out to be convenient.

6) Not sure. If you enter the fastest time without proof, that usually puts you in the middle of the field. If your proof of time is better than that, then it will move you up.