Official 2016 Princess Half Marathon Thread

[Dis_Yoda]

Ok, I know that this year's the Princess is Ariel fir PHM weekend, but would it be horrifying if DS and I stuck with Cindy and Charming? My son went out on purpose to start gathering his costume for whomever he could come up with and ended with Charming. This was before we knew the theme and Princess for PHM weekend.

There is nothing wrong with that!

My husband is going to be Rapunzel.

I may do Pascal just for the photo ops.

 

[disneydaydreamer33]

Went on my second snowy run of the season and boy was there a huge difference between the two! The first one was a calm, pretty snow. My baseball cap and sunglasses kept the snow out of my face, and my Asics running jacket kept me dry. The scariest part of it was there were a couple of slippery spots where the snow was starting to accumulate. I realized that running in the bike lane against traffic was much grippier (not sure if that is word haha). This run started colder and much windier. I decided to go with a ski hat rather than a baseball cap for warmth (and I didn't think about sunglasses this time since it was so gray out). It didn't start to snow until mile 3 (ironically enough right when Nelly's "Hot in Herre" came on ), but I was running against the wind and the snow felt like it was stabbing me in the eye! I looked absolutely crazy to the drivers going past as I was trying to shield my eyes from these little pin pricks! Anyway, lesson learned that if there is a chance of snow I need eye protection!

Happy Monday everyone! Crazy to think Thanksgiving and all of the holidays are almost upon us!

 

[pixarmom]

Ok, I know that this year's the Princess is Ariel fir PHM weekend, but would it be horrifying if DS and I stuck with Cindy and Charming? My son went out on purpose to start gathering his costume for whomever he could come up with and ended with Charming. This was before we knew the theme and Princess for PHM weekend.

Our boys love run costumes, but I'm not generally a princess fan. We run the PHM only because it's at a good time of year for us to travel. So for the 10K, we're haunted mansion ghost host-themed (I'm a hostess, I guess.) So I'd say Cindy and Charming are far more in theme than we will be!

I usually go with "an inspired by" running outfit, not really a costume. When the Ariel theme became apparent, our oldest was up for a Sebastian hat while running the PHM. I guess that makes me Ariel, so I'm going with a green sparkle skirt and plain purple tank - thanks to my very favorite etsy seller - along with a green sparkly soul headband. (Not sure if I'm allowed to post her shop here, but it's amazing!!!)

 

[DVCFan1994]

So just a follow-up - I asked here if anyone had heard of a special packet pick-up process offered by rD aside from the normal expo. I had received an invitation to participate in an expedited process for Avengers weekend which could have also included pre-opening shopping, but I was not at DL in time to participate in the shopping. @Ariel484 pointed me to the Wine and Dine offer for a welcome reception priced at $199. All I can say is wow to that price.

I did participate in the expedited pick-up and it was super easy. I had asked rD if I could pick-up my kids and Dhs stuff as well, and they said yes, and sent my husband a separate invite, since adults all need to show ID. We arrived to a ballroom at DL hotel, and it was empty except for volunteers, so it felt kind of strange. They checked our ids then gave us a lanyard with a vip type card attached, which was odd because it just gave us access to the room we were in We then showed that and our ID to volunteers manning the packets. They gave us our bags with shirts, bag check sticker and bibs. They also had my Coast to Coast wristband and then I had my picture taken for the Gauntlet Challenge. They also gave each of us rD rolling duffel bags. I felt very weird taking all of those - but I did There was a variety of food, typical snacks and desert items as well as various drinks. We each had a quick snack, and then DH and DS brought the duffels back to the hotel, while DD and I went down to the actual expo where I had to pick up my park tickets from GetSports as well as a preorder shirt from RawThreads. I did not buy any official merchandise, the only items I wanted were all gone, so I guess it would have been nice to have access to that pre-shopping.

As for value, while that is hard to quantify, I would say I wouldn't pay much for this. The packet pick-up took literally 2 minutes and we were done, so it was a big time saver. Everything was in one place, so no going to one place for my 5k stuff, another for my IGC stuff, then onto another place for shirts. But, that part has never been a huge deal to me at PHM weekend either. Yes it takes some time, but I've never run into long lines. The snacks were nice, but we were under an hour from dinner, so I was more restraining the kids from eating too much than anything else. The duffels are good, but I wouldn't do this just to get another one.

I will be getting a follow-up survey, and my feedback will be I appreciated the chance to do this, but I can't see paying much for it.

 

[Ariel484]

I will be getting a follow-up survey, and my feedback will be I appreciated the chance to do this, but I can't see paying much for it.

THANK YOU for this (and for your review). I think that them having this for free for a select few was their way of having a captive audience that will help them price such an event for future race weekends, because as far as I saw, the Wine & Dine event did not sell well for them. I have been vocal elsewhere in saying that I HATE that this could possibly be the new norm for runDisney - early expo access in exchange for what I feel was an insane fee. I found the whole thing with W&D kind of gross, to be honest.

Reminds me of the Runner's World Challenge they have with Dopey - part of the fee includes something like this (private packet pick-up and whatnot), but it also used to include automatic entry into an early corral (B, if I recall correctly). People can do what they want with their own money, of course, but it makes runDisney look incredibly greedy to me.

Having said all of that...if they sent me an email to do this for Princess weekend for free, you can bet your tiara I'd be all over it.

 

[DVCFan1994]

THANK YOU for this (and for your review). I think that them having this for free for a select few was their way of having a captive audience that will help them price such an event for future race weekends, because as far as I saw, the Wine & Dine event did not sell well for them. I have been vocal elsewhere in saying that I HATE that this could possibly be the new norm for runDisney - early expo access in exchange for what I feel was an insane fee. I found the whole thing with W&D kind of gross, to be honest.

Reminds me of the Runner's World Challenge they have with Dopey - part of the fee includes something like this (private packet pick-up and whatnot), but it also used to include automatic entry into an early corral (B, if I recall correctly). People can do what they want with their own money, of course, but it makes runDisney look incredibly greedy to me.

Having said all of that...if they sent me an email to do this for Princess weekend for free, you can bet your tiara I'd be all over it.

I totally agree about the greed factor. I have always thought the RW challenge price seemed greedy, and I didn't know about the early corral entry. The $199 price for the W&D reception seems insane. I love Disney (Obviously) but I really am starting to feel nickeled and dimed everywhere. This is the first year in 20 I will not have a WDW annual pass. This sounds totally ridiculous, but part of the reason I took those four duffel bags was to recoup some "losses" so to speak. My husband thought I was nuts

But I agree, if asked again for free, of course I'd participate. Outside of that, I might pay a very small amount for myself because I am doing the 5k and GSC again, and it was a timesaver with avoiding the separate packet and t-shirt pick-ups, but only if it also included the early shopping and I knew I could take part in it. It does stink to have merchandise I wanted sold out before I get there.

 

[Ariel484]

I totally agree about the greed factor. I have always thought the RW challenge price seemed greedy, and I didn't know about the early corral entry. The $199 price for the W&D reception seems insane. I love Disney (Obviously) but I really am starting to feel nickeled and dimed everywhere. This is the first year in 20 I will not have a WDW annual pass. This sounds totally ridiculous, but part of the reason I took those four duffel bags was to recoup some "losses" so to speak. My husband thought I was nuts

But I agree, if asked again for free, of course I'd participate. Outside of that, I might pay a very small amount for myself because I am doing the 5k and GSC again, and it was a timesaver with avoiding the separate packet and t-shirt pick-ups, but only if it also included the early shopping and I knew I could take part in it. It does stink to have merchandise I wanted sold out before I get there.

I agree that they are starting to nickel and dime a bit. I never really had an issue with them having the pasta dinners and post-race breakfasts and whatnot - that was people paying for extra things, so yeah, whatever. The preferred packet pick-up doesn't bug me, because we'll all get our packets eventually, and for the most part the RW Challenge thing doesn't bug me either - that makes more sense to me because people are paying for the coaching as well.

Paying for the early access to the merchandise and the preferred corral placement (which, again, I think the early corral thing isn't done anymore...thankfully) is what doesn't sit well with me. It's already hard enough to get the merchandise, and they are taking a look at that and finding a way to make money from it. I feel like I can't adequately put it into words...I just don't like it.

 

[nevamichelle]

I haven't posted in a long while, but I just recently booked the hotel at Pop and our flights are good to go so I'm getting really excited now! If anyone is still looking for a good deal on flights, I found some awesome ones for $158 each on Southwest (plus they let your first two bags fly free). Is there anyone else on this thread running with Children's Miracle Network?

I also had another question. I can't decide who to dress as for the 10k... I'm going as Merida for the Half, but couldn't decide between Ariel and Jesse from Toy Story for the 10k. Do most people dress as a princess for the races, or do you see a lot of other Disney characters that aren't related to princesses? Just curious as to what yall plan on doing for costumes as well

 

[pclvnmcky88]

I haven't quite decided what my outfit for the 10k and Half will be yet, but for Wine & Dine my husband and I went as Buzz and Jessie. I got a Jessie themed sparkle skirt and painted a white running top. I also bought a mini red cowboy hat from party city and hot glued it to a headband. I think you can go as anything you want. I'm going as Donald Duck (my favorite character) for the WDW Half. Ariel is my favorite princess, so since this is her year I will probably do something with that. I'm running for Team TAPS for this weekend

 

[Luv2Run]

I haven't posted in a long while, but I just recently booked the hotel at Pop and our flights are good to go so I'm getting really excited now! If anyone is still looking for a good deal on flights, I found some awesome ones for $158 each on Southwest (plus they let your first two bags fly free). Is there anyone else on this thread running with Children's Miracle Network?

I also had another question. I can't decide who to dress as for the 10k... I'm going as Merida for the Half, but couldn't decide between Ariel and Jesse from Toy Story for the 10k. Do most people dress as a princess for the races, or do you see a lot of other Disney characters that aren't related to princesses? Just curious as to what yall plan on doing for costumes as well

I have seen anything and everything when it comes to costumes for the races, not just princesses. I've seen villains, Pixar, animals, etc. For instance, my second year running the PHM (2013) my friends dressed up as Marlin & Dorie from Finding Nemo. The year before that, my friend was the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland. The year before that, she and her husband were the Princess and the Frog (he was the Princess, she was the Frog).

That being said, don't be afraid to get creative! Variety is the spice of life!

 

[DVCFan1994]

I haven't posted in a long while, but I just recently booked the hotel at Pop and our flights are good to go so I'm getting really excited now! If anyone is still looking for a good deal on flights, I found some awesome ones for $158 each on Southwest (plus they let your first two bags fly free). Is there anyone else on this thread running with Children's Miracle Network?

I also had another question. I can't decide who to dress as for the 10k... I'm going as Merida for the Half, but couldn't decide between Ariel and Jesse from Toy Story for the 10k. Do most people dress as a princess for the races, or do you see a lot of other Disney characters that aren't related to princesses? Just curious as to what yall plan on doing for costumes as well

I will echo others that say, although it is Princess weekend, the costumes range from full on Princess ballgown to costumes that aren't even Disney inspired. And plenty of people go with no costume at all. I still can't decide on my costumes. I do running apparel that is more character inspired. Doing the 5k with DD7 and my mother, DD wants to go as Ariel, and my mom and I as Flounder and Sebastian. Haven't decided on that yet though. 10k or the half I may reuse my 2014 Ariel outfit for myself, my sister will likely go as Ursula, as she has the chest to pul it off Third costume is up in the air, but recently I have been thinking of Maybe Daisy and Minnie for my sister and I?

 

[HockeyMomNH]

My mom and DD16 are doing the 5K with me this year. DD wants to do Lion King inspired costumes. I'm doing Minnie for the 10K and Belle for the half.

 

[Dis5150]

I'm sure it's on here somewhere but I have been searching and can't find it. Can anyone give me a link to the Princess Half course?

 

[Ariel484]

These are what the courses have been the past few years. Very unlikely they will change it but it's not 100% certain...

5K/10K:

Half:

 

[Dis5150]

@Ariel484 Thanks!

 

[srauseo]

I am caving to mother nature and the solar system and joining the gym today. I just can't get in my weekday runs with so little daylight without being late to work or leaving early. Plus it's getting to be pretty cold. I'm hoping I can still get outside for long runs on the weekends and vacation days. I am doing a Turkey Trot 10k with my sister.

 

[disneydaydreamer33]

Good luck with your gym time @srauseo May all of your gym TVs not be constantly turned to Fox News like mine is!

 

[joan4mickey]

Good luck with your gym time @srauseo May all of your gym TVs not be constantly turned to Fox News like mine is!

That's odd....I thought ALL gym TV only had ESPN channels

 

[disneydaydreamer33]

I guess I go at a time with a very specific set of people @joan4mickey !!

 

[Ariel484]

FYI: RawThreads is having a pre-Black Friday sale. Use code ELF for 35% off.