Official Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend - The Dark Side 2017

MyFavEeyore · Oct 24, 2016

Tasmen said:
Yes! I was so happy I could book California Grill for brunch after the half. Time for some fancy lady brunching after some fancy lady running!

Wow! I had no idea breakfast after the half was a thing to do. After the half for SWDS I plan to be passed out/recovering. We don't even plan on going into the park until the next day. From our group I'm the only one running 5k, 10k, and Half, but now I'm thinking we should take a second look at our initial plan. I also didn't take into consideration that after the half (Sunday) is when runners wear their medals from all weekend. I wouldn't want to take that special moment away from my DS who is running the Challenge with me and is leaving the next day (Monday).

WhereInFlorida · Oct 24, 2016

Tigerlulu said:
So my question then is what's a reasonable time for the adr? 8:30? 8:00? So hard to figure out but being right at Epcot anyway should help, right?

Depends on your pace and starting corral. You can search the starting corrals for last year's race to give an idea which one you will start in and the time you will cross the starting line. I would give an hour after finishing to get to anywhere in EPCOT for an ADR + 30 more minutes if you have to get on Monorail.

Tigerlulu · Oct 24, 2016

Thank you! I will do that!

Tasmen · Oct 24, 2016

MyFavEeyore said:
Wow! I had no idea breakfast after the half was a thing to do. After the half for SWDS I plan to be passed out/recovering. We don't even plan on going into the park until the next day. From our group I'm the only one running 5k, 10k, and Half, but now I'm thinking we should take a second look at our initial plan. I also didn't take into consideration that after the half (Sunday) is when runners wear their medals from all weekend. I wouldn't want to take that special moment away from my DS who is running the Challenge with me and is leaving the next day (Monday).

Well to be fair, our reservation is noon so it's not quite breakfast at that time

I've found that after a good run, my recovery is easier if I keep moving throughout the day. I had initially thought I'd also laze about the day of the half at the pool or in the hotel room but then decided moving around and, as you said, showing off the bling was more in order.

Chaitali · Oct 24, 2016

The California Grill brunch was the one thing I absolutely wanted to do on this trip and just reserved it for after the half

I have it reserved for 11am. I'm figuring if the race starts at 5, if I start around 6-ish, finish by 9 at the latest, that should be plenty of time to get to brunch in time. Worse come to worse, I'll make my husband pack a dress and shower pill for me in his back pack so we can just uber to the restaurant. But obviously, I'd rather go back to the hotel room and shower first. Does that seem like a reasonable time line to people?

Also, has anyone stayed at Saratoga Springs for a race? I assume the race transportation only makes one stop at the resort. Does anyone know where that one stop is? I would probably want to try to request a location near that stop.

Tasmen · Oct 24, 2016

Chaitali said:
The California Grill brunch was the one thing I absolutely wanted to do on this trip and just reserved it for after the half I have it reserved for 11am. I'm figuring if the race starts at 5, if I start around 6-ish, finish by 9 at the latest, that should be plenty of time to get to brunch in time. Worse come to worse, I'll make my husband pack a dress and shower pill for me in his back pack so we can just uber to the restaurant. But obviously, I'd rather go back to the hotel room and shower first. Does that seem like a reasonable time line to people?

I went back and forth on what time to reserve and ultimately went with noon because I didn't want to have to rush and did want that shower first. I think 11am should be ok, though, especially if you don't linger around the finish area for a while and the transportation is better than last year.

Chaitali · Oct 24, 2016

Tasmen said:
I went back and forth on what time to reserve and ultimately went with noon because I didn't want to have to rush and did want that shower first. I think 11am should be ok, though, especially if you don't linger around the finish area for a while and the transportation is better than last year.

Thanks, that makes sense. I don't plan to linger after the race since my husband will be waiting for me and I'm sure he'll want to move on with our day. Fingers crossed on the transportation being better than last year

Tigerlulu · Oct 24, 2016

MyFavEeyore said:
Wow! I had no idea breakfast after the half was a thing to do. After the half for SWDS I plan to be passed out/recovering. We don't even plan on going into the park until the next day. From our group I'm the only one running 5k, 10k, and Half, but now I'm thinking we should take a second look at our initial plan. I also didn't take into consideration that after the half (Sunday) is when runners wear their medals from all weekend. I wouldn't want to take that special moment away from my DS who is running the Challenge with me and is leaving the next day (Monday).

When I run 5 or more miles I am starving afterwards. So I want food! The sooner the better. Buffet sounds like an excellent plan. I just can't decide which one to do! We decided not to do the half so we won't be so worn out. We have kids who will be there with their marching band so we will want to meet up with them and play all afternoon. Plus there's always the chance that ends up being marching day so I don't want to be wiped out for them.
Anyway, I can't decide which breakfast is the best, balanced with convenience. I figure Epcot or Epcot resort area is best, with MK or HS second. I just need to make a decision.
Because then there is always the thought that we could just wait and snack around the world. Or just do both. Lol

Tasmen · Oct 25, 2016

Tigerlulu said:
When I run 5 or more miles I am starving afterwards. So I want food! The sooner the better. Buffet sounds like an excellent plan. I just can't decide which one to do! We decided not to do the half so we won't be so worn out. We have kids who will be there with their marching band so we will want to meet up with them and play all afternoon. Plus there's always the chance that ends up being marching day so I don't want to be wiped out for them.
Anyway, I can't decide which breakfast is the best, balanced with convenience. I figure Epcot or Epcot resort area is best, with MK or HS second. I just need to make a decision.
Because then there is always the thought that we could just wait and snack around the world. Or just do both. Lol

I would say do both. If ever there was a time to eat all the things....

Tigerlulu · Oct 25, 2016

Tasmen said:
I would say do both. If ever there was a time to eat all the things....

I think I might! :teeth:

LSLS · Oct 26, 2016

I'm surprised this isn't sold out. When I did the half last year (Marathon weekend), I had to get on quickly because it sold out in hours. I wonder if has anything to do with the bad reviews I read from last year and the fact they haven't shown a map of the actual course yet.

camaker · Oct 26, 2016

LSLS said:
I'm surprised this isn't sold out. When I did the half last year (Marathon weekend), I had to get on quickly because it sold out in hours. I wonder if has anything to do with the bad reviews I read from last year and the fact they haven't shown a map of the actual course yet.

I think there are probably a lot of factors in play in the lack of a sell-out at this point:

> Last year was an inaugural and interest is always higher for them
> The negative reviews certainly do not help the situation and may be deterring some folks
> The running craze seems to be fading a bit, resulting in a smaller pool of interest, especially in combination with the large number of “cookie cutter” events that runDisney now has. Taking longer to sell out has been a phenomenon with just about every other runDisney race now, barring Wine & Dine (which could almost be considered an inaugural this year)
> Dark Side falls into a very busy time of the racing year when there are a lot of local races available much cheaper with those races also offering more attractive swag, in some cases.

I don’t, however, think that the lack of a course is making a significant difference, though. They’ve already announced different starting and ending locations for those that might be concerned about a repeat of last year. It’s also pretty standard for runDisney to release the actual courses much closer to race day than registration day.

LSLS · Oct 26, 2016

I pretty much agree with everything you wrote. I don't want it to sound like I think the course is a major issue or anything, just wondering if it might contribute on top of the issues you laid out. I know when I signed up for my first I went through the course a lot. That said, not having it wouldn't have stopped me either.

camaker · Oct 26, 2016

LSLS said:
I pretty much agree with everything you wrote. I don't want it to sound like I think the course is a major issue or anything, just wondering if it might contribute on top of the issues you laid out. I know when I signed up for my first I went through the course a lot. That said, not having it wouldn't have stopped me either.

I was just trying to remove the course availability variable from the rate of sell out based on historical experience. When the first Dark Side sold out quickly the courses were an unknown. When this year's Wine & Dine sold out quickly the courses were unknown. Established races such as WDWMW and DLH with (relatively) static courses have been experiencing the slowdown in sales as well.

courtneybeth · Oct 26, 2016

LSLS said:
I'm surprised this isn't sold out. When I did the half last year (Marathon weekend), I had to get on quickly because it sold out in hours. I wonder if has anything to do with the bad reviews I read from last year and the fact they haven't shown a map of the actual course yet.

Many people are fatigued on Disney races due to cost as well - something that has been discussed in other threads over the past few months.

We're holding out on signing up until it gets closer and they release a medal or two to sweeten the deal. Right now I can't pay for 2 $200 race registrations and a one-night room reservation until after Christmas.

Ariel484 · Oct 26, 2016

This may be an unpopular thing to say in the Star Wars thread...but I don't think they need 2 Star Wars races. They have other IPs they could draw from for more variety.

Please don't throw things at me... :duck:

rteetz · Oct 26, 2016

Ariel484 said:
This may be an unpopular thing to say in the Star Wars thread...but I don't think they need 2 Star Wars races. They have other IPs they could draw from for more variety.

Please don't throw things at me...

While true every IP only draws a certain amount. Star Wars is the largest IP in the universe though. If they are going to do two weekends with the same IP Star Wars is the one to do it too.

I will also say that I think with every race weekend after the inaugural the frenzy has died down a bit. Sure they could change one of the Star Wars races to a Pixar theme for example. The inaugural year will sell out no problem, then the following year it will struggle to sell out. Look at avengers, light side, even WDW marathon weekend doesn't seem to have the frenzy it did two years ago.

Chasing Dopey · Oct 26, 2016

Ariel484 said:
This may be an unpopular thing to say in the Star Wars thread...but I don't think they need 2 Star Wars races. They have other IPs they could draw from for more variety.

Please don't throw things at me...

WITCH!!!

No, I get that. It seems a bit much. But it is a big draw for grown ups, so I think they are trying to give as many people a chance as possible to partake by putting it on both coasts. @rteetz is right about Marathon Weekend. Dopey, Goofy, the Full AND the half are all for sale right now! Now that's odd. I wonder if we're overthinking it, and the cost crossed a threshold.

rteetz · Oct 26, 2016

Chasing Dopey said:
WITCH!!!

No, I get that. It seems a bit much. But it is a big draw for grown ups, so I think they are trying to give as many people a chance as possible to partake by putting it on both coasts. @rteetz is right about Marathon Weekend. Dopey, Goofy, the Full AND the half are all for sale right now! Now that's odd. I wonder if we're overthinking it, and the cost crossed a threshold.

Wait the half is back on sale? They must've given up some goofy spots or something.

rteetz · Oct 26, 2016

Chasing Dopey said:
WITCH!!!

No, I get that. It seems a bit much. But it is a big draw for grown ups, so I think they are trying to give as many people a chance as possible to partake by putting it on both coasts. @rteetz is right about Marathon Weekend. Dopey, Goofy, the Full AND the half are all for sale right now! Now that's odd. I wonder if we're overthinking it, and the cost crossed a threshold.

rteetz said:
Wait the half is back on sale? They must've given up some goofy spots or something.

Just looked. It's only open for the race director challenge which means you need a password to register. It's not open to the public.

Official Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend - The Dark Side 2017

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