Official Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend 2016 Thread (Jan. 14-17, 2016)

[FFigawi]

I have a few questions from today's registration:

1. did anyone see a question on the form about entering Coast to Coast challenge? Are they no longer asking that on race registrations and figuring it out automatically? I didn't see it on the form.

I think they stopped asking for this information a while ago and are just doing it automatically.

2. was anyone able to order the kids' races ears? or are those only available for people who register their kids for a race? when I click on the runDisney link for commemorative items, it takes me to my registration page that shows several items but not the mouse ears. there is a bundle for a hat, tumbler, and magnet, but not clear if those are the mouse ears. was anyone able to order it?

I can't help with this as I don't have kids or order the race items. I save my shopping, such as it is, for the expo.

3. when and how does legacy status kick in for runDisney races? does that occur after a race has been around 5 years? how does runDisney know you're a legacy runner for a race? what are the usual perks for legacy runners? (e.g. early registration? separate ribbons on the medals? etc.)

They keep track of that themselves. Typically, legacy recognition is for people who are perfect in a race, i.e. they've finished the race every year since the beginning. You can read in the marathon weekend race program, for example, the names of the people who are perfectly Mickey or Goofy. In addition, rD will recognize the "perfectly whatever race" people with different bib designs, special lanyards, etc.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Has anyone seen that "check and see if I'm registered" link? Thanks

Wondering about this too...

 

[LadyDi13]

Does anyone know which "select Disneyland Anaheim area hotels" provide race transportation? Or at least where I can find that information out? My husband travels for work and we would like to use rewards to stay at one of the Hilton brand hotels but would like to not have to worry about how we will get to the start or back from the finish.

 

[rapunzel35]

This will be our (DS11 and me) first trip to Disneyland. We are leaving the rest of the family behind and having a mother/son race and trip! We have been to Disney World lots of times and are experts at touring there and getting everything done. Can anyone give any touring tips for Disneyland/California Adventure? How many days does it typically take to see everything? Do race weekends draw larger than usual crowds? We were in Disney World for the Princess in February and I found the crowds to be the same as usual.

 

[stephm0188]

I saw the option for the kids mouse ears when I registered my son for the kids race but didn't order them.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

Does anyone know which "select Disneyland Anaheim area hotels" provide race transportation? Or at least where I can find that information out? My husband travels for work and we would like to use rewards to stay at one of the Hilton brand hotels but would like to not have to worry about how we will get to the start or back from the finish.

Any of the Anaheim Resort Transit buses will take you to the bus loop on the east side of the Esplanade. To get to the start from there, you walk west past the park entrance then through Downtown Disney.

I stayed at the Hilton next to the convention centre for Tink in January 2014. It was an easy walk to the start (although the SW start will be a bit farther away than the Tink start). In either case, walking is generally faster from that Hilton than taking the ART bus. If you stroll, it will take 15-20 minutes.
Have a great race. -- Suzanne

 

[LadyDi13]

Any of the Anaheim Resort Transit buses will take you to the bus loop on the east side of the Esplanade. To get to the start from there, you walk west past the park entrance then through Downtown Disney.

I stayed at the Hilton next to the convention centre for Tink in January 2014. It was an easy walk to the start (although the SW start will be a bit farther away than the Tink start). In either case, walking is generally faster from that Hilton than taking the ART bus. If you stroll, it will take 15-20 minutes.
Have a great race. -- Suzanne

Thanks!! We stayed at the Hampton Inn last year during spring break with our kids and the walk back after a day of parking seemed ridiculously long. We were looking at the Hilton at the convention center which is at least a half mile closer than the Hampton Inn is. We are used to doing runDisney events at WDW so a 15-20 minute stroll to the start doesn't sound too bad compared to waiting for a bus, then walking to the pre-race area, then walking out to the corrals.
Thanks again!

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

This will be our (DS11 and me) first trip to Disneyland. We are leaving the rest of the family behind and having a mother/son race and trip! We have been to Disney World lots of times and are experts at touring there and getting everything done. Can anyone give any touring tips for Disneyland/California Adventure? How many days does it typically take to see everything? Do race weekends draw larger than usual crowds? We were in Disney World for the Princess in February and I found the crowds to be the same as usual.

I haven't been to DL since... maybe... 1999, so I can't help with too many of your questions. BUT, I did look at UG's crowd calendar and found the following levels forecast as of now (which match their actuals from last year):

Thu Jan 14: 3
Fri Jan 15: 5
Sat Jan 16: 8
Sun Jan 17: 9
Mon Jan 18: 6​

 

[kirstie101]

I have a few questions from today's registration:


2. was anyone able to order the kids' races ears? or are those only available for people who register their kids for a race? when I click on the runDisney link for commemorative items, it takes me to my registration page that shows several items but not the mouse ears. there is a bundle for a hat, tumbler, and magnet, but not clear if those are the mouse ears. was anyone able to order it?


Thanks in advance!

When I registered DD for the kids race during AP reg it gave me the option to order the kids race ears then.

Does anyone know which "select Disneyland Anaheim area hotels" provide race transportation? Or at least where I can find that information out? My husband travels for work and we would like to use rewards to stay at one of the Hilton brand hotels but would like to not have to worry about how we will get to the start or back from the finish.

http://as1.wdpromedia.com/media/rundisney/pdf/tinkerbell/2014/Tink14_prgm.pdf
Heres a link to the Tink 2014 program (sorry I don't have Star Wars saved) page 36 has a list of the hotels. Like PP said its the normal ART bus but its free for race participants the entire weekend and it will run early on race mornings.

 

[kirstie101]

This will be our (DS11 and me) first trip to Disneyland. We are leaving the rest of the family behind and having a mother/son race and trip! We have been to Disney World lots of times and are experts at touring there and getting everything done. Can anyone give any touring tips for Disneyland/California Adventure? How many days does it typically take to see everything? Do race weekends draw larger than usual crowds? We were in Disney World for the Princess in February and I found the crowds to be the same as usual.

Opinions will vary of course. I think at a minimum you need one day for each park. If you can do more than that I'd definitely recommend a third. I'd also recommend park hoppers so you can maximize your time. It depends really on what you want to see. If you want to see shows and attractions or if you're just doing rides. Crowds are usually heavier for race weekends, but manageable. This is a 3 day weekend so there will be additional crowds due to that. I find the crowds build Thursday -Sunday. I've heard Monday they lighten up but like many folks I'm traveling home by then so I can't really comment. Even with the additional crowds I've always been able to see and do what we wanted to. We were just in the parks last week and it was just as crowded as Star Wars weekend was really. We were in the parks 4 days and we rode all the rides we wanted and saw most attractions/shows we wanted to see. Use fastpass when you can.

 

[Dis_Yoda]

I haven't been to DL since... maybe... 1999, so I can't help with too many of your questions. BUT, I did look at UG's crowd calendar and found the following levels forecast as of now (which match their actuals from last year):

Thu Jan 14: 3
Fri Jan 15: 5
Sat Jan 16: 8
Sun Jan 17: 9
Mon Jan 18: 6​

As someone who was at the parks those days last year for this race, I would say that is pretty spot on to what it felt like in the parks.

 

[rapunzel35]

Opinions will vary of course. I think at a minimum you need one day for each park. If you can do more than that I'd definitely recommend a third. I'd also recommend park hoppers so you can maximize your time. It depends really on what you want to see. If you want to see shows and attractions or if you're just doing rides. Crowds are usually heavier for race weekends, but manageable. This is a 3 day weekend so there will be additional crowds due to that. I find the crowds build Thursday -Sunday. I've heard Monday they lighten up but like many folks I'm traveling home by then so I can't really comment. Even with the additional crowds I've always been able to see and do what we wanted to. We were just in the parks last week and it was just as crowded as Star Wars weekend was really. We were in the parks 4 days and we rode all the rides we wanted and saw most attractions/shows we wanted to see. Use fastpass when you can.

Right now planning to do parks Friday, Saturday, Sunday all day utilizing a hopper. Contemplating adding the Thursday evening too. Not sure when or if we will ever return to Disneyland (we are coming from Louisiana), so want to see as much as possible. Will probably do rides over shows first.

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[bumbershoot]

Does anyone know which "select Disneyland Anaheim area hotels" provide race transportation? Or at least where I can find that information out? My husband travels for work and we would like to use rewards to stay at one of the Hilton brand hotels but would like to not have to worry about how we will get to the start or back from the finish.

For DL Half the ART system was free (you had to pick up something from the expo). But if going with the Hilton Anaheim, just walk it. As likened to in your next post, the walk is shorter than the walk from wdw transportation to the start of races, and back again, so just walk it.

 

[huggybuff]

This will be our (DS11 and me) first trip to Disneyland. ... We have been to Disney World lots of times and are experts at touring there and getting everything done. Can anyone give any touring tips for Disneyland/California Adventure?

Here's HydroGuy's post on DLR for WDW Vets: http://www.disboards.com/threads/a-dlr-guide-for-wdw-vets.1162599/

 

[rapunzel35]

Here's HydroGuy's post on DLR for WDW Vets: http://www.disboards.com/threads/a-dlr-guide-for-wdw-vets.1162599/

WOW! Thanks! This has a lot of great info, especially about airports and transportation from them to hotels, which is info I needed!

 

[huggybuff]

WOW! Thanks! This has a lot of great info, especially about airports and transportation from them to hotels, which is info I needed!

You're welcome! Disneyland is amazing. You'll have a wonderful time.

 

[kim3339]

What bus loop?

It's the East Esplanade where the ART shuttles and Toy Story Parking lot buses drop you off/pick you up. It's b/w the crosswalk on Harbor and the parks.

 

[kirstie101]

Anyone know about when the training plan will be posted? I thought I saved them from last year but guess I didn't.

 

[kim3339]

Anyone know about when the training plan will be posted? I thought I saved them from last year but guess I didn't.

They still have last year's up if you just alter the printed dates 1. The new ones I'd guess around end of Aug/beginning Sept counting back 18-20 weeks.

How was DL? Hope not too crowded for you guys!

 

[Warm Hugs]

Just discovered this...

But for all that did not get their kids into the Star Wars kids races, Legoland in San Diego has a kids race on the same day. Looks like a better deal, especially if your kids are between 3-12. It's a one mile run where you actually run through Legoland (disney kids races you don't run through disneyland). For $25 bucks, you get your kid 3-12 a free ticket into Legoland that weekend, a finisher medal, t shirt, and 50% off two adult admission to Legoland for that weekend. Also, the $25 allows an adult to run with your child 3-12, and gets the adult a finishers medal as well.

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade I say...

http://www.carlsbadmarathon.com/Races/new_kidsmilec38c.htm