2017 Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend

[KSellers88]

Corral C for me for the Glass Slipper Challenge! I am so excited!

 

[Nessats]

Another question about AP discounts. Does only a Disney World AP work, or does Disneyland as well for the Princess weekend? I have an AP for Disneyland, but if I won't get discounts with it, I'm not going to bring it with me.

 

[Ariel484]

Another question about AP discounts. Does only a Disney World AP work, or does Disneyland as well for the Princess weekend? I have an AP for Disneyland, but if I won't get discounts with it, I'm not going to bring it with me.

Pretty sure it's WDW or Premier AP only, but can't hurt to ask!

 

[Crystalpistol]

Hello ladies (and gentlemen)! Long time reader...new commenter (hence not being able to figure out how to add a profile picture, hahahaha, yep the engineering psychologist cannot figure out the computer.
Anyways I love reading about this weekend from everyone's perspective. This is my favorite weekend...started with the half in 2013 and have run all the GSC years...slightly addicted, but it's a healthy one. I will be running solo for the second year (well kind of since I was 18 weeks pregnant last year).
I am in corral F and cannot wait to meet all you positive ladies on the course!

 

[Tinkerbelle's Mom]

she'll be with me! I have the race retreat but if she needs help in the corral or getting there I can be there for her if you'd like me to be. I'm doing this race solo. She can feel free to not start with me. or if it'll make you feel better just knowing someone is there to watch out for her in case of anything.

She doesn't have race retreat but I'll extend the offer to her. You are so sweet.

I've found at the DL races people for the most part have been wonderful. At Star Wars a dad running with his teen daughter came over and check in on her and encouraged her. I have to assume that WDW races attract similar types of people and everyone is there to have a good time.

What specifically are you interested in? I remember that the jackets were $80-$90 and most people say they run small. The I Did It Shirts were $30-$35 and I think those are pretty true-to-size. I can't remember much else (sorry, not super helpful).

If you have an AP, DVC membership or a Disney Visa, don't forget to ask about discounts. I know AP and DVC get them on the official merch but I can't remember if Disney Visa does.

Lets see, tips...bring throwaway clothes to wear before the race starts, for sure. There's about a 20-minute walk from the staging area to the corrals, which seems like a lot...but I think it's a nice way to warm up, sort of. There will be porta-potties in the staging area, but that won't be the last of them - there are also some right outside of the corrals and the lines will almost certainly be shorter there.

The course is fairly flat...we run down and then up an incline near the Contemporary resort (mile 4ish). There's an overpass near mile 10 that we run up as well. My biggest tips for the course would be to pay attention to the slope of the roads...I didn't do that for my first Princess Half and my knees were killing me by mile 10. Also be prepared for the bottle-necking, which may be a little different from Tink - running up Main Street, through the castle and the portion right after Magic Kingdom will be crowded. Approaching the Contemporary (mile 4ish) may also be crowded, as I remember we run in 1 lane of traffic there. Would a more detailed description of the course help?

This is from the marathon but the corral set-up is the same...I would expect the start times for Princess half to be similar. So she will have a bit of a wait (again, bring throwaway clothes to keep warm!) but nothing crazy.

Thanks for the tips and the estimated start times. I can track her on her phone but it's nice to let her know roughly how long of a wait she will have.

@Tinkerbell's Mom Is your daughter running alone? The corrals are at least a half mile from the staging area and you will not be allowed to go with her to them unless you are running too...it is well lit and with lots of volunteers directing. It is pretty easy to chat some one up once in the corral. Last year at the Tinkerbell, I had a nice conversation with a young lady and saw her at the end so that was pretty cool. The first corrals go off every couple of minutes, but I think (and other can help here) there is more time between corrals. And there is FIREWORKS for the start of each corral. There will be porta potties at the staging area and again need the corrals. And if you are not running be sure to move to the MK to watch her, free to go in.

She is running alone as she has done for the other 1/2s. I bought the cheer squad package so she will know where to look for me in the Magic Kingdom and at the end.

Thanks everyone for helping me be at ease! I am so excited for to take part in this and get her coast to coast. I just want her to be as safe and prepared as possible. (As well as not be an annoyance to other runners on the course, lol.)

 

[run.minnie.miles]

Hello ladies (and gentlemen)! Long time reader...new commenter (hence not being able to figure out how to add a profile picture, hahahaha, yep the engineering psychologist cannot figure out the computer.
Anyways I love reading about this weekend from everyone's perspective. This is my favorite weekend...started with the half in 2013 and have run all the GSC years...slightly addicted, but it's a healthy one. I will be running solo for the second year (well kind of since I was 18 weeks pregnant last year).
I am in corral F and cannot wait to meet all you positive ladies on the course!

Welcome to the thread! I also found the profile picture thing really irritating, but found you can't add a picture until you've posted 10x. (I think it's 10x, it's somewhere around there.)

 

[LindseyJo22]

Corral E for the half - I think that's pretty good, so hopefully I'll have time for pictures and everything

I cannot wait!!

 

[HockeyMomNH]

I'm in F too. My bib number is two numbers off from my W&D bib. I was in E for that one.

 

[Bree]

Coral G for the half. Submitted 10K proof of time of 1:05.

 

[Panikim]

Little disappointed that I am in L. I PR'd at Avengers weekend and submitted that time and ended up there. I am a little worried because I want to be able to take pics and stuff. Should be ok but still a little worried.

 

[kathleen27]

I'm in H!

 

[bumbershoot]

I'm in I, which shows on the corral list as approximately a 2:50 time, which is the time I estimated.

So do you find out 5K corrals at packet pick up or the morning of the race? Never done this before. Also, I just realized that I put my shirt size as small and there's no way in heck I"m going to fit into in any time soon (darn baby weight!!). Can you change sizes at the expo?

They have a dynamic and well-signed shirt exchange setup. Make sure you leave yourself some time, just in case your needed size hasn't yet been exchanged in. This isn't to say that there absolutely WILL be a wait, but just in case.

Question. The waivers for my daughter do not list her correct city/state, as she has moved since registration. Is this going to cause problems when she picks up her packet? Her ID will be her license for the state she lives in now, not the one she lived in at the time of registration.

No biggie at all.

I'd highly recommend that EVERYONE try on their shirts before leaving the expo in case anyone wants to exchange...their sizing is not exactly consistent.

Yes. And that means to wear something that you can easily try it on over! Even if it's cold and you're bundled up, have a thin layer on underneath so you can try it on in as close to a "real life" situation as possible.

Does runDisney merchandise run pretty true to size?

Each specific type of clothing has its own sizing consistency LOL. Try things on.

Also, can anyone point me in the direction to look at prices for merchandise?

I think my tank top was about $35 last year? Jackets close in on $100. Expensive. Tervis water bottle at Star Wars was $25, themed stainless bottles were $30+.

I need to pick up disney gift cards at target

Remember that those only work on the official merchandise. If you want something from other vendors it's a whole different situation.

If you have an AP, DVC membership or a Disney Visa, don't forget to ask about discounts. I know AP and DVC get them on the official merch but I can't remember if Disney Visa does.

My Disney Visa (debit) worked at Star Wars.

And there is FIREWORKS for the start of each corral.

Eh hem. There are supposed to be fireworks at each corral. My corral for the 10K last year had...nothing. Duds.

 

[joan4mickey]

I'm in I, which shows on the corral list as approximately a 2:50 time, which is the time I estimated.



Eh hem. There are supposed to be fireworks at each corral. My corral for the 10K last year had...nothing. Duds.

So sorry, I was speaking about the half. And at Disneyland they don't have such a big display due to city location or something.

 

[Ariel484]

So sorry, I was speaking about the half. And at Disneyland they don't have such a big display due to city location or something.

I think you're right about Disneyland.

My experience at WDW last month: fireworks for wheelchair and Corral A only at 5K and 10K (at least I THINK it was for both wheelchair and Corral A). After Corral A there were no more fireworks. Wasn't like that for the past few 5Ks and 10Ks I have done at WDW.

At the marathon, every corral had fireworks. So I'm thinking all Princess Half corrals will have fireworks, but 5K and 10K will only be wheelchair and Corral A. #ThanksShanghai

 

[PattiPB]

Trying to guesstimate my 10K corral. My bib number is 337xx. Anyone remember the corrals from last year, or any other insight?

Thanks~

 

[bearsgirl]

My biggest tips for the course would be to pay attention to the slope of the roads...I didn't do that for my first Princess Half and my knees were killing me by mile 10.

Wait--what is the proper way to attack the slope of the roads?? Those overpasses that go uphill and slant are tough. Please advise, Ariel484.

XOXO--my old knees

 

[smampate]

Has anyone ever purchased the New Balance shoes at a race? What was your experience? Pros/ cons?

 

[DisneyChick04]

Coral E for me. Super excited!!! It is my first 1/2 marathon, so I do plan on stopping for lots of pictures and its nice to have some cushion built in.

 

[HomeiswhereMickeyis]

Trying to guesstimate my 10K corral. My bib number is 337xx. Anyone remember the corrals from last year, or any other insight?

Thanks~

I looked at the #princess10k on instagram and looked at bibs there. I looked until I found a number close to mine and zoomed in on the corral. Mine is also in that range so it looks like corral D.

 

[bananabean]

I'm in G!

I've been mostly MIA from the boards for a while because work has been CRAZY. But on a whim today around noon I decided to check to see if corrals were up yet - and what do you know! Good timing! Now I just need to pick up the training!