2017 Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend

[bumbershoot]

i am making a conscious effort to buy less *stuff* and this year's Tink expo was the first runDisney expo where I wasn't going crazy for merchandise - and it was SO nice to not have to plan out what I wanted to get ahead of time, arrive crazy early, fight the masses, etc. It was...relaxing? I am a changed woman after that weekend!!

At Star Wars Light Side we only went to the expo for the bibs and shirts and a quick jaunt around to get taped by the KT people and to see the non-disney merchandise. After a rotten experience waiting in line for DL Half for official merchandise I didn't want to wait in line for it at SW. So I didn't.

And while I sort of felt like "hmm, I wonder what was in there?" I also feel NO regrets. I don't need to find more storage for Tervis, I don't need to find more room in my crowded running shirt drawer, etc etc etc.

 

[Gryhndmom]

We were thinking of doing a celebratory breakfast/lunch after the race, but I don't really know what time to make the reservation. I would want time to at least take a shower before we go eat, and I don't really have any good idea about how long I'll take to finish. Anyone have recommendations? We do have to get going after that meal since we've got a 5 1/2-6 hour drive home before starting back to work on Monday, but I love the idea of something with characters to show off my medal

I'm getting so excited!!!

IMO unless you are in the first three corrals a celebratory breakfast might be hard to make especially if you want to shower after the race. Also factor in your pace for race and where your planning to shower. If you wanted to make a reservation I would plan no sooner than 10:30 or 11:00 and maybe a celebratory lunch might be better and less stressful.

 

[Ariel484]

At Star Wars Light Side we only went to the expo for the bibs and shirts and a quick jaunt around to get taped by the KT people and to see the non-disney merchandise. After a rotten experience waiting in line for DL Half for official merchandise I didn't want to wait in line for it at SW. So I didn't.

And while I sort of felt like "hmm, I wonder what was in there?" I also feel NO regrets. I don't need to find more storage for Tervis, I don't need to find more room in my crowded running shirt drawer, etc etc etc.

Yeah, same here. I have so many t-shirts, mugs, etc. I think I bought Body Glide at the expo...and a pair of shoes. That's it. It was lovely.

 

[LindseyJo22]

IMO unless you are in the first three corrals a celebratory breakfast might be hard to make especially if you want to shower after the race. Also factor in your pace for race and where your planning to shower. If you wanted to make a reservation I would plan no sooner than 10:30 or 11:00 and maybe a celebratory lunch might be better and less stressful.

That's kind of what I'm thinking - going to have to find a good place for that

 

[bumbershoot]

Yeah, same here. I have so many t-shirts, mugs, etc. I think I bought Body Glide at the expo...and a pair of shoes. That's it. It was lovely.

DH bought "The Stick". It's been used twice. By me (and I didn't want it) and DS (who wanted it and then yelped when he used it). DH, the one who really wanted it, has never used it.




Post-half food...I always wants lots of food (assuming I put *something* in my belly 20 minutes after I finish...otherwise my stomach locks up and I can't eat for hours), and for me that quite often means SWEET TOMATOES. Offsite (just outside of Disney Springs), way-cheaper-than-Disney, buffet. Sooooo good.

But Raglan Road Rollickin' Weekend Brunch works, too. Goes until 3pm Sat and Sun. You have access to their entire normal menu PLUS the brunch menu. Their "Pancakes Diaspora - Homemade pancakes with creme fraiche, maple syrup and mixed berry compote." are INCREDIBLE. Yes I'm yelling. I usually get their Eggs en Cocotte, but those pancakes, holy moly. Those and a Guinness or three and your recovery is complete.

Um, can we make dining reservations yet? (kidding...RR is best reserved under opentable, NOT through Disney, IMO)

 

[keahgirl8]

Well, drat. I'm usually a small/medium, and I wanted to grab a tshirt and maybe a water bottle. I'm sure those will be gone by Saturday oh well. All I can do is pray for a little luck, haha. We can't be there any earlier than Saturday due to DH's work schedule. Thanks for the info, friends!

You may be okay if you're small, if you don't care which shirt you get. The "Run Princess Run" tanks went in a flash! Water bottles? Not likely.

IMO unless you are in the first three corrals a celebratory breakfast might be hard to make especially if you want to shower after the race. Also factor in your pace for race and where your planning to shower. If you wanted to make a reservation I would plan no sooner than 10:30 or 11:00 and maybe a celebratory lunch might be better and less stressful.

I just don't like to be under a time crunch after the half. I never know how I'm going to feel or even if I'll want to get out and eat much. Plus, I just don't like rushing. I think next time I won't do ADRs until Monday.

Yeah, same here. I have so many t-shirts, mugs, etc. I think I bought Body Glide at the expo...and a pair of shoes. That's it. It was lovely.

I wish I had the same amount restraint as you girls. I just don't. lol

DH bought "The Stick". It's been used twice. By me (and I didn't want it) and DS (who wanted it and then yelped when he used it). DH, the one who really wanted it, has never used it.




Post-half food...I always wants lots of food (assuming I put *something* in my belly 20 minutes after I finish...otherwise my stomach locks up and I can't eat for hours), and for me that quite often means SWEET TOMATOES. Offsite (just outside of Disney Springs), way-cheaper-than-Disney, buffet. Sooooo good.

But Raglan Road Rollickin' Weekend Brunch works, too. Goes until 3pm Sat and Sun. You have access to their entire normal menu PLUS the brunch menu. Their "Pancakes Diaspora - Homemade pancakes with creme fraiche, maple syrup and mixed berry compote." are INCREDIBLE. Yes I'm yelling. I usually get their Eggs en Cocotte, but those pancakes, holy moly. Those and a Guinness or three and your recovery is complete.

Um, can we make dining reservations yet? (kidding...RR is best reserved under opentable, NOT through Disney, IMO)

I may have to check that out! I've never been to Raglan Road and I love brunch!

 

[Hazelon]

I decided that I'm not going to let myself be driven crazy by this expo. I'll stop in Thursday afternoon look, and look again after the 10k because I got an amazing jacket at Tink that way this year.

It's going to be hard but I'll have to zen master my way though it.

Sign up for GSL is giving me lots of anxiety even thought a lot of races and challenges aren't selling out or selling out quickly lately.

 

[keahgirl8]

I decided that I'm not going to let myself be driven crazy by this expo. I'll stop in Thursday afternoon look, and look again after the 10k because I got an amazing jacket at Tink that way this year.

It's going to be hard but I'll have to zen master my way though it.

Sign up for GSL is giving me lots of anxiety even thought a lot of races and challenges aren't selling out or selling out quickly lately.

That's kind of what I did at this year's Princess. I think maybe that's why I didn't experience any issues. There wasn't anything I felt like I'd die if I didn't get, so it was pretty stress free. I did go when they first opened, but other than that, I didn't worry about it.

It will be interesting to see how the registration goes this year. Races haven't been selling out as fast, but Princess is always a little more crazy than the others. Then again, after the craziness of last year, and how the prices are getting, maybe it won't be the same.

 

[Ariel484]

I decided that I'm not going to let myself be driven crazy by this expo. I'll stop in Thursday afternoon look, and look again after the 10k because I got an amazing jacket at Tink that way this year.

It's going to be hard but I'll have to zen master my way though it.

Sign up for GSL is giving me lots of anxiety even thought a lot of races and challenges aren't selling out or selling out quickly lately.

You sound just like me. I'm planning on arriving at, like, 1 or 2 in the afternoon. Hopefully it won't be so nuts by then.

 

[Ariel484]

I wish I had the same amount restraint as you girls. I just don't. lol

I didn't over the past couple of years! I'm just sick of stressing myself out over the merchandise...I definitely get the appeal, but it's just not worth it to me anymore.

 

[keahgirl8]

I didn't over the past couple of years! I'm just sick of stressing myself out over the merchandise...I definitely get the appeal, but it's just not worth it to me anymore.

Oh didn't stress myself, that's for sure. I refuse. I'm doing all of this for fun. I'm not going to let eBay people and overzealous princesses ruin my experience.

 

[dashofsunshine]

You may be okay if you're small, if you don't care which shirt you get. The "Run Princess Run" tanks went in a flash! Water bottles? Not likely.

Well, that's discouraging and unfortunate, lol. I do love the "Run Princess Run" shirts. And I'd love a water bottle, truly. But it is what it is. If they're gone, nothing can be done about it. We can't be there any earlier than the last day of the expo, so oh well.

I completely understand what everyone is saying about not wanting to buy a bunch of stuff! This has been a bucket list run for me for many years, and after losing 170 lbs to get to run it, finally, a piece of merch is kind of a requirement, lol. I think if it were my 2nd, or 3rd, or 5th, it might be a different story

 

[Hazelon]

That's kind of what I did at this year's Princess. I think maybe that's why I didn't experience any issues. There wasn't anything I felt like I'd die if I didn't get, so it was pretty stress free. I did go when they first opened, but other than that, I didn't worry about it.

It will be interesting to see how the registration goes this year. Races haven't been selling out as fast, but Princess is always a little more crazy than the others. Then again, after the craziness of last year, and how the prices are getting, maybe it won't be the same.

The expos for Tink and Princess are known zoos right at open. I just don't have it in me to deal with that mess anymore.

I'm super interested to see how it sells, especially the half. The 10k and 5k should go pretty quickly and then the challenge. The stand alone half is the wildcard. That's whats been taking forever to sell out at the other races. I keep telling myself I got into W&D (2015) which sold out in a half hour so I can do this! Haha.

You sound just like me. I'm planning on arriving at, like, 1 or 2 in the afternoon. Hopefully it won't be so nuts by then.

I've done too many expos with Disney to want to deal with any kind of mess just to get some extra clothing or a mug.


@dashofsunshine GSC is a bucket list race for me too! Congrats on that massive weight loss, get your princess victory lap!! Honestly at Tink I found the best merch clothing wise last day because there were returns put out to sell. I'm honestly hoping this happens with princess. Just when they give us the merch preview don't get too set on any one item. You'll be able to get something to commemorate your race no problem. As much of a mad house as the expos can be they get better and better each race. It's the jerks grabbing cases of stuff right after it opens that's the issue.

 

[Hannahinwonderland]

So is registration (for the 10K) the type of thing where I have to be on the computer EXACTLY as it opens? What time does it open? My friend is doing it with me but I'm coordinating, so I have to give him all the info!

 

[Ariel484]

So is registration (for the 10K) the type of thing where I have to be on the computer EXACTLY as it opens? What time does it open? My friend is doing it with me but I'm coordinating, so I have to give him all the info!

Be ready BEFORE noon. Normally they will have the links up before noon, so you can have it open and just refresh, refresh, refresh until it's live (which would be at noon EST). I'm guessing it will be the first thing to sell out.

 

[Gryhndmom]

I have so tried not to buy stuff at the expo and then my credit card does its own thing! I have made a tshirt quilt for my first PHM and love looking at my pics with my blingy crown I wore to the parks after the race. (It is amazing how it stayed on through test track !)

I would soooo hope that run Disney would get wise and let the registered participants reserve and pay in advance for items they wanted to buy AND THEN offer those items to the general public on day two or three of the expo. It does seem there are people who come in droves to the expo just to buy the new balance shoes, Dooney bourke etc and then sell on eBay.

 

[bumbershoot]

Oh didn't stress myself, that's for sure. I refuse. I'm doing all of this for fun. I'm not going to let eBay people and overzealous princesses ruin my experience.

Well that's the best combo of personality. You want the stuff, you're willing to go early, but you're not going to get stressed out about it.

I completely understand what everyone is saying about not wanting to buy a bunch of stuff! This has been a bucket list run for me for many years, and after losing 170 lbs to get to run it, finally, a piece of merch is kind of a requirement, lol.

If they would stop using leather for the straps of the coated fabric bags, I would sooooooo get a Coach bag for the big deal disney races I do. If you don't mind leather, do THAT for a souvenir. They are always just SO cute.

So is registration (for the 10K) the type of thing where I have to be on the computer EXACTLY as it opens?

YEp. Early, even. noon EASTERN is when it all starts. So for me that's 9am.

Have your active.com account created and know the username/password. (I have mine saved to the computer but *sometimes* when I click through rundisney or DVC it doesn't recognize that it's supposed to autofill) Have your CC number copied so you can "paste" it in. Have your expiration date and code from the back of the card memorized (or I put one into the Search box on my browser, and have my CC turned to the side showing the other bit of info). Read through quickly! Know your shirt size and know that rundisney has a dynamic and usually success size exchange program.

I would soooo hope that run Disney would get wise and let the registered participants reserve and pay in advance for items they wanted to buy AND THEN offer those items to the general public on day two or three of the expo.

All the yesses in the world.

 

[Hannahinwonderland]

Be ready BEFORE noon. Normally they will have the links up before noon, so you can have it open and just refresh, refresh, refresh until it's live (which would be at noon EST). I'm guessing it will be the first thing to sell out.

Can I register my friend and I at the same time? He isn't great at timely clicking.

 

[Ariel484]

Can I register my friend and I at the same time? He isn't great at timely clicking.

You can, but it'll be a wee bit challenging for you. You'll each need your own Active.com account, so you'll either need to make one for your friend or have your friend set it up and give you the log-in and payment info. You'll probably want to have each account logged in on a separate device.

 

[bumbershoot]

When registering another person remember that you're clicking agreeing to legal things for them.


This morning I awoke to what I thought was my "DVC registration day" alert. (Remember I'm on pacific time so it's not noon for me lol) Nearly got up to get my brain going and fingers warmed up until I realized it's a week away. I had it set to alert a week out and an hour out.