2025 Wine and Dine

[butterscotchcollins]

Do elite runners spend more money on property? Curious what the motivation is there.

 

[fatmanatee]

Do elite runners spend more money on property? Curious what the motivation is there.

I’d guess they spend less, if anything (thinking they might be more likely to spend days resting instead of parkgoing). But they bring promotion and respectability, and their voices ring louder if there’s something crappy about the course.

 

[Naomeri]

Do elite runners spend more money on property? Curious what the motivation is there.

I think it's more that Brooks likes to brag about "so-and-so runner is running X race this weekend in our new [insert shoe here]" so I'm sure they want to be able to do that for the runDisney races too

 

[Zutroy]

I’d guess they spend less, if anything (thinking they might be more likely to spend days resting instead of parkgoing). But they bring promotion and respectability, and their voices ring louder if there’s something crappy about the course.

Lol, I think you really overestimate the marketability of elite runners. I shared the bus back with the winner of this year’s Wine and Dine, Josh Baden, who ran it in 1:16. He was there for a family vacation, and was miffed because he couldn’t get in for the 2025 marathon during registration. Dude ran in the Olympic Team trials with a 2:18 marathon, but Disney would rather give free registration to some vloggers instead.

 

[fatmanatee]

Lol, I think you really overestimate the marketability of elite runners. I shared the bus back with the winner of this year’s Wine and Dine, Josh Baden, who ran it in 1:16. He was there for a family vacation, and was miffed because he couldn’t get in for the 2025 marathon during registration. Dude ran in the Olympic Team trials with a 2:18 marathon, but Disney would rather give free registration to some vloggers instead.

Part of the marketability part would be having some sort of social media presence, doesn’t seem like Josh has much of one.

(IIRC there was a woman who ran Dopey this year and was once an Olympic marathoner, saw her pics on IG and she’s someone I had in mind with the prior post)

 

[patm95]

Lol, I think you really overestimate the marketability of elite runners. I shared the bus back with the winner of this year’s Wine and Dine, Josh Baden, who ran it in 1:16. He was there for a family vacation, and was miffed because he couldn’t get in for the 2025 marathon during registration. Dude ran in the Olympic Team trials with a 2:18 marathon, but Disney would rather give free registration to some vloggers instead.

OMG!

 

[LilyJC]

Off the current topic, but I’m looking for opinions about the post-race party. Last time we did Wine & Dine was 2018. We actually planned to go to the party, but it was pouring so we skipped it and just watched the high fireworks from our BCV balcony.

We’re trying to decide if we want to stay Sunday night in order to attend the party or if we should just fly home Sunday as we normally do?

Is the party worth staying another night? The info on the rundisney site is pretty vague… Would love insight from those who have attended in the past couple years!

 

[sandam1]

We’re trying to decide if we want to stay Sunday night in order to attend the party or if we should just fly home Sunday as we normally do?

Is the party worth staying another night?

I've done the party twice and have been seriously disappointed both times. There just aren't a lot of rides to do at Epcot so the lines don't really go down. If you want to eat at the booths, you can do that, but you can also do that during the day.

Before my first after-party, I expected more of a runner's party vibe like we see in the corrals. You know, chatting with other runners in line, talking about experiences, etc. and it just wasn't there. This past year, I met up with some online running friends and socializing with them was the best part of the party for me.

 

[nekonekoneko]

I've done the party twice and have been seriously disappointed both times. There just aren't a lot of rides to do at Epcot so the lines don't really go down. If you want to eat at the booths, you can do that, but you can also do that during the day.

I concur. I was at this past after-party, and we were rather disappointed. The rides that are open are on opposite corners of a very big park. The food boots are open, yes, but after an early morning of running, the last thing we wanted to do at night was gorge ourselves on food.

This would make much more sense if the race were still a night race.

 

[matt and beth]

That could be part of it, especially if what I heard from someone about Brooks giving them advice on how to get a few more elite-ish type runners participating (this is apparently what led to the moving of the water stop between Boardwalk and Hollywood to a less stupid spot)

Oh maybe I’m being moved down a corral?

 

[RuntheMouse]

Off the current topic, but I’m looking for opinions about the post-race party. Last time we did Wine & Dine was 2018. We actually planned to go to the party, but it was pouring so we skipped it and just watched the high fireworks from our BCV balcony.

We’re trying to decide if we want to stay Sunday night in order to attend the party or if we should just fly home Sunday as we normally do?

Is the party worth staying another night? The info on the rundisney site is pretty vague… Would love insight from those who have attended in the past couple years!

We went in 2023 and didn’t enjoy it. It felt really crowded and just like a regular park evening, nothing special. We ended up leaving pretty early and vowed never again.

I certainly wouldn’t change travel plans or spend an extra night to attend.

 

[LilyJC]

Thank you all! Very helpful intel, and I will go ahead and book our flights home for Sunday

 

[radiodome21]

Agreed! Thanks for sharing. We’re only there for the 5k but I have our DVC hotel reserved until Monday. I might adjust that to get more points back for next year. I certainly wouldn’t buy a ticket for it but my wife and I were holding out for a bib for the half marathon . Might have to adjust to that reality now and switch my reservation.

 

[DisneyMountainWoman]

Man your guys review of the after party is making me sad I have never done it and was looking forward to it.

 

[MinnesotaDisneyFan]

Man your guys review of the after party is making me sad I have never done it and was looking forward to it.

I've always enjoyed it. In the past there were always unique and interesting character meet-and-greets. I also look at it from the perspective of being a bonus offering that all other Disney half marathons don't offer (for about the same cost). So it's the best 'value' race having this additional offering (the cost of tickets for non runners is maybe not a great value).

It was more unique back in the day when the race was at night and the finish line flowed right to the party (which meant a less crowded party the faster you finished). At least now, runners of all paces get to experience the party equally.

 

[marty3d]

I've always enjoyed it. In the past there were always unique and interesting character meet-and-greets. I also look at it from the perspective of being a bonus offering that all other Disney half marathons don't offer (for about the same cost). So it's the best 'value' race having this additional offering (the cost of tickets for non runners is maybe not a great value).

It was more unique back in the day when the race was at night and the finish line flowed right to the party (which meant a less crowded party the faster you finished). At least now, runners of all paces get to experience the party equally.

We did too - we did the AH in 2023 - it was definitely busier at the start then other AH events but we were focused on Food & Wine anyway during the early part of the night. Once the crowds started emptying out a lot of attractions ended up being walk ons or close to it. Our group ended up doing GOTG 3 times I believe. Ratatouille was a walk on.

My advice would be - if you're prepared to go right to close, it's worthwhile - especially if one or more of the group has it included. But if you're planning on making it an early-ish night- then it's a skip.

 

[Zutroy]

Man your guys review of the after party is making me sad I have never done it and was looking forward to it.

It’s great if you don’t have an AP and want free entrance to Epcot. You can enter the park at 5 and do all the rides. The “party” doesn’t start until 10, and it really isn’t anything different from regular attendance except fewer rides are open and all the restaurants are closed. I guess maybe there’s a DJ stuck somewhere, but after listening to 10 DJs play Cha-Cha Slide during the half, I’m not super stoked to hear it again. My main problem is that after being up since 2am, I’m already dragging by the time 10pm rolls around.

 

[morgsmagic]

It’s great if you don’t have an AP and want free entrance to Epcot.

100%, last year I attended as an AP and solo runner. I usually have no problem frolicking around the parks alone, but the vibe was very much party with your friends and socialize. It was actually one of the few times at Disney that I felt self-conscious about being alone. As someone who goes there several weekends a year, the lines and overall "packedness" of the park did not outweigh a comfy bed. Yes, they had rare characters, but the lines to me were insane, waited about 45 minutes for Kenai and Koda, and the few attractions in EPCOT are so spread out that my feet were begging me not to even try it. There was also that weird period after the fireworks ended, but before the party started (about 40ish minutes). They closed down everything to funnel day guests out, and a bunch of us were just sitting there twiddling our thumbs, waiting for things to start.

 

[escriven75]

I think it's more that Brooks likes to brag about "so-and-so runner is running X race this weekend in our new [insert shoe here]" so I'm sure they want to be able to do that for the runDisney races too

Is Brooks a new sponsor for runDisney?

 

[matt and beth]

We did the AH 2023 and 2024. Watched the concert, ate, and drink around the world. Rode on a couple of rides, but really just enjoyed hanging out.