2025 Wine and Dine

[fatmanatee]

We still have a couple of weeks before we find out about the Brooks specific to this race and the 2025 course map, no?

Race maps are sometime within a few weeks of the race weekend, Brooks shoes have been revealed week of race weekend I think.

 

[jenljeffers1989]

For those craving news about W&D race weekend - a little rundisny birdie provided a few tidbits to ponder: Epcot management is still being PITA, and they are redesigning the Reunion Lot to allow for more parking spaces for park guests, which will also mean moving the beer tent and some of the entrance / exit for the Reunion Lot. Also some course changes, including no more running through the parking toll plaza at Epcot, and putting the Blizzard Beach parking lot into the half course. Because of Epcot mgmt, they are back to considering MK parking lot for future race starts too.

I hope this is true. I looove Magic Kingdom race starts. It's so convenient to wake up and walk right over if staying at the Poly or GF.

 

[fatmanatee]

For those craving news about W&D race weekend - a little rundisny birdie provided a few tidbits to ponder: Epcot management is still being PITA, and they are redesigning the Reunion Lot to allow for more parking spaces for park guests, which will also mean moving the beer tent and some of the entrance / exit for the Reunion Lot. Also some course changes, including no more running through the parking toll plaza at Epcot, and putting the Blizzard Beach parking lot into the half course. Because of Epcot mgmt, they are back to considering MK parking lot for future race starts too.

A variation of the old W&D/SW map would be fun, makes for more variety among the half/10 miler courses.

 

[jenljeffers1989]

A variation of the old W&D/SW map would be fun, makes for more variety among the half/10 miler courses.

View attachment 1005636

Yeah, one of my favorite Wine and Dine courses is the 2021 course, which looks similar to this.

 

[LatebloomerultraF3]

That is wild. I guess the bus you back to the beginning when you finish?

 

[The Expert]

That is wild. I guess the bus you back to the beginning when you finish?

iirc everybody had to park at Epcot and they shuttled you to the MK lot to start. If you took a bus, you were dropped at MK and left from Epcot. But now that they use park security for the races, an MK start means a lot more setup.

Edit to add that they could use TTC security. My brain didn't go there because the previous staging wasn't really close to TTC (iirc).

 

[Naomeri]

iirc everybody had to park at Epcot and they shuttled you to the MK lot to start. If you took a bus, you were dropped at MK and left from Epcot. But now that they use park security for the races, an MK start means a lot more setup.

I never use the TTC except for transferring monorails. Isn't there security screening before people get on the monorail that could be used, and then make us walk a million miles to whatever Mickey-forsaken corner of the lot they're willing to give up to rD for a weekend?

 

[LatebloomerultraF3]

I never use the TTC except for transferring monorails. Isn't there security screening before people get on the monorail that could be used, and then make us walk a million miles to whatever Mickey-forsaken corner of the lot they're willing to give up to rD for a weekend?

Sorry…have to lol the “Mickey forsaken.”

 

[radiodome21]

There’s a beer tent?

I’ve only done the SS 10k and we went straight to the buses after grabbing our goody box. This will be my first half marathon ever so I’m good with whatever hey do. I was looking up old maps last night with my kids. They’re running the 5k. Can’t wait.

 

[The Expert]

I never use the TTC except for transferring monorails. Isn't there security screening before people get on the monorail that could be used, and then make us walk a million miles to whatever Mickey-forsaken corner of the lot they're willing to give up to rD for a weekend?

There IS and I've used it walking over from the Poly to get on the monorail for MW races before. Where they staged us before was pretty far away from that area, but if they're starting from scratch they could put the drop-off, staging and corrals wherever they want. Good thought!

 

[escriven75]

oooooooooooooooooooo, are we thinking there will be a fun new route for the half marathon this year?

The last time I ran Wine & Dine was in 2022. Looks like we got the email with our digital guide link on Oct 18th and the race series was Nov 3-6.

 

[fatmanatee]

oooooooooooooooooooo, are we thinking there will be a fun new route for the half marathon this year?

The last time I ran Wine & Dine was in 2022. Looks like we got the email with our digital guide link on Oct 18th and the race series was Nov 3-6.

Prob not this year. I'd lean towards thinking no major change because they obviously love the current start/finish setup, but if parks management is trying to muscle them into something different who knows. I don't know how this is logistically better for them though. Like is the Epcot lot that much of an issue? It's the same location all three days and as much as I'm annoyed about the same thing over and over again it's probably routine for them at this point. If Epcot management is really annoyed at RD maybe they should tell them to take the 5k over to MK.

 

[Naomeri]

There IS and I've used it walking over from the Poly to get on the monorail for MW races before. Where they staged us before was pretty far away from that area, but if they're starting from scratch they could put the drop-off, staging and corrals wherever they want. Good thought!

I mean, they make us walk about 3/4 of a mile from the buses and through Epcot security to the start area (and let's not even discuss when they've had the start line a mile further than that!) so it probably wouldn't be too different than that at the TTC.

 

[Mr. Drauer]

Prob not this year. I'd lean towards thinking no major change because they obviously love the current start/finish setup, but if parks management is trying to muscle them into something different who knows. I don't know how this is logistically better for them though. Like is the Epcot lot that much of an issue? It's the same location all three days and as much as I'm annoyed about the same thing over and over again it's probably routine for them at this point. If Epcot management is really annoyed at RD maybe they should tell them to take the 5k over to MK.

The only new things this year is the start not going through the parking toll booths, and adding the Blizzard Beach parking lot to the half course, which has run past it the past 2 races. The Epcot managment folks demanded 1,500 parking spots be removed from the RunDisney set up this year, and they still are looking at more for the future - so that is the reason that RD might be looking back to MK starts for future races. Epcot mgmt is also responsible for changing the marathon course to not go through world showcase, and some other little ticky-tack things that were part of past races.

 

[disneyrunnergrl]

I wonder where they’re cutting to add blizzard beach parking lot? The half didn’t go through the toll booths last year right? Cut out Hollywood and just dip in and out like the marathon? Cut out world showcase?

 

[escriven75]

Does the half still go thru both AK and HS and then Epcot near the end or has that changed since I last ran it?

 

[sandam1]

Honestly, all of this talk about course changes is really easing my FOMO about not registering for this year's race. The W&D course is already my least favorite course and adding more parking lot/highway time and less park time (which is what this sounds like) lowers it even further.

At least for Springtime, it's only a 10 miler so there isn't some version of a pointless out and back.

 

[nancipants]

The way the parks treat the runners reminds me of how they treat annual passholders.

 

[Naomeri]

Does the half still go thru both AK and HS and then Epcot near the end or has that changed since I last ran it?

W&D didn't go through AK either of the times I did it (2022 and 2024)

 

[jmasgat]

The way the parks treat the runners reminds me of how they treat annual passholders.

“Give me your money…now, go away and don’t get in the way”