Disney New Balance Running Shoes

[marchingstar]

(First: apologies to the moderators if this is the wrong place to leave this question--I wasn't entirely sure where to file it )

I haven't ever done a disney race before (and I'm not about to start! ) But I did just learn about New Balance Disney running shoes, and I can't believe how cute they are! I would love to pick up a pair. Can anyone tell me if they're available to people who aren't in the World for a race? If so, where might I go about picking up a pair?

Edit: I see that the first day of our next trip (7 November) overlaps with a disney run. Is that going to impact my ability to find these shoes?

 

[hiroMYhero]

Head over to ESPN WWoS where the Expo is held. Any guest can purchase Disney shoes at the New Balance booth. There will be Expo-specific buses running from each resort.

 

[Keels]

Head over to ESPN WWoS where the Expo is held. Any guest can purchase Disney shoes at the New Balance booth. There will be Expo-specific buses running from each resort.

Just know that the first couple days of the Expo, you must be a registered runner with a bib number to get a spot in line to purchase shoes.

Also, for the Nov. 7 race weekend, not every hotel on property is a host hotel.

You can read more on RunDisney.com about the Expo, etc. I would encourage actually signing up for a spot in the virtual queue to get shoes rather than just showing up one day at the Expo. You could potentially waste quite a bit of park time or be turned away until another day.

 

[hiroMYhero]

New Balance has computers at the Expo where you can sign up for the virtual queue whether or not you are a registered runner. New Balance doesn't discourage potential buyers who are already at the Expo.

 

[wilkeliza]

New Balance has computers at the Expo where you can sign up for the virtual queue whether or not you are a registered runner. New Balance doesn't discourage potential buyers who are already at the Expo.

For the past few expos by the time you actually got to the expo all time slots were full because runner with a confirmed bib were able to pre-book slots at home.

 

[hiroMYhero]

For the past few expos by the time you actually got to the expo all time slots were full because runner with a confirmed bib were able to pre-book slots at home.

Even though pre-booked was filled, they still had openings at the Princess and Tink Expos on the opening day. New Balance lacks some organization... we were pre-booked for a late morning time and saw that New Balance staff were just standing around... nicely asked if we could enter even with a later pre-booked time and were waited on and had our shoes within a few minutes. Noticed the same thing at Tink in May although we didn't want green shoes.

 

[marchingstar]

Thanks, everyone! I really don't know anything about disney runs, and it's great to have pointers from some seasoned pros So we're arriving on an international flight on the 7th in the early afternoon (I think around 12:30?). We're staying at AKL, and I'm guessing we'll be there around 3:00. I can then take a bus directly to the WWoS to the Expo? By the sounds of things that might be too late to pre-register, but could I still wait in line at the New Balance booth?

I've had flight troubles in the past, so I know it's also possible that my arrival at MCO might be a bit later than 12:30--if I can't get to the WWoS Expo on the 7th, will it still be open on the 8th? Or through the rest of that week? Or is it only open during the race weekend?

 

[wilkeliza]

Thanks, everyone! I really don't know anything about disney runs, and it's great to have pointers from some seasoned pros So we're arriving on an international flight on the 7th in the early afternoon (I think around 12:30?). We're staying at AKL, and I'm guessing we'll be there around 3:00. I can then take a bus directly to the WWoS to the Expo? By the sounds of things that might be too late to pre-register, but could I still wait in line at the New Balance booth?

I've had flight troubles in the past, so I know it's also possible that my arrival at MCO might be a bit later than 12:30--if I can't get to the WWoS Expo on the 7th, will it still be open on the 8th? Or through the rest of that week? Or is it only open during the race weekend?

The expo is only during race weekend. For Wine and Dine it is open on the 6th and 7th but not the 8th as the race is a night race. The expo closes at 3pm on the 7th so that the runDisney team can prepare for the race that happens at 10pm that night.

 

[GreatLakes]

In the past it wasn't hard to find the shoes on eBay in the days after a race but you will be paying a premium. If you aren't at WWoS before 3:00pm on 11/7 you won't get them and even at that late time many sizes may be sold out.

AKL also isn't a host resort according to the RunDisney travel page so there is no bus directly from AKL to WWoS. I can't remember if there are any buses directly from a park to WWoS, I thought in the past there was from DHS, if not you'll need to get to a host resort well before 3 to grab a bus to the expo.

 

[marchingstar]

Thanks for taking the time to explain this to a total disney run dunce!

So the only chances to get these shoes are 1. get to the expo before 3:00 and hope they have my size left or 2. pay a marked up price to someone on ebay? I'll keep my fingers crossed that my plane lands on time--the donald shoes are so cute I'm dying over them!

Good luck to everyone running the race

 

[bumbershoot]

So....yes, they are cute. But they are ONE model, and not everyone's feet work in that model. Mine don't, they are absolutely wrong for my feet and the way I walk/run. There have been disappointed people who bought them then can't wear them! (that's part of the ebay market)

 

[wilkeliza]

So....yes, they are cute. But they are ONE model, and not everyone's feet work in that model. Mine don't, they are absolutely wrong for my feet and the way I walk/run. There have been disappointed people who bought them then can't wear them! (that's part of the ebay market)

I made the mistake of buying the wrong size. My feet were swollen so I got 8s but I'm really a 7.5.

If you are using them for just walking the "type" shouldnt matter. Most people only care about the type if they are actually using them for running. Most of them are stability which for me is fine fore walking but would never be okay for running.

 

[marchingstar]

So....yes, they are cute. But they are ONE model, and not everyone's feet work in that model. Mine don't, they are absolutely wrong for my feet and the way I walk/run. There have been disappointed people who bought them then can't wear them! (that's part of the ebay market)

this is a great point. I probably wouldn't be using the shoes for running, but I would still like them to be comfortable. i think I have found the model info online--maybe I'll go to a running shoe store here at home and try the same model on to get a sense of sizing/if they're for me. thanks for the tip