DVC X RunDisney

[Sprinkles&Sprints]

I hoping runDisney will give me the incentive I need to get back in to doing races. I thought my fitness level was much better when I was doing races regularly. Or it could just be old age.

I'm targeting 2026 as the year to do a runDisney event, but I'm not sure which one at this point.

My vote is Wine & Dine - food is always my best/favorite incentive to run!

 

[disland7]

DH and my sons are the real runners. He was trying to get me to run one and I told him Disney races would do it. We tried signing up for Disneyland the year that they never opened the registration and then announced they wouldn't have it for a while. Years later we signed up for Star Wars 2020 - wah wah - then we signed up again for Star Wars 2021 - also cancelled. Finally we signed up for Disneyland Half Marathon weekend 2024. It was a family affair with DH, DS16, DS14 running the 1/2 marathon, me and DS12 running the 10K, DD10 and DD8 ran the kids races (sad those don't exist in DISNEY WORLD). Now we are signed up for Marathon weekend!! DH is doing dopey, DD10 is doing the 5k, everyone else is same distance. We hear/read that Marathon weekend is the best but we would like to try wine and dine sometime too.

We have been VGC members for about 10 years. We just added on at BLT for race weekends (too late to get anything before 7 month mark). We are staying at SSR this trip for 11 nights - but excited not to move hotels.

 

[prncssjas]

Wait, do tell more details about this meetup!

Oh you gotta come over to the Princess weekend thread on the rundisney board! I think every weekend during princess, there is a meet up at Hurricane Hannah's at the Beach Club on the Saturday (10k day) and it's either 1pm or 2pm? I *always* miss it for some ridiculous reason--like a dining reservation or other preplanned event and I forget to prioritize that. I keep telling myself that in 2025, I will be there. It's such a nice place to meet all the DISers who are Run Disney. I hope to meet up with you and everyone else.

 

[SugarSweetLee]

Oh you gotta come over to the Princess weekend thread on the rundisney board! I think every weekend during princess, there is a meet up at Hurricane Hannah's at the Beach Club on the Saturday (10k day) and it's either 1pm or 2pm? I *always* miss it for some ridiculous reason--like a dining reservation or other preplanned event and I forget to prioritize that. I keep telling myself that in 2025, I will be there. It's such a nice place to meet all the DISers who are Run Disney. I hope to meet up with you and everyone else.

Ahh I'm on that thread but maybe the discussion happened multiple pages back lol. Will hang tight for future discussion as we get closer

 

[tx911]

Are you all members of club runDisney? And which tier?

It seems quite expensive to me. I guess worth it if you consistently run Disney races every year.

 

[CarolynFH]

Are you all members of club runDisney? And which tier?

It seems quite expensive to me. I guess worth it if you consistently run Disney races every year.

I’m not, and I doubt that DD is. We don’t participate often enough. If DD gets the bug, maybe, but she does enough races closer to home to fill the time she has for training and racing.

 

[SugarSweetLee]

Are you all members of club runDisney? And which tier?

It seems quite expensive to me. I guess worth it if you consistently run Disney races every year.

No, I don't believe in it as an institution and refuse to support it lol

 

[Sprinkles&Sprints]

No, I don't believe in it as an institution and refuse to support it lol

So the only real registration advantage is at gold level, right? You get guaranteed entry to one event? YIKES, that is pricey!

 

[tx911]

Are the events such as wine & dine pretty gettable without being a member?

 

[CarolynFH]

Are the events such as wine & dine pretty gettable without being a member?

I can’t speak to W&D, but four of us using five or six devices entered the virtual waiting room so that DD could register for the 2025 full.

 

[tx911]

I can’t speak to W&D, but four of us using five or six devices entered the virtual waiting room so that DD could register for the 2025 full.

Wow!

I must say, I was in the Silver Tier this past year, and it was one of the worst ROIs I've ever experienced! I was considering going Gold this year, but the whole thing seems crazily over-priced, even by Disney standards.

I definitely want to do a race in 2025 or 26, just to have the experience of running in the parks, but other than that it seems like there are so many great places you can run road races in without taking out a second mortgage to do it. Maybe after I do it I'll understand why it's worth it.

 

[CarolynFH]

Wow!

I must say, I was in the Silver Tier this past year, and it was one of the worst ROIs I've ever experienced! I was considering going Gold this year, but the whole thing seems crazily over-priced, even by Disney standards.

I definitely want to do a race in 2025 or 26, just to have the experience of running in the parks, but other than that it seems like there are so many great places you can run road races in without taking out a second mortgage to do it. Maybe after I do it I'll understand why it's worth it.

Our 5K through Epcot was a lot of fun and really made me want to do more, but I agree the prices are crazy!

 

[SugarSweetLee]

So the only real registration advantage is at gold level, right? You get guaranteed entry to one event? YIKES, that is pricey!

No, Gold gets one registration per weekend. So you could, say, use it for a challenge at each weekend, or just for a single race, whatever. Plus early crack at the expo merch. Platinum level gets 2 reg per weekend and even earlier shopping, plus a special bib pickup so they don't have to wait in line with the hoi polloi.

I still think it's insanely priced for what it is, but everyone values different things

 

[MerlinandtheMouse]

Are the events such as wine & dine pretty gettable without being a member?

Can’t speak to other races but I attempted DL’s Halloween half marathon this year the normal way, and didn’t even get close. But for WDW’s marathon weekend, I was following along actively on the WDW marathon thread as registration opened and after a little while, as people were getting through, some really nice DISers were posting live links with low/no wait times and I was able to snag my registration that way. Maybe not the most stress-free or efficient way but it worked! I’d definitely do that again if I were to attempt another race.

 

[Dobermanns]

We bought DVC because of the rD races. And we thought running was a cheap sport
I am no longer training, just running the short distances for fun (lots of shenanigans) and run/walk the halfs. Race weekends are reunion weekends with all the friends I've made at all the rD races.
I am still a perfect Dumbo, so that's my not-to-miss weekend. I was a perfect Dopey until I hurt my knee and DNS'd the marathon in the 6th year. I was so sad the day after, but in a way, also relieved. I no longer have to maintain the perfect status, and can ride rides during the marathon, LOLOL...
I was doing all the DLR races and 3-4 WDW race weekends, until they stopped at DLR and then covid. Now it's only 2 weekends at DLR so I try to do all the WDW races. After SS in April, I've completed 102 in-person individual rD races (not challenges). Currently registered for Halloween weekend, W&D, Dumbo and PHM (no MW next year). Will register for SS when it opens.
For WDW, I like to stay at BCV for W&D, makes it easy to walk back after the after-race party. Otherwise, PVB, VGF and RIV are my usual resorts.
For DLR, I like to stay at VGC. Will be at VDH at Halloween.
One thing I don't like about the race bus situation at RIV: the bus picks up at RIV, then drives the long loop around CBR, back past RIV, before heading to the start.
I caved and signed up for CrD gold, to avoid registration morning stress. So far I believe it's worth it. I don't care about expo merch anymore and don't take advantage of the early entry.
I am no longer doing non-rD races (was doing MCM and Surf City Marathon for a few years). Also trying to reduce the number of halfs (well, we'll see... Dang fairy tale challenge medal sucked me in again ).

 

[prncssjas]

Are you all members of club runDisney? And which tier?

It seems quite expensive to me. I guess worth it if you consistently run Disney races every year.

totally agree--it's only worth it if you enjoy RunDisney enough to want to run every race weekend so we are not club members. I usually only want to run Princess weekend so it's not worth it. And really, if I want to run Princess that badly (for example, Princess Jasmine is headlining a race and I cannot miss it, lol) then I will purchase entry through charity rather than pay the Disney corporation. That's what I did for this year--I don't want to hassle with the registration headaches for the FairyTale Challenge so DH and I are going through charity--it just feels better. I will say though that we love to run other places outside of Disney so this make it's easier to avoid FOMO. LOL.

I think most of the weekends are accessible if you right on top it and can be ready on registration morning. And I find that the telegram app is also another good tool. It has been going off all month with openings for all race weekends!!

 

[prncssjas]

Can’t speak to other races but I attempted DL’s Halloween half marathon this year the normal way, and didn’t even get close. But for WDW’s marathon weekend, I was following along actively on the WDW marathon thread as registration opened and after a little while, as people were getting through, some really nice DISers were posting live links with low/no wait times and I was able to snag my registration that way. Maybe not the most stress-free or efficient way but it worked! I’d definitely do that again if I were to attempt another race.

The DISers who help with links are the best! I try to help and have received help so it's always great! But @MerlinandtheMouse do you have the telegram app? I see DL Halloween Weekend bibs open up all time!! Perhaps look into that if you are wanting to try and get in. You have to be pretty quick but it's worth a shot!!

 

[tx911]

The DISers who help with links are the best! I try to help and have received help so it's always great! But @MerlinandtheMouse do you have the telegram app? I see DL Halloween Weekend bibs open up all time!! Perhaps look into that if you are wanting to try and get in. You have to be pretty quick but it's worth a shot!!

You've got me curious about this app. What does it do for you?

 

[prncssjas]

You've got me curious about this app. What does it do for you?

I am sure there are others here much more techy than I am but....telegram is this app where you sign up to receive alerts any time a Run Disney race opens up. It tells you the race weekend and provides the link directly to registration. It's so cool! Now, some races, it only opens for a minute or two so you have to be super quick! But for some, you can legit get in and it's been happening a lot this month (assuming charities are giving back bibs? Not sure...) but it does not hurt to have it on your phone with alerts on if you happen to miss out of a race registration. I think Dumbo might actually be open right now and recently, the virtual series was open, along with the Halloween Half and theWine & Dine challenge. You never know!

 

[SugarSweetLee]

Are the events such as wine & dine pretty gettable without being a member?

Generally, yes, but there are still only so many spots so people don't always have availability in the race they wanted by the time it's their turn to register.