Marathon Weekend 2018

[IamTrike]

My work is become really big on 'planning' your day now. So I went overboard with my plan for the first week of 2018.

I have meal envy now. Poor Shaun doesn't have a lot of time to get cleaned up before Le Cellier.

 

[rteetz]

Right I hate to be a bit of a thicko, but, where is the main merchandise bit? I’ve been to dopey 2016 and dark side 2017 so I kinda know where the buildings are but I’m so confused as to which building the main merchandise is in?!

Y’know just getting my priorities right

When walking in merchandise will be in the building on the left.

 

[IamTrike]

Right I hate to be a bit of a thicko, but, where is the main merchandise bit? I’ve been to dopey 2016 and dark side 2017 so I kinda know where the buildings are but I’m so confused as to which building the main merchandise is in?!

Y’know just getting my priorities right

Based on the pics Rteetz posted . They've consolidated it down to one Disney Merchandise area. That will be in HP which is on your left once you get into WWOS just past the baseball stadium. The other vendors are all in Visa (Formerly Jostens)which is the building on your right as you enter the WWOS complex.

 

[AbbyJaws2003]

This set up seemed to work really well at Wine and Dine, I went in the afternoon on the first day and it wasn't crowded at all, and having the merch area be one huge area really seemed to make it feel less claustrophobic since the walkways and everything were spread out and not jammed into a tiny back section of the building. Of course you are talking about a much smaller race weekend so it could still be a disaster zone, but seeing it in action makes me think it could work out pretty well. Or I could totally be wrong and just ignore me....

 

[funsizedisaster]

My work is become really big on 'planning' your day now. So I went overboard with my plan for the first week of 2018.

I may need to send you our schedule so you can help us figure out where to squeeze in Disney Springs!!! lol

 

[PrincessV]

This set up seemed to work really well at Wine and Dine, I went in the afternoon on the first day and it wasn't crowded at all, and having the merch area be one huge area really seemed to make it feel less claustrophobic since the walkways and everything were spread out and not jammed into a tiny back section of the building. Of course you are talking about a much smaller race weekend so it could still be a disaster zone, but seeing it in action makes me think it could work out pretty well. Or I could totally be wrong and just ignore me....

I'm with you - it was a thing of wonder and beauty at W&D, and I think it'll handle the crowds of Marathon weekend really well! SO much better than previous set-ups.

 

[ZellyB]

Unfortunately my wants and reality don't align.

And, this basically sums up the story of my life.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

And, this basically sums up the story of my life.

I think our lives really change for the better the day that we realize that we need to stop wanting and start enjoying.

 

[FlashAM7]

Hello everyone! I am signed up for the 2018 Marathon and am so excited for it! Training has gone really well.

For people who have done Dopey/are doing Dopey, how did you know when you were "ready" to do it? Had you been running for years? Months? I have been running for about a year now, and have made great improvements, but not sure if my body is ready to do a Dopey Challenge yet.

 

[FFigawi]

Hello everyone! I am signed up for the 2018 Marathon and am so excited for it! Training has gone really well.

For people who have done Dopey/are doing Dopey, how did you know when you were "ready" to do it? Had you been running for years? Months? I have been running for about a year now, and have made great improvements, but not sure if my body is ready to do a Dopey Challenge yet.

Training for and running Dopey is no harder than training for and running a full. Lots of people run their first marathon as part of Dopey. If you want to do it, then do it.

 

[Ariel484]

Hello everyone! I am signed up for the 2018 Marathon and am so excited for it! Training has gone really well.

For people who have done Dopey/are doing Dopey, how did you know when you were "ready" to do it? Had you been running for years? Months? I have been running for about a year now, and have made great improvements, but not sure if my body is ready to do a Dopey Challenge yet.

I don't have a great answer for this...I did Dopey because I was already planning on doing the 10th Goofy, then I wanted the Minnie medal...so if I'm doing those 3 races, why not do the 5K, too? I think I'd been running for about 6-7 years.

IMO - If you can follow a marathon training plan, and are in shape to run a marathon, you can do Dopey.

Physically, I think I could have done it sooner in my running "career" than I did, but I wasn't mentally ready. I had to know I could do a standalone marathon before doing Goofy (when I did Goofy, Dopey wasn't an official "thing" yet, though most people - myself included - did the unofficial Dopey of 5K + Goofy), and I had to know I could do a half before doing a marathon, etc. Not everyone else is like that, some will just do Dopey as their first marathon/half, etc. The other thing to consider is the time you'll put in training, because that is really the hard part* - take a look at marathon/Dopey training plans and look at the mileage and time you'll be putting in for the weeks/months beforehand - can you stick to it? Will you have the time/desire/discipline to follow through on your training plan? Are you cool with most of your weekend at WDW being eaten up by races/naps/recovering?

But I think the fact that you're seriously considering it means you're already on your way to deciding to just go ahead and do it...

*okay so the other hard part is the 4 early wake-ups.

 

[kski907]

Hello everyone! I am signed up for the 2018 Marathon and am so excited for it! Training has gone really well.

For people who have done Dopey/are doing Dopey, how did you know when you were "ready" to do it? Had you been running for years? Months? I have been running for about a year now, and have made great improvements, but not sure if my body is ready to do a Dopey Challenge yet.

To be honest I never considered being "ready" to do it. I just wanted to do it so I signed up and started training. I am truly hoping that my wants and reality DO align in this case.

 

[Dis_Yoda]

I have meal envy now. Poor Shaun doesn't have a lot of time to get cleaned up before Le Cellier.

We’re at Boardwalk. It’s walking/boat distance so not too worried. Worst case - I lose $20.

I may need to send you our schedule so you can help us figure out where to squeeze in Disney Springs!!! lol

Sure thing! Just let me know what you’re doing so far

 

[Nole95]

Hopefully they will have an entrance for those picking up Dopey and Goofy bibs, bags, etc. and another entrance that is merchandise only.

What would be wonderful is if those going in to pick up Dopey/Goofy did not have to exit and then re-enter at some other entrance to get to the merchandise.

 

[FlashAM7]

I don't have a great answer for this...I did Dopey because I was already planning on doing the 10th Goofy, then I wanted the Minnie medal...so if I'm doing those 3 races, why not do the 5K, too? I think I'd been running for about 6-7 years.

IMO - If you can follow a marathon training plan, and are in shape to run a marathon, you can do Dopey.

Physically, I think I could have done it sooner in my running "career" than I did, but I wasn't mentally ready. I had to know I could do a standalone marathon before doing Goofy (when I did Goofy, Dopey wasn't an official "thing" yet, though most people - myself included - did the unofficial Dopey of 5K + Goofy), and I had to know I could do a half before doing a marathon, etc. Not everyone else is like that, some will just do Dopey as their first marathon/half, etc. The other thing to consider is the time you'll put in training, because that is really the hard part* - take a look at marathon/Dopey training plans and look at the mileage and time you'll be putting in for the weeks/months beforehand - can you stick to it? Will you have the time/desire/discipline to follow through on your training plan? Are you cool with most of your weekend at WDW being eaten up by races/naps/recovering?

But I think the fact that you're seriously considering it means you're already on your way to deciding to just go ahead and do it...

*okay so the other hard part is the 4 early wake-ups.

You are pretty spot on about most of your assumptions. I haven't had a problem with time commitment to training, and I'm completely fine with most of the race weekend being eaten up by races as I live 18 minutes from Disney currently and can go pretty much any time

The only way to tell is to run the marathon in a few weeks and see how much I enjoy it!

 

[Ariel484]

You are pretty spot on about most of your assumptions. I haven't had a problem with time commitment to training, and I'm completely fine with most of the race weekend being eaten up by races as I live 18 minutes from Disney currently and can go pretty much any time

The only way to tell is to run the marathon in a few weeks and see how much I enjoy it!

So I'm pretty jealous of your living situation...

I'm thinking you will enjoy it quite a bit.

 

[PrincessV]

For people who have done Dopey/are doing Dopey, how did you know when you were "ready" to do it? Had you been running for years? Months? I have been running for about a year now, and have made great improvements, but not sure if my body is ready to do a Dopey Challenge yet.

At mile 24 of my first marathon (at WDW), I knew without a doubt I could do Goofy. Between miles 24 and 25, I reasoned that if I could do Goofy, there was no reason I couldn't do Dopey. See how you feel during your marathon - you might get your answer there! (But NOT after: please do not look for an answer in the immediate after of a marathon lol!)

Hopefully they will have an entrance for those picking up Dopey and Goofy bibs, bags, etc. and another entrance that is merchandise only.

What would be wonderful is if those going in to pick up Dopey/Goofy did not have to exit and then re-enter at some other entrance to get to the merchandise.

I can't seem to remember just how it was set up for W&D... I know merch was one way, bibs another, but I think we all entered the main door, then separated.

 

[AbbyJaws2003]

Hopefully they will have an entrance for those picking up Dopey and Goofy bibs, bags, etc. and another entrance that is merchandise only.

What would be wonderful is if those going in to pick up Dopey/Goofy did not have to exit and then re-enter at some other entrance to get to the merchandise.

If I remember correctly, you entered the same door (the main entrance) but then went left to get your bibs on the upper level and went right to go down to the merch floor. From the bib area they had you go around the back and you could exit there or go down the stairs to the merch area. So pretty much yes, they were separated in that sense, but when I went there was zero line to get into the building, so I have no idea how they handle the line up for the opening, I am not sure if they will have separate lines for bib pickup and merch shopping.

 

[UNCBear24]

Hopefully they will have an entrance for those picking up Dopey and Goofy bibs, bags, etc. and another entrance that is merchandise only.

What would be wonderful is if those going in to pick up Dopey/Goofy did not have to exit and then re-enter at some other entrance to get to the merchandise.

If I remember correctly, you entered the same door (the main entrance) but then went left to get your bibs on the upper level and went right to go down to the merch floor. From the bib area they had you go around the back and you could exit there or go down the stairs to the merch area. So pretty much yes, they were separated in that sense, but when I went there was zero line to get into the building, so I have no idea how they handle the line up for the opening, I am not sure if they will have separate lines for bib pickup and merch shopping.

I agree that this was how entry into the HP Center worked for W&D.

 

[FlashAM7]

Just saw this pic from a friend. Looks like marathon setup has officially started! Getting more and more anxious.