Marathon Weekend 2019

[JulieODC]

Probably not unique, but I pack an outfit for each day of the trip in its own plastic bag for each family member. That way, it’s easy to grab and get dressed in the morning with minimal thought or searching around for socks, etc.

No doubt I am an overplanner - but I do plan for “wing it” time where we don’t have formal plans for rides, meals and go with the flow (esp with little ones).

 

[run.minnie.miles]

SAFD: Don't let the little bad things become big things! I know things like crowding, poor course etiquette, expo merch selling out and long lines can be so frustrating and disappointing. We have to pick our battles when it comes to things that really bother us though. It's amazing how a positive attitude and focusing on the good can change an experience.

In the words of T-Swift, "Shake it off!"

(and now I'll just need to remind myself of these things in January...)

 

[croach]

SAFD: Don't let the little bad things become big things! I know things like crowding, poor course etiquette, expo merch selling out and long lines can be so frustrating and disappointing. We have to pick our battles when it comes to things that really bother us though. It's amazing how a positive attitude and focusing on the good can change an experience.

In the words of T-Swift, "Shake it off!"

(and now I'll just need to remind myself of these things in January...)

Any tip that comes with advice from Taylor Swift is top notch with me.

Glorious times a couple years ago when they were playing Shake It Off on repeat thru Cone Alley.

 

[PrincessV]

For this week's Sundays are for Disney, I want to know your favorite Disney-related tips, tricks, hacks, etc. They can be related to marathon weekend or just Disney in general.

SAFD: For general WDW vacationing, my #1 tip is summer nights. We avoid mornings and afternoons and hit the parks around dinner time, then stay late. This 1. reduces both overheating and the need for sunscreen, and 2. allows for touring with much lower crowds.

For Marathon week, I'll ditto a previous mention of not hitting the expo early on Day 1. For me, there is no item of merchandise worth dealing with that hot mess - I prefer to wait until mid-to-late-afternoon.

 

[JeffW]

Good morning, runDisney all-stars! According to the runDisney website, we are - as of this writing - 100 days away from marathon weekend! Still a ways to go, but it's going to be here soon.

For this week's Sundays are for Disney, I want to know your favorite Disney-related tips, tricks, hacks, etc. They can be related to marathon weekend or just Disney in general.

Have an awesome week, gang.

This isn't anything novel but the tip I always give people, that my sister told me when she was a CM, is to "always go left". The lines to the left are almost always shorter, given our American tendency to stay on the right.

 

[Dis5150]

So I'm a guy. What exactly is this? How exactly does it work? And what exactly does it do?

Sorry, I just saw this. If you soak in a tub after a race you put the recovery bath bomb under the water as it is filling the tub so it dissolves. I don't know if it would work with an ice bath? I took a nice, hot bath post marathon with the recovery bomb and it was heavenly. It has all kinds of nice stuff in it that help your muscles unwind.

I tried to copy/paste the ingredients from her page but it wouldn't let me - here is the link to them. They are actually called Bounce Back Baths Muscle Recovery. https://fluffyfizzies.com/collections/bounce-back-baths-muscle-recovery

 

[Disney at Heart]

My runDisney hint: Carry a plastic grocery bag in a pocket with you as you race. You can wad it up to nearly nothing. At the end of the race, you'll have something for carrying your "goodies" like water, Power Ade, banana, runDisney food box, and anything else you get (25th anniversary marathon ears, for example). Also, if you want to take anything off, like sun glasses, hat or visor, arm band, etc., you can stuff it in.

 

[AFwifelife]

My runDisney hint: Carry a plastic grocery bag in a pocket with you as you race. You can wad it up to nearly nothing. At the end of the race, you'll have something for carrying your "goodies" like water, Power Ade, banana, runDisney food box, and anything else you get (25th anniversary marathon ears, for example). Also, if you want to take anything off, like sun glasses, hat or visor, arm band, etc., you can stuff it in.

This is a great idea. I fold up plastic bags into little triangles. I’ll definitely be able to get a few even in a minimal pack.

 

[KSellers88]

I am an over planner for sure, but I am good at going with the flow as well if necessary. My main suggestion is to be as patient as possible. It is supposed to be a fun vacation, so there's no need to stress out over the smallest little detail going wrong.

I love all of these suggestion and I am definitely stealing some of them for my next trip (IN TWO DAYS!).

 

[TheHamm]

I love all of these suggestion and I am definitely stealing some of them for my next trip (IN TWO DAYS!).

Me too!
(In 5 days! All by myself for 24 hours!)

 

[Bree]

SAFD: Pack your patience and go with the flow. Take your time between rides and explore. My SIL has been going to WDW much longer than I have. She had no idea that France had stores, an ice cream shop or a bakery until I told her about it last weekend.

 

[Sleepless Knight]

SAFD: I recommend flexible planning. Have a rough idea of what you'd like to do, schedule any ADRs or FP+ that you consider a must do, and then be willing to change the plan as new possibilities open up.

I have a question for everyone who says avoid the Expo on day one. We're running Dopey so we must be there on day one. Both of us are interested in merchandise, but honestly more so in Goofy merchandise or marathon only merchandise. Is arriving at 12:30ish late enough to avoid the major crowds yet still give us a decent selection of Goofy merchandise? Likewise, what sort of Dopey merchandise might still be available then? Trying to figure out if we should simply plan on no Dopey unless we want to get there early. We are arriving on Tuesday night.

 

[FFigawi]

SAFD: I recommend flexible planning. Have a rough idea of what you'd like to do, schedule any ADRs or FP+ that you consider a must do, and then be willing to change the plan as new possibilities open up.

I have a question for everyone who says avoid the Expo on day one. We're running Dopey so we must be there on day one. Both of us are interested in merchandise, but honestly more so in Goofy merchandise or marathon only merchandise. Is arriving at 12:30ish late enough to avoid the major crowds yet still give us a decent selection of Goofy merchandise? Likewise, what sort of Dopey merchandise might still be available then? Trying to figure out if we should simply plan on no Dopey unless we want to get there early. We are arriving on Tuesday night.

In the past, I've arrived at the expo between 1-2 and found the merchandise lines to still be fairly long. Not as long as first thing when it opens, but a decent wait nonetheless. If you don't care much about the Dopey-specific items, I'd go very late in the day on Wednesday or Thursday.

 

[ZellyB]

SAFD: I recommend flexible planning. Have a rough idea of what you'd like to do, schedule any ADRs or FP+ that you consider a must do, and then be willing to change the plan as new possibilities open up.

I have a question for everyone who says avoid the Expo on day one. We're running Dopey so we must be there on day one. Both of us are interested in merchandise, but honestly more so in Goofy merchandise or marathon only merchandise. Is arriving at 12:30ish late enough to avoid the major crowds yet still give us a decent selection of Goofy merchandise? Likewise, what sort of Dopey merchandise might still be available then? Trying to figure out if we should simply plan on no Dopey unless we want to get there early. We are arriving on Tuesday night.

Last year we arrived early afternoon and it was still crazy. I think the merchandise line was probably still well over 1 hour long. We didn't bother with it. If there are items you feel strongly about getting I'd plan to go first thing honestly and just suffer through the lines.

 

[Sleepless Knight]

I appreciate the feedback. Sounding like late Wednesday afternoon is likely better unless either of us really loves the Dopey merchandise.

 

[Keels]

I think the Expo and merch is going to be drastically different (AKA back to normal) since they’ve taken early entry away from Race Retreaters.

 

[Dis_Yoda]

I think the Expo and merch is going to be drastically different (AKA back to normal) since they’ve taken early entry away from Race Retreaters.

Oh really? Glad I didn't get my husband that!

We won't get to the expo until Thursday or Friday. We haven't decided our plans much yet.

 

[Keels]

Oh really? Glad I didn't get my husband that!

We won't get to the expo until Thursday or Friday. We haven't decided our plans much yet.

Yeah. I didn’t buy it since I’m not going Dopey and there wasn’t a need, but I have friends who did and they were refunded by RunDisney when it was confirmed it no longer included early Expo access.

 

[lhermiston]

In the past, I've arrived at the expo between 1-2 and found the merchandise lines to still be fairly long. Not as long as first thing when it opens, but a decent wait nonetheless. If you don't care much about the Dopey-specific items, I'd go very late in the day on Wednesday or Thursday.

Does it matter what time I go if I’m not interested in merch? Six new shirts is already plenty, unless I talk myself into a finisher’s jacket.

 

[jennamfeo]

Take your time between rides and explore.

This is something I have never done. Not at Disneyland and obviously not at WDW since we have only been once. I know there is so much to take in, but I like the rides!