Marathon Weekend 2024

[fatmanatee]

I’ve been more optimistic about MW 2024 registrations and I still am. Highest priority for me by far is DL, especially that we have more clarity about it being the only race for next year. I go back and forth on MW but as of now I’m content with taking a bit of a break after Aprils races, my revenge travel itch has almost been fully scratched as far as Disney is concerned. Really curious about how many people end up signing up for two weekends in a row.

 

[marty3d]

I’ve been more optimistic about MW 2024 registrations and I still am. Highest priority for me by far is DL, especially that we have more clarity about it being the only race for next year. I go back and forth on MW but as of now I’m content with taking a bit of a break after Aprils races, my revenge travel itch has almost been fully scratched as far as Disney is concerned. Really curious about how many people end up signing up for two weekends in a row.

I would 100% sign up for the half for both weekends if I could - but I have a conflict on DL weekend.

 

[JAMIESMITH]

The language on Coast to Coast implies that Springtime Surprise will still consist of a 10 Mile distance. That sort of spoils a bit of the surprise?

 

[lookingforsunshine]

the registration stress dreams have started early.

I had a dream last night that I registered for the SS 10K. Which I do actually want to do so send me good vibes ppl lol.

 

[Herding_Cats]

The language on Coast to Coast implies that Springtime Surprise will still consist of a 10 Mile distance. That sort of spoils a bit of the surprise?

This is the 2nd year they’ve used a 10mi for SS, so I think it’s probably safe to assume that’s going to be the standard for that race weekend and the only “surprise” is going to be the theme.

 

[fatmanatee]

I would 100% sign up for the half for both weekends if I could - but I have a conflict on DL weekend.

It’s a problem! Even if I wanted to I don’t know if it’s feasible with work. It would be easier if I lived in either area, so I’d only be traveling for one weekend.

The language on Coast to Coast implies that Springtime Surprise will still consist of a 10 Mile distance. That sort of spoils a bit of the surprise?

Yep. I guess it’s one less thing for them to plan out. Obviously they can change the routes but you have to wonder if the future of RD race maps are what we’ve seen over the last year (with the exception of last years 5k at Animal Kingdom): starts and finishes at epcot. All three Springtime Surprise races are listed as starting there, last years Wine and Dine half was a route that started and ended there, and people didn’t seem too thrilled with that one, compared to the old start at the MK parking lot. Would be a bummer if we don’t see that one in the future.

 

[Barca33Runner]

As others have alluded to I think the Baby Ruth in the pool is the timing of MW 2024. Overlapping with New Year’s and, at least portions of, the vast majority of school breaks brings one huge logistical factor into play:

Increased demand from runners who can more easily plan around being off work and/or their kids being out of school. (Overall attendance peaks at such times, the potential rD participant pool surely follows)

I don’t know whether some of the more nebulous things speculated on influence the field size (reduced lodging availability, need to clear roads and parks more quickly to appease Holiday visitors, etc.); but I think it’s undoubtedly true that more runners can make the first week of January work.

There are a lot of factors that should indicate a decline in demand for MW 2024 but I think the single factor of race weekend timing outweighs them all and we will see quick sellouts of everything again.

 

[Novatrix]

FOMO is starting to creep back in with the announcement of the special Coast to Coast medal for doing MW + the DL half. I was already thinking of just doing Goofy and taking the week following MW off to hang out in Florida, but it would be so easy to fly to CA for their races instead.

Right now, I'm just reminding myself of the following:
1.) Florida is more likely to be warm and sunny that time of year
2.) Festival of the Arts is awesome and I haven't been since just before the Covid shutdowns
and most importantly
3.) Don't you remember how hard a 4 mile run was a week out from doing Dopey this year, let alone trying to do a half marathon?!!!

I just need to conspire to have a work emergency on registration day so I'm nowhere near a computer....

 

[Disneyhanna]

I need someone to erase coast to coast from my head because I am having way too much FOMO about it too. I 100% want to do Dopey again for 2024 (the marathon is on my birthday, can't beat that). I could feasibly make both work cost-wise if I traded New Years weekend at WDW for the Disneyland, though it's not quite 1:1 since I have an AP and not a Magic Key. But New Years weekend at WDW doesn't cost me any extra vacation time, plus I enjoyed having a few park days this year before the races as I had very little park time during/after the races.

The bigger issue is January is busy season at work, and I'd have to work some half/full days during both WDW and DL to make it work. That's no fun when you're already paying so much $ for a hotel. Doing just WDW would probably mean I could get away with maybe 2 half days like I did this year which wasn't bad. Trying to fly out of MN twice in January also would just be tempting fate.

But FOMO!!!!! Doing "just" Dopey. Ha!

 

[nekonekoneko]

Ok, want to just totally overdo it?

Run Dopey. That Monday, get on the DCL ship to Castaway for the CC. Get back to Port Canaveral on Thursday, and then take a late morning to early afternoon flight from MCO to somewhere in SoCal to try to get to DLR 1/2 Expo that day to get the bibs for the 5k and Dumbo Double Dare.

Edit: Dang it, it won't work. The Disney Wish comes back to Port Canaveral on Friday, effectively missing the 5k in Disneyland.

 

[lookingforsunshine]

That Monday, get on the DCL ship to Castaway for the CC.

Right now the CCC is Mon - Fri unless they change it or you go on a diff ship if it exists and do CC5K on your own.

 

[nekonekoneko]

Right now the CCC is Mon - Fri unless they change it or you go on a diff ship if it exists and do CC5K on your own.

Yeah, I looked up the itinerary for the ship, and it's a 4 NIGHT (read 5 DAY) voyage, making this impossible without figuring out how to use the airstrip on CC on my own, eschewing the day at sea before getting back to port.

I first thought the ship would land back on Thursday, and that's where I messed up.

 

[dobball23]

Ok, want to just totally overdo it?

Run Dopey. That Monday, get on the DCL ship to Castaway for the CC. Get back to Port Canaveral on Thursday, and then take a late morning to early afternoon flight from MCO to somewhere in SoCal to try to get to DLR 1/2 Expo that day to get the bibs for the 5k and Dumbo Double Dare.

Edit: Dang it, it won't work. The Disney Wish comes back to Port Canaveral on Friday, effectively missing the 5k in Disneyland.

That would be an outstanding week, if the logistics worked out. Maybe in the future the cruise will leave on Sunday and you go straight from the marathon to Port Canaveral.

 

[Novatrix]

That would be an outstanding week, if the logistics worked out. Maybe in the future the cruise will leave on Sunday and you go straight from the marathon to Port Canaveral.

They could have a special challenge medal.

It would supercede my Castle to Chateau medal as the most expensive piece of artwork I own.

 

[GreatLakes]

This is the 2nd year they’ve used a 10mi for SS, so I think it’s probably safe to assume that’s going to be the standard for that race weekend and the only “surprise” is going to be the theme.

Due to the inherent laziness of rD I think you are correct. That should be a weekend to experiment with formats but instead they will just throw a different theme at the same old thing year after year.

 

[Herding_Cats]

Due to the inherent laziness of rD I think you are correct. That should be a weekend to experiment with formats but instead they will just throw a different theme at the same old thing year after year.

I have no idea, but with the time of year that weekend falls (Spring Break) and how busy the parks are, and maybe weather/temperatures (???) that a 10mi works better for them from a get-the-parks-open-with-no-interruptions standpoint and as a safety concern? I know that even running the whole thing in the dark, the SS10k last year was basically a swim with how warm and humid it was. Balloon ladies at 6am+2:40 for a 16mm pace clears the parks before 9am.

 

[PrincessV]

I have no idea, but with the time of year that weekend falls (Spring Break) and how busy the parks are, and maybe weather/temperatures (???) that a 10mi works better for them from a get-the-parks-open-with-no-interruptions standpoint and as a safety concern? I know that even running the whole thing in the dark, the SS10k last year was basically a swim with how warm and humid it was. Balloon ladies at 6am+2:40 for a 16mm pace clears the parks before 9am.

Yep, I think the heat issues with the Dark Side (may their memories be a blessing) races prompted the switch to a 10 miler. As a Floridan, I was fine with the hot 13.1s, but have to say that 10 was a lot more pleasant! And then add on that the timing for that weekend has to move around to accommodate Easter/Spring Break, which can move it to potentially a little cooler weather, or to a lot warmer… that span from March to early May can swing wildly.

 

[PrincessV]

I have no horse in the C2C race because there is 0% chance I’ll ever travel to CA for Disney when I live so near WDW, but I do wonder if it will impact registration over here. I’d been kind of thinking I’d aim for 10K W&D and Half for MW, but now I’m wondering if I should aim for W&D Half to hedge my bet if MW goes fast…

 

[The Expert]

I think the Baby Ruth in the pool

Nice one! (From the 12 of us old enough to get this reference without looking it up.)

I think the heat issues with the Dark Side (may their memories be a blessing) races prompted the switch to a 10 miler.

TOTALLY! I did three SW weekends at WDW and I vowed during the last one never to do a Half in Florida past March ever again.

As for the C2C, I'm going to go for it! I'd already pretty much decided to do the 10K and Half at MW, so I'll add the challenge at DL and call it good. I just have to decide if I cut any of the MW trip short, and I have to do it soon because our DVC window opens next week!

 

[nekonekoneko]

Nice one! (From the 12 of us old enough to get this reference without looking it up.)



TOTALLY! I did three SW weekends at WDW and I vowed during the last one never to do a Half in Florida past March ever again.

As for the C2C, I'm going to go for it! I'd already pretty much decided to do the 10K and Half at MW, so I'll add the challenge at DL and call it good. I just have to decide if I cut any of the MW trip short, and I have to do it soon because our DVC window opens next week!

I was just talking with my DW. She's all in as much as she can be. Dopey+DL5k+Dumbo.

I'm never going to see a sunset again, am I?