Official 2011 Princess Half Marathon Thread - Link to new thread Post 3703!

[jbm02]

Does anyone have a list of the 2009 AND 2010 host resorts?

Has anyone done the Princess and stayed at SOG? I think I read somewhere that the Poly is one of the host hotels. Because it is right across the street (well, down the path, across the road and through the Poly parking lot...), I was wondering how that worked for people. I'm considering it because the room rates would probably be less than a mod for me, and a little more than a value...
Thanks!

 

[leeshiebean]

2010 was:
The All Star Resorts
Port Orleans Riverside
Port Orleans French Quarter
Saratoga Springs Resort
Old Key West Resort
Polynesian Resort

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

2010 was:
The All Star Resorts
Port Orleans Riverside
Port Orleans French Quarter
Saratoga Springs Resort
Old Key West Resort
Polynesian Resort

Right, but were they the same the year before? I'm just wondering if it's a safe bet these'll be the same next year.

 

[stenogoddess]

I know Caribbean Beach was one in 2009 'cause that's where we stayed. Great hotel!

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

I know Caribbean Beach was one in 2009 'cause that's where we stayed. Great hotel!

Thanks... I so highly doubt GF will be the deluxe, but one can dream.

 

[ADPiSpaz16]

Is there any benefit to staying at a host resort over the others? WE were planning on Poly.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Is there any benefit to staying at a host resort over the others? WE were planning on Poly.

I think then you don't have to deal with getting yourself to the starting line, by car or taxi.

 

[KarenAylwood]

I swear that when I first searched for the Princess Half I found the 2010 thread but now I can't find anything. In it, it had the prices for each hotel for this past year. Anyone remember what rates they gave? Were they discounted much from normal? If they were, I'd think of upgrading to the Poly if it's not too much (we normally stay at Riverside every year in September).

 

[joan4mickey]

Resort Hotels they had some rates, but they weren't that good. I got a pin code that help a lot (I paid $95/night for value and used all Disney transportation)-hopefully I will get one for next year. The value resorts were around $125/night-I don't know about the others. Perhaps this is good if you take ME from airport and use all resort transportation.

The host hotels for the 2009 and 2010 were different-so who know what they will be for 2011.

 

[leeshiebean]

I'm fairly certain the hotels for 2009 were different than 2010, so next year will probably have different resorts as well.

The prices were discounted off of regular rates, but I actually used a pin code and it ended up being cheaper than the race rate. I believe a lot of people used the buy 3/get 4 deal that came out as well. It's best to just 'shop around' and see what the best price is for you. Also, when the race discounts came out, they were whatever price, but then a few months later they went up, so book early if you plan to use the race discount.

The race discount on tickets, however, can be used whenever. In fact, friends who ran with us decided they wanted one more day in the parks, so the day after the race they ordered a park hopper ticket online via the race discount website, and picked it up at the hotel desk.

I thought it was beneficial to stay at a host hotel. There were regular coach buses that took us to the WWOS for the expo. Otherwise, you would have to catch several connecting buses to get there, and that can take awhile. Also, the transportation on race day morning was great. It was one less hassle to worry about, and free! (For the record, we had to take a cab from Epcot to Port Orleans Riverside and it cost us $13! That's only b/c we were running late for our Magical Express bus on the last day there.)

Oh, and I had said the host hotels came out last year in May but I was mistaken. I believe they were released in June.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Yeah, I read back into the thread, the host hotels were announced July 1.

I think we're going to vacation at WDW the week AFTER the race. So we'll aim to get there Friday night, late, and stay through the following weekend. That way, I can train normally at home, do a short run on Saturday in Orlando, and be prepped for Sunday without being exhausted from the parks. Then, WDW Sun-Friday, Harry Potter on Saturday and home Sunday.

 

[ADPiSpaz16]

That's something I was thinking about too. Is it better to vacation BEFORE or AFTER the race on Saturday? And if it's AFTER, when is it best to arrive in time to pick up packets and stuff?

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

That's something I was thinking about too. Is it better to vacation BEFORE or AFTER the race on Saturday? And if it's AFTER, when is it best to arrive in time to pick up packets and stuff?

I would say before - although don't overdo it the day before. You don't need tired legs before you run the race. The day before the race we saw Alice in Wonderland and played a bit at DisneyQuest and Downtown Disney. I went to MK after the race, but only for a few hours. The lines were long at many of the attractions and standing up that much afterwards didn't help my body recover any faster. Next year, I will go straight to the Spa after!

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

That's something I was thinking about too. Is it better to vacation BEFORE or AFTER the race on Saturday? And if it's AFTER, when is it best to arrive in time to pick up packets and stuff?

After is definitely the way to do it, for us. I was exhausted for about three weeks when I got home from Disney this time, and I didn't even run! There's no way that I'd be able to vacation before, have as good a time as I'd want to, and then run a half marathon. Waste of money!

 

[KarenAylwood]

After is definitely the way to do it, for us. I was exhausted for about three weeks when I got home from Disney this time, and I didn't even run! There's no way that I'd be able to vacation before, have as good a time as I'd want to, and then run a half marathon. Waste of money!

Totally agree. We're always exhausted after!!

I want to do the 5K with my mom the day before, but we're walking it. She doesn't run but likes to walk so we figured it'd be fun to do. Then do an easy day at a park or relax at the pool. Then do the race Sunday (mom as a spectator of course ) and I could go back to the resort to nap / lay in the pool and my mom could either relax or go to a park and we could go later on in the day. I'm hoping I'll have trained enough by then to handle going to a park that afternoon and the next day??

The more I think about it the more I want to stay at the Poly!!

 

[MickeyMomTo2]

That's something I was thinking about too. Is it better to vacation BEFORE or AFTER the race on Saturday? And if it's AFTER, when is it best to arrive in time to pick up packets and stuff?

This may be silly and prideful, but I want at least one or two days after so I can wear my medal at the parks! I'm going with a friend, so we are just doing a long weekend, but I don't want to leave until Monday evening so I can enjoy the bling!

 

[jbm02]

This may be silly and prideful, but I want at least one or two days after so I can wear my medal at the parks! I'm going with a friend, so we are just doing a long weekend, but I don't want to leave until Monday evening so I can enjoy the bling!

I'm planning to stay til Monday because I don't know if I'll be able to walk the next day!!

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

This may be silly and prideful, but I want at least one or two days after so I can wear my medal at the parks! I'm going with a friend, so we are just doing a long weekend, but I don't want to leave until Monday evening so I can enjoy the bling!

Go to the parks - but don't go crazy in the parks - it was so much fun wearing my medal afterwards in the MK. But, there is no way if you run a half that you want to do the usual go on every ride type of visit. You get tired and your body gets tired. So, at least for that day take it easy and play it by ear. It all depends on how you explore the parks. We get the crazy itinerary going in my family and especially for those who will be running in their first half marathon next year, keep in mind that you may feel great for an hour or two, but you need to take it easy.

I would really advise anyone that is doing the Princess as their first half to do a half closer to home beforehand so that you can anticipate how much recovery time you will need. Then, take those lessons learned to the Princess and then you can go crazy in the parks. I saw plenty of Princesses in the park afterwards but most were taking it easy by watching the shows where you could sit - not standing in a myriad of lines, walking miles, etc. Plus, keep in mind the day of that you will be up since about 2 to 3 a.m. so you will get tired pretty quick after the adrenaline leaves you. But, I would relax for a few hours first - maybe take a nap after the race and then go back to the parks. Oh, and take a cold shower not a hot one before you brave the parks! You will need it! Then, the day after go back to your regular running around the parks.

 

[MickeyMomTo2]

Go to the parks - but don't go crazy in the parks - it was so much fun wearing my medal afterwards in the MK. But, there is no way if you run a half that you want to do the usual go on every ride type of visit.

Although I am usually a "cram as much as possible in while at Disney" person, I am planning for the half-marathon to be a laid back trip in general. When I said I wanted to wear the medal in the parks, I just meant I wanted to stay for a day or two to enjoy the experience. Other than doing the Keys to the Kingdom tour the morning after I arrive (before the half), I am just planning to go with the flow and enjoy being in the World!

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Although I am usually a "cram as much as possible in while at Disney" person, I am planning for the half-marathon to be a laid back trip in general. When I said I wanted to wear the medal in the parks, I just meant I wanted to stay for a day or two to enjoy the experience. Other than doing the Keys to the Kingdom tour the morning after I arrive (before the half), I am just planning to go with the flow and enjoy being in the World!

Ooh, the KTTK tour is one of our *must do* things for the next trip We don't have to go as commando next time, because we SO did that this year, but I want to fill up the week with experiences.