Official 2012 Wine and Dine ½ Marathon Thread

I'm freaking out about the packet pickup for my DH and DDs. He's doing the 5k and they're doing kids races, but our flight doesn't arrive (scheduled at least - worried if it's late) until 5:14 pm into MCO. We planned to take the DME, then have him jump on an expo bus at the ASMov and pick up his & DDs packets. However, I'm hearing that the DME can take 90 min which has me worried he won't make the 7 pm packet pickup closing.

Any tips, insight, advice??

I too am arriving on Friday around the same time from LAX and I really don't think you are going to make the expo before it closes. I've tried twice before to make it to the expo and the only time I made it with only enough time to pick up the packet was when I took a cab from my resort to the expo. I'm not sure when the kids races are but if your are doing the half you have Saturday morning to pick up your packet. Good luck on the race.
 
I too am arriving on Friday around the same time from LAX and I really don't think you are going to make the expo before it closes. I've tried twice before to make it to the expo and the only time I made it with only enough time to pick up the packet was when I took a cab from my resort to the expo. I'm not sure when the kids races are but if your are doing the half you have Saturday morning to pick up your packet. Good luck on the race.

The Kid's Races are 10am on Saturday morning at the ESPN Wide World of Sports (same place as the expo). So it may be easier than you think to pick up everything on Saturday if you have an entry in the Kid's Races.
 
I'd love to know this too. My DH and DDs will probably just stay asleep because I refuse to pay that much when they're going to be grumpy and sleepy. Not to mention we have to drive to Miami Sunday morning for a cruise! However, if it's really easy to see the runners heading to the finish, they might get up and come see me, then we'll head back to ??

I also asked the question on the main thread and got some helpful answers. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2939388

This is what I can recall. If my memory is off, please let me know and I can revise the drawing to be more accurate. Hope this helps.

WineDinefinish.jpg

Wow, thank you! That is helpful. It looks like there is not a lot of room for spectators AS runners finish. Do most stand afterwards where runners get there medals?
 
I am pretty sure my day will be something like:
1.. Sleep in as late as I can.
2. Eat a big bowl of cereal and bananas
3. Do something relaxing like pool or shopping for a while-
4. head back to resort in afternoon for rest-
5. around 3pm have a light meal and hit the coffee hard after- 5pm head to Epcot
6. Head to the bus line in front of Epcot around 7:30

So, there is a bus line in front of Epcot? Does the line get long?

I think I'm leaning toward option B simply because I'd like to be with my family for the first time they enter MK this trip. It sounds easy enough to take monorail to Epcot and bus to WWoS.
 

Thanks for the picture. That was very helpful. I'm excited to run this race. I do most of my training in the evening so I'll (mostly) be in my element. Hopefully it won't be too humid !!
 
Thank you SO much for the picture! I had no idea of that part of the race. We just waited for my sister inside epcot, where they had the runners filing in and she and I never talked about what went on at the actual finish line.

Do most people's families wait in that area near the finish line? I can't tell how much room there is.

If anyone who has done this race would care to describe the whole finish line experience, I'd love to hear it. Do you sort of keep walking after you cross the finish line and get handed a medal as you pass along, or is there a line to go get one? I know these are lame questions but this is my very first race ever.

I'm also puzzled because of how the runners entered epcot last year. It seemed like they were required to keep walking in until the end of the roped off area. Is that true or do you go meet your spectator at the finish line if they went to the finish line spectator area and just go where you want. Does my question even make sense?

I had no idea there was even a changing area at the finish. What about bathrooms? There were very large lines at the Spaceship earth bathrooms after the race!

TIA!
 
They changed the finish line area last year from the first year. It was much improved. From what I remember from this past year there wasn't a ton of spectator area right around the finish line. Once you cross the finish line, there was a first aid tent right before a do not cross back again boundary.

One you pass that point, there were changing tents in an open common type area where it was open only to runners. You then crossed another boundary wether you get your drink. After this you walk to the font right side of epcot where they often have stitch meet and greet. This is where many spectators are waiting to meet a runner. If you wait here you won't see them actually run.

I have taken a hand towel from my room in my checked bag and use one of the bathrooms inside epcot to wash up and change to enjoy the after party.

I may have a few things off with the spectator areas as I have never had anyone watch me personally. Only been with other runners.
 
So, there is a bus line in front of Epcot? Does the line get long?
I imagine the line does get pretty long- at host resorts as well as at Epcot. from the race site:
Guests not staying at a Host Resort will need to provide their own transportation and those driving personal vehicles will be required to park at Epcot®. THERE WILL BE NO PARKING AT ESPN WIDE WORLD OF SPORTS COMPLEX OR DISNEY'S ANIMAL KINGDOM® THEME PARK ON RACE EVENING. For runners driving to Epcot® on race evening, the race shuttle from Epcot® to the sports complex will begin at 7:00 p.m. and end at 8:30 p.m. The parking fee at Epcot® will be waived for runners and spectators arriving after 7:00 p.m. on race evening. Please allow enough time to ensure you are parked at Epcot® no later than 8:00 p.m.

I won't be driving my own vehicle but it seems like the transport from Epcot is the best option for those not staying at a host resort.
 
Registration is holding steady at 77%. Next price increase is the 18th of July to $185.

Anyone else waiting, for whatever reason? I was using the excuse of buy my Goofy registration before its price increased, but that came and went.....
 
We are staying at AKV. Our plane gets in about 11:00 AM and we thought we would take a bus from the hotel to the expo on Friday. And then back. Is that right? There are busses to the expo like during the marathon in January?
 
We are staying at AKV. Our plane gets in about 11:00 AM and we thought we would take a bus from the hotel to the expo on Friday. And then back. Is that right? There are busses to the expo like during the marathon in January?
There are buses leaving from the host resorts to the expos.:) Sometimes there is a little bit of confusion about where they will drop off and pick up, but if you are at a host resort you should be good to go.
 
Registration is holding steady at 77%. Next price increase is the 18th of July to $185.

Anyone else waiting, for whatever reason? I was using the excuse of buy my Goofy registration before its price increased, but that came and went.....

I haven't registered either. I am waiting to book my departing flight the day before the race. I didn't want to register yet in case we don't get the flight we want. However, in my mind I've already registered and committed.
 
There are buses leaving from the host resorts to the expos.:) Sometimes there is a little bit of confusion about where they will drop off and pick up, but if you are at a host resort you should be good to go.

For the Princess the busses from BWV (was a host resort) were up at the convention center, not at the regular bus stop (both regular expo and race day) They had a sign, but was a little bit confusing for the expo as you had to continue past the regular stop. However at 3am you basically followed everyone else who was awake :). I will say they had a cast member down at the bus stop which was a first for me. Dont know if it was due to the influx of college hires or what, but he was able to make sure we went to the right place.
 
For the Princess the busses from BWV (was a host resort) were up at the convention center, not at the regular bus stop (both regular expo and race day) They had a sign, but was a little bit confusing for the expo as you had to continue past the regular stop. However at 3am you basically followed everyone else who was awake :). I will say they had a cast member down at the bus stop which was a first for me. Dont know if it was due to the influx of college hires or what, but he was able to make sure we went to the right place.

The last two years for the Wine and Dine, there was a Mear's employee stationed at the bus stop to help 'coordinate' bus arrival and manage crowds.

As we will be boarding buses around 7pm, it will be important for someone to direct folks.

They usually have the buses in a slightly different location so that the regular guest doesn't board the bus and wind up at WWoS. Because let's face it, with the exception of Marathon Weekend, most guests don't know there is a race going on unless they get/read the bulletin put out by the resorts.
 
Do you all suggest getting a DDP or just eating around the world for this race.. This is my first Wine and Food Festival (and actually my first time going to epcot)..

I plan on arriving that Friday morning going to expo and parks.. I have one Character Breakfast (Cape May Cafe) set up for the saturday morning of the race.. I have not made any other dining plans..

I haven't been to WDW in a long time.. This will be my second time going.
 
Do you all suggest getting a DDP or just eating around the world for this race.. This is my first Wine and Food Festival (and actually my first time going to epcot)..

I plan on arriving that Friday morning going to expo and parks.. I have one Character Breakfast (Cape May Cafe) set up for the saturday morning of the race.. I have not made any other dining plans..

I haven't been to WDW in a long time.. This will be my second time going.

For me, I snack around, especially with this race. The evening component screws with my meal planning enough that the dining plan is of extremely less value than it normally is.
 
Do you all suggest getting a DDP or just eating around the world for this race.. This is my first Wine and Food Festival (and actually my first time going to epcot)..

I plan on arriving that Friday morning going to expo and parks.. I have one Character Breakfast (Cape May Cafe) set up for the saturday morning of the race.. I have not made any other dining plans..

I haven't been to WDW in a long time.. This will be my second time going.

I would skip the DDP and just plan on eating around the world. The food is awesome and there are plenty of booths - even on my regular trips I have a hard time making it to all of them. Even though I'll have to drop consumption Fri night/Sat I'll be making up for it Sun!!
 
We will be at Disney (Staying a BLT) for my sons' birthday. I would love to do this race. I have never done a 1/2 marathon before. The farthest I have done is a 10k. Do you think I have enough time to train to the point that I will still be able to take them to the parks the next day, which is their birthday? Or will I most likely be too sore the next day?
 
We will be at Disney (Staying a BLT) for my sons' birthday. I would love to do this race. I have never done a 1/2 marathon before. The farthest I have done is a 10k. Do you think I have enough time to train to the point that I will still be able to take them to the parks the next day, which is their birthday? Or will I most likely be too sore the next day?

If you can do a 10k then you can more than likely do a Half-marathon.. Now this depends on when you did that 10k though.. However, there is still enough time to train to finish the Wine and Dine HM.. Now, as far as soreness is concerned, sometimes, that depends on how you trained coming up to the race or just the person.. More than likely, if you attempt the race on minimum training, then you may be too sore to walk the parks the next day.. Even if a person has trained, they can still be pretty banged up after a HM ( I know I was after my first HM..lol).. However, once again, it depends..
 
We will be at Disney (Staying a BLT) for my sons' birthday. I would love to do this race. I have never done a 1/2 marathon before. The farthest I have done is a 10k. Do you think I have enough time to train to the point that I will still be able to take them to the parks the next day, which is their birthday? Or will I most likely be too sore the next day?

The first W&D ½ was my first event longer than a 5K. I started training in June of that year. I didn't train seriously enough. I finished with a time about 3:17. Not what I wanted, but I finished.
The next day was killer on me. Looking back, I would have started trained (and been FAR more dedicated). That would have given me a time I liked better as well as would have reduced the fatigue and pain post race.
With the push back of the race date, there is enough time to still feasibly train and finish respectably and have limited fatigue afterward.

A 21yo friend joined me for the race last year. He had religiously run cross country in high school and felt it would be a breeze. He blew off all training. When the race came he decided to run it all...hard. He had a time under two hours, which is awesome, but he was so sick he didn't leave the villa Sunday or Monday. It was his own fault though.
 












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