Official 2016 Star Wars Half Marthon - The Dark Side Weekend

[Ariel484]

Actually, they have. I ran the Expedition Everest Challenge in May 2015 and Tower of Terror 10 miler in October 2014. Both had discounted park tickets offered via an ESPNWWOS ticket link with a special password and both of those weekends were sold out races.

That's true, but those were smaller races weekends (less races - 5K plus a longer race, no 10K - that had smaller capacities, and not all resorts were host resorts). For Dark Side there are 3 big races (5K, 10K and half) in addition to the kids races, and all resorts are host resorts. That leads me to believe they are expecting big crowds and are less likely to offer discounted tickets.

 

[AThrillingChase]

Disney hasn't offered discounts for park admission during runDisney weekends for quite a while now. The races have been full enough that they haven't seen the need to do so, I guess. Way back when (2011), they had Marathon Monday where you got free admission to any park if you showed your finisher medal from the marathon at the ticket booth the day after the race. Now that was a good discount.

Actually, they have. I ran the Expedition Everest Challenge in May 2015 and Tower of Terror 10 miler in October 2014. Both had discounted park tickets offered via an ESPNWWOS ticket link with a special password and both of those weekends were sold out races.

Free entry would be great! Haha. But yes, discounted tickets are only offered for smaller races. Usually in the fall. W&D a few months ago, for example, still offered discounted tickets and rooms. Any weekend with a challenge or that is incredibly popular, no longer does.

 

[princessekrus]

Getting excited!

DH and I are in for the challenge - our first time doing the challenge. We've done regular WDW half, Princess Half, and Avengers Half, so excited to add the Star Wars medals. Wish we could have done the Kessel Run, but maybe another year. The timing also worked perfectly for us since it is the first weekend of our kids spring break week, and we were already planning a Disney Trip.

I have a spectator question. In previous races, my parents with our kids have always watched us from the finish line. However, with this finish line being at WWOS, and them having seen us do multiple races before, was trying to figure a way for them to see us on course. These were my thoughts

1) We are staying at the DVC Beach Club Villas, so they could see us really early (like 6am or before) about 2 miles into the race at the international gateway. But that's pretty early for everyone...

or

2) Drive (or bus) to Animal Kingdom and see us around 7:45-8:00 (we run slow) on our way out of the park. But I don't know how feasible this is given the road closures. Anyone done something like this? I know we don't know the official route yet - I am assuming it will be a reverse of wine-and-dine. If they want to be in front of AK by 7:45 - would leaving Beach Club at 7:00 be realistic? I got them a pre-park ADR at Rainforest Cafe, so they could at least eat after seeing us, and then tour AK once the park is open and we'll meet them there after the race.

Any other spots that might be easier to get to that could be potential on-course cheering areas?

 

[Wink25]

Ugh! Missed the proof of time deadline! I was waiting for Star Wars the light side and neither one of us even PR'd. I tried emailing rundisney and they just flat out said no. So sad because if the corrals are the same as the light side we would have been in corral B! Ok rant over...

 

[opusone]

Ugh! Missed the proof of time deadline! I was waiting for Star Wars the light side and neither one of us even PR'd. I tried emailing rundisney and they just flat out said no. So sad because if the corrals are the same as the light side we would have been in corral B! Ok rant over...

Sorry to hear this.

I know this doesn't help for this race, but in the future, I would suggest entering your best proof of time at the time of registration, and then if you do happen to get a better one between registration and the deadline, you can update your proof of time at that point.

 

[kmchisholm]

Free entry would be great! Haha. But yes, discounted tickets are only offered for smaller races. Usually in the fall. W&D a few months ago, for example, still offered discounted tickets and rooms. Any weekend with a challenge or that is incredibly popular, no longer does.

It bites - for the first time ever I got an AP since I'll have 3 visits in a year. At least I was able to use the Raise/Target discount method to save 10%. You can check out the Disney Goft Card thread under the Budget board for info on this.

 

[flvy]

I finally have everything booked. I feel like I've done zero planning for this trip because I've been so focused on Tink. I ended up booking Pop there's a place to run over there right? I'm leaving so early I'm going to end up needing to do a quick maintence run before the half.

 

[roselark]

There is a great running path around the lake at POP. Shares with AoA. I think it is nearly a mile.

 

[flvy]

Awesome!! Thank you for the quick answer. I'll have to go check out the resort map.

 

[acbshada]

Just got back from a trip down there, and you can definitely run at POP. Nice trail around the lake between POP and AOA. You should enjoy that quite a bit, I bet.

 

[opusone]

I'm leaving so early I'm going to end up needing to do a quick maintence run before the half.

There is a great running path around the lake at POP. Shares with AoA. I think it is nearly a mile.

I just measured it using google maps, and it appears to be ~1.25 miles around Hourglass Lake.

 

[twinsouvenirs]

To you angels who suggested Magical Enchanted Vacations and Kristina Sharpe... LOVE YOU! I am doing the challenge with AThrillingChase!

 

[twinsouvenirs]

To you angels who suggested Magical Enchanted Vacations and Kristina Sharpe... LOVE YOU! I am doing the challenge with AThrillingChase!

 

[twinsouvenirs]

I know it is a dark side race in this coast, but, bring on bb-8!!! I would LOVE to have a photo with him. He looked so cute at the race.

Agreed! I am a Boba fan so I'm praying they go old school--and Darth Maul too....

 

[twinsouvenirs]

Ugh! Missed the proof of time deadline! I was waiting for Star Wars the light side and neither one of us even PR'd. I tried emailing rundisney and they just flat out said no. So sad because if the corrals are the same as the light side we would have been in corral B! Ok rant over...

With you. I seriously had to pee at the WDW Marathon Weekend 10k and there went that time. I have to figure out how to properly hydrate this round because a half will only be worse

 

[flvy]

I just measured it using google maps, and it appears to be ~1.25 miles around Hourglass Lake.

Thank you for doing that so I didn't have to!

 

[Disneyland_emily]

I just measured it using google maps, and it appears to be ~1.25 miles around Hourglass Lake.

If you need longer start lapping around the buildings.. By working around pop then art it becomes just over 5.. I've done a 'virtual' half there and added Caribbean for my longest run of 20 miles with little repeated views (passed each point no more than twice)

If you run the buildings at housekeeping time it's a built in cheering section

 

[hotblooded]

I'm surprised the course map isn't up yet. I'm really hoping for the reverse Wine & Dine that was rumored when the race was announced. Has there been any further info on the topic?

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I'm surprised the course map isn't up yet. I'm really hoping for the reverse Wine & Dine that was rumored when the race was announced. Has there been any further info on the topic?

I'd love to know about this, too...

 

[opusone]

January Training Report

How's everyone doing for training? I saw monthly mileage reports on the Marathon Weekend thread and thought we could do the same here. Here is my January report...

Total Miles: 163.7 miles
Total Time: 25:27:44
Average Pace: 9:20/mi