Official 2016 Star Wars Half Marthon - The Dark Side Weekend

[sunshinecruise]

It ends at ESPN WWOS, so you will need to catch a bus.

Thank you, now that I actually look at it again, I see that.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

What do most people think about the race ending at WWOS?? I'm not a big fan of this as compared with finishing near Epcot...

 

[FFigawi]

I think it's fine. I like the idea of the races being different from each other and not all starting and finishing at the same place.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I think it's fine. I like the idea of the races being different from each other and not all starting and finishing at the same place.

It's just... WWOS... there's NOTHING there, at least from my perspective!

 

[FFigawi]

There's nothing in the parking lot at Epcot either.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

There's nothing in the parking lot at Epcot either.

Yeah... but you can walk right over to Epcot!! And for anyone staying at an Epcot resort, you're just a walk away. Walk away from the monorail if you're saying at a MK resort. WWOS is just away from everything for everyone.

We've usually walked to Epcot, and had our photos taken in front of Spaceship Earth.

I'm good with changing things up, but I'd much rather finish near a park -- not way out at WWOS. Also makes me wonder if bus transportation back to resorts will be longer, with NO ONE having any other option to get back to their resorts.

 

[Mimsy Borogove]

It's just... WWOS... there's NOTHING there, at least from my perspective!

There's nothing in the parking lot at Epcot either.

Agree that there's really nothing at WWOS, but I'm sort of hoping that that fact makes it a blank canvas for a really awesome finish line and celebration area. There are all the old sets from the now-defunct Star Wars Weekends that could be brought there, tons of opportunity for character meet and greets, lots of space for food and libation, all things they couldn't necessarily do in the Epcot parking lot*.

*noting that despite some of my posts here, I am an optimist by nature.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Agree that there's really nothing at WWOS, but I'm sort of hoping that that fact makes it a blank canvas for a really awesome finish line and celebration area. There are all the old sets from the now-defunct Star Wars Weekends that could be brought there, tons of opportunity for character meet and greets, lots of space for food and libation, all things they couldn't necessarily do in the Epcot parking lot*.

*noting that despite some of my posts here, I am an optimist by nature.

Hey, look: if they set up something AWESOME there for us, then I agree -- that would be great!! I guess that I'm just not expecting anything. It seems that when they are going to do something, recently they hype the heck out of it. Since I haven't heard anything about an awesome after-the-race experience, I don't have my hopes up. So if they DO do something, it'll be a great surprise to me.

 

[Mimsy Borogove]

Hey, look: if they set up something AWESOME there for us, then I agree -- that would be great!! I guess that I'm just not expecting anything. It seems that when they are going to do something, recently they hype the heck out of it. Since I haven't heard anything about an awesome after-the-race experience, I don't have my hopes up. So if they DO do something, it'll be a great surprise to me.

Agreed! Though I will say one more thing. I ran the inaugural Light Side Half last year and truly the best part was all the 501st Legion folks who came out around mile 8ish all on their own. Tons and tons of characters, little to no waits to meet them, and they were all so gracious and nice. Since that was on the streets of Anaheim/Garden Grove, and there really aren't any good areas for the 501st to do that (based on the current Dark Side course knowledge) safely, WWOS might be a good opportunity for that as well. The 501st used to march in the Star Wars Weekends motorcade and since that's gone the way of the dodo, this would be an opportunity for Disney to make it up to a fantastic organization since they viewed it as a huge honor to march at Disney.

 

[hauntedcity]

Agreed! Though I will say one more thing. I ran the inaugural Light Side Half last year and truly the best part was all the 501st Legion folks who came out around mile 8ish all on their own. Tons and tons of characters, little to no waits to meet them, and they were all so gracious and nice. Since that was on the streets of Anaheim/Garden Grove, and there really aren't any good areas for the 501st to do that (based on the current Dark Side course knowledge) safely, WWOS might be a good opportunity for that as well. The 501st used to march in the Star Wars Weekends motorcade and since that's gone the way of the dodo, this would be an opportunity for Disney to make it up to a fantastic organization since they viewed it as a huge honor to march at Disney.

After hearing about how amazing the 501st has been at the Disneyland races, I just assumed they would be here, as well! Does anyone have any contacts in the 501st who can confirm if they will be on the course?

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Agreed! Though I will say one more thing. I ran the inaugural Light Side Half last year and truly the best part was all the 501st Legion folks who came out around mile 8ish all on their own. Tons and tons of characters, little to no waits to meet them, and they were all so gracious and nice. Since that was on the streets of Anaheim/Garden Grove, and there really aren't any good areas for the 501st to do that (based on the current Dark Side course knowledge) safely, WWOS might be a good opportunity for that as well. The 501st used to march in the Star Wars Weekends motorcade and since that's gone the way of the dodo, this would be an opportunity for Disney to make it up to a fantastic organization since they viewed it as a huge honor to march at Disney.

Totally agreed -- that would be very cool if the 501st were there! I ran the Light Side Half this year, and it was terrific to see them out on the course!

 

[Dis_Yoda]

From what I've seen on other places online, the 501st is planning on being at Star Wars - Dark Side, especially with the removal of the Star Wars Weekends

 

[opusone]

Using the last three WDW rD events as a "guide," we should see the Event Guide posted anytime starting today through next Wednesday.

Although given that this is an inaugural event with new courses, I wouldn't be surprised if it took longer.

 

[Ariel484]

Imma leave this right here.

 

[acbshada]

OMG. I've never been a fan of the bags before. But OMG! THERE'S A FREAKIN' AT-AT!!!

Where did you find these? Awesome!!

 

[acbshada]

I actually came in here to ask a serious question, and now my heart is racing because of a purse. Nerd. Yep. Nerd.

I was going to ask if anyone else who was staying onsite was taking advantage of using Magical Express from the airport to the resort. If so, have you received your Magical Express information and yellow tags yet? I just realized I hadn't received anything yet, and I wasn't sure if I should give them a call or give it just a little bit longer.

 

[Ariel484]

OMG. I've never been a fan of the bags before. But OMG! THERE'S A FREAKIN' AT-AT!!!

Where did you find these? Awesome!!

http://www.rundisney.com/star-wars-wdw-half-marathon/registration/

Click on "Commemorative Items" and scroll down a wee bit.

 

[Ariel484]

And no bigger pictures yet, as far as I know.

 

[hauntedcity]

I actually came in here to ask a serious question, and now my heart is racing because of a purse. Nerd. Yep. Nerd.

I was going to ask if anyone else who was staying onsite was taking advantage of using Magical Express from the airport to the resort. If so, have you received your Magical Express information and yellow tags yet? I just realized I hadn't received anything yet, and I wasn't sure if I should give them a call or give it just a little bit longer.

For the my Princess Half trip, we didn't get ours until a couple weeks before our flight.

 

[Dis_Yoda]

Big Bag here I order! (My husband told me to go ahead since I just got my letter carrier one at Light Side)