Official 2017 Star Wars - Light Side Half Marathon Weekend (Jan 12th - 15th, 2017)

[courtneybeth]

Hey @Warm Hugs - here's the present page of what is available for registration. It took about an hour for the 10K to sell out first, then kids races. And I think the 5K sold out in about 90 mins.

 

[lovingeire]

Best hotel is disneyland hotel or paradise pier. Considering star wars goes the same direction as tinkerbell... I would guess the corral entry will be the same for star wars as tink. You could literally walk out the doors and walk to your corrals. I woke up at 4:30 and got dressed and out the door at 5:00 and in my corral at 5:15 with a bathroom stop.

Nonresort hotels i will defer to others

Surprisingly, I have stayed at the Disneyland Hotel one night, but it was over 20 years ago. (We left my theme park hating mom at home and my dad took us for some quality "dad and kid time"...which is a little odd when you can drive there and back in a day...but so grateful he did that stuff with us!) Would love to stay there, but it's normally half the cost to stay at a Good Neighbor, even with tickets vs. our military discount and tickets at DLR. And it looks like pricing won't be out until after regular registration?

 

[Sleepless Knight]

Back in for the Rebel Challenge. Now to decide if I run the Dark Side Challenge or the Dark Side 1/2 alone to complete the Kessel Run.

 

[dis_or_dat]

So jealous of everyone who was able to register! I hope there's a spot at the Rebel Challenge when it's open registration!!!!

 

[Sleepless Knight]

So jealous of everyone who was able to register! I hope there's a spot at the Rebel Challenge when it's open registration!!!!

Have you considered a travel agent that specializes in runDisney packages? I did that for the 2015 Rebel Challenge and it was great. If you're already going to the parks, then it can help save the stress and worry over registration. When I was between APs, the only extra I had to buy was a 1 day park ticket. I've been able to get in using AP registration for 201 and 2017, but am still considering a travel agent for the 2017 Dark Side 1/2 Marathon, especially since I would need park tickets or a room at Walt Disney World.

 

[dis_or_dat]

Question: if it's already sold out after AP/DVC members, does that mean it's completely sold out for open registration? For example 10k and kids races are sold out, so there's no chance at open registration?

@Sleepless Knight if I don't get in the old fashioned way next Tuesday, I'm definitely going to look at travel agents!

 

[Ariel484]

Question: if it's already sold out after AP/DVC members, does that mean it's completely sold out for open registration? For example 10k and kids races are sold out, so there's no chance at open registration?

@Sleepless Knight if I don't get in the old fashioned way next Tuesday, I'm definitely going to look at travel agents!

No, early registration only accounts for 5-10% of the total number of registrations available.

 

[dis_or_dat]

No, early registration only accounts for 5-10% of the total number of registrations available.

Phew! Thanks!

 

[doombuggy]

Got in yesterday for the 10k no problem.

 

[swooshbear]

Surprisingly, I have stayed at the Disneyland Hotel one night, but it was over 20 years ago. (We left my theme park hating mom at home and my dad took us for some quality "dad and kid time"...which is a little odd when you can drive there and back in a day...but so grateful he did that stuff with us!) Would love to stay there, but it's normally half the cost to stay at a Good Neighbor, even with tickets vs. our military discount and tickets at DLR. And it looks like pricing won't be out until after regular registration?

The convenience factor is worth the cost for me. Rolling out of bed right before the start of the race is great. For Tinkerbell, we stayed at the Anabella, probably one of the closest hotels you can get to the corrals (at least for this course), but the hotel was terrible. After the half, there was ZERO hot water! Our go to Good Neighbor is the Red Lion but it's still a hike to the corrals.

Paradise Pier is great when the corrals are literally outside the front door, but one elevator bank makes it frustrating trying to get up or down, especially when you are on a middle floor.

 

[lovingeire]

The convenience factor is worth the cost for me. Rolling out of bed right before the start of the race is great. For Tinkerbell, we stayed at the Anabella, probably one of the closest hotels you can get to the corrals (at least for this course), but the hotel was terrible. After the half, there was ZERO hot water! Our go to Good Neighbor is the Red Lion but it's still a hike to the corrals.

Paradise Pier is great when the corrals are literally outside the front door, but one elevator bank makes it frustrating trying to get up or down, especially when you are on a middle floor.

If we can swing it price wise we will definitely stay on site! But the Good Neighbor hotels overwhelm me with the choices! Crossing the Anabella off with the hot water issues. Ain't nobody got time for that after a race!

 

[Kathymford]

Wow. Surprised to hear that about the Anabella. We really like that hotel to. My go-to off-site hotel for races has been Stovalls Best Western. It's a Best Western, so you get what you think. Parking is a mess and $10/night extra, but it's usually a good rate and a close walk to the corrals.

 

[lurkergirl]

Something to consider for the Paradise Pier - yes the corrals were directly in front of the hotel but due to the change in security procedures in 2016, we were walked to the family reunion area (clearing security at Downtown Disney) and then back out to the corrals. We walked over a mile to end back right were we started when we left the hotel, practically. So it's close, but not like you can just leave the doors and go into the corrals.

 

[Warm Hugs]

Something to consider for the Paradise Pier - yes the corrals were directly in front of the hotel but due to the change in security procedures in 2016, we were walked to the family reunion area (clearing security at Downtown Disney) and then back out to the corrals. We walked over a mile to end back right were we started when we left the hotel, practically. So it's close, but not like you can just leave the doors and go into the corrals.

Was this for tink because they may have fixed the issue. Secuity was right in front of where the booths are for grand cal parking. Therefore, we could literally walk into corrals and no longer had to walk to downtown disney and back

 

[BigEeyore]

Has anybody had any experience with driving to DL on race morning? My dad lives in Long Beach and I was hoping to just stay with him and drive to the race. But if traffic and parking are a nightmare, I might just spring for one of the DL hotels.

 

[courtneybeth]

@BigEeyore Disneyland local here and never had a problem. Mickey and friends structure is great! We take the 5 north to Lincoln, turn around and get back on at Lincoln to the 5 south so we can take the structure bridge in.

We get there at 415 and never have a problem. Sit in the car for awhile before making our way to the corrals at 5 with one last pee at the structure bathrooms.

 

[courtneybeth]

The Half Marathon is the only race left for early registration. It took nearly two days for the Rebel Challenge to sell out for passholders.

For those registering on Tuesday -- I wouldn't fret. You're totally getting into the races you want!

 

[Dis_Yoda]

The Half Marathon is the only race left for early registration. It took nearly two days for the Rebel Challenge to sell out for passholders.

For those registering on Tuesday -- I wouldn't fret. You're totally getting into the races you want!

This does seem so weird as the past two years everyone sold out much much faster.

 

[courtneybeth]

This does seem so weird as the past two years everyone sold out much much faster.

It's possible there are less passholders than in years past due to the price increases. We're locals and many of our friends have let their passes lapse due to the cost....

We've also noticed that RunDisney may have reached its price ceiling for the Half Marathon and Challenge races. RunDisney is now exhibiting at the Rock n Roll race expos trying to get people to sign up at a discount of $25 off the price. They were really trying to fill the Avengers Half & Gauntlet Challenge and the Disneyland Half, as these are not full yet. So if anyone is heading up to Rock n Roll Seattle next weekend, you can get $25 off those races (not sure if star wars will be offered, so don't risk waiting on signing up!)

 

[swooshbear]

It's possible there are less passholders than in years past due to the price increases. We're locals and many of our friends have let their passes lapse due to the cost....

We've also noticed that RunDisney may have reached its price ceiling for the Half Marathon and Challenge races. RunDisney is now exhibiting at the Rock n Roll race expos trying to get people to sign up at a discount of $25 off the price. They were really trying to fill the Avengers Half & Gauntlet Challenge and the Disneyland Half, as these are not full yet. So if anyone is heading up to Rock n Roll Seattle next weekend, you can get $25 off those races (not sure if star wars will be offered, so don't risk waiting on signing up!)

This seems to be the new trend for rundisney at least on the West Coast, which I am totally happy with. Races are not selling out within minutes, Tinkerbell and Avengers did not sell out. It makes it much less stressful trying to register for races and not quite as packed corrals.

It still seems to be pretty crazy for WDW races, especially W&D. Also seeing wall to wall runners on the road heading into Animal Kingdom is nuts.