Official 2017 Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend!

[Ariel484]

I'm baffled over this "nothing but the kid races sold out" thing going on for AP/DVC early reg. I had zero need to be as efficient as I was with multiple browsers and accounts logged in at the same time, lol!

It will be very interesting to see how general reg goes next week.

Yeah, I don't know if it's the date (Mother's Day) or what, this race weekend just does not seem as popular. The half didn't even sell out this year.

 

[The Expert]

If it's not as popular then I am REALLY confused by those "discounted" hotel rates!

 

[Keels]

Just like this year, when this race (and the hotel rooms) don't sell out, they'll get released back to Disneyland about 4-6 weeks out. I think RunDisney's payment deadline for hotels for this race is Apr. 6, so I'll start stressing about an on-site hotel then.

 

[Kender]

Yeah, I don't know if it's the date (Mother's Day) or what, this race weekend just does not seem as popular. The half didn't even sell out this year.

It does make it less stressful registering if the date is putting people off even more so than it has the last two Tink races. Last year early reg at least had some of the races sell out besides kids.

I certainly won't complain if it means a smaller field, that's for sure...

Thinking about it as I type this... This is really the first registration since deferrals were axed. Maybe more people are taking a moment to consider their choice now and if it's worth the risk losing the money if they can't make it? They've also clearly reached a ceiling with the cost going by the half slightly dropping in cost. Although my PDC+5K is costing more than my GSC+5K.

 

[Ariel484]

I'm mostly surprised that the 10K still has early registration spots open.

@Keels look away...math time!

Looking at this year's results, there were 8369 10K finishers. But 5144 of those were challenge runners (per the PDC corral document)...

So 8369 - 5144 = 3225* dedicated 10K bibs available. Assuming the numbers are similar for 2017, and going by the rumor that runDisney releases 5-10% of the total bibs available for early registration...that's 322-544 10K bibs available starting yesterday. A very small number when you consider the fact that people all over the world do these races (which is why the 10Ks almost always sell out first - there are less bibs available for that race).

And it hasn't sold out or gone on hold yet. Not sure if it's pricing (which, I mean...it's an expensive 10K!), the date or what.

*not a perfect calculation since the 10K is number of finishers - not total number of bibs sold (so people who were swept or did not start wouldn't be counted, because I don't know where to get those numbers).

 

[FFigawi]

*not a perfect calculation since the 10K is number of finishers - not total number of bibs sold (so people who were swept or did not start wouldn't be counted, because I don't know where to get those numbers).

I know a lady with some hacker skills who can probably get them for you. Paging @Keels to the white courtesy phone.

 

[courtneybeth]

I wonder if the limited AP sales are due the fact that a lot of Disneyland Passholders let their passes lapse? They also didn't market the registration on this race at all.

Or... the system is being kind until I can register on Pay Day

 

[The Expert]

I wonder if the limited AP sales are due the fact that a lot of Disneyland Passholders let their passes lapse? They also didn't market the registration on this race at all.

Or... the system is being kind until I can register on Pay Day

I'm not sure. I don't have a DL AP, but my WDW AP gets me in for early registration so I'm not sure the field is that much smaller. Are the DL races more of a local crowd than WDW races - like the parks? I'm curious.

 

[courtneybeth]

I'm not sure. I don't have a DL AP, but my WDW AP gets me in for early registration so I'm not sure the field is that much smaller. Are the DL races more of a local crowd than WDW races - like the parks? I'm curious.

Disneyland is generally more of a locals park. Disneyland Half and Tinkerbell Half this year did not sell out. RunDisney went as far as bought booth space at other running event expos to offer discount codes to sign up -- and that didn't work out too well.

I do know a lot of locals (i.e., friends, family, and acquaintances) are relatively soured right now with Disney because of the steep price increases seen to APs ... and that they've let them lapse. There's a lot of local races around that same time that are a fraction of the cost, so many locals are burned out on Disney races too.

I'm pondering if these are turning into "one and done" events. You can spend $500 for an unlimited Rock n Roll half marathon race pass (26 different race weekends and you can do 5K/10K/Half), or spend $330 for one 10K/HM weekend.

 

[The Expert]

Oh yes, they are very upset. I have a good friend who is a HUGE Disney fan and lives in Orange County and she didn't renew her pass this year over all that. It's getting SO crowded now with locals that there isn't really a down time either. I was just curious whether that carried over to the race events as well. It sounds like it - or at the very least the races there are less of a destination event than those at WDW.

 

[kirstie101]

I wonder if the limited AP sales are due the fact that a lot of Disneyland Passholders let their passes lapse? They also didn't market the registration on this race at all.

Or... the system is being kind until I can register on Pay Day

Though I don't think Im registering this year, I can say if I was that I would be in this group. My AP expired in June and I haven't renewed yet so I can't even be tempted by AP reg this year!

 

[Keels]

I know a lady with some hacker skills who can probably get them for you. Paging @Keels to the white courtesy phone.

Shhhh ... you're gonna get the Feds on to me!

@Ariel484 - lemme see if I can find the number for you.

 

[Belle Ella]

I wish I could just go ahead and register now. Just so I don't accidentally spend the money on something else before the 20th and not be able to get in!! My biggest fear.

At least I've got the morning off work so I don't have to worry about it.

But now I'm also trying to work out the possibility of running towards C2C again next year. This happens every time I get the runDisney bug over race weekend. It's still so soon after the Disneyland Half that it's all I can think about.

 

[lurkergirl]

Hmm, there could be several factors not selling out. It does make make me feel like an idiot for freaking out during registration, though.
It could be the Annual Pass thing, @courtneybeth. Even though I keep renewing blindly. It angered a lot of people. The Mother's Day date, too - giving up a special weekend? The price point finally reaching that top tier?

I do appreciate a less crowded weekend however.

 

[courtneybeth]

Don't feel like you're freaking out for no reason @lurkergirl - these registrations are insane and usually go super quick. Every WDW race weekend sells out within a day, so the nervous feeling is normal.

Still haven't decided between the PDC and the HM. On the one hand, 3 medals and earning Pink C2C is a huge accomplishment... on the other hand, the 10K is pretty congested in the first mile or so and I was wrecked for the half marathon the next day. But if I do the half only, I feel like I'm missing out on something. $185 vs $330 is a huge chunk of change at the moment, especially since I owe $152 to our rangar teammate since we got selected for So Cal Ragnar.

Not sure what to do

 

[Keels]

I'll say this - I enjoyed the Tink 10K this year MUCH more than the Disneyland 10K.

I most definitely will not be doing the 5K again.

 

[lurkergirl]

@courtneybeth Since I want to try the Wine & Dine 5K in 2017, I winced just reading that. Ha!
My vote for your dilemma - unless you will never have another chance for the Pink C2C, be responsible and just do the half-marathon knowing you have other obligations. (File it Under: Being an Adult Sucks.)

Or totally ignore that and splurge.

Go with what your head says, though.

 

[courtneybeth]

I'll say this - I enjoyed the Tink 10K this year MUCH more than the Disneyland 10K.

I enjoyed the Tink 10K much better than the Disneyland 10K too. The lack of water stations really hurt.

I think that's what wrecked me for the DDD challenge two weeks ago.

 

[Warm Hugs]

@courtneybeth Since I want to try the Wine & Dine 5K in 2017, I winced just reading that. Ha!
My vote for your dilemma - unless you will never have another chance for the Pink C2C, be responsible and just do the half-marathon knowing you have other obligations. (File it Under: Being an Adult Sucks.)

Or totally ignore that and splurge.

Go with what your head says, though.

Correct me if i'm wrong... But to get the Pink C2C or any C2C, you don't have to do the challenges right? My understanding is that you only have to do the halfs or marathon on each coast or in the case of the pink C2C, the halfs for both tink and princess and NOT the challenges.

Courtneybeth.. It may make your decision much easier if you just have to do the halfs

 

[lurkergirl]

Correct me if i'm wrong... But to get the Pink C2C or any C2C, you don't have to do the challenges right? My understanding is that you only have to do the halfs or marathon on each coast or in the case of the pink C2C, the halfs for both tink and princess.

I'm not sure, it's beyond my skill level! I was just going off what was said...and I may have totally read it it wrong. I can totally be corrected.