Official 2018 Star Wars - Light Side Half Marathon Weekend - Cancelled

[DadOfBear]

I'm guessing they're gonna push it back to June again, how it used to be. Fingers crossed!

Hopefully. This will give me the chance to convince my buddy in AZ to come out and run it.

 

[The Expert]

That would also mean they're probably going to delay Dark Side registration for 2018. Right now it's set for mid-May. It would be weird if Dark Side opened before Light Side, being the later race. Or maybe they'll do some kind of special to push people to both, since neither sold out this year??? A girl can hope.

 

[rteetz]

That would also mean they're probably going to delay Dark Side registration for 2018. Right now it's set for mid-May. It would be weird if Dark Side opened before Light Side, being the later race. Or maybe they'll do some kind of special to push people to both, since neither sold out this year??? A girl can hope.

They were selling Darkside 2018 at the expo I believe.

 

[Figment1990]

And princess goes on sale very very soon too (depending on AP or not). But they are both WDW races so it will be interesting to see about Tinkerbelle registration.

I'm getting super impatient! (As opposed to the just a little impatient that I already was!)

 

[The Expert]

They were selling Darkside 2018 at the expo I believe.

They also sold Light Side at the expo for this year's Light Side race in January, yet still delayed AP/DVC early and general public registration. I'll be interested to see if they suddenly announce LS registration or if they'll delay DS at all to keep them "in order" or if there's a new strategy in place. I'm signing up for both for 2018!

 

[bellrae]

Did anyone who went to Dark Side pick up any goss on this?

Like others I think it will be interesting to see what they do with the Princess registration given that is the next one looming. That'll tell us if it is a broader issue, or light side specific.

Not to rehash an old discussion, but runDisney would be able to sell out these races at the 11 month mark far more easily if they also offered insurance/legit transfer of bib. As many of you have pointed out on various threads, there is a huge risk registering this early given the high cost vs chances of something in you life changing over the next 12 months.

 

[jasonbsimpson]

Anyone have any recommendations on good Disney Run experienced travel agents? We're passholders in Orlando, but looking into maybe doing the event in Cali and Florida next year. Walking the parks yesterday and seeing the bada$$ medals definitely makes me want to do it!

 

[jaxonp]

Anyone have any recommendations on good Disney Run experienced travel agents? We're passholders in Orlando, but looking into maybe doing the event in Cali and Florida next year. Walking the parks yesterday and seeing the bada$$ medals definitely makes me want to do it!

I used Pegasus travel for this years lightside only because the challenge was sold out through RD. I honestly think you can do it all yourself for cheaper unless you're uncomfortable with all the Disneyland good neighbor hotels in which one to pick. I stayed at the Red Lion Inn and it was a solid easy 10 min walk to either park. I love RunDisney and Disneyland. It's the best combo! Good luck!

 

[Dis_Yoda]

Anyone have any recommendations on good Disney Run experienced travel agents? We're passholders in Orlando, but looking into maybe doing the event in Cali and Florida next year. Walking the parks yesterday and seeing the bada$$ medals definitely makes me want to do it!

I've used Get Travel for Disneyland before and was very happy with them!

 

[sidrich]

Anyone have any recommendations on good Disney Run experienced travel agents? We're passholders in Orlando, but looking into maybe doing the event in Cali and Florida next year. Walking the parks yesterday and seeing the bada$$ medals definitely makes me want to do it!

I will shamelessly plug the woman who planed our Princess half marathon weekend. She works with The Magic for Less Planners(. They don't buy race bibs -I don't think, but they plan everything else.)

http://www.themagicforless.com/about-us/meet-our-agents/tim-audie-lawley/

For full disclosure, Audie is also my best friend's mother so she was also on that trip and doing the Challenge herself- so she's run Disney savvy. And I saw her up early in the morning - on her vacation- answering emails from clients and getting on the phone to get them their dining reservations- she's very dedicated and knows more about Disney than anyone I've ever met. Ok, end shameless plug!

 

[Mil leech]

I had to get a bib with Acclaim Travel a few years ago and Jim and Pat Stone were wonderful.

Just an FYI. For WDW, travel agents require not only park tickets but a hotel stay for Bib's. For DL, you only need a one day park ticket required with bib purchase. Of course they are happy to help with the whole trip, this is just what Disney has required for the agents to sell bibs at each location. If I was looking to book a trip and get race Bib's, I would go with them.

 

[alisigns]

I'm getting super impatient! (As opposed to the just a little impatient that I already was!)

I'm feeling the same and I just now figured out what it is! I am planning to run this one with St Jude as a Charity Partner to give me that extra umph and motivation to train and do it. However, I cannot register with the charity until after registration opens and I cannot start fundraising until I am registered with St. Jude. I have T-shirts planned and a fundraiser idea bubbling and I can't do anything until they open registration. I just realized this is what's turning my impatient wheel!!! OK, since I've named it maybe I can breathe.... LOL. I'm just so excited and anxious for my first 1/2!

 

[Davidg83]

Princess AP registration SHOULD be opening this Thursday (with regular registration the following Tuesday), and is still listed as that way on the AP website. It'll be interesting to see if it opens before Light Side registration or if that gets postponed at the last minute too. Light side still has no registration dates listed on the AP site.

 

[sidrich]

Princess AP registration SHOULD be opening this Thursday (with regular registration the following Tuesday), and is still listed as that way on the AP website. It'll be interesting to see if it opens before Light Side registration or if that gets postponed at the last minute too. Light side still has no registration dates listed on the AP site.

Ugh. See-now this is annoying. We had planned on trying for SWLS 2018- back when registration was in March, with the idea that if we couldn't do it that we would try for Princess. But it being an anniversary year, Princess is likely gonna sell out fast- so if we wait for Light Side we're not likely to have a back up anymore. It literally will mean no run Disney for us. Some communication is all it would take.

 

[bellrae]

In one of the runDisney specific Facebook discussion groups I follow there were two people claiming to have gotten info from RD at the Dark Side expo.

For what it is worth, one claimed that the hold up is an issue with getting approval from the City of Anaheim for the race (apparently there were a lot of complaints about road closures last year and they have to look at a new course and get it approved?). A second person then chimed in and said that when she asked about registration she was told it would "open this summer".

If these people are legit, and were actually talking to people 'in the know' (which we all know can be tricky at the expos!) then we might be in for a few weeks/months of wait still.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

In one of the runDisney specific Facebook discussion groups I follow there were two people claiming to have gotten info from RD at the Dark Side expo.

For what it is worth, one claimed that the hold up is an issue with getting approval from the City of Anaheim for the race (apparently there were a lot of complaints about road closures last year and they have to look at a new course and get it approved?). A second person then chimed in and said that when she asked about registration she was told it would "open this summer".

If these people are legit, and were actually talking to people 'in the know' (which we all know can be tricky at the expos!) then we might be in for a few weeks/months of wait still.

I was wishing that I had stopped at the upcoming registration at the Darkside and asked - glad to hear that some people did.

But - as far as I'm concerned registration shouldn't start until this summer anyway. The way they extended it out is just crazy - 11 months or so in advance?! Come on.

 

[sidrich]

I was wishing that I had stopped at the upcoming registration at the Darkside and asked - glad to hear that some people did.

But - as far as I'm concerned registration shouldn't start until this summer anyway. The way they extended it out is just crazy - 11 months or so in advance?! Come on.

I get wanting it far enough in advance so that people who plan a whole vacation around the race weekend can be ready to make reservations and dining plan arrangements as soon as they open up. Especially if you are using DVC. As it was registering in July for Princess we could not find open rooms for our group in Beach Club- and that was over 7 months out!

But for those who run like ALL the races every year I get not wanting to have to plan so far in advance.

But having registration for the January race AFTER registration for the Feb race is looney.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I get wanting it far enough in advance so that people who plan a whole vacation around the race weekend can be ready to make reservations and dining plan arrangements as soon as they open up. Especially if you are using DVC. As it was registering in July for Princess we could not find open rooms for our group in Beach Club- and that was over 7 months out!

But for those who run like ALL the races every year I get not wanting to have to plan so far in advance.

Even with the June reservation it was far enough in advance for dining etc planning for a WDW vacation. At DL where 60 days is the max booking window for dining it was still many months in advance. For DVC - the dates were still released in time to book rooms. As there's no penalties for booking and cancelling that's a non-issue as I see it (I am a DVC owner). And honestly, they don't care one whit about DVC booking windows.

This was just Disney wanting money for longer - nothing else. And they do this around the same time they stop deferrals and it's a greater length of time for something to happen - injury, pregnancy etc. No insurance or deferrals on registrations and getting our money much further in advance - that is not cool IMO. Registration 6-7 months in advance was plenty.

 

[Davidg83]

In one of the runDisney specific Facebook discussion groups I follow there were two people claiming to have gotten info from RD at the Dark Side expo.

For what it is worth, one claimed that the hold up is an issue with getting approval from the City of Anaheim for the race (apparently there were a lot of complaints about road closures last year and they have to look at a new course and get it approved?). A second person then chimed in and said that when she asked about registration she was told it would "open this summer".

If these people are legit, and were actually talking to people 'in the know' (which we all know can be tricky at the expos!) then we might be in for a few weeks/months of wait still.

I could see them getting a lot of complaints about road closures. We ran through a lot of residential areas, some of which where people wouldn't even be able to leave their driveway. That's an odd reason to hold up registration though since they don't even show the course till the event guide comes out. Even if that's not the real reason I could still see this course changing in the future.

 

[kirstie101]

I have to say that I loved last years course and I'll be bummed if they change it.