Official Dopey 2018 Thread

[mrsg00fy]

Email response I just received

Dear Ryan,

Thank you for contacting us about the cancellation of the Walt Disney
World Half Marathon.

Out of an abundance of concern for the safety of our athletes and Cast,
we were unable to host this event, and are truly sorry for the
disappointment this caused. Regretfully, as a participant in the Dopey
Challenge, we are unable to extend a transfer of your registration to a
future event. You can, however, select from the following two options:

- Option 1: A full refund, minus ACTIVE.com fees, for the cost of the
race registration in the form of a Disney Gift Card.

- Option 2: Two complimentary 1-Day Magic Your Way Tickets with Park
Hopper Option, valid for use on any future visit to the Walt Disney
World Resort.

At your convenience, I encourage you to respond directly to this
message, clearly indicating the recovery option you would prefer.

Ryan, thank you so much for posting this. I sent an email inquiring about the ticket option and haven't heard back and I figured it was due to Star Wars going on now. So glad they are making that an option for challenge runners.

If anyone has received the two ticket option, are there date usage restrictions and are they good only for the use of the original rundisney registrant?

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Still nothing about my gift card. Have not sent an email as I didn't think that I had to do so. Has anyone received their gift card who did not contact rD? Also, does anyone know what email address we should be using to contact rD should that be necessary to receive the gift card?

Thanks.

 

[rteetz]

Ryan, thank you so much for posting this. I sent an email inquiring about the ticket option and haven't heard back and I figured it was due to Star Wars going on now. So glad they are making that an option for challenge runners.

If anyone has received the two ticket option, are there date usage restrictions and are they good only for the use of the original rundisney registrant?

No date restrictions. I believe they are non-transferable but I'm not 100%.

 

[rteetz]

Still nothing about my gift card. Have not sent an email as I didn't think that I had to do so. Has anyone received their gift card who did not contact rD? Also, does anyone know what email address we should be using to contact rD should that be necessary to receive the gift card?

Thanks.

You don't have to send an email. I just did inquiring about our options.

 

[Nole95]

We were only running the half and could not make it to the Expo last Saturday. I emailed RD on Sunday at the email address they put in all the cancellation emails. Still have not received a response.

Between Star Wars, and the large amount of other emails I am sure they are receiving, I assume it might take some time for a reply. As long as I eventually get what I want, I'm in no hurry. I'll give them until the end of the week before I send a follow up email.

 

[Barca33Runner]

So for those who ran Dopey and brought Families....

Did you find any one park visit strategy better than another? We arrived to the BC and walked into EPCOT at about 2PM. While it was a lot of fun to see the tail end of the marathon, it was miserable trying to navigate around with the marathon crossing sites near England and all the marathon spectators in the way.

I'm thinking Saturday and Sunday would best be used at HS/AK which are furthest and least accessible to runners for crowds.

Also, Resort advice? I'm booked at the Cosmo but after visiting this week we're probably switching to the GF.

Thoughts?

Crowd levels before and during the Marathon this year were at the highest level I have ever seen them. That is not because of the races, but rather the proximity of race weekend to the New Year. Many kids either had a partial or full week off during the week before the Marathon and a lot of people decided to take off work and have a family vacation. If you are considering a trip next year, I would definitely recommend the week after the Marathon rather than the week before.

As for the Saturday and Sunday of the Half Marathon and Marathon I think HS/AK would be a good plan for Saturday (unless they change the course) as the race does not enter either of those parks. Sunday, the race goes through AK at mile 13 and through HS at mile 22 so they will both have race difficulties at the opening of the parks. AK will clear out faster, but there will be ropes and crossings to deal with early on. For HS, the course this year entered on the paths around Fantasmic! and then entered the park near ToT and continued along that drive until making a left turn and heading down the main street after entering the park (sorry that I don't know the names). If you get past the entrance you could probably get to most attractions without race difficulties, but it will have race complications until afternoon for sure. MK might be the best option for avoiding race specific barriers on Sunday.

Marathon Weekend takes place just a day earlier on the calendar next year. I expect crowds to be just as bad throughout the entire duration of the Weekend and don't think there is necessarily a good way to negotiate them. Hopefully some of the construction in the parks will be done, leaving more areas for crowds to go and more attractions to thin out some of the lines. Get your FP+ set up (and ADRs if you require them) and be prepared to wait in some lines, but mainly be prepared to go with the flow knowing that there are just going to be some things that don't go your way.

 

[jmasgat]

So....very early thinking, but I am looking to run a fall marathon (aka "the return") in the Sept/Oct timeframe. Then, I would have 3 months of recovery and "maintenance" training till Dopey.

Looking for anyone who has done this fall/Disney combo for their experience (realizing that "my mileage may vary")

Maura

 

[DopeyBadger]

So....very early thinking, but I am looking to run a fall marathon (aka "the return") in the Sept/Oct timeframe. Then, I would have 3 months of recovery and "maintenance" training till Dopey.

Looking for anyone who has done this fall/Disney combo for their experience (realizing that "my mileage may vary")

Maura

I have done this three times now.

Before Dopey 2015, I ran a marathon in early November, a half in early December, and Dopey.
Before Dopey 2016, I ran a marathon in early October, a half in early December, and Dopey.
Before Dopey 2017, I ran a marathon in early October, and Dopey.

You can read my journal here for specifics on how I designed my training for Dopey 2017 with the plans of a 2 week off, 2 week recovery, and 10 week training with taper. I felt the freshest coming into Dopey 2017 of my three times doing this and managed to PR the 5k, 10k, and marathon.

 

[Dave Rolen]

I haven't done this exact combo but I like the idea of a multi-hour effort that far out. I would imagine the run coupled with the probable park walking would be a great training event.

So....very early thinking, but I am looking to run a fall marathon (aka "the return") in the Sept/Oct timeframe. Then, I would have 3 months of recovery and "maintenance" training till Dopey.

Looking for anyone who has done this fall/Disney combo for their experience (realizing that "my mileage may vary")

Maura

 

[Keels]

The husband and I were discussing last night some refuel strategy for the marathon, which leads me to this question: Is there anywhere in Animal Kingdom along the course or Wide World of Sports to buy a churro?

I recognize that by mile 13 I probably want something to refuel that isn't fuel.... so any chance to get a churro or something similar? Or does husband have to stand along the exit of AK with a churro for me and cheer as I take it?

Any recommendations on what to do for food fueling?

I carry peanut butter crackers for "real-food fuel". In all likelihood, Animal Kingdom will be open when you pass through to grab a churro or something.

There's also the McDonald's on Osceola Parkway. I don't recall any food for purchase at WWoS, but someone gave me a breakfast taco this year that was AMAZING.

You can also buy food in DHS at 22.

 

[bellrae]

So, I have a question for the Dopey veterans on here. I am contemplating backing up the following weekend in CA for Star Wars and a Coast2Coast. Have any of you done this before - and if so how did you feel? I've done the W&D/Avengers combo before (all races) and had no issue with that volume of running in a small time frame (in fact I PR'd at the Avengers half, so was clearly feeling good for the last race of the two weeks) - but the inclusion of the marathon in the mix makes me nervous about backing up.

 

[rteetz]

So, I have a question for the Dopey veterans on here. I am contemplating backing up the following weekend in CA for Star Wars and a Coast2Coast. Have any of you done this before - and if so how did you feel? I've done the W&D/Avengers combo before (all races) and had no issue with that volume of running in a small time frame (in fact I PR'd at the Avengers half, so was clearly feeling good for the last race of the two weeks) - but the inclusion of the marathon in the mix makes me nervous about backing up.

I was contemplating this as well if I have the money.

 

[Hollysmum]

I am so tempted to do the Dopey in 2018 but I would have to do it through a travel provider as I need the whole package as I'm in the UK. Does anyone have a particular travel provider they recommend? I've used Magical Miles twice this year for races but wondered if Acclaim were any good?

 

[Z-Knight]

Acclaim is superb. Magical Miles is superb. I've used both with great success.

 

[camaker]

Acclaim is superb. Magical Miles is superb. I've used both with great success.

I've used Acclaim for DL trips with good success, but never for WDW. Do they typically get any kind of discount on the resort rooms at WDW?

 

[Z-Knight]

I've used Acclaim for DL trips with good success, but never for WDW. Do they typically get any kind of discount on the resort rooms at WDW?

I know they got discounts because i used them last year, but i thought they were the same as all other travel providers.

 

[jmasgat]

I have done this three times now.

Before Dopey 2015, I ran a marathon in early November, a half in early December, and Dopey.
Before Dopey 2016, I ran a marathon in early October, a half in early December, and Dopey.
Before Dopey 2017, I ran a marathon in early October, and Dopey.

You can read my journal here for specifics on how I designed my training for Dopey 2017 with the plans of a 2 week off, 2 week recovery, and 10 week training with taper. I felt the freshest coming into Dopey 2017 of my three times doing this and managed to PR the 5k, 10k, and marathon.

Thanks for the link. The input will help me home in on something that will work for me. My goal (unlike your impressive goal/achievement!) is just to focus on staying healthy and dealing with the multi-day consecutive running.

 

[nervous1sttimer]

2018 prices are up! $560 for Dopey.

 

[rteetz]

2018 prices are up! $560 for Dopey.

I believe that's the same as last year. Should come to about $596 after active fees if the fees don't increase.

 

[mrsg00fy]

I am so tempted to do the Dopey in 2018 but I would have to do it through a travel provider as I need the whole package as I'm in the UK. Does anyone have a particular travel provider they recommend? I've used Magical Miles twice this year for races but wondered if Acclaim were any good?

I have also used Acclaim for both the Florida and California races. Excellent experiences.