Official Race Merchandise Concern

[GoofEeyore26]

My wife and I are running the full marathon in January. We're getting in late Friday night and will head to the expo Saturday morning. My concern is that all the official Full Marathon merchandise will be sold out, especially with the now 4 expo days rather than 3. Has anyone had experience with this before? Is this a justified concern? Any thoughts on how we'd be able to secure a few t-shirts and may another tchotchke or two?

Thanks!

 

[cobbler]

Yes it is a justified concern. This year I sent my hubby down a day early because I couldn't get there until Thursday night. The expo opened on Thursday and I sent him to grab merchandise and our bibs.

We went to the expo on Friday - he went again with me - because I wanted to see the vendors and there was hardly anything left Friday afternoon when we went, it was super slim pickings. I would imagine the same thing happen this next year as well.

As for official shirts, this year (2013) they had for the first time some of the marathon shirts for sale prior on runDisney. Not a lot of variety but some, so maybe they will do the same thing for next year. Obviously nothing is guaranteed and they may not do it again.

 

[IamTrike]

Cobbler is correct about the shirts being on sale ahead of time. In addition to that they also made the magnets available on the website. I think the magnets were a couple of dollars off this way. I believe my 39.3 magnet was $7.95 buying it early.

I'm getting there Weds afternoon and I am worried about the Dopey stuff being gone at that point.

 

[operationremie]

i'll be there wednesday. as long as i can get something, i'll be happy.

 

[cobbler]

Oops, the shirts were on sale online through the Disney Store. I should have clarified that.

 

[GoofEeyore26]

Thanks for the feedback...even though it confirmed my fears. Guess i'll have to try and find someone who is going one of the first days to pick stuff up for me.....Ugh!

 

[heyitsmejosh]

i wouldnt stress out that much about it, i was at the disney outlet the other day and they had a ton of this years marathon stuff tee shirts pins ect., which means it didnt sell out somewhere..

 

[magicLAL12]

My wife and I are running the full marathon in January. We're getting in late Friday night and will head to the expo Saturday morning. My concern is that all the official Full Marathon merchandise will be sold out, especially with the now 4 expo days rather than 3. Has anyone had experience with this before? Is this a justified concern? Any thoughts on how we'd be able to secure a few t-shirts and may another tchotchke or two?

Thanks!

I don't have any suggestions as to how you could secure shirts, but the other posters may.. All I can say is that this
Is definitely a justified concern. We ran this past year and went to the expo early afternoon on Friday and I couldn't find a single full-marathon shirt/sweatshirt in my size that I really loved for the price, which was disappointing. There seemed to be plenty of half-marathon garb however.

 

[jeanigor]

Please remember that the 2013 Full Marathon was the 20th anniversary, which would boost sales. Although there might be a rush on the product, I foresee a higher demand on Dopey Challenge merchandise than Full.

 

[ZellyB]

I'd say it depends on what items you are looking for and how picky you are about what you want. We arrived late on Friday and were able to buy a few different t-shirts and a vinylmation. But, there was a lot of stuff gone already as well, but given that we didn't have any particular items in mind that we wanted, we were fine with what still remained.

 

[tri4life]

One thing to make a mental note about also are the New Balance Mickey and Minnie shoes. It's a new design for 2014. These things sell like hot cakes!!!! If you wear a smaller size 5-8, or larger 12-13 you might be in good shape. I myself wear a 10 like the majority of the population so I'll have to be at the NB kiosk as soon as the expo opens to snag a pair! My girlfriend and I ran the marathon last year and went to packet pickup on Friday and size 9-11 were all gone. Sold out in 15 mins on those sizes. Thank god for eBay. See you guys and gals for Dopey.

 

[bumbershoot]

Are there widths on the NB shoes or is it all "normal" width?

 

[tri4life]

Idk on the widths available as i use the standard size. I don't see why they wouldn't. That's a great question for the good folks on the Dis. I only wear mine every now and then. Disney park shoes!!!

 

[goofeygirl]

Don't forget the lines and the lines and the lines! I went there on Thursday of this year I think...to pick everything up and it went smooth. My brother went there Saturday because he forgot to pack shorts for those hot days and had to stand in a line FOREVER until he could be let inside the expo center. It got so crowded that they would have to wait until so many people exited the expo before letting so many people enter. The line actually wrapped around the side of the building. I think this was either Friday or Saturday...

 

[AquaDame]

One thing to make a mental note about also are the New Balance Mickey and Minnie shoes. It's a new design for 2014. These things sell like hot cakes!!!! If you wear a smaller size 5-8, or larger 12-13 you might be in good shape. I myself wear a 10 like the majority of the population so I'll have to be at the NB kiosk as soon as the expo opens to snag a pair! My girlfriend and I ran the marathon last year and went to packet pickup on Friday and size 9-11 were all gone. Sold out in 15 mins on those sizes. Thank god for eBay. See you guys and gals for Dopey.

I am a 9... do you think being there at opening is good or should I line up before that? Sadly the first day is our only park day, so I might have a riot on my hands if I take too much time away.

 

[tri4life]

I am a 9... do you think being there at opening is good or should I line up before that? Sadly the first day is our only park day, so I might have a riot on my hands if I take too much time away.

I think being there at opening is a great idea. Earlier in the week the crowds should be a bit more tame at the expo. Key word being "should" as the week goes on more peps start showing up. More people equals more hot new items selling out faster.
Just be prepared for a butt ton of folks. Much like the Races that weekend the expo is an incredible experience. Even if you have all the running essentials you need and 18 pairs of shoes when you only wear 3, you'll still find a boat load of crap you don't need but can't live without at the expo! Good times.

 

[cewait]

i wouldnt stress out that much about it, i was at the disney outlet the other day and they had a ton of this years marathon stuff tee shirts pins ect., which means it didnt sell out somewhere..

Ha, me too. Picked up a 20th anniversary poster for nothing along with the 15th anni AK commemerative shirt.

Saying that, the really hot items will be gone and on Ebay wednesday night. I believe that Disney metered some of the hot items so that those who were at the expo early Saturday had a shot, but it was a limited shot.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

My wife and I are running the full marathon in January. We're getting in late Friday night and will head to the expo Saturday morning. My concern is that all the official Full Marathon merchandise will be sold out, especially with the now 4 expo days rather than 3. Has anyone had experience with this before? Is this a justified concern? Any thoughts on how we'd be able to secure a few t-shirts and may another tchotchke or two?

Thanks!

I would definitely see if a friend could pick up some merchandise for you. I'm flying Tuesday and plan to be at the Expo first thing Wednesday morning. I imagine everything will be gone by Friday.