Official Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend - The Dark Side 2017

[BigEeyore]

Floridian Way? Like up by the MK?

 

[BDK33]

Does that mean TTC or resort? Would be good to know so I could decide where I want to stay.

 

[opusone]

Floridian Way? Like up by the MK?

Yes.

Does that mean TTC or resort? Would be good to know so I could decide where I want to stay.

I would guess just west of the MK/TTC parking lot (south of the Poly).

 

[DisSconnie]

Well, the Dark Side got me and I did it - I'm officially registered for the challenge. Flights are also changed (for only a $20 difference in total fare!!). Instead of arriving on Saturday like originally planned I'll come down on Tuesday, since that flight was cheaper and partly makes up for the Sunday departing flight being more expensive. What a way to start off the new year and it will be my celebration for turning 30 (my birthday is the Monday before the races, the 17th).

Running the Dark Side is my celebration for turning 30, too! My Bday is on the 1st of April.

On a side note, I tried to run outside this weekend in the cold, cold north. It wasn't terrible, until yesterday when everything iced up. It was awful. I ran my slowest miles ever, almost fell on my butt several times, but hey - I did it, which is half the battle!!

 

[DisSconnie]

Is anyone else staying off property? We're staying at Bonnet Creek since it saved us a ton of money and my parents are coming too. I'm worried about driving to the race start and any issues that might come up since we won't have access to race day busses.

 

[*DisneyDreamer]

Welcome to the Dark Side! BTW, my daughter's birthday is the same as yours.

Thanks! I'm so excited and am really looking forward to it. Cool that your daughter shares my birthday!

The 10k description on runDisney does give a little more info:

I had not seen that! Knowing RunDisney, it could always change again, but I'm so excited to see Hollywood Studios mentioned, even if it's just a brief pass-through. The Yacht and Beach Club area as well, since that will be very convenient for my parents staying at the Boardwalk if they want to spectate. I'm wondering how the mileage will work out to get there and back to Epcot if the start is at Floridian Way though. Makes me hopeful that they'll try to get Hollywood Studios into the half as well.

Running the Dark Side is my celebration for turning 30, too! My Bday is on the 1st of April.

How cool! Just a couple weeks shy of exact birthday twins!

 

[MyFavEeyore]

I found this web site about a month or so ago. If one uses the tabs at the top to drop down the course choices, he has a pretty good guesstimate about the courses, their direction, and the "updated" start area. All of it seems to be on target or real close to what everyone has been talking about here on the boards. I'm not too well technology adept, so you're going to have to copy and paste ( or just rewrite the site) into your tool bar to be directed to it. Sorry for that.

http://www.darksidechallenger.com/

 

[Dopey Devon]

I would love it if that was the half course - three parks including MK and a run around World Showcase! The 10k I'm not so thrilled about that start - how they planning on getting everyone there?! I know it's just speculation but seems a bit of a logistical nightmare!

 

[maw]

I found this web site about a month or so ago. If one uses the tabs at the top to drop down the course choices, he has a pretty good guesstimate about the courses, their direction, and the "updated" start area. All of it seems to be on target or real close to what everyone has been talking about here on the boards. I'm not too well technology adept, so you're going to have to copy and paste ( or just rewrite the site) into your tool bar to be directed to it. Sorry for that.

http://www.darksidechallenger.com/

Thanks for posting - interesting!

 

[IAmAHiddenMickey]

Is anyone else staying off property? We're staying at Bonnet Creek since it saved us a ton of money and my parents are coming too. I'm worried about driving to the race start and any issues that might come up since we won't have access to race day busses.

We are staying at Bonnet Creek too. I haven't been for the Darkside Challenge but I did the January marathon twice. The first year (2014) we ran into a lot of stop and go traffic on that road in front of Bonnet Creek, mostly because all 3 lanes had to merge into one exit ramp to get to EPCOT. They must have fixed it in 2015 because I don't remember stop and go traffic and we left about the same time (4:00 AM ).

And I hope you have better parking luck than I do, for each marathon we ended up in the very last space at the end of the row furthest from the tent. After 26.2 miles those rows are really long in the EPCOT parking lot!

 

[*DisneyDreamer]

I found this web site about a month or so ago. If one uses the tabs at the top to drop down the course choices, he has a pretty good guesstimate about the courses, their direction, and the "updated" start area. All of it seems to be on target or real close to what everyone has been talking about here on the boards. I'm not too well technology adept, so you're going to have to copy and paste ( or just rewrite the site) into your tool bar to be directed to it. Sorry for that.

http://www.darksidechallenger.com/

Thanks for posting. That is very interesting to see. After doing Animal Kingdom during the Wine and Dine half, I would be thrilled if Dark Side included Magic Kingdom. The mileage on their map works out, but I'm not sure if it's possible - it looks like it includes backstage areas of Hollywood Studios like the old Wine and Dine course did, but I thought those areas were all under construction (which I see they do mention in there). While I would love the course map with Magic Kingdom, I think it's more likely they'll use something similar to the one that includes Animal Kingdom, and just try to add in an additional mile since I see that it's short.

The 10K course I'd be happy with. It's different than what is used during other race weekends but still includes Epcot, the Yacht and Beach area, and Hollywood Studios. I have confidence that that one is probably what it will be, since it matches the description on the RunDisney site.

 

[MyFavEeyore]

I would love it if that was the half course - three parks including MK and a run around World Showcase! The 10k I'm not so thrilled about that start - how they planning on getting everyone there?! I know it's just speculation but seems a bit of a logistical nightmare!

I believe that the "start area" shown on that website is right around the old Richard Petty racetrack. Hence, somewhere for host transportation buses to go and room enough for all the pre-race hussle and bussle. But I'm just as lost as everyone else about the course(s) for this year and only take the info in that site as an educated guess. A very good, makes sense kind of guess.

 

[WhereInFlorida]

Well at least the course will be different than any others, although with all the roads in WDW there seems to be very few routes from one park to the other to use for these races.

 

[DisSconnie]

We are staying at Bonnet Creek too. I haven't been for the Darkside Challenge but I did the January marathon twice. The first year (2014) we ran into a lot of stop and go traffic on that road in front of Bonnet Creek, mostly because all 3 lanes had to merge into one exit ramp to get to EPCOT. They must have fixed it in 2015 because I don't remember stop and go traffic and we left about the same time (4:00 AM ).

And I hope you have better parking luck than I do, for each marathon we ended up in the very last space at the end of the row furthest from the tent. After 26.2 miles those rows are really long in the EPCOT parking lot!

That's good to know. Do you park at the finish (EPCOT) and then take a bus to the start?

 

[Chaitali]

Has anyone stayed at Saratoga Springs for a race before? We're staying there for this one and I assume that the buses for the race events only stop at one location. Anyone know which bus stop that would be? If possible, I was going to ask for a room close to that stop.

 

[DisSconnie]

When does registration for the half marathon typically close/selll-out? My husband is thinking about running with me, but we want to know when the deadline is.

 

[Sleepless Knight]

When does registration for the half marathon typically close/selll-out? My husband is thinking about running with me, but we want to know when the deadline is.

No one outside of runDisney really knows. They used to post a % sold ticker on the website for each race, but they did away with that a couple of years back. It might be possible to get a bib as close to 2-3 weeks before the race from a travel agent that sells bibs, but that will vary and may require booking a room, etc.

 

[mslezalie]

Has anyone stayed at Saratoga Springs for a race before? We're staying there for this one and I assume that the buses for the race events only stop at one location. Anyone know which bus stop that would be? If possible, I was going to ask for a room close to that stop.

My husband and I have stayed at Saratoga Springs a few times during a race weekend. The race bus stop has always been across the street from The Springs bus stop. The last few races were nice because there were a couple of buses in queue. So once a bus was full, another bus was ready to take its place.

 

[*DisneyDreamer]

My husband and I have stayed at Saratoga Springs a few times during a race weekend. The race bus stop has always been across the street from The Springs bus stop. The last few races were nice because there were a couple of buses in queue. So once a bus was full, another bus was ready to take its place.

Thanks for the info! I'll be at Saratoga Springs as well.

 

[*DisneyDreamer]

Has anyone stayed at Saratoga Springs for a race before? We're staying there for this one and I assume that the buses for the race events only stop at one location. Anyone know which bus stop that would be? If possible, I was going to ask for a room close to that stop.

That's where I'll be as well.