Official Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend - The Dark Side 2017

[MyFavEeyore]

I've never had issues with them in my luggage and I've been carting them around the country for a while now. I normally just save my old ones from races, however light side was my last race and they were no longer giving them out after the half when I finished. I will pack a trash bag or two, but I'm also thinking it will be warm enough we won't need them.

I'm crossing my fingers it's warm as well, but I know the Princess last year was chilly before sunrise. I'll have to get DS on the Amazon site to see what he can find. How about at the Expo anywhere?

 

[Ndusmama]

The good thing about solo planning though is it's always easier to make adjustments since you only have to worry about yourself. I just signed up for the dessert party too but I'm going Friday night. I think a tour would be a good way to fill in some time on a day you didn't have a bunch planned. I've always wanted to do the Wild Africa Trek or the Keys to the Kingdom tour.

I am thinking keys to the kingdom would be fun. That way I would get a real comparison between DL and wdw. I don't know wdw nearly as well as DL. I've only ever been to wdw twice. DL at least 500 times (I counted once).

 

[cavepig]

Random question here - and it's probably been answered somewhere else on these boards, so sorry in advance. Here goes, where can one buy mylar "blankets" to keep warm with before Disney runs, and will TSA have issues with them in checked luggage?

Yeah, we bought a whole bunch off amazon. We'll bring some just in case and TSA has never cared in the past in luggage. I don't remember ever seeing them at the expo for sale. I have some throwaway clothes I'll pack too just in case.

 

[JohnRPG]

Yeah, we bought a whole bunch off amazon.

If you only need 1 or 2 of the mylar blankets, Walmart (and some Targets) have them in the camping section for ~$2 each.

 

[MyFavEeyore]

If you only need 1 or 2 of the mylar blankets, Walmart (and some Targets) have them in the camping section for ~$2 each.

I was looking online at the WalMart and Target sites. It seemed I'd have to order (which is not a problem) but they were more like 7 or 8 bucks. Am I missing the less expensive ones somewhere?

 

[camaker]

I was looking online at the WalMart and Target sites. It seemed I'd have to order (which is not a problem) but they were more like 7 or 8 bucks. Am I missing the less expensive ones somewhere?

For the ones @JohnRPG is referring to, you have to go to the store and look for them in the camping gear aisle...

I got mine in a 10-pack from Amazon for Marathon Weekend. They are currently selling the pack for <$9.

 

[JohnRPG]

For the ones @JohnRPG is referring to, you have to go to the store and look for them in the camping gear aisle...

Yep, I found it easier to just grab it at the store when I was in the area, as locally in store for this was cheaper than the web site pricing. FWIW, here's the link to one I've snagged in the past:

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Coghlans-1.5-Oz-Emergency-Blanket/23543585

 

[MyFavEeyore]

Yep, I found it easier to just grab it at the store when I was in the area, as locally in store for this was cheaper than the web site pricing. FWIW, here's the link to one I've snagged in the past:

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Coghlans-1.5-Oz-Emergency-Blanket/23543585

Awesome! Thanks soooo much! Heading there on lunch break today!

 

[ryanj36]

Getting excited only about two months left till the half.

 

[Chaitali]

We weren't planning on any park time for this trip, but now I'm intrigued by the idea of the Star Wars fireworks. Is there anywhere outside the park they can be seen, similar to California Grill and Wishes? I'm assuming the answer is no but thought I'd check to see if it was possible. Thanks!

 

[bryana]

We weren't planning on any park time for this trip, but now I'm intrigued by the idea of the Star Wars fireworks. Is there anywhere outside the park they can be seen, similar to California Grill and Wishes? I'm assuming the answer is no but thought I'd check to see if it was possible. Thanks!

No, because it isn't a traditional fireworks show. It is a mixture of projections on the Chinese Theater, lasers, pyro, and fireworks. Think of a show more similar to Illuminations than to Wishes.

 

[cavepig]

We weren't planning on any park time for this trip, but now I'm intrigued by the idea of the Star Wars fireworks. Is there anywhere outside the park they can be seen, similar to California Grill and Wishes? I'm assuming the answer is no but thought I'd check to see if it was possible. Thanks!

I agree with above, so much is on the Chinese Theater that it's really best from in the park. It's not nearly as many fireworks as say Wishes. I mean I guess you could stand in the bus area at Studios and see any fireworks that go up high.

 

[Chaitali]

Thanks for the info, I didn't realize that it was more than just fireworks. I guess I'll have to wait to see it until our next full length trip to Disney World

 

[Sleepless Knight]

Booked my Star Wars Guided Tour this morning. Now I'm debating if I want to switch one of my MK days to a primarily Epcot day. I'm also giving strong consideration to switching my Universal Harry Potter day to a relax around the resort day.

 

[croach]

Booked my Star Wars Guided Tour this morning. Now I'm debating if I want to switch one of my MK days to a primarily Epcot day. I'm also giving strong consideration to switching my Universal Harry Potter day to a relax around the resort day.

Wow seven hours. That should be pretty cool.
I'm looking forward to Epcot because of the Flower and Garden stuff(primarily food and drinks but also flowers and gardens). Have you been to Universal for Harry Potter?

 

[Sleepless Knight]

Wow seven hours. That should be pretty cool.
I'm looking forward to Epcot because of the Flower and Garden stuff(primarily food and drinks but also flowers and gardens). Have you been to Universal for Harry Potter?

That's my dilemma. I've never been to Universal Orlando and Diagon Alley is the draw for me since Universal Hollywood does have Hogsmeade. I have yet to experience Wizarding World on the west coast either.

So while I want to experience Harry Potter, I'm becoming concerned that I will need a day to take it easy. I'm taking a redeye on Wednesday night and arrive in Orlando early Thursday morning. From there I head to the Expo. Friday is in the MK, Saturday is the 10K with light touring around Epcot afterwards. I define light touring as a lot of attractions that involve sitting down for long periods of time or Fastpass. Sunday is the 1/2 with lunch at Be Our Guest and dinner at Le Cellier. It's also shaping up to be my only chance to watch Illuminations. Monday is the Star Wars Tour, Tuesday is my planned Universal day, Wednesday is Animal Kingdom with Rivers of Light, Thursday is either MK or Epcot and Friday is Epcot and DHS.

I guess I'm thinking that after 2 straight very early mornings and the tour the day after the Dark Side Challenge, I may not feel like putting in a full day at Universal. Since I only have one day at Universal, I'm debating the merits of focusing exclusively on Harry Potter and fitting anything else that's possible in or just taking a day to relax and not go to the parks at all.

One thing I've decided will be nice on this trip is being able to run the race early on in the trip and not have to return to work shortly after the race. Now I'm second guessing Universal because I want to have some semblance of relaxing after the race. Throw in the transportation cost to Universal and the debate goes on.

 

[croach]

That's my dilemma. I've never been to Universal Orlando and Diagon Alley is the draw for me since Universal Hollywood does have Hogsmeade. I have yet to experience Wizarding World on the west coast either.

So while I want to experience Harry Potter, I'm becoming concerned that I will need a day to take it easy. I'm taking a redeye on Wednesday night and arrive in Orlando early Thursday morning. From there I head to the Expo. Friday is in the MK, Saturday is the 10K with light touring around Epcot afterwards. I define light touring as a lot of attractions that involve sitting down for long periods of time or Fastpass. Sunday is the 1/2 with lunch at Be Our Guest and dinner at Le Cellier. It's also shaping up to be my only chance to watch Illuminations. Monday is the Star Wars Tour, Tuesday is my planned Universal day, Wednesday is Animal Kingdom with Rivers of Light, Thursday is either MK or Epcot and Friday is Epcot and DHS.

I guess I'm thinking that after 2 straight very early mornings and the tour the day after the Dark Side Challenge, I may not feel like putting in a full day at Universal. Since I only have one day at Universal, I'm debating the merits of focusing exclusively on Harry Potter and fitting anything else that's possible in or just taking a day to relax and not go to the parks at all.

One thing I've decided will be nice on this trip is being able to run the race early on in the trip and not have to return to work shortly after the race. Now I'm second guessing Universal because I want to have some semblance of relaxing after the race. Throw in the transportation cost to Universal and the debate goes on.

I get where you're coming from on wanting the rest day and added Universal cost. Diagon Alley obviously isn't going anywhere so you can catch it another time but..... I will say that I went over this past marathon weekend and I thought it was awesome. Much better than Hogsmeade in my opinion. Tons of detail everywhere. But even trying to scale down and just do that is pretty expensive. It always seems hard to fit everything in on theses trips huh?

 

[DisSconnie]

Super jealous of everyone on-site getting to make their FastPass selections already! We're staying off-site so have to wait until 30 days out, but I'm hoping I can still get what we want. It looks like the only rides that run-out are SDMT and Frozen. We'll try to make SDMT work, but no biggy if we miss Frozen this time. It's adults and a 1 year old who has no idea what Frozen is, hahaha.

 

[bryana]

YOU GUYS.

Princess weekend means that we're NEXT!!

Happy Hump Day!

 

[MyFavEeyore]

So here's a question for everyone. I'm doing the 5k with significant other on Friday, and want him to feel awesome accomplishing this at his 59 years of age. (His first) Would it be ok to try and get him to wear his medal in the park that day or is that something just marathoners and Challenge runners do on Sat/Sun? I know he won't unless I do with him, but I don't want to step on toes with the longer distance runners?