Official Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend - The Dark Side 2017

[Bulldogmommy]

Can any of you runDisney experts answer this? I just did the race registration for my DD and I this morning. We are past the deadline for POT, and my DD doesn't have a race that she can enter for POT anyway. I entered our projected time as just past the requirement for POT, 2:45-3:00, I think it is. I'm hoping to avoid being in the last corral if possible. Does anyone know how they do the seeding for the back corrals? I've never done a runDisney half without a POT.

From my understanding (this is my first runDisney event, but I have read several blogs, etc.). After submitted POT's, the remaining corrals are divided according to projected finished time, so you should not be in the last corral with your estimated time. Hope that helps. This is a link to the corrals for last year... http://as1.wdpromedia.com/media/run...arathon/2016_SW-DS_CorralAssignments_Half.pdf

 

[drummerwife]

I just ran Princess without a POT. I, like you, entered the first time after required POT when I registered. I was placed in corral I which had a 2:50 finish. I don't think you have anything to worry about as far as being in the last corral. The corrals were released in waves and this really helped out with course crowding IMO. I think you and your daughter will have a great race as long as you don't mind running with the middle of the packers.

 

[Bulldogmommy]

Just saying, I'm dying for even a freaking good description of the course already! runDisney still hasn't updated their site from the Princess!! Come on Disney, give us a clue!

 

[cavepig]

Someone on facebook just posted this, so they updated the 10k from Floridian way to WORLD DRIVE start
Star Wars 10K
Saturday, April 22, 2017

5:30 a.m.

Start: World Drive
Finish: Epcot®

 

[bcarey2k]

Someone on facebook just posted this, so they updated the 10k from Floridian way to WORLD DRIVE start
Star Wars 10K
Saturday, April 22, 2017

5:30 a.m.

Start: World Drive
Finish: Epcot®

As Google maps crashes with folks looking at where exactly 'World Drive' could mean.

 

[Bulldogmommy]

Someone on facebook just posted this, so they updated the 10k from Floridian way to WORLD DRIVE start
Star Wars 10K
Saturday, April 22, 2017

5:30 a.m.

Start: World Drive
Finish: Epcot®

I knew something was up! With all the construction at Hollywood, something was going on... now let the guessing begin??? Any ideas Veterans to RunDisney???

 

[Dis_Yoda]

Someone on facebook just posted this, so they updated the 10k from Floridian way to WORLD DRIVE start
Star Wars 10K
Saturday, April 22, 2017

5:30 a.m.

Start: World Drive
Finish: Epcot®

World Drive could still be the TTC Parking Lot.

 

[opusone]

Someone on facebook just posted this, so they updated the 10k from Floridian way to WORLD DRIVE start
Star Wars 10K
Saturday, April 22, 2017

5:30 a.m.

Start: World Drive
Finish: Epcot®

I wonder if that really means the 10k and half will start at different locations (i.e. opposite sides of the TTC parking lot). This seems odd since they would likely have to move the starting area setup (like porta-potties, gear check, etc). Do they do that for any other race weekends?

 

[Dis_Yoda]

I wonder if the race area is going to be set up near the Mickey Lake area - that way the race can easily start either on World Drive or Floridian Way depending on the course.

 

[cavepig]

I wonder if that really means the 10k and half will start at different locations (i.e. opposite sides of the TTC parking lot). This seems odd since they would likely have to move the starting area setup (like porta-potties, gear check, etc). Do they do that for any other race weekends?

Well wine and dine last year had three different starts, 5k at AK, 10k at Ep and half at WWOS, 10k & half had same finish.

but having two starts setup at TTC would seem strange

 

[opusone]

I wonder if the race area is going to be set up near the Mickey Lake area - that way the race can easily start either on World Drive or Floridian Way depending on the course.

It's over a half mile across the TTC parking lot between Floridian Way and World Drive (except for down by the Alamo Rental facility).

Well wine and dine last year had three different starts, 5k at AK, 10k at Ep and half at WWOS, 10k & half had same finish.

but having two starts setup at TTC would seem strange

Wow, that's a lot of different starting areas at W&D. Interesting.

 

[Dis_Yoda]

Half Mile Walk wouldn't be that crazy for corrals. I swear its been almost that long for a walk last year for one of the races (who knows if I remember which one it was now)

 

[*DisneyDreamer]

Has anyone seen anything about the half course? I noticed that it starts on Floridian Way and that seems to indicate it will go through Magic Kingdom. That's really got my attention

As others have said, no official course yet, and most likely not for at least another few weeks. Early April would be the earliest I would guess. But I'm definitely thinking no Magic Kingdom unfortunately. I would love it, but I agree with @cavepig that that would be something for them to advertise as a selling point since the half and challenge are still not sold out. Unless they're still exploring course options and don't know for sure, so they don't want to say anything if it has to change, but I wouldn't count on that.

If the course goes from AK to DHS, there will still be a ramp with an incline. I would think they'd use the old marathon course out and back on Osceola and the ramp from there onto World Drive, if they bring the course through AK.

I assume the ramp you're talking about is the one that was on the old Wine and Dine course. I'm sure it would feel worse after having done 8 or so miles as opposed to only about 1.5 which was the case with the shortened half course from 2015, but that one did not seem too bad to me. The cloverleaf off World Drive heading towards Epcot was tougher.

I just don't remember any of those being as bad as that half one, but then my memory probably is foggy.

Yeah a lot are thinking it will be like the 2nd half of the marathon minus WWOS.

This is definitely my thought, and it would be a decent course, so I'm hoping that's what it ends up being. It would include 3 parks, even if the DHS part is brief, plus the Boardwalk area. It would end up being very similar to the old Wine and Dine, minus the start at WWOS and the backstage areas of DHS.

Someone on facebook just posted this, so they updated the 10k from Floridian way to WORLD DRIVE start
Star Wars 10K
Saturday, April 22, 2017

5:30 a.m.

Start: World Drive
Finish: Epcot®

This got me worried for a minute that maybe they got rid of the course description too. But I looked and it's still the same (mentioning the journey to DHS and then the Yacht and Beach Club area to Epcot). Interesting that they made that change.

 

[*DisneyDreamer]

But will they have Spaceship Earth as the Deathstar is the real question...

That would be amazing! But since Epcot is where the finish is, the park portions there will be towards the end of the races, so especially during the half, very few people would be going through there when it's dark. So it would be hard to see.

 

[AThrillingChase]

Like above said not for about 4 weeks or when the event guide comes out. Seems the guide/corrals have been released about 3 weeks before the last few race weekends. I doubt it will go through MK. That would be a selling point for it and it's not sold out yet so one would think they would mention MK to sell more. I think (as others I've read think too) it will start at TTC area and head to AK, a bit of Studios through Boardwalk area and into EPCOT. This I like as then we won't have those on ramp inclines like the end of the Jan/Princess/16 wine&dine half course as those suck & I don't mind hills, but those banked inclined ramps are rough near the end.


But will they have Spaceship Earth as the Deathstar is the real question...

I really thought they would last year. I was convinced. Took me some time to get past that one lol. There must be a way...

I just don't remember any of those being as bad as that half one, but then my memory probably is foggy.

Yeah a lot are thinking it will be like the 2nd half of the marathon minus WWOS.

One word - exhaustion! It killed me at TOT because my IT issue was wrecking me.

Can any of you runDisney experts answer this? I just did the race registration for my DD and I this morning. We are past the deadline for POT, and my DD doesn't have a race that she can enter for POT anyway. I entered our projected time as just past the requirement for POT, 2:45-3:00, I think it is. I'm hoping to avoid being in the last corral if possible. Does anyone know how they do the seeding for the back corrals? I've never done a runDisney half without a POT.

From what I can tell, there are now multiple 2:45 corrals and between those it goes according to sign up order. You won't be in the last one!

 

[lovingeire]

Thank you all for the well wishes! I have been staying off my foot as much as possible. It stinks, but I am hoping it will pay off so that I can enjoy Dark Side.

his I like as then we won't have those on ramp inclines like the end of the Jan/Princess/16 wine&dine half course as those suck & I don't mind hills, but those banked inclined ramps are rough near the end.

Any route that didn't include those stinking banked incline ramps would be a winner in my book!

 

[lovingeire]

Those flying Southwest, check your flights to see if prices went down as they released a new sale today. I just saved $43 on my flight down! (My return flight didn't change. Thankful I caught the one evening it had gone down a bit!)

 

[bcarey2k]

Mine went down too .... but I'm on points and I popped for the early check in .... so I gotta hang with what I got.

But now I'm looking at other flights!

Brian

 

[lovingeire]

Mine went down too .... but I'm on points and I popped for the early check in .... so I gotta hang with what I got.

But now I'm looking at other flights!

Brian

I think I am going to spring for early check in on my return flight. I don't want to have to worry about checking in while I'm at Disney. I know I'll forget!

 

[bcarey2k]

I think I am going to spring for early check in on my return flight. I don't want to have to worry about checking in while I'm at Disney. I know I'll forget!

That's always us!