Official WDW Marathon Weekend 2013 Thread

[steves1019]

The $700 is for the only room type left, theme park view. The site says $700, I haven't called yet. I think we're looking to go with the Poly at $556 per the site anyway. Will call tomorrow.

 

[randomiam79]

Am I nuts to pay $700 to stay at Contemporary the night before the run??? I can't even believe I'm thinking of it. But it solves transpiration issues for me I think (my family is lazy and hates waking up early!). So at Contemporary I can get to EPCOT for start. Then fam can walk to MK when I pass through and catch the monorail to EPCOT to see me finish. My thought is it's the only way I'd ever pay that much for a room, one night.

We are staying at bay lake tower at the contemporary. Did that last year and loved it. Being on the monorail was awesome. I would not pay $700/night though. Personally, i would get up extra early and wait on traffic, hire a cab, or something. Thank goodness for DVC

 

[PRmamiDEdos]

. Thank goodness for DVC

yes! If not for our DVC points, I highly doubt we'd be "paying" to stay for any of the race weekends.

 

[NitroStitch]

yes! If not for our DVC points, I highly doubt we'd be "paying" to stay for any of the race weekends.

I'd be staying in value resorts if not for the DVC points.

 

[Kewz1]

yes! If not for our DVC points, I highly doubt we'd be "paying" to stay for any of the race weekends.

I'd be staying in value resorts if not for the DVC points.

Add us to that group also!

Kristen

 

[cobbler]

yes! If not for our DVC points, I highly doubt we'd be "paying" to stay for any of the race weekends.

I'm on points for marathon but I'm out of points after that - to even borrow - for the princess. And value resorts are way to much that weekend so not sure what I'll do with that one yet...

 

[CaptHomer]

Thank goodness for DVC

Ditto!

 

[jimandami]

We rented DVC points for the entire week and it really is a great deal. Our first 2 nights are at SSR (we originally were gonna do a cruise leaving the 13th but changed our minds) and that was just $300 for both nightsand then we are in a Savannah view at Kidani for the rest of the week, which was $800. So for just $1100, we have a deluxe room for 7 nights

 

[PRmamiDEdos]

I'd be staying in value resorts if not for the DVC points.

As much as I love Disney, and have found a love for these races, I hate how they take advantage of the people who want to participate. Okay, I understand it's a Disney race and they put a lot into it and there's tons of entertainment and you shouldn't do it if you don't have the $$, but GEEZ!! $170 for one person to run a marathon??? Add to that the fact they are really jacking up the prices of rooms for the weekend and even Value is expensive. IMHO, it takes away a little of the pixie dust.

Will I continue to run these races? Yes. I would love to run more than one a year, but it's not possible.

I'm on points for marathon but I'm out of points after that - to even borrow - for the princess. And value resorts are way to much that weekend so not sure what I'll do with that one yet...

We have a small contract (160) and when we bought, we figured we would only go every other year. Yah, we've made it a yearly thing and we basically go every year now. I'm using 110 of my points for the marathon and DH & I are going for a quick weekend in October for our 10th anniversary with the other 50. I might skip going in 2014 and then do a nice trip in 2015 with 320 points...we'll see, LOL.

 

[KSBelle77]

As much as I love Disney, and have found a love for these races, I hate how they take advantage of the people who want to participate. Okay, I understand it's a Disney race and they put a lot into it and there's tons of entertainment and you shouldn't do it if you don't have the $$, but GEEZ!! $170 for one person to run a marathon??? Add to that the fact they are really jacking up the prices of rooms for the weekend and even Value is expensive. IMHO, it takes away a little of the pixie dust.

It is not just Disney. I registered DH for his fort marathon. $150 and the hotel is $125 a night. It is not going to anything like Disney though. Starts in Buffalo, ny and ends at Niagara Falls Canada.

 

[PRmamiDEdos]

We rented DVC points for the entire week and it really is a great deal. Our first 2 nights are at SSR (we originally were gonna do a cruise leaving the 13th but changed our minds) and that was just $300 for both nightsand then we are in a Savannah view at Kidani for the rest of the week, which was $800. So for just $1100, we have a deluxe room for 7 nights

Nice!! Thinking about renting points in June for a full week or just going value.

 

[SAHDad]

It is not just Disney. I registered DH for his fort marathon. $150 and the hotel is $125 a night. It is not going to anything like Disney though. Starts in Buffalo, ny and ends at Niagara Falls Canada.

Races prices vary quite a bit. One marathon that I am doing next year starts at $75, and goes up to $100 over the course of the next eight months or so. They do what they call the I-Challenge - a 5k on Friday, then either the half, relay, or full marathon on Sunday (so, a shorter version of the Goofy). Registration prices there run from $100 to $140.

An ultra that I wanted to do this year started at $50 for the 50-miler, and $40 for the 50k. Those prices go up by $20 if you wait until the week prior to register. No course entertainment (unless you count other runners), but plenty of food at the aid stations.

runDisney events definitely trend toward the pricier end, but they are also a destination marathon, and well-run. If you want a cheap race, find a trail race with few (if any) aid stations - most of those tend to be very inexpensive - as in, less than the cost of the WDW 5k race.

 

[PRmamiDEdos]

runDisney events definitely trend toward the pricier end, but they are also a destination marathon, and well-run. If you want a cheap race, find a trail race with few (if any) aid stations - most of those tend to be very inexpensive - as in, less than the cost of the WDW 5k race.

runDisney races are definitely well run. I'm not arguing that at all. The course, the entertainment, the security, food, etc. I'm sure it's not cheap to put this event on. I've been part of well run races that weren't nearly as much (Long Island Marathon 10K) and I've also done cheap races with no water stops (Rockaway Spring 10K, can you say one water fountain on the whole boardwalk? ).

I'm positive I will continue to lay out my cc# to register for Disney races, but I will be grumbling about it at the same time.

 

[cobbler]

Races prices vary quite a bit. One marathon that I am doing next year starts at $75, and goes up to $100 over the course of the next eight months or so. They do what they call the I-Challenge - a 5k on Friday, then either the half, relay, or full marathon on Sunday (so, a shorter version of the Goofy). Registration prices there run from $100 to $140.

An ultra that I wanted to do this year started at $50 for the 50-miler, and $40 for the 50k. Those prices go up by $20 if you wait until the week prior to register. No course entertainment (unless you count other runners), but plenty of food at the aid stations.

runDisney events definitely trend toward the pricier end, but they are also a destination marathon, and well-run. If you want a cheap race, find a trail race with few (if any) aid stations - most of those tend to be very inexpensive - as in, less than the cost of the WDW 5k race.

I LOVE the Illinois marathon. I did the I challenge the first year they offered it. That event (aside from the parks & characters at Disney) is darn near Disney quality.

I ran a non- cheap race on Mackinac Island in 2010 & they ran out of water at the second aid station forcing quite a few of us to go 5 miles without anything! Very poor! So it does happen with non-cheap races too.

 

[Reep]

As much as I love Disney, and have found a love for these races, I hate how they take advantage of the people who want to participate. Okay, I understand it's a Disney race and they put a lot into it and there's tons of entertainment and you shouldn't do it if you don't have the $$, but GEEZ!! $170 for one person to run a marathon???

I know it seems like a lot, but you have to remember that this is one of the biggest marathons in the world. Their prices are comparable to Boston, Chicago, and the RnR series, but you get a lot more at Disney than those places. The Disney medals are much nicer than any of those I mentioned and Disney has about 3-5x as many port-o-potties available (Boston was 45 min wait). And, the entertainment is better too. Compared to the other big marathons, I think it is a better value.

The harder part to remember is that we live in a free market economy (for the moment anyway), and RunDisney is a business. At their current prices they are selling out faster than ever. So, as much as we don't like the prices, the market indicates they are undercharging.

 

[Ariel484]

I know it seems like a lot, but you have to remember that this is one of the biggest marathons in the world. Their prices are comparable to Boston, Chicago, and the RnR series, but you get a lot more at Disney than those places. The Disney medals are much nicer than any of those I mentioned and Disney has about 3-5x as many port-o-potties available (Boston was 45 min wait). And, the entertainment is better too. Compared to the other big marathons, I think it is a better value.

This is what I was going to say earlier. You get what you pay for with a Disney race. Having said that, I do think their half marathons are a touch over-priced...but that won't stop me from signing up for them!

In other news...this little Facebook game is still annoying me, but it looks like they're finally going somewhere with it:

Chicago... Chicago... We've almost caught up to Donald to reveal his new Half Marathon medal, part of the Level 4 unlock of the Great Medal Caper, now just a few steps away! Help us at http://on.fb.me/MweHCS* so we can give him his new medal tonight!

I hope they reveal it today!! And that the marathon medal isn't far behind...I'd also like them to say what the 5K theme is (something Brave-related is my guess) but I think people have said they normally wait until September to announce it.

 

[longhorns2]

Sorry to butt in, but on the princess thread there is discussion about vouchers being needed for the busses to the race. Have any of y'all heard about this process? A CM told her only people booking through rundisney will get the vouchers and that they are doing this at the marathon and probably for the princess. Can anyone confirm this as a new practice?

 

[ironz]

As much as I love Disney, and have found a love for these races, I hate how they take advantage of the people who want to participate. Okay, I understand it's a Disney race and they put a lot into it and there's tons of entertainment and you shouldn't do it if you don't have the $$, but GEEZ!! $170 for one person to run a marathon??? Add to that the fact they are really jacking up the prices of rooms for the weekend and even Value is expensive. IMHO, it takes away a little of the pixie dust.

Will I continue to run these races? Yes. I would love to run more than one a year, but it's not possible.



We have a small contract (160) and when we bought, we figured we would only go every other year. Yah, we've made it a yearly thing and we basically go every year now. I'm using 110 of my points for the marathon and DH & I are going for a quick weekend in October for our 10th anniversary with the other 50. I might skip going in 2014 and then do a nice trip in 2015 with 320 points...we'll see, LOL.

Don't get into Ironman triathlon then. When I did my first one in 2002, the entry fee was $325. This year, it was $725.

 

[jmasgat]

I know it seems like a lot, but you have to remember that this is one of the biggest marathons in the world. Their prices are comparable to Boston, Chicago, and the RnR series, but you get a lot more at Disney than those places. The Disney medals are much nicer than any of those I mentioned and Disney has about 3-5x as many port-o-potties available (Boston was 45 min wait). And, the entertainment is better too. Compared to the other big marathons, I think it is a better value..

Oh, I don't know......Boston was pretty good by my reckoning, and I would hold up my Boston medal against ANY other. It is the centerpiece of my collection.

 

[Reep]

Oh, I don't know......Boston was pretty good by my reckoning, and I would hold up my Boston medal against ANY other. It is the centerpiece of my collection.

Yeah, but the great thing about Boston is the people. You have to admit the medal isn't much to look at except for the significance that it is Boston.