Official Wine & Dine 2014

[BuckeyeMark]

Hey guys I'm hoping someone who paid more attention the expo booths can answer this for me. I'm upgrading runners watches going from my old and love able Garmin 310XT to a 920XT.

The thing is as far as I can tell the 920 is due to come out the first day of the expo (unless I'm reading these websites wrong). So I figure the best place to pick it up is there so I can use it for the Wine and Dine itself. Plus my main mode of transport is not willing to go hunting around for a running shop off property, and honestly neither am I.

So the question is do you guys remember any of the booths selling Garmin watches? I figure someone would but it will give me a bit of a piece of a mind to have a better handle on it. I didn't really pay that much attention to the other booths I wasn't specifically shopping from last year. So I didn't notice.

Not trying to be Debbie Downer but this guy (who seems to be a pretty big deal in the run watch world) says they may be mighty scarce....

"As for availability, a semi-small number of units will be available at Ironman Kona (next week). Beyond that there are extremely limited numbers of units available globally for the next few weeks before production is significantly ramped up. Thus, expect that it might not be until at least mid or late November that Garmin is able to get through a backlog (or even longer). The whole early bird and worm thing is definitely at play here (just like it was for the FR620 running watch last year)."

source: http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2014/10/fr920xt-triathlon-details.html

you might think about calling Fit2Run and have them hold you one. sure doesn't sound like there will be boxes and boxes of them waiting for you.

just a thought. that's a cool looking watch!

 

[BuckeyeMark]

Let's talk about that expo ... how long can you spend there looking at exhibits, etc? Some of the pics make it look pretty huge. How much time should I allocate to seeing it? And what do lines to pick up your bib etc look like?

 

[bumbershoot]

Let's talk about that expo ... how long can you spend there looking at exhibits, etc? Some of the pics make it look pretty huge. How much time should I allocate to seeing it? And what do lines to pick up your bib etc look like?

I've been to TOT and Marathon weekend expos. They are pretty big. And you can spend all day if you wish to.

Picking up bibs for me has never taken much time at all, though, at those events. Get the bib, get the shirt, make sure the shirt fits, go to the shirt exchange booth if you need to, look around, etc etc. Shop, look, etc. Or if merchandise is really important to you, do that first.

 

[Ariel484]

Let's talk about that expo ... how long can you spend there looking at exhibits, etc? Some of the pics make it look pretty huge. How much time should I allocate to seeing it? And what do lines to pick up your bib etc look like?

Bib pick-up in the HP Field house:

Lines vary depend on when you go there. This picture was taken at (I think) about 2PM the day before the race, so you can see the lines aren't too bad. They have booths that are separated by your bib number (I think Jingle Jungle 5K booths were on the right and Wine & Dine booths on the right, or vice versa?), so it's not one giant line, but a bunch of smaller lines (my bib number was 2800-something):

Biggest piece of advice I can give is to print your waiver ahead of time and bring it with you. They'll have printers there that you can use but that's another line to stand in. When you pick up your bib you'll have to sign your name and present your waiver and ID. They will give you your bib, your wristband for the after-party and your $10 giftcard for the after-party. You'll also pick up race pins here if you pre-ordered them. There's a small area with official merchandise but they'll also have that in the actual expo.

The expo is in the Josten Center. I don't have a picture of the Wine & Dine expo but it looks something like this (this is the 2013 WDW Marathon Weekend Expo):

(My husband's worst nightmare.)

If you look waaaay in the back of that picture there's a sign that says "Race Shirt & Gear Bag Pick-up." This is where you pick up...wait for it...your race shirt and gear bag. You'll need to show your race bib(s) for this part. And sometimes they have shirt exchange if you don't like the size you are given (they did have it at the Princess expo this year).

Once you pick that stuff up you could just go ahead and leave if you want, or you can peruse the many, many booths that want to sell you all of the things. Some will also be giving samples. How long it takes really depends on what the lines are like when you get there, but it also depends on whether you want to shop the other booths or not. I think in the past it's taken me at least 1-1.5 hours.

Sidenote: There used to be an extra step of "activating" your bib tag somewhere (involving walking over a timing mat with it) but I'm not sure they do that any more. If they do there will be signage for it.

 

[BuckeyeMark]

Cannot thank you enough Ariel484. That's great info. Looking forward to the Run Expo now thanks to your pix!

 

[Ariel484]

Cannot thank you enough Ariel484. That's great info. Looking forward to the Run Expo now thanks to your pix!

You got it.

 

[Ariel484]

AH...I forgot something.

If you are picking up after-party tickets at WWoS for the non-runners in your group, you'd want to do that before/after bib and shirt pick-up. This was the line I waited in for my husband's after-party ticket last year:

The actual pick-up is in that green building to the left (assuming it's in the same place this year). For the life of me I can't remember what it is called. It's right in the middle of the HP Field House and Josten Center, where bib pick-up and the expo are, respectively.

The red ESPN sign in the center of the picture is the entrance to the complex, so to get here you'd just walk in and go straight back. The ticket pick-up process took a LONG time. I waited in that line for at least 30 minutes, because there were only 2 CMs issuing tickets, if I remember correctly. I think I just had a print-out of my order and handed that to them, and they gave me the ticket and $10 giftcard.

 

[BLTSam]

So can I take a bus to one of the parks and then over to ESPN? What about getting back after. Are there buses running to AKL then?

 

[StarGirl11]

AH...I forgot something. If you are picking up after-party tickets at WWoS for the non-runners in your group, you'd want to do that before/after bib and shirt pick-up. This was the line I waited in for my husband's after-party ticket last year: The actual pick-up is in that green building to the left (assuming it's in the same place this year). For the life of me I can't remember what it is called. It's right in the middle of the HP Field House and Josten Center, where bib pick-up and the expo are, respectively. The red ESPN sign in the center of the picture is the entrance to the complex, so to get here you'd just walk in and go straight back. The ticket pick-up process took a LONG time. I waited in that line for at least 30 minutes, because there were only 2 CMs issuing tickets, if I remember correctly. I think I just had a print-out of my order and handed that to them, and they gave me the ticket and $10 giftcard.

I was told over the phone I could pick it up at my hotel concierge desk (place where you get tickets and stuff)? Is this not a thing?

We were also told we could link it to MDE. But due to how our group is formatted my Mom and I both agree that's it's better to just pick up once there.

 

[PrincessV]

GENIUS! A plastic trash bag right out of the box is so flat and thin it takes up virtually no room. Makes a great a emergency rain poncho too.

You've got it!

Heya V!! You doing W&D??? Oh I know.....you retired again!!! LOL

Yep, I got sucked in again! And again. And again. #alltheraces I'm clearly a glutton for punishment. I'm really excited for W&D - my first time!

Let's talk about that expo ... how long can you spend there looking at exhibits, etc? Some of the pics make it look pretty huge. How much time should I allocate to seeing it? And what do lines to pick up your bib etc look like?

This is so dependent on your love (or dislike) for shopping. I've managed to get in and out in less than 20 mins when I just wanted bibs/shirts/packets. I'm not a big shopper and sure as heck do NOT need any more running gear! But you can totally make almost a day of it if you want to visit every vendor, stop for every photo opp, etc.

 

[BuckeyeMark]

This is so dependent on your love (or dislike) for shopping. I've managed to get in and out in less than 20 mins when I just wanted bibs/shirts/packets. I'm not a big shopper and sure as heck do NOT need any more running gear! But you can totally make almost a day of it if you want to visit every vendor, stop for every photo opp, etc.

I'm in trouble. Must. Have. Orange shoelaces. They go with my Tigger costume!

 

[McCoy]

AH...I forgot something.

If you are picking up after-party tickets at WWoS for the non-runners in your group, you'd want to do that before/after bib and shirt pick-up. This was the line I waited in for my husband's after-party ticket last year:

The actual pick-up is in that green building to the left (assuming it's in the same place this year). For the life of me I can't remember what it is called. It's right in the middle of the HP Field House and Josten Center, where bib pick-up and the expo are, respectively.

The red ESPN sign in the center of the picture is the entrance to the complex, so to get here you'd just walk in and go straight back. The ticket pick-up process took a LONG time. I waited in that line for at least 30 minutes, because there were only 2 CMs issuing tickets, if I remember correctly. I think I just had a print-out of my order and handed that to them, and they gave me the ticket and $10 giftcard.

I was told over the phone I could pick it up at my hotel concierge desk (place where you get tickets and stuff)? Is this not a thing?

We were also told we could link it to MDE. But due to how our group is formatted my Mom and I both agree that's it's better to just pick up once there.

I may not remember 100% correctly, but I believe last year the biggest issue was just the $10 gift card for those not running, with after-party tickets. I ran, and was able to check in and get all my gear in no time, but we waited a very long time for the gift card for my wife Friday, even though she already had her ticket. We almost decided to skip the gift card entirely, and we left on Friday, but then I went back last minute Saturday, when there was pretty much no line.

Apparently Disney solved that problem by just not offering a $10 for those just attending the after-party this year, and we've already gotten her ticket in the mail, so there will be no waiting for that at all this year.

 

[Ariel484]

I may not remember 100% correctly, but I believe last year the biggest issue was just the $10 gift card for those not running, with after-party tickets. I ran, and was able to check in and get all my gear in no time, but we waited a very long time for the gift card for my wife Friday, even though she already had her ticket. We almost decided to skip the gift card entirely, and we left on Friday, but then I went back last minute Saturday, when there was pretty much no line. Apparently Disney solved that problem by just not offering a $10 for those just attending the after-party this year, and we've already gotten her ticket in the mail, so there will be no waiting for that at all this year.

I can't multi-quote on my phone...

StarGirl - when we went last year, MDE was in its infancy (not technically 100% rolled out to all resorts yet) so we didn't know anything about linking tickets or whatever. McCoy is right that the gift card was the issue, otherwise I would have just had the ticket mailed to our house. But since there was a gift card included there was no way I was going to not pick it up...would have been like throwing away $10.

 

[StarGirl11]

I can't multi-quote on my phone... StarGirl - when we went last year, MDE was in its infancy (not technically 100% rolled out to all resorts yet) so we didn't know anything about linking tickets or whatever. McCoy is right that the gift card was the issue, otherwise I would have just had the ticket mailed to our house. But since there was a gift card included there was no way I was going to not pick it up...would have been like throwing away $10.

I had to buy my tickets over the phone because of website problems at the time (WWOS refused to allow me to do anything past picking out my tickets). So I wasn't given an option to get it in the mail. Just link it up or pick it up. Or else I would have had them mail it like last year. And due to our third party members late arrival we decided picking it up was just the easier route on all of us.

It took me a bit to remember picking up the gift card. But I do remember it now. Must have caught it at a down time because I remember a line just not as bad in the pics. Hopefully I'll have the same luck this year.

 

[DanaEA24]

Has anyone ever purchased the discounted park tickets thru runDisney then had someone cancel out on the trip? The tickets say nonrefundable and they expire Nov. 17 or 18 I think but I'm wondering if they will allow me to "upgrade" and pay the difference to a non discounted 4 day hopper so that I can use it next time I go or am I just out the money? Thanks!

 

[bigtony777]

Oh, wow! Thank you so much! I was told about paying for parking by my aunt who hasn't stayed on property before so she did have to pay. Yay! Now, does anyone have any tips on where to find an affordable rental? I asked the Disney hotline and they just pointed me in the direction of their affiliates though I'd prefer something cheaper (arriving Thursday, departing Tuesday ;6 days).

I don't know if you are a Costco member, but I got a great deal on a one way one day rental from the airport on arrival day. It was $25 for a full size. We will stop on the way to grab some items at the grocery store for the weekend.

 

[PrincessV]

I'm in trouble. Must. Have. Orange shoelaces. They go with my Tigger costume!

Yeah, best count on at least half a day for you, then, lol!

 

[StarGirl11]

Runner tracking is up on the website! Go here: http://live.xacte.com/winedine/alerts/

 

[Ariel484]

Runner tracking is up on the website! Go here: http://live.xacte.com/winedine/alerts/

Thanks for the link! I am surprised that it's up already, lately they haven't been posting them until the week of the race. Not complaining though!

 

[sunshinecruise]

Let's talk about that expo ... how long can you spend there looking at exhibits, etc? Some of the pics make it look pretty huge. How much time should I allocate to seeing it? And what do lines to pick up your bib etc look like?

When I ran in the Princess Half Marathon I spent a few hours at the expo. I enjoyed looking at the merchandise and I also listened to a few of the speakers. Check in the expo booklet for a list of speakers and topics. I am looking forward to listening to Jeff Galloway.