Princess Half-Marathon - It's Official

[Superdebbie]

Hey boys: Haven't you heard? WOMEN RULE THE WORLD!! LOL

 

[Creativebeth]

I just booked a hotel for the race weekend at the Hyatt. They have a room for $99.00 a night. My dh book us two! Just thought I would let you all know. http://www.hyatt.com/hyatt/reservat...s.jsp?xactionid=119b6c0552c&_requestid=362076. See you next year!

Beth

 

[cdn_gal_eeyore]

Peak season and less than two months from the marathon weekend..??

Plus a princess themed half and you don't even get to run through Cinderella's castle??

I'm not rushing to hand over my $120 just yet...

 

[39CINDERELLA]

Peak season and less than two months from the marathon weekend..??

Plus a princess themed half and you don't even get to run through Cinderella's castle??

I'm not rushing to hand over my $120 just yet...

Exactly....how can it be princess themed and not go through the castle!
As a princess I demand a change! LOL

 

[princessrunner]

I have to say that my suggestion would be to follow along with the Pirate and Princess party and do a Pirate and Princess half marathon. I know Minnie and the Go Red 5K were generally directed toward women but they were not exclusive to them. And yes, not running through Cindy's castle during a Princess half marathon should be considered a mortal sin.

 

[hoosmi]

Yes, yes, yes-- how can they not run through the Castle!?! It looks like the same basic route as the Minnie (which is really pretty boring without the MK ). I'm already signed up for the half in January. I don't even want to bother dragging my family down for another race (and spending the cash) if it doesn't hit the MK... plus it's the inaugural one and the transportation looks iffy- I did that whole traffic thing for ToT- not good. Hmmm...

I don't even know if a really good medal could entice me... and that's saying a lot!

Jen in GA

 

[ultramickeymouse]

Jen: I agree it needs to go through MK and the Castle. I think what they didn't want is a rehash of the Jan 1/2 2 months later. I think they wanted to keep the Minnie course with a few extra miles to make it a 1/2. This also gives the Jan 1/2 runners a feel for the back part of the marathon they never see.

 

[tigger2esq]

I was looking forward to this but now I might have to pass. Princess but no castle? they just took the WORST part of the full marathon and made it its own race. I seriosuly have no desire to relive THAT... LOL
the MK is my favorite part of the race. PLus--$120 and I have to find my own way to the start ?? are they nuts?

 

[Twingle]

Hi everyone - total running newbie here. I've been tossing around the idea of running a Disney marathon since January, and the Princess Half-Marathon would work great for me time wise - since it's in March, and I have approximately ten months to train, LOL.

Those of you that have raced at Disney before don't seem to excited about this race, given the course and fee. Would this race not be a good choice for my first Disney race?

Thanks for reading, and any info you can share.

 

[ultramickeymouse]

For me, its is not the race in itself. I always do the Goofy and come across country in Jan. To hard for another trip 1 1/2 months later.

I think most are just getting tired of increased fees(what isn't going up in life) and the lack of transportation. They always provide in Jan races but not a new 10,000 runner weekend I feel they will change that to all resorts once they get all the complaints or after the race when they have major traffic issues. I presume they are going to bus runners from the finish(EPCOT) to the start. If not there will be lots of runners trying to get back to their cars without WDW transportation???

 

[Tinks]

I guess I am also frustrated that they changed to a 1/2 marathon, too. I know that a 15K race isn't as popular a distance for a race but it seemed to suit me. The 1/2 marathon is a bit long for my taste and I found the 15K challenging but still within a distance that I could try for time.

I don't know why I care so much right now because I couldn't make either race for a while but still!

 

[chimera]

Hi everyone - total running newbie here. I've been tossing around the idea of running a Disney marathon since January, and the Princess Half-Marathon would work great for me time wise - since it's in March, and I have approximately ten months to train, LOL.

Those of you that have raced at Disney before don't seem to excited about this race, given the course and fee. Would this race not be a good choice for my first Disney race?

Thanks for reading, and any info you can share.

A wise WISHer said this weekend that they thought the Princess half was designed to take the overflow from the Donald since it closed so early this year.

As for whether or not it's a good first race, this is its first year so hard to say. What we're comparing it to is the current half in Jan where you have transportation from ALL WDW resorts to and from race start and finish. You also get free admission to Pleasure Island for a post-race party.

The Princess race costs more for registration and provides less. For the post-race, you get to purchase a discounted Pirate and Princess party ticket as your post-race event.

Donald is roughly the first half of the marathon (without the morning tour through EPCOT), Princess looks like the back half of the marathon course.

March is spring break so resort costs for cash/DVC are higher than Jan/May. That also means the parks will be more crowded.

IMHO, $120 for a half marathon, without all the glitz and excitement of WDW marathon weekend, is not likely to be worth it. I just paid $45 to register for the Sarasota half on Feb 15. I think you would get more value out of the registration fee if you do the Donald half in January. I think Anthony Travel still has slots available if you don't want to wait for 2010.

I'm a little bitter though, I really liked the Minnie, the distance, the time of year, all that stuff. I'm actually starting to wonder about Disney's Endurance group. They've gotten rid of Minnie, offered a 5K that costs $100 with no other option for folks that already have park admission and now the Princess half at $120. I'm ready to send my email and boycott WDW races other than marathon weekend.

 

[swim-mom]

As for whether or not it's a good first race, this is its first year so hard to say. What we're comparing it to is the current half in Jan where you have transportation from ALL WDW resorts to and from race start and finish. You also get free admission to Pleasure Island for a post-race party.

The Princess race costs more for registration and provides less. For the post-race, you get to purchase a discounted Pirate and Princess party ticket as your post-race event.

Donald is roughly the first half of the marathon (without the morning tour through EPCOT), Princess looks like the back half of the marathon course.

March is spring break so resort costs for cash/DVC are higher than Jan/May. That also means the parks will be more crowded.

IMHO, $120 for a half marathon, without all the glitz and excitement of WDW marathon weekend, is not likely to be worth it. I just paid $45 to register for the Sarasota half on Feb 15. I think you would get more value out of the registration fee if you do the Donald half in January. I think Anthony Travel still has slots available if you don't want to wait for 2010.

QUOTE]

With your post and everyone elses I am going to pass on this run. I love the idea, but not when I can not use my DVC.

I also learned my lesson, I need to register for the 1/2 ASAP to make sure I can get in. In Feb I printed the application and doubted myself and my ability to actually do it. Now I am running over 3 miles at a time, and I know I can do it

So I guess 2010 is my year!!!!

 

[cobbler]

I am disappointed in this. I am glad I was able to run in the last Minnie and get that medal.

And why move it to peak season? We were told at the Expo that there have been a lot of people expressing their displeasure (at the medal table they had set up) and that they would offer discounts to certain hotels. But honestly how much of a discount are they going to give during peak season? Not much I bet.

I won't be going down, that is for sure.

 

[ultramickeymouse]

I'm a little bitter though, I really liked the Minnie, the distance, the time of year, all that stuff. I'm actually starting to wonder about Disney's Endurance group. They've gotten rid of Minnie, offered a 5K that costs $100 with no other option for folks that already have park admission and now the Princess half at $120. I'm ready to send my email and boycott WDW races other than marathon weekend.

Don't forget they removed the 6.5K at ToT and shorter the time allotment(pace) for the 13K.

Another thing missed by most is the 2008 National Kidney Foundation 5K - Run/Walk was on Sat March 8 this year at EPCOT. That means Disney bumped a charity event for its own new race. It was only $25 while Disney wants $40 for basically the same race???

With no DVC discount($5) and Active fees(add $8 since no mail in), this hits us hard. Now it is really amost $130. They even raised the price of the pins by almost $3(33% increase).

 

[ultramickeymouse]

I missed this the 1st time. I guess the race will feel like a 5:00 am start. Better get a early night rest.

Disney’s Princess Half Marathon
Sunday, March 8, 2009
6:00 AM
**Please note: Daylight Savings Time will occur on Sunday, March 8, 2009. Clocks will need to be set ahead one hour when going to bed on Saturday, March 7, 2009.**

 

[mkymsehi]

March would be a no go for me to travel to WDW again. Too close to January and I will need to build up sky miles again. As the prices continue to increase for the WDW events, I will probably only go to one event per year and do other local/closer halfs at other times of the year. Maybe I'll do the inaugrual men's WDW Viallians half when they have that to balance the princess half. The expo can be geared towards home brewing, prostate issues, ED, how best to write your name in the snow and other men's related topics.

LOL, Bill thanks for the laugh.

I would like to add the seminar "The pros and cons of leaving the toilet seat up." Followed by the ever popular "We're not lost, so who needs to stop to ask for directions."

Disney sure knows how to milk every penny out of us, not that park hoppers or AP's are a bargain.

 

[Kristi1357]

Mel - great post & I could not agree more!

I kept hoping that Disney would keep the Minnie since there was apparently a bigger turnout this year. It would have been one thing if they changed to stinkin' princesses, but kept it the same weekend in May. Moving to March is really not the brightest thing given the previously mentioned reasons: DVC, busy time of year.

Disney always takes a good thing (like marathon weekend in Jan.) then tries to replicate it and drain the Disney fans dry. Meanwhile alienating them with sub-Disney-standard fare. A perfect example is this new fangled Princess half.

Regardless, we have a tent. WDW vacation planned for the 3rd week of March with friends next year already.

 

[Caitsmama]

Well, I am offically signed up for the Princess 1/2. I just did the Minnie 5k -- and it was my first, but i knew i wouldn't be able to get down in Jan, since we go every november -- so, March for me works out better.... Even though i agree that the transportation and fees are a lil' nuts..
I just really want to do a 1/2 and since Jan. was out -- this was the next best -- however, i also agree the course isn't great.. but, maybe that will change in the future after the first one..?

 

[princessrunner]

Kudos to those of you signing up and able to attend this event. Inagural races are fun, albeit usually the trial and error pain.

Robert, do you think it would help if those signing up for the Princess emailed Disney Sports and asked them why, if ToT has designated hotels with a reduced rate and transport from said hotels, the Princess half marathon does not? I know that we paid an extra $5 for the transport using the ToT preferred hotels but even that would be worth it just to have the transportation....especially that early in the a.m.!!