#smasthehalf announcement 2/25

[Castle2Castle]

How soon before we get the inevitable SW weekend Half announcement? I would say either by the end of this year or I could see them waiting to tie it into the release of the new films.

If the rumors are also true about a Star Wars Half Weekend, it would make sense for it to take over the January time slot vacated by Tinkerbell. Assuming that's the plan and a similar time frame to give notice as what they've done here for Avengers, you could expect to hear something by the end of April.

Two things I find interesting:

1. No course map, which means they may not have it up before registration opens, and people will be registering blind in that respect.

2. The exact same prices as the DL Half, even though they sold that weekend out in rapid fashion.

1. You can pretty much count on it following either the Disneyland route or the Tinkerbell route; Disney seems to re-use their courses unless there's something preventing it, and they have a known path forward with permits for those routes.

2. Some other factors might be that it's the same weekend as the Big Sur Half Marathon and RnR Las Vegas - while runDisney taps a broader pool than everyday runners, they could expect the timing to impact their true runners market. Additionally, a factor in the DL sellouts at those price points has hinged on the limited availability of west coast Disney races and C2C opportunities; while you're right about the popularity of inaugural events, they could be playing it safe in case a large portion of those west coast runners and C2C runners don't pony up any more money than they've already committed to Tink and the DL half.

 

[Nole95]

If the rumors are also true about a Star Wars Half Weekend, it would make sense for it to take over the January time slot vacated by Tinkerbell. Assuming that's the plan and a similar time frame to give notice as what they've done here for Avengers, you could expect to hear something by the end of April.
QUOTE]

With DL getting the Avengers Half Marathon weekend, I would think that WDW would be on tap for getting a Star Wars themed race weekend. I can see them doing something as an official kickoff to Star Wars weekends each year and offer up an opportunity for what some would call a Nerd Coast to Coast. With the new Star Wars movie scheduled for release next year will RunDisney pull the trigger and schedule that race for sometime in 2015.

 

[SAHDad]

I'm hoping to do it. I'd run in a costume, though right now, the only hero I can claim to be is "Looking for a running sponsor"-man.

 

[Castle2Castle]

With DL getting the Avengers Half Marathon weekend, I would think that WDW would be on tap for getting a Star Wars themed race weekend. I can see them doing something as an official kickoff to Star Wars weekends each year and offer up an opportunity for what some would call a Nerd Coast to Coast. With the new Star Wars movie scheduled for release next year will RunDisney pull the trigger and schedule that race for sometime in 2015.

RunDisney tends to schedule their events around historical lulls in park attendance. Star Wars Weekend is already a draw for the park not needing any additional boost. There's also the issue of Star Wars Weekend being in the month of May. Orlando has been pretty warm and humid the past couple years for the January and February races, and May is predictably worse (see below).

RunDisney will already be overseeing a race in May since Tinkerbell moved to Mother's Day Weekend for 2015, and that move leaves Tink's original January slot ripe for a new event with much more favorable conditions than Orlando can offer. Even with the Avengers announcement, Disneyland has only three offerings for runners versus five for Disney World; it wouldn't be crazy of them to add two races for the west coast after leaving it underserved for so long -- evidenced by the quick sellouts of pricey races with less park time and Disney touches* than their Florida counterparts.

Disneyland seems to make the most sense to me based on what's best for runners (conditions), runDisney (underserved market) and Disney Parks (scheduling for attendance boosts).


*WDW stations characters and Disney entertainment along the roadways of WDW as well as in the parks; Disneyland does not extend their characters beyond the parks to the Anaheim streets, where most of the run takes place.

 

[kirstie101]

If the rumors are also true about a Star Wars Half Weekend, it would make sense for it to take over the January time slot vacated by Tinkerbell. Assuming that's the plan and a similar time frame to give notice as what they've done here for Avengers, you could expect to hear something by the end of April.



1. You can pretty much count on it following either the Disneyland route or the Tinkerbell route; Disney seems to re-use their courses unless there's something preventing it, and they have a known path forward with permits for those routes.

2. Some other factors might be that it's the same weekend as the Big Sur Half Marathon and RnR Las Vegas - while runDisney taps a broader pool than everyday runners, they could expect the timing to impact their true runners market. Additionally, a factor in the DL sellouts at those price points has hinged on the limited availability of west coast Disney races and C2C opportunities; while you're right about the popularity of inaugural events, they could be playing it safe in case a large portion of those west coast runners and C2C runners don't pony up any more money than they've already committed to Tink and the DL half.

I personally can't see them adding SW to DL. I know the Tink spot is still open so it does make sense in that respect. But I don't think they'd put two races at DL that are more "male" centered. Like DL has Tink and WDW has Princess. I think it makes more sense for DL to have Avengers and WDW to have SW. Just my thoughts. I'm all for any new races at DL as I'm only a west coast runner!

And I swear I read somewhere last night that this was going to be a new course, different from DL Half and Tink. I can't remember where I was reading that though. If I figure it out I'll post a link.

 

[kim3339]

I personally can't see them adding SW to DL. I know the Tink spot is still open so it does make sense in that respect. But I don't think they'd put two races at DL that are more "male" centered. Like DL has Tink and WDW has Princess. I think it makes more sense for DL to have Avengers and WDW to have SW. Just my thoughts. I'm all for any new races at DL as I'm only a west coast runner!

I'm w/ you. As much as I would love SW here, WDW has the whole SW area in Hollywood Studios and there's been all that talk about Tomorrowland being turned into a more Marvel centric land in DL. Plus they have the displays in Innoventions for Marvel, so they'd just keep the display up longer. But I would love love love SW here.

 

[DisneyRunner2009]

The price tag has really gone up. I'd like to see the medal.

 

[cimrk01]

RunDisney tends to schedule their events around historical lulls in park attendance. Star Wars Weekend is already a draw for the park not needing any additional boost.

The Wine & Dine festival was a popular event prior to them adding in a half.

There's also the issue of Star Wars Weekend being in the month of May. Orlando has been pretty warm and humid the past couple years for the January and February races, and May is predictably worse

As a runner from FL running in May is not much of a difference than running a Half in the California August heat.

RunDisney will already be overseeing a race in May since Tinkerbell moved to Mother's Day Weekend for 2015, and that move leaves Tink's original January slot ripe for a new event with much more favorable conditions than Orlando can offer.Even with the Avengers announcement, Disneyland has only three offerings for runners versus five for Disney World; it wouldn't be crazy of them to add two races for the west coast after leaving it underserved for so long

True they do have a slot available. My only reservation is Rundisney offering two specific franchise male targeted theme races to one park as opposed to making it a Super Hero Movie Franchise coast to coast challenge. Especially when one factors in the rumored SW expansion they are doing at HS.

I can't see a SW race with all the light sabers that jump to mind being a morning race. I see it being another W&D/TTT starting off at night and having a party in the park after the race at HS. Unless DL changes protocol and has their first night race.

But then would the city of Anaheim being as lenient as they are allow road closures during this time?

 

[Nole95]

The Wine & Dine festival was a popular event prior to them adding in a half.



As a runner from FL running in May is not much of a difference than running a Half in the California August heat.



True they do have a slot available. My only reservation is Rundisney offering two specific franchise male targeted theme races to one park as opposed to making it a Super Hero Movie Franchise coast to coast challenge. Especially when one factors in the rumored SW expansion they are doing at HS.

I can't see a SW race with all the light sabers that jump to mind being a morning race. I see it being another W&D/TTT starting off at night and having a party in the park after the race at HS. Unless DL changes protocol and has their first night race.

But then would the city of Anaheim being as lenient as they are allow road closures during this time?

Also, RunDisney does have experience running races on back to back weekends. They been running their largest event in the marathon weekend at WDW, and then following that up Tink a week later as happened this year. From a logistics perspective that would not be an issue for them.

I have seen rumors popping up that EE might have to go away once Avatar construction really gets going. That would open up the WDW May date right there, and a night race with a post party in HS might make the most sense.

As for the heat, that is a non-factor. The heat in September-October when ToT is run can be just as bad as the heat in early May. I have been to enough football games in Tallahassee at that time of year to know that the weather is a crap shoot, and reading some of the race reports from ToT over the past couple years leads me to believe it has been a hot and humid run more often than not.