Springtime Surprise Weekend (April 13-16, 2023)

[sandam1]

Were any of the old Star Wars races on a Sunday night?

The Wine and Dine half used to be. The after-party was just that - an after race party.

 

[Onceuponamarathon]

Not that I'm any kind of Rundisney expert, but if there is a night race, I don't think there is any way that it would be on Sunday night. Were any of the old Star Wars races on a Sunday night? I may have to go research this...

I don’t think so for SWs. The longer night races were Wine and Dine (before they switched to the two course challenge and morning races), and then Tower or Terror. Both of which were stand alone distances at the time (I think?).

 

[Sleepy425]

Not that I'm any kind of Rundisney expert, but if there is a night race, I don't think there is any way that it would be on Sunday night. Were any of the old Star Wars races on a Sunday night? I may have to go research this...

I'm not sure, I didn't do my first RunDisney race until MW 2020.

 

[MissLiss279]

Not that I'm any kind of Rundisney expert, but if there is a night race, I don't think there is any way that it would be on Sunday night. Were any of the old Star Wars races on a Sunday night? I may have to go research this...

The ones (Dark Side races) at Disney World were all morning races.

I believe W&D half was on Saturday night. The one I did was Nov 7, 2015 - which I just verified was a Saturday.

 

[MissLiss279]

The ones (Dark Side races) at Disney World were all morning races.

I believe W&D half was on Saturday night. The one I did was Nov 7, 2015 - which I just verified was a Saturday.

I’m also showing that the Jingle Jungle 5k was that same morning…

I’m looking at time stamps of picture that I took (not photo pass download dates).

 

[ErinC]

Okay, just did a little checking, it looks like the old Wine and Dine half marathon races (at least in 2102,2013) were night races. They were on Saturday night. According to what I could find though, there weren't 10K's. The family 5K's were also held that same morning of the night race.

 

[Desdemona924]

Okay, just did a little checking, it looks like the old Wine and Dine half marathon races (at least in 2102,2013) were night races. They were on Saturday night. According to what I could find though, there weren't 10K's. The family 5K's were also held that same morning of the night race.

W&D was a night race until 2015, with a 5k the same morning, and an after party directly after the race in Epcot. In 2016, the half became a morning race on Sunday, added the 10k on Saturday, and 5k moved to Friday, making a more 'traditional' rD weekend. Tower of Terror 10 miler (started as a 13k and maybe had another distance in there too) was also a night race with an after party directly after in Hollywood Studios.

In 2014 & 2015, Wine & Dine was plagued with bad weather. 2014 is affectionately(?) called the Splash & Dash because it was rainy & chilly. 2015 was the 'half of a half' because thunderstorms near AK delayed the start by about an hour and AK was cut out of the course because there was a lot of storm damage in the area. It ended up being somewhere in the neighborhood of 6.6 miles, I think. It was also my first runDisney experience.

I can see rD not doing night races regularly because of weather causing so many problems. Look at this year's Everest, it was cut and the scavenger hunt was scrapped because of thunderstorms. I was near the end and as we were getting ready to leave, lightning started. If they hadn't made the changes, a lot more people would have still been out on the course. I loved the night race with an after party right after, but I imagine it's a nightmare to plan for.

 

[GreatLakes]

W&D was a night race until 2015, with a 5k the same morning, and an after party directly after the race in Epcot. In 2016, the half became a morning race on Sunday, added the 10k on Saturday, and 5k moved to Friday, making a more 'traditional' rD weekend. Tower of Terror 10 miler (started as a 13k and maybe had another distance in there too) was also a night race with an after party directly after in Hollywood Studios.

In 2014 & 2015, Wine & Dine was plagued with bad weather. 2014 is affectionately(?) called the Splash & Dash because it was rainy & chilly. 2015 was the 'half of a half' because thunderstorms near AK delayed the start by about an hour and AK was cut out of the course because there was a lot of storm damage in the area. It ended up being somewhere in the neighborhood of 6.6 miles, I think. It was also my first runDisney experience.

I can see rD not doing night races regularly because of weather causing so many problems. Look at this year's Everest, it was cut and the scavenger hunt was scrapped because of thunderstorms. I was near the end and as we were getting ready to leave, lightning started. If they hadn't made the changes, a lot more people would have still been out on the course. I loved the night race with an after party right after, but I imagine it's a nightmare to plan for.

This is true in the fall but less so in the spring. I think the more favorable evening weather will mean any night races we see will be spring.

That being said I doubt we will see a Sunday night race.

 

[fatmanatee]

 

[Desdemona924]

This is true in the fall but less so in the spring. I think the more favorable evening weather will mean any night races we see will be spring.

That being said I doubt we will see a Sunday night race.

100% agree that I don't think we'll see a Sunday night race.

And if they do another night race, I want an after party, darnit! I only did that one night W&D, but it was so much fun to go straight to the party, and it seemed like people were more likely to go to the party than now. Of course the only W&D I've done since then was 2018 and it poured that night during the party and I know so many people that came, but left when the rain wasn't letting up. Not me. I was there to the bitter end, mostly standing in line for Remy & Emile. And I would not change that for anything because it was an awesome character interaction and I met one of my very good friends that night. Now this is just making me sad that I'm not doing W&D this year.

 

[1lilspark]

Looking at past theme reveals for context
W&D themes and overall 22-23 season registration calendar released 3 weeks before club RD registration

Marathon weekend theme was 5 days before club RD with an announcement castaway was returning after a two year hiatus

Princess was a week out from club RD

 

[fatmanatee]

Well, I guess I’ll spend some time making plans around a trip and then make a decision once we get details.

 

[sandam1]

Did anyone else's heart jump when the new message notification for this thread popped up? Come on, runDisney, throw us a bone.

 

[MissLiss279]

It just seems like since distances are even unknown, they should announce sooner rather than later… come on runDisney!!

 

[PrincessOfAllDisneys]

If I have to read "Congratulations on your trip down memory lane" one more time I'm gonna scream

 

[MissLiss279]

I just looked back through this year’s thread. Looks like early rumored registration date (sent in club runDisney email??) was September 28th. That date was never announced, and it came and went. Finally on November 3rd, the page was updated with races and themes and registration date - December 9th for general registration. So last year we had a whole month of knowing distances and themes before registration; although registration was a few months later.

 

[fatmanatee]

I just looked back through this year’s thread. Looks like early rumored registration date (sent in club runDisney email??) was September 28th. That date was never announced, and it came and went. Finally on November 3rd, the page was updated with races and themes and registration date - December 9th for general registration. So last year we had a whole month of knowing distances and themes before registration; although registration was a few months later.

I thought the date for that weekend had been published somewhere but yeah, they ended up passing through without any info from RD about what happened until they finally announced everything. I give them a bit of slack on that one since they were cramming registrations for the three other race weekends into a tighter timeframe AND planning for those events. I’m sure they also had staffing issues as they ramped up operations again.

 

[MissLiss279]

I thought the date for that weekend had been published somewhere but yeah, they ended up passing through without any info from RD about what happened until they finally announced everything. I give them a bit of slack on that one since they were cramming registrations for the three other race weekends into a tighter timeframe AND planning for those events. I’m sure they also had staffing issues as they ramped up operations again.

Yep, last year’s registration timeline was definitely not normal. And I agree they had a lot going on.

I’m just thinking that they could give us a heads up on at least the distances now. (<- This is me whining.)

 

[Onceuponamarathon]

One week before club runDisney for Springtime Surprise goes on sale. I know they’ll release an update before then, likely Tuesday which seems to be a favorite day for announcements.

Am I compulsively checking the runDisney website today (Monday) for updates anyway? Yes. Yes I am.

 

[Naomeri]

One week before club runDisney goes for Springtime Surprise goes on sale. I know they’ll release an update before then, likely Tuesday which seems to be a favorite day for announcements.

Am I compulsively checking the runDisney website today (Monday) for updates anyway? Yes. Yes I am.

Did I already check once this morning, even though I know Disney never announces anything fun this early in the day? Yes, yes I did