Star Wars Marathon Weekend inevitable or just wishful thinking?

[Terapin]

I would like this and likely register. I would prefer a co-ed race. I'd like a 10k and another event so you could get 3 medals for doing both like Goofy or DDD.

 

[DisneyParrothead]

I would absolutely run this. I already have Star Wars music I work out to...

 

[SAHDad]

I am just trying to figure this out...

If you have a half marathon open for only women then you will have MORE participants than you would if it was open to both genders? How so? My only guess is that there are women out there that would not partake in a half because there are men in the race too. Strange.

I don't imagine in a theme of SW that Disney would focus on one gender. I get why they have a Princess and Tink race but SW? Women only? I don't think so.

Well, you do gain women who will run, but not in races with men. But it's also simply a matter of it not mattering that 50% (actually, closer to 40%, for the half-marathon distance) is ignored - Disney races already sell out (and are honestly over-capacity anyway), so it's no big deal to Disney if only 350k people want to run it, instead of 487k (number made up, obviously) - the race caps at 25k, so lots of people are left clamoring.

I'd like to think that Disney would not make it women-centered, but since women-centered races sell out just as well, sell more merchandise, and women out-number men for the marathon weekend as well, adding another women-centric race (ahead of an egalitarian one) makes perfect financial sense.

 

[MoonFaerie]

Well, you do gain women who will run, but not in races with men. But it's also simply a matter of it not mattering that 50% (actually, closer to 40%, for the half-marathon distance) is ignored - Disney races already sell out (and are honestly over-capacity anyway), so it's no big deal to Disney if only 350k people want to run it, instead of 487k (number made up, obviously) - the race caps at 25k, so lots of people are left clamoring.

I'd like to think that Disney would not make it women-centered, but since women-centered races sell out just as well, sell more merchandise, and women out-number men for the marathon weekend as well, adding another women-centric race (ahead of an egalitarian one) makes perfect financial sense.

Or they could use it as an opportunity to get more male interest in their races.

 

[mickeysgal]

I can't imagine how fast this one would sell out. Dumbo's quick sell out would look like a walk in the park in comparison.

 

[RunRookie]

I ran the Princess last weekend and was having this discussion with a few girlfriends after running alongside a lot of Princess Leia runners during the course. Now that Disney has acquired Lucasarts and with the reassurance of the Star Wars franchise with the announcements of more films. Is it inevitable or just wishful thinking that Disney would take advantage by adding a few RunDisney events to the already popular Star Wars weekend?

Imagine the bib selections, photo ops, running outfits (minus helmets and lightsabers during the run for security reasons), music, finishers medals and numbers of runners alone...

If they had a Star Wars themed Half Marathon, I would TOTALLY sign up! And I think that would be true for both men and women so Disney would be crazy not to open it up to everyone. It would be more popular than the ToT in my opinion. The costuming possibilities, the breadth of medal design concepts they could employ, etc, would be amazing!

They could even have a multi-year medal offering like Space Coast, where they could offer legacy medal options for those who come multiple times. Races could be character themed, movie themed, planet themed, Empire/Alliance themed... OMG it would be endless! And people would come.

If it were up to me, I would announce the first Star Wars race after the Episode 7 is released and tie the race theme to the movie in some way!

 

[goofeygirl]

If they had a Star Wars themed Half Marathon, I would TOTALLY sign up! And I think that would be true for both men and women so Disney would be crazy not to open it up to everyone. It would be more popular than the ToT in my opinion. The costuming possibilities, the breadth of medal design concepts they could employ, etc, would be amazing!

They could even have a multi-year medal offering like Space Coast, where they could offer legacy medal options for those who come multiple times. Races could be character themed, movie themed, planet themed, Empire/Alliance themed... OMG it would be endless! And people would come.

If it were up to me, I would announce the first Star Wars race after the Episode 7 is released and tie the race theme to the movie in some way!

I didn't even know they were making an episode 7. I am not into the newer SW films but the only the original...well anyway...yes...SW is so popular all around the world as is Disney itself...I would love to run alongside Darth Vader and maybe some storm troopers.

 

[mare1203]

I think a Star Wars 1/2 marathon is inevitable, though I'm not sure why there's even a discussion of it possibly being a female-centered race? ToT, W&D, Everest, and the original marathon weekend are not female centered, so the majority of their races do not sway that way. While women are making up a larger percentage of 1/2 marathoners at Disney, I believe this is a trend nationwide as well, so nothing new there. I bet Star Wars would be seriously entertaining to watch or run! Since the Star Wars Weekends are in the spring/early summer that would make the most sense from a general timing perspective (not so much running perspective), so my guess would be Disney weighing whether it's viable to run a race in that weather.

 

[Stitch_lover_Sith]

If there is a StarWars race I would be in love and would just have to sign up for the inaugural race. I am a huge Star Wars fan and may also be female.

For the one person who is trying to say that Disney is likely to make this a Womens race, please get off your soapbox. Disney has TWO womens themed races, Tinkerbell and Princess. The other races WDW race weekend, Tower of Terror, Wine and Dine, Disneyland, and Expedition Everest are all for both sexes. Last point I would like to make is Disneyland sold out the fastest of any race in RunDisney history. Off Soapbox.

I would be kinda mad if they did like Space Coast is doing because it costs so much to get to Disneyworld for me. A deathstar medal would be worth it though.

 

[SAHDad]

If there is a StarWars race I would be in love and would just have to sign up for the inaugural race. I am a huge Star Wars fan and may also be female.

For the one person who is trying to say that Disney is likely to make this a Womens race, please get off your soapbox. Disney has TWO womens themed races, Tinkerbell and Princess. The other races WDW race weekend, Tower of Terror, Wine and Dine, Disneyland, and Expedition Everest are all for both sexes. Last point I would like to make is Disneyland sold out the fastest of any race in RunDisney history. Off Soapbox.

I would be kinda mad if they did like Space Coast is doing because it costs so much to get to Disneyworld for me. A deathstar medal would be worth it though.

No, it's not a soapbox. It's a sound business decision on their part, albeit one with which I profoundly disagree. Consider, just for a moment:

1) Women make up the majority of half-marathoners nationwide. The trend has been growing, and, AFAIK, shows no sign of slowing soon.

2) Women buy more race merchandise.

3) Disney races sell out. Yes, the Dumbo Double Dare sold out in minutes, and the non-dare slots in both races sold out in days. The Tink and Princess sell out quickly too. All of the Disney races sell out - with the possible exception of some of the 5ks.

4) Women runners are more likely to come as a group - either bringing along a family, or coming as part of a girls weekend. More people = more money for Disney.

5) Yes, Disney already has 2 women-centered races, but only one on each coast. Adding another is not likely to dilute the pool of runners, and again, women-centered races are all the rage.

IOW - it would be stupid for Disney to not make the race a women-centered one. It means more money for them. I can think it is wrong, I can hate it, and I can think it is sexist, and the basic premise of women-centered running events is an outmoded idea, but hosting one is like printing money for Disney.

FWIW - if they do one, even a women-centered one, I'll run it. And yeah, I'd be tempted to run it in costume. I might need that lightsaber, if they dump me back two corrals.

 

[Stitch_lover_Sith]

On soapbox again....

No Disney does not have to make this a women's race for women to sign up. Quite frankly it would be stupid to make a Star Wars race women's centered. I have NEVER done Princess not do I want to because it is women's only and I hate princesses. Diva race series is as close as I get and then it was a one and done. Ran the first Tinkerbell because it is Tinkerbell and on the West Coast. Thought what they did to the guys was crap. Though they did that because guys kept winning Minnie Marathon back in the day. Off soapbox....

Give me a Darth Goofy any day.

 

[ghoulishgirl]

I'm not even into Star Wars (or any sci fi for that matter) and I would totally run a Star Wars themed race. So to say that women will run it if it is only for women is inaccurate.

 

[Casemily]

There is a very logical reason (feel like I am channeling the wrong movie series when I say that, but anyway) - Disney can probably make a lot more money running a women-centered race than one that is more welcoming to both genders. Disney could have done a Pirate and Tink theme, or a Prince and Princess weekend, but the money is in getting the women to show up and run. It doesn't matter that many/most of the SW fans are men - there are more than enough women runners who are fans of SW and would go a girls weekend to run a SW race.

The thing is, most guys aren't interested in dressing up as a prince or a pirate just to join a race. As in, "prince and princess weekend? I'll get my tights!" But I know several non-runners who would totally get off their buts and exercise to be able to finish a star wars race and get a cool star wars medal.

So I get having a couple female centered races that encourage women and girls to run. But it would just be silly to focus only on women for a star wars race weekend.

Edit: And when it comes to star wars men will want to buy the stuff associated with the race as much as women will. My dad and Uncle have US/Canadian/Japanese star wars figures on the cards. If there was a figure error they'd look for it, etc.

 

[SAHDad]

Again, it seems that we are talking at cross-purposes. Disney is not having the women-centered races to get women and girls to get up and run. They host the women-centered races because, quite frankly, that is where the money is. And if they do that for a SW-themed race (and I don't know that they will, merely that I would not be surprised at all if they did do it), it is because that is what makes them a lot more money.

And while some women do not like the idea of women-only or women-centered races, many, many, many more do - look at the popularity and growing number of women-centered races. Saying that Disney would not at least seriously consider it requires one to imagine the runDisney saying "Money? Who needs it, really?"

And, for the most part, any race where you have men and women starting at the same time, a guy is going to win it. (For the most part, though once you hit the 50 mile mark, it starts to even out.)

 

[DisneyParrothead]

Oooo, I just remembered the Star Wars Muppet Show episode. Could we see the Great Gonzo as Dearth Nader?

 

[dewingedpixie]

Starwars sounds fun, but I'd really like a pirate triathlon .

Walk off a dock into the water swim to shore, ride it like you stole it, and run for your life to the booty.

 

[ghoulishgirl]

Starwars sounds fun, but I'd really like a pirate triathlon .

Walk off a dock into the water swim to shore, ride it like you stole it, and run for your life to the booty.

Count me in! Disney used to have a triathlon over at the Wilderness lodge/Fort Wilderness and then they stopped doing it. I think it was run by Danskin. Anyway, I would love a Disney tri!

 

[Stitch_lover_Sith]

For those wanting a Disney triathlon they won't do it on property. The bacteria count in the lake is too high, USAT will not insure any races there. That's why Florida 70.3 also moved venues. So I would think twice about swimming in that lake.

 

[ghoulishgirl]

For those wanting a Disney triathlon they won't do it on property. The bacteria count in the lake is too high, USAT will not insure any races there. That's why Florida 70.3 also moved venues. So I would think twice about swimming in that lake.

Yes, I've heard of the dreaded brain-eating amoeba (among other things) but a girl can dream of a Disney triathlon, can't she?

 

[Stitch_lover_Sith]

Maybe vero beach, Aulani, Hilton head or castaway cay. All those are Disney property but have clean water for the swim.