Why are the races selling out so quickly?

[goofeygirl]

I am assuming at this point that Disney has lowered the maximum amt of runners to each race.
Or is it possible that that many more people want to do this??

Last year I know the 5k race had availability for a long time...I am thinking it didn't sell out until summer. I remember because I was trying to talk my relative into doing it and I kept checking to see how close it was to sell out...and I know...I KNOW it did not sell out that quickly!

The Goofy sold out before the half because I know someone that wanted to sign up for it but was too late and ended up doing the half via a charity. It was the only way he could get in.

So I just find it very strange that races that didn't sell out until at least June are selling out only days after registration opens!

Are there less runners planned for next year or are they 'holding' some for others?

 

[AJackson09]

I think running/races have really grown in popularity and become the new "thing" to do. At all of the local races, the amount of runners/walkers has increased dramatically over the last few years.

 

[longhorns2]

The 5K has always been a smaller race. To assign numbers, lets say 5000 for the 5K. So when you give - say 1500 slots? maybe more, maybe less- away as Dopey Challenge spots, that makes the 5K stand alone race even smaller! I'm not surprised to see the 5K sell out.

The 10K is a good mid distance for friends or family members that travel with the half and full runners, but aren't ready to take that big jump. It's also going to be a smaller race. Plus it's new. So those factors combined- plus the Dopey Challenge dipping into this race as well- not surprised to see the sell out!

The half I think got a bump this year due to people (like me) thinking of doing a Double Dare type combo at Marathon weekend. I'd like more than one bling. I'd be able to do 2 races. But no way when it comes to a marathon + anything else!

Just my thoughts. And yes- runDisney did announce less spots in the marathon and half- with most coming out of the half race. So they did make it a bit smaller than years past.

 

[operationremie]

The 5K has always been a smaller race. To assign numbers, lets say 5000 for the 5K. So when you give - say 1500 slots? maybe more, maybe less- away as Dopey Challenge spots, that makes the 5K stand alone race even smaller! I'm not surprised to see the 5K sell out.

The 10K is a good mid distance for friends or family members that travel with the half and full runners, but aren't ready to take that big jump. It's also going to be a smaller race. Plus it's new. So those factors combined- plus the Dopey Challenge dipping into this race as well- not surprised to see the sell out!

The half I think got a bump this year due to people (like me) thinking of doing a Double Dare type combo at Marathon weekend. I'd like more than one bling. I'd be able to do 2 races. But no way when it comes to a marathon + anything else!

Just my thoughts. And yes- runDisney did announce less spots in the marathon and half- with most coming out of the half race. So they did make it a bit smaller than years past.

I pretty much agree with you on all your points. The Dopey challenge probably had a lot to do with the quick selling out spots more than anything. It stinks but they want more people involved with less spots. There are races up by me that need to decrease the amount of people. 23000+ for a race is way too much.

 

[girlw1dimple]

I think social media has a lot to do with it as well as running becoming a more every man sport. FB and twitter have increased the number of people who know about it/talk about it/blog about it/etc.

When I was training for the 2007 Disneyland half in college, it was a total fluke that I found out about it and I dragged friends with me. Now we have a small running family that does races together (especially Disney ones).

 

[sanapunk]

Agree about the social media impact. the RunDisney page likes have DOUBLED in the past year from about 160k to over 300k!

 

[operationremie]

Agree about the social media impact. the RunDisney page likes have DOUBLED in the past year from about 160k to over 300k!

I think it is great that things like this event, and any other event really, are doing so well. Ask me two or three years ago if I would be running at Disney and I would have laughed at you like crazy. Getting people out and doing actives like running is great. It just stinks that not everyone that wants to participate can participate

 

[jahber]

I pretty much agree with you on all your points. The Dopey challenge probably had a lot to do with the quick selling out spots more than anything. It stinks but they want more people involved with less spots. There are races up by me that need to decrease the amount of people. 23000+ for a race is way too much.

The Princess Half had 26,000+ registered. That's just insane (I almost WENT insane--I swear I dodged around half of them because of my corral placement ). Personally I'm glad RunDisney is listening and decreasing the size of the races. On the other hand, it does stink to miss out, and now it seems that runDisney events are just like ADRs, DVC reservations, booking DCL excursions, and so on. Wake up early and be ready to get your spot as soon as registration opens. Crazy!

 

[operationremie]

The Princess Half had 26,000+ registered. That's just insane (I almost WENT insane--I swear I dodged around half of them because of my corral placement ). Personally I'm glad RunDisney is listening and decreasing the size of the races. On the other hand, it does stink to miss out, and now it seems that runDisney events are just like ADRs, DVC reservations, booking DCL excursions, and so on. Wake up early and be ready to get your spot as soon as registration opens. Crazy!

That's pretty much what happens when you put Disney's name on anything these days. I would love to be a participant every year after next but we will see. Might get my coast to coast medal and call it quits.

But I love Disney to much to do that.

 

[Bephus]

That's pretty much what happens when you put Disney's name on anything these days. I would love to be a participant every year after next but we will see. Might get my coast to coast medal and call it quits.

But I love Disney to much to do that.

It's not just Disney. MCM sold out is 2.5 hours. Boston and NYC marathon have been selling out for years. Chicago sold out in an hour I think. Nike Women's 1/2 lottery was crazy huge this inaugural year. The 1775 race sold out in less than an hour. Racing is very popular and the big "bucket list" races sell out fast!

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[longhorns2]

It's not just Disney. MCM sold out is 2.5 hours. Boston and NYC marathon have been selling out for years. Chicago sold out in an hour I think. Nike Women's 1/2 lottery was crazy huge this inaugural year. The 1775 race sold out in less than an hour. Racing is very popular and the big "bucket list" races sell out fast!

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Exactly. This is not just a runDisney issue. It's running in general.

 

[dburg30]

I know the 5k is surprising people the most. Granted however many dopey slots they have, that many 5k's are taken up by it. But I contend that since a certain person is doing the dopey race, and they now HAVE to do the 5k, I bet there are whole families that are running it that may not have before. Plus others think that just running in general is getting more and more popular.

 

[dewingedpixie]

It's not just Disney. MCM sold out is 2.5 hours. Boston and NYC marathon have been selling out for years. Chicago sold out in an hour I think. Nike Women's 1/2 lottery was crazy huge this inaugural year. The 1775 race sold out in less than an hour. Racing is very popular and the big "bucket list" races sell out fast!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

17.75 sold out in 40 minutes thats how I got into MCM. MCM always sells out in under 3 hours and its huge. Boston has qualifiers which also makes it sell out. The Nike lotteries are always crazy.

I think running is gaining popularity but the bigger thing is runcations are gaining in popularity. Disney + running = good vacation.

 

[operationremie]

17.75 sold out in 40 minutes thats how I got into MCM. MCM always sells out in under 3 hours and its huge. Boston has qualifiers which also makes it sell out. The Nike lotteries are always crazy.

I think running is gaining popularity but the bigger thing is runcations are gaining in popularity. Disney + running = good vacation.

i'm sure one day i'll get to the point where i'll be disappointed for not getting into a race. right now i'm enjoying doing 5ks and 10ks.

but yea...runcations. those are a thing.

 

[dewingedpixie]

i'm sure one day i'll get to the point where i'll be disappointed for not getting into a race. right now i'm enjoying doing 5ks and 10ks.

but yea...runcations. those are a thing.

I have done all sorts of endurance events all over the place. I think it the best way to see a new place on a bike, or on foot, or a combo of both.

 

[LoveMyMoos]

Because of the added bling/challenge. With Dopey and having to do all of the races, the new challenge everyone loves, people who normally wouldn't do that or the 10k jumped on it. Look at other races, like Wine and Dine and the Jingle Jungle 5k that goes with it. The numbers aren't even listed because it hasn't even sold to 50% yet. It's not "special". Runners aren't getting anything extra, on top of the medal it offers, like they would if they did it during the marathon weekend. I know the 5k that went with PHM weekend took months to sell out. It just depends on the race weekend and what kind of special deal they offer.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Because of the added bling/challenge. With Dopey and having to do all of the races, the new challenge everyone loves, people who normally wouldn't do that or the 10k jumped on it. Look at other races, like Wine and Dine and the Jingle Jungle 5k that goes with it. The numbers aren't even listed because it hasn't even sold to 50% yet. It's not "special". Runners aren't getting anything extra, on top of the medal it offers, like they would if they did it during the marathon weekend. I know the 5k that went with PHM weekend took months to sell out. It just depends on the race weekend and what kind of special deal they offer.

Yeah, this. I will admit that I was only going to do the full until they announced the Dopey, and I skipped the intermediary step of "just" doing Goofy.

 

[timmac]

In addition to the registration for multiple races under one combined package playing a part, runDisney has been inching back registration dates over the years. Where registration at one point opened a few days after the previous race ended, it's now several months later. So, you're seeing three months worth of "backordered" demand registering all at once.

 

[goalie mom]

but yea...runcations. those are a thing.[/QUOTE]

Yes, I completely agree. Participating in the RunDisney is great. It's getting us up and moving, and we're finally planning a vacation b/c of it. We're already talking about more Disney races to compete in and other places to travel to, all organized around races