Marathon Weekend 2024

[SheHulk]

Just got into the DL Half. Now to decide whether to do: 1) The most responsible thing and not sign up for this weekend at all, 2) The kind-of-responsible thing and only sign up for the half, to do the minimum to get the C2C medal, or 3) The irresponsible thing and sign up for the marathon to get the C2C medal.

I may be wrong but I am counting on the medals from all these January races to be very nice, for the Disney 100th anniversary, including the "special" C2C. The WDW 50th anniversary medals did not disappoint for me.

 

[Novatrix]

SAFD: I've done MWx4, Princessx2, W&Dx2 and DLPx1. I was also signed up for 2 additional MW and 2 Star Wars weekends, but all of those got canceled due to Covid. Am now signed up for my first DL race.

All of the race weekends have their pros and cons.

My favorite course now is the marathon (I just get a real kick out of hitting all the parks and riding roller coasters during a marathon), my favorite half course is W&Ds.

I really enjoyed the W&D after party.

The energy for me during that first Princess was really special. I work in a VERY male dominated field, so I really appreciated the conversations that I struck up with other women on the buses and in the corrals. In fact, one woman I'd chatted with for over an hour before the Princess half recognized me on course during the Disneyland Paris half and we got to have a nice reunion. Outside of meeting up with people from Disboards at the races, all of my best organic interactions have been at Princess weekends.

Disneyland Paris had the prettiest shirts and medals, and the courses were great, but it was incredibly disorganized and I hated how corral placements were completely randomized. Also, I had the most insulting interaction with a Disney Castmember (in fact, I would say any person providing a service) that I've ever had in 33 years of going to Disney parks, so I will not be back.

If I had to pick, I'd probably choose Wine & Dine as my favorite weekend due to the afterparty and the festival going on in EPCOT, but if MW started overlapping with Festival of the Arts it would make that my favorite weekend.

 

[Novatrix]

Just as a side note, I'll be curious to see how much faster the half marathon sells out this year due to C2C hopefuls.

I'd think it'd have less of an impact on the marathon just because running a half the weekend after a full is significantly harder.

 

[azrivest]

Just as a side note, I'll be curious to see how much faster the half marathon sells out this year due to C2C hopefuls.

I'd think it'd have less of an impact on the marathon just because running a half the weekend after a full is significantly harder.

I wouldn't be surprised if it was the opposite. I read posts in FB groups about ppl wanting to do both Dumbo and Dopey. Yikes that's a lot of miles

 

[AZMermaid]

SAFD:

I ran the Avengers 10K in 2015 and 2017, then the challenge at Princess in 2019. I loved them all but there was something about Princess! I’m intesrtesed to see if the DL Half is just as magical. People seem to love it, but I’m interested to see how I feel about the park time all being front loaded (presumably).

Since I got into Dumbo, I’m leaning towards running Wine and Dine for the coast to coast to spread out cost and training. But really training through hot September is blah.

 

[WillRunForPizza]

Just as a side note, I'll be curious to see how much faster the half marathon sells out this year due to C2C hopefuls.

This is making me slightly worried because I had been planning on the HM for MW next year lol

I'd think it'd have less of an impact on the marathon just because running a half the weekend after a full is significantly harder.

I think you're probably right about the impact on the marathon alone, but I bet a lot of people will want to do one of the challenges because the rD crowd are overachievers

 

[marty3d]

Right now my plans to do the MW half are on hold as I didn’t get into DL. I’ll see what the next couple of months bring - if the DL half opens up agrian and I can get in or if there another 2024 DL race announced then I’ll try for the half. Otherwise I think I’m back to skipping 2024.

I’m definitely going to do W&D now.

 

[accm]

SAFD: I have a pretty small sample size: 2016 DLP, 2021 W&D, and 2023 MW. I LOVED marathon weekend, and am planning on going again next year, but W&D just works better in terms of days off, and training weather. I hope to run DLP again for the 10th anniversary.

And I felt a bit more special the way I was treated by CM for WnD.

I agree with this. I feel like I had a lot more complements from CMs at W&D than MW. I don't know if maybe it was because it was the first race weekend after Covid? Or maybe there are so many runners for MW that it seems less "special" to CMs? I don't know.

 

[Bree]

I wouldn't be surprised if it was the opposite. I read posts in FB groups about ppl wanting to do both Dumbo and Dopey. Yikes that's a lot of miles

I’m signed up for all three DL races and will try to sign up for Dopey. The mileage doesn’t scare me. I ran 62 miles Monday through Sunday of 2023 MW, but that was also what I ran peak week of marathon training at much faster paces. It’s getting sick in between the two race weekends that worries me!

 

[azrivest]

.

 

[pluto377]

Just got into the DL Half. Now to decide whether to do: 1) The most responsible thing and not sign up for this weekend at all, 2) The kind-of-responsible thing and only sign up for the half, to do the minimum to get the C2C medal, or 3) The irresponsible thing and sign up for the marathon to get the C2C medal.

I may be wrong but I am counting on the medals from all these January races to be very nice, for the Disney 100th anniversary, including the "special" C2C. The WDW 50th anniversary medals did not disappoint for me.

I'm in this predicament as well. I got in for the DL half and I'm now thinking just half at MW. (The Half and Half Challenge?) Before this morning I was considering Dopey for next year, but I don't have the time or money do that plus go to DL. So now I'm thinking Dopey 2025. But guaranteed the medals for 2024 are going to be AMAZING and the 2025 ones will turn out to be hideous and I'll be crying about it for years to come. Darn it I wish I had unlimited resources!

 

[Disneyhanna]

I wouldn't be surprised if it was the opposite. I read posts in FB groups about ppl wanting to do both Dumbo and Dopey. Yikes that's a lot of miles

Guilty!

 

[Novatrix]

Oh yeah, I do think Dopey and Goofy will have an increased draw due to the C2C crowds. The only one I don't think will be too impacted will be the solo 5k, solo 10k and solo marathon registrations.

 

[Novatrix]

May I just say, both myself and my wallet are hoping the Dopey designs are hideous.

I've already done the mental arithmetic that it would be the same number of vacation days if I want to do Dopey and fly home after the marathon, then fly out to Disneyland for a 4 day weekend....

 

[sandam1]

I wouldn't be surprised if it was the opposite. I read posts in FB groups about ppl wanting to do both Dumbo and Dopey. Yikes that's a lot of miles

That's my plan for 2025 - assuming that the weekends stay the same.

The rest of 2023 and all of 2024 is going to be VERY "budget cautious." I'm going to need to squirrel away A LOT of money to do Dopey and Dumbo. And that isn't even taking into consideration that Epic Universe opens at Universal in 2025 as well.

 

[Disneyhanna]

May I just say, both myself and my wallet are hoping the Dopey designs are hideous.

I've already done the mental arithmetic that it would be the same number of vacation days if I want to do Dopey and fly home after the marathon, then fly out to Disneyland for a 4 day weekend....

That math never leads to good places, I close my eyes and hold out my credit card. I am considering heading out for NYE at WDW since it's a weekend anyways, sounds like a bit of a nightmare but if I don't fly in until Monday that means not much park time ahead of the races due to working remote. But nine nights is a lot of $, that's what I did this year and that's when I started and quickly stopped doing the math. At least I have my AP! I'd head home on Monday, and then head to Anaheim on Thursday evening after work. I may not need to take any time for Dumbo if I work remote on Friday, and fly back on Monday. We usually get off a few hours early on Fridays before holidays, so given the time zone difference (I work central) I would probably be able to log off by noon on Friday. So Dumbo is the fun "add on" to Dopey. Thus I am in the same boat as you on justifying DL...

 

[dis_or_dat]

Just found out I might be in Disneyworld this week and could conceivably do a C2C! I'm planning on running a marathon in April 2024 so probably just a half.. or maybe a 10k/half challenge? Eeks such a slippery slope. Definitely no Dopey!

 

[LilyJC]

Ugh, almost made DVC reservations in case we get FOMO, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. After me coming home with Covid after Dopey 2022 and my poor hubs after Dopey 2023, it just seems too risky with the DLR races that next weekend. I think we’ll stick with our potential Springtime Surprise legacy for our C2C. Anyone else struggling with this dilemma?!?

 

[disneyrunnergrl]

I’m signed up for all three DL races and will try to sign up for Dopey. The mileage doesn’t scare me. I ran 62 miles Monday through Sunday of 2023 MW, but that was also what I ran peak week of marathon training at much faster paces. It’s getting sick in between the two race weekends that worries me!

This! After not getting sick during Dopey 22 or Goofy 23 I’m nervous I’m pushing my luck with marathon weekend and Disneyland so close together.

 

[Barca33Runner]

SAFD: All the races I’ve run are in my signature. I’ve been to every Marathon Weekend since 2012 and ran Star Wars Dark Side in 2017. I’ve loved every one of them, even when I’ve dealt with some self-inflicted disappointment. Plan on being at every Marathon Weekend where health, availability, and finances allow.

It would be great see a Star Wars weekend return to WDW in the future but I realize that’s probably unlikely. I’ll monitor Springtime Surprise and maybe run that if the theme is to my liking.