Inaugural Disney Castaway Cay Challenge

[McCoy]

As far as I can tell, this was just officially posted and announced, from the runDisney blog: (typos as copied and pasted)

http://www.rundisney.com/blog/articles/the-castaway-cay-5k-challenge-05-12-2014/


Are you ready to set sail on a Disney Cruise? Today, we are excited to invite you to join us at the Inaugural Disney Castaway Cay Challenge during the 2015 Walt Disney World® Marathon Weekend presented by Cigna!

This inagurual event will combine any eligible race during Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend plus the Disney Castaway Cay 5K during the January 12 sailing from Port Canaveral, FL on the Disney Dream, hosted on Disney Cruise Line's private island, Castaway Cay! Complete both races within the pacing requirements and you'll earn the Inaugural Disney Castaway Cay Challenge Medal in addition to your Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend and Castaway Cay 5K finisher medals.

Which races are eligible, you ask? Any race that includes a distance of 5K or longer. So, complete the Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K, 5K, or either of the Goofy and Dopey Challenges, and you're eligible to enter the Disney Castaway Cay Challenge!

The race fee will include a race bib, t-shirt, 5k Medal, Challenge Medal and a post race refreshment. There will also be exclusive activities designed for runDisney guests, plus featured menu items and special merchandise, just for the cruise! The entry fee does not, however, include your cruise booking, which will have to be made separately through Disney Cruise Line.

Challenge registration opens Friday, May 23 at Noon ET. Complete details, including registration and booking procedures, are available now on the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend event page. We hope to see you sailing away this January during Inaugural Disney Castway Cay Challenge!


From the runDisney site itself (marathon weekend event page):

Disney Castaway Cay Challenge
Disney Cruise Line 4-night Bahamian Cruise January 12-16, 2015, following Walt Disney World® Marathon January 7-11, 2015

Disney Castaway Cay 5K January 14, 2015

Registration opens May 23 at Noon EST!

From Parks to Paradise, join the first-ever Disney Castaway Cay Challenge!

The all-new Disney Castaway Cay Challenge is an ultimate running adventure, combining one magical 5K event or longer during the 2015 Walt Disney World® Marathon Weekend (January 7-11, 2015) with a Castaway Cay 5K on Disney Cruise Lines' private tropical island in the Bahamas the following week. On Monday, when Marathon weekend is over, set sail on board the Disney Dream for a 4-night Bahamian Cruise from Port Canaveral. You’ll sail to Disney Castaway Cay for your 5K run along sandy white beaches, past swaying palms and sparkling turquoise lagoons, with magical Disney moments to surprise you along the way. It’s a runner’s paradise in a spectacular island oasis. Best of all, as a runDisney guest on board the Disney Dream, you’ll receive VIP treatment with exciting activities, special merchandise offerings, and featured menu items.

From parks to paradise…and a dream getaway on board a magical cruise! Be one of the first to earn your Disney Castaway Cay Challenge Inaugural Finisher Medal!

Go to Disneycruise.com to book your January 12th, 2015 cruise aboard the Disney Dream today, then register for the Castaway Cay Challenge on Active.com on May 23 at Noon EST. Use the promotional code RUN at the time of booking your Disney Cruise Line vacation. Be sure to enter your Cruise reservation number when registering for the race.

Castaway Cay Bahamas Castaway Cay 5K Castaway Cay Bahamas
Castaway Cay 5K Highlights
3.1 mile course through Disney Castaway Cay, Disney Cruise Lines’ private island in the Bahamas
Course runs past sparkling lagoons, the harbor, and white sandy beaches
Surprise Disney magical moments and entertainment on-course

Castaway Cay Participants Receive:
Castaway Cay Challenge Inaugural Event T-Shirt
Commemorative Castaway Cay 5K Finisher Medallion* **
Commemorative Inaugural Castaway Cay Challenge Finisher Medal for participating in one Walt Disney World® Marathon Weekend 5K or longer event PLUS the Castaway Cay 5K* **
Post-race refreshments
Exciting Activities and access to Special Merchandise on board Disney Cruise Line
Featured Healthy Menu Options on board Disney Cruise Line

*The number of registrations for the 2015 Walt Disney World® Marathon Weekend races and the Castaway Cay 5K is limited and subject to availability. To be eligible for the Castaway Cay Challenge runners must enter their cruise reservation number at the time of registration for a 5K or longer 2015 Walt Disney World® Marathon race event. All races are subject to age eligibility requirements and capacity limits. All race registration fees are non-refundable. Runners must complete both races within the 16-minute mile pacing requirements and must have an official time for each race to receive the Disney Castaway Cay Challenge Finisher Medal. Runners deferring any 2015 Walt Disney World® Marathon Weekend 5K or longer races will not be eligible for a Castaway Cay Challenge Finisher Medal. Events/races may be subject to delay, change, or cancellation for inclement weather or other safety concerns.

** A reservation on the January 12, 2015 Disney Dream 4-Night Bahamian Cruise is required in order to participate. It is recommended that you register for your Disney cruise PRIOR to registering for the Castaway Cay Challenge. Cruise Line reservations must be booked by August 1, 2014 or your Challenge Reservation will be forfeited. If your Disney Castaway Cay Challenge spot is forfeited for any reason, the race fee is non-refundable. Please refer to Disney Cruise Line for cruise refund policies.

 

[Ariel484]

The race fee will include a race bib, t-shirt, 5k Medal, Challenge Medal and a post race refreshment.

I don't like this idea at all, but this part of the post really stuck out to me. Currently, it doesn't cost anything to run the Castaway Cay 5K. Are they going to start charging everyone to run it, or just those doing the challenge, I wonder?

 

[Tiresius]

To be eligible for the Castaway Cay Challenge runners must enter their cruise reservation number at the time of registration for a 5K or longer 2015 Walt Disney World® Marathon race event.

This is the part that concerns me - The phrasing implies that you have to sign up for the cruise, then the WDW Marathon event. That is practically impossible at this point, since the registration for almost everything is sold out. It would exclude anyone already registered for a race that weekend. I am not running or cruising, so it doesn't affect me, but I sure hope that is a typo/error, or the entire event is being announced way too late for anybody to actually participate (outside of the few Goofy spots still open). It can't be what they intend though.

 

[pinkcess]

This sucks. I'm already registered for 3 upcoming races, and was planning on knocking out Tinker Bell and Princess weekend next year. This Castaway Challenge just throws off my plans. I'd have to pick either Princess & Tinker Bell weekend or Marathon & Castaway Challenge??

 

[Mousegeek]

So excited to have this offered! We are already booked for the cruise and the marathon so this is a perfect addition. I wish they had the cost listed somewhere but I'm sure we will pay whatever they ask

 

[DisneyRunner2009]

It's the Disney marketing genius at work. At some point, everyone will stop buying into the runDisney franchise. Will this push it over the edge or price points for races. The only thing open for Marathon Weekend is the Goofy. The marathon sold out within the last two days. Do you think Disney waited for the marathon to sell out before this announcement or was it just lucky timing?

 

[Dr.Girlfriend]

I received the press release to post on my blog:

runDisney has announced a new Castaway Cay challenge if you participate in marathon weekend at Walt Disney World: http://goobermonkey.com/2014/05/new-castaway-cay-challenge-added-to-2015-walt-disney-world-marathon-weekend-wdwmarathon-rundisney/


I'm just disappointed they didn't talk about this before the WDW marathon weekend races opened for purchase. Easier to allocate traveling dollars and what not, you know?

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Ugh, so many days in a row. Whatever. I'm probably in. I like medals.

 

[sumlee]

Holy Moley!!! Crazy! My mom and I have been joking about adding this cruise onto our marathon trip, but this makes me actually want to consider it. Does that make me totally crazy?! Pay for a flippin' cruise just for the 5K and extra medal? Yes, I think I might be nuts.

I do wish there were more details listed. Like, oh I don't know, how much the 5K is going to cost?!!! It is sad if they are going to start charging for the previously fee 5K for all participants...but I guess if they are going to step it up to include t-shirts and awesome medals, they have to pay for it somehow, right? Or am I just rationalizing the whole thing because I wanna do it?

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

It costs $40 plus the cruise fee.

 

[Outonarun]

The "Challenge" seems to be more a

-- financial challenge,
-- vacation planning logistics challenge, or
-- getting-time-off-work challenge

than a physical challenge.

 

[sumlee]

It costs $40 plus the cruise fee.

Okay. Thanks. I must have missed that.

The "Challenge" seems to be more a

-- financial challenge,
-- vacation planning logistics challenge, or
-- getting-time-off-work challenge

than a physical challenge.

YES!!!

 

[bumbershoot]

It can't be what they intend though.

I sent them an email letting them know that it's pretty much impossible for us to have done what they said. I don't think it's what they intended, but you know, Disney is a huge corporation and their info should be thought out, thoroughly vetted, and PERFECT by the time a guest sees it. So they deserve to have all the questions everyone throws at them.

They don't know where RUN goes, and in fact the cruise people I talked to said there's no actual promo code section but there's a place THEY can put it. Nowhere for us to put it.

Now my question is if we can move it to a TA later on. Er, if we booked it.

It costs $40 plus the cruise fee.

Where did you find that out?

The "Challenge" seems to be more a

-- financial challenge,
-- vacation planning logistics challenge, or
-- getting-time-off-work challenge

than a physical challenge.

SO true.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

OK, who wants to do this?

If you really want to be crazy, you could do something like this. The Dopey Palindrome Challenge

Thursday, 1/8: 5k
Friday, 1/9: 10k
Saturday 1/10: Half Mary
Sunday 1/11: Full Marathon
Monday 1/12: Early morning half marathon at Fort Wilderness
Tuesday 1/13: 10k on deck
Wednesday 1/14: Castaway Cay 5k.

 

[bumbershoot]

I do not want to do that.

 

[HookdonWDW]

OK, who wants to do this?
Monday 1/12: Early morning half marathon at Fort Wilderness

Okay, I'm embarrassed to admit for about 20 seconds I thought "Wow, they added a half marathon at Fort Wilderness???"

 

[Weaverdream02]

I am so excited about this challenge! Was trying to motivate myself and what better motivation than a Disney Cruise? I am running goofy by myself--any other slow runners out there going solo?

 

[John VN]

OK, who wants to do this?

If you really want to be crazy, you could do something like this. The Dopey Palindrome Challenge

Thursday, 1/8: 5k
Friday, 1/9: 10k
Saturday 1/10: Half Mary
Sunday 1/11: Full Marathon
Monday 1/12: Early morning half marathon at Fort Wilderness
Tuesday 1/13: 10k on deck
Wednesday 1/14: Castaway Cay 5k.

Since we are at FW with the motorhome, and DW just booked the cruise.....I'M IN. I'll also have a McFlurry in the freezer to have during the FW Half.

McFlurry John

 

[longhorns2]

http://www.active.com/framed/event_detail.cfm?CHECKSSO=0&EVENT_ID=2130166

 

[lkh]

OK, who wants to do this?

If you really want to be crazy, you could do something like this. The Dopey Palindrome Challenge

Thursday, 1/8: 5k
Friday, 1/9: 10k
Saturday 1/10: Half Mary
Sunday 1/11: Full Marathon
Monday 1/12: Early morning half marathon at Fort Wilderness
Tuesday 1/13: 10k on deck
Wednesday 1/14: Castaway Cay 5k.

I can't make up my mind! My thought process today:

Immediately after I see it all over twitter: YES!!! I MUST GO!!!
An hour later, reality: I can't take 2 weeks vacation!
Fear of missing out: I could come later to Dopey and head straight home after the cruise.
Price checking: I already spent way too much on Dopey, I just can't.
Seeing your post: I HAVE TO DO THIS!!!

Going to bed to hopefully dream up some winning lottery numbers!