Disney Wine and Dine Half Marathon

[Runnin'Gator]

Thanks got it!

I'm also trying to figure out the changing afterwards thing. I know you can check a bag and pick it up after the race but I've read that was terrible last year. We will have a car and will be parked at EPCOT before the race, if I leave clothes in there will I be able to get back into EPCOT after I change?

Changing after Tower of Terror was pretty bad, but it was ridiculously humid for that race and the tents felt like a sauna. The smell in the tents wasn't really all that exceptional either. The Wine and Dine finishes outside of Epcot so you SHOULD be able to get to your car after you finish. I don't remember any barriers that marked a point of no return after last year's race.

 

[CP_alum08]

Changing after Tower of Terror was pretty bad, but it was ridiculously humid for that race and the tents felt like a sauna. The smell in the tents wasn't really all that exceptional either. The Wine and Dine finishes outside of Epcot so you SHOULD be able to get to your car after you finish. I don't remember any barriers that marked a point of no return after last year's race.

Thanks. I was there in Jan. for a friend running the marathon and when she was done she was able to go to the car and then go right into EPCOT. Obviously that was during the day when EPCOT was still open but hopefully this race is the same.

 

[Fievel]

Good luck to everyone racing tonight! The W&D medal from last year is still one of my favorites!

 

[Ariel484]

Have a great race tonight guys!! Can't wait to read some reports.

 

[Mr mom]

good luck folks

 

[worldtraveler]

What a fun race. It was my first 1/2 marathon. Would do another one. I'm sitting waiting for the rest of my group, I think we all loved it.

 

[Mr mom]

What a fun race. It was my first 1/2 marathon. Would do another one. I'm sitting waiting for the rest of my group, I think we all loved it.

Awesome, glad you had fun

 

[MKCP 1985]

Congrats to all our finishers!

 

[Runnin'Gator]

Those of you guys out there that ran the Wine and Dine, what did you think of it? Did you hit your goals?

I enjoyed this race a lot more than I did the Tower of Terror. It has a better course and organization, and by far better weather. The post race was easy to navigate and thank God there weren't any stairs at the bag check. The after party was great and I was impressed by the crowds cheering the runners through Epcot. I thought last year's event was great but they did an even better job with this year's race.

I was hoping to go under two hours for the first time and came in at 2:01:47. My right leg cramped at the water station between MGM and the Swan and Dolphin. It took about three minutes to get it worked out, but I didn't have enough race left to make up those two minutes. It was disappointing, but there's only so much you can control.

Looking forward to hearing y'all's thoughts on the run.

 

[Ariel484]

Those of you guys out there that ran the Wine and Dine, what did you think of it? Did you hit your goals?

I enjoyed this race a lot more than I did the Tower of Terror. It has a better course and organization, and by far better weather. The post race was easy to navigate and thank God there weren't any stairs at the bag check. The after party was great and I was impressed by the crowds cheering the runners through Epcot. I thought last year's event was great but they did an even better job with this year's race.

I was hoping to go under two hours for the first time and came in at 2:01:47. My right leg cramped at the water station between MGM and the Swan and Dolphin. It took about three minutes to get it worked out, but I didn't have enough race left to make up those two minutes. It was disappointing, but there's only so much you can control.

Looking forward to hearing y'all's thoughts on the run.

Too bad about the cramp, but that's still a great time! Congrats!

I haven't run either race (yet...) but I remember that the inaugural Wine & Dine a few years back got pretty awful reviews, and it was much improved the next year. I'm hoping for/expecting the same for the Tower of Terror 10-miler - in fact I heard somewhere else that they sent post-race surveys to the runners. So hopefully it will improve just as the Wine & Dine Half has improved over the years.

 

[Mr mom]

Those of you guys out there that ran the Wine and Dine, what did you think of it? Did you hit your goals?

I enjoyed this race a lot more than I did the Tower of Terror. It has a better course and organization, and by far better weather. The post race was easy to navigate and thank God there weren't any stairs at the bag check. The after party was great and I was impressed by the crowds cheering the runners through Epcot. I thought last year's event was great but they did an even better job with this year's race.

I was hoping to go under two hours for the first time and came in at 2:01:47. My right leg cramped at the water station between MGM and the Swan and Dolphin. It took about three minutes to get it worked out, but I didn't have enough race left to make up those two minutes. It was disappointing, but there's only so much you can control.

Looking forward to hearing y'all's thoughts on the run.

Still a good run, great job.

 

[CP_alum08]

Those of you guys out there that ran the Wine and Dine, what did you think of it? Did you hit your goals?

I enjoyed this race a lot more than I did the Tower of Terror. It has a better course and organization, and by far better weather. The post race was easy to navigate and thank God there weren't any stairs at the bag check. The after party was great and I was impressed by the crowds cheering the runners through Epcot. I thought last year's event was great but they did an even better job with this year's race.

I was hoping to go under two hours for the first time and came in at 2:01:47. My right leg cramped at the water station between MGM and the Swan and Dolphin. It took about three minutes to get it worked out, but I didn't have enough race left to make up those two minutes. It was disappointing, but there's only so much you can control.

Looking forward to hearing y'all's thoughts on the run.

This was my first half (my first real race actually) so I tried to not set any goals except to finish, which I did

I thought the whole experience was great. Registration/check-in was simple and quick. The expo with all the different companies and booths was pretty cool, although some of the booths I was a little confused at why they were there, who was buying knives at a running expo? I think the only thing I didn't like was how much down time there was between getting to the sports complex and when the race started. I think I got off the buss around 8:15 which meant almost 2 hours of sitting around waiting for the race to start. I assume there is a reason they do that, but it felt like a REALLY long time. It also seemed like it started later than it had to. I understand that they needed to wait until the parks were closed and to shut down some parts of the road but I think the race could have started an hour or two earlier.

The actual race was awesome. I was really surprised at the amount of people cheering all along the course which was a great motivator. There were a few sections that were boring but that isn't really Disney's fault.

I don't know if I'll run this specific race again, but I will definitely run another runDisney event...maybe the full marathon one day!

 

[Ariel484]

Congrats on finishing your first race, @CP_alum08! I think you're right that they have the runners get to the starting area early to help with road closures...I think it's also in part to scare people into getting there early so they don't have folks trying to rush to the starting line right as the gun is going off.

Try a morning race sometime (WDW Full/Half or Princess Half)! I haven't run a night race yet but I get the impression that there are more characters/entertainment during the morning races. I bet you'll like it!

 

[Runnin'Gator]

This was my first half (my first real race actually) so I tried to not set any goals except to finish, which I did

I thought the whole experience was great. Registration/check-in was simple and quick. The expo with all the different companies and booths was pretty cool, although some of the booths I was a little confused at why they were there, who was buying knives at a running expo? I think the only thing I didn't like was how much down time there was between getting to the sports complex and when the race started. I think I got off the buss around 8:15 which meant almost 2 hours of sitting around waiting for the race to start. I assume there is a reason they do that, but it felt like a REALLY long time. It also seemed like it started later than it had to. I understand that they needed to wait until the parks were closed and to shut down some parts of the road but I think the race could have started an hour or two earlier.

The actual race was awesome. I was really surprised at the amount of people cheering all along the course which was a great motivator. There were a few sections that were boring but that isn't really Disney's fault.

I don't know if I'll run this specific race again, but I will definitely run another runDisney event...maybe the full marathon one day!

The check-in at the expo has become unbelievably easy. It wasn't bad for my first race but they have it down to a science. I think the one complaint I always have and always hear is having to be at the start so early. They move us into the corrals too far ahead of the race start. It's difficult to stay loose and stretch in the corrals, and there really isn't any need to have us in there 20 minutes before the start. I'm really hoping they can get this fixed at some point.

Congratulations on finishing your first race. It's a pretty addicting sport, so good luck with any races you decide to run later on.

 

[Texas84]

We just drove back from Orlando. I'll try to write some tomorrow. I'm beat. I also have some notes from my sister who was there supporting us as a spectator. She has some good (and bad) stuff to share. But I will go ahead and give this race an A-. A+ for the weather!

 

[CP_alum08]

The check-in at the expo has become unbelievably easy. It wasn't bad for my first race but they have it down to a science. I think the one complaint I always have and always hear is having to be at the start so early. They move us into the corrals too far ahead of the race start. It's difficult to stay loose and stretch in the corrals, and there really isn't any need to have us in there 20 minutes before the start. I'm really hoping they can get this fixed at some point.

Congratulations on finishing your first race. It's a pretty addicting sport, so good luck with any races you decide to run later on.

It is addicting, I'm already thinking about what I want to do next!

You seem like you've done this before, are the Disney races any different from the normal city races? I assume there aren't places to stop and get your picture taken during the Boston Marathon but are there any major differences?

 

[Runnin'Gator]

It is addicting, I'm already thinking about what I want to do next!

You seem like you've done this before, are the Disney races any different from the normal city races? I assume there aren't places to stop and get your picture taken during the Boston Marathon but are there any major differences?

This was only my third half. I've done the last two Wine and Dines and the St. Pete Rock 'N' Roll last year. The one in St. Pete had live entertainment on the course, and if you had wanted to there were some good places to take pictures, but it wasn't really that kind of run.
I'm not even close to qualifying for Boston, but I imagine most of those runners are more worried about time than photo ops.
I've also done a couple of the Disney 5Ks and the Tower of Terror in October. I'm not going to do any more of the 5Ks because they are expensive and they don't time the races.

 

[dreamfinder]

Congrats on finishing your first race, @CP_alum08! I think you're right that they have the runners get to the starting area early to help with road closures...I think it's also in part to scare people into getting there early so they don't have folks trying to rush to the starting line right as the gun is going off.

I think the one complaint I always have and always hear is having to be at the start so early. They move us into the corrals too far ahead of the race start. It's difficult to stay loose and stretch in the corrals, and there really isn't any need to have us in there 20 minutes before the start. I'm really hoping they can get this fixed at some point.

WDW actually has a really good reason to get people there so early. The first ToT13k race, I believe the start was delayed by about 45 mins because so many people were not there yet. So many people figured that since they could park and then walk a short distance to the start they would have plenty of time. But it ended up making the rest of us wait, and wait, and then when we were supposed to have started, wait yet some more.

It's a fairly common practice for large races to require the runners to be there early. At Boston, you have an assigned bus time between 6 and 7:30 AM depending on your number. And then you won't end up starting til 10 at the earliest, and maybe 10:40. So the 3 hour from bus to start there is really no different than a 3:30 bus at WDW for a 6:30 start (one of the later waves).

Could you imagine if all 20,000+ runners started to walk to the start 15 mins beforehand? It would be chaos. There is usually more than enough space outside the corral, but in the general corral area to finish any stretching. Just don't expect to push your way to the front of the corral at that point if you choose to do that.

 

[joel_maxwell]

Good luck to everyone racing tonight! The W&D medal from last year is still one of my favorites!

Mine too. Mostly for the size and the SSE texture.

Congrats everyone!

 

[Texas84]

Here's a start: My sister joined us as a spectator and even took notes. One complaint: They really didn't communicate what the spectators were supposed to do and she was freaking out. But I told her there are 100's of volunteers around to help.

So we sent her off to Epcot as we got in line for the bus to WWoS. Then she found out spectators can get on the bus to watch the start then get bussed back to Epcot after the start. When we had to move to the corrals they announced that the spectators should go to the bag check to be escorted to the start. Well done Disney! BTW, the bag check gets better every time. And yes, no stairs! She got to see us start. Very cool.

I figured she would go into Epcot to wait for us but she went right to the finish line to watch and got there right before the winner! Here are her notes:

The first two men came in at about 1:14. They said the winner stopped at all 17 picture taking spots (My note: Were they joking?)

1:21 one runner cramped up at finish and threw off his shoes. Another had to be taken away in a wheelchair.

1:25 15-year old finished

1:27 Female winner

1:37 Lots started coming in

1:39 66 year old finished

Prepare to rage: She said several were walking out of Corral B!

My sister now has the bug. Her and her husband are going to train for next year's W&D. They have both done 10Ks so should be fun! More on Brandi and I later.