Earlier this week, astute runDisney participants suspected that the format of the Wine and Dine Half Marathon Weekend in November would be changing, and on Thursday they found out they were correct. Some were excited about the new offerings, but others were bitterly disappointed by the schedule changes — and quite a few were vocal in online forums.
It started on Monday when runDisney changed some of the wording for the upcoming races on its website and then later in the day postponed the registration dates for the Wine and Dine weekend. Annual passholders and Disney Vacation Club members were ready for early registration on Tuesday, which is a big deal because runDisney races sell out so quickly that the opportunity to register early is one that runners will not pass up if they can help it.
Two days later it was announced that Wine and Dine weekend would add a 10K and Lumiere’s Two Course Challenge to the kids’ races, 5K and half marathon already on the schedule. No complaints there — runners were excited to have more opportunities to collect Disney bling. But what did upset a lot of runners was that in order to accommodate the new 10K, runDisney moved the half marathon from Saturday night to Sunday morning and the after party from Saturday night to Sunday night. The 5K, renamed Mickey’s Holiday 5K, was moved to Friday morning, which means the health & fitness expo is Thursday. The race weekend will run Nov. 3-6.
The Wine and Dine Half Marathon was the last nighttime race on the Walt Disney World schedule; the Expedition Everest Challenge finished after the 2015 race and Tower of Terror 10-miler ended after the 2014 race. Some say this schedule change makes the format of the Wine and Dine weekend just like any other runDisney weekend instead of keeping it unique. Others appreciated that a nighttime race meant not having to get up by 3 a.m. to make it to their corrals on time. And another frustration was a course change that decreases the amount of time running in the theme parks, a reason many say they are willing to pay the higher entry fees. The course no longer includes Hollywood Studios — just ESPN Wide World of Sports, Animal Kingdom and Epcot.
Those in favor of the change point to the storms that disrupted the night-time half marathon for the past two years and what they perceive as a better chance of the weather cooperating. They also like the idea of having time to go back to their hotels to recover, rest and clean up before the after-party at Epcot. (Admission to the party is included in race registration for the half marathon, and friends and family members who are not running can purchase tickets.)
Whether runners are in favor of the changes or not, those who have planned ahead with travel arrangements are now most likely having to modify transportation and hotel stays. (It’s still too early for Disney dining reservations.) Many of those who thought they were running a Saturday night half marathon and going straight to the after-party planned to travel home Sunday so they wouldn’t miss another work or school day, and that is no longer possible. With the 5K a day earlier, those runners who are not locals will need to arrive in Orlando sooner. And anyone who likes to purchase race-specific runDisney merchandise knows that it usually is best to be at the expo on the first morning before it sells out; that translates to an earlier arrival for another segment of runners, as well.
Along with the changes in race formats, prices for the weekend events also were announced Thursday: half marathon, $190; Lumiere’s Two-Course Challenge, $330; 10K, $120; 5K, $70; kids’ races, $20; 1-mile run, $30; after-party tickets, $79.
Early registration for Walt Disney World and Disneyland passholders and Disney Vacation Club members for Wine and Dine Half Marathon Weekend is March 22. Registration opens to the public March 29.
This was by far my favorite half marathon and RunDisney event of all. Not all runners are “morning” people and this was such a beautiful night race. The weather is cooler st night and I didn’t have to request off of work on Monday. The holiday lights were a beautiful distraction and going straight in to the after party was part of what made it so great. I for one am very disappointed by this change and I won’t be signing up this year. I used to recommend this race to everyone because it is so different from any of the others. I don’t care who you are, waking up at 3:00 am, waiting on a bus, in the cold, to run 13.1 miles at 5:30 am is never fun… it’s a much easier sell to get me to run 13.1 miles at 10 pm and meet me at the finish line with a glass of champagne… then I walk across the street and don’t feel at all guilty about gorging myself in all the delights that Epcot’s Food & Wine festival has to offer. After the party, you sleep like a baby and have the entire next day to recover for work in Monday. This was an event I looked forward to all year.
I ran my first Disney run this year. I enjoyed the Princess half so much that I told my husband that we should do the Wine and Dine this year. I love DHS, and thought that it would be amazing to run through it at night. So, I was upset when I heard that the race was moved to morning and that DHS would not be included. However, I also want to step it up on my next Disney run, so I think that we will sign up for Lumiere’s challenge.
Here’s the thing, I don’t love running. I have been running over the last few years to prepare for events but Disney inspired me to run a half marathon. After the first Disney run, I am inspired to run 19.3 over 2 days. I am hoping after that, I will be inspired to run a marathon (yes, it will be a Disney marathon). So, while I am a bit upset about not being able to do a night run, I am thankful that Disney added more events to the Wine and Dine w/e.
On the plus side, the event falls in the am that we turn the clocks back. That being said, it will be dark out longer and it won’t be as grueling to get up in the morning. I also like the idea of returning to the resort for some R&R before attending the race party in the evening.
It is sad to not be able to run through more parks. I know there is major construction scheduled for Hollywood Studios so it is probably not possible to get the miles there. Too bad we can’t run through the Magic Kingdom at night. That would be really cool. Wish runDisney took the comments seriously. They are just a big old corporation bereft of care for there guests.
My wife and I have being running the Wine and Dine every year since it started. We really enjoyed being able to run through the parks at night especially Animal Kingdom. Sad to hear of the changes.
I’m bummed to hear that they have changed W&D! I was hoping that one of these years I could actually afford it… I’m also hoping that taking the course out of DHS is only due to all the upcoming construction, and won’t be a permanent thing. I would have loved to run it at night, but oh well!
We weren’t planning on doing this race this year, but it is/was one of our favorite runDisney races. We really enjoyed the fact that it was a night-time race – so it’s different than the others. I don’t mind getting up early, but it’s kind of cool to run at night also (and we were there for the drenching downpour of 2014). Now it does just seem like every other race.
I can understand if there has been a weather concern. And maybe the nighttime additions at Animal Kingdom also added to this change. But it’s still a bit sad.