2016 New Balance runDisney Collection debuts Wednesday

UPDATE: New Balance revealed its 2016 runDisney Collection on Monday: the Dumbo Vazee Pace, Ariel Vazee Pace and the Red Carpet Mickey and Minnie 860v6s. The Dumbo and Ariel Vazee Pace are priced at $124.95, and the Red Carpet Minnie and Mickey 860v6s are $139.95. In addition, a kids Dumbo and Ariel 860v6 will be available for $79.95.

Are you among the runners — and spectators — heading to Walt Disney World this week for Marathon Weekend who have been waiting eagerly to see what the new New Balance running shoes will look like? Last year, the design was released the day before the Health and Fitness Expo began. If that holds true this year, we should see the design on Tuesday, Jan. 5. Of course, there are no promises that will be the day, but sales begin Wednesday.

For those not among the obsessed (and who may not have this annual event on their radars), New Balance, the official running shoe of runDisney, releases Limited Edition shoes that are sold only at runDisney Expos. Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend is the biggest of the annual race weekends and the first opportunity to see some of the shoes that will be offered all year.

New Balance has released one clue about the theming of its 2016 runDisney Collection, and it came in the form of the photo below on its Instagram account. Followers have guessed that means the shoes will feature Dumbo, Mickey Mouse and Ursula. Remember that the entire 2016 collection will not be for sale at the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend.

At last year’s Marathon Weekend, Retro Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse New Balance shoes debuted. The 2015 design paid homage to Steamboat Willie, the 1928 black-and-white cartoon that introduced most audiences to Mickey Mouse and his girlfriend Minnie. The men’s Retro Mickey 990v3 sneaker came in black and white with musical notes around the front sole, classic images of Mickey and Minnie and character signatures. The women’s Retro Minnie 990v3 sneaker was gray and white with the same features. They were priced at $185 per pair and met with mixed reviews. Later, another set of Retro shoes, style 860v5 dubbed “performance shoes,” were introduced for $135 a pair. Runners looking for neutral shoes loved them, but others who liked the bold colors of previous designs were disappointed.

The 2015 New Balance runDisney collection also featured the Tinker Bell Fresh Foam Boracay, which were green and yellow running shoes with glow-in-the-dark pixie dust. They debuted at the Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend at Disneyland in May and were priced at $140. In celebration of Disneyland’s 60th anniversary Diamond Celebration, the Donald Duck Fresh Foam Boracay shoes were introduced at the Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend in September. Elements of Donald are hidden throughout the shoe, including a black tab on the heel that mimics the signature ribbon on Donald’s hat. The Donald Duck Fresh Foam Boracay shoes also cost $140.

New Balance first released Limited Edition runDisney shoes in 2013. The 860v3 sneakers were designed in the bright red, yellow, black and white traditional colors of modern Mickey and Minnie. They have since been retired. In 2014, the styles were designed to recall Sorcerer Mickey and Goofy (men’s) and Cinderella and Minnie Mouse (women’s). Due to popular demand, a limited number of the four New Balance 860v4 shoes were made available at the 2015 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend and at the 2015 Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend at Disneyland Resort. They were priced at $125 per pair.

Guests who would like to try on – and possibly purchase — the New Balance running shoes must make an appointment through a virtual queue. Starting Wednesday (Jan. 6) at 6 a.m., adult runners can sign up at NBvirtualqueue.com using their bib numbers, and all other guests can sign up at 6 a.m. Thursday (Jan. 7), Friday (Jan. 8) and Saturday (Jan. 9).

New Balance’s rules last year stated that customers could reserve one pair of running shoes per reservation. They would be able to choose up to five more pairs in the booth and could purchase a total of six pairs of runDisney Collection footwear per event weekend. Rules for 2016 had not yet been posted at the time of this writing.

When it’s close to a guest’s reserved time, he or she will receive a text and then must return within an hour or risk losing the shoes that were saved for that appointment. If the reserved shoes do not fit, the sales associate will check for other sizes. Customers can keep an eye on general inventory levels at NBVirtualQueue.com. The New Balance red tent is located near the west entrance of Josten’s Center.

Last year, stand-by lines for New Balance shoes were not allowed during the first few days of the Expo. By Friday night, New Balance was allowing a queue to form.

Follow @Kristin_B_Ford

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