Disneyland Half Marathon 2024

[luv2cheer92]

Also should hopefully see the free shirts somewhat soon. If it's like it was for the SW runs, it'll be long sleeve, looking at green for the 5k, grey for 10k, blue for half, maroonish for the challenge based on what's shown on the virtual page.

The race shirts usually get released the day before the expo starts (at least for WDW). Though, virtual runners may get their boxes before then and show pics like they have for past races and the upcoming marathon weekend.

 

[Sleepless Knight]

And this isn't a one time thing with rD merch. You'd think that they'd get the hint and have more stock on hand. Especially with the virtual medals, sometimes, the only way for some runners to get the merch is through a shop runner (ugh).

I think they're sometimes stuck between a rock and a hard place. With so much of the race merchandise being a one year only sort of thing and having no idea how popular the new merchandise will actually wind up being once it hits the Expo, it's impossible to guess.

Almost every year I see leftover marathon weekend merchandise at the airport 3 or 4 days later.

I think there are two possible solutions to address the issue.

1. At least give more possible merchandise previews early enough so that runners can pre-order. That way, the runners coming in for the last race still have a chance at the shirt/jacket/et all.

2. Require VQ users to also submit some sort of registration proof as part of VQ application. Then place a per item cap on the merchandise (which they did do in 2022) to help keep the reseller market from going crazy. And we already know that Disney has figured out how to shut down private in park tours that were abusing the system. We've also seen Disney revoke APs and/or ban resellers from property for abusing the rules.

 

[fatmanatee]

The race shirts usually get released the day before the expo starts (at least for WDW). Though, virtual runners may get their boxes before then and show pics like they have for past races and the upcoming marathon weekend.

This is what I'm counting on... although given the apparent issues with the holiday virtual medals who knows how early it'll be.

 

[1lilspark]

I think they're sometimes stuck between a rock and a hard place. With so much of the race merchandise being a one year only sort of thing and having no idea how popular the new merchandise will actually wind up being once it hits the Expo, it's impossible to guess.

Almost every year I see leftover marathon weekend merchandise at the airport 3 or 4 days later.

I think there are two possible solutions to address the issue.

1. At least give more possible merchandise previews early enough so that runners can pre-order. That way, the runners coming in for the last race still have a chance at the shirt/jacket/et all.

2. Require VQ users to also submit some sort of registration proof as part of VQ application. Then place a per item cap on the merchandise (which they did do in 2022) to help keep the reseller market from going crazy. And we already know that Disney has figured out how to shut down private in park tours that were abusing the system. We've also seen Disney revoke APs and/or ban resellers from property for abusing the rules.

Or where clothing is concerned limit it 2 items by style and not by skew numbers effectively letting the shopper snag 12+ units of an item

 

[marty3d]

I think there are two possible solutions to address the issue.

1. At least give more possible merchandise previews early enough so that runners can pre-order. That way, the runners coming in for the last race still have a chance at the shirt/jacket/et all.

This! I really wish you could pre-order one of each item (with preview) for each distance you are registered for.

After experience the last 2 MW merch experiences and knowing I won’t get to DL until late Thursday, I pre-ordered the jacket bundle. Really hoping it’s the black jacket. Also wish I didn’t have to buy the bundle but at least I don’t have to stress out about everything being gone.

 

[Bree]

The merch situation is beyond ridiculous. It needs to be two items per person and not two of every SKU. That means someone can buy two of every size shirt and jacket.

BTW, according to my kid, crazy amounts of W&D merch ended up at the castmember store.

 

[nekonekoneko]

Require VQ users to also submit some sort of registration proof as part of VQ application.

Too much work to get the VQ process to require proof of registration. But it's something that can be asked for at the door. No bib, no entry.

according to my kid, crazy amounts of W&D merch ended up at the castmember store.

There was a Marathon Weekend jacket in 2018 that came on ShopDisney after the races as a pre-order. That's one of the best ways to do it.

 

[RunWI1265]

I think they're sometimes stuck between a rock and a hard place. With so much of the race merchandise being a one year only sort of thing and having no idea how popular the new merchandise will actually wind up being once it hits the Expo, it's impossible to guess.

They seem to grossly underestimate how popular items will be. I mean, they sold out of some items during club rD shopping last year. And other things within the first 30-60 minutes. I find that inexcusable when most people haven’t even been allowed in yet.

 

[Disneyhanna]

I wish purchase limits were 1 instead of 2. I know people like to grab things for friends/family that can't make it to the expo early but I feel like it would really help cut down on things running out. Of course resellers might just grab a ton of stuff and throw in their basket and then wait for their reseller friends to join them later in the queue but maybe with limit 1 it would not be as worth it.

My #1 goal is to get the medal pin for Dumbo and maybe the half. The loungefly is so tempting but I would miss the water bottle holder, that's why I don't have any yet! I will probably get the ears if they have them. The clothing designs are really nice, I'm not a big zip up jacket person but I will probably try one on, I like the pastels. Hoping for a baseball cap and a mug, not that I need any more of those either!

 

[jofo]

I wish purchase limits were 1 instead of 2. I know people like to grab things for friends/family that can't make it to the expo early but I feel like it would really help cut down on things running out. Of course resellers might just grab a ton of stuff and throw in their basket and then wait for their reseller friends to join them later in the queue but maybe with limit 1 it would not be as worth it.

I'd love for at least day 1 of the expos to have super strict rules. Limit 1 per item (not 2 per size) and must have bibs for the specific races you are purchasing merch for. Loosen the rules later in the race weekends and the ebay shoppers can go to town on the last day of the expo.

 

[1lilspark]

BTW, according to my kid, crazy amounts of W&D merch ended up at the castmember store.

and on the flip side multiple challenge items were wiped out during club RunDisney platinum early entry and immediately up on eBay for a mark up

 

[Bree]

and on the flip side multiple challenge items were wiped out during club RunDisney platinum early entry and immediately up on eBay for a mark up

I was there for early entry. There was a woman listing stuff while she sat on the expo floor

 

[The Expert]

I was there for early entry. There was a woman listing stuff while she sat on the expo floor

Yep. Happens every race weekend and it is ridiculous. Bottom line is Disney does not care who is buying, just that they are buying. There are plenty of ways they could remedy this. I'd love to see pre-orders of all merch for your registered distances, limit 1 or 2 per item, and require app checkout so they can enforce the limits.

This would also help them cut costs, as they know within a pretty tight margin how much to order. Add 10-20% more for the expo for those who missed the preorder or decided they want something else, along with the generic rD merch and they could get pretty close to matching demand. (Ballparking, but knowing how much data they collect, they know exactly what sells.) No more dumping all the extra merch after the race at the cast store or outlets.

 

[WillRunForPizza]

I'd love to see pre-orders of all merch for your registered distances

And pre-orders of individual items, not just bundles where you don't even know what things are! Preferably with normal-sized photos rather than blurry thumbnails also

 

[1lilspark]

I was there for early entry. There was a woman listing stuff while she sat on the expo floor

I was in a character line and the people in front of me were on eBay reading out listings for figment items and rolling their eyes at the mark ups

 

[DisneyParrothead]

I was there for early entry. There was a woman listing stuff while she sat on the expo floor

If Disney has language in the AP terms and conditions about reselling items on eBay, runDisney can add that to cRunDisney. You get caught, you get kicked out.

 

[luv2cheer92]

They seem to grossly underestimate how popular items will be. I mean, they sold out of some items during club rD shopping last year. And other things within the first 30-60 minutes. I find that inexcusable when most people haven’t even been allowed in yet.

They have reported having issues with items being delivered on time the last couple years. With items then being sent to the outlet stores once they arrive. Still a poor excuse though.

 

[DisneyBelle27]

Hi all, haven't posted much in the thread but I have been reading it avidly, lol.

I don't have any crazy hope or dreams regarding merch availability and how RunDisney handles it but I was wondering one thing. We're only doing the half and we fly in on Friday, landing at LAX around 1:30pm. We can make it to the expo that day, but we also don't really have anything planned for Saturday, just relaxing, so I was thinking of taking a stroll over and also showing up at opening for the last Expo day. Do we think they might have any reserve merch that would have been gone by the afternoon of Friday but restocked Saturday morning? Again, I'm not really invested in anything that I MUST have but was just curious if this might be a thing.

 

[fatmanatee]

Randomly came across my IG feed: a vid from the 2016 half.

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

 

[Sleepless Knight]

Do we think they might have any reserve merch that would have been gone by the afternoon of Friday but restocked Saturday morning? Again, I'm not really invested in anything that I MUST have but was just curious if this might be a thing.

I suppose it's possible that they might reserve merchandise for the last day of the expo in theory, but I would not anticipate it happening.