BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023 Posted March 22, 2013 Report Share Posted March 22, 2013 From the Disney Parks blog... runDisney Introduces New Race, New Challenge, New Medals to Walt Disney World Marathon Weekendposted on March 22nd, 2013 by Faron Kelley, Director, Marketing & Communications, Disney Sports Today, runDisney reaches another milestone as we expand the 2014 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend presented by Cigna with the addition of the Walt Disney World 10K, the Dopey Challenge, new medals and the return of the popular Runner’s World Challenge. In 2006, the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend had a big year. The races had become so popular, the half marathon and the full marathon now had to be held on two separate days. This race day bifurcation led to another interesting development. It was now theoretically possible for a runner to run both races, so the team decided that if someone was goofy enough to do that, they deserved a medal. And thus, Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge was born with just over 2,300 runners receiving the first Goofy medal for their 39.3 mile accomplishment. Through the years, “the Goofy” has been a favorite with our runners as well as a unique offering in the running industry. Well, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet. This next year, runDisney is adding a 10K race to our Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend line-up, joining our already popular 5K, Half Marathon and Full Marathon. And you guessed it (we couldn’t help ourselves), we are now offering the Dopey Challenge to those runners who conquer ALL FOUR of our races. That’s right…completing the 5K, the 10K, the Half Marathon and the Full Marathon in the four consecutive days will earn you the Dopey Challenge Medal. That coveted piece of hardware will be clanging around the necks of our finishers with the Mickey Marathon medal, the Donald Half medal, the 5K Family Fun Run medal, the Goofy Challenge medal, and the new Minnie 10K medal. Six medals for 48.6 miles over four days. I think I am just Dopey enough to do it. Come join me! I hope you will accept this invite:http://youtu.be/E6v0AtMJwnE Join us for the Dopey Challenge and the 2014 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend. http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2013/03/rundisney-introduces-new-race-new-challenge-new-medals-to-walt-disney-world-marathon-weekend/ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Nicki aka Rebelstand 272 Posted March 22, 2013 Report Share Posted March 22, 2013 Join us for the Dopey Challenge... Whew.. at least it didn't say happy and sleepy. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Judy in Texas 150 Posted March 22, 2013 Report Share Posted March 22, 2013 The Run Disney website says the early registration fee for the Dopey Challenge is $495 if paid by June 18th. $555 if paid after August 14th. No wonder Disney keeps putting these race on. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lou... 3,118 Posted March 22, 2013 Report Share Posted March 22, 2013 Dopey medal, good name for it.I guess that's the best of the 7 dwarf's names to describe it. Too bad there isn't one called "Stupid", because that would be the perfect name. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Nicki aka Rebelstand 272 Posted March 22, 2013 Report Share Posted March 22, 2013 Too bad there isn't one called "Stupid", because that would be the perfect name. We can get Mo to make you a Stupid Dwarf Temp tatoo if you like. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beckers 1,136 Posted March 22, 2013 Report Share Posted March 22, 2013 Is it even safe to run that much?!? Dear lord. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nutters4wdw......Amy 5 Posted March 22, 2013 Report Share Posted March 22, 2013 Woohooo, hubbie says if I start training for it now I can do it in 2015! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GaDawgFan.....Kelly 799 Posted March 22, 2013 Report Share Posted March 22, 2013 But when is it? Am I missing it because I don't see that anywhere. I wouldn't do the full thing, but I'd do a 10K. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nutters4wdw......Amy 5 Posted March 22, 2013 Report Share Posted March 22, 2013 But when is it? Am I missing it because I don't see that anywhere. I wouldn't do the full thing, but I'd do a 10K. The 10k would be January 10, 2014. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GaDawgFan.....Kelly 799 Posted March 23, 2013 Report Share Posted March 23, 2013 Brrrrrrrrrr Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lou... 3,118 Posted March 23, 2013 Report Share Posted March 23, 2013 Brrrrrrrrrr Not necessarily. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023 Posted March 23, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 23, 2013 WDW Marathon Weekend is January 8-12, 2014. More info...http://www.rundisney.com/disneyworld-marathon/ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023 Posted April 10, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 10, 2013 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend registration is now open...http://www.rundisney.com/disneyworld-marathon/registration/#runners Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PureTcrazy...rita 380 Posted April 10, 2013 Report Share Posted April 10, 2013 I believe the 10k registration is already filled in just a few hours time. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023 Posted April 10, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 10, 2013 Wow! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Judy in Texas 150 Posted April 10, 2013 Report Share Posted April 10, 2013 My son-in-law called me not long after registration for the Dopey Challenge opened and it was at 85% then. Lots of crazy people out there! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AC in A2......Aaron 693 Posted April 10, 2013 Report Share Posted April 10, 2013 For us non-runners, they should have a Magic Kingdom popcorn or dole whip eating contest. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023 Posted April 10, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 10, 2013 For us non-runners, they should have a Magic Kingdom popcorn or dole whip eating contest. I'm in! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lou... 3,118 Posted April 10, 2013 Report Share Posted April 10, 2013 Do not, I stress, do not, plan to be at WDW during that weekend unless you're participating in one of the events or if you don't plan to go to the parks in the morning. It's a living hell for everyone else, and I'm totally serious.For some unknown reason, I volunteered to work it a couple of times and it's a nightmare. Never again, maybe. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DinDavie 37 Posted April 21, 2013 Report Share Posted April 21, 2013 I will be there cheering my daughter on as she does the Doopey Marathon and a Half Challenge. The big challenge for me will be getting up early in the morning on two race days. I think the Disney employee who thought this up is a genius. You set up an event that does not require any ride or park attendants and is completed when the park is normally closed. You see what 10's of thousands of people are willing to pay just to do an activity that they can do for free anywhere else. You sell vendor space and get a name runner to conduct clinics at the All Sports complex. Pure genius. Even your regular guests like me get to see a different part of the park that they normally wouldn't see at a different time of the day and want to come back to different parts of the park on other days. Absolute genius. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lou... 3,118 Posted April 21, 2013 Report Share Posted April 21, 2013 I will be there cheering my daughter on as she does the Doopey Marathon and a Half Challenge. The big challenge for me will be getting up early in the morning on two race days. I think the Disney employee who thought this up is a genius. You set up an event that does not require any ride or park attendants and is completed when the park is normally closed. You see what 10's of thousands of people are willing to pay just to do an activity that they can do for free anywhere else. You sell vendor space and get a name runner to conduct clinics at the All Sports complex. Pure genius. Even your regular guests like me get to see a different part of the park that they normally wouldn't see at a different time of the day and want to come back to different parts of the park on other days. Absolute genius. Not sure which races your daughter is running as there is no Doopey Marathon or Half Challenge. There is a "Dopey Challenge", but it's not a race. There is a Half Marathon and there is a RW Challenege which is not a race either.Your assumption that the races do not affect WDW activities because the races begin before the parks open and that it doesn't require any additional CMs is far from being the case. WDW is pretty much a complete mess until about noon on the weekend days and it does require thousand of CMs. It's a huge and very expensive undertaking. Lots of infrastructure has to be set up and outside buses have to be brought in as well.Regular guests should stay as far away from WDW as possible on that weekend. Traffic is a nightmare for both those driving and for WDW Transportation. Regular guests can kiss most of their mornings good bye because it will take them that long to get anywhere. The major roads are closed for most of the morning, so I strongly suggest you have a transportation plan that you know will work with the roads that are open.Having said all that, I agree that whoever thought of doing this is a genius, but not for the same reasons. It costs Disney a ton of money, but they make even more money. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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