NEWS: Disney World Marathon Weekend Merchandise First Look!

Marathon Weekend is the highlight of the runDisney race series at Walt Disney World. It’s a fantastic celebration of heath and running, and offers many different races and challenges for runners of all ages and abilities! We’ve enjoyed this race weekend so many years and one thing we always look forward to is the merchandise! Disney has released a first look at the merchandise for the upcoming races. Catch all the details below.

Here are all the details from Disney cast member Sarah Harris:

We are less than a week away from our biggest and most magical race weekend of the season, the 2020 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend presented by Cigna, taking place January 8 – 12, 2020. Celebrating classic Disney Characters over the course of seven exciting events and three challenges, runners can look to commemorate their accomplishment with event weekend merchandise. Today we are sharing a first look at some of the offerings coming to the runDisney Health & Fitness Expo beginning on Wednesday.

This year’s event merchandise collection captures the retro side of the classic Disney characters, celebrating the “Fab Five” (and Oswald!) in true fashion. Whether you’re taking on 3.1 or 48.6 miles, runners participating in the weekend’s events will find a variety of logo performance apparel and “I Did It!” Finisher products including shirts in multiple styles and jackets.

A race weekend exclusive, be sure not to miss the brand new runDisney Minnie Ears, celebrating all four Walt Disney World Theme Parks. Other exciting products include event weekend hats, limited-release Disney pins, various TERVIS drinkware, figurines, shoe ornaments, keychains and car magnets.

Also new to this weekend is a debut of two runDisney Spirit Jerseys, one featuring the “Fab Five” Characters and the other celebrating our favorite lucky rabbit, Oswald. Runners can also gear up with the runDisney-branded products we previously featured, with fun new designs to add magic to every mile!

Look for these commemorative items and much more during the runDisney Health & Fitness Expo at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. All Guests are invited to attend during the following dates and times:

• Wednesday, January 8, 2020: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
• Thursday, January 9, 2020: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
• Friday, January 10, 2020: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
• Saturday, January 11, 2020: 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Learn more about other runDisney events here.

RELATED ARTICLE: The Health and Fitness Expo: Disney Marathon Weekend Survival Guide-Part 2

by Chad and Cindy Nykamp

With nearly 100,000 total runners and spectators in 5 separate races, the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend is one of the largest running events in the world. The Walt Disney World Marathon, Walt Disney World Half Marathon, Walt Disney World 10k, Walt Disney World 5k, and runDisney kids races and there is no question Marathon Weekend is a BIG deal. The excitement of the flagship runDisney event is unparalleled. However, Marathon Weekend can be overwhelming for first-timers and veterans alike. Your experience starts at the Expo which is an endurance challenge in itself.

Combined, Chad and I (Cindy) have completed 73 runDisney races and 30 runDisney challenges! We look forward to this weekend every year! We’ve put together a complete survival guide covering all aspects of the race. This six-part series will get you prepared and ready to run!

• Part 1 covers the 6 things you need to know before you leave for Marathon Weekend.
• Part 2 covers the Health and Fitness Expo, something many first-timers totally underestimate and do not properly prepare for
• Part 3 covers pre-race tips
• Part 4 covers race morning
• Part 5 covers the races themselves
• Part 6 wraps up the series with information for spectators

Here are 9 things you need to know to successfully navigate Disney’s Marathon Weekend Health and Fitness Expo!

1 – What is the Health & Fitness Expo

The Health and Fitness Expo is your first stop race weekend to pick up your race packet. The event features celebrity runner appearances, you’ll see and experience the latest in running and fitness equipment, and you’ll have the opportunity to attend seminars on training, racing, and nutrition. Finally, you’ll have the chance to purchase official runDisney merchandise and other sports-related products offered by exhibitors.

All runners must attend to pick up their race bib, shirt(s) and gEAR bag. There will be 4 different venues at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex hosting the runDisney Health and Fitness Expo. Be sure to review the Event Guide for a map to the correct location(s) to pick up items.

Expo Hours

Wednesday, January 8, 2020: 10:00 am – 8:00 pm

Thursday, January 9, 2020: 10:00 am – 7:00 pm

Friday, January 10, 2020: 10:00 am – 7:00 pm

Saturday, January 11, 2020: 9:30 am – 3:30 pm

You’ll want to arrive early, which leads us to our next point.

2 – Arrive Early

If you plan on purchasing official runDisney race merchandise, you’ll want to arrive at the Expo as early as possible. Items sell out quickly. Seriously. Over the years we’ve seen many items sell out on Wednesday, especially Dopey items. Other race items go quickly as well. Many runners complain that non-runners buy up tons of items and sell them on eBay. While this is certainly true (we’ve seen it), the bigger problem is that Disney actually does not produce enough race items for the demand. It baffles us every year we see this. Disney has never shied away from making money, so it’s always a surprise that they don’t make more race gear. Granted they don’t want to get stuck with overstock, but with online shopping, they could certainly sell race items after the race if they wanted to.

If you want to buy race shirts or other memorabilia, the best plan is to arrive at the expo as early as possible. Dopey runners should be there at opening on Wednesday morning. If you are running the marathon and arriving on Saturday, be prepared that there may not be the best selection for you since many other runners arrive earlier in the week.

3 – Give Yourself at least 2-3 hours for the Entire Race Expo Visit

Many runners underestimate the time needed for the race expo. Include travel time, waiting to pick up your packet and commemorative items, time for shopping and time for any seminars you want to attend. In 2016 during RunDisney events, they started only allowing a certain number of people into the official Disney Merchandise store area. This made the shopping experience so much better. However, it did create a long queue outside of the store. For the Star Wars Dark Side Weekend in April 2016, we waited 45 minutes just to get into the store and we arrived right at the opening!

You need to decide ahead of time if you want to bring your whole family with you. For some families, it’s great to see the excitement about healthy living and running achievements. For others, it’s a crazy busy madhouse and not a fun place for kids (the Expo floor is PACKED). There are a lot of lines and a lot of waiting. Kids might enjoy time at the parks or at the resort pool. But if both parents are running, just be sure to bring something that will keep the kids occupied while you wait.

4 – Arriving by Disney Transportation

Special transportation has been arranged for participants staying at Disney World Resorts. Event buses will be indicated by runDisney Transportation signs placed in the front of windows. Buses will run back and forth all day. Allow for 20-40 minutes of travel time each way. Please note, event buses are NOT the normal Disney buses. They are charter buses hired specially for this event and the pickup and drop off areas will be in different locations than normal bus stops for the parks. If you are unsure, ask. There are always lots of event staff members around to help. Be sure to check the event guide for official transportation hours for the Expo. Buses will continue running for 30 minutes after the end of the Expo to bring guests back to the resorts from the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

5 – You Must Pick Up Your Own Packet

All runners must attend the Expo during regularly scheduled hours to pick up their race packet. Without the items in this packet, you cannot race. Disney does not allow others to pick up the packet for you. A valid ID and completed waiver is required. Adults will be allowed to pick up participant packets for runners under age 18. As a reminder, Packet Pick–Up will not be available on race morning.

6 – Pick Up Your Pre-Paid Commemorative Items

If you purchased items such as pins, Mickey Ears, necklaces, bundles or commemorative jackets during the race registration process, you’ll need to pick up these items in the Event Merchandise location the Arena during the Expo. You will need to show ID to pick up your items. Disney will not refund or mail any items that are not picked up.

7 – Goofy and Dopey Challengers Must Get Their Picture Taken

All runners participating in either the Goofy or Dopey Challenge must get their picture taking at the Expo with your race bibs. This photo will be used at the finish line of each race to verify that you are the person to whom the bib belongs to. Unfortunately, in the first year of the Dopey Challenge, people handed their bibs to other runners who then got the Dopey medals without completing the challenge. So now Disney verifies your bib against the picture that is taken. Disney staff and volunteers will direct challenge participants to the right location but don’t miss this or you may have trouble getting your medal!

8 – Shop Till You Drop

As noted above, for the best selection of official runDisney merchandise you’ll want to get to the Expo early. The official runDisney merchandise can be found at the Arena. Feel free to use Disney gift cards or your charge to your room. Also, don’t forget any DVC or annual passholder discounts. Wednesday morning lines will likely be 30-60 minutes long for the store at the Arena.

Tip: if you are wavering on a decision about purchasing a certain item, our suggestion is to go ahead and purchase the item. Many do not know it, but if you change your mind you can return any items at any Disney World merchandise location. So, if you buy a shirt and then realize you actually don’t want it, you can return it to your resort store. I’ve even returned merchandise weeks after the event. If you can swing the extra cost, it is better to buy it and return it, if you change your mind. If you wait until a later time to purchase it, it is likely that the item will not be there.

There are also many exhibitors that sell running-related items. Be sure to check with each exhibitor for their return policy before you make any purchase with them. Often, these stores will have Expo reduced prices. While this may be the perfect time to purchase that awesome new product, be careful if you have never trained with the item. The best rule of thumb is to never, ever do or use something new on race day.

9 – Sign Up for Runner Tracking

Family and friends will be able to track participants with live online tracking for the 10k, the half marathon, and the 10k. We will update this article with the link you need to sign up once it becomes available. You can also sign up for runner tracking at the Expo.