On April 19, Disney announced the addition of another Disneyland race to its series of destination races. The inaugural Tinker Bell Half Marathon, a women’s race, will take place Jan. 27 – 29, 2011 at Disneyland Resort and in the city of Anaheim, Calif.
Disney unveiled the new race at a news conference held at Disneyland Resort, but this morning runDisney offered a special Facebook preview of the race prior to the official media announcement. Both announcements followed an extended teaser of the Tinker Bell Half Marathon on the runDisney Facebook page.
To build anticipation for the event, runDisney invited its Facebook fans to solve 10 visual clues related to the new race and its theme, format and location. The clues, released between March 23 and April 15, 2011, had fans invested in the outcome, puzzling over the possiblities and lobbying for more and a greater variety of runDisney events.
Runners' speculations ran (pun intended) rampant – from a Disney triathlon to a new race celebrating the Walt Disney World Fantasyland expansion to an international Disney Parks event. Fans also speculated, correctly, that runDisney would add a second Disneyland race.
Tinker Bell Half Marathon adds fifth race to runDisney race series
The Tinker Bell Half Marathon is the fifth runDisney endurance race, the second Disneyland half marathon, and the second Disney race focused on women.
The half marathon adds another runDisney race to take place during Disney’s slower winter season. The Tinker Bell Half Marathon will be held less than three weeks after Walt Disney World (WDW) Marathon Weekend (Jan. 5 – 8 in 2012), runDisney’s signature and largest race event. The Tinker Bell Half Marathon is also less than a month prior to Disney’s Princess Half Marathon Weekend, also held at Walt Disney World (Feb. 24 – 26 in 2012).
As part of runDisney's announcement of the Tinker Bell Half Marathon promised a special opportunity for its Facebook fans. That opportunity was the chance to learn details about the race and to register for events early.
Registration for the 2012 Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend and its inaugural events is now open for everyone.
Disney runners’ reactions mixed to Tinker Bell Half Marathon timing and theme
Reactions to the Tinker Bell Half Marathon have been somewhat mixed within the Disney race community, those runners and walkers who repeatedly participate in Disney races. Within the first three hours of the announcement, more than 300 comments were posted to the runDisney page, with hundreds more on personal Facebook pages, Disney running discussion boards and in the general Disney fan community.
Generally, runDisney fans have acknowledged the demand for another Disneyland race or as a viable option for earning Disney’s “Coast to Coast” medal, for completing a race at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland in the same calendar year. Many Disney runners, though, expressed ambivalence at the race’s timing, its theming as a women’s race, or its similarity to Disney’s Princess Half Marathon Weekend.
Vicky Leung, a Disney runner who participates annually in WDW Marathon Weekend, said:
“I think there were a lot of ways runDisney could have made the race gender neutral and still incorporated Tinker Bell. The timing of the race is kind of weird as well. Personally I don't care for the race.”
Jennifer Dreispul Lissak, who also writes a Disney running column for the Disney fan website Chip & Company, had a similar reaction.
“I'm totally apathetic to this race – I thought the marketing scheme for it was silly. I'm not opposed to it, and if I could eventually get the Coast to Coast medal, this might be the time of year I could travel, so I'm glad to have another option.”
Lesley Stephenson, who will participate in the 2012 WDW Marathon Weekend, noted the new race’s schedule in relationship to established Disney races:
“Yup, disappointed. Tinker Bell Half at Disneyland three weeks after Marathon weekend. I'll pass."
Stephenson also expressed disinterest in the race’s theme. Instead, she
“would love to have a villains-themed race. As Hans Conried said in ‘Disney's Greatest Villains,’ If it wasn't for the villains, you'd have a pretty bland story.”
Liz Myrato, who runs multiple Disney races each year, including the WDW Marathon Weekend, responded with concerns about timing and theme.
“I'm also happy for the [West Coasters] to get another race but timing and theme could not be worse. Jan. 29 is same day as ING Miami [Marathon and Half Marathon] let alone how close it is to WDW weekend and [Disney’s Princess Half Marathon Weekend], Myrato said. “Also, another women's race is not a draw for me. Don't they think one race to exclude men is enough? Yes, I know men can enter but they generally don't. I know my husband won't.”
Scott Johnson, another Disney runner who has run in several different races, agreed that the race risks being seen as exclusionary.
“It's just surprising to me that a place like Disney, where every gender, race, ability, shape, size, etc. is accepted that they would intentionally eliminate anyone from participating in any of their events,” Johnson said. “Sure, I know that a male could run the thing, but then be awarded a female sized race shirt for their effort? My comments aren't meant to be anti-women or sexist…I'm all for EVERYONE being able to participate in ANY event. And no, I do not want to see a male-only race. The person I like to run with is female…we enjoy running together.”
Many comments from the Disney running community focused on how runDisney’s promotion, particularly its extended use of clues on its Facebook page, built up anticipation for a race that could not possibly meet fans’ expectations. Frank Chahulski summed up his reaction with a Facebook status update:
“ATTN: RunDisney: Please die in a fire. That is all.”
Chahulski later clarified his position:
“It isn't the West Coast [race location] that annoyed me, though I would prefer a WDW race, but basically telling men again that they aren't welcome. I wouldn't even consider participating in a men's only event because I would be ashamed to participate in the discrimination.”
What are your thoughts about the Disneyland’s new race?
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