Last weekend (has it already been a whole week?), runners Princesses filed in to Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex for the Princess Half Marathon Weekend Expo.
Expo’s are one of my favorite parts of a race weekend as they mark the beginning of an exciting adventure to come! The atmosphere is positive and lots of well-wishes are passed from runner to runner – there’s no feeling quite like it!
As we entered the Wide World of Sports Complex, I was distracted by a decorative banner at the entrance of Champion Stadium…
…the coveted Princess Half Marathon Weekend Dooney! Unfortunately, I missed the cut-off for preorders of this bag and I was not very hopeful for snagging a bag at the Expo.
However, it was my lucky day! I WAS able to purchase my bag of choice AND I received a Disney Visa discount – score!
The baseball fan inside of me was excited to actually enter Champion Stadium and see the field! I also had the chance to run around this field during the Disney World Marathon last year…which was equally as exciting!
After checking out the stadium, we continued on to the HP Field House for Packet Pickup.
I was amazed at the lack of people inside the packet pick-up/Official Merchandise area!
My mom, dad, husband, and I picked up our 5K packets, then continued on to the Glass Slipper Challenge pick-up area.
Cute princess themed backdrops were set up throughout the Expo for photo-ops.
My mom and I couldn’t pass this one up!
We finished up in the Field House, then moved on to the Josten’s Center for the official “Fit For a Princess Expo”!
Princesses walked the red carpet into the center…
…and were greeted by a pair of Major Domo’s!
Inside the Expo floor is where all of the activity was taking place! This is also where the official race t-shirts were handed out to runners.
I was excited to take part in the Inaugural Glass Slipper Challenge…and probably equally as excited to run the Princess Half Marathon dressed as Snow White!
After shopping around for a while, we left the Expo because we had dinner reservations at my favorite Disney restaurant, Ohana!
One last stop before we left, I couldn’t pass up a picture with this beauty!
Want to see more from the Princess Expo and the things I brought home? Check out the video below!
What do you think of Expos? Love them or hate them?
Awesome, I loved the PHM expo last year, but I bet it was 10x's better being back at ESPN this year! I love expos - they are definitely one of my favorite parts about race weekends!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely glad it was moved back to ESPN! I heard horror stories about last year!
DeleteThat is awesome you got the Dooney bag and were able to get the Visa discount. I wish I had thought of that marathon weekend, but I would have been nervous not to preorder the bag. Your expo photos came out terrific. I spent so much time at the expo, but most of it was working at the Sparkle Skirts booth!
ReplyDeleteYes, I was incredibly nervous, too!! So glad it worked out! :0) Thanks, Pam...I bet you had a great time at the SS booth!
DeleteSo glad you are back Karen! We missed reading your posts! I don't go to crazy at race expos because they all generally have the same stuff but I do get excited about Disney expos because I love all the Disney inspired merchandise and cute picture ops! I shared your opinion on the GSC I did it shirt! It could have been a lot nicer! We also went to the expo Thursday afternoon and packet pick up was dead and no lines for anything which surprised me! Can't wait to read your race day recaps! Looks like your family will be lots of fun to run with!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I'm sad we didn't get to meet up! I'm with you, I get extra excited about Disney Expos! Haha!
DeleteI love your vlogs! Wish I had the courage to do them :P Glad the expo wasn't crazy like it was at last year's Princess AND at Disneyland!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jen! They are fun to make, especially in Disney!! :0)
DeleteOMG the Disneyland Expo...nightmares!!!! I'm so glad this one wasn't like that!
DeleteSo cool that you got the Dooney bag!!!! I LOVE runDisney expos! They are my favorite!!!
ReplyDeleteAgreed, they are my favorite, too! :0)
DeleteAwsome!! It looks like sooo much fun. One day I will run a disney race :)
ReplyDeleteWell, you do have a race registration you need to do something with....hah!
DeleteI typically am not a big fan of them BUT everything that Disney does is top notch and incredible...so I always look forward to their Expo's
ReplyDeleteAgreed!! I feel exactly the same! :0)
Deletei have never been to an expo after dark so your last picture threw me for a loop lol! I love my marathon weekend dooney, it is def my favorite design. I am glad I preordered b/c the line just to pick up pre orders was crazy long, I'm sure they sold out!
ReplyDeleteHah...we stayed a little too long! :D I heard they sold out of Princess Dooney's not long after I went through! So glad I got mine!!
DeleteI have never been to a big race expo, I would love to someday although I fear I would get excited about all the fun things and spend a lot of money. :)
ReplyDeleteThat's exactly the problem...so many "pretty" things, it's hard to not go crazy! :D
DeleteGlad you had an awesome time at the expo! I'm even more happy you were able to get your Dooney and with your Visa discount! It always is extra magical!!! I love race expos when they are not crazy. Glad you had fun with your family ;)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Sarah! Yes, the discount was awesome and I was excited I was able to use it!! Non-crazy expos are great! :D
DeleteI LOVE your videos! I decided not to pre-order a purse as I hated the pictures that came out and wanted to know more about them before spending that much money. I decided if they had them, it was meant to be. And they did! While I was there some guy bought $2000 worth of purses. I think he was doing it to resell on eBay. Thanks for the fun video!
ReplyDelete@heatherlas
Holy moly! $2000...wow! I'm so glad you got your purse!! YAY! Glad you enjoyed the video, thanks for watching! :D
DeleteIf they are not too packed I like shopping around a bit.
ReplyDeleteSame here! :0)
DeleteI was there too! I went totally out of control in the official merch booth because it was my first half marathon ever and I had to have ALL THE THINGS. It was bad :) Congrats on getting a D&B purse though! So awesome!
ReplyDeleteHah I understand that feeling all too well!! :D
DeleteAwesome recap! The Princess expo is just plain FUN. The only trouble is that I tend to go a liiiiitttttle bit overboard...especially when it comes to those Dooney purses... ;)
ReplyDeleteI agree! Hah!
DeleteI loved your videos! Thanks for sharing. You scored some great swag! Love your new purse so much!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much!! I love it, too! So excited it worked out!
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