Much of this information I received right from the manager of merchandising while at the Disney race expo.
1.The pre-orders were done during the time of race registration. They were called "blind orders", because you had to order and pay for them without even seeing what they looked like until expo day. My sister and I did a "blind order" for the Marathon jacket this year.
2.This year (2015) was the first time that a pre-order has been an option ( I was unsure of this fact but this info came right from the manager). There was not a pre-order for Princess Half Marathon last year (2014). Some people were speculating that the White Jacket was the "pre-order" jacket, but it was not. This white tech jacket was bought at the expo.
3.If you pre-ordered (or blind ordered) a jacket for an upcoming Disney race you will pick this up in the same building where you will go for packet pick -up ( race bib), not at the expo building.
4.Note: The pre-order jackets will not be available for purchase at the expo. The expo will have a variety of other jackets, but not the pre-order ones.
5.If you are not pleased with your pre-ordered jacket ( or other pre-order items), you can return it. After seeing the design of the marathon jacket this year, I decided that I didn't really care for it. It wasn't a problem for me to return it. Just make sure that you have your receipt ( this will be on your registration form). Returns are made at the same place you picked it up.
6. If you are REALLY loving the pre-ordered jacket and you wished that you would have pre-ordered one too there may possibly be a chance you could get your hands on one. We were told that all the left over jackets ( or returned ones) are taken to the merchandise tent at the finish line.
Have you ever "blind ordered" anything?
Seriously, "blind ordering"? I wouldn't do it. I have to see what it looks like, at least! I hate returning things. I guess they count on that.
ReplyDeleteThe great thing is that they didn't give me any problem as all about returning it!
DeleteI pre-ordered the jacket at marathon weekend as it was my first half marathon! Did not like it at all! I saved the receipt in an email - which I was able to pull up on my phone to return it! Got a great sweatshirt at the expo instead!
ReplyDeleteI did the same thing!
DeleteI don't do blind ordering. I want to know what I'm buying and if it's clothes, I have to try it on. Sometimes clothing is cut in a way that doesn't fit right, and I won't know that unless I try it on.
ReplyDeleteNow that I know that you can easily return it, there isn't much risk involved!
DeleteI would be scared to death to blind order... BUT, if it were a first Disney race, I'd do it.. I'd want to make sure I got my hands on stuff before it sold out.
ReplyDeleteYea, for your first Disney race you would want to make sure you got one for sure since expo stuff sells out so fast!
DeleteIt's an issue of exclusivity. You pre-order with the faith that you will like it. The reward being having a piece of merchandise that not everyone has because its not available at the expo itself. I have never done it but it gives me piece of mind to know I can return it if I wished.
ReplyDeleteWhen I ordered I had no idea that those jackets would be different than what would be sold at the expo.
DeleteI am not at all interested in a blind order at the runDisney races. I want to know exactly what I am buying and frankly,a runDisney jacket that no one else has, has little value to me. On the other hand, I might be interested in a blind item at a qualifying race such as Boston, but most likely, I will always wait to see merchandise in person.
ReplyDeleteI did the blind order because I really wanted a jacket from my first marathon. Since we weren't able to get to the expo until the third day, I was worried that they would be all sold out. Back then I had no idea that they were different from what would be sold on the expo floor.
DeleteIt depends on the race. If it was a marathon, I'd probably consider it more because I don't see a lot of marathons in my future, lol. I definitely would be much more likely to preorder something if I could return it.
ReplyDeleteThat is exactly why I did it!
DeleteI have never bought any merch from a race before, but this year I am definitely going to.
ReplyDeleteIts fun to have some race merchandise, especially from the "big" races!
DeleteI have never done a Disney race but I love the idea of pre-ordering and making sure they still have your size etc.
ReplyDeleteYea, I wish I would have pre-ordered more merchandise now that I know how it all works.
DeleteIf you don't like it & can't return, you always have ebay! Lol!
ReplyDeleteThankfully you can return them though!
DeleteI took a chance and pre ordered the Star Wars Half jacket. I LOVE it.
ReplyDeleteThat is awesome! I would have ordered it too seeing that it was the first year for that race!
Deletethis is awesome info! I may have to start pre-ordering the jackets and just returning them if I dont like them.
ReplyDeleteand i totally didn't know about the tent at the end of the race-mainly because I am usually ready to get out of there. I will have to chekc it out after Princess and see whats in there. Sadly, they dont do that at DL races (and they also dont have champagne!)