It’s Princess Half Marathon Weekend, and if you’ve been to Walt Disney World races, you know that they use a virtual queue to buy merchandise the first day of the runDisney expo. The first day to shop at the Princess Half Marathon Health & Fitness Expo is Thursday, February 22, 2024 from 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM ET.
How to Buy Princess Half Marathon Official Merchandise at Expo
If you’ll be at the runDisney expo for Princess Half Marathon Weekend on February 22, 2024, then you’ll use the virtual queue to buy official merchandise. The hours are from 10 a.m.- 8 p.m. You only need a virtual queue to buy the official runDisney merchandise on Thursday. They won’t use it any other day.
The first opportunity to buy exclusive Princess Half Marathon Weekend merchandise is through virtual queue only on Thursday unless you are a Club runDisney member.
The Princess Half Marathon Weekend expo will be at ESPN Wide World of Sports.
On Friday and Saturday, you do not need a virtual queue group and can walk-in and shop during Expo hours.
This is only for official runDisney merchandise. If you want to shop the Expo floor with more of your favorite vendors, then you can shop during regular Expo hours!
2024 Princess Half Marathon runDisney Expo Hours
- Thursday, February 22, 2024 | 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Friday, February 23, 2024 | 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
- Saturday, February 24, 2024 | 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
How to Join the Virtual Queue for Princess Half Marathon Merch
In order to purchase official runDisney Princess Half Marathon merchandise on the first day of the Expo, you have to have a virtual queue boarding group. You do not have to be at the Expo to join the queue, but you do have to be within approximately 45 miles of Walt Disney World property to join the queue. So you can join from your Walt Disney World Resort Hotel.
If you’ve joined the Virtual Queue for TRON Lightcycle Run, then you know the process!
- Open the Disney World app and go to the Virtual Queues section on the Welcome Screen (before 8:30 a.m.). You can even see what the screen looks like now.
- Hit Join Virtual Queue.
- Find the tab for ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Tap “Join Virtual Queue” on the My Queues screen and select the runDisney Merchandise Shop. Guests can request to join the virtual queue at 8:30 a.m. ET on the first day of the runDisney Health & Fitness Expo.
- Select the number of Guests, up to six people total, in your shopping party. Make sure to choose your party before the queue opens. (All members of your shopping party must be added to your My Disney Experience Friends & Family list prior to joining the virtual queue.)
- Tap “Join Virtual Queue” once more.
- If you got a spot, you’ll receive a confirmation screen with an estimated wait time, congratulations!
- You’ll receive a push notification to your mobile device when your group is ready to return. Once received, you’ll have one hour to arrive at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.
- Once you arrive, follow the signs to the check-in area and prepare to show the Cast Member the QR code you received along with your confirmation.
runDisney Shop Virtual Queue Tip: I look at the World Clock and when the clock says 8:29:59, that’s when I hit “Join Virtual Queue” to get a good boarding group number.
Even though the queue opens at 8:30 a.m., more availability may open throughout the day, so keep checking!
What to Expect at the runDisney Merchandise Shop at Expo
The runDisney Expo technically doesn’t open until 10 AM, so the wait time may appear longer on your app. However, the groups were called prior to 10 AM for Marathon Weekend and Princess Half Marathon Weekend in Walt Disney World.
Official runDisney Merchandise for race weekends can and will sell out the first day of the runDisney expo. There will be resellers and sometimes the expos can get crazy.
If you have an early group, then expect there to be a line to get into the runDisney merchandise shop. The line does move pretty quickly, but it is a process. The line below was around 12:30 p.m. the first day of Marathon Weekend 2023.
During Princess Half Marathon Weekend last year, I got an early boarding group and went in before 10 a.m. The line was much shorter.
Once you get in, it can be crazy with people picking up many items and walking around with them. Make your decisions quickly. They had places to put unwanted merchandise, but they got picked up pretty quickly. Honestly, it can get pretty ugly sometimes, but just try to stay considerate.
Usually ears, magnets, Loungeflys, jackets, and mugs go pretty quickly, but just keep your eyes open. Hopefully items will be stocked!
For Princess Half last year, the hot ticket was a black jacket. The only sizes left when I got in were larger sizes. For Marathon Weekend, it was a couple of items. You never know what will be the “hot” item.
The “I Did It Shirts” are usually popular, too.
Happy runDisney weekend!
If you’re running this weekend or cheering, check out these tips on how to make rundisney race signs or be a spectator for runDisney races! Also, don’t forget Princess Half Marathon etiquette.