Let’s face it, Wine & Dine has been a shadow of its former self ever since the change to a morning race. For multiple reasons...
The 5k has always been holiday themed (Christmas or Thanksgiving) and at Animal Kingdom, making it unique. I don’t think the irony of this year’s theme and location change is lost on anyone.
Wine & Dine was traditionally Epcot/Chef Mickey themed. There needs to be a direct link between the race theme and Epcot’s International Food & Wine Festival. If Remy or Lumiere are tied to that year’s festival theme, that makes sense. But, for an anniversary year, I would expect the theme to stay true to the original theme of the weekend.
I would say this year’s themes are a stretch. But, choosing themes based on characters featured on IP seen in individual pavilions (with the exception of Jungle Book
) is more than a stretch. What do any of them have to do with the festival? These themes would be much better suited to a general runDisney race weekend such as the
Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend or even WDW Marathon weekend. A weekend that focuses more on the Magic Kingdom.
If I were to sign up for the Star Wars weekend, I would expect a Star Wars theme. When I signed up for Wine & Dine, I expected an Epcot International Food & Wine Festival theme.