Disney Deinfluencing: How To Avoid runDisney Expo Overbuys

Hello and welcome to my newest series: Disney Deinfluencing!

WHAT IS DISNEY DEINFLUENCING?

In a world where Disney and its collaborators have a new line of merch out every day, I think it behooves us to take a step back from the onslaught and consider the wider implications. Is this latest and greatest thing a good value for your money? Something you’ll really use? How long will it last? Do you have a place to put it? Do you actually want it?

These may seem like stupid questions, but modern marketing and pervasive advertising through social media influencers can sweep you up in hype. Next thing you know, the site is processing your credit card information before your brain has had a chance to process what’s happened. Even if the monetary expenditure doesn’t worry you, your living space is finite and the environmental impact is more than zero.

Listen, I’m not here to try to tell you NOT to buy things EVER; that’s no fun. Instead, I hope to encourage everyone (including me!) to make their purchases thoughtfully, without succumbing to tactics like scarcity marketing that encourage impulsive spending and compulsive hoarding. The goal is to avoid buyer’s remorse, whatever that looks like for you.

IT’S EASY TO GO APE AT A runDISNEY EXPO

For my inaugural Disney Deinfluencing post, let’s consider the runDisney race expo. For those not familiar with the runDisney scene, the race expo is a big fair of sorts that operates in advance of race day(s). The primary reason to go to the expo is to pick up your race bib and included race shirt. The secondary reason is to shop.

The expo exhibitor’s hall is full of vendor booths, all enticing you to pick up some new running gear. If that’s not tempting enough, there’s an entire dedicated area just for official race merch, produced exclusively by runDisney. Much of the latter is exclusive to that race weekend, and many of the former offer expo-only deals and discounts.

With all of that buying opportunity, how do you make sure you only walk with what makes sense for you – even if that means escaping empty-handed? I crowdsourced ideas from my Instagram followers, and here are some of their best budgeting tips.

HOW TO GET OUT OF A runDISNEY EXPO WITHOUT MAXING OUT YOUR CREDIT CARDS

Set your budget in advance. We’ll start with the most obvious – although maybe not the easiest – tip. Determine how much money you are prepared to spend at the expo and Do. Not. Deviate.

Now, once you’ve seen the dizzying array of STUFF available for immediate purchase, that might be easier said than done. So let’s

Preload a gift card with your spending budget and use only that. Genius! If you don’t want to spend more than $100, put that hundo on a Disney gift card and let your credit card collect dust. Alternatively, you could bring your exact spending amount in cash if you’re comfortable carrying that much.

Pick out what you want before you arrive. This may be tough in the exhibitor’s hall where individual vendors abound. However, runDisney releases photos of much of the official race merch in advance. Many runDisney enthusiasts will also share what they’ve purchased on social media if they have early access. Comb through the previews, decide on what you’re buying, and get only that.

Of course, runDisney is notorious for its limited runs of popular items. For buyers that’s rough, but for those trying to stick to a budget it’s a hack if you

Show up late. Well, don’t show up past posted expo hours. But go as many hours or days in as your race date will allow. You need to pick up your bib at least one day in advance. The longer you wait, the more of the merch is already sold out. Can’t buy what’s not there!

Employ a personal shopper. This one might be controversial, but one respondent told me they use a personal shopper for expo buys. That way they don’t have to go in themselves, avoiding temptation.

I am admittedly of two minds about this one, as merch can be hard enough to snag as it is. Still, as long as the product is going to someone who legit wants it I think it’s probably fine? Curious about everyone’s opinion on that one.

eBay pirates who buy up tons of inventory expressly to jack up prices on the secondhand market are another story, but I digress. Next slide, please.

Think practically. Before you make a purchase, ask yourself: will I really wear/use this? Really really? The answer may be yes! But if realistically it’s a no, put it back. It might release some sweet sweet dopamine to buy it now, but it’s just going to take up space.

Don’t go. Okay, you technically have to go to a runDisney expo as they require bib pickup with no options for mail or proxy. You don’t have to go in the official merch building, though. You do have to go through the vendor hall to pick up your race shirt, but just keep your blinders on and leave immediately. Or perhaps a kind Cast Member or fellow runner could go grab your shirt for you. That would take a bit of faith, trust, and pixie dust, but most runDisney people are nice and will help you.

MISSION: ONLY GIVE DISNEY THE PRECISE AMOUNT OF MONEY YOU MEAN TO

And there you have it! A handful of ways you can ensure you only come home with the expo merch that works for your budget and your values.

Prefer to throw caution to the wind and Buy All the Things at race weekends? Have at it! There is no perfect consumption set point. What you can afford, what you have space for, what you can use, and what brings you unadulterated joy is entirely personal to you. There is admittedly the environmental impact, but I think we can mostly blame corporations for that. You do what you can. 😅

This concludes my first Disney Deinfluencing post! I have at minimum two more posts planned for this series. Have a suggestion? I’d love to hear it! Hit me up via the comments or the social media app of your choice.

Don’t forget, you can follow FRoA on Threads @fairestrunofall and on Instagram @fairestrunofall. If you have any questions or thoughts, leave a comment or email fairestrunofall@gmail.com. See ya real soon!