Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend

[LAKid53]

Really sorry to hear this. I was an avid RunDisney race runner from 2006 - 2012, I’m up relatively high on the mileage chart amongst users here. I remember back in those days the races wouldn’t sell out for months, hard to believe that they sell out in an hour or less now.

I’m excited to finally run again this coming year, thankful that I was able to get a number in about 35 minutes but don’t know what my magic formula was to get it.

Since both Platinum & Gold Club members have guaranteed bibs with their membership - 2 races for Platinum and 1 race for Gold - that means the number of bibs available for open registration has been reduced.

With the old early registration for APs and DVC members, bibs weren't guaranteed, a limited number were available for early registration. Sometimes I had to wait until general registration to pick up the remaining race I wanted.

The introduction of Club runDisney changed everything regarding race registration.

 

[surfsupdon]

But I cannot imagine that the clubrD people eligible for early registration outnumber the amount of early registrations that were around for AP and DVC early registration. How many people do we think are in the club??!

 

[LAKid53]

But I cannot imagine that the clubrD people eligible for early registration outnumber the amount of early registrations that were around for AP and DVC early registration. How many people do we think are in the club??!

No idea since Disney doesn't publish the numbers.

 

[the.dreamfinder]

But I cannot imagine that the clubrD people eligible for early registration outnumber the amount of early registrations that were around for AP and DVC early registration. How many people do we think are in the club??!

Even if it’s 10000-15000 for gold and platinum combined, that would represent a major chunk of the bibs available for these race.

 

[Rteetz]

Like a runner's retreat? Not the half hearted version runner's square, but the heated or air conditioned tent that was offered for both Marathon & Princess weekends.

Even the square would be something better. Tents are problematic right now with Epcot ops hating runDisney.

 

[Rteetz]

Even if it’s 10000-15000 for gold and platinum combined, that would represent a major chunk of the bibs available for these race.

It's not that high but it's a nice chunk. I believe Platinum itself is over 1000. There were 700 Platinum dopey this year alone.

 

[LAKid53]

Even the square would be something better. Tents are problematic right now with Epcot ops hating runDisney.

That's frankly silly that Epcot ops hate a division that brings in CASH.

 

[Rteetz]

That's frankly silly that Epcot ops hate a division that brings in CASH.

They feel they bring in more. They think it takes away parking and hinders ops to bring in park cash.

 

[LAKid53]

They feel they bring in more. They think it takes away parking and hinders ops to bring in park cash.

An extra 25,000 to 30,000 guests for a weekend who stay at resorts, spend $$$ on food, merchandise...

They are crazy.

 

[Rteetz]

An extra 25,000 to 30,000 guests for a weekend who stay at resorts, spend $$$ on food, merchandise...

They are crazy.

WDW likes the first time general guest more than the repeat guest. Always has.

 

[the.dreamfinder]

An extra 25,000 to 30,000 guests for a weekend who stay at resorts, spend $$$ on food, merchandise...

They are crazy.

But that’s what’s been wrong with Disney’s park division for almost 30+ years. The organization is not structured to think of the sum of the whole. It’s about fighting for your fiefdom, at the expense of other units and the guest experience as a whole.

 

[CAV]

Yes, its Disney not going out for the Olympic Marathon qualifier. A minimum pace requirement of 18 minutes per mile is more the pace for average people, in average physical condition to enjoy an exhilarating athletic event at Disney. Reduce stress and anxiety for the F / G / H corral folks about having enough time to complete the event doing the Galloway method. God bless those 4:30 / 5:00 minute per mile people in corrals A / B, but most folks cannot maintain that kind of pace. Unfortunately, the corporate mind set is to clear the runners of the course (particularly the marathon course) and get the parks open and operating normally. Unfortunately, it's clear common sense is not part of Disney corporate thinking.

18/mile is nowhere near an "average pace for average people." That is a stroll.

 

[LAKid53]

WDW likes the first time general guest more than the repeat guest. Always has.

But you and I both know that particular demographic of repeat guest spends a ton of cash...and not just on registration fees.

 

[surfsupdon]

Whatever has changed is really sad and frustrating to myself, a loyalist. I ran and competed because I believed in the product and the experience.i had a great time. Even with a watered down experience I still enjoy my weekends. But so much now caters to the average or less than average person.

The moment Tough Mudder and Spartan Race catered to the less than average, their event participation dropped dramatically! So did the experience. I am hoping it doesn’t happen with rD.

 

[GimpYancIent]

18/mile is nowhere near an "average pace for average people." That is a stroll.

Correct! BUT! an energetic stroll that will give those in the F / G / H corrals, yes, the back of the pack, the stragglers, the folks that (for multiple reasons) not in running shape / condition the opportunity to complete an athletic event. It's Disney, as I said before Not an Olympic qualifying event. Maybe, just maybe, the fact the sloths, turtles and snails got to complete an event will motivate them to improve their physical condition, qualify for inclusion in faster corrals plus want to come back to Disney for more events. I consistently start in the C corral with an occasional B corral start and at the finish I am in the midst of a lot of B corral bib's sooo I get to hang out and observe the folk's as they finish, do some spectating and cheering. It is something special to see the faces and reactions of people that are the turtles, sloths and snails coming across that finish line completing an event. It's Disney! For those that want P.R.'s, physical challenge and be about the run I suggest (for instance) the Marine Corps Marathon (I have done 22 of them) the Disney events are supposed to be enjoying Disney while running. For those that want to do P.R.s I say go for it but most of the participants just want to enjoy the run event. Oh yeah, I never said just "average pace for average people" there is more to the statement if you are going to quote do so correctly don't cherry pick, 18 minutes per mile is a reasonable minimum pace. The so called "average person" in some kind of reasonable physical condition can absolutely / definitely go faster. How about corporate pay attention to guests, visitors, participants enjoying being at Disney, doing the event's and having a good time instead of clearing the course as fast as possible to return the parks to routine operations as soon as possible.

 

[GimpYancIent]

Whatever has changed is really sad and frustrating to myself, a loyalist. I ran and competed because I believed in the product and the experience.i had a great time. Even with a watered down experience I still enjoy my weekends. But so much now caters to the average or less than average person.

The moment Tough Mudder and Spartan Race catered to the less than average, their event participation dropped dramatically! So did the experience. I am hoping it doesn’t happen with rD.

Disney is nowhere near, nor ever intended to be comparable to Tough Mudder or Spartan Race that are intentionally designed to be grueling challenges. Definitely not for the less than (so called average) or even the some of the above average. So yeah, there will be a participation drop from (the physical challenge seeking) demographic. Disney is not supposed to be a grueling challenge but an enjoyable event. Because of the demographics of the people that go to Disney properties making the events less stressful will increase participation not decrease. You want to go from start to finish as fast as you can, don't care about photo op's or distractions, not interested in any sights / entertainment just push physically through the course with a P.R. in mind Go For It and God Bless You. That does not justify taking away a satisfying, motivating, fun experience for others just wanting to enjoy an event at Disney.

 

[GimpYancIent]

The DLR races were first suspended due to planned construction....which never happened...then the conflicts with the City of Anaheim and changes to state laws regarding volunteers. But it took a long time for those races to return, 1st the Half Marathon weekend, then the Halloween one. Only to last a few years before being suspended again.

And no one can figure out the issue with the DLP races not returning. Where they not popular?

The races were and would be very popular if they ever fully returned. HOWEVER, Anaheim and Disney, now well over the last decade, have been in perpetual conflict. Anaheim keeping use of access to anything outside the Disney property to conduct an event (such as races since Disney cannot accommodate anything over a 5k on property) as hostage / leverage against Disney. Sad, I see Anaheim as the long-term loser. The Coast-to-Coast Challenge was a lot of fun.

 

[surfsupdon]

You want to go from start to finish as fast as you can, don't care about photo op's or distractions, not interested in any sights / entertainment just push physically through the course with a P.R. in mind Go For It and God Bless You. That does not justify taking away a satisfying, motivating, fun experience for others just wanting to enjoy an event at Disney.

I agree with you. In my real world experience at runDisney races in Corral A, there are far less of the serious runner and there are far more of the recreational runner. The demograph has been changing for some time now.

And I applaud all who get up and get moving!!

 

[uncle jimmy]

Seeing several Influencers post about doing Marathon Weekend and Princess half without any training, posts mostly saying "How I did a Disney race without training and how you can too" is beyond frustrating.

 

[uncle jimmy]

I agree with you. In my real world experience at runDisney races in Corral A, there are far less of the serious runner and there are far more of the recreational runner. The demograph has been changing for some time now.

And I applaud all who get up and get moving!!

As a Platinum member who bounces around Corral A and B because of having a POT to be there, I blame cR and just putting Plat in B. I get a bump up in a Corral, but when people don't submit a time and still get placed above C which has also been POT lately is changing the demo.