runDisney pares back complimentary full-day ticket to half-day for volunteers

[Disstevefan1]

Then you are being intentionally obtuse or lack the reasoning skills of a gold fish.

People volunteer all the time. They do it because they want to. They do it because they enjoy what they are volunteering for.

Races like this rely on volunteers across the country. ITs not a WDW thing it is a race thing.

The company or organization putting on the event doesn't matter. People don't enjoy racing more depending on who is putting on the event. I enjoy helping out a race that a family member is running in because I have the free time and like the atmosphere. I am not looking into the profitability of the Boston Marathon or the New Bedford Half, or run Disney.

You have some kind of ax to grind against WDW. Frankly no one cares, and the fact that you would spend so much time posting on a message board centered around a company you don't seem to like is all kinds of funny. But for the past what almost 30 years Disney has been running these events and thousands of volunteers have been showing up to help put on a great event. All without the world ending or the need for the keyboard cowboys to get their panties in a twist.

So if you don't like volunteerism, great don't do it. You don't like run disney, stay at home on the coach and don't participate. But considering the entire road race market is operated this way, maybe just move on and keep your uniformed opinion to yourself.

Thank you for correcting me. TWDC is great for doing what they are doing. You are right, it must be my reasoning skills.

 

[flynnibus]

I can’t understand providing free labor to TWDC.
Before this thread, I did not know TWDC used free labor in their racing events to maximize profit.

'maximizing profit' -- have you ever considered the event may simply not function at all without the volunteers?

Events like runDisney benefit the company by drawing guests... unlikely because the event is so profitable on its own.

If the event has 15k runners.. and charges $200 - That's just $3M total in gross revenue... to pay for everything. If Disney is using 5k volunteers.. lets say they avg 8hrs @ 15/hr. That's 600k in just top line labor costs. And real costs are much more.

You've admitted you know nothing about the event, yet pontificate about how Disney is raking in the money because of those volunteers.

Apparently never once thinking that money saved might actually be spent elsewhere or what makes it viable or not.

 

[Disstevefan1]

'maximizing profit' -- have you ever considered the event may simply not function at all without the volunteers?

Events like runDisney benefit the company by drawing guests... unlikely because the event is so profitable on its own.

If the event has 15k runners.. and charges $200 - That's just $3M total in gross revenue... to pay for everything. If Disney is using 5k volunteers.. lets say they avg 8hrs @ 15/hr. That's 600k in just top line labor costs. And real costs are much more.

You've admitted you know nothing about the event, yet pontificate about how Disney is raking in the money because of those volunteers.

Apparently never once thinking that money saved might actually be spent elsewhere or what makes it viable or not.

You're right. These volunteers should be thankful just to participate.

Perhaps TWDC should have never gifted these lucky folks a full day ticket that costs them nothing.

Then we would not be talking about TWDC reducing the full day ticket that costs them nothing to a half day ticket that costs them nothing.

 

[flynnibus]

You're right. These volunteers should be thankful just to participate.

Perhaps TWDC should have never gifted these lucky folks a full day ticket that costs them nothing.

Then we would not be talking about TWDC reducing the full day ticket that costs them nothing to a half day ticket that costs them nothing.

Your sarcasm doesn't even make sense... you're just flailing around now.

 

[Disstevefan1]

Your sarcasm doesn't even make sense... you're just flailing around now.

The issue is Disney cut the gifted ticket from a full day ticket to a half day ticket. Folks conflate this with the folks are volunteers.
This was a BAD SHOW for Disney in my opinion.

 

[celluloid]

Yes I have never quite understood why runDisney requires "volunteers." I am assuming its is because they are a standard thing in most running events. But most running events don't take place in a theme park resort that has resources on hand to deal with these types of crowds.

Isn't that part of why running cost money? To staff.the event. It sure is awful.

 

[nickys]

You could have added an island games to your list . Not quite as glam as Paris but big for us.

Home | Guernsey 2023 NatWest International Island Games

guernsey2023.gg

Damn, never saw anything about it. I’d love to have done that. Still an outside chance though, I see….

 

[Lilofan]

Thats true, TWDC would never absorb a cost related to their own event, they would of course pass it on to the runner.

The sarcasm is deafening. Clearly agreed that you don't understand or agree that Run Disney uses volunteers for races - since 1994.

 

[CAV]

Thats true, TWDC would never absorb a cost related to their own event, they would of course pass it on to the runner.

ANY race organization, not just TWDC. Every single race relies on volunteers.

 

[CAV]

Isn't that part of why running cost money? To staff.the event. It sure is awful.

You're right. You dont understand. And I suspect that as many times in this thread it has been explained, you dont want to understand

 

[dmw]

Isn't that part of why running cost money? To staff.the event. It sure is awful.

Staffing is not why races cost so much. Insurance is a big cost, even if the RD is using a governing body insurance program like USA Triathlon or USA Track & Field. Other costs include: permits, venue rental, traffic control (police, barricades, signs, etc.), timing system (or paying a timing company), race supplies, medical support, participant swag and awards (trophies, medals, shirts, etc.). Even a local 5k charity run has a lot of expenses just to put on the race.

 

[Lilofan]

Staffing is not why races cost so much. Insurance is a big cost, even if the RD is using a governing body insurance program like USA Triathlon or USA Track & Field. Other costs include: permits, venue rental, traffic control (police, barricades, signs, etc.), timing system (or paying a timing company), race supplies, medical support, participant swag and awards (trophies, medals, shirts, etc.). Even a local 5k charity run has a lot of expenses just to put on the race.

Medical supplies to equip race adds up. A good amount of medical staff at Run Disney races are medical volunteers.

 

[Disstevefan1]

ANY race organization, not just TWDC. Every single race relies on volunteers.

Volunteers are great. And I know they don't do it expecting any compensation, but Disney should NOT have cut the pass to a half day pass. It feels like (TO ME) something was taken away from them and that Disney doesn't value their volunteers.

 

[Disstevefan1]

The sarcasm is deafening. Clearly agreed that you don't understand or agree that Run Disney uses volunteers for races - since 1994.

Volunteers are great. And I know they don't do it expecting any compensation, but Disney should NOT have cut the pass to a half day pass. It feels like (TO ME) something was taken away from them and that Disney doesn't value their volunteers.

 

[Lilofan]

Volunteers are great. And I know they don't do it expecting any compensation, but Disney should NOT have cut the pass to a half day pass. If feels like (TO ME) something was taken away from them and that Disney doesn't value their volunteers.

It may have been a business decision how to explain it I would be curious to know.

 

[Kamikaze]

Thats true, TWDC would never absorb a cost related to their own event, they would of course pass it on to the runner.

Listen, you're focusing on Disney's runs, but this is how it works for all races, everywhere. Road racing as an event and sport would not exist without volunteers. There isn't enough money in it. You can focus on a $200+ Disney race entry cost or the cost of a major marathon which is just as high or higher, but there are also those small local races that need the volunteers as well. $30 for a 5K that includes a T-shirt is impossible without volunteers, and most people won't pay $50+ for a 5K. I wouldn't. And thats without getting into 'Parkrun', which would be 100% impossible without volunteers.

 

[flynnibus]

It may have been a business decision how to explain it I would be curious to know.

Well obviously it's a business decision... I'm sure no one did it out of pure spite.

The question is what and why now. I doubt anyone unilaterally said "they folks didn't do enough to earn a FULL ticket...". It's more of if it's some sort of fiscal driven thing or if it's some sort of process/tooling/overhead issue that made it untenable.

 

[Disstevefan1]

Listen, you're focusing on Disney's runs, but this is how it works for all races, everywhere. Road racing as an event and sport would not exist without volunteers. There isn't enough money in it. You can focus on a $200+ Disney race entry cost or the cost of a major marathon which is just as high or higher, but there are also those small local races that need the volunteers as well. $30 for a 5K that includes a T-shirt is impossible without volunteers, and most people won't pay $50+ for a 5K. I wouldn't. And thats without getting into 'Parkrun', which would be 100% impossible without volunteers.

Volunteers are great. And I know they don't do it expecting any compensation, but Disney should NOT have cut the pass to a half day pass. It feels like (TO ME) something was taken away from them and that Disney doesn't value their volunteers.

 

[celluloid]

You're right. You dont understand. And I suspect that as many times in this thread it has been explained, you dont want to understand

Yikes. Not if it makes me that kind of bitter-toned as your post, no. I also never said I don't understand. So not sure who you were quickly replying to with your hatred.

Staffing is not why races cost so much. Insurance is a big cost, even if the RD is using a governing body insurance program like USA Triathlon or USA Track & Field. Other costs include: permits, venue rental, traffic control (police, barricades, signs, etc.), timing system (or paying a timing company), race supplies, medical support, participant swag and awards (trophies, medals, shirts, etc.). Even a local 5k charity run has a lot of expenses just to put on the race.

I stated staffing is part of a cost. Your point means that would make Disney not paying the event staffers all the more pathetic on TDO. Particularly makes the half day incentive move uglier.

 

[Disstevefan1]

There is a lot of passion in this thread.

It's a shame the main point is getting lost.

Disney has cut the gifted day pass to a half day pass.

Its petty and shameful.

And because this point is lost, Disney WINS AGAIN.