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

[Disstevefan1]

Folks can argue over the definition of volunteer that’s fine.

Putting aside that argument for a moment, here is another case of Disney taking away something. The worst thing about this take away is what they are taking away didn’t cost them anything to begin with.

I know they don’t want to crowd the parks with APs but now their volunteers have been bumped down the priority list now too?

 

[dreday3]

Folks can argue over the definition of volunteer that’s fine.

Putting aside that argument for a moment, here is another case of Disney taking away something. The worst thing about this take away is what they are taking away didn’t cost them anything to begin with.

I know they don’t want to crowd the parks with APs but now their volunteers have been bumped down the priority list now too?

I think everyone agrees that was a stupid move.

 

[GimpYancIent]

An avid runner? runDisney not what it used to be? Want to do motivated running? A series of serious events with a serious organization! Yes, these people know how to do an athletic event. I suggest doing this series:

P.S. Volunteers are integral to these events.

 

[dmw]

Just out of interest, do who know how many volunteers they use?

just for reference...
The Peachtree 10k run in Atlanta requires about 3,500 volunteers for the 60,000 runners.

The 2022 Ironman Triathlon World Championship in Hawaii used 8,000 volunteers in addition to 100 police officers and 100 paid staff for the two-day event, with 5,000 triathletes participating. A triathlon, especially a full distance race (2.4mi swim, 112mi bike, 26.2mi run) requires a LOT more help than a running race, but I thought this stat might be interesting to share.

I was the lead of a volunteer team at the Peachtree (mile 3 water stop) for several years. For just for one side of the road, at that one water stop, we needed 30+ people to set up and hand out water. What did we get? A volunteer shirt. Why did we get up at 3am to set up the tables, fill the water cups, and hand out water? Because races like this cannot operate without volunteers, and those on our team understood the importance of our role to the Peachtree participants.

As an active triathlete, I understand the value of volunteers, and the race suffers when there are not enough volunteers. That is why I make it a point to thank all volunteers I see when I race. And, my family has enjoyed volunteering at some of my races.

A race director (RD) does not have to give anything to volunteers. But, sometimes a little extra thank you can encourage more volunteers. Certainly a free entry to a theme park is a great incentive to volunteer, and might make the difference for someone on the fence about giving up personal time to help. Personally, I like it when an RD offers a free entry to a future race in exchange for volunteering.

 

[Rteetz]

These races are huge money makers for Disney thanks to the 15K volunteers.

Why would Disney pay cast members when they can get all the labor they want for free?

Even better, going forward, they only gift the workers a half day pass now. Another (savings?) for Disney.

I question the savings because they used to give them a full day pass (which cost them nothing) now they give them only a half day pass (which cost them nothing).

This is just adding insult to injury. A very bad show by Disney.

Where is Iger when you need him?

The races themselves are not huge money makers. The money generated comes from merchandise, food and rooms sold. Those areas are properly staffed with CMs.

 

[Lilofan]

just for reference...
The Peachtree 10k run in Atlanta requires about 3,500 volunteers for the 60,000 runners.

The 2022 Ironman Triathlon World Championship in Hawaii used 8,000 volunteers in addition to 100 police officers and 100 paid staff for the two-day event, with 5,000 triathletes participating. A triathlon, especially a full distance race (2.4mi swim, 112mi bike, 26.2mi run) requires a LOT more help than a running race, but I thought this stat might be interesting to share.

I was the lead of a volunteer team at the Peachtree (mile 3 water stop) for several years. For just for one side of the road, at that one water stop, we needed 30+ people to set up and hand out water. What did we get? A volunteer shirt. Why did we get up at 3am to set up the tables, fill the water cups, and hand out water? Because races like this cannot operate without volunteers, and those on our team understood the importance of our role to the Peachtree participants.

As an active triathlete, I understand the value of volunteers, and the race suffers when there are not enough volunteers. That is why I make it a point to thank all volunteers I see when I race. And, my family has enjoyed volunteering at some of my races.

A race director (RD) does not have to give anything to volunteers. But, sometimes a little extra thank you can encourage more volunteers. Certainly a free entry to a theme park is a great incentive to volunteer, and might make the difference for someone on the fence about giving up personal time to help. Personally, I like it when an RD offers a free entry to a future race in exchange for volunteering.

After a 14 hour volunteer shift I got a T shirt , box lunch , all the cliff power bars, protein gels, Gatorade, water I can eat drink and the park ticket. Meet and greet to hug Mickey and the gang . Eye opening stuff when male and female runners relieved themselves near us without the use of port o potties which were occupied in the race course . Made some good friends with fellow volunteers. Do it again ? Heck ya.

 

[alphac2005]

Disney has been having races since 1994. Are we going to blame esteemed late exec Frank Wells too? Don’t think so.

What's your point? I have no issue with them running races.

 

[Disstevefan1]

The races themselves are not huge money makers. The money generated comes from merchandise, food and rooms sold. Those areas are properly staffed with CMs.

We can split hairs, but this is exactly what I mean and it would be impossible without the free labor of the volunteers.

 

[brettf22]

Random thoughts:

Was it Disney who decided to reduce the benefit from a full day to half day ticket (simply to reduce am crowding, I suppose), or could TrackShack procure these passes from Disney as a part of TrackShack’s compensation agreement, and they are the ones who cut the benefit to reduce their costs? I suspect the former, but it looks bad for Disney either way.

As the COO for a medium sized non-profit, I deal extensively with volunteers. People volunteer for many different reasons, but there is always something the volunteer feels they get from the experience (or they wouldn’t do it), whether it’s a sense of giving back, a sense of camaraderie, a sense of being part of something big, a cool swag bag, or a combination of things. The key in finding (and retaining) good volunteers is (for lack of a better phrase) finding that itch, and scratching it.

“Appreciation Gifts” for volunteers is always a hot topic amongst our staff. There are several, often conflicting federal guidance documents on the matter. Most allow a “nominal” or de minimis compensation, but don’t give an exact definition. I’m not a lawyer nor compensation expert, but our legal and finance folks tell me our yearly limit is $200. Anything above that and we 1099 the volunteers as contractors, and they have to pay tax on the total amount of any gifts received. And this is a cumulative yearly limit. Not sure this would apply here, but more data for the pile.

 

[nickys]

Because a lot of people can't understand doing anything for free. It's sad but true.

Yep, it is sadly true.

Having volunteered for everything from community events to local sports clubs, National events to Olympic Games, my sister for one never fails to tell me every time “I think it’s awful they don’t pay you”. She just doesn’t get it that I do it because I love it. Neither do an awful lot of people.

 

[dmw]

Yep, it is sadly true.

Having volunteered for everything from community events to local sports clubs, National events to Olympic Games, my sister for one never fails to tell me every time “I think it’s awful they don’t pay you”. She just doesn’t get it that I do it because I love it. Neither do an awful lot of people.

I volunteered at the 96 Games in Atlanta. I was part of the IT volunteer team working the GA Dome for the gymnastics and first few days of basketball. What Olympics and where did you volunteer?

 

[nickys]

I volunteered at the 96 Games in Atlanta. I was part of the IT volunteer team working the GA Dome for the gymnastics and first few days of basketball. What Olympics and where did you volunteer?

London - looking after the athletes, technical officials and the sport high-ups at Swimming, Diving, Modern Pentathlon. And then the Para games after, for swimming.

And hopefully Paris in 2024 and Milan in 2026. Also have done Commonwealth Games and several European and Worlds in Swimming, Diving and Athletics (plus para events). Always sport side.

 

[Kamikaze]

just for reference...
The Peachtree 10k run in Atlanta requires about 3,500 volunteers for the 60,000 runners.

The 2022 Ironman Triathlon World Championship in Hawaii used 8,000 volunteers in addition to 100 police officers and 100 paid staff for the two-day event, with 5,000 triathletes participating. A triathlon, especially a full distance race (2.4mi swim, 112mi bike, 26.2mi run) requires a LOT more help than a running race, but I thought this stat might be interesting to share.

I was the lead of a volunteer team at the Peachtree (mile 3 water stop) for several years. For just for one side of the road, at that one water stop, we needed 30+ people to set up and hand out water. What did we get? A volunteer shirt. Why did we get up at 3am to set up the tables, fill the water cups, and hand out water? Because races like this cannot operate without volunteers, and those on our team understood the importance of our role to the Peachtree participants.

As an active triathlete, I understand the value of volunteers, and the race suffers when there are not enough volunteers. That is why I make it a point to thank all volunteers I see when I race. And, my family has enjoyed volunteering at some of my races.

A race director (RD) does not have to give anything to volunteers. But, sometimes a little extra thank you can encourage more volunteers. Certainly a free entry to a theme park is a great incentive to volunteer, and might make the difference for someone on the fence about giving up personal time to help. Personally, I like it when an RD offers a free entry to a future race in exchange for volunteering.

NYC Marathon uses over 10,000 volunteers. They are not compensated, except for those who are entered in the New York Road Runner's 9+1 program where you enter 9 races and volunteer at 1 to get a guaranteed paid entry to the next year's NYC Marathon.

 

[Disstevefan1]

Because a lot of people can't understand doing anything for free. It's sad but true.

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.

 

[JMcMahonEsq]

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.

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.

 

[CAV]

I am so clueless when it comes to rundisney and I’m getting a lesson here as I read this thread. I had no idea there was volunteers! Why? Why not hire people? Is this just a way for this Track Shack to make a fortune? How much in all this does Disney actually make? Finally , I find it par for the course if this is all true,that it’s another cut back of sorts. Pay people to do the job and be done with it.

Because the cost of a marathon would skyrocket to $800 dollars

 

[CAV]

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.

It's not for TWDC. It's for your fellow runner. Paying to staff the aid stations would exponentially increase the price. Runners and running clubs usually volunteer fir races they don't run.

 

[King Panda 77]

London - looking after the athletes, technical officials and the sport high-ups at Swimming, Diving, Modern Pentathlon. And then the Para games after, for swimming.

And hopefully Paris in 2024 and Milan in 2026. Also have done Commonwealth Games and several European and Worlds in Swimming, Diving and Athletics (plus para events). Always sport side.

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

 

[Disstevefan1]

It's not for TWDC. It's for your fellow runner. Paying to staff the aid stations would exponentially increase the price. Runners and running clubs usually volunteer fir races they don't run.

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

 

[ArmoredRodent]

For those who are interested, here is Track Shack Youth Foundation's annual information return (which is the required tax return for many tax-exempt organizations) IRS Form 990 for 2020 (admittedly an unusual year; other years are available on Guidestar, a well-known source of information on exempt orgs' 990s). Note that Track Shack Foundation seems to be part of a larger network of Track Shack foundations and charities (note the reference in the 990), but the Schedule R to their 990 appears to be missing (which could be for a variety of legitimate reasons). It is likely that another entity is the one conducting the races (which is shown pretty conclusively by the lack of "program service revenue" on Page 1, Part I, line 2, though there are many ways an enterprising accountant can deal differently with that calculation).