Greenlawler
Well-Known Member
I have thought making a Daisy Challenge makes too much sense. 5k,+10k+Half gets you that medal.
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Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend
- Thread starter wdwmagic
- Start date
lukacseven
Well-Known Member
I think a course change is needed. Seems like people really liked the dual start Epcot morning & the racetrack. Can't do the track anymore, but they seem hell-bent on showcasing WWoS and the majority of runners seem to dislike this portion of the course. I don't think changing the start time will work. Currently, it's based solely on the ability to be able to clear MK of spectators and clean up Main St. for rope drop. Would it kill them to open the park an hour later 2 days out of the year so they can start the race at 6:30? Not sure.
Perks definitely need to come back. For the cost of the races, they should offer something more.
I would be interested to know how many runners are repeat participants. Do the same people run Goofy or Dopey every year? How many are once and done? Even other races, for instance - how many people run their one and only marathon or half in their lifetime? How many keep coming back? What percentages of finishers are first -timers? have run it once before? Same race or different race? How many finishers have done 5-10 runDisney events? 10 or more?
lukacseven
Well-Known Member
My question to Disney is if we can't run through Pandora because of crowds, then there's no chance in teh next decade, we'll get to run through SWGE, unless it's when the park is closed to guests. What on earth are they going to do when GotG opens in Epcot - that's dangerously close to the finish line and the park is open with runners moving through in both the half and full. Uh oh!
Greenlawler
Well-Known Member
Texas84
Well-Known Member
W&D and Star Wars go through Pandora at about 4.5 miles. So they have about 90 minutes maybe to get everyone through there. I'm through Pandora before sunrise (and it's awesome) and don't know what happens at the back.
Didn't even think about GotG. That will be bad but it won't be SWGE levels. How was it when Frozen opened?
Texas84
Well-Known Member
I haven't seen any detailed breakdowns like that. According to WDWinfo, there are 75 perfect marathoners, about 500 perfect Dopeys, and about 70 perfect Goofys.
lukacseven
Well-Known Member
My understanding is that W&D are through AK before the park opens. Don't forget - World Showcase opens later than Future World, so the race was going on but the queue is set back enough to not cause any issues. We're talking one ride there, not an entire area of the park.
OG Runner
Well-Known Member
I run a bit slower and can tell you there are people in the park when I come through Hollywood Studios and Epcot. They do attempt
to block the patrons from getting in the way of the runners. AK is at the halfway mark of the marathon, and I think they could let runners through Pandora, even when I get there. It would entail re-measuring the course. I would love it if they could have us spend a little less time winding through ESPN.
to block the patrons from getting in the way of the runners. AK is at the halfway mark of the marathon, and I think they could let runners through Pandora, even when I get there. It would entail re-measuring the course. I would love it if they could have us spend a little less time winding through ESPN.
Figment82
Well-Known Member
I think for the cost of the event, they could throw in some better SWAG. For the Celebration Half a few weeks ago, I paid $75 and received a drawstring backpack, bottle opener, insulated cooler, hat, and a shirt. At the finish they had food and beverage samples from the different restaurants in town. I paid $95 for the Space Coast Half and along with a nice long-sleeve shirt, they have a post-race area with pancakes, pizza, beer, and sodas. My dad loves coming to those events so he can pig out after I run! 
Even something like they used to have at the finish area for Race for the Taste would be nice and give a little more “bang for your buck”. The races are just getting too expensive for most with no real perceived value besides getting to run through the parks. I still pay because I’m cuckoo, but at least I don’t have to pay travel/hotel expenses too.
Even something like they used to have at the finish area for Race for the Taste would be nice and give a little more “bang for your buck”. The races are just getting too expensive for most with no real perceived value besides getting to run through the parks. I still pay because I’m cuckoo, but at least I don’t have to pay travel/hotel expenses too.
OG Runner
Well-Known Member
You wonder why Disney would throw in the better SWAG. They have been getting something like 40,000 runners for the events, charging about 3 times as much as any other race. Why cut into the profits? I mean look at what they get even for the cheer squad entries. They get plastic clapping hand and a few other items, for about $90.00. Up until this year, the races were huge. Hopefully, it will be a little bit of a wake up call.
I'd do that.
When you register, you're asked if the race you are registering for it your 1st rD event, so they are collecting the data. Why not do something special for those who have run their 5th, 10th, etc., Dopey or Goofy or the other Challenges? Or even a 10K? Some of us didn't run in the inaugural race, but geez, after spent $300+ 5 years in a row each for Princess, Dark Side and W&D, I expect some type of recognition. A distinctive lanyard would be nice, but I'd be happy with a bib that indicates 2021 will be my 5th Fairy Tale & Dark Side.
I agree that 3 days out of 365, WDW can delay opening MK for an hour. That covers the 2 Marathon weekend races and the Princess Half.
I'm dreading the 2020 SW Half. I expect to see lots of 1st timers who will anticipate a run through Galaxy's Edge. rD better be on their toes for this one.
Both the W&D 5K and Half run through Pandora. It wasn't fun running on that wet slippery surface in the rain.
I don't remember SW Half going through Pandora.
RunningKoen
Well-Known Member
Paris has a 36K challenge. It can be done ;-)
Texas84
Well-Known Member
Texas84
Well-Known Member
Problem is the queue backs up on that boardwalk to Africa. No way runners get through that.
Texas84
Well-Known Member
Yes. I remember now driving to AK at 0730 and seeing the balloon ladies already through. I only did the 10K that year and we did rope drop at AK during the half.
dreamfinder
Well-Known Member
Jeepers. Of which there are about 5,000 Dopey finishers and 1,080 Goofy finishers (excluding the Dopeys). So only about 6,000 people ran "just" the full. That 11,941 number compares to 17,755 and 20,092 for 2017 and 2018 respectively.
Think you are referring to my thread here -> https://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/rundisney-race-availability-tracker.912442/ It's a bit out of date, but I was surprised when a week before this years weekend I think only the 5k was sold out. That's unheard of.
Some of the years have the reg open dates in that same tracker thread. But yeah, they have shifted it several times. Paper forms really skewed the process/dates.