2025 Wine and Dine

[Grabnar]

Anyone flying out this morning be ready for some LONG lines at TSA.

 

[Herding_Cats]

Are you ready to discuss changes/challenges that came up this weekend?

Things I've seen reported on FB:

-Bussing snaffu at SSR, as they apparently share with OKW *both ways* for W&D (they don't do this during MW) and drivers were filling up/waiting at OKW and not making it down to SSR (for the 10k)

-Way fewer "I Did It!" backdrops in the reunion area. Comments were split on whether this made the lines faster or slower (I don't understand how fewer backdrops can make it faster unless people are taking less pics because of fear of holding up the line)

-Refillable weekend beer cups only available at the reunion area, not at the expo

-What else?

 

[KCO5988]

Anyone have any feedback on corral A with the new <7min/mile option added for the 5k or 10k?

 

[1lilspark]

Are you ready to discuss changes/challenges that came up this weekend?

Things I've seen reported on FB:

-Bussing snaffu at SSR, as they apparently share with OKW *both ways* for W&D (they don't do this during MW) and drivers were filling up/waiting at OKW and not making it down to SSR (for the 10k)

-Way fewer "I Did It!" backdrops in the reunion area. Comments were split on whether this made the lines faster or slower (I don't understand how fewer backdrops can make it faster unless people are taking less pics because of fear of holding up the line)

-Refillable weekend beer cups only available at the reunion area, not at the expo

-What else?

RE: the I did it pics we personally found it being just one line to get to them was more organized despite the fewer set ups

 

[Beachmom0317]

Thought the on course entertainment was great, but I really did not like the course. It was sooo narrow for such a long time. Even 6-8 miles in it was crowded because they did the out and back to BB on one side of the street. The parks were super crowded and then the dreaded Hollywood Studios path. I was in D, but curious whether later corrals thought the same.

I also was surprised how narrow the out and back for BB was! I was mentally preparing to be excited for when we hit the highway miles because I figured we'd have plenty of room between all the runners but it felt just as narrow as the parks!

 

[The Expert]

-Refillable weekend beer cups only available at the reunion area, not at the expo

I drove to the 5K, and I don't do the I Did It backdrops, so no comment on the bus issues or photo access.

The beer cup thing was just WEIRD. The usual stop at the top of the stairs of the main expo building was still closed when I left at 10:30am, and the bar just outside at that corner wasn't even set up! Considering this same weekend last year they gave all the Platinum club folks a free cup, it was especially puzzling. Someone in the club area said they had outsourced ESPN's food & beverage and cut a lot of staff, so perhaps that's why?

Anyone flying out this morning be ready for some LONG lines at TSA.

Monday morning = weekend Disney travelers going home and business travelers going out. MCO is the reason I still have Clear!

 

[Disney at Heart]

@Herding_Cats Stayed at SSR and got on the bus about 3:15. Bus was waiting and another pulling up as we left all three days. Busses were half full of OKW people, but had no problems. Maybe the problems were with the first bus or two?

Loved the one line for photo ops even though there were only 6 photographers. The cast members were back filling each spot, kind of like at Rockin’ Roller Coaster. When one person stepped up to the background, cast members immediately sent the next in line to that photographer’s “waiting area” to quickly step up afterwards. I thought it was much better and got photos all three days.

 

[nancipants]

I only went to the Expo, but I noticed several changes.

The exit out of the vendor building was the same door as the exit, instead of past the quick service. (Heard it’s being renovated.) So there weren’t really any food options.

Big numbers were in the vendor area.

In the morning, the entrance to the merch area was a different door.

They had separate entrance/exit “lanes” going into and out of the complex.

 

[fatmanatee]

Anyone have any feedback on corral A with the new <7min/mile option added for the 5k or 10k?

Outsider's perspective but I don't think the situation changed much. If you're planning on running a <7 min pace you're going to want to be closer to the front.

 

[radiodome21]

We stayed at Poly and did the 5k with our kids and my wife and I did the half. We were corral D for the 5k and G for the half. Once my daughter found out there were no ballon ladies she decided to walk the 5k. She thoroughly enjoyed it though. I asked one of the guys working the bus stop at the Poly what the latest time we could get there and be ok. Even though we have a rental I’d rather take the bus. He said 4:20 is the latest. We were down at 4 and we left at 4:10. We got into Epcot parking lot a half hour later. We knew we’d be towards the back of the coral but we were fine with that. We’ve been training for months. This was our first HF ever and we both thought he course was meh outside of the parks. We expected the crowding and traffic jams but found the down and back to Blizzard beach to be pretty boring. That being said we loved it. So much fun atmosphere and depending on how my wife feels this week I’m anticipating doing more down the road.

 

[Mr. Drauer]

-Refillable weekend beer cups only available at the reunion area, not at the expo

Yes they did outsource the F&B and as a result, the vendor could not sell Disney branded merch. Expect this to continue.

Way fewer "I Did It!" backdrops in the reunion area. Comments were split on whether this made the lines faster or slower (I don't understand how fewer backdrops can make it faster unless people are taking less pics because of fear of holding up the line)

This is a result of Epcot mgmt demanding everything in the reunion lot be able to be dissasembled to allow for day parking during race weekend. Same reason to move the beer tent. They wanted the additional 500 parking spots for the day on Friday and Saturday available.

 

[Zutroy]

Anyone have any feedback on corral A with the new <7min/mile option added for the 5k or 10k?

Until they require a POT for the 10k, it will be filled with people who lie about their pace. There were definitely people in A that I doubt could run sub-7 on their best days, but that’s how it’s always been. By now I know where to be positioned to avoid them at the start and it didn’t impact my race at all.

 

[ZM73]

A bit of drama this morning at MCO, as the people movers for gates 1-59 were down. We all walked across and it was pretty orderly, but a bit strange.

 

[Disneyhanna]

A bit of drama this morning at MCO, as the people movers for gates 1-59 were down. We all walked across and it was pretty orderly, but a bit strange.

My uber driver commented he hadn’t seen that in 8 years he’s been driving here. It’s so hot and humid, I was glad I’m a different gate! Pretty quiet here at MCO for Delta at least. Shortest bag drop line I’ve seen in a long time.

 

[radiodome21]

We cruised here this afternoon and blew through TSA. While we’re Inuit to United terminal we saw people walking on it and I told my son I didn’t know that was option. His reply: “Don’t even think about it.”

 

[Disneyhanna]

I had a nice trip. It was a bit too hot for me on Saturday touring the parks, but the daytime weather on Thursday/Friday was some of the best I’ve experienced. This is the earliest I’ve been to WDW in the Fall, usually I don’t come until Thanksgiving.

I enjoyed W&D (my first one) but definitely felt very lowkey, even more so than Princess! Maybe because the shirts were long sleeved and few people were wearing them, it felt like there weren’t many runners around

I’ll definitely consider doing the weekend again next year depending on the dates. The crowds were really low which was great, probably since it was the weekend between fall break and Halloween. I loved the 10k course. The half course I liked apart from miles 6-8 which were extremely crowded even out of the last wave of B. I ran my usual 11 minute easy pace and did a lot of character stops and could hardly get through some of those sections at any pace other than that of the people in front of me. Can only imagine how much worse it go.

Course photos were plentiful and got lots of nice shots. Character lines moved really fast, they had the phone passing down to get people through quickly. A good mix of characters and I was so happy the lists leaked as it gives me something to look forward to to get through the boring miles.

The downside of the challenge is going to bed early was much harder this time of year compared to marathon weekend, and I had a lot more FOMO. Ended up getting 4-5 hours of sleep and was very tired. We only made it until 10:30 at the party Depending on the themes maybe I’d just do the 10k next time.

I liked the finisher photo tents as no more getting stuck behind a really slow photo taker in line. Busses were great for Movies and I was glad I paid for preferred. Though I’m glad to be staying at a skyliner resort for marathon. Overall this weekend very much felt like a preview for marathon which I am getting so excited for!

Best of all, my hip did not bother me. My legs are sore from the half from all the resting I did, but just soreness not pain. I guess a week of no running is what I really needed to help whatever issues I was having. Hoping the torn hip labrum will be a non issue going forward.