Are Disney Races the most expensive ones out there?

[BriarRabbit]

The 2011 Kauai, HI marathon is $200 for early registration through March. $225 after that.

 

[verticalchaos]

The 2011 Kauai, HI marathon is $200 for early registration through March. $225 after that.

YEOUCH! Then add on the cost of a flight to Hawaii and lodging... I'd think that for most that puts it well above Disney in cost. (Most meaning those who hit Disney for the weekend only, not the ones who stay for a week or more.)

 

[jmasgat]

If the WDWM folks were smart they would skew the % and put the 50% value out for public consumption prior to the first discount period closing; even if they are not at 50%. That would create a stir in entries..

You mean, manipulate the numbers, "lie" even, just to make some money? You mean, Disney would do something like that? As Louis said in Casablanca, "I am shocked!...."

2012 will probably be the year I suck it up--both physically and financially-- and do the Goofy.

As with many other things in life, the race prices reflect a perceived "premium brand". I mean, look at fashion, or cars--are the latest "It" bags really worth the price? Does a Cadillac really matter more than a Chevy (well, in some cases, yes, but you know, they are still both cars and do achieve the same basica transportation function)

Even me, who's in a current Disney malaise due to pricing, appreciates that the lure of a Disney race started me off on my running adventure. So I'll give them credit for that (I just may not run very many of their races in the future!)

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

I think that the half will sell quickly up front due to the special year and the anticipation of a special medal. But also, the expected discount structure for early entry will help drive the inital numbers up. If the WDWM folks were smart they would skew the % and put the 50% value out for public consumption prior to the first discount period closing; even if they are not at 50%. That would create a stir in entries.

The only other race to fill as quickly as the 2002 half was the 4th or 5th Goofy. But they killed a lot of the special value of the event when they doubled the slots in a year while increasing the cast significantly.

I am surprised that they don't already skew the percentages. It is just yield management - not lying but I work in an industry famous for skewing numbers - usually the opposite way - we hope people don't show up. I really got the impression that they do that - because I remember the Princess getting up there in numbers and all of a sudden they added more spots due to demand. What better way to entice people to book if it is so popular they had to add more spots for those lucky procrastinators?

 

[FireDancer]

I do find the fact that the half is priced the exact same as the full very odd.

Still...I'm clearly buying it. LOL.

That is the thing that stands out the most for me. The full price isn't all that out there but the half price is ridiculous.

Actually, dog piling on the half is really wrongly placed. No one has mentioned the exorbitant costs of the 5k's. Agreed that the half is high compared with the national average but you (we) freely pay the price and fill it out every year.

The cost of the 5ks are well out of place. You pay 2-3 customary pricing and do not get n official time. Plus the costs of the 5ks is significantly lower than the half or full as they are handled within the bounds of one park.

Ok just pointing out the more obnoxious costing event.

Their 5K pricing is totally ridiculous. The only 5K I did on property was the National Kidney 5K in 2008 but that was not an actual Disney event and the price was $25. Even at $25 it is higher than almost all the other 5K's I've done. In 2010 I paid an average of $18.85 for all of my local races under 10 miles and that includes races up to 10K.

The Holloween 5K was especially bad considering I wouldn't have been able to use the MNSSHP ticket. I'm not paying $100 for any 5K let alone an un-timed 5K with no age group rewards.

 

[cewait]

I am surprised that they don't already skew the percentages. It is just yield management - not lying but I work in an industry famous for skewing numbers - usually the opposite way - we hope people don't show up. I really got the impression that they do that - because I remember the Princess getting up there in numbers and all of a sudden they added more spots due to demand. What better way to entice people to book if it is so popular they had to add more spots for those lucky procrastinators?

Once they lock you on the entry chances are high that you will be dropping $500 or so per person for the event. I am with you on skewing the entry percentages.... But like your industry, the RD is also hedging against all runners showing on race day. Obviously park management want 100% on property along with friends and family. But the RD works under a budget and he is using statistics to pair supplies as closely as he can.

 

[cewait]

The Holloween 5K was especially bad considering I wouldn't have been able to use the MNSSHP ticket. I'm not paying $100 for any 5K let alone an un-timed 5K with no age group rewards.

I was thinking the 5k would have been fun but the cost of entry was beyond me. Like most folks, I was looking the the W&D as a weekend trip and getting out of town on Sunday. If they would have unbundled the MNSSHP from the event, I may have run it just for the course. But I a probably not ever running a Disney 5k, especially when I can run a local half for about the same $$. I have run 2 5ks on property. One was teh Transplant Games 5k in 00 that I happened on during a trip and the other was to run a race with my daughter.

 

[FireDancer]

I was thinking the 5k would have been fun but the cost of entry was beyond me. Like most folks, I was looking the the W&D as a weekend trip and getting out of town on Sunday. If they would have unbundled the MNSSHP from the event, I may have run it just for the course. But I a probably not ever running a Disney 5k, especially when I can run a local half for about the same $$. I have run 2 5ks on property. One was teh Transplant Games 5k in 00 that I happened on during a trip and the other was to run a race with my daughter.

That was me, leaving on Sunday. I suspect what Disney was hoping would happen is people who planned on leaving on Sunday would add an additional day to their trip to use the free party ticket. I think that is exactly why they are having Marathon Monday. They hope that people who would have left on Sunday night or Monday morning stick around. A free day at a park is worth the extra day to me, free admission to a hard ticket even just isn't.