I agree about correct coral placement, but what about those of us who have a time that places us in a decent coral, then gets injured...now may not be as fast - should they give up their spot and voluntarily move back and risk not having enough time to finish?
That was me this year. I was very tempted to move back a couple corrals because I knew I'd be walking almost all of the first few miles, but a lot of rD veterans strongly encouraged me to stay where I was placed (C). I'm really glad I listened to them! I did start in the very back of C, so as not to jam up anyone in the corral. The benefits of that were awesome: my friend and I had the whole course to ourselves for a while after we crossed the start line and until the really fast runners of D caught up, even when the corrals behind us started to pass, things were spread out enough that we all had plenty of space to maneuver, we didn't block anyone, and at the halfway point, when I felt injury-free and able to really pick up my pace, I only had a minimal amount of zig-zagging to do to get around slower folks. So, yeah - I say stick to your assigned corral and start toward the back of it!
Not a 100% sure but I think all those pace group were in corral A last year. If we had pace groups...did we have pace groups? Pretty sure all sub 2 hour estimates were in corral A
I don't remember seeing any official pace groups, either. Some unofficial ones, though.
I was going to ask...
What exactly is the proper etiquette for when you walk or are transitioning to the walk part of your interval? Do you signal with your hand? Move to left, right, or any side? Likewise, when you start running again, what is considered courteous and proper on the course? Just move over to the center and go for it? I may be a newbie walker-runner, but I certainly don't want to look like I'm one or, worse yet, come across as rude.
Here's what I've seen in my rD experiences: there is NO set rule that everyone follows. So
my approach is to just be vigilant about knowing my surroundings; no zoning out. When it's time for a walk interval, I've usually already scoped out a space to slide into, often behind others who are already walking. Sometimes that's on the right side, sometimes the left, and often, in the last few miles, in the center. I don't judge - I just follow the masses, lol! The way I see it, if 5 people are already walking across the center, me going to the right just blocks more of the course for runners behind me. Better to do it "wrong" and be more mindful of others than to follow a "rule" kwim? If it's crowded and I know there are folks within a few feet behind me, I'll raise a hand, just as an alert that I'm about to move over and/or slow down. When it's time to run again, I've, again, already scoped things out and have ID'd a spot to slide into. Sometimes all of this means walking or running a few seconds later than my alert, or sometimes skipping a walk or run interval altogether. Better to be safe.
I'll add this: don't walk ALL the way to the right or left. Leave a little space for the fasties who want to run the tangents.
I'm so glad you posted this! I am a 'walker' too but decided against the Princess half this year bc I wasn't sure others would be walking. We pace about the same as you. Most of our 5k times have been around 45 min. I walked my first 10k in April and was almost able to keep that pace the whole time, however I'm not sure I could've kept it up for another 3-4 miles? I'm glad to know its do-able and I wouldn't be the only walker!
Absolutely not the only walker - TONS of folks walk Disney races! Hope you'll reconsider.
This. I treat the entire run as if I were driving. Whether it's moving to the side to begin walking, it's going around someone else, or at water stops, I ALWAYS do a quick check over whichever shoulder is on the side I'm going to go.
I'm mentally EXHAUSTED after races, just from the constant awareness of my surroundings and anticipating where others are likely to go!
) Thanks!
And another water stop tip while on the subject: there are multiple tables for a reason! Skip the first table; it will naturally be more crowded just because it's everyone's first instinct to go there. 
