Characters at the races... And pictures?

[lenshanem]

How much time does stopping to take pictures really add onto your time? Are there long waits or is it usually a run up and pose kinda thing? Are there certain spots and characters we should watch out for? I definitely want Alice.

Common picture places? They always take pics when you come out of the castle going back towards Main Street, correct?

 

[jmasgat]

Shan I have no clue--but you keep asking all sorts of good questions and I want the answer to this one in particular. Since it is my first--and oblivious of all my naggin injuries--I still have this vision/desire of me finishing the half in a certain time goal. One that, frankly, wouldn't allow for much time to stop and smell the roses (literally if I detoured a bit in MK!) But I don't want to lose the "experience" that everyone raves about. I'm really torn..........


Maura

 

[hockeygirl]

It really depends on the line for the character you want to see. I would stop when I saw a shorter line, or no line, and I don't think it added that much time. My goal was to finish, so it didn't really matter to me in the end. For me, I wanted to enjoy the experience and get lots of pictures, so I stopped as much as possible. I got some really great pictures too.

If I remember correctly, I got a picture with Alice in Fantasyland last year.

My advice is enjoy the experience! It definetely is worth it, and always remember despite the time, as long as you cross that finish line you get the medal. I save the "beat a certain time" races for those other than Disney! I will never forget my first marathon last year, because I took it all in, got pictures, and didn't worry about the time!

 

[lenshanem]

I know. DH and I agreed this was about having fun and not about time, but I kinda want to put in a somewhat decent time. I know I won't beat my last half's time, but I would like to be not too far off. Worst case, too my knee gives out again and I have to limp to the finish the last couple miles.

 

[lenshanem]

Thanks Laurie. You were posting at the same time as me.

 

[dsnyfan21]

Characters are all over in MK, even some are in the "backstage" area. Stop if you feel the need. As stated before, it's up to you! Usually there is a cast member standing with the characters willing to take the photo for you. Also the floats are usually in the backstage area after you exit the MK. Last year there was Captain Jack on his pirate ship!
It's up to you what you want to do. I usually don't stop for character photos unless its mickey, but do take photos along the way!

Tracy

 

[lenshanem]

Oh, they have a CM there to take your pic with the characters?

What spots with the race photographers are they usually at?

 

[lenshanem]

Now Tracy was posting the same time as me!

 

[hockeygirl]

I know what you are feeling, because that is how I felt last year. It was very hard for me, because I am such a competitive person and want to do well. But I asked myself what was more important to me....running a good time, or experiencing something I will never forget. I decided that there will be other races where I can worry about time, but at Disney, i was going to have fun, and not worry about the time. Every time I look at all those pictures from the race last year, I remind myself that I made the right choice!

Whatever you decide to do, you will have a blast. The disney races are awesome!!

 

[dsnyfan21]

WOw Shan you are full of questions... The race photogs will not be along the course with characters, they are there sometimes at the starting areas, just after the start, on main street, running through the castle, sometimes in Frontierland, just before entering Epcot (last year there was a crane holding photogs over the road), inside epcot as you do the turn around and at the finish. From what I have seen they do tend to change it up a bit every year. It just depends.
Now, take a deep breath and relax - get your miles in and then enjoy yourself. Don't sweat the small stuff.
Tracy

 

[hockeygirl]

Yes, there are CM there to take the pics.

 

[Caseydilla]

At the Disneyland 1/2, the time to take pictures with characters was not long at all! Like others said, they have a cast member there to take the photos for the racers. They seem to move everyone in/out pretty quickly. We took just a few during our race. One with Sully and one with Belle and the Beast. Took a minute or less.

 

[CarolA]

Why don't they do photopass??

Wouldn't that be SO much easier then carrying a camera?
And it would make Disney MORE MONEY (Which always seems to be a goal for them LOL!)

 

[hockeygirl]

It would be easier, but I don't want to give Disney any more money than I have to. The photopass picture CD is kind of expensive, so I would rather carry my camera with me. Last year I kept it in my waist pack and it wasn't a problem at all.

 

[dsnyfan21]

Disney (trackshack) uses a company ASI to do the photos during the race. The photographers for that company are free lance photogs and they use alot of them for the 5K, Half and then the Full (sports photographers). I guess it is a contracted thing?? ALso you would also then need to carry a photopass card with you and then need to have it scanned for each photo. I think that would take more time than just clicking a quicky photo with your own camera.

Tracy

 

[laughinplace199]

What kind of camera do you bring? I'm kind of worried about bringing my nice digital camera. I saw a disposable digital camera at CVS today. I wonder if that might be a good option. Anyone ever use one?

 

[hockeygirl]

I brought a disposable camera last year and the pictures just came out OK. I felt the same way as you I didn't want to have something happen to my regular camera, so I got a disposable, but I wasn't happy with the pictures. So this year, I am bringing my digital camera. I have a waist pack I wear during the race so that is what I will keep it in.

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

When taking pics with the characters, often there are 2 lines alongside the handlers. This makes the line go really quickly.

I take my digital Cannon PowerShot SD850 and have it attached to my waistpack. I also train with it.

 

[NADLV817]

My lovely wife and I, along with some other friends, have done the Disney Marathon 3 times. It is GREAT! I have always carried a disposable camera along the way. I'm also in no great hurry so I stop to get a shot with most every character I see!! The cast members are always very helpful and available to take the pictures with my camera. Between ours and the ones that the professionals take...makes for a pretty decent slide show!

search youtube for navdlv817 and check out our marathon show!

Actually marathon pics start at about the 3 minute point.

 

[CarolA]

My lovely wife and I, along with some other friends, have done the Disney Marathon 3 times. It is GREAT! I have always carried a disposable camera along the way. I'm also in no great hurry so I stop to get a shot with most every character I see!! The cast members are always very helpful and available to take the pictures with my camera. Between ours and the ones that the professionals take...makes for a pretty decent slide show!

search youtube for navdlv817 and check out our marathon show!

Actually marathon pics start at about the 3 minute point.

Cool slide show. Thanks for sharing!