EEC Cancelled

[wdwprncess77]

Good morning everyone: I'm writing a blog up on this event for the site, and I'd love to include some of your perspectives if that's OK.

Feel free to ask me anything. Or use any comments I make. I would love to encourage others who are considering any challenge to try this one.

Off topic, I am sitting in the airport about to leave mco. Already miss the mouse.

 

[thewesterberg]

Wow! Didn't realize that had canceled the race - we must have just sneaked in to the finish line before they quit scoring based on what others have shared. We were in Wave 4 and had just finished the obstacle course when the heavens opened up! We had fun trudging through the deep puddles while figuring out the clues. After the race we headed into Dinosaur (where we froze our butts off! A CM outside the ride told a couple of girls they had to take off their ponchos before coming in because they'd make things wet... while we were ringing water out of our t-shirts!) We headed towards Kali after that, but it was closed due to the lightening. We laughed because we had packed sandals to wear on Kali so our running shoes wouldn't get wet! At that point we decided to call it quits and head back to AKL. We headed towards the Tree of Life, but they had closed the bridge on that side so we had to go all away around towards Dinoland.

One thing that we noticed that needed some attention was the busing (we missed the other chaos that people have talked about since we were in an early wave)- when we walked out of the park and we had no clue where to go. There was no one out there letting people know where to get their bus back to the resort. So we started walking towards the regular bus stops to finally come across a Disney bus driver who explained that the buses were in the charter area. So we had to cross the tram lane by a sign that said Do Not Cross. Then it was chaos as to where to stand to go to each resort. We all sort of self-clumped. When the AKL bus showed up it pulled up further than where we were all standing and then it was just a bunch of people racing to get on the bus. A person or signs directing people coming out of the park would be helpful, as well as signs as to where to queue for the bus would make it so much more organized.


Anyone know why they moved the race to June next year?

 

[SamSam]

DH and I were in Wave 10, so we had the torrential downpour through almost all of it. Although it was fun, I was freezing by the time we were done, looked like a drowned rat , and we didn't get to turn in our passports (although we finished) so I have no idea how they timed us. For me, the obstacle course was the funnest part (even in the rain), kinda felt like we were on Amazing Race.

I'm not sure we'll do it again because June is not a usual time to go down for us, plus I'm not sure I could ever talk DH into running (walking) it with me again. He was a real trooper to do this one with me, racing (or even exercising) is just not his thing.

 

[snoopywoodstockus]

I see that the results (or what they could put together) are up on the EEC page under results. just click on "online", where it says results will be posted online.

 

[figment82]

Good morning everyone: I'm writing a blog up on this event for the site, and I'd love to include some of your perspectives if that's OK.

fine by me - let me know if you have questions!

 

[pinkerbell]

Good morning everyone: I'm writing a blog up on this event for the site, and I'd love to include some of your perspectives if that's OK.

I loved your first blog and referred to it many times -

fine with me - This was my first race and I think it is a GREAT concept and could be a lot of fun! I'm still not even sure if I finished though??? still trying to figure out where to find that info - the website still says will be posted - How long will it take???

if you have any questions just ask - I'm still at Disney -

 

[pinkerbell]

I see that the results (or what they could put together) are up on the EEC page under results. just click on "online", where it says results will be posted online.

thanks for the help! I logged on and see we did get a final race time (and cried) thanks so much!!!



I DIT IT!!!

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Thanks for the help everyone. Can anyone confirm what time the race officially closed down? It seems like it must have been between 9-10:00p.

 

[pinkerbell]

Not sure about when but I was in the sixth wave and I have a clock time of 1:51:57 and net time of 1:26:49 - they had already stopped checking answers

it was VERY dark during the last part (scavanger/trivia) and I have heard maybe the power had gone out - if there could have been more light that would have really helped with the confusion especially near the finish where is was just CRAZY!!!

My kids missed the kids challenge, but I sent them through the course anyway - traffic was very backed up because they had to keep stopping it to let runners cross - which seemed silly and dangerous

I havent used photobucket in a long time and am trying to get the pics large so you can see the rain, but cant figure our how to change the size?? will work on it later

 

[wfloyd]

Thanks for the help everyone. Can anyone confirm what time the race officially closed down? It seems like it must have been between 9-10:00p.

If I remember right, we finished the 5k between 9 and 9:05, the obstacle course at 9:08, and the scavenger hunt around 9:40. They were still handing out medals when we finished but looked like they were closing part of the course when we were working on our last clue (turning off speakers and possibly some of the lights). When we finished, we heard one group kidding another group they knew about cheating by getting their medals but not finishing the course. At 10:00 the finish line was empty and they were not handing out medals anymore. The mats were still down and we saw a couple of people cross and heard the beep but no workers were around. Just a little food was left by that point.

The first big lightening (one that we saw both the flash and thunder) happened around 9:10 as we were on our way back into Animal Kingdom.

They were supposed to close the 5k course at 9:15 according to the final instructions so they were pretty close to that but the rest of the course was supposed to go till 10:30.

 

[wdwprncess77]

I was in the first wave and crossed the finish at 8:55pm. At this point they were still checking answers but had just realized that pens were no longer working on the wet papers they had. I had to call out my scavenger hunt answers to them as I couldn't get the pen to work b/c of the rain. Also, they were a bit confused about what to do b/c I didn't know to keep the bottom part of my bib for them to scan. So I tore it off in the hotel room. They were trying to figure out how to score my clues, so they took my bib to match my clues with my race number. That was a little sad as I would have liked my bib from my first disney race but I wanted to make sure i was scored correctly. Now maybe that didn't even matter. Oh well. I still had a blast.

Also, when I got back to car at 9:20 there were people still doing the obstacle course. I couldn't believe in that rain that Disney would allow people to continue doing it. I would think that would be a huge liability.

 

[DCbride]

Four of us did the EEC this weekend and we registered as individuals. We were in the first wave which started at 7:30. The activities before the race were fun and listening to the guest speaker was very motivational.

Very quickly my group split up. I planned to jog the entire course but I ended up walking quite a bit to keep my friend company. As we passed the 1 mile mark I saw the first runner coming back. I liked the route better than the Princess 5K as it was nice to see and encourage runners going in the opposite direction. I paused at this point to take a picture of my daughter who at that time was the 4th woman to pass. I jogged up to my friend and we walked the rest. We crossed at 48 min and I think the 12th wave was beginning. The obstacle course was dry and so much fun. (When my daughter crossed she waited about 6 min for her friend to cross to enjoy the course together- she did not realize that the event was still timed and it was added to her 5k part- not a big deal- but for someone who actually cared about placing this would have been nice to know) When we finished the obstacle course she basically finished the scavenger hunt. During the scavenger hunt it drizzled, rained and by the time we made it to Dinoland downpour!!! I did get my hunt scored and got them all right.

We waited out the major rain, headed to Dinosaur, froze, but had a great time screaming and giggling being the only ones there (minus one poor man who chose to stay in the jeep and ride with us) We used our DDP to eat at the counter service restaurant. By this time the DJ was up and running and after about 20 min. Everest was running. We would have been so sad not to be able to ride. I did notice in line everyone's lanyard for the metal was peeling off.

We had a great time. I would definitely do it again- but not in June. The temp very hot, I would expect June to be worse. The event was well planned, but I agree when it got crazy no one had answers. I have to applaud the volunteers who stuck it out until the end I feel so badly for anyone who did not get to complete the race. I know we spent months not exactly preparing, but looking forward to it. But I feel the worst for the poor families, including all the kids who raced at 6:30 - waited for a parent in the downpour and then could not participate in the afterparty. We did not have family watching, but I can only imagine...

My biggest complaint would be the traffic pattern during the scavenger hunt. We were looking for our clues and trying to desperately stay out of the runners way. It was so hard and the runners were getting angry. I felt badly for them, but we had no place to go...

I have pictures that I can post if anyone would like to see them- I had a waterproof camera with me.

 

[wdwprncess77]

Four of us did the EEC this weekend and we registered as individuals. We were in the first wave which started at 7:30......

We crossed at 48 min and I think the 12th wave was beginning.

I must have been right there with you. I was 48 for my 5K and in that first wave. Wish i had known you were a wisher. (am i allowed to say wish twice in one sentence?)

 

[figment82]

Thanks for the help everyone. Can anyone confirm what time the race officially closed down? It seems like it must have been between 9-10:00p.

It would be hard to officially confirm since different volunteers were saying the race was cancelled at different points, and others were saying it was still on.

I can tell you I finished the 5k at ~9:05, and the obstacle course at ~9:15, and the first lightning strike hit right around then. That's when we were told to skip picking up scavenger hunt clues and head into the park - so I think it got called right around 9:15, though no one officially told me it was cancelled until we got to the finish at 9:50 or so. There were also volunteers in africa, asia, and by everest while we were working on the scavenger hunt that didn't tell us to stop, so I think they thought the race was still on after 9:15 as well.

 

[ChocoKat]

DH and I did the inaugural EEC last year and we had so much fun we decided to repeat this year again.

We were in wave 8 (all the way in the back), I am a walker so I try to stay as far away from the front as I can to allow runners and joggers to have a good start.

We had fun, but we agree completely with figment82's evaluation.

I am from Florida, I have worked on the emergency operations center for the state and we drill on people's head the importance of seeking shelter during a storm, so when the lightning started I made a V line to the buses, I was disappointed that no announcements were being made on the loud speakers to tell people to seek shelter.

We managed to go through the obstacle course (it WAS fun going through the mud on the crawl net, I am not gonna lie ), and I felt refreshed by the rain even though I was nearly blind by the time I crossed the finish line thanks to the water and sweat combo getting into my eyes.

We finished all our clues but they weren't taking our passports anymore (would have been helpful to have a general announcement at the finish line, someone with a bull horn would have been enough to let us know to not look around lost trying to figure out where to turn them in and not to look for the finishing line photo op like last year, you know with a backdrop and all).

We were going to trek back to EE for a ride and take a ride photo with our medals on, but DH thought better about it and actually approached a CM manning a drink cart and asked him if it was open since the lightning was bad, of course it wasn't, silly me! Duh! So we just ran like mad to the bus.

We sorta knew where to go from last year, but a lot of people were totally lost, a bunch of CM's didn't know where to direct them, which puts everybody in danger (it was storming really badly by then), we got to the bus and everybody seemed to be steaming because the decals on the medals were peeling right off!!! I had part of it on my cheek! Another couple was really sad and disappointed because they didn't even get to do the obstacle course, I gave them my light up pen since we had two, I felt so bad.

I am staring at the medal's lanyard right now and it is a far cry from last year's I am very very disappointed in that. I work with vendors and do things like these for a living and I would be calling my contacts hopping mad and demanding a refund if it was my company.

DH and I kept my Palm Pre with us during the race, I was scared that it would be ruined since we literally looked like we had jumped in a pool by the end, turns out the phone case protected it just fine and after reading the horror stories of other phones and electronics being ruined I am so happy I didn't check anything in! We had to do laundry the next day at AKL because even our undies were totally soaked and in FL humidity clothes get moldy , we didn't want our T-shirts to get ruined as well! (BTW this year they weren't even glow in the dark like last year's!)

All in all, yes, we had fun, I even got to meet the moms from the Mom's panel and walk with them for a while, but the apparent lack of weather contingency plan was a let-down. I expect way better than that from Disney.

At least I beat my 5K time from last year's by at least 8 minutes, yay me! But the scavenger portion took us way too long since our shoes were filled with water and my feet were hydroplaning in them . At least I am proud I did it all even when it was really raining and storming bad.

Also... moving the race to JUNE?!?!??! WHAT?! Are they trying to kill us? I am not sure I will take part on it next year,

 

[DianeL]

ChocoKat! I was thinking of you the other day but hadn't seen you (I tend to be slow on the boards and only a few threads these days). So glad to see you again!!! We met at the start for the 2008 race with Anne. Then again post race and during if my memory is correct What a bummer about this years race! Fun with the mud? You'll be signing up for the Muddy Buddy next!

 

[suzannews]

I didn't do the race but live about 20 minutes away. Just wanted to say that moving this race to June is not very smart. June's weather forecast is always 100% chance of showers.

 

[ChocoKat]

ChocoKat! I was thinking of you the other day but hadn't seen you (I tend to be slow on the boards and only a few threads these days). So glad to see you again!!! We met at the start for the 2008 race with Anne. Then again post race and during if my memory is correct What a bummer about this years race! Fun with the mud? You'll be signing up for the Muddy Buddy next!

Diane!!! Helloooo!!!
I was going over my photos from last year's race and was wondering how you guys were doing, so happy to hear from you again!

I nearly landed face first on the mud laughing when someone actually screamed: "HEY GUYS! CHECK US OUT! WE ARE MUDDY BUDDIES!" while we were doing the crawl nets. People were laughing so hard I am sure we all ended up swallowing some grass

 

[ChocoKat]

I didn't go the race but live about 20 minutes away. Just wanted to say that moving this race to June is not very smart. June's weather forecast is always 100% chance of showers.

I know, right?
We are either going to steam like broccoli or end up drenched again makes no sense at all!

 

[sunshine girl]

Huge bummer to hear about the race being called off. I did the EE Challenge last year and it was a blast!! I'm so sorry to hear about the rainout.

I'm curious about these medals with the lanyard/ribbon with stickers on it that peeled off in the rain...?? Does anyone have a photo? I am looking at my medal from last year's EEC and the ribbon has what appears to be high-quality printing on a nice colored fabric. Why did they cheapen it??? And if they did indeed cheapen those medals... another huge bummer! Booo.