Expedition Everest Challenge and Honesty

[MickeyT]

Had to come here to vent (whine) to my friends. My DW, DGS and I are going to be at Disney World the week of EEC and cannot participate. We had already booked our trip, reservations at AKL and ready to go when I saw the ad for the inaugural Everest event. Great I thought. Grandson loves sports and competition. This kid regularly runs with me. Wife and I are training for the Disney ½ in January. We can have a definite night to remember.

Then I saw the age restrictions. You have to be 11 and DGS does not turn 11 until January 1st. That hurt. I sent e-mail to contact list asking if there was anyway around this but no reply. I even went to the registration to see if there was anything but all I saw was that you must be 11 by 9/27. What I find ironic is the beneficiary of this event is PE4Life. Healthy kids.

I understand the rules and have to practice what I preach (especially to a 10yr old). It’s just tough that I pay for him as an adult for admission, accommodations and food but cannot give them money to participate in a fun event. Life goes on. Thanks for listening fellow W.I.S.H.er’s.

 

[windwalker]

Had to come here to vent (whine) to my friends. My DW, DGS and I are going to be at Disney World the week of EEC and cannot participate. We had already booked our trip, reservations at AKL and ready to go when I saw the ad for the inaugural Everest event. Great I thought. Grandson loves sports and competition. This kid regularly runs with me. Wife and I are training for the Disney ½ in January. We can have a definite night to remember.

Then I saw the age restrictions. You have to be 11 and DGS does not turn 11 until January 1st. That hurt. I sent e-mail to contact list asking if there was anyway around this but no reply. I even went to the registration to see if there was anything but all I saw was that you must be 11 by 9/27. What I find ironic is the beneficiary of this event is PE4Life. Healthy kids.

I understand the rules and have to practice what I preach (especially to a 10yr old). It’s just tough that I pay for him as an adult for admission, accommodations and food but cannot give them money to participate in a fun event. Life goes on. Thanks for listening fellow W.I.S.H.er’s.

If it was a local fun 5K or something I'd say screw the rules and sign him up as an 11 year old. But there are supposedly hoops to jump through or something so I'd say don't chance it. If he were injured, which can happen in a park under the best of circumstances then it could get sticky. Here in Kentucky, during the time I was at U of L competing in the Senior Olympics a teenage girl lost her feet when a cable snapped on the ride she was on. Were some freak thing like this happen you might have a difficult time getting all the medical bills covered by Disney if he was an illegal entry. Just a thought.

I'm waging an ongoing campain with Disney sports to get the pace requirements relaxed so more people can participate. I'd love to see races like the ones at Disney be events that everyone can do.

Walking Panda

 

[hoosmi]

I have an 8 year old daughter- I totally understand your frustration!

The 5ks at Disney have been really inconsistent with their age limits. We just did the Minnie 5k- the age limit was 8. The recently departed ToT 6.5k was I think 7- whatever it was we were within the limit last year. Here's the kicker- the 5k Marathon weekend and the Princess weekend say "all ages." I'd say that the EE race was a higher limit because it's at night, but so was the ToT 6.5k! Maybe they think little kids would take too long?

I would never try to sneak my child in, but I'm the kind of dork who still gets nervous taking a diet coke into a department store... I will tell you that Emma has done 3 races with me at Disney, and after the initial sign up I've never been asked her age or anything- not at packet pickup or the day of the race. I just signed her in to get her packet stuff. Your point about the "teaching a lesson" thing and Dave's scary liability concern would probably keep me from sneaking in...

Oh, and if you decide not to take him, don't talk about how he can go with you next year until they announce what next year's race will be like. Emma's still really mad that they dropped the ToT 6.5k and she's not old enough for the 13k!

Jen in GA

 

[deann]

My nephew will be 10, but turning 11 on Oct. 6th! So close to the cut off. I know he would love to do the race. Keep us posted if you ever hear anything back from Disney. Thanks!

 

[dsnyfan21]

I was thinking about this and maybe its because Everest Challenge is more than just a race event, but includes an obstacle course and scavenger hunt?? Just a thought. Also I was thinking that maybe the big sponsors of the race event has a say in the age limits not just Disney Sports people, but I don't know that for sure. Just my two cents.

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

I'm sorry that you've been disappointed.

I was told back when ours were quite young that distance running and age might be a problem. Chronoligical age was/is? used as the reason because development is still occuring. The person who told me this said their doc recommended waiting until their child got a bit older. I've never really researched the reason so just wondering aloud here I guess.

I'm not certain how this plays if kids are used to running at distance and if Grandson is currently putting in distances then for sure I don't understand if he is running with a responsible adult?

I'm definitely onboard with a fun event for all and relaxed times. I do think that would encourage so many more to give this moving thing a try.

 

[MickeyT]

Michael - thanks for your email. Because of the types of obstacles and
the fact that this event will be at night the minimum age is 11 years
old. Unfortunately there is nothing we can do regarding the minimum age
requirement.

This is the reply that Disney sent me.

They also went on about childcare and buying tickets for the post race party for him. Think I'll pass on that one. Way I look at it we just added another night in the parks (plus $300 I didn't spend!). Don't always like the rules in this life but do try to abide by them. I would never lie to get him in and risk him finding out. I do believe in integrity.

Thanks all. Wanted to let you know

 

[deann]

Thanks for the update!