Expedition Everest Challenge Trekkers

[5/4Disney]

Dh and I are doing it also, can't remember our name. I'm sure Dh does, I can post it later. We are stay at AKL and will be spending a bunch of time wime tasting at Epcot

 

[BigFanOfTheWorld]

Hello,

I'm Chris, and I will be running (that's the plan, anyway) the Everest 5k with two friends, Brian and Kevin. We had to sign up as two teams, obviously.

We are the Sweaty Yetis, and we will be staying at AKL.

We have been walking and running on our lunch breaks at work, getting in about 6-8 miles of roadwork each week for the past 6 weeks. Its a bit harder now that the daily highs are around 90 degrees. We work 3rd shift, so its not quite that hot when we run. More like upper 70s.

This will be our first Disney event. It may be my first race of any kind. I might try to work in a 5k before September, to see what I have gotten myself into. Nothing like a good reality check.

Looking forward to that last weekend in September.

Chris

 

[MomtoGKC]

Switch me to the definitely doing it category!! I just booked 10 rooms at the AKL for my friend's company and she's taking me as her partner. I am SO excited to be able to go back to Disney so soon after my last trip. And with no kids! I feel guilty going there without them, but then again now I get to ride all the roller coasters. :

We have no names yet - we still have to register for the race.

 

[JudyS]

I already have a Disney trip planned that week (I used one of my many timeshares to trade into Old Key West ) and I'm thinking of doing this. I have quite a few health problems so the 16 minute per mile pace requirement will be a challenge for me, but training for this would be a great motivator!

I have some questions, though --

Are the "obstacle course" and "scavenger hunt" optional, or are they a required part of the race, and if you don't do them, you don't count as finished? (Maybe they are required only for teams?) Depending on how hot it is (and Orlando in September at 7 pm can be very hot), I may be lucky to just get through the 5k without collapsing!

Also, I see that registration costs $100! However, that includes 1 day of parks admission. I don't need the admission, since I have an annual pass. Will I be able to do something else with that 1-day ticket it? (Sell it, give it to a friend, put it towards my next annual pass?) Does anyone know if you get a regular ticket, or will it be a special sporting event ticket that expires soon?

TIA!

 

[blizzard]

Are the "obstacle course" and "scavenger hunt" optional, or are they a required part of the race, and if you don't do them, you don't count as finished? (Maybe they are required only for teams?) Depending on how hot it is (and Orlando in September at 7 pm can be very hot), I may be lucky to just get through the 5k without collapsing!

I don't believe they are optional, however the race is not chip timed, so you could drop out at any time. They have time limits, but I think they are pretty liberal. I also don't believe they will be too difficult. I think they are going for a fun type of race, so I don't think there would be a wall climb or anything like that.

Also, I see that registration costs $100! However, that includes 1 day of parks admission. I don't need the admission, since I have an annual pass. Will I be able to do something else with that 1-day ticket it? (Sell it, give it to a friend, put it towards my next annual pass?) Does anyone know if you get a regular ticket, or will it be a special sporting event ticket that expires soon?

Unfortunately, there are no discounts on the entry fee for AP holders. The included ticket is a special ticket, with an expiry date on it. (I think about mid-October) It will not have any value to cash in for an AP, but you can give it away (or sell it to a friend) The ticket is only good for one day admission to either Epcot OR Animal Kingdom (it's not a hopper).

Hope that helps. The specific info on the ticket (the expiry date) is around if you need to search for it.

 

[JudyS]

I don't believe they are optional, however the race is not chip timed, so you could drop out at any time. They have time limits, but I think they are pretty liberal. I also don't believe they will be too difficult. I think they are going for a fun type of race, so I don't think there would be a wall climb or anything like that.


Unfortunately, there are no discounts on the entry fee for AP holders. The included ticket is a special ticket, with an expiry date on it. (I think about mid-October) It will not have any value to cash in for an AP, but you can give it away (or sell it to a friend) The ticket is only good for one day admission to either Epcot OR Animal Kingdom (it's not a hopper).

Hope that helps. The specific info on the ticket (the expiry date) is around if you need to search for it.

Thank you very much, Carol!

Let me make sure I understand what you are saying, since this would be my first Disney race and I'm not too familiar with how they work.

The "chip timing" is a way to tell what time a runner passes a particular point, is that correct? So, the fact that the obstacle course isn't chip-timed -- does that mean I could skip it, without anyone but me knowing? (I'm not sure I'd want to do that, but I'd probably find it less embarrassing than being "swept" off the course for being too slow.) Judging from the FAQ for this race, though, the obstacle course and scavenger hunt are timed -- do you know where the information that they aren't chip-timed comes from?

Thanks also for the information on the tickets. I did what you suggested and after searching for the information, I found this statement, "The theme park tickets are valid from September 26, 2008 through October 10, 2008." If my husband goes with me, he could maybe use the ticket, which would be a lot better than letting it go to waste.

 

[megan2346]

Hi, can I join. My DH and I will be doing this too. I can't wait. I have just recently starting running road races. I did a 5k this morning. I'm a little worried about my DH he doesn't run at all.

 

[jeanneg]

I am assuming that there will be a way to tell if you completed a particular challenge or visited a particular spot on the scavenger hunt. I once did an event that was somewhat similar and each time you completed the task you were able to put an inked stamp on your card over a matching picture. Each picture was different and the stamp at each station was different so you couldn't cheat unless you physically gave someone else your card....but then you wouldn't be able to use it to go to another station. Long story short, each person had to go to each station or the card wouldn't be complete. I am thinking they will probably use a similar system. Each person/team must complete the challenge or find the object. According to the FAQs there will be cast members onhand ready to assist people having trouble. My guess is that they want everyone to get a medal, but they will have to go through the motions of earning it. I'm expecting it to be fun but not very difficult. And don't worry about the running. We have an hour to do the 5K which is almost 20 min per mile......not a particularly fast walk!

 

[JudyS]

..... And don't worry about the running. We have an hour to do the 5K which is almost 20 min per mile......not a particularly fast walk!

Thanks for the info, Jeanneg.

I am worried about the pace, though. 20 minutes a mile would be no problem, but the FAQ says the pace requirement is a 16 minute mile. I can't walk that fast; my legs are just too short! So, I will have to jog a good part of this to keep from being swept. I couldn't possibly make that pace requirement now, but I am hoping to be able to do it by race time. But, even if I can do it, I expect to be pretty tired by the time I've finished the 5k, so I hope the obstacle course and scavenger hunt are pretty easy -- and not just easy to someone who finds a 16 minute mile easy, but easy to someone like me, who finds a 16 minute mile to be a challenge. (I have visions of being unable to keep up, just like in gym class 30 years ago.... )

I've actually wanted to do one of the WDW runs for several years now, and I've been really trying to increase my speed and endurance, but I wasn't making any progress until recently.

 

[syko]

I do not know what the obstacles will be ...... but I do know that they are having to find a way for them to be wheelchair accessable.

 

[cobbler]

I have an extra theme park ticket that I bought with the special discount (not the after party ticket, but the ticket that is good at Epcot and AK). I don't need it, so if anyone wants it, you can have it for what I paid for it.

It is $35. Send me a PM if you are interested.

 

[sasha's goofy]

Howdy, I just found the WISH area of the dis boards and think it is great. I conned my bff into doing EE with me. We are team Northwest Trekkers since we are from the northwest. We are staying at sports, which was too cheap to pass up. I am also going Goofy in 09, so it would be nice to meet up with people at both events.

 

[tigger2esq]

we are officially registered as the Mouse Mommies!!! My racing partner is having knee issues so we will be race/walkings the 5k rather than running. we just wnat to finish and have a fun girls weekend in WDW. I am very excited.

 

[rthutchens]

Just signed DH and myself up for the Everest Challenge. Our team name is Yaking Yetis. He runs marathons and I'm a couch potato. Lets see how this team turns out. I also was wondering what to do with the one day tickets. We are both annual passholders, so, we don't need the tickets and we will be traveling alone. Does anyone need tickets for family members?

 

[sunshine girl]

Hi all! My boyfriend and I will be doing the Expedition Everest Challenge. Our team name is Congratulations! Yes, that's right, we are team Congratulations! ... what can I say, I love it when people say congratulations to me post-race as I wear my medal around the Disney parks, so why not?

Also - I notice on the website that the event is now 85% full... it was 75% full a few days ago when I registered, so it seems to be filling up. So sign up now if you're on the fence!

- sunshine girl (Laura) and boyfriend Russ

 

[syko]

For all the people who have aske about the obstacle course, I have been told that its a course of ropes and nettting, and theat they are still working to see if they can make a wheelchair course.

 

[Sassagoula]

Hope it's ok to ask this here, but I couldn't seem to find an answer anywhere else. Does anyone know how transportation to and from the race is going to work if we're staying at one of the host hotels? Not sure if we'll receive a special pass or something like that. Thanks for any info on that!

 

[jeanneg]

They just posted photos of the medal! It's a compass! Too funny!

http://adisneyworldsports.disney.go.com/media/dwws_v0220/en_US/endurance/everestmedal.jpg

 

[5/4Disney]

After looking at the medal, I must say I'm getting excited. As far as transportation goes, my guess would be they use the buses.
See you guys there.
Julie

 

[luvdiz2]

My 11 year old ds and I will be there! Can you believe the medal...

We are staying at Pop for that part of the trip - there Sept 21-Oct 12 - We can't wait