I hate you Disney marathon!

[PaulaVonSchweetz]

I can't stand posts like this.
Newsflash......The marathon happens every single year. The dates are announced a year in advance. They happen during non peak times.
How bout you encourage the runners that spend countless hours training to participate in an event of this magnitude instead of complaining about your 40 minute delay.
It'll happen again next year too buddy so pick a new time of year to take your vacation or embrace it and tie up your running shoes and do it with them.
It'll feel a lot better than being a negative nilly.

 

[emilyindisney]

I agree! Anyone who chooses to go during a runDisney event is the same as someone choosing to go during Christmas. It is a busy time. Should Disney cancel all of their holiday celebrations because the traffic and park closures can 'ruin' someone's vacations? No, of course not. Those celebrations and special events are a really awesome part of someone else's vacation.

 

[mom2rtk]

I agree! Anyone who chooses to go during a runDisney event is the same as someone choosing to go during Christmas. It is a busy time. Should Disney cancel all of their holiday celebrations because the traffic and park closures can 'ruin' someone's vacations? No, of course not. Those celebrations and special event are a really awesome part of someone else's vacation.

Not exactly. I think it's reasonable to expect Disney to be busy Christmas week. January is touted by many as a slow time at Disney. I do believe in researching where you spend your money, but honestly, a lot of people don't even KNOW Disney has marathons.

 

[Tinkerboy00]

Since Ill be at DLR for the first time ever next weekend running the Tink Half I know its going to be crowded and crazy. But you plan accordingly.

Not to mention that the runners have spent the same money/time etc as you have (more including race registration, etc) so I dont see the races ever stopping. In fact they just keep adding more and more of them. They are selling out faster and faster,.

Personally when I book a trip, I look to see whats going on at the parks that time so I can avoid crowded times if I dont want to be part of whats going on, etc.

 

[emilyindisney]

Not exactly. I think it's reasonable to expect Disney to be busy Christmas week. January is touted by many as a slow time at Disney. I do believe in researching where you spend your money, but honestly, a lot of people don't even KNOW Disney has marathons.

That is a fair point. I suppose it would be more appropriate to compare the races to something like the cheerleading competitions or pop warner football tournaments. Maybe not so well known but definitely can affect crowd levels/resort bookings/etc.

At the end of the day, I agree with out that researching before you book is key. If a race, tournament, or special event is going to kill your vacation vibe- don't go.

 

[MMitchell29]

Would anyone happen to know if there is any events going on with Disney the first week of May?

 

[plutolovr]

Would anyone happen to know if there is any events going on with Disney the first week of May?
Today 04:17 PM

Yes, the Expedition Everest Challenge is on May 3rd I believe.

 

[sixxmum]

You know, a lot of the marathoners are actually also on vacation. Running the race at Disney is part of their vacation experience. Not only do they pay race registration, but a lot of them also pay park admission and hotel costs. They are also customers.

Yep, it's inconvenient if you aren't running or don't have anyone running to have to deal with the traffic issues, but that's how it goes at a theme park, or any other service facility, right? What's good for one group isn't good for others and the key is to try to find balance. EMH is good for onsite guests but not good for offsite guests because the park fills before they can get in. Having parades is good for guests who like them but makes it very challenging to get from one part of MK to another if you are someone who doesn't like parades.

Disney could register more people for the race. They could start the race later in the day. They could sell another full marathon in the year, I think. But, they haven't, and maybe that's because it's not so convenient for the other guests.

We have been there for several marathon days over the years, and if we plan ahead a tiny bit and allow for more time to get onto property, we haven't found it that bad.

 

[MMitchell29]

Yes, the Expedition Everest Challenge is on May 3rd I believe.

Ok great so basically avoid Animal Kingdom on May 3rd

 

[Rosco1]

It is not my job to tell Disney how they could improve things. That is their paid employees job.
All I am responsible for is telling them how angry and inconvenient this event made my life.
As far as I am concerned, these events are theft of my services that I paid for. Disney makes the extra money, while normal guests pay through the inconvenience it generated.

EEEEKK--I hope I never have to stand in line near you.

 

[ariel326]

You sound like a peach that would be blast to have at parties.

There are crowd calendars and schedules for a reason. Next time you plan a trip pay more attention to them.

I have never run a marathon, but I do know that they are huge PITA for everyone else around them. That is not Disney's fault that is just the way it is. They shut down roads, detour traffic and cause lots of deleys. They just do. But people love them so they keep planning them up.

Complaining about this is not going to make one difference, because they know there are crowd calendars out there and if you really wanted nothing to do with the event, you should have planned better.

 

[Tinkerboy00]

Yes, the Expedition Everest Challenge is on May 3rd I believe.

yes its usually the first week of May.

You can also check the event calendar on the Disney site. There are lots of events that make crowd levels higher. If you dont like crowds than avoid the big event time periods.

Like F&W for instance. So one could say that you could blame Disney for large amounts of drunk people at Epcot during the month of November. Maybe they should stop having F&W??

 

[ses1230]

Ok great so basically avoid Animal Kingdom on May 3rd

The race is at 10pm, I don't think you have to avoid AK in the day.

 

[MMitchell29]

The race is at 10pm, I don't think you have to avoid AK in the day.

Oh ok thanks for the information I truly appreciate . Is there any free crowd calendars to view

 

[StayAwake]

Oh ok thanks for the information I truly appreciate . Is there any free crowd calendars to view

Yes- Josh's site www.easywdw.com has free crowd calendars.

 

[AmyB2006]

Would anyone happen to know if there is any events going on with Disney the first week of May?

rundisney dot com has all of the races posted. If not the actual dates, you can at least see what time of the year they are, more than a year in advance. They're all around the same week of the year. There are several.

January - Marathon
February - Princess Half Marathon
May - Expedition Everest Challenge (personally can't wait for this one) This is the first week usually, but it's at 10 p.m. Should effect too much.
October - ToT 10 miler
November - Wine and Dine Half Marathon

Plus a few others that they hold at DLR.

By the way, for anyone wandering onto this post, it's from the Half Wine and Dine.

 

[DDM101]

A nightmare 40 minute round about thanks to the marathon detours. Detour took us off property into heavy night time traffic that led us back to even more detours. 5 minutes and 1.2 miles normally.

If they can't hold a marathon without massively inconveniencing other guests than they need to stop.

I remember this, and I still cringe.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Zombie thread. Closing.