Marathon Weekend 2019

[croach]

There will definitely be a marathon weekend character text thread. Or I guess two because of AT&T and their stupid rules. You want to start them now, that’s fine but be careful what you wish for.....

Edited because the grammar police pointed out a mistake.

 

[rteetz]

There will definitely be a marathon weekend character text thread. Or I guess two because of AT&T and there stupid rules. You want to start them now, that’s fine but be careful what you wish for.....

Oh come on Cliff it’s fun!

 

[croach]

Oh come on Cliff it’s fun!

Oh yeah it’s great fun. I enjoy it. But when it gets going, you get off a plane with 40 missed messages.

 

[KSellers88]

I'll just be sure to carry my portable charger with me everywhere, because I want in on this group text!

 

[a-mad]

As everyone's gearing up to get FP+'s over the coming days, I have another question for this first-timer:

How long does the process typically take if you are getting 7 days of FP+'s and you begin right at 7am? The reason I ask - my running partner and I need to set a starting time for our long run on Saturday so I want to have sufficient time before I commit to a time to meet him.

I wasn't sure if the system gets jammed up at all, or if you're able to procure what you want in 20-30 minutes or so... (realizing that I'll need to adapt if what I want is gone, etc...)

Thanks in advance.

 

[AFwifelife]

As everyone's gearing up to get FP+'s over the coming days, I have another question for this first-timer:

How long does the process typically take if you are getting 7 days of FP+'s and you begin right at 7am? The reason I ask - my running partner and I need to set a starting time for our long run on Saturday so I want to have sufficient time before I commit to a time to meet him.

I wasn't sure if the system gets jammed up at all, or if you're able to procure what you want in 20-30 minutes or so... (realizing that I'll need to adapt if what I want is gone, etc...)

Thanks in advance.

If you have a plan (and a few back ups), it’s not too time consuming to make some initial choices.

 

[TCB in FLA]

I was just asking this question in another thread lol. I guess I should have came here for the info before posting.



I'm going to need a new group because I was not a part of the first, second, ect. I need into these super secret groups guys and girls!

I was part of one group for the half, then got promoted? demoted? moved to group two for the full. But that was long ago in a text group far far deleted.

Perhaps easier to use the WhatsApp group feature this time to avoid the 4000 text crunch? I vote early organization since I need to know what panda shirt to buy prior to DATW.

 

[Keels]

@croach just figured out how to get talk-to-text to work for character texts groups. I think trying to get him to use WhatsApp would make his head explode.

 

[Keels]

I've posted a short survey relating to 2019 Marathon Weekend DATW for anyone interested in joining or following along with the shenanigans.

 

[Sleepless Knight]

How long does the process typically take if you are getting 7 days of FP+'s and you begin right at 7am? The reason I ask - my running partner and I need to set a starting time for our long run on Saturday so I want to have sufficient time before I commit to a time to meet him.

Keep in mind that the 7:00am start time is Orlando time, so if you're in a different time zone and want to be on when the window opens, you'll need to be up even earlier. For this west coaster, I have to decide if I want to wake up shortly before 4:00am to get my FP+ reservations and then go back to bed.

If you have a plan (and a few back ups), it’s not too time consuming to make some initial choices.

I agree with this. It takes me about 20-30 minutes depending. Honestly, if the process intimidates you right now, make practice FP+ reservations today for 30 days out just to see how to do it.

And pro tip from me. Know what your FP+ reservations are after you make them. During all the in and out of my phone during the Dark Side Half this year, I somehow managed to cancel my Flight of Passage FP+ during the race with all the apps that were open. When I realized it was missing later that morning, I went to concierge at my resort and they were able to find out the time of my reservation cancellation which was indeed during the race. I went to Guest Services at Animal Kingdom the next day and they were able to restore my Flight of Passage FP+ reservation.

 

[a-mad]

Keep in mind that the 7:00am start time is Orlando time, so if you're in a different time zone and want to be on when the window opens, you'll need to be up even earlier. For this west coaster, I have to decide if I want to wake up shortly before 4:00am to get my FP+ reservations and then go back to bed.

I agree with this. It takes me about 20-30 minutes depending. Honestly, if the process intimidates you right now, make practice FP+ reservations today for 30 days out just to see how to do it.

And pro tip from me. Know what your FP+ reservations are after you make them. During all the in and out of my phone during the Dark Side Half this year, I somehow managed to cancel my Flight of Passage FP+ during the race with all the apps that were open. When I realized it was missing later that morning, I went to concierge at my resort and they were able to find out the time of my reservation cancellation which was indeed during the race. I went to Guest Services at Animal Kingdom the next day and they were able to restore my Flight of Passage FP+ reservation.

Thanks @Sleepless Knight. This is all very helpful. Yes, I'll be up at 5am MT for the 7am ET sprint. Great advice to go in and do a test run... I didn't think to do that.

 

[Sleepless Knight]

Thanks @Sleepless Knight. This is all very helpful. Yes, I'll be up at 5am MT for the 7am ET sprint. Great advice to go in and do a test run... I didn't think to do that.

Yeah, I did it before my first FP+ reservation ever and it helped me know how the system would work.

Note that sometimes the website won't work, but the app will so make sure you know how to do it on both.

 

[lhermiston]

So, I got an afternoon FP for Flight of Passage on Expo day, which means hitting up the expo in the morning. Can I reasonably expect to pick up my packet - no merch - and be to AK by noon or so for lunch?

Good luck to everyone else making selections today!

 

[Barca33Runner]

So, I got an afternoon FP for Flight of Passage on Expo day, which means hitting up the expo in the morning. Can I reasonably expect to pick up my packet - no merch - and be to AK by noon or so for lunch?

Good luck to everyone else making selections today!

W&D attendees may be able to shed a little better light (I think rD was making some expo changes that started with W&D), but if they have Dopey packet pickup organized as poorly as last year it’s going to be tough to make noon at AK.

To be fair, last year was the first one where we had trouble getting in and out in under an hour just picking up packets; so I’m hopeful this year will run more smoothly with fewer participants and rD (likely) making some changes to the process.

 

[AFwifelife]

I wasn’t there on day 1 for W&D but the process was so smooth and quick. Expecting a bigger crowd obviously for day 1 of marathon weekend but the flow was great (if they keep it the way it was).

 

[IamTrike]

So, I got an afternoon FP for Flight of Passage on Expo day, which means hitting up the expo in the morning. Can I reasonably expect to pick up my packet - no merch - and be to AK by noon or so for lunch?

Good luck to everyone else making selections today!

This past year for Marathon weekend Packet pickup and Official Merchandise were in two separate locations. We were there fairly early on the first day of the expo. Packet pickup didn't take that long. There was a long line to get in for official merch, (I think it was about an hour long for us) but you said you won't be doing that so you shouldn't have to wait for that. You may need to budget time to go into both Jostens and HP fieldhouse because sometimes the bibs and shirts and separate.

 

[TCB in FLA]

So, I got an afternoon FP for Flight of Passage on Expo day, which means hitting up the expo in the morning. Can I reasonably expect to pick up my packet - no merch - and be to AK by noon or so for lunch?

Good luck to everyone else making selections today!

I think a lot will depend on how you plan to get to/from the expo and AK. I’m not sure I would trust Disney transportation for all that.

 

[lhermiston]

I think a lot will depend on how you plan to get to/from the expo and AK. I’m not sure I would trust Disney transportation for all that.

Agreed. Even if the expo only takes me an hour. I still need to get from the expo to POR to AK. Maybe 12:30 is more reasonable? I don’t *need* to be at AK until 2:30. I might just have to grab a late lunch.

 

[AFwifelife]

Agreed. Even if the expo only takes me an hour. I still need to get from the expo to POR to AK. Maybe 12:30 is more reasonable? I don’t *need* to be at AK until 2:30. I might just have to grab a late lunch.

2:30 is the start time of the FoP FP? I would just shoot to get to AK as quick as you can and do mobile ordering at Satuli Canteen.

 

[Sleepless Knight]

Made all my FP+ reservations this morning. Early on the system was glitchy and gave me some problems in the browser(s) and the app, but then in started to work just fine. Even noticed some late afternoon Slinky Dog Dash availability on my first full day, but I passed on them as I think that's my Expo time. I was able to get every FP+ I wanted albeit with some give and take.

Good luck to everyone whose windows open up soon.