Marathon Weekend 2020

[steph0808]

They didn't send out anything they just updated their terms in the guide. I didn't hear anything on a crack down on spectating so I wouldn't worry.

Oh, the guide. No wonder I couldn't find it.

It seems mixed on the Star Wars thread - some people said it was fine, some said it was barren in terms of spectators.

 

[Dis_Yoda]

They didn't send out anything they just updated their terms in the guide. I didn't hear anything on a crack down on spectating so I wouldn't worry.

They told people to leave along the parkway near McDonald’s along with people in some of the parking lots.

I have a feeling lots of negative feedback will be given as there was a lot less along the Star Wars course. Even my husband who usually is oblivious made mention of it as he was looking forward to his red vines at Hollywood Studios he has gotten every year.

 

[Princess KP]

Does anyone know what runDisney sent out in regards to spectating at this past weekend's Star Wars races? Now I'm worried that booking at the Poly won't have done anything in terms of spectating, since it seems runDisney is cracking down and wanting people to just go to the finish line.

People holding signs along the highways, outside the resorts, outside AK, on Boardwalk, etc., is what keeps me going during Disney races and one reason why I love them.

They didn't send out anything they just updated their terms in the guide. I didn't hear anything on a crack down on spectating so I wouldn't worry.

When I checked in to my resort this past weekend, they gave me an info sheet with bus times, etc... and it stated that spectators were only allowed at the start and finish. There weren't any spectators at AK, just guests arriving for the day. There were people that had signs by the McDonald's and they were not allowed on the road. You could see them in the McD's parking lot. There were a few spectators as you entered the Boardwalk area but they may have been part of one of the charities. Cast members were out at Epcot but that was it.

 

[jennamfeo]

When I checked in to my resort this past weekend, they gave me an info sheet with bus times, etc... and it stated that spectators were only allowed at the start and finish. There weren't any spectators at AK, just guests arriving for the day. There were people that had signs by the McDonald's and they were not allowed on the road. You could see them in the McD's parking lot. There were a few spectators as you entered the Boardwalk area but they may have been part of one of the charities. Cast members were out at Epcot but that was it.

Oh okay. That's enough to have me hard pass on Marathon Weekend.

 

[steph0808]

This might really affect what I run this year. I was leaning toward the full. If there is minimal crowd support, I might just do the 10k to run around Boardwalk and Epcot.

And if I hadn't already rented DVC, I probably wouldn't go at all. The crowd support is one of the main reasons that I run Disney.

 

[rteetz]

When I checked in to my resort this past weekend, they gave me an info sheet with bus times, etc... and it stated that spectators were only allowed at the start and finish. There weren't any spectators at AK, just guests arriving for the day. There were people that had signs by the McDonald's and they were not allowed on the road. You could see them in the McD's parking lot. There were a few spectators as you entered the Boardwalk area but they may have been part of one of the charities. Cast members were out at Epcot but that was it.

I can't see this continuing for Marathon Weekend. If so thats a major downgrade. Spectators help make the atmosphere what it is.

I think people are more willing to fight those rules if they are still in place for marathon weekend.

 

[rteetz]

Not that it will matter but I wrote an email to runDisney. If spectators are indeed limited to only the start and finish at marathon weekend I may actually be done with runDisney for a while. All major races allow spectating along the courses. Its absurd not too.

 

[Princess KP]

@MommaoffherRocker observed that there was a lot more police presence this past weekend so maybe they limited spectator access for a reason??

 

[steph0808]

Not that it will matter but I wrote an email to runDisney. If spectators are indeed limited to only the start and finish at marathon weekend I may actually be done with runDisney for a while. All major races allow spectating along the courses. Its absurd not too.

I'll happily write an email about this as well - what's the best email address to use?

 

[rteetz]

I'll happily write an email about this as well - what's the best email address to use?

I just wrote to the general email on the runDisney site. If that doesn't get me a response I may go up the ladder to Farron Kelly the runDisney president.

 

[Dopey 2020]

I can't see this continuing for Marathon Weekend. If so thats a major downgrade. Spectators help make the atmosphere what it is.

This for sure, I really missed the crowd coming out of AK this past weekend. I’m sure it’s a security nightmare but Disney deals with that 24/7 pretty much anywhere on property. I’ll be sending an email as well but in the end I’ll be running either way, I need my runDisney fix

 

[jhoannam]

When I checked in to my resort this past weekend, they gave me an info sheet with bus times, etc... and it stated that spectators were only allowed at the start and finish. There weren't any spectators at AK, just guests arriving for the day. There were people that had signs by the McDonald's and they were not allowed on the road. You could see them in the McD's parking lot. There were a few spectators as you entered the Boardwalk area but they may have been part of one of the charities. Cast members were out at Epcot but that was it.

Oh wow, the marathon is going to be a terrible race if spectators aren’t allowed throughout the course. I need the cheering and candy along the race.

 

[jmasgat]

I added my voice (emailed RD) to the chorus against the inanity of the change re:spectators. It still stings that Disney clamped down on those of us from the old WISH board who used to make an effort to provide food & encouragement--which were always appreciated-- during the latter part of the marathon , to anyone who wanted it.

I assume the lawyers/risk management/security people have gained the upper hand. And I bet not a one of them is a runner.

They are sapping the fun out of the races little by little.

 

[BikeFan]

When I checked in to my resort this past weekend, they gave me an info sheet with bus times, etc... and it stated that spectators were only allowed at the start and finish. There weren't any spectators at AK, just guests arriving for the day. There were people that had signs by the McDonald's and they were not allowed on the road. You could see them in the McD's parking lot. There were a few spectators as you entered the Boardwalk area but they may have been part of one of the charities. Cast members were out at Epcot but that was it.

I wonder why this change was made and whether it will continue going forward. In all my RunDisney races in the past, I never remember spectators creating safety or traffic issues, so it doesn't seem like the old policy needed to be changed. Does this mean spectators won't be allowed onto Main Street in Magic Kingdom prior to park opening, like in years past? Running down Main Street with the crowd roaring was a highlight of Marathon Weekend. It won't be the same if it's only CMs (who are great, but there's just not as many).

 

[BikeFan]

I added my voice (emailed RD) to the chorus against the inanity of the change re:spectators. It still stings that Disney clamped down on those of us from the old WISH board who used to make an effort to provide food & encouragement--which were always appreciated-- during the latter part of the marathon , to anyone who wanted it.

What's the back story to that? I don't recall the specifics.

 

[camaker]

I added my voice (emailed RD) to the chorus against the inanity of the change re:spectators. It still stings that Disney clamped down on those of us from the old WISH board who used to make an effort to provide food & encouragement--which were always appreciated-- during the latter part of the marathon , to anyone who wanted it.

I assume the lawyers/risk management/security people have gained the upper hand. And I bet not a one of them is a runner.

They are sapping the fun out of the races little by little.

I find all these changes disappointing and hope that the feedback that they get will result in a course correction similar to what happened after they removed the characters from the course at Tinkerbell a few years ago. That being said, I don't think it's so much the lawyers/risk management/security people who have caused the issues. In my opinion, it's today's tort-happy culture in which anyone will sue for anything in an attempt to get rich quick. In a race run entirely on Disney property it's not hard to see a scenario where someone hands out food that causes an issue and Disney gets sued because it was on their property and they had ultimate responsibility and should have controlled the situation.

 

[jhoannam]

I added my voice (emailed RD) to the chorus against the inanity of the change re:spectators. It still stings that Disney clamped down on those of us from the old WISH board who used to make an effort to provide food & encouragement--which were always appreciated-- during the latter part of the marathon , to anyone who wanted it.

I assume the lawyers/risk management/security people have gained the upper hand. And I bet not a one of them is a runner.

They are sapping the fun out of the races little by little.

I can’t imagine they incurre more of a liability than any other races, non-rDisney.

I think I’ll voice my opinion too.

 

[lahobbs4]

Hopefully this was just some kind of high security risk for some reason? I'm trying to stay positive guys, even though it's tough on this one. I would be heartbroken if spectators were dramatically reduced.

 

[lahobbs4]

Oh wow, the marathon is going to be a terrible race if spectators aren’t allowed throughout the course. I need the cheering and candy along the race.

This is the main reason that Marathon Weekend is the only full I will run. None of our locals have the course support from spectators and I hate it. This may make me choose the half and 10K instead of Dopey/Goofy.

 

[camaker]

I can’t imagine they incurre more of a liability than any other races, non-rDisney.

I think I’ll voice my opinion too.

Most other races are run on public streets or lands, not privately owned. From that standpoint, I think the liability would be much higher. In addition, if someone got a "bad" snack from a spectator in a non-Disney race, who's going to get sued? The municipality is most like going to be immune, where Disney would have full exposure as a private company.