Marathon weekend race pictures

[hops&dreams]

When you stop to take pics with characters, are there cast members there to take the pics, or do you have to ask a fellow runner? Do you always use your own camera, or is there a photo pass guy there?

Also, about how much time does it add? I just did my first half marathon, and stopping for the bathroom added about 30 mins (we stopped at least 3 times).

 

[FFigawi]

There is always a cast member (or two) with all of the characters. You hand them your camera, they take the picture, hand it back to you, and you're on your way again. I've never bothered with a photopass, so I can't say for sure if there's one there or not. Most of the characters will have one of the official race photographers there, though, so you can buy those pictures along with the ones of you, you know, actually running.

As far as how much time it adds, that all depends on how many characters you stop for and how long the lines are for each one. Short lines will take less than a minute or two. Long ones will take 4-5 minutes or more. I don't stop if the line is more than 10-15 people long, and last year my Garmin time that doesn't count the stops was 10 minutes off of my chip time.

 

[stitchfan18]

There is always a cast member, and sometimes an ASI photographer (they take all the official race photos.) No photopass people that I saw anyways. The length of the line depends really on what coral you are in I think. When I ran the wine and dine relay, I was the second leg. My super speedy SIL ran the first leg and when I started I was running with people in the 7-8 min/mile pace group. There were no lines for characters at all for me during that race. When I did the princess 1/2 I started in coral B, and usually waited about 1 minute for the somewhat popular characters (Chip & Dale, Stitch, etc,) but waited up to 4-5 for the really popular characters (pirates, princesses and princes, etc.) There were some characters without lines too (Meeko, Phineus and Ferb, Disney Bear, etc.) I only stopped for character pictures (I got about 20-25) and finished in 2:38 for the princess 1/2. I ran a 1/2 a month later in 2:10, so it's safe to say it added about 25-30 minutes to my run time.

 

[disney_runner]

I'm a back of the pack runner/walker, and yes the lines for the characters get quite long - especially at the beginning of the race. Closer towards the end of the races, people are more tired and don't care as much for photos, so that's when I opted for the character shots - regardless of which character it was!

Also wanted to point out that on the WDW Half's, you are able to use the regular restrooms inside the parks during your race - they are open! So if you can train accordingly, and wait until about mile 6-ish (at least for the January and Princess courses), you can use the real facilities instead of waiting in those ridiculous lines for the port-o-potties. I've even seen women going into the mens room in Tomorrowland!

I'll be running my first Wine and Dine on Oct. 1, so I'm assuming the same goes for this race as well. I'm hoping I'll be able to use the real facilities once inside AK for this race too. Good luck in your training!

 

[cewait]

Just adding a small point...

Traditionally, you hand you camera to the character handler and they snap the photo. I followed a Japanese runner a few years back who was stopping at all mile markers. I started snapping photos around mile 3 and went for 5-6 miles with him - until i was on the wrong side of the course at a mile marker. Just ask if you need a photo.

2011 was the first year ASI supported character photos. They are the official race photographer of the marathon (and all other endurance events). They can be a bit pricey if purchasing one or two photos. I generally purchase the electronic package if I am in several race photos.

Knowing that the ASI guys are at many characters, I may stop for a photo or two next year.

The Photopass photographers do not work the events.

Character Photo Op Courtesies...

1) patience. only stop for those characters you are willing to pay for with race time. Captain Jack has 20+ folks most every time I see him.
2) have your camera ready. most cameras will shutdown if idle too long.... make sure it is ready to fire when you hand it off.
3) DO NOT run across the course to get a photo op.

Potty-wise.....

Yes the AK B-Rooms are open during the W&D. The first one that I saw was Africa.

Yes, the mens room can be co-ed in parks run through pre-opening. do not attempt if the park is open (i.e. DHS in the marathon) unless you want to shock folks.

Also, the trees just after the start are co-ed and 100% faster than waiting for a greenroom.

 

[stampingoddess]

If you are doing the race with one or two others, one of the ways we cut down on line times is that as soon as we see a character we can a pic with, one of us fromthe group runs ahead and gets in the line while the rest of us maintain our usual pace. By the time the rest of the group gets to the character, there is generally only 1-2 people ahead. Then when the next character comes up, someone else from the group runs ahead, etc. Since imprementing this strategy a few years ago, I figure we've cut about 10-15 minutes off of out total wait times for characters throughout the race.