News and Developments for Future In-Person runDisney Events

[camaker]

On the most recent Disney Dish, Len Testa hinted that he’s hearing things are unlikely for a return to in-person races until April-ish.

So we’ve got a blogger saying April and a member of these forums with some apparent inside information or insight hinting at MW. I guess we’ll just have to wait for the announcement.

 

[BikeFan]

So we’ve got a blogger saying April and a member of these forums with some apparent inside information or insight hinting at MW. I guess we’ll just have to wait for the announcement.

I think there's a song about that . . .

 

[GreatLakes]

On the most recent Disney Dish, Len Testa hinted that he’s hearing things are unlikely for a return to in-person races until April-ish.

I just listened to the episode this morning. Whatever the new spring race is seems to be more likely as time goes by without an announcement.

 

[huskies90]

On the most recent Disney Dish, Len Testa hinted that he’s hearing things are unlikely for a return to in-person races until April-ish.

I can't say I'm too surprised by this. I was catching up on the Rumor and News board last night and Disney is really holding on to these Covid restrictions for whatever reason. Much of the country is almost 100% back to normal with full ballparks and zero limits on capacity but meanwhile, Disney is slowly removing some restrictions but adding new ones. Also, little to no information about shows, entertainment, resorts and other attractions that went down with Covid coming back. I think they are doing it because they can. Demand for their parks is so high, enough people don't care enough about the masks/restrictions and limited offerings to stay away. So why rush it back? Throw in the challenge to get Cast Members hired and trained and I think the road to live races may be a bit longer than we had hoped.

 

[PrincessV]

i guess what i dont fully understand is when people point to staffing issues and how its requires sooo many people to do these races.

I can't speak for others, but when I talk about staffing issues, I'm talking in the parks and resorts. I think WDW has to be fully open before races happen, and right now, they can't realistically fully open due to inadequate staff. So it's not a direct issue, but an issue that I imagine has to play a part in any rD decision-making. The recent hiring blitz + CP return should open things up very soon, though - I can vouch that many June and July days that all park reservations were partially or entirely sold out reopened over the weekend, which I take as a good sign. Also, more and more closed restaurants are hiring, pointing to a reopening plan for them.

 

[PrincessV]

Based on what I've heard - which isn't from an rD insider directly, but more of an indirect association that would be getting reliable-at-the-time-it's-given info, which is as non-cryptic as I can think to say it without getting someone in trouble lol (which is a whole other thing - why this needs to be so super-secret is beyond me, but it is, so...) - I'm not especially optimistic about a Fall 2021 race, though it could happen, but I'm still feeling good enough about January that I've got a training program starting next month. I don't get the impression ANYthing is written in stone right now, but I can't tell whether that's because it's a fluid situation, or rD/TrackShack is being purposely cagey. History tells me it could really be either... or both.

 

[EPCOT-O.G.]

I just listened to the episode this morning. Whatever the new spring race is seems to be more likely as time goes by without an announcement.

This is kind of where I find myself. I think time is working against us, alas. I also echo whoever else noticed the slow pace of loosening of restrictions without any apparent increase/return of things like shows, entertainment, restaurants... My gut tells me they are realizing demand is outpacing their supply, so there is no need or incentive to increase operational costs beyond bare minimum (ride operations, food availability).

 

[EPCOT-O.G.]

I also think the operational / Cast Member issue is a big one - can they be sure to have enough employees / volunteers to staff this fully come January?

 

[Barca33Runner]

I think they are taking an abundance of caution with COVID restrictions and being realistic about staffing and how quickly they can reopen things right now.

The idea that demand is high enough, they’re happy with how things are going, and they’re purposely dragging their feet rings very false to me. I think if it was plausible and they felt safe, they’d be 100% open tomorrow. There may be certain things that don’t come back or are reintegrated slower because they are not as profitable as other things (Disney doesn’t seem happy with live performer salaries, for example); but they need all these Resorts/restaurants and, especially, parks at 100% capacity as soon as possible for them to be making the bank they want to make.

 

[Onceuponamarathon]

Any guesses on what the new theme will be for the April Race?

Assuming that DL is well and truly done, porting over a popular theme like Pixar seems like a possibility. If the rules around the Marvel licenses allow for characters to appear on the course *outside* of the parks that could provide an interesting way for WDW to bring in Marvel Characters on a temporary basis (that seems pretty unlikely though).

Flower and Garden theme? Villians theme?

 

[Z-Knight]

I think they are taking an abundance of caution with COVID restrictions and being realistic about staffing and how quickly they can reopen things right now.

The idea that demand is high enough, they’re happy with how things are going, and they’re purposely dragging their feet rings very false to me. I think if it was plausible and they felt safe, they’d be 100% open tomorrow. There may be certain things that don’t come back or are reintegrated slower because they are not as profitable as other things (Disney doesn’t seem happy with live performer salaries, for example); but they need all these Resorts/restaurants and, especially, parks at 100% capacity as soon as possible for them to be making the bank they want to make.

i feel disenchanted if not angry with runDisney. i feel the respect is only one way and that they dont care much for us. I mean, come on, they cancelled Disneyland races years ago and gave us bullcrap that they would return later.. yeah right. And now they cant even make a simple announcement either way? or just tell us to be patient and that they will let us know in due time... no, nothing, all we get is silence. come on, thats not right. i will still shell out big bucks, but dang i wish they felt the same about us as we do about them

 

[lukemorenus]

i feel disenchanted if not angry with runDisney. i feel the respect is only one way and that they dont care much for us. I mean, come on, they cancelled Disneyland races years ago and gave us bullcrap that they would return later.. yeah right. And now they cant even make a simple announcement either way? or just tell us to be patient and that they will let us know in due time... no, nothing, all we get is silence. come on, thats not right. i will still shell out big bucks, but dang i wish they felt the same about us as we do about them

Agreed - very unprofessional and uncaring

 

[Barca33Runner]

i feel disenchanted if not angry with runDisney. i feel the respect is only one way and that they dont care much for us. I mean, come on, they cancelled Disneyland races years ago and gave us bullcrap that they would return later.. yeah right. And now they cant even make a simple announcement either way? or just tell us to be patient and that they will let us know in due time... no, nothing, all we get is silence. come on, thats not right. i will still shell out big bucks, but dang i wish they felt the same about us as we do about them

I agree, but I don’t believe runDisney has autonomy to announce anything of substance right now and I wonder whether they worry that a say nothing, placating announcement might do more harm than good.

Although we are talking about a corporation and there is no way our feelings toward them can be reciprocated I truly believe that our interests are aligned right now. They want to be open 100% and get events scheduled and return to “normal” just as much as we do.

 

[PrincessV]

... and I wonder whether they worry that a say nothing, placating announcement might do more harm than good.

^That, right there. They did that once... and it did NOT go over well. Honestly, if I were handling rD's communications, I'd be advising "silence is golden" right now, too.

Though, to be fair, rD hasn't been silent: I've been seeing posts from rD regularly in social media. I take that as the smoke signal for "We're here! We can't give you any race info right now, but here's a workout/virtual program/fun fact to tide you over until we can say something more!"

 

[lukemorenus]

I agree, but I don’t believe runDisney has autonomy to announce anything of substance right now and I wonder whether they worry that a say nothing, placating announcement might do more harm than good.

Although we are talking about a corporation and there is no way our feelings toward them can be reciprocated I truly believe that our interests are aligned right now. They want to be open 100% and get events scheduled and return to “normal” just as much as we do.

That makes sense... but an announcement wouldn't have to be just placating - it could be informative without providing details - simply be honest about what obstacles / circumstances need to be overcome. As it stands now, I have no evidence that they want to be back as much as we do.

 

[camaker]

^That, right there. They did that once... and it did NOT go over well. Honestly, if I were handling rD's communications, I'd be advising "silence is golden" right now, too.

Though, to be fair, rD hasn't been silent: I've been seeing posts from rD regularly in social media. I take that as the smoke signal for "We're here! We can't give you any race info right now, but here's a workout/virtual program/fun fact to tide you over until we can say something more!"

There comes a point when “silence is golden” loses its luster and gives an impression of neglect. It has been 6 months since the last non-update that was given as part of the SWRR cancellation/conversion. I’m not saying we need monthly updates or detailed insight into thought processes, but to my mind 6 months is too long. Nature abhors a vacuum and that’s exactly what RunDisney has presented us with.

 

[sandam1]

I've almost ready to pull the plug on any hypothetical Marathon Weekend plans that I might have. I don't know what is going on behind the scenes at Disney, but for me, there are "fish or cut bait" dates that are starting to come up fast, including:

- This Thursday, Southwest flights go on sale up to 1/5 (i.e. Dopey travel day). This means trying to coordinate Rapid Rewards points (and hoping that I have enough) so I don't get stuck with travel vouchers if Disney decides to cancel after I book the flights. Also, I would be meeting up with a friend who is traveling from another city/needs to ask time off from her work, etc.
- At the end of June, the Galloway training starts. I have a VERY hard time seeing them waiting past the start of the Galloway plan. Dopey isn't a "just show up and do it and it'll all be fine" event where people can short-cut the training time and not pay the price.

I'm also trying to balance saving for various vacations and MW is a huge question mark to have sitting out there indefinitely. At some point in the very near future, I'm going to take that money and start moving on to Plan B which, if anyone from Disney happens to be listening, includes giving most of it to Universal.

 

[ZellyB]

That makes sense... but an announcement wouldn't have to be just placating - it could be informative without providing details - simply be honest about what obstacles / circumstances need to be overcome. As it stands now, I have no evidence that they want to be back as much as we do.

Honestly though, it's totally within character for Disney to say nothing. It's just how they manage communication. It's rare that they give out little updates or hints about what may be coming. They tend to wait until they have an actual announcement to make and then...they make it. I remember listening to the Dis podcast where they were complaining about the cruise line not giving out any hints while Carnival and Royal Caribbean were constantly sending out little (non-informative) communications. Then suddenly, BOOM, here's the Wish and start booking it like a week later. I'm not taking their silence at this point to mean much of anything. Admittedly, their time is running out for MW and definitely for W&D to happen legitimately, but I don't think their lack of communication is indicative of anything. I suspect we'll just suddenly get an announcement that the races are on, or virtual, or canceled without little to no preamble.

We can all be irritated (and I am) at the lack of any communication from them, but it's totally their normal operation when it comes to announcements.

 

[GreatLakes]

Any guesses on what the new theme will be for the April Race?

Assuming that DL is well and truly done, porting over a popular theme like Pixar seems like a possibility. If the rules around the Marvel licenses allow for characters to appear on the course *outside* of the parks that could provide an interesting way for WDW to bring in Marvel Characters on a temporary basis (that seems pretty unlikely though).

Flower and Garden theme? Villians theme?

I'm hoping for a spring version of Wine & Dine partnered with Flower & Garden. I love W&D even though I loved it way more when it was at night with a late-night party in the park after. Doing it that way gives them flexibility to slightly re-theme it every year or to align with whatever is coming out in theaters or on Disney +. It would also give them the opportunity to do an "Epcot Double". Run both the spring and fall races to earn a bonus medal which we all know would get eaten up by rD fans. Despite my general dislike of rD that announcement would get me down twice in the first year.

 

[Onceuponamarathon]

I'm hoping for a spring version of Wine & Dine partnered with Flower & Garden. I love W&D even though I loved it way more when it was at night with a late-night party in the park after. Doing it that way gives them flexibility to slightly re-theme it every year or to align with whatever is coming out in theaters or on Disney +. It would also give them the opportunity to do an "Epcot Double". Run both the spring and fall races to earn a bonus medal which we all know would get eaten up by rD fans. Despite my general dislike of rD that announcement would get me down twice in the first year.

I hadn't even considered an Epcot Double. I would absolutely do both.