Official 2016 Star Wars Half Marthon - The Dark Side Weekend

[opusone]

To be fair, they will make more money. I, for one, was not planning on getting Memory Maker on my Disney trip coming up in a few weeks, but if they are adding the Dark Side weekend into the mix (which is within the 30 day Memory Maker window for me), then I will definitely purchase it since I will get both our vacation and the 10k and half marathon photos.

 

[MommaoffherRocker]

just got off the phone with rundisney and they confirmed that photopass is taking over the races and if you are an AP with the memory maker the pictures are included!!!

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

To be fair, they will make more money. I, for one, was not planning on getting Memory Maker on my Disney trip coming up in a few weeks, but if they are adding the Dark Side weekend into the mix (which is within the 30 day Memory Maker window for me), then I will definitely purchase it since I will get both our vacation and the 10k and half marathon photos.

I think they'd lose a lot with how many runners are local or already have APs, though. Who knows how it would shake out! I'm assuming that whatever Disney ends up doing, they have an analysis that suggests the profit will be higher that way -- which MAY be by selling people on MM who wouldn't have bought it, as you say.

I'd love it if it's included in AP!!

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

just got off the phone with rundisney and they confirmed that photopass is taking over the races and if you are an AP with the memory maker the pictures are included!!!

That will be awesome!! As with everything Disney, I only 100% believe it when I see it... fingers crossed for no mess-ups for us guinea pigs!!

 

[Ariel484]

That will be awesome!! As with everything Disney, I only 100% believe it when I see it... fingers crossed for no mess-ups for us guinea pigs!!

This is wise.

 

[PrincessV]

I think they'll have to go by bib numbers, because not everyone has or wears a MB. So then how does that impact PP included with APs - how to connect a bib to an AP, especially if the names aren't identical? Or if a bib name matches an AP on file but isn't the same person? This will be interesting...

 

[AThrillingChase]

I think they'll have to go by bib numbers, because not everyone has or wears a MB. So then how does that impact PP included with APs - how to connect a bib to an AP, especially if the names aren't identical? Or if a bib name matches an AP on file but isn't the same person? This will be interesting...

I am guessing they will say you have to wear your MB for it to work. And for those without one, they will maybe hand out the cards like they do at the park? I am sure there is going to be problems with this the first time around. I don't usually buy the marathonfoto pics so this could only be a bonus for me. BUT, if this slows down the picture lines and I can't get a photo with bb-8...oh man.

 

[NileNellie]

I am guessing they will say you have to wear your MB for it to work. And for those without one, they will maybe hand out the cards like they do at the park? I am sure there is going to be problems with this the first time around. I don't usually buy the marathonfoto pics so this could only be a bonus for me. BUT, if this slows down the picture lines and I can't get a photo with bb-8...oh man.

Surely they wouldn't have Photopass people at every character stop? I'm just assuming they'd be on the course, start, finish, etc.

 

[kmchisholm]

I am guessing they will say you have to wear your MB for it to work. And for those without one, they will maybe hand out the cards like they do at the park? I am sure there is going to be problems with this the first time around. I don't usually buy the marathonfoto pics so this could only be a bonus for me. BUT, if this slows down the picture lines and I can't get a photo with bb-8...oh man.

How would they manage DL races since they don't have Magic Bands or would this not be applicable to races in CA?

 

[PrincessV]

I'm still not seeing how thousands of runner wearing MBs get individual images from the course, not character stops - they'd have to set up a gazillion RFID sensors, then sift through and zoom in on individual runners?

 

[acbshada]

The more I listen to these ideas, the more this sound like a logistical nightmare than an improvement. :|

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Look -- this involves Disney IT somehow. So all I'm going to do is cross my fingers!!!

I would hope that whether they use MB or just the same old bib number system (with some mechanism to let MM link your bib# to your account) that they get it worked out ahead of time. Though past experience would not make me really confident on that one!

I will say that I will be FURIOUS if I somehow don't end up with pics of my family on all these runs...

 

[DVCFan1994]

Sorry wrong thread!

 

[MommaoffherRocker]

Not everyone has a magic band but everyone (except 5k) has a chip on their bib, I wonder if they can use those?

 

[opusone]

I think they'll have to go by bib numbers, because not everyone has or wears a MB. So then how does that impact PP included with APs - how to connect a bib to an AP, especially if the names aren't identical? Or if a bib name matches an AP on file but isn't the same person? This will be interesting...

I am guessing they will say you have to wear your MB for it to work. And for those without one, they will maybe hand out the cards like they do at the park? I am sure there is going to be problems with this the first time around. I don't usually buy the marathonfoto pics so this could only be a bonus for me. BUT, if this slows down the picture lines and I can't get a photo with bb-8...oh man.

I'm still not seeing how thousands of runner wearing MBs get individual images from the course, not character stops - they'd have to set up a gazillion RFID sensors, then sift through and zoom in on individual runners?

The more I listen to these ideas, the more this sound like a logistical nightmare than an improvement. :|

Look -- this involves Disney IT somehow. So all I'm going to do is cross my fingers!!!

I would hope that whether they use MB or just the same old bib number system (with some mechanism to let MM link your bib# to your account) that they get it worked out ahead of time. Though past experience would not make me really confident on that one!

I will say that I will be FURIOUS if I somehow don't end up with pics of my family on all these runs...

Not to say that there won't be issues, because there always are with new systems, but I don't think it will be that difficult. They will use the bib numbers because that is the only method that makes sense, and the technology is already established. Then, similar to how they give you access to photos at Enchanted Tales with Belle where they don't scan your MB because it would take too long with that many people, you will just get a code (probably via e-mail in this case vs. a card at Enchanted Tales) that gives you access to the photos, and you can enter the code into Disney Photo Pass website to link to your account.

It would be nice if the code was somehow individualized, but if they are trying to simplify it, the code could just give you access to the entire library of race photos (maybe one code for each race) with a bib number/name filtering system similar to Marathon Foto, and you can add whichever photos you want to your download.

 

[RunningPrince]

I would expect they would use race number/facial recognition software after the photos are taken - hence why your number needs to be visible. That, coupled with the time-stamped GPS photo data embedded within each photo that was taken, and you can easily increase the match/hit rate on photo to runner based on your start time, mid-race progress splits and finish time. Magic Bands are just icing on the cake for character stops to further increase reliability of match.

 

[kmchisholm]

Not to say that there won't be issues, because there always are with new systems, but I don't think it will be that difficult. They will use the bib numbers because that is the only method that makes sense, and the technology is already established. Then, similar to how they give you access to photos at Enchanted Tales with Belle where they don't scan your MB because it would take too long with that many people, you will just get a code (probably via e-mail in this case vs. a card at Enchanted Tales) that gives you access to the photos, and you can enter the code into Disney Photo Pass website to link to your account.

It would be nice if the code was somehow individualized, but if they are trying to simplify it, the code could just give you access to the entire library of race photos (maybe one code for each race) with a bib number/name filtering system similar to Marathon Foto, and you can add whichever photos you want to your download.

Only thought here is if you had a friend who already had Memory Maker, why would you buy it as they could download photos for you and no need for you to buy...

 

[Disneyland_emily]

I'm still not seeing how thousands of runner wearing MBs get individual images from the course, not character stops - they'd have to set up a gazillion RFID sensors, then sift through and zoom in on individual runners?

It's no different than ride photos.. You have how many rides taking how many pics a minute of how many thousands of guests with little issues..

 

[PrincessV]

Not to say that there won't be issues, because there always are with new systems, but I don't think it will be that difficult. They will use the bib numbers because that is the only method that makes sense, and the technology is already established. Then, similar to how they give you access to photos at Enchanted Tales with Belle where they don't scan your MB because it would take too long with that many people, you will just get a code (probably via e-mail in this case vs. a card at Enchanted Tales) that gives you access to the photos, and you can enter the code into Disney Photo Pass website to link to your account.

It would be nice if the code was somehow individualized, but if they are trying to simplify it, the code could just give you access to the entire library of race photos (maybe one code for each race) with a bib number/name filtering system similar to Marathon Foto, and you can add whichever photos you want to your download.

Okay, I'm with you, I think... so we get a code with our bib number, bib numbers are used by PP to sort pics, we search by bib number and select desired images, then use our code to connect our chosen images to our individual PP page? That could work!

 

[PrincessV]

It's no different than ride photos.. You have how many rides taking how many pics a minute of how many thousands of guests with little issues..

The difference is that you're in a specific place at a specific time in a ride vehicle, where the RFID sensor can home in on your MB. Versus a race in which you're in motion, possible crossing the road, even, with hundreds of other people in the same frame. Using bib numbers to sort, photogs are able to shoot individuals as they go by and the software links that individual's photo to his/her bib number. How would a photog taking a pic of me - as in, I'm the one front and center, in focus, though there may be a dozen other people in the immediate vicinity - connect that image to my MB, as opposed to the dozen other people in the area, as I'm running by?