Official 2017 Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend!

[cavepig]

Chiming in but not there, just hoping this lack of characters is not going to continue as that is really lame. Did they have a lot out last year for Tink?

Finished the 5K.

It was sort of weird...unlike last year, they "corralled" us this year (as in, bibs have corral letters on them) but then just placed people wherever as they arrived - first come, first served, which is what they did last year. So why put letters on the bibs?

Unless I'm mistaken, there was just one character photo-op on the course (Hook and Smee) - and it was "selfie only." I was not impressed. Otherwise I just saw what was essentially the pirate version of Streetmosphere.

Fun race overall though and I like the medal a lot!

I've read everyone had As, which why put them at all then, sounds confusing overall to me. Glad you had a fun race overall even with lack of characters!

And I call BS on it being to save people from being swept. Fewer characters means cheaper overhead for rD. If there are truly fewer it merely solidifies my thoughts about taking a break from rD after Dopey '18.

I thought people didn't even get swept in 5ks so find it strange too, but really have no clue.

nd now a free-for-all in the corrals and no chaeacters...

I think the Tink 5k always has the no corralling since it's in the park when it starts so that isn't new for this particular race.

 

[Ariel484]

I've read everyone had As, which why put them at all then, sounds confusing overall to me. Glad you had a fun race overall even with lack of characters!

Oh good lord. WHAT is the point of that?

That was for sure my last Never Land 5K. I remember having mixed feelings last year and now I'm just annoyed.

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

Per the CM, they may have extras of that jacket - check the finish area after the race on Sunday!

Awesome! Thanks so much for info.

Re the lack of characters in 5k. What a horrible idea. My husband and son are signed up for light side and princess 5k solely for characters! No more races for them without. I'll go on twitter to voice my opinion.

 

[Ariel484]

Oh, also...someone may have said this but they could have at least had characters in the finish area (they didn't). How does that fit in with the "too many people get swept" argument?

 

[PrincessV]

Just a passing thought I had... there's not an actors/entertainers strike out there, is there? That couldn't be the reason?

 

[millscomet]

So Rudy's last contracted event with runDisney was Dark Side last month. He told a few of us in person this last month. He had separate WDW and DL contracts, of course the DL one ended last year.

As for the no characters for the 5k and the "test", here is what I made and put on Facebook.

 

[rteetz]

Just a passing thought I had... there's not an actors/entertainers strike out there, is there? That couldn't be the reason?

Nope. This is Disney's decision.

Disney advertises on course characters and entertainment on the website.

 

[PrincessV]

Nope. This is Disney's decision.

Well that's that, then - that was the very last thing I could come up with as a valid excuse lol!

 

[bumbershoot]

They had complaints about people getting swept last year due to characters so they are not doing characters for the 5K and 10K.

Classic stupid Disney decision -making. Create a good thing, let it get slightly out of control, can't handle minimal backlash from a small group of people, end it for everyone.

Why can't they just make better decisions? Have sneaky multiples of characters (like Mickey in toontown), better line management, better handling of the relative few complaints they'd get from those who are swept from character lines...

But really it's all just an excuse. It's all just lies.

Maybe I don't want a pink ribbon in 2018 that badly...

 

[VickiHD]

Yesterday I asked the rD guy at the INFORMATION booth about the speakers / speaker series. He had NO clue to what I was talking about. Spent the next couple of minutes educating him on past speakers. One would think rD would have someone "seasoned" at the info booth.

 

[bumbershoot]

Yesterday I asked the rD guy at the INFORMATION booth about the speakers / speaker series. He had NO clue to what I was talking about. Spent the next couple of minutes educating him on past speakers. One would think rD would have someone "seasoned" at the info booth.

I don't think there were any speakers for light side either.

 

[rteetz]

I don't think there were any speakers for light side either.

They didn't have them for Darkside either. Pretty much it's only Marathon Weekend now for speakers.

 

[bumbershoot]

They didn't have them for Darkside either. Pretty much it's only Marathon Weekend now for speakers.

Were they there for princess?

Speakers aren't what I go for; most of the talks seem to be a too little too late situation (training, food, hydration lol) but at 'land I notice the lack of them there in that stage space.

 

[rteetz]

Were they there for princess?

Speakers aren't what I go for; most of the talks seem to be a too little too late situation (training, food, hydration lol) but at 'land I notice the lack of them there in that stage space.

No I don't think so. I think they had photo ops or something.

 

[Ariel484]

No I don't think so. I think they had photo ops or something.

Right, to tie in with the live-action movie.

 

[Ariel484]

I hate that this is overshadowing the weekend as a whole. I'm gonna go to the expo, register a complaint and move on.

 

[rteetz]

I hate that this is overshadowing the weekend as a whole. I'm gonna go to the expo, register a complaint and move on.

Thats all you can do really. I hope you have a good time in the parks and stuff despite this.

 

[courtneybeth]

Finally heading to the expo!!! Feels like this race weekend is starting. Yay!!!

 

[Ariel484]

Thats all you can do really. I hope you have a good time in the parks and stuff despite this.

Oh I totally am! Disneyland is glorious.

 

[ZellyB]

I'm also not going to let any lack of characters spoil this experience. AFter being annoyed this morning about it, we just spent a PERFECT morning and early afternoon at DCA. Resting at the hotel now before a dinner at Steakhouse 55 and fireworks after.

I'm making the most of park running tomorrow and will make my own photo stops a la @Ariel484 on her 10k run here and continue to enjoy the magic of these parks.

Also @Ariel484 we saw you in Radiator Springs this morning but you were well past us before I realized.