Official WDW Marathon Weekend 2013 Thread

[cobbler]

Sorry to butt in, but on the princess thread there is discussion about vouchers being needed for the busses to the race. Have any of y'all heard about this process? A CM told her only people booking through rundisney will get the vouchers and that they are doing this at the marathon and probably for the princess. Can anyone confirm this as a new practice?

I personally have not heard of this. Since all hotels for marathon weekend are host hotels I highly doubt it would matter. When dealing with Princess, not all resorts are so maybe they are trying to mitigate anyone from other hotels coming over. Again this is just pure speculation on my part.

 

[longhorns2]

I personally have not heard of this. Since all hotels for marathon weekend are host hotels I highly doubt it would matter. When dealing with Princess, not all resorts are so maybe they are trying to mitigate anyone from other hotels coming over. Again this is just pure speculation on my part.

This year at princess, all hotels are host hotels as well. First time they have done this. Hoping it's a mixed up CM on both race info. Thanks for posting!

 

[PRmamiDEdos]

Donald medal has bee posted. I honestly don't see a huge difference. http://runningatdisney.com/2012/08/09/donalds-new-2013-half-marathon-medal-released/

 

[Ariel484]

Donald medal has bee posted. I honestly don't see a huge difference. http://runningatdisney.com/2012/08/09/donalds-new-2013-half-marathon-medal-released/

Thanks for posting this! You're right that it is really similar, but I like it better. I am glad they got rid of the color (just my personal preference). :

 

[butiflfeet]

Donald medal has bee posted. I honestly don't see a huge difference. http://runningatdisney.com/2012/08/09/donalds-new-2013-half-marathon-medal-released/

Thanks for sharing! I love it!

 

[cobbler]

Eh. It's ok. I like this year better with the color. I'll take regardless

 

[jeanigor]

Sorry to butt in, but on the princess thread there is discussion about vouchers being needed for the busses to the race. Have any of y'all heard about this process? A CM told her only people booking through rundisney will get the vouchers and that they are doing this at the marathon and probably for the princess. Can anyone confirm this as a new practice?

I could see this being the case with booking at a host hotel, but not exclusively through runDisney. It may be runDisney's way of lessening the number of folks who stay at the Swan/Dolphin and even DVC. If rD can show that they were responsible for increasing the bottom line by XX% over marathon weekend, it would make them look better as a part of the company as a whole. :Insert Michael Eisner diatribe about synergy and benefits of cross-company cooperation.:

 

[randomiam79]

Sorry to butt in, but on the princess thread there is discussion about vouchers being needed for the busses to the race. Have any of y'all heard about this process? A CM told her only people booking through rundisney will get the vouchers and that they are doing this at the marathon and probably for the princess. Can anyone confirm this as a new practice?

Haven't heard about this. It would be new this year and i imagine they'd have to give them out in race packets. However, i can't see it simply because so many people (runners and spectators) rely on the transportation it would be a major negative impact on the experience. For Disney, i think it would cause more problems than it would solve.

 

[randomiam79]

I could see this being the case with booking at a host hotel, but not exclusively through runDisney. It may be runDisney's way of lessening the number of folks who stay at the Swan/Dolphin and even DVC. If rD can show that they were responsible for increasing the bottom line by XX% over marathon weekend, it would make them look better as a part of the company as a whole. :Insert Michael Eisner diatribe about synergy and benefits of cross-company cooperation.:

I think the easier answer is a mistaken CM. Wouldn't be the first time. If Disney were truly going to enforce this i think they would be intentionally communicating it, not just randomly having CMs getting that word out.

I can assure you Disney would be getting an earful from me and I'm sure hundreds if not thousands of others if i get to the monorail (or buses whichever applies) at 3:30am and can't get to the race start simply because i booked with DVC points.

No worries, though, I'm sure it will be magical as always

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

i think the easier answer is a mistaken cm. Wouldn't be the first time. If disney were truly going to enforce this i think they would be intentionally communicating it, not just randomly having cms getting that word out.

I can assure you disney would be getting an earful from me and i'm sure hundreds if not thousands of others if i get to the monorail (or buses whichever applies) at 3:30am and can't get to the race start simply because i booked with dvc points.

No worries, though, i'm sure it will be magical as always

+100

 

[jeanigor]

I think the easier answer is a mistaken CM. Wouldn't be the first time. If Disney were truly going to enforce this i think they would be intentionally communicating it, not just randomly having CMs getting that word out.

I can assure you Disney would be getting an earful from me and I'm sure hundreds if not thousands of others if i get to the monorail (or buses whichever applies) at 3:30am and can't get to the race start simply because i booked with DVC points.

No worries, though, I'm sure it will be magical as always

+100

I would be far more likely to believe a mistaken CM.

Haven't you heard from the bus driver about the 5th gate that Disney is building that will be focused on teens and villains?

 

[dburg30]

I would be far more likely to believe a mistaken CM.

Haven't you heard from the bus driver about the 5th gate that Disney is building that will be focused on teens and villains?

hahahahaha I was going to post "if you want the 100% for sure info, ask a bus driver" but have been trying (mostly unsuccessfully) to be less sarcastic so I didnt post it.. But I can like this post

 

[sunshine girl]

I like the new Donald medal! I like it better than the colored medal of last year, which to me was a whole lot cheaper-looking than an all-metallic finish.

And... I hurt a lower ab/leg muscle last week and am just realizing that I need to take a week or two off (hopefully not more...). I'm kind of stressed out over taking time off, but worried if I don't do it now, it'll just be worse in the long run. It doesn't hurt much but I know it's not right, so... sigh.

Can't remember the last time I pulled a muscle, or had ANY kind of injury that prevented me from running, so this is more mentally painful than anything! I didn't do it while running, at least.

 

[PRmamiDEdos]

I could see this being the case with booking at a host hotel, but not exclusively through runDisney. It may be runDisney's way of lessening the number of folks who stay at the Swan/Dolphin and even DVC. If rD can show that they were responsible for increasing the bottom line by XX% over marathon weekend, it would make them look better as a part of the company as a whole. :Insert Michael Eisner diatribe about synergy and benefits of cross-company cooperation.:

Why DVC? I may not be paying right then and there for a room during race weekend,but I still bought into "future" vacations AND pay monthly dues.

 

[MightyDuck001]

I would be far more likely to believe a mistaken CM.

Haven't you heard from the bus driver about the 5th gate that Disney is building that will be focused on teens and villains?

It might not be totally out there-- I don't know about the Princess but the Disneyland 1/2 website has something about getting a receipt from the bus driver to get around so perhaps that's where this is coming from since they're working more with public transportation and good neighbor hotels...?

"Shuttle buses will depart from select Disneyland® Resort Good Neighbor Hotels to the Disneyland® Resort Esplanade Shuttle Drop-Off area every 20 minutes continuously through the weekend (8/31-9/2) during scheduled Disneyland® Half Marathon weekend events. The event shuttle is a complimentary service to all runners and spectators who are staying at the select hotels. You will receive a receipt from your driver the first time you board the shuttle. Please save this ticket for use over the entire Disneyland® Half Marathon Weekend."

I now have mixed feelings about seeing the Mickey medal. If it were a surprise that I couldn't see til I finished, I'd have already gone through the 26.2 miles. Now, if I don't like it I'll be training thinking "but that medal! oh god the ugly medal!"

 

[jeanigor]

Why DVC? I may not be paying right then and there for a room during race weekend,but I still bought into "future" vacations AND pay monthly dues.

You did pay for your points up front and your yearly dues. However, Disney Resorts receives more money if you were to book the same room through Central Reservations instead of DVC. DVC is a good way for you the guest to 'lock in' lodging rates for future stays. DVC is a good source of quick capital for Disney. They are a business, they want a higher profit margin.

It might not be totally out there-- I don't know about the Princess but the Disneyland 1/2 website has something about getting a receipt from the bus driver to get around so perhaps that's where this is coming from since they're working more with public transportation and good neighbor hotels...?

"Shuttle buses will depart from select Disneyland® Resort Good Neighbor Hotels to the Disneyland® Resort Esplanade Shuttle Drop-Off area every 20 minutes continuously through the weekend (8/31-9/2) during scheduled Disneyland® Half Marathon weekend events. The event shuttle is a complimentary service to all runners and spectators who are staying at the select hotels. You will receive a receipt from your driver the first time you board the shuttle. Please save this ticket for use over the entire Disneyland® Half Marathon Weekend."

You get a single ART ticket that is valid for the whole weekend, in case you are staying at a good neighbor hotel and don't want/cannot walk the distance to your hotel. RunDisney doesn't charter special buses for the DL ½, there is a public transit system in place that is efficient and reliable.

 

[RadioFanatic]

I'm on the phone with disney right now and am ANNOYED. trying to book room only rate and they say for first time in marathon history we can now only do it through their sports department and have to buy a "marathon package" in order for runners and their spectators to actually use the transportation to get back and forth to race beg/end. I'm on hold and waiting to see if this "package" costs more as I only need room only and at this point, applying AAA rate until hopefully a special comes out. I'll keep you updated.

UPDATE - now I talked to the sports department and they say no, you don't have to book through them to use the buses to get to and from the marathon - so you don't have to book their package to use the bus - completely contrary to what i was told by the main vacation people. which is good bc the room only marathon package was $1388.24 for WL standard while the AAA rate room only was $1206.80. I hope they are right!

 

[cobbler]

CM's are notorious for giving out a lot of mis-information. Their intentions are well meaning but you can call 3 different times, talk to 3 different CM's and get 3 different answers to the same question.

 

[jeanigor]

CM's are notorious for giving out a lot of mis-information. Their intentions are well meaning but you can call 3 different times, talk to 3 different CM's and get 3 different answers to the same question.

What time is the 3 o'clock parade?
•3:00pm
•3:13pm
•3:26pm

What time does the race start?
•5:30am
•5:36am
•5:54am

And sometimes there is more than one right answer, only to make a mucky situation muckier.

 

[buckeyecinderella]

Has anyone "sleeping in" on half marathon Saturday been awakened by the half marathon noise- like announcers, music, etc? Light sleeper here and wondering if certain Dis hotels might get a lot of race noise. Sat am may be my only day to get a little sleep!

If Disney doesn't provide transportation for non rundisney package guests, that would really affect my plans. I think the cm must be misinformed. If we keep seeing this reported trend, that would be a concern.