Old Key West to starting line

[queen mimi]

We have never stayed at Old Key West prior to a half marathon but always saw princesses walking down the driveway a few minutes prior to the start of the race. This year we are booked at Old Key West but I read that they are. Ot allowing anyone to join their corrals directly from the resort. Does anyone know if this is true? I don't want to get their and not be able to get in my corral! Also, I saw some discussion a few pages back about tiaras for perfect princesses. I know they did that last year because it was the 5th anniversary. Are they going to do that again this year? Thanks in advance for any information you can give me.

 

[bumbershoot]

Walking was definitely not allowed for Marathon weekend.

Have you read through the event program available online and all the info at rundisney?

For the safety of our Guests, we ask that you use provided transportation and do
not opt to run or walk to Epcot

Runners will be prohibited from accessing the start corrals from Bonnet Creek
Parkway or Buena Vista Drive. You must access the start corrals through the Explore
Lot at Epcot. Runners who try to access the start corrals from any area other
than the Explore Lot at Epcot are subject to disqualification. Runner drop off is available in the Taxi Lot at Epcot.

Also in the program:

Perfect Princess

If you are a “Perfect Princess” participant, please pick up your commemorative
lanyard at the Perfect Tent located on the left side of the finish chute after you
receive your finisher’s medal.

 

[queen mimi]

Thank you for the information We will be changing our plans!

 

[cewait]

I watched as we stood in the corrals during the Dopey... I saw a couple small groups of runners turned back at the crossing.

It's all due to the need to increase security at the race.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

I have to say something about this stupidity. We stayed at POFQ. The corrals were less than a 15 minute walk from our hotel room door. Instead it took us 90 minutes from the time that we walked out of our door to reach our starting corrals. Stupid, stupid, stupid. Put a few people there for security checks if this is a security issue.

This is really the only thing about the race weekend that pissed me off - seeing the corrals and then driving away from them. I was tempted to put on a throw-away shirt over my racing shirt and just walk past the people that were turning people away. Really, what were they going to do to me? And if they can't get my bib number, they can't disqualify me. And, since this is just a fun run for me anyway, I really don't care if the DQ me as long as I get to run.

 

[paxsarah]

I have to say something about this stupidity. We stayed at POFQ. The corrals were less than a 15 minute walk from our hotel room door. Instead it took us 90 minutes from the time that we walked out of our door to reach our starting corrals. Stupid, stupid, stupid. Put a few people there for security checks if this is a security issue.

This is really the only thing about the race weekend that pissed me off - seeing the corrals and then driving away from them. I was tempted to put on a throw-away shirt over my racing shirt and just walk past the people that were turning people away. Really, what were they going to do to me? And if they can't get my bib number, they can't disqualify me. And, since this is just a fun run for me anyway, I really don't care if the DQ me as long as I get to run.

Perhaps you should have tried it - it would have been interesting to hear a first-hand account of what happened in the situation you describe. It's possible you could have walked right in, or it's possible they would have considered it trespassing and had you physically removed from the premises.

I also stayed at POFQ, took a comfortable bus to the staging area, socialized with some friends, and got to my corral in plenty of time for the start. It didn't bother me at all because I was fully aware of the policy and at ease with it. I run to keep my blood pressure low, and I don't want to ruin that by letting a minor transportation policy elevate it.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

I don't want to ruin that by letting a minor transportation policy elevate it.

This was far from minor for me - it added at least 75 minutes to my wait time on both days. No other race (and I have run many) puts its runners through this crap.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

I have to say something about this stupidity. We stayed at POFQ. The corrals were less than a 15 minute walk from our hotel room door. Instead it took us 90 minutes from the time that we walked out of our door to reach our starting corrals. Stupid, stupid, stupid. Put a few people there for security checks if this is a security issue.

This is really the only thing about the race weekend that pissed me off - seeing the corrals and then driving away from them. I was tempted to put on a throw-away shirt over my racing shirt and just walk past the people that were turning people away. Really, what were they going to do to me? And if they can't get my bib number, they can't disqualify me. And, since this is just a fun run for me anyway, I really don't care if the DQ me as long as I get to run.

If you're lucky, they'll disqualify you. If you're unlucky, you probably get to talk to a nice policeman. Seriously, after Boston, they're not kidding about safety. You should respect Disney's rules.

 

[paxsarah]

This was far from minor for me - it added at least 75 minutes to my wait time on both days. No other race (and I have run many) puts its runners through this crap.

I guess I didn't look at it as additional time because I never planned on walking. I needed to be up before 3 in order to eat breakfast 2.5-3 hours before my starting time - so everything between 2:45 and 5:45 for me was "wait time" regardless of where I spent it. I've experienced way more complicated transportation hassles (Peachtree Road Race) and more draconian bag check rules (though understandable after Boston, at the USAT triathlon in Milwaukee last year), so at Disney I just roll with it. It's my happy place.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Also, anyone who would say no other race puts runners through this has obviously never done a big race before. NYCM, for example, makes you take a subway, ferry and a bus, or a way-too-early bus to the staging area, where you wait for up to 3 hours, go through a metal detector and cannot bring Camelbaks or any backpacks at all.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

If you're lucky, they'll disqualify you. If you're unlucky, you probably get to talk to a nice policeman. Seriously, after Boston, they're not kidding about safety. You should respect Disney's rules.

Sorry, I don't accept draconian measures in the name of safety.

“They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.”
Ben Franklin

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Sorry, I don't accept draconian measures in the name of safety.

Well, like I said, you won't be racing, and you'll be lucky not to go to the police station.

 

[bumbershoot]

This was far from minor for me - it added at least 75 minutes to my wait time on both days. No other race (and I have run many) puts its runners through this crap.

Some I won't be able to do because I *have to* have my hydration backpack, and now some races won't allow that. Sensitive stomach = my own water, and easily dehydrated = have to have water on MY schedule.



I, personally, think it's good they don't allow walking to the start. Puts everyone on the same footing. (It took me nowhere near 75 minutes for transportation coming from AS Music for the WDW Half, thank goodness.) And it keeps everyone safer. Last place I want to be walking along a road is in Florida where anything can be off in the bushes! And then having people randomly coming into a race from a non-official spot? Scary. I'm glad, personally, that that can't happen anymore.

Because while a runner's hydration backpack wasn't the problem at Boston, a horrid creeper or two showing up WAS.

My opinion as someone who never walked into a race and never would have done so anyway for my own safety. It is a bummer when things change, though. Change is hard. (see FP+)

 

[McCoy]

This was far from minor for me - it added at least 75 minutes to my wait time on both days. No other race (and I have run many) puts its runners through this crap.

Sorry, I don't accept draconian measures in the name of safety.

Fortunately there is a very simple remedy to your dilemma. I assume most people are ok with some inconvenience in exchange for heightened safety in events of this magnitude. And, at least in my view, your complaint is indeed a minor one. But I do hope you have an enjoyable experience should you decide to do future Disney races!

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Folks, you are allowing yourself to be manipulated. I have run in countless races over 28 years. During that period, there have been nearly one million street races run in America - over 25,000 every year. There has been exactly one attack at a race. ONE. You are not in danger when you run in a race.

My sport is being ruined by idiots who over-react to everything, and the sheep who will go along with anything in the name of "safety".

If you believe that you are being made safer by these measures, you couldn't be more wrong. These measures only keep honest people honest. While doing so, they disrupt the lives of tens of thousands of runners every day.

Stop the insanity. Give the sport back to the over 15 million runners who race every year in America.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

folks, you are allowing yourself to be manipulated. I have run in countless races over 28 years. During that period, there have been nearly one million street races run in america - over 25,000 every year. There has been exactly one attack at a race. One. You are not in danger when you run in a race.

My sport is being ruined by idiots who over-react to everything, and the sheep who will go along with anything in the name of "safety".

If you believe that you are being made safer by these measures, you couldn't be more wrong. These measures only keep honest people honest. While doing so, they disrupt the lives of tens of thousands of runners every day.

Stop the insanity. Give the sport back to the over 15 million runners who race every year in america.

lol.

 

[fairestoneofall]

in the grand scheme of things, it's such a minor issue. i really don't understand being so upset by it. if it bothers you that much, don't do Disney races.

 

[Nole95]

Folks, you are allowing yourself to be manipulated. I have run in countless races over 28 years. During that period, there have been nearly one million street races run in America - over 25,000 every year. There has been exactly one attack at a race. ONE. You are not in danger when you run in a race.

My sport is being ruined by idiots who over-react to everything, and the sheep who will go along with anything in the name of "safety".

If you believe that you are being made safer by these measures, you couldn't be more wrong. These measures only keep honest people honest. While doing so, they disrupt the lives of tens of thousands of runners every day.

Stop the insanity. Give the sport back to the over 15 million runners who race every year in America.

I do sort of see your point on this. It is next to impossible to completely secure an entire 26.2 mile course. There were any number of spots along the marathon route where any coordinated group could have caused mass mayhem if they so desired, and where there was no security to keep them from doing so. I just will not let me life be ruled by what might happen.

In Boston, it was not the runners that caused the issue. It was a couple of idiots that were not participating in the race. So I can understand the frustration some have with Disney making the runners go through all these security checks at the staging area. As it is, the security is just a cursory check anyway. They do not really thoroughly check the bags

 

[BuckeyeBama]

in the grand scheme of things, it's such a minor issue. i really don't understand being so upset by it. if it bothers you that much, don't do Disney races.

See, that's my problem - As far as the actual races go, Disney races have been my favorite (by far). It is the pre-race stuff that kills me. And there was a way to minimize that until this year.

I will run in WDW again, and I will get frustrated at the beginning again, but I will still have a great time during the actual race.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

See, that's my problem - As far as the actual races go, Disney races have been my favorite (by far). It is the pre-race stuff that kills me. And there was a way to minimize that until this year.

I will run in WDW again, and I will get frustrated at the beginning again, but I will still have a great time during the actual race.

I believe we are being trolled here, folks.