Race Retreat?

[Destination:Athlete]

Is it worth to pay the extra cash for the race retreat? Are there any benefits to doing that (other than the warmth factor) than just the regular pre-race?

Also - for those of us who have....er....GI issues pre-race....how long are the porta-potty lines before race start? Are there any along the marathon route?

 

[cewait]

Potties.
Disney is one of the better races pre-race for portapotties. If you are on an earlier bus, once you arrive at the staging area, immediately go through the bag check tents and there are hundreds located there. If you are with non-runners you can come back through the checked bag tens and talk with them. (i.e. the area beyond the checked bag tents is for runners only.

Once released to the start corrals, there are maybe 50-75 potties at the corrals. The crowd is usually released about 50-60 minutes pre-race. If you hange back at the staging area until 30 minutes pre-race the lines are next to nothing.

Once on course there are potties at most every mile point, 10+ in the early miles. Aid stations will also have them.

The numbers start to diminish as the miles increase.
Want real facitlies? Epcot will have them inside the front gate, both sides; behind East Innoventions and in the Odessey Building. Also, I believe that Norway’s facilities are open but you will need to go beyond the corner to the backstage area.
MK – Mainstreet, about halfway down on the right, Tomorrow Land just after we turn left and across from the Indy Track, Behind (and just before) Pooh and just before Country Bear Jamborie
AK – Just after we hit the inside of the park and the left (a great place for a breath of Air Conditioning) , near Everest and then in Dinoland
DHS – Commissary Lane – it’s just past Streets of America
Epcot the last time – forget it, too close to the end

Now for the Retreat… I have never used it but I can see where a first time runner may like it. Though friends who have used it spend little time there. Its big draw in my opinion is the easier bag check, a character encounter and a chance to head to the start line earlier. 2010 was the only time I considered using it. It was open until the 10 day forecast was public. Once it became clear that a really cold weather pattern was about to set in. I hear that while protected from the weather, the tent was not all that warm, either. I say if you have any desire for some pampering then go for it.

 

[lolakat]

Thanks for the run down on the potty situration coach. This is info I fear I may be needing.

I have never done a Disney race before but my friend and I signed up for the Race Retreat. I like the idea of waiting in a protected (if not completely warm) space and having food there so I don't have to worry about getting somehting at the resort at 3am. Also, since I'm a lot slower than my friend it will giver her a comfortable place to wait for me after the race. I don't know if it is "worth it" I think that depends on your finances. I would suggest only do it if spending that amount of money doesn't effect other aspects of your trip. I doubt it will make a huge difference in the overall experience.

 

[VernRDH]

FIL and I did the retreat last year at the half. Was it worth it? ABSOLUTELY!!! But last year was probably the exception, with the weather being as horrible as it was.

The porta potty thing was the deal maker for me. I HATE THEM!!! And the thought of sharing one with thousands of others really, really did not work for me. So having to share with only a couple hundred (and even that was cut in half, since they had separate mens and womens areas) was priceless to me. The food was a good thing too-especially after. Having hot food to eat when it was so darned cold out was just icing on the cake. The bag check was hectic, but probably not as bad as outside.

When I do the full in '13, I will not be doing the retreat, as we have to jet right from WDW to PC for a cruise. If it weren't for that, I would definately do it again. Only you can decide if it is "worth" it, but for us it definately was.

Good luck-wish I was running again this year!

 

[verticalchaos]

I'm opting not to. I don't eat bagels and fruit before a race, so that's useless. I can see characters at any time during a park visit or character meal, so that's kind of pointless. I'm not a freak about public toilets, plus that's what we have here in NYC all the time anyway, so again, NABD. Odds are my sister will be hanging onto my stuff, so bag check is a non-factor. And I'm picky about my eggs and stuff, so I'd rather go to somewhere I know they're going to be real and fresh and not picked over by other people or sitting out for who knows how long, so no appeal there. And as for tents, we don't get them at races here in NYC, so I'm used to the elements.

Personally, I'm not paying $85 for "padded stretching areas" which is about the only thing I don't have covered elsewhere.

I love Disney, don't get me wrong, but the whole Race Retreat thing reeks of someone thinking of a way to get more money out of people who don't think it through for the true value. Just MHO though.

 

[mickeyncldkd]

I been doing the race retreat the last 3 years. It was worth the money especially this year marathon when the temp was 20 something at the start. The food was good, cast members were nice, and couches to rest before and after the race. And, you do not have to wait in long lines for potties. I will been doing this again in 2012.

 

[verticalchaos]

I been doing the race retreat the last 3 years. It was worth the money especially this year marathon when the temp was 20 something at the start. The food was good, cast members were nice, and couches to rest before and after the race. And, you do not have to wait in long lines for potties. I will been doing this again in 2012.

Ha! The past 3 races I've done temps have been in the 20s and we've had nowhere inside to wait. And guess what? WE SURVIVED! It's highly possible. Without adding extra money onto your trip that you really don't need to.

To expand, it's the whole "Don't try anything new on race day" adage. I don't have couches to sit on or padded areas to stretch, or character greetings as part of my normal pre-run or pre-race routine. It's the ground under the open sky. Before a race I want to focus on my body and what it needs as well as what I need to do in the race - not be distracted by other unnecessary stuff.

But there will always be people who go "Ooh, couches!" (or characters! or food! or whatever!) and pay out the nose for it. Disney's counting on it to make money. Clearly.

 

[VernRDH]

Ha! The past 3 races I've done temps have been in the 20s and we've had nowhere inside to wait. And guess what? WE SURVIVED! It's highly possible. Without adding extra money onto your trip that you really don't need to.

To expand, it's the whole "Don't try anything new on race day" adage. I don't have couches to sit on or padded areas to stretch, or character greetings as part of my normal pre-run or pre-race routine. It's the ground under the open sky. Before a race I want to focus on my body and what it needs as well as what I need to do in the race - not be distracted by other unnecessary stuff.

But there will always be people who go "Ooh, couches!" (or characters! or food! or whatever!) and pay out the nose for it. Disney's counting on it to make money. Clearly.

Yes, you can survive waiting outside for a race. However, the amount of time you need to wait before a Disney race is probably much longer than you would at a local race. Since most folks arrive at the staging area at 3:30-4 am, and the race does not start until almost 6am, its a long time to wait out in the cold.

I just noticed your ticker that this will be your first half marathon. Running a shorter race in the cold is FAR different than spending 2-3 hours out in the freezing cold or rain like last year after waiting 2 hours in the cold.

Everyone needs to do what is comfortable for them-my DH insisted that FIL and I do the retreat. Didn't care about the money. I balked, he won and I'm glad he did in the end. No need to disparage those who wish to buy into it.

 

[J3nn78]

I am doing the race retreat. I am fully aware of how it is WAY overpriced, and I am not expecting anything great, BUT, I wanted the comfort of it and the convenience of bathrooms and a place to sit while we wait that long. Of course I have not had that for other races, but other races also have not required me there "in the middle of the night" for a few hours prior.

A bit silly to use "don't try anything new on race day" as a reason against it. If you don't want to pay for it don't. If you are willing to overpay for the service, do.

 

[Honeibee]

Coach Charles,

I am very impressed that you know the location of every restroom on the course. Amazing, the things you know. Thanks for sharing!

 

[verticalchaos]

Yes, you can survive waiting outside for a race. However, the amount of time you need to wait before a Disney race is probably much longer than you would at a local race. Since most folks arrive at the staging area at 3:30-4 am, and the race does not start until almost 6am, its a long time to wait out in the cold.

I just noticed your ticker that this will be your first half marathon. Running a shorter race in the cold is FAR different than spending 2-3 hours out in the freezing cold or rain like last year after waiting 2 hours in the cold.

Everyone needs to do what is comfortable for them-my DH insisted that FIL and I do the retreat. Didn't care about the money. I balked, he won and I'm glad he did in the end. No need to disparage those who wish to buy into it.

It may well be my first half marathon, but... YES I have waited outside in the cold for a couple of hours. Did it yesterday before the 15K. You have to with weekend transportation issues on the MTA system up here. Waited outside, then ran and it was fine.

You don't know me, and you don't know what my training or the conditions in which I live are.

 

[VernRDH]

It may well be my first half marathon, but... YES I have waited outside in the cold for a couple of hours. Did it yesterday before the 15K. You have to with weekend transportation issues on the MTA system up here. Waited outside, then ran and it was fine.

You don't know me, and you don't know what my training or the conditions in which I live are.

You are right-I don't know your training but I do know the conditions-I live 3 hours north of you (per your avatar). So I am very familiar with the cold, snow and ice. My point was that while you may not feel it is a worthwhile investment, others do, so please don't give them a hard time about spending their money on something they feel is going to benefit them.

 

[Duanerice]

Coach Charles,

I am very impressed that you know the location of every restroom on the course. Amazing, the things you know. Thanks for sharing!

Just don't ask how he knows!
Duane

 

[Duanerice]

This question comes up every year.

I've never used it and probably never will. But, that doesn't mean that it isn't right for others. Heck, whatever makes you comfortable, go for it as long as it doesn't interfere with my experience. No one will ask you at the finish "did you use the retreat"? A finish is a finish.

I much prefer hanging with my peeps at the start. Even last year, although that was a challenge. But, I also don't show up until 4:30 ish. Just long enough to hang for a bit then make my way to the corrals.

If I did the retreat I'd miss a lot of the experience, for me that is (not for everyone). If I did the retreat I wouldn't have all the stories about standing out in -10 degrees with snow up to our knees. OK, that is not true but each time I tell the story it gets a little colder and the snow gets deeper. Heck in 10 year who knows what I'll be telling folks. Probably that they had to plow off the course before we could run Much better story than telling everyone I sat in a heated tent with refreshments until I walked to the start. Nah, not me.

Enjoy it if you choose. Not a thing wrong with it just not worth it to me. We all meet up at the start sooner or later.

Duane

 

[mickeyncldkd]

I say to everyone. Do what you want to do about the retreat. The retreat was nice, but expensive. Yet, it made the experience even better for me. And, yes I would do it again in 2012. The person who is disgruntle about the retreat needs to quit acting like a child. You do not need to put people down for what they do. Give them good insight that is it. You do not know anyone situation so stop acting like a child. I thought the Disney way was to be happy and go lucky, but you are digruntle with Disney. So, why are you doing the Disney Marathon.

 

[verticalchaos]

I'm NOT disgruntled with Disney. I'm just pointing out the other side. That's it. The OP asked if it was worth it. I was pointing out reasons it isn't for me and may well not be for others.

You can love Disney without drinking ALL the kool-aid.

 

[cewait]

Coach Charles,

I am very impressed that you know the location of every restroom on the course. Amazing, the things you know. Thanks for sharing!

Just don't ask how he knows!
Duane

I gotta say it's not because I stop at very many. I think the big D knows I am a bushman! Hmmmm even when the bushes are a little thin.