Spring Surprise (March 31-April 3rd 2022)

[jmasgat]

In all seriousness, do you happen to remember when the MW Event Guide was released? I wonder if that one was released three weeks before race weekend like for the Princess Weekend.

Quick search of the MW 2022 thread.......December 6.

 

[MissLiss279]

Quick search of the MW 2022 thread.......December 6.

Which was a little over 4 weeks, so really anytime!

 

[Herding_Cats]

Hypothetically, let's say that the 10k course is the same one from MW/Princess. I'm anticipating being in S2 with my SIL (based on how princess was set up), and I'm wondering what the "best" approach would be for getting as many photo stops as possible. We will probably try to balance seeing some of the stuff in the pre-race area with getting up closer to the front of the corral when they open. Since there's 2 of us, it wouldn't be terribly difficult to just take phone pics for each other off to the side if the line is super long, but there's something to be said for the photo pass people having the light settings on an actual camera. But I'm wondering like....skip the first stop because *everyone* stops there? Stop for everything that's open and run like a maniac in between stops?? I felt like there was waaaay less pressure for stops during the half and full during MW because everyone was soooo spread out after 4 or 5 miles and by the 2nd half of the race most of the lines were pretty short. But DH ran the 5 and 10k and barely stopped for anything because "the lines were stupid-long."

 

[kps7795]

Hypothetically, let's say that the 10k course is the same one from MW/Princess. I'm anticipating being in S2 with my SIL (based on how princess was set up), and I'm wondering what the "best" approach would be for getting as many photo stops as possible. We will probably try to balance seeing some of the stuff in the pre-race area with getting up closer to the front of the corral when they open. Since there's 2 of us, it wouldn't be terribly difficult to just take phone pics for each other off to the side if the line is super long, but there's something to be said for the photo pass people having the light settings on an actual camera. But I'm wondering like....skip the first stop because *everyone* stops there? Stop for everything that's open and run like a maniac in between stops?? I felt like there was waaaay less pressure for stops during the half and full during MW because everyone was soooo spread out after 4 or 5 miles and by the 2nd half of the race most of the lines were pretty short. But DH ran the 5 and 10k and barely stopped for anything because "the lines were stupid-long."

I have been kicking myself in the butt HARD for skipping lines during the MW full because I thought that they were too long. My daughter and I are running the TOT Ten Miler and we plan on taking every picture with the PhotoPass photographers. As you mentioned, they have better cameras with much better flashes. Will you get a PB if you stop for every picture stop? No, but who cares. It's not the race to get one. Just get out there and have fun! I doubt that you'll get a whiff of the balloon ladies if that's your concern.

 

[DopeyBadger]

"best" approach would be for getting as many photo stops as possible

Front of s2 would be something like 5:10-5:15am or so (assuming on time start). So you potentially get an extra 45-50 min of time on course in addition to the 16 min/mile. So in total about 145 min or so (just under 2.5 hrs).

At Princess 5k, I stopped for the first character stop (Merida, Pocohontas, and Moana) and it took us 48 min. The next few characters were either gone or the line was closed. The next line we hit Joy/Sadness was about 4 min based on my Garmin. There were about 10-15 people in that line maybe. Maybe mentally count the number of people in line. Something like a rate of 2-3 people per minute, and use that as a gauge for stopping. It wouldn't surprise me to hear that the Merida line I was in was 100-150 people long by the time I joined.

In front of us at 6:18am (10 min before photo with Merida):


Behind us at 6:18am (after standing in this line for 37 min):



The lines that we passed that were closed but visible mostly had 15-20 people in them (5-10 min wait). So if you assume you are in 70 min 10k shape (in between stops), then you have about 75 min to stop for photos with an absolute maximization of time on course. Looks like the Princess 10k had about 10 stops, so you can average about 7 min per stop. So if the line is 15-20 people long, then you're good. If it's longer, then you may have to sacrifice time at another stop.

 

[Herding_Cats]

Front of s2 would be something like 5:10-5:15am or so (assuming on time start). So you potentially get an extra 45-50 min of time on course in addition to the 16 min/mile. So in total about 145 min or so (just under 2.5 hrs).

The lines that we passed that were closed but visible mostly had 15-20 people in them (5-10 min wait). So if you assume you are in 70 min 10k shape (in between stops), then you have about 75 min to stop for photos with an absolute maximization of time on course. Looks like the Princess 10k had about 10 stops, so you can average about 7 min per stop. So if the line is 15-20 people long, then you're good. If it's longer, then you may have to sacrifice time at another stop.

Yes. Your post about the pic lines (and all of the subsequent closures) for the 5k is part of what prompted my asking. It could totally happen that I might not care about the characters they have out (I didn't stop for probably around 1/3 of them during MW) and not even want to stop for a pic, but as with all things, I like to get a sense of how it could play out in different scenarios so I don't have panic-brain on the day of the run.

 

[kps7795]

Front of s2 would be something like 5:10-5:15am or so (assuming on time start). So you potentially get an extra 45-50 min of time on course in addition to the 16 min/mile. So in total about 145 min or so (just under 2.5 hrs).

At Princess 5k, I stopped for the first character stop (Merida, Pocohontas, and Moana) and it took us 48 min. The next few characters were either gone or the line was closed. The next line we hit Joy/Sadness was about 4 min based on my Garmin. There were about 10-15 people in that line maybe. Maybe mentally count the number of people in line. Something like a rate of 2-3 people per minute, and use that as a gauge for stopping. It wouldn't surprise me to hear that the Merida line I was in was 100-150 people long by the time I joined.

In front of us at 6:18am (10 min before photo with Merida):
View attachment 652042

Behind us at 6:18am (after standing in this line for 37 min):

View attachment 652037

The lines that we passed that were closed but visible mostly had 15-20 people in them (5-10 min wait). So if you assume you are in 70 min 10k shape (in between stops), then you have about 75 min to stop for photos with an absolute maximization of time on course. Looks like the Princess 10k had about 10 stops, so you can average about 7 min per stop. So if the line is 15-20 people long, then you're good. If it's longer, then you may have to sacrifice time at another stop.

I'm curious if you have any thoughts about the Ten Miler. It seems quite odd to me that it's still open given every other runDisney event sells out...usually far in advance of the race weekend. Do you you think that this might result in shorter lines for pictures? Alternatively, I'm thinking that it's just people who are really interested so the lines might even be longer. I'm always interested in your insights.

 

[Herding_Cats]

I would have signed up for the 10 miler but our flight leaves a 6am that day. But even if it left later, for us it's a weird day to have it on and for me to participate....my kids have school the next day, and safely plan for time to run, shower, get to MCO and then get through the nightmare that is security there that cuts off a LOT of the flight options for us. We had initially planned on going on a cruise and finding flights after 2pm (to allow time to disembark, get back to MCO, etc) that didn't cost $400+/person was impossible. And that was when flights were still cheap because of the pandemic.

 

[kps7795]

I would have signed up for the 10 miler but our flight leaves a 6am that day. But even if it left later, for us it's a weird day to have it on and for me to participate....my kids have school the next day, and safely plan for time to run, shower, get to MCO and then get through the nightmare that is security there that cuts off a LOT of the flight options for us. We had initially planned on going on a cruise and finding flights after 2pm (to allow time to disembark, get back to MCO, etc) that didn't cost $400+/person was impossible. And that was when flights were still cheap because of the pandemic.

We're self-admittedly spoiled living in South Florida. I ran the marathon in January and walked (albeit gingerly) around Epcot for the rest of the day and we drove home later that afternoon.

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

Hypothetically, let's say that the 10k course is the same one from MW/Princess. I'm anticipating being in S2 with my SIL (based on how princess was set up), and I'm wondering what the "best" approach would be for getting as many photo stops as possible. We will probably try to balance seeing some of the stuff in the pre-race area with getting up closer to the front of the corral when they open. Since there's 2 of us, it wouldn't be terribly difficult to just take phone pics for each other off to the side if the line is super long, but there's something to be said for the photo pass people having the light settings on an actual camera. But I'm wondering like....skip the first stop because *everyone* stops there? Stop for everything that's open and run like a maniac in between stops?? I felt like there was waaaay less pressure for stops during the half and full during MW because everyone was soooo spread out after 4 or 5 miles and by the 2nd half of the race most of the lines were pretty short. But DH ran the 5 and 10k and barely stopped for anything because "the lines were stupid-long."

For what it's worth, I started in the front of S2 for the Princess 10k. I wasn't in the front row, but more like row 3 or 4. Anyway, my sister was nursing a broken foot and she started with me but did more walking than running. I stopped for almost all the pictures as well as a few shots I just wanted to get (big DHS fan so all the empty streets in the dark was heaven for me). I didn't change my normal running routine (didn't speed up or anything like that) between pictures. I still finished with enough time to see runners entering DHS as I passed by on the bus. My sister didn't stop for all of them, but she did stop for a number and, again, she had to walk a lot of it. She never saw the balloon ladies. Take that for what it's worth.

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

I would have signed up for the 10 miler but our flight leaves a 6am that day. But even if it left later, for us it's a weird day to have it on and for me to participate....my kids have school the next day, and safely plan for time to run, shower, get to MCO and then get through the nightmare that is security there that cuts off a LOT of the flight options for us. We had initially planned on going on a cruise and finding flights after 2pm (to allow time to disembark, get back to MCO, etc) that didn't cost $400+/person was impossible. And that was when flights were still cheap because of the pandemic.

During the Princess 10k they interviewed a runner who said she had an 11:00 flight to catch that day. Here's hoping she ran fast enough to get in a shower before having to head to the airport.

 

[DopeyBadger]

I'm curious if you have any thoughts about the Ten Miler. It seems quite odd to me that it's still open given every other runDisney event sells out...usually far in advance of the race weekend. Do you you think that this might result in shorter lines for pictures? Alternatively, I'm thinking that it's just people who are really interested so the lines might even be longer. I'm always interested in your insights.

Hard to say since it's been a while since they've done the TOT 10 miler what exactly is going on. The Challenge sold out quickly (35 min), but that's not shocking since the challenge includes the 5k which is different than the other two non-marathon weekends. So it's either a lower level of interest in that 10 miler individual event, or the capacity limit of the race was always high and they haven't hit it yet. Pre-pandemic there were times in 2017-2020 when certain races wouldn't sell out.

As for shorter lines for pictures, if the race is lower attended than originally thought, then it could go one of two ways:

A) Due to lower numbers, they keep a constant rate of runners at the start and thus the last starter isn't 60 min after the gun, but something sooner. Having less time between gun and balloon start has happened before in the absence of weather/delayed start related reasons. While the number of runners on course and thus competing for line spots is less, due to the decreased maximum time on course there's less opportunity as the balloon ladies are closing in.

B) Despite the lower numbers, they maintain a 60 min last starter from gun. With no pressure from the balloon ladies, the lines remain shorter than if the race had more participants.

I think if the race has a relatively lower number of participants, then Option B is more likely than Option A. It's possible with less runners, but more interested runners, you could see longer lines, but I think that is more doubtful.

 

[lilmc]

Thank goodness my kids stopped growing! What can I say? I’m cheap. Since I’d already paid for all the supplies for my family’s Star Wars running costumes, I made the final decision to just recycle the theme. Finally got them all put together today! Over 2 years of planning for them and only a day to assemble. Really not my fault, the pandemic took two of those years.

 

[kps7795]

Hard to say since it's been a while since they've done the TOT 10 miler what exactly is going on. The Challenge sold out quickly (35 min), but that's not shocking since the challenge includes the 5k which is different than the other two non-marathon weekends. So it's either a lower level of interest in that 10 miler individual event, or the capacity limit of the race was always high and they haven't hit it yet. Pre-pandemic there were times in 2017-2020 when certain races wouldn't sell out.

As for shorter lines for pictures, if the race is lower attended than originally thought, then it could go one of two ways:

A) Due to lower numbers, they keep a constant rate of runners at the start and thus the last starter isn't 60 min after the gun, but something sooner. Having less time between gun and balloon start has happened before in the absence of weather/delayed start related reasons. While the number of runners on course and thus competing for line spots is less, due to the decreased maximum time on course there's less opportunity as the balloon ladies are closing in.

B) Despite the lower numbers, they maintain a 60 min last starter from gun. With no pressure from the balloon ladies, the lines remain shorter than if the race had more participants.

I think if the race has a relatively lower number of participants, then Option B is more likely than Option A. It's possible with less runners, but more interested runners, you could see longer lines, but I think that is more doubtful.

Do you (or anyone else for that matter) happen to remember the list of estimated finishing times for the Ten Miler that one could choose? Because we're locked in, I only know that I chose 1:31-1:45 for my daughter and myself. I'm curious about the last group of anticipated finish times in order to guess how runDisney might spread out the starting groups. We ran 7 miles this past weekend and we are PUMPED for this race!

 

[DopeyBadger]

Do you (or anyone else for that matter) happen to remember the list of estimated finishing times for the Ten Miler that one could choose? Because we're locked in, I only know that I chose 1:31-1:45 for my daughter and myself. I'm curious about the last group of anticipated finish times in order to guess how runDisney might spread out the starting groups. We ran 7 miles this past weekend and we are PUMPED for this race!

Registration is still open for TOT 10 miler, so the info is still visible (if you pretend to register someone new).



With a selection of 1:31-1:45 (which is the first non-POT selection), you're highly likely to be in s2. I doubt we'll see further splitting of those in the sub-90 min POT group like we saw with the 2022 Marathon, but even if you did have a further split, the number of people ahead of you would remain the same. Based on other weekends, I would expect about 8-12% of the field to have a sub-90 min 10 miler POT. So the front of s2 (or first non-POT group) is likely to start around 4-6 min after s1 gun time.

 

[kps7795]

Registration is still open for TOT 10 miler, so the info is still visible (if you pretend to register someone new).

View attachment 652666

With a selection of 1:31-1:45 (which is the first non-POT selection), you're highly likely to be in s2. I doubt we'll see further splitting of those in the sub-90 min POT group like we saw with the 2022 Marathon, but even if you did have a further split, the number of people ahead of you would remain the same. Based on other weekends, I would expect about 8-12% of the field to have a sub-90 min 10 miler POT. So the front of s2 (or first non-POT group) is likely to start around 4-6 min after s1 gun time.

Thank you once again for your help. Will you be there for the Springtime Surprise weekend?

 

[DopeyBadger]

Thank you once again for your help. Will you be there for the Springtime Surprise weekend?

No, my next planned runDisney weekend is Princess 2023.

 

[Herding_Cats]

OK so back to theme park talk for this race week. Every week in March EXCEPT for the week of the races (Sunday-Saturday, with Saturday being the day of the 10k) has extended hours in the parks. MK open until 11pm , AK is opening at 7:30am, etc.

Is it typical for the Spring races (based off experience with the Star Wars races) to NOT have extended hours because of how weird that would make things with getting the parks cleared of runners before the park opens? Epcot opening at 8am for resort guests/8:30 for everyone AND having the 10-miler finishing up seems like a potential cluster (yes, I know that the full goes past noon during MW, and that they handle that.)

 

[Naomeri]

OK so back to theme park talk for this race week. Every week in March EXCEPT for the week of the races (Sunday-Saturday, with Saturday being the day of the 10k) has extended hours in the parks. MK/Epcot are open until 11pm , AK is opening at 7:30am, etc.

Is it typical for the Spring races (based off experience with the Star Wars races) to NOT have extended hours because of how weird that would make things with getting the parks cleared of runners before the park opens? Epcot opening at 8am for resort guests/8:30 for everyone AND having the 10-miler finishing up seems like a potential cluster (yes, I know that the full goes past noon during MW, and that they handle that.)

I’m guessing they will extend the hours somewhat for the last week of March/first week of April, but I don’t think they’ve been posting extended hours until about 3 weeks out on Fridays.

 

[HangWithMerida]

Is it typical for the Spring races (based off experience with the Star Wars races) to NOT have extended hours because of how weird that would make things with getting the parks cleared of runners before the park opens? Epcot opening at 8am for resort guests/8:30 for everyone AND having the 10-miler finishing up seems like a potential cluster (yes, I know that the full goes past noon during MW, and that they handle that.)

I don’t remember for sure, but I feel like Epcot was opening early on the day we ran. I remember going through a roped race course near the front of the park with guests already there waiting at a crossing. Unless they had in park spectating??