Volunteering at PHM?

[dminnie]

Does anyone know much about volunteering for the PHM? Do you need to be a local? I'm having serious doubts about running it because of health concerns, but maybe it would be fun to volunteer while the other family members are running it.

Has anyone volunteered for Disney races? What was your experience like? Do volunteer spots fill up fast?

 

[joan4mickey]

I have not volunteered, but plan to do so this year. More info will come out on it later. There are many different jobs and times and you will get a cool tshirt.

I am sure other will be by soon that have volunteered.

 

[jmasgat]

Anyone can volunteer. I have only volunteered for Marathon weekend, but I expect it is somewhat similar. Volunteer registration for that opened in mid-late summer. You could sign up to help at the expo or race day. The perks were different depending on what you signed up for. All volunteers got some appropriate article of clothing for the task (T-shirt/windbreaker). If you signed for the expo, they gave you one "point" for each hour you volunteered. 16 points gets you a park ticket (they mail it to you). If you volunteer at the 1/2 or full, you got a one day/one park ticket when you completed your shift.

Shifts start as early as 12-2 on the morning on the half (Yikes!) and can be in multiple locations--start area, bag check, finish line, course marshal, water stop, etc. I have done water stops (behind Splash Mountain twice) and course marshal (in Epcot). I like to find a shift that starts at 4:30-5 and is done around 9:30-10. Marshals usually need to be at WWoS, then they bus you to your specific spot.

Registration doesn't fill immediately, but it's always best to sign up early so you get to choose what you'd like to do. HOWEVER, one year I had signed up for course marshal at MK and my spot was changed to Epcot. They reserve the right to change locations, I guess.

Here's the link to the volunteer info at RunDisney. Just select Princess.

http://www.rundisney.com/volunteer/

I think it can be great fun and a real help to runners--and a good way to get a free ticket!

Maura

 

[geaux_half]

I'm not local and volunteered for bag check at the PHM this year. My shift was from 1-7 AM. Check-in, along with several other volunteer positions, was at a tent set up in the parking lot of Downtown Disney West side. At check in, you receive snacks and for PHM we got a windbreaker this year. From there, we were bussed to the start area.

As shift times and locations aren't covered by transportation, you will need your own transportation in most cases.

Gasparilla race weekend in Tampa was the same weekend as PHM so I ran the 15k Saturday morning before heading to WDW and PHM volunteer check in. I had my own Pirates and Princess running weekend!

 

[dminnie]

Thanks for the responses so far.

When you sign up, can you request the time/job you'd like to do? Other marathons we've helped at have the jobs listed and you click the one you want. DS and I would want to work together (or at least close). Can you sign up together?

As far as the free ticket, is that good anytime or do you have to use it that weekend? We probably would get tickets for the family for that weekend and would hopefully be able to use the free ticket the following year when we do just a day trip to WDW.

 

[kappyfamily]

I asked run Disney a couple days ago what the volunteer shifts would be like for the 5k and they responded back with 4-6 hour long shifts and that more info will be coming out about it.

 

[geaux_half]

Thanks for the responses so far.

When you sign up, can you request the time/job you'd like to do? Other marathons we've helped at have the jobs listed and you click the one you want. DS and I would want to work together (or at least close). Can you sign up together?

As far as the free ticket, is that good anytime or do you have to use it that weekend? We probably would get tickets for the family for that weekend and would hopefully be able to use the free ticket the following year when we do just a day trip to WDW.

When volunteer registration opens, it will look similiar to a race registration form. You will be able to select the position you are volunteering for and the shift. I believe there is a group option available or you may just be able to sign up for the same task and shift.

The ticket did have an expiration date on it. Maybe the end of this year or next? I used it in the same trip as I earned it so didn't really pay attention to the date.

 

[jmasgat]

In the past, the ticket I received for volunteering on Marathon weekend was good for one year.

Maura