Warning

[cewait]

For those who are wanting to walk from OKW, POR and other resorts please consider the following NEW language in this year's program...

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®.

Last year the mouse installed a much weaker warning in the program; one that was more along the lines of "we discourage headphones..." Having run two big Disney events as well as a couple larger Orlando events since Boston I find this warning firm enough to keep me from walking to the start this year. You will notice that all bags are searched before coming into the staging area and again when checked in the tent (if they even have tents and not pens).

I encourage runners to ride a Disney bus to the race this year and watch the area from the corrals. If you see that folks are passing then this was just a stronger version of the casual warning. I will attempt to report what I see for after Saturday for those who are running Sunday.

ADDED - its in the program at least three times. I think this is the year they will start to enforce the no walk policy

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Apparently this was in place for TOT and there were absolutely disqualifying people for walking.

 

[gsu1988]

Looking at the staging map I did notice there is a significant change there as this year you will not be able to just walk straight into the staging area. You must first go through bag check lines before entering. Look like this applies to all runners and spectators so everyone might want to consider this when making plans. This could really become a back-up point this year.

 

[cewait]

Looking at the staging map I did notice there is a significant change there as this year you will not be able to just walk straight into the staging area. You must first go through bag check lines before entering. Look like this applies to all runners and spectators so everyone might want to consider this when making plans. This could really become a back-up point this year.

+1 This would be the one year folks would want to come early rather than trying to find the last bus over.

 

[garner384]

But I want the extra hour sleep.

 

[paxsarah]

I've come to the conclusion that for me, that extra hour sleep is never worth it at a Disney race. Even aside from the added bag check. I'll get it by going to bed early the night before or napping afterward.

 

[Calcio]

I did see the significant change in language about walking from POFQ, POR and OKW in the program early this morning, and I appreciate the RunDisney folks giving us 3 weeks warning. I have made that walk to the corrals several times in past years, and this year many of us were moving over to POFQ on Friday and Saturday nights just so we could sleep later and make the short and easy walk.

We live at mile 14.5 of the Boston Marathon Route, and I certainly understand RunDisney's changes. I'm sure they've had many, many meetings about security after those 2 punks decided to drop 2 bags filled with explosives and metal fragments at the finish.

So we have cancelled our POFQ reservation in time to get our deposit back, and we'll hop the bus from the BWV to the staging area. In my soul I believe nearly all rules exist to be broken, but not in this case. So see you all when we dump out of the buses at the EPCOT lot.

Craig

 

[garner384]

I understand the reasons to have people go through security and will deal with it but it is still disappointing that I will not get the extra sleep had planned.

I guess I can catch a 20 minutes sleep on the bus.

 

[goofeygirl]

I am glad they are doing this.

The races I have done since the Boston Marathon have all become strict in their rules.

 

[afnaechiquita]

i wonder if this is also how they will enforce the ID check that they are claiming will be in place?

 

[paxsarah]

i wonder if this is also how they will enforce the ID check that they are claiming will be in place?

For race morning, or just for bib pick-up? I haven't heard anything about a race morning ID check (that sounds like a nightmare!) but it has always been done for packet pick-up.

 

[afnaechiquita]

For race morning, or just for bib pick-up? I haven't heard anything about a race morning ID check (that sounds like a nightmare!) but it has always been done for packet pick-up.

it's possible i am spreading hearsay... or maybe there was a thread talking about ways to enforce it to cut down on illegal bib sales. i can't remember, so don't believe me!

but that would logically be the way to do it. stop everyone on the way in. if they are rummaging through bags, they have time to match an ID to a bib.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

it's possible i am spreading hearsay... or maybe there was a thread talking about ways to enforce it to cut down on illegal bib sales. i can't remember, so don't believe me!

but that would logically be the way to do it. stop everyone on the way in. if they are rummaging through bags, they have time to match an ID to a bib.

They aren't going to do that. The race instructions do not say to bring an ID to the race. Believe me, I wouldn't mind if they did, but they don't.

 

[afnaechiquita]

They aren't going to do that. The race instructions do not say to bring an ID to the race. Believe me, I wouldn't mind if they did, but they don't.

i see that, i just read through them. so yeah, if they started without a warning in the instructions, they'd have a lot of cranky runners.

must have come from a bus driver

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

I'm amazed how many people do illegal transfers and believe that they are going to be able go sell their bib to someone who is not going to do anything untoward with a copy of their driver's license.

 

[afnaechiquita]

precisely that... and that disney hasn't picked up yet on how much more money they could make if they set up an official system for it.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

precisely that... and that disney hasn't picked up yet on how much more money they could make if they set up an official system for it.

I assume like every marathon that they have done their research and decided it wasn't cost efficient.

 

[paxsarah]

I assume like every marathon that they have done their research and decided it wasn't cost efficient.

I don't know. The Peachtree Road Race, which has more runners than all of the marathon weekend races combined and charges a fraction of the registration fee manages to do it. I haven't used the process but it seems to work for people. With the technology available, it should really be simple and cost effective for any large race to do it.

 

[DIS-OH]

OP, thanks for the warning.

We stay at POFQ and have walked to the start for the Princess Half for several years.

I appreciate the advanced notice that this will not be possible any longer!

 

[FFigawi]

I don't know. The Peachtree Road Race, which has more runners than all of the marathon weekend races combined and charges a fraction of the registration fee manages to do it. I haven't used the process but it seems to work for people. With the technology available, it should really be simple and cost effective for any large race to do it.

The system & technology are certainly available and cheap, but I don't think that's Disney's main driver. Unlike Marine Corps, which prides themselves on getting the maximum number of runners out on the course, I think Disney is after dollars in their pocket. I'm sure they calculate a percentage of entries that are DNS, and that's less medals, drinks, etc., that they and their sponsors need to provide.