Where are (or were) the crowds?????

[rteetz]

It is...it was the original.

But who says they have to sell out? Just offer it in a lighter time to fan the crowd out a bit. Disney does this "thing" where they act like everything costs so much money to stage...they're lying...the costs are negligible.

If they added more that wouldn't help anything. You obviously don't know runDisney. You also can't add much more because of the Florida heat. No one wants to run a marathon in 90 degrees plus humidity. Their biggest even didn't even sell out this year and it's the 20th anniversary of the half marathon.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

But so does the price of food, at just the right pace to keep the dining plan about break even.

If you want to escape the insane food prices, you need a car to get out of the Disney bubble.

Honestly, I never could figure out the big free dining debate here. But we stay at value or moderate resorts and tend to do all the character meals. I've never paid for the dining plan, but even paying the upgrade during free dining for the regular dining plan is far preferable to paying OOP for those meals and taking a 15 or 20% room only discount. Those prices have reached an insane level.

It works better for some than others...no doubt.

But you said the food price goes up...which is EXACTLY why I have shouted down the dining plan since day one.

We're all getting screwed to justify the dining plan.

It was like an ARM...it was good at first but I knew you'd get crushed later...a hook.

It has gone according to plan...obvious.

 

[TwoMisfits]

I still am not convinced that they aren't running things slower/with less people than they did between Christmas and New Year's. If they had a lot of locals/day trippers arrive, they could not have planned for them swarming the gates b/c they would have mostly been spontaneous travelers (deciding within 3 days of the trip) and probably would not have FPs from 30 days out. The VERY last minute hours change is probably trying to adapt in a crappy way to this swarm - making the workers they already scheduled just work an extra hour OT...

It's probably showing in great detail how Disney's employee staffing plans based on FPs/hotel reservations don't work...

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I still am not convinced that they aren't running things slower/with less people than they did between Christmas and New Year's. If they had a lot of locals/day trippers arrive, they could not have planned for them swarming the gates b/c they would have mostly been spontaneous travelers (deciding within 3 days of the trip) and probably would not have FPs from 30 days out. The VERY last minute hours change is probably trying to adapt in a crappy way to this swarm - making the workers they already scheduled just work an extra hour OT...

It's probably showing in great detail how Disney's employee staffing plans based on FPs/hotel reservations don't work...

But it doesn't help them to intentionally do that.

Everybody in the park is a walking wallet and nobody can buy in a line. That's not the goal...that awhy fastpass works in the first place.

Now...they do like to penny pinch employees after the holidays...and maybe their free labor pool is in the crossover...that could create operational issues.

 

[TwoMisfits]

But it doesn't help them to intentionally do that.

Everybody in the park is a walking wallet and nobody can buy in a line. That's not the goal...that awhy fastpass works in the first place.

Now...they do like to penny pinch employees after the holidays...and maybe their free labor pool is in the crossover...that could create operational issues.

Make lines long enough and no one gets in them...and they shop/eat instead waiting for one of their precious 3 FPs that are late that they made the day of...makes for unhappy customers, but ones who are spending money...it doesn't hurt until they get unhappy enough to say screw it and leave way early, skipping the FPs...

 

[sachilles]

I think the marathon thing has hit it's peak nationwide. Next up is the obstacle course stuff, DisneySpartan, Disney tough Mudder etc. There is more creativity there that suits them better, but likely not worth the cost to administer.

 

[rteetz]

I think the marathon thing has hit it's peak nationwide. Next up is the obstacle course stuff, DisneySpartan, Disney tough Mudder etc. There is more creativity there that suits them better, but likely not worth the cost to administer.

They has a obstacle course sort of race. The Everest 5K obstacle course with scavenger hunt in the park. They got rid of it last year.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

If they added more that wouldn't help anything. You obviously don't know runDisney. You also can't add much more because of the Florida heat. No one wants to run a marathon in 90 degrees plus humidity. Their biggest even didn't even sell out this year and it's the 20th anniversary of the half marathon.

I'm well aquatinted with run disney.

The marathon weekend is uncomfortable due to crowds and I'd like to see them address it...that's all. There are more palatable weekends on this weather calendar...I've done much running in Florida for 20 or so years. That and copious amounts of libations are my favorites parts of any escape.

Did you just say I'm unfamiliar with the weather in Orlando? Seriously?

I'm unfamiliar with the weather in Minnesota...I'll grant you that.

It's ok to agree with me (I still like you even though you just went "you obviously don't know...". We've talked about this before )

It sucks when it's this crowded...you can admit it...there's no shame In the truth.

 

[sachilles]

http://www.nationalbeermile.com/ Has the perfect Epcot festival tie in.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I think the marathon thing has hit it's peak nationwide. Next up is the obstacle course stuff, DisneySpartan, Disney tough Mudder etc. There is more creativity there that suits them better, but likely not worth the cost to administer.

Marathons are unhealthy...always have been...always will be. 5 milers and 10Ks can be healthy...but why stress your body to the physical point of damage/exhaustion? Hard to come up with positive angles.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

http://www.nationalbeermile.com/ Has the perfect Epcot festival tie in.

I'm in...

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Make lines long enough and no one gets in them...and they shop/eat instead waiting for one of their precious 3 FPs that are late that they made the day of...makes for unhappy customers, but ones who are spending money...it doesn't hurt until they get unhappy enough to say screw it and leave way early, skipping the FPs...

Nah...the lost revenues are IN the line...it's not gained back by the skips.

Again...that's 150% the reason for fastpass: allows more shopping time

 

[rteetz]

I'm well aquatinted with run disney.

The marathon weekend is uncomfortable due to crowds and I'd like to see them address it...that's all. There are more palatable weekends on this weather calendar...I've done much running in Florida for 20 or so years. That and copious amounts of libations are my favorites parts of any escape.

Did you just say I'm unfamiliar with the weather in Orlando? Seriously?

I'm unfamiliar with the weather in Minnesota...I'll grant you that.

It's ok to agree with me (I still like you even though you just went "you obviously don't know...". We've talked about this before )

It sucks when it's this crowded...you can admit it...there's no shame In the truth.

Marathon weekend normally isn't uncomfortable. This is my third year in a row at this event. I don't understand where you think that I said you don't know the Florida weather? I said people don't want to run marathons in 90 degrees plus humidity because that's flat out true. Marathon Sunday is going to be in the 50s that's perfect.

Why Minnesota?

I'm not complaining about crowds I'm just happy to be hear.

How are you so "acquainted" with rundisney anyways?

Trust me they aren't and don't need to add anymore race weekends.

 

[rteetz]

Marathons are unhealthy...always have been...always will be. 5 milers and 10Ks can be healthy...but why stress your body to the physical point of damage/exhaustion? Hard to come up with positive angles.

If they were so unhealthy 40,000 people wouldn't be running Boston, Chicago, and New York.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

If they were so unhealthy 40,000 people wouldn't be running Boston, Chicago, and New York.

That's like saying that there's a 240 minute wait on mine train so it must be awesome...

The health studies done on marathons in particular are fascinating...the consensus is NOT healthy...particularly a weakened immune and blood system.

But to each their own.

Aren't you from Minnesota?

I ran in some of the smaller races...but I worked some of the rundisney events as well when they were really organizing...early 2000s.

And you told me it's hot in Florida...really?

 

[rteetz]

That's like saying that there's a 240 minute wait on mine train so it must be awesome...

The health studies done on marathons in particular are fascinating...the consensus is NOT healthy...particularly a weakened immune and blood system.

But to each their own.

Aren't you from Minnesota?

I ran in some of the smaller races...but I worked some of the rundisney events as well when they were really organizing...early 2000s.

And you told me it's hot in Florida...really?

I'm from Wisconsin.

I'm currently running in the Dopey challenge which is 48.6 miles in 4 days along with 8,000 other people.

It was in the 80s the last few days but in the 70s today. Will be dropping tomorrow and into the weekend.

 

[jade1]

Crowds are so high this week that Disney is increasing their park hours.

Maybe the Christmas crows waited for marathon weekend?

Maybe the discounted blackout pass helped?

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I'm from Wisconsin.

I'm currently running in the Dopey challenge which is 48.6 miles in 4 days along with 8,000 other people.

It was in the 80s the last few days but in the 70s today. Will be dropping tomorrow and into the weekend.

You fall for that Wisconsin thing everytime...

It's part of your training...like when you have to do flips with me riding on your back with your lightsaber.

The weather looks pretty decent...good luck with the races

 

[manning]

The eternal debate...like the House of Commons:

"Free dining is great!"
"Free dining is a hoax!"


The reality is it's become a "meh" discount in the middle somewhere.

And before somebody says "I'm saving $200 a day!!!"...yes, but you're getting screwed on your rooms and tickets each and every year. Just check the bottomline bill...from years past...it keeps going up and up.

That's the problem. Many zero in on the "free" and fail to look at the bottom line.

I can't figure out if they don't know how or too lazy to figure it out.

I can remember way way back when Disney had a length of stay paid dining plan. I took the time to compare. Guess what, it wasn't cheaper. Even got someone to admit it was designed for convenience, not saving.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

That's the problem. Many zero in on the "free" and fail to look at the bottom line.

I can't figure out if they don't know how or too lazy to figure it out.

I can remember way way back when Disney had a length of stay paid dining plan. I took the time to compare. Guess what, it wasn't cheaper. Even got someone to admit it was designed for convenience, not saving.

The dining plan was really good the first two years...then they took the screws to it. It end up a guaranteed percentage when the eliminate the tips...and I Know...there are people who have stated they don't think they should have to leave the tips. That's shameful/dispicable.

That was a classic used carsalesman hook. It's not a value if one day they add about $40 a day for the sitdown meal of four...that's a crock. Overnight.

But your line above - it's a defense mechanism. People always convince themselves whatever they need to to justify high cost disposable goods. Nothing more so than wdw trips.

It is what it is.