Marathon Weekend 2022

[Kitty-chan]

I'm about to share some super hot takes here so I'm glad I'm not gonna be at marathon weekend so nobody can throw things at me...

As someone who has worked in the tech department of a company that isn't a tech company (in my case, a brick-and-mortar fashion retailer that also has an ecommerce site), I can tell you that for companies whose primary product is not their technology, they sometimes invest less in tech than maybe they should. For better or for worse. But a company like Amazon, who started online and only moved into physical experiences later is going to have a much larger and more mature tech org than a company like Disney who started with physical experiences and built in the tech later.
Disney as a company is probably going to invest more heavily in things other than their website and app technology because they want to spend their money where they make the money.

I'm not saying there isn't a lot of room for improvement with Disney's technology, because certainly there is (and I actually have a theory that they're working on a major update to the website so hopefully if I'm right that will help), but I think a lot of people don't understand (and I certainly didn't before I started working in the industry) A) how fragile even the best tested tech is, and B) how little of a priority tech can be for large non-tech companies.

Anyway, I'm going to just leave this flaming hot take here and disappear for a while.

(But also, seriously, I hope everyone has a good weekend despite any tech difficulties!)

Yes, all of this!!

 

[Mr_Incr3dible]

IT geeks are IN THE HOUSE.

Yes -- sometimes systems genuinely lose records, in that the unique identifier for that record has somehow become unavailable or corrupted.

Also, I would be not at all surprised if Disney developed their own document system, and is now dealing with a tangle of legacy code that isn't well-enough documented. So they have to add on features without being able to fully predict the impact of these features on other existing functionality. Not that I have EVER EVER seen that in my professional life as an IT project manager.


I just got back into the site too.

Undocumented legacy code? That happens? [while rolling my eyes]

My comment (no pun intended) to junior programmers has been "Comment and document as if the person who has to support this code is currently in diapers. Because they probably are."

 

[Mr_Incr3dible]

I'll take a stab at this as well. I deal quite a bit the eDocuments, the department that manages ours reports through me, and based only on the anecdotal information I've gleaned here I think it has to do with signors.

When I got my digital documents I poked around a bit to see if I could tell from the page source if Disney rolled their own for this or leveraged one of the known eDocument providers. I couldn't tell but I'm also not a developer.

It appears that all, or a significant majority, of the issue are with people that didn't use their own account to sign up. That tells me that the eDocument solution is looking for a UUID that isn't compatible with one account registering multiple people. This could be a coding issues, using the wrong UUID, or simply trying to hammer a round peg into a square hole. Them losing already signed documents that were there originally but are now gone could be a downstream effect from this as the UUID becomes the Index that the imaged document uses. This is most likely the case if all, or most, of the disappearing documents are ones that had to be forced through due to the error above.

If Disney is using a commercial eDoc solution or a white label version of one they added development to keep in mind these are designed for legally binding transactions where you need to know reasonably believe the person signing the document is the person you are intending to sign the document. That is why sharing email addresses or letting person A set up person B becomes problematic.

My suggestion for everyone is to only register yourself and your minor children. If you and a spouse are running have each of you register using your own account. If 30 of you are trying to run together, and all 30 are adults, all 30 of you should be registering yourself.

Lotsa of good explanation and good advice.

 

[Kerry1957]

Sorry if this has been posted. We had to cancel due to flight cancellations and Covid issues. We are 2 old people. Our registrations and waivers disappeared also and I emailed Run Disney before we decided to cancel. Last week however I sent another email to let them know I didn’t expect a refund but could we at least get our shirts. Never heard back but does that ever happen? Otherwise, what would they do they do with the ones that are never picked up?

I'm not sure why runDisney does not let folks "transfer" from the in-person race to the virtual. They keep your money and only have a very modest shipping charge to send you the shirt and medal (which of course is a sunk cost to them anyway). It would be good PR and would reduce the number of on course participants which would make life easier for Disney and everyone involved.

 

[dobball23]

Flexibility is going to be the key this weekend...

• Late last week we decided to change from flying to driving to Marathon Weekend because of airline woes and to reduce chances for COVID
• My parents (who live in NY; we live in PA) were going to meet us at WDW on Friday to support my running (Dopey). However, my mom tested positive for COVID yesterday, meaning they won't be traveling down.
• We were going to stay at AS Music the first two nights and then move to POFQ when my parents arrived. My travel agent was just able to move us to Pop for the last three nights to save some money, with my parents no longer part of the trip.

We haven't left home and have already had some changes. Hopefully that's the last of them (unless there are good adjustments!).

Looking forward to leaving shortly!

 

[GreatLakes]

I'm about to share some super hot takes here so I'm glad I'm not gonna be at marathon weekend so nobody can throw things at me...

As someone who has worked in the tech department of a company that isn't a tech company (in my case, a brick-and-mortar fashion retailer that also has an ecommerce site), I can tell you that for companies whose primary product is not their technology, they sometimes invest less in tech than maybe they should. For better or for worse. But a company like Amazon, who started online and only moved into physical experiences later is going to have a much larger and more mature tech org than a company like Disney who started with physical experiences and built in the tech later.
Disney as a company is probably going to invest more heavily in things other than their website and app technology because they want to spend their money where they make the money.

I'm not saying there isn't a lot of room for improvement with Disney's technology, because certainly there is (and I actually have a theory that they're working on a major update to the website so hopefully if I'm right that will help), but I think a lot of people don't understand (and I certainly didn't before I started working in the industry) A) how fragile even the best tested tech is, and B) how little of a priority tech can be for large non-tech companies.

Anyway, I'm going to just leave this flaming hot take here and disappear for a while.

(But also, seriously, I hope everyone has a good weekend despite any tech difficulties!)

That is me, tech executive at a non-tech company. I spend a lot of time explaining why we need to spend the money to do it right so we stay online, not breached, not maliciously encrypted, competitive, and so on. In some industries every company is a tech company at some level.

As much as very public security issues are a pain the mainstream reporting on things like Log4j and heartbleed really helps me in a lot of ways.

 

[Kitty-chan]

That is me, tech executive at a non-tech company. I spend a lot of time explaining why we need to spend the money to do it right so we stay online, not breached, not maliciously encrypted, competitive, and so on. In some industries every company is a tech company at some level.

As much as very public security issues are a pain the mainstream reporting on things like Log4j and heartbleed really helps me in a lot of ways.

Same-ish. IT Program/Project Manager at a non-tech organization. It's part of my job to explain why we need to spend money sometimes. And also part of my job to outline the risks inherent in not spending the money.

 

[SarahDisney]

That is me, tech executive at a non-tech company. I spend a lot of time explaining why we need to spend the money to do it right so we stay online, not breached, not maliciously encrypted, competitive, and so on. In some industries every company is a tech company at some level.

As much as very public security issues are a pain the mainstream reporting on things like Log4j and heartbleed really helps me in a lot of ways.

Same-ish. IT Program/Project Manager at a non-tech organization. It's part of my job to explain why we need to spend money sometimes. And also part of my job to outline the risks inherent in not spending the money.

Either of you want to work for Disney and convince them to invest more in tech?

 

[Kitty-chan]

Either of you want to work for Disney and convince them to invest more in tech?

I appreciate your confidence that we'd be able to do better than the folks Disney probably already hired, who might well be using all the same arguments we would.

 

[Suz333]

Wow, I don't think even at my most optimistic I thought I could finish in under 5 hours. I must have made a mistake.

As much as that extra time sure would help, I don't think I'd feel comfortable up there with those faster runners. I WOULD feel pressured to keep up somewhat so as not to be in the way, and in the end it would probably hurt me more than it would help me.

Unless you’re an elite runner, or a slow starter at the back of the pack, there’s always a good chance that someone will be coming up from behind you in a runDisney race. There are so many things to stop for in a Disney race (character pictures, bathroom breaks, “omg I must rid myself of this tutu”, etc.) … those fast people will be behind you wanting to pass no matter what.

I say enjoy the cushion your corral placement gives you. If you run with music, maybe plan your playlist to start with some slightly slower tempo stuff in the beginning. Stay near the side and everyone should be fine.

 

[Disney at Heart]

How does Disney (anyone) lose digital registrations, waivers, etc?!!!

Disney not only (seemingly) lost my race registration and POT, but my entire account no longer exists on MDE.

Frantic email to travel agent has been sent.

Just drove in from NE Ga and MDE has “lost” tonight’s dinner reservation at Rose and Crown. Tried to link it, but it is “already linked to an account.” (Yeah, mine.) Searched and found it through disney.com. Took a screen shot with confirmation number just in case there is a problem. Apparently the phone version is just not accessing it. I had to sign in three times, but at least I didn’t lose my whole account!

 

[xjillianpaige]

between covid cases, flights, and snow, I'm making myself sick with anxiety. my stomach is in knots.

 

[Kitty-chan]

between covid cases, flights, and snow, I'm making myself sick with anxiety. my stomach is in knots.

super anxious here, too. I tell myself I'll feel better once I get to Orlando . . . but I'm sure anxiety about the race itself won't really let up until I'm across the start line.

 

[1GoldenSun]

Does anyone have an estimate on how much the tank top might cost? My friend will be at the expo tomorrow and I am contemplating giving her money to buy it in case it sells out.

My guess is $36, because that is the maximum that I am willing to pay for it. Disney is very, very good at determining my maximum price point.

 

[lookingforsunshine]

between covid cases, flights, and snow, I'm making myself sick with anxiety. my stomach is in knots.

I am also extremely anxious.

 

[PCFriar80]

between covid cases, flights, and snow, I'm making myself sick with anxiety. my stomach is in knots.

I'm anxious and not even running! But that's a different story. So far, so good for our flight out of BDL tomorrow. Hang tough! It will all work out!

 

[anneeb]

If you go into Flightaware, and put in your flight number, you can get all sorts of info, including the ability to track your incoming plane. That is one of the most useful pieces of info, since winter weather in another part of the country can screw up your plans if that is where your inbound flight is coming from. Given that your flight is 6 am, it's quite likely that your plane is coming in the night before--that would be one good thing.

Thanks. Works great! My flight leaves current location in 1 hr 10 minutes and then will overnight in my departure airport. So just 1 more leg to get through before the plane is there

 

[Gary Snyder]

With the arrival of the expo passes and bib numbers, the subject of weather has stopped...but, I will bring it up again!
Apparently, 2 years ago, the marathon was shortened by 2 miles. If there any runners here that were at that marathon, at what
time into the race did they make this decision? and what was their criteria? Is there a chance that this years marathon
will be shortened?? thanks

 

[PaDisneyCouple]

With the arrival of the expo passes and bib numbers, the subject of weather has stopped...but, I will bring it up again!
Apparently, 2 years ago, the marathon was shortened by 2 miles. If there any runners here that were at that marathon, at what
time into the race did they make this decision? and what was their criteria? Is there a chance that this years marathon
will be shortened?? thanks

My text message about the course shortening is time stamped 11:28am on marathon Sunday 2020

 

[camaker]

With the arrival of the expo passes and bib numbers, the subject of weather has stopped...but, I will bring it up again!
Apparently, 2 years ago, the marathon was shortened by 2 miles. If there any runners here that were at that marathon, at what
time into the race did they make this decision? and what was their criteria? Is there a chance that this years marathon
will be shortened?? thanks

I’ll take a shot at answering what I can and others will chime in with their experiences, I’m sure. There were several of who ran that marathon. It’s not 100% clear exactly when the decision was made or what precisely prompted it. I think our best estimate was that the course was modified to remove the Blizzard Beach loop sometime in the 10:30-10:45 timeframe. I don’t know whether that decision was made due to a specific heat and humidity threshold being met or if it was due to the strain on the medical support staff from runners in distress nearing the breaking point. There were a lot of runners in need of aid as the heat ramped up through the morning.

I think you have to go into any marathon with a forecast temperature profile like this one with the understanding that it could be shortened. Factors working in our favor this year are that the forecast isn’t quite as hot and humid and I think there’s cloud cover forecast that would mitigate some of the heat’s effects (although clouds were forecast in 2020 and didn’t materialize). Factors working against us include reports that I’ve seen that rD is short of both medical and aid station volunteers this year, lowering the threshold for overwhelming medical capacity and reducing rDs ability to add water/ice/cooling options/stations on the fly.

We‘re just going to have to see what happens.