I promised a review of the Spectator Viewing Party, so here goes.
I picked up my stuff at the Expo, same area as the race bibs. I got a wristband, a plastic Mickey head clapper, a CHEARsquad button to write my runner's name on, and a light side button. I greatly disturbed the check-in lady because I refused to put the wristband on then and there (this was Thursday, and no way was I going to wear that wristband until Sunday morning). Only later did I realize that I was given no instructions on where to go or anything like that.
Sunday morning I walked with DH to the corral entrance, then I turned around and walked back to
Disneyland. I got there soon after 5:30. I went to the first CM I saw by the gates (on the DTD side of the entrance) and luckily I was in the right place. But we could not just enter the park; we had to wait for a CM escort, which apparently I had just missed. So I stood there for a good 10 or 12 minutes or so. Other viewing party people arrived, and I asked if they had been given any directions regarding the package, but no one had. Some people were getting antsy because their runners were in the A group and they risked missing them, but the escort CM finally arrived and walked us under the bridge and across Town Square. Then he told us we could be anywhere along the west side of Main Street up to the corner, but not beyond (that was where the mile 4 sign was, I believe). It was not crowded; I had plenty of curb space to myself. We were only in place for about 5-7 minutes when the lead wheelchair racers and runners arrived. So if you're cheering on an elite runner, get to Disneyland before 5:30 so you get the first escort in.
After my DH passed by, I left Disneyland (no escort needed; just had to stay clear of runners) and went to ESPN Zone. Here they had several signs for the viewing party, directing us to the breakfast area and to the viewing area. The breakfast was a buffet of potatoes, scrambled eggs, three-pepper bacon, sausage patties, and pastries. Water, orange juice, and coffee were set up for self-serve, and the bar was available. They had the big center screen mostly focused on the finishing chute and the finish line, but occasionally cut away to cameras along the route. Those cameras were terrible, though--mostly unrecognizable blobs. I was able to stay there monitoring DH through the runDisney site until he was close, then I went to the finish-line viewing area.
The viewing area was couches and ottomans which actually were pretty comfortable, but not enough space on those until people started to drift off later. They did supplement with folding chairs. There was a coloring table for little kids, and some were in the area running off some energy.
I don't regret doing it, but not sure that I would do it again. It was nice to have the space and not have to fight crowds to see, but on the other hand, there's an energy to the crowds that was lessened in our more private area. The food was good and the best part was having a place to sit inside to wait for DH to get back (I realized leaving Disneyland that I was rather chilled). I was disappointed, though, that there was no cross-over between this viewing party and DH's Light Side Lounge VIP experience at ESPN on Sunday morning. It would be better if the runner and the spectator could be in the same place. (While he went off to eat his separate meal after he finished, I went back to the finish-line viewing area and enjoyed the couches until he was ready to go. I actually had a good time, but would have had a better time being able to celebrate his race with him.)
One final note. I was in the breakfast area from about 7 to 8. DH finished at 8:15 and we took pictures, etc., then he went to his Light Side Lounge breakfast at 9. When I was talking to another spectator at the viewing area between 9 and 9:30, he said that the breakfast items had already been pulled, not sure when. So even though the viewing party went until 10 or so, the food was not available the entire time.
Hope this helps!
