According to the official website rundisney.com YOU must pick up your bibs for all races starting with the Disneyland Half Weekend. You will no longer be allowed to sign waivers and allow a friend or family member to pick up your race items.
ETA: 3/13/2014 Calls to runDisney have confirmed that same day pick up will be available starting 2 hours before the race starts. They also stated that minors running a half marathon will need to pick up their own bibs, but other children will not need to be present. I’m happy with both these updates.
Patty Holliday has been running Disney since 2011. She knows just about every tip, trick, and hack there is to cover the runDisney Magical Miles at Disney World and Disneyland. She knows every mile isn’t *always* magical- but with training, tips, and a little bit of pixie dust, they can be a lot of fun! You can also find her at noguiltlife.com and noguiltfangirl.com
April Shuping
Friday 14th of March 2014
Not really a problem for me, just a bit of a hassle for my husband who would prefer to stay far far away from any Expo, so he'll have to come with me to pickup his EE bib. I hope they (and suspect they will) do race day pickup for people with travel issues though. Or keep the packet pickup open 24 hours before the race (it's usually separate from the Expo anyways), they could just skeleton staff it during the night/early am hours. Any change seems to be drama-prone with runDisney, that is the one certainty! :)
Lesley
Thursday 13th of March 2014
Why change the policy for races that are already sold? Like you, I have friends who are teachers and in Texas, some districts say teachers cannot take days off before that weekend since the school year just started. Either have race day pickup, or offer an option in which bibs can be mailed to participants a couple weeks in advance.
Lauren
Thursday 13th of March 2014
This doesn't affect me really so I have no opinion about it. However, I do wonder what they'll do if flights are delayed/cancelled due to weather issues and runners may have no way to get there during expo hours. I mean, shouldn't they be allowed to have someone pick up their bib for them if they don't make it until the night before a race? I've read about this happening before so it is definitely a realistic concern.
Meridith
Thursday 13th of March 2014
I usually work my plans around the expo and getting there on time but I know that it isn't always possible for those who work or aren't getting to the area until later on. I agree with you; changing the policy is fine but changing it for an event in which people are already registered seems like a poor decision on their part.
Cailyn
Thursday 13th of March 2014
Last year Sarah Beth missed her connection the Friday morning before the DW Half...and we thankfully had all traded the necessary info to pick up each others bibs so I was able to pick up hers... but what would happen now? It's really too bad that the people who don't follow the rules ruin it for those of us who do, and have legitimate need.
Patty Holliday
Thursday 13th of March 2014
I hear there has always been a never mentioned but possible (ha- not confusing at all!) option to pick your bib up on race day. So she could have gotten it before the corral walk. BUT... I think it ran smoother with the waivers and allowing someone else to pick up in a case like this. I really hope they reconsider for the people who already have registered and possibly made travel plans based on the earlier process.