Athletes Run Into Big Problems During Disney Marathon Weekend

Attention athletes, problems ahead! Athletes have come across several big issues this weekend, and Marathon Weekend is just getting started.

Marathon Weekend

Walt Disney World Marathon is underway! This big race weekend includes four individual races and two challenges. The races range from a 5K all the way to a full marathon!

Athletes are facing cold weather this weekend. Check out how Disney wants athletes to be prepared HERE.

Thinking about participating in a runDisney event next year? The race calendar was just release, and you can see it HERE.

PhotoPass Issues

Athletes are reporting having issues with linking their bibs to their PhotoPass. When athletes are trying to link their bib to the PhotoPass, they are receiving an error message.

Athletes are reporting an error message when linking their bib to their PhotoPass.

Luckily, this seems to be a small glitch as bibs are linking. Athletes are reporting photos are successfully uploading to their PhotoPass. Phew!

Bib Chip Timing Problem

Another glitch that athletes are reporting is Disney has notified athletes of trouble with their timing chips on their race bibs. Athletes have shared that they have received an email from runDisney stating that the timing chip on their race bib may be inactive.

Athletes reported receiving emails from runDisney stating that the timing chip is inactive. Various versions of the email have been received.

Three different variations of the email have been reported depending on the athletes race entries, but the general information remains the same. The timing chip is inactive.

One version of the email reads that runDisney apologizes for the inconvenience and please use your own timing method. Unfortunately, these athletes weren’t even offered an opportunity to replace their timing chip.

Another version recommends athletes who want a recorded time to visit the tent next to gEAR Bag Truck #1 in the Family Reunion Area on Friday beginning at 3am. If an official race time is not important to you, then no action is required. In this version athletes are told that their Half and Full Marathon bibs have not been impacted and have an active timing chip.

In the final reported version it is informing athletes of the timing issue. If they received this email and have already picked up their bib they were instructed to return to the expo if they wanted an active chip. If these athletes had picked up their bib after Thursday, January 9th at 4PM the bib would have an active chip. Athletes were also given the option to not have real-time tracking, and no action would be needed.

It is important to note that if athletes are participating with inactive chips, friends and family will not be able to track them through runner tracking during the race.

It seems that all races have been impacted from inactive timing chips. I am glad that runDisney is working hard to fix the problem.

What do you think of these glitches during Marathon Weekend? Were you impacted? Let us know in the comments below and be sure to share this post with your friends!