How To Be A Character-ographer On The Marathon Course
- Happy Keller
- Jan 3, 2024
- 9 min read
December 29, 2022
This photo is an example of being a Character-ographer - the characters
are common, but they are wearing outfits they'd never wear
around the parks (btw - it snowed on us before the beginning
of the marathon pictured above)
With Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend 2023 just around the corner, and the fact that many of my favorite photos with various Disney characters were taken during one (or all) of the events, I thought I would spend a little time and space reminiscing about those times in my life.
(I went back-and-forth about what to write in this post and, at the end of my thinking about it, I decided that I would write about all of it!... This one is going to be (too) long!)...
As most of you already know, Walt Disney World is one of my favorite vacation spots on the planet (just behind Bora Bora in that regard), and you already should know if you read more than one other blog entry that I have completed many endurance events. When I found out that I could combine the two during Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend, I knew that I had to give it a try! My Bride & I completed the Marathon by itself before moving on to participate in all of the multi-day events many times too (Goofy & Dopey Challenges), so it is very safe to say that I have "run" many more miles to and through the parks on event days than I ever spent walking through them as a tourist.
But none of that is what the main part of this entry is about - I wanted to share my photographic memories from one particular Walt Disney World Marathon day, while also giving a little advice to those readers who are actually going to participate in one / all of the events at Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend 2023 on how to get your best character photos EVER!
I am going to try and go in the order that these characters might show up on the course. They do move things around, and tastes in characters change as well. Not all of them are super unique, but they were what was found for the most part during that year (2008). This was a magic time for the amateur character-ographer, as people didn't commonly carry their iPhones & Androids around with them (probably seen as too expensive & fragile at the time), and I had a tiny Sony digital camera that I could carry in one of my FuelBelt pockets. Due to this combination, there were hardly ever any lines to take photos with the characters!...these days, if you want photos with you in them, you'll need to prioritize which lines are worth standing in to get the shot...(plus, unless they've changed things again, PhotoPass photographers are out there to snap photos [with characters as well as just "action" shots along the course]...you'll just need to pay for them if you want a copy)...
So, there aren't too many characters until you get to Magic Kingdom. You start in the dark, and it doesn't really become very light until you get to MK. There have been a couple of common (artificially lit) exceptions - there has been a hot air balloon with characters nearby on the way toward the MK Parking Lot, and there has been a graveyard (of sorts) full of Nightmare Before Christmas characters in an area of the MK Parking Lot. I'm sorry, I don't have any photos of them.
One more non-2008 photo before getting down to business...
YES!...the castle is a character (just don't be like this dufus and stand
in the middle of the road to greedily have your picture taken)
So, after you enter and run past the castle (while not inconveniencing others to have your photo taken), you turn into Tomorrowland where the following could happen...
Now that "Stitch's Great Escape" has been shuttered for a while, I don't know if he will be in Tomorrowland anymore.
Once you get to Fantasyland...
I also have seen the Queen of Hearts and the Mad Hatter with Alice near the teacups, and Tigger with Pooh & Piglet (just not in these photos).
After running through the castle, you head over toward Liberty Square & Frontierland...
This next one is a "shout out" to be on the lookout for near Splash Mountain...
With the retheming of Splash Mountain happening, these characters might be there to provide a bit of a preview...
After heading past the train tracks, you head "backstage" where you might see...
This one still might be there since they didn't pull the Captain Jack Sparrow audioanimatronic from Pirates.
Next, there is a pretty long stretch of just roads until you get to Animal Kingdom
You'll run past the golf courses too, where you might run into golfer Mickey, Donald and/or Goofy (see the photo at the very top of this post)...
As you get closer to Animal Kingdom, there will probably be wildlife...
real wildlife too...
Then the "official" Rangers of Animal Kingdom will probably greet you...
After running through Animal Kingdom, and before getting to the main parking lot...
Once you get past the parking lot, you'll probably see Minnie's mate...
Two parks down and two to go! Now there is a VERY long stretch of just roads, which I now see they are running every one past Blizzard Beach. In any case, if you see an RV near the roadside, there is probably a character (or two) nearby...
After the long stretch of next-to-nothingness, you'll reach Hollywood Studios where you might be greeted by...
After exiting Hollywood Studios, there's a stretch that will take you past the Boardwalk and finally to Epcot (4 of 4)...
For those of you running with the WDW Radio Running Team, on the Boardwalk & just before you get to Epcot, Lou & Co. are normally there to cheer everyone on. This is your last-and-best chance to give Lou (Mongello) a sweaty hug. Beci (Mahnken) has, in the past, given donations to The Dream Team Project (benefitting Make a Wish) for every sweaty hug Lou has received...I'll let the photos speak for themselves here...
Once you get to Epcot, you might see...
After that, all you have is a few turns, cheering from some adoring fans, and the Finish Line! Collect your medal, and have your photo taken with you wearing it...(you earned it!)...
So, from 2008, that was 20 photos and 39 characters in 26.2 miles! Not too bad (if I do say so myself)...
I would be remiss if I didn't thank the people who were in the photos with me. So, from top-to-bottom, thank you Gary & Kyoko Dexter, Gail Fink (who ran all of 2008 marathon with me), and Robynn Westerwick.
Now I want to plant an earworm for you to remember when things get tough out there. This one's difficult to get out of your head once it is there, and I promise it will inspire you to the Finish Line (and beyond!)...
(just ignore the last two minutes...I was in a "mood" when I put this video together)...
Okay...you aren't running in the 2023 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend and/or you don't want to run that far (on purpose) ever...I hear you...
You can still help - make a donation to The Dream Team Project (benefitting Make-A-Wish) by clicking on this link ...there...easy...you didn't even have to break a sweat!
For those of you who might be interested in running a marathon some day, but don't have any idea as to "how?", go and listen to this podcast that I was lucky enough to be a part of to get some info.
(I wrote what is below just after the podcast aired)
Six Other Things About Marathon Running…
After Steve, Joseph, Lou, and I wrapped-up our conversation regarding signing up for The Dream Team and then training for / completing a Disney Endurance Event (link above goes to the show referenced in the rest of this post), we all felt that we had barely scratched the surface of what it’s like to train & complete a Disney Endurance Event. This entry is my attempt to touch on a few things I personally felt we either “missed” or didn’t get enough discussion time on.
As always, advice offered here is only between “people who exercise”, and should not replace the advice given by a doctor.
1) FuelBelt Or No FuelBelt??? – It was mentioned during the show that one doesn’t need to wear a FuelBelt (or other hydration delivery system) because the Disney Events always have plenty to drink out on the course. While this is true, I always wear my FuelBelt while participating in an Half or Full Marathon. Why? Well, I have medium pockets on my belt which allow me to carry a camera, cell phone, etc. during the Event without any discomfort. You also may find yourself in need of fluids where no water stop is available. If you have a belt, you can drink when you want / need it (plus you can refill it at any water stop along the route)….just something to consider….
2) 16-Minutes-Per-Mile Pacing Requirement – While it was correctly pointed out that there is a pacing requirement of 16 minutes-per-mile at Disney World Half / Full Marathons, it is important to note that this timer doesn’t start until the last participant in the last corral passes the Start Line. I am mentioning it because the time available to you is greater than you think it is…don’t let the Pacing Requirement keep you from signing up –> YOU CAN MAKE IT! I personally completed multiple Walt Disney World Marathons (where I stopped to take pictures) where I only ran 10 seconds of every minute, and finished with plenty of time to spare (and after I had a total knee replacement too)!
3) Photos During The Events – There are professional photographers on the course to take “action shots” and “character shots” along the course (they shoot video at certain locations too). This means that, if you want your photo taken with Mickey, Minnie, etc., you don’t need to carry a camera to do so (although you will need to buy the photo; the images taken are not included in your Registration Fee). Please note that these are now Photopass photographers. You may use your own camera too, but having these photographers out on the course already makes the whole process much quicker.
4) Gu, Gels, Blox, etc. (What To Eat On The Course) – Another subject which came up was eating during your event (it’s Lou’s show so, of course, there would be a mention of food!). While there are Food Stations along the courses, which include gels, bananas, and other things, there are not enough of them for you to rely on them solely to fuel yourself during a Half or Full Marathon. If you are early into your training, I highly recommend that you experiment to find out what brand/flavor/type of re-fueling product agrees with you best during your longest run of each week. I actually use a custom-made sports drink which, after taking their online survey, provides me with just the right amount of calories & electrolytes during any endurance event I am participating in (www.infinitnutrition.us). Just because I have found this solution works for me does not mean you should use it too –> everyone of you is “An Experiment Of One”, and you need to find what works best for YOU! Bottom line is that each of you will be needing to take in between 100 – 175 calories-per-hour that you are running/walking/wogging. This won’t fully replace everything that you are burning through, but it represents the maximum your body can digest comfortably during running/walking/wogging.
5) Some Specifics About Equipment – We touched on equipment during the show, but I would like to give you a bit more detail into what Steve, Joseph, Lou & I spoke about. While it may be obvious, it cannot be stated strongly enough -> the “right” shoes will make all of your training & event much easier for you; the “wrong” shoes can just as easily hamper your training (and, maybe, even keep you from completing your event). If you are new to distance running and are shopping for shoes, find a running store where they will watch you run and/or walk prior to you trying on shoes. Your shoes should also be 1/2 to 1 full size larger than your “every day” shoes (could be even larger depending on the brand of shoes). Why? Because your feet will swell during your training & event. Your socks & shirt should not be cotton; they should be made out of a ‘wicking’ material which will help keep the sweat away from your body; in the case of socks, will help keep you from developing blisters. I wear shorts which have pockets in them for gels (when I used-to eat them), keys, etc (www.racereadyusa.com). Race Ready also makes skirts & compression tights with pockets in them too. I also wear a Garmin GPS unit. It keeps track of my heart rate, Run/Walk/Run segments, and other workout-related data. Not a “necessity”, but a “nice to have” piece of equipment.
6) Why I Am A HUGE Fan of Jeff Galloway’s “Run/Walk/Run” System – I am a Jeff Galloway Run/Walk/Run marathoner. I have been for several years / events. For me, due to a reconstructed knee, it is much more of a “necessity” than a “choice”. If you are new to distance running, I do recommend that you give the Run/Walk/Run System a try. Why? Well, it is easier on your body than “just running” (much less chance of injury). It will also result with you having a plan for your training & event which will be individualized to your ability, and will change with you as your ability changes. If you are interested in giving Run/Walk/Run a try, and don’t want to buy an expensive running watch / GPS unit, you can pick up an inexpensive timer at https://phidippides.fittedrunning.com/product/run-walk-run-timer/. He also has an app for your iPhone now, so that might be even easier https://apps.apple.com/us/app/jeff-galloway-running-coach/id1640776734 ...sorry, Android users, looks like he only built one for the iPhone). Jeff has also published many books on the subject to help get you started down the path of doing Run/Walk/Run.
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Happy New Year everybody!!!
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