Quick Questions about Expedition Everest Challenge

[cegreenf]

Hi everyone,

I have signed up for the expedition everest challenge 5k for the first time this year! I had some quick questions...

1. Approximately how long does it take to pick up the packet from ESPNWWoS the day before? I'm just trying to figure out how early we should leave the park to get there and then later to our dinner reservation in time.

2. Has anyone ever gotten to ESPNWWoS from a park/non-race hotel? If so, what was the fastest/easiest route to get here?

3. My partner pulled a few ligaments in her knee on new years- while her trainer keeps telling her she will be ready to run in may, she is still limping just walking around. Is there a "substitution" policy? I know there are no refunds, but could another member of our group who isn't registered for the race "take her place" if in a few months she still can't run? If that can't happen and she can't run, what happens to our "team"?

Thanks for the help everyone

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

Originally Posted by cegreenf

Hi everyone,

I have signed up for the expedition everest challenge 5k for the first time this year! I had some quick questions...

1. Approximately how long does it take to pick up the packet from ESPNWWoS the day before? I'm just trying to figure out how early we should leave the park to get there and then later to our dinner reservation in time.

2. Has anyone ever gotten to ESPNWWoS from a park/non-race hotel? If so, what was the fastest/easiest route to get here?

3. My partner pulled a few ligaments in her knee on new years- while her trainer keeps telling her she will be ready to run in may, she is still limping just walking around. Is there a "substitution" policy? I know there are no refunds, but could another member of our group who isn't registered for the race "take her place" if in a few months she still can't run? If that can't happen and she can't run, what happens to our "team"?

Thanks for the help everyone

It is a very small race compared to the others with no real Expo, so it takes about 15-30 minutes depending on when you go. I would suggest getting there early so you can be one of the first people. The merchandise is limited and seems to go fast. If you aren't a shopper, it isn't a big deal.

I stayed off-property and didn't have a problem getting there. There is going to be traffic because of the season, but it is starting later this year which is probably a good thing in that regard. I don't think it really makes a difference where you come from, but if you can avoid the area by DTD, that may be wise because it is usually a bottleneck at night.

You can switch team members, just fill out the change form before March. It is on the runDisney page under registration. You can't cancel or defer her registration. Your team will still exist otherwise and you could probably switch team members after that point, but they will be under her name. I want to say I picked up both of the bibs for my team, so I don't even know if you need her authorization to pick up the bib or not. You can walk the course, so that may be an option for her. It does get crowded and the obstacles are optional. You will find that this is not your typical Disney race.

[kmorganj]

The expo for Everest is a fraction of the size of the other expos. I have been to the Marathon Weekend and the Princess (and Disneyland) expos - all of which are indoors and have significant presence from running vendors, supplies, speakers etc. Last year was my first Everest, and I almost walked right past the expo, which was set up outdoors. I remember a few folding tables: one to get your packet, one to get your pin maybe? There was a small booth of merchandise - some t-shirts and hats if I recall - and a little scene set up where you could take your picture. The shirts/bags were inside, and they had a few vendors set up in the hallway. I remember being a bit taken aback, thinking how glad I was that I didn't wait to get any supplies (chomps, socks, etc) at the expo because I would have been out of luck. It took us about 15 minutes total to get everything and get out.

Hope that helps!

[JennyDrake]

I am not a shopper AT ALL so I would agree with 15-30 minutes.

If you do not have a car, take the first bus to any park, then take a bus from that park to a host resort, then take bus from host resort to WWS. Reverse to get back. Allow a couple of hours for this. You may want to just take a cab.

If you need a new team member, feel free to PM me. I MAY be able to do it. I'm to be at WDW then regardless and I'm hoping to be recovered enough from a ruptured Achilles that I could WALK it.

[cegreenf]

Thanks for the replies everyone, it really helps a lot!

Does anyone know the approximate price of the cab? (As in, are we talking around $5, or $50?)It seems like for our plans, it would be easiest to take a cab from DHS to ESPNWWoS, and then take the resort bus back to AKL where we are staying.

JennyDrake- Thank for your the offer! I hope my partner is at least ok to walk by then also. I wish you a speedy recovery and best of luck with the achilles- I'm very familiar with the problem (kind of inherited flat feet, so I take huge measures to make sure my achilles isn't pulled too much) and know that it's not fun to deal with :-\

[hungrygreenhippo]

It's been a couple years since I've taken a cab at WDW, but I want to say it's about $15-20. Definitely not $50.

[lurkernj]

This is exactly what we did. We took a cab from dhs to the expo for the Halloween 5k in sept and it was about $15. Money well spent so we didn't have to waste time going to a host resort then waiting for a bus to the expo. We took the resort bus back to por afterward.

Oh, and the resort buses are nowhere near the regular bus stop at wwos, they are way across the parking lot, not easy to see. We wasted a bit of time sitting at the bus stop waiting, and then the regular bus drivers had no idea where we should go, til one of them called in to ask.