Wow I had no idea cheating was this common. I'm not too familiar with the Disney races but I suppose it is much harder to secure those courses. Unfortunately there are cheaters in everything, athletes certainly included. Just about every day driving to/from work I see plenty of people not get into the correct lane because of a long line of cars, and go all the way to the front and cut in. I suppose that isn't all that different from cutting a course.
Coincidentally I did have one race earlier this year that I cut by accident. I feel like some of you that say you couldn't even look at the medal knowing it wasn't earned. I even got a plaque for coming in 3rd overall. But in my case I was not aware I had cut the course. I found out later when I downloaded from my gps watch. But in the end it was sort of fair, since everyone did the same thing according to the race director (I emailed once I figured out what happened). I was following all the front runners when a volunteer apparently miscommunicated to us that we were at the turn around point and we all turned around, and apparently they just kept turning everyone in the 5k around there (was also a 10 and 20k that kept going). So hopefully the 5kers all ran the same course, even if it wasn't quite a 5k. But I steel feel bad about it and never posted the race here or on fb. Maybe I'll go for it again next year.
There was one other time way back in high school XC that I got off the course that was like a maze in a field. Ended up merging with someone I knew was way ahead of me and on the loop back. I followed him for the rest of the race but at the chute I ran off to the side instead of across the line. I wasn't going to knowingly skew the results with my finish.
Agreed TJ. I have heard of some posers and people that like to way overinflate their workouts on facebook for likes and admiration. Sometimes even getting all in kit just to take selfies to post claiming they have been working out for hours when they have not.