1/2 Marathoner....where to stay??Contemp. or BWI??

[Tinks]

I'm hoping to run the 1/2 marathon in January...if training goes well and I don't chicken out!...where do you suggest I stay? It will be me and perhaps my DH..no kids this trip! I'm thinking of Contemporary or Boardwalk....any ideas or suggestions? Has anyone else done the marathon weekend and where did you stay? Thanks!

 

[welovedis]

Congrats on doing this! I'll be participating in the 1/2 for the 1st time too. We'll be splitting our stay between AKL concierge and BWI concierge for that trip. But if I was with DH alone (no DS with us) I might opt for the Contemporary just for the ease of the monorail. Plus I think the finish is in the MK parking lot (for the 1/2 at least). I might be wrong about that but thought someone mentioned it before.

Good luck with your training!

 

[Pinnie]

I do believe that the 1/2 marathon is all filled up for 2004. It gets booked very quickly and they start taking apps in March if I am correct.



pin

 

[ducklite]

Yes, the half is full. It does finish at the TTC. We stayed at the GF the first time and being on the monorail was VERY convenient. Last time we were at the BCV, and it took over an hour for the bus to get from there to the start in the Epcot parking lot. Regretfully we're at the BCV again next year due to the points situation, but if it were up to us we would have booked the Polynesian. In order to see DH at the half I had to take a cab to the TTC and then walk from there to the GF.

Anne

 

[Tinks]

Thanks guys! I am already registered and plan to start my training soon...I already run about 3 miles several times a week. This is my first half marathon too, Karen!! I am waiting to see how training goes...I hope I can keep up...I know I can, but the long runs make me crazy...I get bored thinking to myself!
Hmmm..I thought BWI might be close to the start for walking there but maybe I'll book Contemporary instead. We stay at the Poly for our family vacations and I love it but I thought I'd try something new for a change.

 

[welovedis]

Tinks-
glad you got your registration in, it booked up pretty fast, then they re-opened the registration, now it is closed for good.

I'm not sure about the race details as I have them somewhere in my "old" computer and have to transfer all my files over to my "new" one-lol! If you are ever looking for some good running info, especially about the WDW marathon, I belong to a great group over at yahoo called "team penguin-disney". Just do a search for it over there or PM me. They would know for sure!

 

[Tinks]

Hey Karen...thanks! I found the site and will be looking it over more soon. Right now I'm out the door for kids' haircuts!
Where are you planning to stay in January? When will you arrive? I'm trying to sort out these details before calling to make ressies...Not sure if I should arrive Friday or Saturday....not sure when to leave!! (never if I could get away with it! ) Have you started your training??

Whoops! Just re-read where you'll be staying... Sorry I have a million questions!

 

[ducklite]

You can't walk to the start from the BWI--Epcot isn't open that early.

Anne

 

[Tinks]

Oooh, thanks Anne. Would I then take the monorail to the start if I stayed at the Contemporary? Does it begin at EPCOT's parking lot?

That makes the Contemporary look much better for this trip!

 

[allans]

According to my 2002 book (2003 wasn't in reach), the monorail will begin transportation at 3AM.

Special buses are available in front of the Resorts from 3-4AM

The start of the race is actually on Epcot Center Drive.

I stayed at Port Orleans both times and I boarded the busses between 3-3:30 and had no trouble with not much of a wait, however closer to 4 am there was a waiting line.

There is a goodly walk from the bus dropoff area to the area that they first herd you into, and then another one to the start corrals.

The weather can get chilly ~40's so I brought old gloves and throw away clothes with me to the start line. Disney donates the dropped clothes to charity.

HTH
Allan

 

[Tinks]

That helps a lot, Allan. I knew the race began at 6:00 a.m., but I had no idea I would need to be there (or leaving to get there) around 3- 4 a.m. Ugh!

 

[allans]

And oh yea if memory serves me correctly, they opened the food court at PO for "cold" items at sometime about 2-2:30 AM

See You in 2004 ... if I can ever get my hamstring back in shape.

Allan