2007 Marathon and 7 month bookings

[disneykid4ever]

Hi all,

DH and I are brand new DVC kids and we have a trip planned for Jan 2007 so my husband can run his first Disney marathon. Our home is Saratoga Springs but we would like to stay at either BCV or BWV for the few days surrounding/including the marathon so that my husband has the ease of just walking over to Epcot for the starting line.
1st question: Will we have difficulty making a ressie at BCV or BWV at the 7-month window for this time frame?
2nd question: Has anyone done the marathon and stayed at either of these 2 resorts? Is it as simple as we think to just walk over to the starting line from there?

Thanks tons!

 

[NCRedding]

In actuality, the closest DVC resort to the start of the marathon is OKW. I don't think that you can easily walk from BVC or BWV, because the start is very early in the morning, and is on the entry road into Epcot. I would recommend posting this question on the WISH event/competition board, because I know there were several over there who stayed at BCV for the race.

 

[ralphd]

We stayed at BCV last year for the half marathon. Don't think you will want to walk to the staging area form the resort, nor did we hear anyone talk about walking (and doubt the gate at the International Gateway is open).
You would have to walk all the way thru the park and parking lot down to the road.
We stayed at VWL this year and will be staying at BWV next year.

 

[TinkGirl]

I would recommend making reservations at SSR now and just changing to a different resort if it's available at 7 months. I think they book up at least for the weekend of the marathon. I also think all the resorts have marathon buses that go to the starting line VERY EARLY.

 

[PKK/MJK]

Our DD ran in the 1/2 marathon last year. The night preceding the event, we stayed on points at the Polynesian. We requested a building 'close to the TTC'. DD was able to walk out of our building and over to the TTC in a matter of minutes. At the TTC she grabbed a monorail which took her directly to EPCOT. She said it worked beautifully! After the Marathon we stayed at OKW.

 

[ralphd]

I would recommend making reservations at SSR now and just changing to a different resort if it's available at 7 months. I think they book up at least for the weekend of the marathon. I also think all the resorts have marathon buses that go to the starting line VERY EARLY.

Think the busses run between 3:00am to 4:00am to the staging area.

 

[KLEONARD]

I stayed at the Poly several years ago for the half. Walked to TTC and rode EPCOT monorail. They started running the monorail very early that morning. I do not think anyone walked to the start line from any resorts. BWV and BCV would have to walk through EPCOT which was already roped off for the first 3 or 4 miles of both races. The half finished in a parking lot near the Poly. I walked back to the hotel after the race.
By the way, I think they may not let people walk to the start for security/safety reasons.

 

[GCM13]

We stayed at BCV this year for the marathon. We made our reservations at 5 months and booked VWL while waitlisting for BCV and BWV. BCV came available at 4 months ahead. Like others have said, you will not want to walk to the start. My son and husband did the family fun run and we walked to Epcot early to do Test Track then walked to the start. It was ALOT further than I thought. I wouldn't recommend it. The nice thing about staying at BCV is that the runners go right by the resort, so you can just walk right out and watch.

 

[Deb & Bill]

OKW is the closest to the start. I drove my husband, his friend and two other runners we picked up who had missed the bus over the to race start which was just outside the entrance to OKW. I dropped them off at the red light. Then our friend's mom and I drove the long way (past Disney Studios/BW/S/D/etc) to Epcot to watch the runners go through Epcot.

If you stay at BWV or BCV, you'll still need to ride the bus over to the start. And probably over at the end unless you have a ticket to enter the park.

 

[JonJ]

We stayed at BWV during that time this year. I, our son, and daughter-in-law ran the half marathon. Epcot is not open before or during the start, so walking to the start line would be nearly impossible. If I were doing it again, I'd seriously consider staying at a monorail resort -- they have the easiest transportation to and from the start/finish. We really enjoyed doing the half marathon!
Jon

 

[ralphd]

The bus ride to the staging area only takes a few minutes and you don't have to contend with the traffic.
It is also easier to use the bus to go to Wide World of Sports to pick up your packets.