Advice: Which park on marathon day?

[Mom B]

Does anyone have any recommendations for which park to visit on Marathon Day (Jan 11, 2004)? We're arriving at the airport around noon so will only have the later parts of the day to spend. What would be least crowded on Sunday afternoon/evening? Would we do best at Epcot since it's probably open the latest? I plan to avoid PI as I heard all the runners go there afterward...? Or should we just do downtown Disney and not "waste" a day on our park passes?

 

[MissMagnolia]

Thanks for asking this question - we are wondering as well!!

 

[Luv2Roam]

I would avoid Epcot, at least until the afternoon.

 

[flynnmnstr]

I had read on another thread that the marathon did not seem to affect the crowds in the park that badly so I think we are just going to treat it as any other day.

Mom B- if you decide to go to the parks, I would choose Epcot. We always consider not going to the parks the day we arrive but can never do it. One time we ended up buying one day passes for a half day at Epcot because we couldn't wait. Epcot is open the latest and by the time you get there (probably by 3pm by the time you get out of the airport and check into your hotel), Future World shouldn't be that crowded and you can probably do all the major attractions (Mission Space, Test Track, Wonders of Life, Honey I Shrunk the Audience, etc) there before Illuminations. Fast Passes may not still be available so if you don't mind separating on the rides use the single rider lines if the waits are crazy long. DH and I do it all the time and its amazing. A couple of times we ended up sitting together any way.

Have fun!! We leave in 10 days and I am so excited I am going to burst soon.

 

[Luv2Roam]

The crowd isn't bad in Epcot, although you have the runners coming and going in the regular mix. What can be bad is if a guest is driving into Epcot. WDW transportation is not bad. But I would not drive into Epcot. The parking lots to the left and behind Epcot are all taken over from the marathon.
WDW transporation might be more full to and from Epcot. But Disney supplies the runners with their busses, and does that very well.

 

[AKASnowWhite]

As a general rule, we avoid MK on Sunday unless we arrive for EMH.

As for the marathon......we begin running at Epcot at 6:00am. Even the last of the last participants will be out of MK by 9 -9:30 am. (The time limit on the 1/2 marathon which finishes in the MK parking lot is 3 1/2 hours) The full marathon ends in Epcot with a time limit of 7 hours. So "worst case" is there will be participants finishing at 1pm - before you would be arriving anyway.

While I can't speak for other runners, DH and I plan to spend a good portion of the day SLEEPING by the pool. Because of the 6am start time, we have to get up at some GOD AWEFUL hour to catch our bus to the starting area (they run from 3-4AM!!!! ) And yes - we will be at the post-race party at PI from 7pm-???? (I'm SURE I won't make it until 2am! )

 

[ironz]

Agree with luv2roam about transportation to Epcot being a little busy. And it's true...the marathon is officially over at 1 pm, so you are not likely to be affected.
I'll do my post-race partying at Epcot, though...so if you see someone walking really slow...just direct me to La Cantina!

 

[bjakmom]

Uh oh, post-race party at PI on Sun evening? That was the night my kids had planned on going there to dance (I'll be back at the villa babysitting). Is PI or any of the clubs closed to the public or is it open to everyone? Maybe it would be a good night for them to go anyway (age 24,25,26) as they would probably have more fun on a crowded night than on a slow night. Any advice?

 

[TDC Nala]

bumping up - looking for info on PI opening jan. 11 if there's a post-race party there.

 

[Mom B]

I think we'll avoid PI too; we're more the quiet types. Anyway, thanks for all the input, everybody, and good luck to the runners!

 

[ironz]

the runners and their guests get discounted admission to PI for the night of the race (1/11). I wouldn't expect all 24000 runners to descend upon PI en masse! I would bet that lots don't go...maybe the ones that take nice long naps after the race! (we'll be waking up at 3 that morning to run...)