AKV Sunrise Safari and 2009 WDW marathon...

[ktbugsmom]

Okay, the obsessive planner in me (and the lazy person in me that does not want to work today) was looking over our Jan. 2009 trip. We booked an AKV studio concierge for the first 4 nights of our trip - which happens to be marathon weekend. We arrive Friday and check out Tuesday - then move to BWV.

We go every year during the marathon (the last 4 anyway) - and understand the whole runners/traffic issues. But, it dawned on me today that maybe that would affect our potential sunrise safari day.

I reserved concierge to be able to book the safari for the first Sunday of our trip. But, now I am concerned that maybe getting to the park would be an issue (due to the runners) and maybe they would not have it that day? Any thoughts on this?

BTW - I checked the course map and the runners come in the back end of AK at about mile 16 (must be some service road or something) and exit through the front of the park at about mile 18. The race starts at 6am - so the best runners could be at the back of the park around 7:30am ish. The mere mortals would get there later...

 

[Deb & Bill]

The runners are not on the savanna. The safari is on the savanna. Your safari will start around 7:30A. The fastest runners should be through AK by that time, but the majority of the runners will take about 3 hours to get to the AK, at 9AM. I think you'll be on the safari before they enter the AK property.

 

[ktbugsmom]

Thanks Deb & Bill! I know they won't be running through the savanna (wouldn't that be cool!?! ) I was actually concerned about just getting to the park. Or that maybe Disney would just decide having the sunrise safari would be more work due to the marathon and thus skip it that day.

Two years ago, we got stuck on a bus going to MK because the bus couldn't cross the runner traffic. It took an extra 45 minutes to get there. Then last year, we couldn't walk to Hollywood Studios from BWV (runners use that path - so no walking), so we took the boat. Well, then once we got off the boat, it took forever to cross the runners to get into the park... once inside the park, we got stuck on one side of the park because the runners come down the middle of the park. Ugh. It was frustrating.

I just don't want to plan this great special safari, only to find out that we can't make it to the park in time. Once inside the park, I am sure there will be runner traffic (looks like it goes through Asia, Dinoland and out the front) - but we can stay on the Africa side in the morning. I hope that since it is early enough - we will beat the traffic and it will still work out.