Any tips for the Jan. marathon, should we avoid the parks?

[Jillpie]

I just found out we are going to be there the week of the marathon in January. Is this a one day marathon and are the parks crazy? Should we plan an off park day then? thanks. And any other January tips would be great too.

 

[GRAYWIFE]

What week is that? We are going back in January, also.

 

[Jillpie]

The marathon is January 11th. Anybody have any info on this? thanks!

 

[Muffy]

The resorts are packed during the marathon. The parks are somewhat more crowded but certainly not as crowded as a holiday. We have been at WDW during the marathon for the past 4 years and mananged ok! WDW is a ghost town before the marathon and after (not during)! Hope this helps!

 

[mtdevine615]

We were at WDW from the 1st to the 11th this year. The marathon was on the 11th and we didn't have any problems with large crowds because of the marathon. However we did see very large crowds the first few days. I would avoid any time around the first but you shouldn't have any problems with the marathon. The race itself is held early in the morning (I think start time was 4:00 AM) and is over by the time the parks open.

 

[viluvsdisney]

Hi - the only thing we found "bothersome" was having to wait for a clear path to cross from one side of a walk way to another. It's like when people want to cross during a parade that's in route - a crowd gears up and waits for a "ok" to get across to the other side. You'll come across this while the marathon is in progress (Epcot especially). The day after the marathon it was pretty busy at the MK. Hope this helps!! Have fun - if it's early enough in January the Christmas decorations will still be up

 

[karebear1]

We're gonna be there from the 9th-18th ! Hoping the marathon doesn't slow things up too badly! We're at BCV's.... where
is everyone else staying?

 

[bjakmom]

We'll be at BWV - the only big complaint I've seen on the boards is that the roads and bus transportation get backed up in the early hours - due to roads and entrances being blocked for the runners - so if you're going to do a non-park day be sure you're not headed into a road block getting where you want to be. Our plan is to either take the boat over to MGM for the day, or start the morning early in Epcot and take the monorail over to MK before the runners get there (about 11 I think)- other posters have commented that MK was very slow that day after the race was over - we'll play it a bit by ear once we get there.

 

[crystalb]

We have been there for the last three marathons.
The only issues I noticed was our first year at CSR, they ran out of hot water from the marathoners arising EARLY, showering and leaving.
And that morning getting into Epcot could be a pain.
I was in MK during the marathon and literally had the place to myself.
Getting into Epcot after the marathon would have been a real pain if you drove in. By monorail or bus it is not a problem.
Just like any WDW vacation, the parks are busier on the weekends, and slower during the week.
From our experience this has been a great time to visit WDW! Almost evrything is walk on. The only exceptions we have found are Great Movie Ride and Tri-spinner in DAK.
I have even seen where CM's are joking at RnRC that they are going to go outside and pull in guests just to have someone riding!
It is not unusual to be able to ride KRR repeatedly w/o even having to get off and reboard.
Even Fantasmic is a walk in at the last minute.
And getting a good seat for a parade requires maybe an hour to no wait, depending on the parade and timing.

I am not sure about the half marathon, but the full marathon starts at 6 a.m. So you see many coming in around 9 - 11.
Special busses are provided for runners to and from the race start/finish. And Disney does a terrific joib on that. Busses start like 3 in the morning or another ridiculous time. Disney gets the runners there EARLY. Something like an hour and a half before race starts at least.

 

[katrina1122]

Dolphin 10-18th! I'm wondering if the MLK holiday adds in to the crowd factor at the end of the trip? Are we picking the wrong week to go, ie go the week before the marathon, or is the marathon really that big of a non-issue that the guests coming for the 3day weekend really not going to add that many more people at the end of our week?
This is dh's first time ever and I want to make sure he gets on as much of the rides as he wants to as possible. But from what I'm reading the marathon isn't that much of factor in crowds? I was there was from Jan 4-11 and we practically walked on everything is it about the same?

 

[Jillpie]

Crystalb, thank you for your post! That was wonderful to read, walking on to rides, yes!! We're there 9-18th. Looks like MK sounds wonderful on marathon day, thanks!

 

[crystalb]

We arrive a day or two before the marathon. From speaking to other runners/families it seems many arrive the week before.
We stay the week following. And really have had great times. WDW in January has really spoiled us.
We have also gone in later months. During those times guests need longer park hours. In January the only downside really could be rehabs, or if it is too cold for water rides.
So far we have always had chilly days where no one wants to get wet -- Splash Mountain/KRR.
We save a 70+ degree day for DAK and make sure to ride Splash when it is fairly warm too.
They have heaters at the end of KRR. But those heaters are very crowded. We take ponchos, or just bring dry clothes we can change into. KRR riders are okay as long as they aren't in the tidal wave seat!
We dress warm for nights.
But the *crowds* really aren't there the week after.
We leave Saturday, the Saturday before MLK day, so far. Our tradition has become to ride RnRC and ToT as many times possible before catching our plane. That Saturday the crowd at MGM is vastly different from what the week is. But stil manageable.
One January, Splash was closed for rehab. It was a disappointment of course. But there are many other pluses for that time of the year.
The only other downside is having to pack a lot of clothes or do laundry, or both. You never know what you need to wear. Could be winter. Could be summer.

 

[Deb & Bill]

The 1/2 marathon starts when the marathon starts. Don't forget about the 5K race at Epcot the day before on Saturday.

Most of the runners should be through the MK by 8AM or so. The half marathon ends at the MK parking lot, but the marathon continues through the AK, WWS, DS and then back to Epcot. So the last runners should be hitting Epcot again about 10 or 11 AM.

 

[kdonnel]

I am going to be one of the people in your way.

I am running the half marathon this year.

Just this week they published the course map. It looks like we get to run through some areas guests don't normally get to see.

Make sure you all cheer for me!

 

[AKASnowWhite]

COME CHEER US ALL ON!!!!


Come out early and cheer for all of us crazy nutcases who are running in this event! DH and I are running the 1/2 marathon - beings at 6:00AM so everyone should be outa the way of park goers by the time they open!

 

[Jillpie]

Crystalb, once again, thank you!!! That is exactly the info that I have been wondering about January.

To Kdonnel, I noticed that you stay at the BCV's. We have to wait till 60 days out to book BCV's (will be booking on Nov. 9th for Jan. 9th for 9 nights), as our points are in a holding account right now. Please tell me I have a chance to get in there?? This will be our first ever DVC trip and want to stay at our home resort. Do you think the marathoners will be choosing the DVC resorts over the hotels or what?

 

[Harambe]

Someone asked if it gets crowded this long weekend and the answer is yes - still nothing like Easter, but you'll see an upswing in attendance. The days prior to and right after this weekend are glorious, no-crowd days!

We will be at the AKL Jan 14-21. So excited about this resort!

Good luck to all the runners!

 

[kdonnel]

Originally posted by Jillpie
To Kdonnel, I noticed that you stay at the BCV's. We have to wait till 60 days out to book BCV's (will be booking on Nov. 9th for Jan. 9th for 9 nights), as our points are in a holding account right now. Please tell me I have a chance to get in there?? This will be our first ever DVC trip and want to stay at our home resort. Do you think the marathoners will be choosing the DVC resorts over the hotels or what?

This is my first try at the half marathon.

For the marathon trip we are actually staying at OKW.

Good luck getting a room at BCV. 60 days out seems tight. You should be able to get something somewhere though.

 

[tiggerunner]

How is the Expo for the marathon? Worth looking around or just a bunch of people selling stuff. Anything special that stands out from other marthon Expos?
We are not nutso for running! Ha! Just a little crazy!

 

[taylor1293]

Does anyone know when the crowds for the Jan Marathon start to arrive at the WDW resorts?

Also, are their particular resorts that will be more crowded than others?

Thanks,

Teresa