Avoid WDW during marathon weekend?

[daleandmia]

My DH and I are planning a trip to WDW for January 6-18, 2010 and I just found out that the Disney marathon is the weekend of January 8th. We are going in January to take advantage of the value season pricing and less crowds. How much will this impact any deals I hope to get for hotel; and more importantly, the crowds? Should we change our travel dates? Thanks!!

 

[MichaelH]

If I were you, I would move you trip out a week. My wife, daughter, son, and myself went December 26 - January 6 of 2008. We said that we would not go at that time again. We were hoping that after New Years Eve the crowds would get smaller, but no such luck.

The crowds never let up. We over heard some of the people running in the marathon the next week end that they got great deals and they brought there famalies.

 

[sueh]

I was planning on going around that weekend too but by the suggestion of someone I moved my vacation week to the last week in January.
I am hoping that the crowds will be light that week.

We will be there January 24-30 which is the week after Martin Luther King Day. Which you will fall right on that weekend and I heard it's very crowded then too.

 

[mom22bless]

We were there this year Jan 4-11 and caught the tale end of it. Sat morning was the worst because the buses had to be rerouted due to runners on the roads.

In the parks though it wasn't that bad (marathon wise)

I would avoid Jan just because of touring groups myself. That was far more annoying that the marathon runners. Although now that I think of it, some foreign runners cut in front of me in a food line and just shrugged their shoulders and stayed there when I motioned towards the line but you can get that anytime.

 

[Kimmumum]

I was there in 2007 and 2008 for marathon weekend and didn't think it was too bad. I wouldn't worry too much about it especially with the economy the way it is. Have fun!!!!!