Best DVC resort as marathon runner?

[anna08]

DH took advantage of DVC discount for the marathon at WDW in 2012 - can anyone who has done the marathon before recommend a DVC resort over the others? My thoughts were BCV because then he could ?maybe walk to the start? We heard the buses to get to the start are very slow to move the large crowds of people. Anyone with experience have an opinion?

 

[OhioDVC]

OKW is the best for the marathon. You can walk t the start from the HH in less than 10 minutes. We've done it for about 7 years now and have registered for the 2012 half and relay marathon

 

[chepic]

I am so glad to read that. I booked our room first at OKW to make certain we could get the place, and then registered husband for the race. So very excited about going.

Cheryl

 

[bigdave10000]

OKW is a great choice. BTW you may want to check out the WISH forums for some great race info.

 

[anna08]

OKW is the best for the marathon. You can walk t the start from the HH in less than 10 minutes. We've done it for about 7 years now and have registered for the 2012 half and relay marathon

Many thanks! I'd say 7 years is very good experience indeed! I'm trying to decide if I'm going to do the half marathon the day before. I've only done one other one, and there's some large part of me that doesn't want the pre-race stress to taint my beloved WDW. Is that silly?

 

[Deb & Bill]

Until this year, I would have said OKW. But this year, they said no one was allowed to walk to the start from OKW, SSR, POFQ, POR. They put up more fencing along the route. So my husband, son and husband's friend took the bus this year. BLT would be the best because you can take the monorail to the start.

BCV isn't good because you can't walk from there. Epcot is closed at that time of day, so you cannot enter through the International Gateway. And after the race, you have to use a ticket to get through Epcot to walk to the Epcot resorts.

I drove to Epcot the long way from OKW at about 4:45AM because I wanted to see my son finish the half. I got to the Epcot parking lot entrance just before they closed the lot at 5:45AM. Traffic was horribly backed up on E Buena Vista Dr. I left from OKW, turned left on Bonnet Creek Parkway, turned right on E Buena Vista Dr. By the time I got to CBR, the traffic was at a standstill. It took me nearly an hour to get to World Drive and take a right there. The Orange County Sheriff had a car at the intersection of World Drive and E Buena Vista Dr and was directing cars ahead toward CSR or to the left on World Drive. When I finally got to the Sheriff's car, he asked me if I wouldn't mind being blocked at Epcot. I said that's where I was headed and he let me through. It was smooth sailing from there to the Epcot tollgate.

I parked my car and as I was walking to the monorail station, the fireworks went off to start the race.

I was amazed to see so many runners hopping out of cars along E Buena Vista Drive at 5:30 trying to run to the start. The race started at 5:45 instead of 6AM this year, so they were not going to make the first corrals.

In the past when I drove to Epcot, there were so many cars parked along the side of the road going into Epcot where people had pretty much abandoned them. This year, not so many.

The next morning for the full marathon, the traffic was not so bad. Just the morning of the half. My husband and his friend did the Goofy for the second time. My son wanted to, but he wasn't old enough.

 

[OhioDVC]

DVC ALWAYS says that they would prefer if you did not walk, but they will not do anything to stop you. Over 7 years no one ever gave us a hard time about walking, including 2011.

The fencing caused a few more steps but did not stop anyone from walking over.

If you stay at OKW and walk, you get to sleep in for 1-2 hours more which is very important to get enough sleep if you are doing both races.

 

[OhioDVC]

Also....

Put a request in for buildings 15-16-17-18-19 and in the morning walk through the OKW employee parking area and you have a 5-7 minute walk in the morning.

At 5-6 am, there is almost no traffic. It has been very safe to walk over. We are usually joined by over 100 other people walking over.

Disney has a police officer posted at the main intersection at Disney Vacation Club Way. Traffic is closed so there no problem getting over.

When we've walked over the morning of the races, the most anyone has ever said to us was...good morning.

Sleep in and walk over. My wife and I will be walking over for the half and marathon. You can PM me and we'll show you the way over for the race. We are staying at OKW for this year's race... Jan 5-7, 2012

 

[chepic]

Also....

Put a request in for buildings 15-16-17-18-19 and in the morning walk through the OKW employee parking area and you have a 5-7 minute walk in the morning.

At 5-6 am, there is almost no traffic. It has been very safe to walk over. We are usually joined by over 100 other people walking over.

Disney has a police officer posted at the main intersection at Disney Vacation Club Way. Traffic is closed so there no problem getting over.

When we've walked over the morning of the races, the most anyone has ever said to us was...good morning.

Sleep in and walk over. My wife and I will be walking over for the half and marathon. You can PM me and we'll show you the way over for the race. We are staying at OKW for this year's race... Jan 5-7, 2012

Thanks for the info....we will see you there!!! 1/4-1/9

Cheryl

 

[maburke]

Also....

Put a request in for buildings 15-16-17-18-19 and in the morning walk through the OKW employee parking area and you have a 5-7 minute walk in the morning.

Do you know if those buildings are considered "near hospitality house"? Does that mean there is basically no chance of getting them if we have a cash reservation or a points reservation that's not near HH?

 

[dsnymomof4]

DH & DS complete the half marathon in 2010. They stayed at BLT an said it was really fast and easy to jump on the monorail to get there!

 

[dkostel]

I stayed at BLT twice and it was great just taking the monorail. But, with the shortened monorail hours, maybe it won't even be running htis year?

 

[OhioDVC]

Do you know if those buildings are considered "near hospitality house"? Does that mean there is basically no chance of getting them if we have a cash reservation or a points reservation that's not near HH?

I do not believe those buildings are considered next to the hospitality house.

I've been lucky enough to get there every year for the last 8 years.

Good Luck...enjoy the race

 

[maburke]

I do not believe those buildings are considered next to the hospitality house.

I've been lucky enough to get there every year for the last 8 years.

Good Luck...enjoy the race

Thanks a lot. I tried to request Miller's Road area yesterday, but the MS CM told me that's considered near HH, which is a category I'm unlikely to get on cash. Maybe I'll call back, and request those specific buildings.

Are you doing the half? I might take you up on the offer to guide the way over. I'm setting this up for my DH and his friend who are running the half, while we families are chEARing. I don't want them to have any trouble because of my planning.

I stayed at BLT twice and it was great just taking the monorail. But, with the shortened monorail hours, maybe it won't even be running htis year?

That was my worry, too, but there's nothing available at BLT at this point, anyway. I only got into OKW for cash.

 

[DVCconvert]

I'd recommend GCV...that way you'll be all "warmed up and ready" when you get to the starting line.....plan on leaving a little early thou!

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I take the bus. I have NEVER had an issue It's less stressful then driving or trying to "jaywalk" my way to the start etc.... This year I am at AKL. I have stayed at OKW a few times but we looked at the "walk" and decided "bus" and really had no issues.