Best DVC to stay at for Marathon Weekend?

[Soccer Princess]

Would you recommend trying to book at BLT or BCV/BWV for Marathon weekend? Which is going to be easiest transportation wise for the Half Marathon? Thanks!

 

[stitchfan18]

BLT would be the easiest getting to the start since you have access to the monorail. I stayed at the BWV during the princess 1/2 weekend and liked that it was a super short bus ride back to the hotel after the race. We went to Epcot after showering, and saw many people walking back to that resort area through Epcot.

 

[stampingoddess]

We've stayed at both. For race morning transportation, BLT is certainly easier and because you use the monorail you can buy a bit of additional sleep time in the morning. OTH, we like BWV, especially for marathon morning because hubby is fast enough to get back and shower and can come out and see me on the course and in the years I'm not running, I can sleep in a bit and see him and many others at a time when seeing a friendly face gives them the boost to finish those last few miles strong.

In other words, you really can't go wrong at either resort.

 

[ultramickeymouse]

I have stayed at BWV for my past 6 Goofy's. I like that I only have to take a bus to the start and I get a nice walk back to the room after the races. No second bus ride. Plus you save on points to use for another WDW trip

 

[cloudnut220]

we stayed at SSR last year and it wasn't good--the buses were terrible!

staying at BLT this year (our home resort). Looking forward to the monorail ride!

 

[Fellowship9798]

BWV worked well for me this year, the bus ride was short in the morning and I enjoyed walking (hobbling) back to our studio after finishing the race. You do need to use a park ticket to enter the Epcot gates if you want to walk back to BWV or BCV but we had planned to go back to the parks that afternoon anyway as a way to keep my legs moving so using the park tickets wasn't an issue.

 

[ludari]

BLT might be the best because you have access tot he monorail, however for the Princess 1/2 I stayed at POP and althought the bus lines where extremely long on race day it moved very quickly. You should also consider the DVC point at BLT verses the other resorts.

 

[El&Asmom]

Does anyone know if there is transportation from all the DVC resorts in the morning for the marathon? For the princess, there were only a few that had bus transportation and since we were staying at VWL, we had to take a cab.
Thinking about either Kidani, or BWV which would be great to walk back to after the race.

 

[Fellowship9798]

Does anyone know if there is transportation from all the DVC resorts in the morning for the marathon? For the princess, there were only a few that had bus transportation and since we were staying at VWL, we had to take a cab.
Thinking about either Kidani, or BWV which would be great to walk back to after the race.

As I understand it, all WDW hotels provide transportation to the events and Expo on Marathon weekend in January. For the other running events throughout the year, only certain "host" hotels have buses.

In January you should have transportation no matter what Disney hotel you choose.

 

[parrotbay51]

we stayed at SSR last year and it wasn't good--the buses were terrible!

staying at BLT this year (our home resort). Looking forward to the monorail ride!

I also was at SSR this past year. I heard that roads were closed before they were suppose to be the morning of the half. No issues the morning of the full.

 

[John VN]

As I understand it, all WDW hotels provide transportation to the events and Expo on Marathon weekend in January. For the other running events throughout the year, only certain "host" hotels have buses.

In January you should have transportation no matter what Disney hotel you choose.

Just a small note regarding transportation from FW Resort and Campground for Marathon Weekend. As far as transport for the 5K, we had to get to WL on Friday to get the bus since there is no transportation from FW for the 5K. There is transportation from FW for the 1/2 and Full.

 

[J3nn78]

good luck with BLT. It is our home resort, but we forgot to call at 11 months and called around 10 months instead. We are wait listed there right now and REALLY hoping something opens up.

 

[Soccer Princess]

good luck with BLT. It is our home resort, but we forgot to call at 11 months and called around 10 months instead. We are wait listed there right now and REALLY hoping something opens up.

What are you waitlisted for? We were interested in a studio Jan 5-12. I looked on the Resort Reservation Availability thread and there weren't noted for BLT during that time. Thanks

 

[crewmatt]

Staying in AKV. I just really like the hotel and after the race there's really no need to leave the hotel if I'm out of it. but usually goto a park and then EPCOT that evening and enjoy the night. Didnt have a major issue with transportation.

i think if BCV or BWV would be awesome for spectators because its right on the course.

 

[cewait]

Really any DVC resort is good. Obviously the BLT with monorail service has a lot of perks. The two Epcot Area (BWV and BCV) resorts work great especially for the full. Note if staying there you MUST bus or drive to the start. You cannot walk to the start!

All Disney resorts have marathon weekend busing. Every year one or two resorts have a transportation issue. Seems like the SSR was snake bit last year. I have been at the Yacht/Beach and did not get picked up until after 5 and had slow busing at the CBR and BWV in past years. I am not aware of any participant not getting to the start line due to a busing snafu. Now that is a busing snafu NOT A LAZY RUNNER SNAFU. You know the one who is always running just a little late and does not plan on getting out to the bus stop until 5 AM. You may not have a lot of time in the staging area if your resort is the unlucky resort... but then you don't have to wait in the cold either.

 

[ksoehrlein]

If you plan on a very early bedtime before race day, bear in mind that BLT, BWV, BCV and OKW are within earshot of the fireworks. I was startled awake by Illuminations before my first marathon when we stayed at OKW and I tried going to bed at 8:30. It took forever for my adrenaline rush to subside enough for me to get back to sleep! We stayed at AKV this year and just booked our stay there for next Marathon Weekend as well.

 

[cewait]

If you plan on a very early bedtime before race day, bear in mind that BLT, BWV, BCV and OKW are within earshot of the fireworks. I was startled awake by Illuminations before my first marathon when we stayed at OKW and I tried going to bed at 8:30. It took forever for my adrenaline rush to subside enough for me to get back to sleep! We stayed at AKV this year and just booked our stay there for next Marathon Weekend as well.

Actually most resorts will have a surge of noise as park goers come in. For me it is a fact of life... we just set the TV for max sleep time before retiring. But honestly, waiting until 9:00-9:15 before hitting the sack get rid of all but the Electric Water Pageant which hits the Contemporary area around 10pm

 

[PrincessAndrea'sMom]

We are staying at BLT, our home resort. I book 11 months out and am waitlisted for Friday night for a standard view studio. It is our home resort and will be our first stay there. We are so excited! I like that after the race I can ride the monorail back to the room and shower, then get our day started.

 

[kappyfamily]

Don't mean to hijack the thread since it is for the marathon, but in regards to the princess 1/2, I'm staying at BLT. I think we have to be on a bus by 4am to get to the start. My question is: is the monorail even running that early to get people to epcot for the start?

Thank you!

 

[cewait]

We are staying at BLT, our home resort. I book 11 months out and am waitlisted for Friday night for a standard view studio. It is our home resort and will be our first stay there. We are so excited! I like that after the race I can ride the monorail back to the room and shower, then get our day started.

Actually going to the race is also great. The year we stayed was the ice bowl year (2010) and it was nice to hop the monorail well after the normal leave to catch a bus time. I think for the marathon we caught a 4:20 ish monorail and I ended up waiting about 10 minutes in the staging area and about the same in the corrals. I was surprised about the number of monorails I had to wait on to get back. The line was rather long and I think I caught the 3rd train due to those lines. Still, a great way to travel.

Don't mean to hijack the thread since it is for the marathon, but in regards to the princess 1/2, I'm staying at BLT. I think we have to be on a bus by 4am to get to the start. My question is: is the monorail even running that early to get people to epcot for the start?

Thank you!

Great Question

for the PRINCESS (emphasis added cause a casual reader skimming through pages quickly may not pick it up and panic) you will need to catch a taxi or otherwise drive. The BLT is not a host resort unless it is added later. Therefore, there is no Princess transportation to either the Expo or the race. On race morning, your best bet is to take a taxi to the TTC and hop the monorail to Epcot from there. The TTC/Epcot loop will open at 3 for the race. The resorts loop opens at its regular time which will not allow you to get to the race before the start.

On your return, you can ride the rail to your resort.

Sorry to break the bad news.