Best park for Princess Half Marathon day

[TheMick424]

We are arriving on 2/23 for a week, not running in the half-marathon. We had planned to visit MK on 2/24, but I’m wondering whether that is a bad idea. If we take the bus from AKL will that drop us off at the gate or the TTC? Any insight would be appreciated!

 

[hiroMYhero]

We are arriving on 2/23 for a week, not running in the half-marathon. We had planned to visit MK on 2/24, but I’m wondering whether that is a bad idea. If we take the bus from AKL will that drop us off at the gate or the TTC? Any insight would be appreciated!

The easiest park from AKL is AK.

Buses to all parks drop off near the gate but on a 1/2 Marathon day, there can be traffic issues from AKL to MK.

 

[EBM1228]

Last year we went to Animal Kingdom and did not find it to be too crowded. It was a great day!

 

[kappyfamily]

Ive run The Princess 1/2 twice and I go to Epcot or MK, along with what seems like everyone else. I think you’re good with either HS or AK. Have fun!

 

[bek]

Disney resort buses drop off near the MK front gate bypassing TTC.

Assuming the 24th is the actual day of the Princess 1/2, I'd probably avoid both MK and Epcot. Epcot has the start and finish but the course also goes up to MK. I did the ChEar squad in 2017. Spectators are allowed into MK before it opens for the race. To help get us back to Epcot for the finish, they loaded us onto the monorail from both the exit and entrance at TTC. Traffic was heavy on World drive as the runners are running beside it, which means heavy patrol car coverage for the runners' safety. This impacts buses getting to/from MK. I just checked a photo of my DIL as she came through the castle and it's time-stamped 6:13 am. She started in one of the later groups and there was still MK course to be completed after the castle. I'm guessing MK was cleared of spectators by 8:00 am or, shortly thereafter, but I'm not sure when World Drive was cleared. Epcot opened while there were still runners on the course.

My Runner and I had park hopper tickets, so we went into Epcot first. Then early afternoon, she wanted to take photos at MK with all her medals. But then she headed back to the resort to rest since she'd been up 3 days in a row at 3:00 AM and ran the 5k, 10k and half. So I'm not sure the runners make much of an impact on crowd levels as the day wears on.

Any day other than the 1/2 day, everything is done long before park openings.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

We are arriving on 2/23 for a week, not running in the half-marathon. We had planned to visit MK on 2/24, but I’m wondering whether that is a bad idea. If we take the bus from AKL will that drop us off at the gate or the TTC? Any insight would be appreciated!

Late to your post here, but I went to MK (was staying at BWI) the day of the Princess Half this year. I was aiming to be at MK at 7:45am-8am when they open Main Street/the Hub. Park opened at 9am that day. I can't remember exactly how long it took me, but it took a LONG time to get from BWI to MK that morning.

The course this past year used a big chunk of World Drive heading towards MK and traffic heading to the MK was all sorts of messed up. During that morning time, buses dropped off at the TTC - NOT the traditional MK bus station at the park. By 8:30ish the runners were clear of MK and things outside slowly returned to normal, but the damage remained.

Overall I think you're fine going to MK that day, but if plans involve rope drop definitely build in extra time. Or just sleep in and head to MK later.

 

[TheMick424]

Bumping up now that our plans are firmer. We have a 7:30 breakfast ADR at Kona on the 24th - the morning of the half marathon. Our plan was to drive to the TTC and walk over to Poly. What time should we leave AKL? Would 6:45 be early enough?

 

[hiroMYhero]

Bumping up now that our plans are firmer. We have a 7:30 breakfast ADR at Kona on the 24th - the morning of the half marathon. Our plan was to drive to the TTC and walk over to Poly. What time should we leave AKL? Would 6:45 be early enough?

That timing of breakfast is probably worse than trying to get to MK for rope drop.

World Drive will be greatly impacted. Even going on 429 to Reams Road will be bad because of the 1/2 Marathon course:
https://www.halfmarathons.net/course-map-disney-princess-half-marathon/

 

[cmarsh31]

We had 9am reservations at 'Ohana two years ago on 1/2 Marathon day. It wasn't a problem for us coming from the Contemporary, but our friends were an hour and half late (we had eaten and were leaving when they got there) from Hollywood Studios. They were stuck on a bus in traffic & closed roads the whole time.

 

[georgina]

That timing of breakfast is probably worse than trying to get to MK for rope drop.

World Drive will be greatly impacted. Even going on 429 to Reams Road will be bad because of the 1/2 Marathon course:
https://www.halfmarathons.net/course-map-disney-princess-half-marathon/

Thanks for the race map! We'll be driving from the Flamingo Crossing area to AK that morning, so down Western Way to W Buena Vista. Any thoughts on those road impacts, should we try to go around on 429/192/Sherberth?

 

[TheMick424]

That timing of breakfast is probably worse than trying to get to MK for rope drop.

World Drive will be greatly impacted. Even going on 429 to Reams Road will be bad because of the 1/2 Marathon course:
https://www.halfmarathons.net/course-map-disney-princess-half-marathon/

Hmm...maybe I will need to rethink this plan. I thought driving would be faster than buses if they both end up dropping at the TTC. Sigh

 

[hiroMYhero]

Thanks for the race map! We'll be driving from the Flamingo Crossing area to AK that morning, so down Western Way to W Buena Vista. Any thoughts on those road impacts, should we try to go around on 429/192/Sherberth?

I think you’ll be okay because there aren’t any road closures in that area.

We stayed at Coronado Springs for a Princess 10K and traveled around to DSprings during the morning of the 1/2 and no closures closeby at all.

 

[Vertical]

We will be there that day also. We have planned to Rope Drop in HS (EMH), then hop to AK. We have been to MK on a marathon weekend and remember sitting in the bus for over an hour. I wouldn't do it again. So we'll skip MK and Epcot that day.

 

[TheMick424]

We will be there that day also. We have planned to Rope Drop in HS (EMH), then hop to AK. We have been to MK on a marathon weekend and remember sitting in the bus for over an hour. I wouldn't do it again. So we'll skip MK and Epcot that day.

Not sure we can change our park day, but maybe we will skip breakfast plans, and build in lots of extra time.