Best viewing for 2014 full marathon?

[rowlands57]

My daughter is running the marathon in January 2014 and we are all staying at the BCV resort. Does anyone have some good transportation strategies so that we can see her along the route over by the Polynesian and still get back to EPCOT to see her finish? I know they run very early so the usual methods may not work and I wonder about using a taxi because of the road closures. Any experiences you can share will be greatly appreciated.

 

[gsu1988]

Use this link and on page 60 and 61 is a spectator guide that tells you how and where.

http://www.mickeymilespodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/2013-WDW-Marathon-Program.pdf

 

[rowlands57]

Use this link and on page 60 and 61 is a spectator guide that tells you how and where.

http://www.mickeymilespodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/2013-WDW-Marathon-Program.pdf

Thank you very much. Since i am staying a the BCV is there a way to,get to the EPCOT monorail? I assume that the usual process of entering the back of the park and walking to the front will not be an option at the early times the marathon is running. I would like to get to the ticket and transportation site for viewing as that will give us enough time to get badly to EPCOT for the finish.

 

[flatlandcycle]

My daughter is running the marathon in January 2014 and we are all staying at the BCV resort. Does anyone have some good transportation strategies so that we can see her along the route over by the Polynesian and still get back to EPCOT to see her finish? I know they run very early so the usual methods may not work and I wonder about using a taxi because of the road closures. Any experiences you can share will be greatly appreciated.

If I know a ballpark pace I can really drill down. If she is fast, seeing her at the Polynesian and beating her to the finish can be hit or miss. Also the TTC (transportation ticket center) will have a zig-zag, EPCOT/monorail, cue back to the ticket sales kiosk/windows, for people watching walkers at the poly. That's 45 minutes in line before you board the monorail at TTC.

I suggest free entrance to Magic Kingdom and quick monorail hops back to finish at EPCOT.

If you can stand the horror of getting up with the runners and traveling with them to EPCOT, it has become the best strategy. You can iron out post race meeting spots. This way your transportation is where you want it to be when the race is over. Spectator crowds have become large, so hitting all spectator spots is tough. Also, Epcot will not open until regular park hours, and requires a park ticket.

Marathon Transportation is suspended between 5:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. BCV should be a host hotel. You should still be able to a get taxi. The driver might need to be reminded to use roads near campground entrance and World Dr. north of parking gate. That's Bonnet Creek Pkwy, Vista Blvd. World Dr., Seven Seas Dr...

 

[flatlandcycle]

Also the TTC (transportation ticket center) will have a zig-zag, EPCOT/monorail, cue back to the ticket sales kiosk/windows, for people watching walkers at the poly. That's 45 minutes in line before you board the monorail at TTC.

Disregard this part. Lines may still be long, but you should have plenty of time to return to the finish line from TTC areas. This is only problematic for the 1/2 marathon..oops.

 

[rowlands57]

Disregard this part. Lines may still be long, but you should have plenty of time to return to the finish line from TTC areas. This is only problematic for the 1/2 marathon..oops.

Thank you very much for the thoughtful reply. My daughter is about a 9:45 to 10 minute pace runner. Hopefully the TTC option will work then.

 

[flatlandcycle]

Thank you very much for the thoughtful reply. My daughter is about a 9:45 to 10 minute pace runner. Hopefully the TTC option will work then.

That's a good pace for you to make many viewing points. Lines should be bearable. If you haven't found it, gsu1988's program post has spectator points in last year's program. (pg. 32 pdf, 60-61 printed)

Mid December the final instructions and 2014 program should be out.

 

[cewait]

To get to the TTC or Main area, you will have to hop the marathon bus early just like the runners. Regular Disney transportation simply will not get you up there in time.

at a 10 minute pace, there is a possibility of catching her at the TTC then at the DAK. The strategy would be once she passes teh TTC, hop the monorail back to Epcot. It will be too early for a regular Epcot to DAK route so you will want to catch a bus to a resort and from that resort the first bus to DAK. Look to see if the regular buses are running from Epcot - if not, head over to the marathon busses and hop one there. Do not try for a TTC to DAK bus as it will be slower than slow if there is one at that time. Bus traffic into DAK will be fairly quick - out, not so quick. With the new course, spectators have a significant amount of extra time to get to the finish.

Mary always waits for me at the Great Britain runner entrance into the park. From there, she heads up to the finish area and meets me at our spot near the family reunion area. About the time she gets there, I have finished, grabbed food and gear and am just walking up.

One advantage of riding to teh race with your runner is being able to pick out a spot for the reunion. Mary and I find the official area crowded and hard to find one another. We have this special tree that we meet under. It's the second one away from the gate into the reunion area. It was never crowded there until I said something about 4 years ago.

 

[rowlands57]

To get to the TTC or Main area, you will have to hop the marathon bus early just like the runners. Regular Disney transportation simply will not get you up there in time.

at a 10 minute pace, there is a possibility of catching her at the TTC then at the DAK. The strategy would be once she passes teh TTC, hop the monorail back to Epcot. It will be too early for a regular Epcot to DAK route so you will want to catch a bus to a resort and from that resort the first bus to DAK. Look to see if the regular buses are running from Epcot - if not, head over to the marathon busses and hop one there. Do not try for a TTC to DAK bus as it will be slower than slow if there is one at that time. Bus traffic into DAK will be fairly quick - out, not so quick. With the new course, spectators have a significant amount of extra time to get to the finish.

Mary always waits for me at the Great Britain runner entrance into the park. From there, she heads up to the finish area and meets me at our spot near the family reunion area. About the time she gets there, I have finished, grabbed food and gear and am just walking up.

One advantage of riding to teh race with your runner is being able to pick out a spot for the reunion. Mary and I find the official area crowded and hard to find one another. We have this special tree that we meet under. It's the second one away from the gate into the reunion area. It was never crowded there until I said something about 4 years ago.

Excellent information. Many thanks!!!!!