Bus experience for the 1/2

[MrsWendy]

You guys should have been on one of the busses from POFQ. It left at 3:15 and arrived at the drop off at 4:45.

The trip began with the bus driver stopping at every stop at Riverside to tell the people waiting there that the bus was full and another would be by shortly. Then we went back to the French Quarter and the driver apparently couldn't figure out how to leave the resort. We ended up going all the way around to buildings 1 and 2. People were assuming that he saw the closed gates and didn't realize that they automatically lifted as you approached them.

Eventually we made it out and headed towards Buena Vista Drive. After being stuck in the traffic for about 10 minutes the driver did a u-turn and headed the other direction and then turned towards Boardwalk. He then realized that he was going the wrong way, turned around and got back into the traffic on Buena Vista. At this point were were further back in traffic that we were the first time.

A long, slow ride ensued. At one point the driver put on his turn signal to head away from the traffic again and everyone on the bus screamed at him to not turn and continue following the other busses.

90 minutes after leaving the French Quarter, we finally ended up at the bus drop off. In a way it actually worked out because we were able to sit on a somewhat warm bus instead of standing around in the cool temperatures. But there were many nervous people who weren't sure if they were going to make it to the start line on time, especially the elite runners who had to rush to get to the start line.

 

[jenifred]

I was at OKW. We got on a Mears bus at 3:45 for the Half. We were dropped off at Epcot at about 5:05. We had just enough time to check bags and get to the corrals. We were in E and they were releasing A as we walked into our corral. It actually worked out ok, because I had a bathroom with no line and the bus was warm. But if I had been in an earlier corral or paid for the race retreat, I would have been way more grumpy.

 

[RadioFanatic]

We had no problems getting there but getting back was a nightmare. We were staying at YC, and for some crazy reason all the Epcot resorts were sharing one bus line. It looped around twice before stretching way back. What made it worse was the lines were between the porta potties, which were providing a not-so-pleasant odor. Standing in a draft of Eau de Poop for nearly an hour is not my ideal after race routine.

We had a similarly bad experience leaving Wine-and-Dine. I'm hoping Princess is better. :-/

We were staying at BC and agree with you 100 percent. Couldn't believe the line wrapped three times around for us while coranado springs bus had a VERY short line and kept zipping in and out. now I've stayed at many values as well, but I paid more to stay at a deluxe bc supposedly it was going to be easier. instead it was worse and smelly too.

 

[lukemorenus]

I walked over from OKW - much better than a bus!

 

[NancyK]

I walked over from OKW - much better than a bus!

How long did it take you to walk? Should I be looking into OKW for the next time?

We were at Animal Kingdom Lodge Kidani. The bus ride over at 3:30 a.m. took about 30 minutes. The transportation for the spectators was more of an issue. We knew people who left on the first spectator bus at 7 a.m. as well as someone else who left at 8 a.m. Both busses took 1 hour 15 minutes to get to Epcot. There were ladies on the first bus who missed their runner cross the finish line.

After the marathon, there was no line up for our bus to AKL. I saw the other line-up everyone is talking about and felt really bad for everyone waiting. There definitely should have been a more equitable system.

 

[chimera]

Please send your experiences to RunDisney.

I got in early (3am) for the relay and went to the bus area where I found they weren't going to start busing us to MK until 5am. When I questioned this as being very close to the marathon start, the CM told me not to worry about that, it was their job to get us there. I looked him straight in the eye and told him that I've been doing these races for 7 years and frankly, dont trust the buses. I rode the monorail to MK, then the Poly and walked to the relay area.

The first year WDW offered the Minnie 15K, my daughter and I got on the bus at EPCOT to ride over to the start at AK. The driver had no idea how to get there and was asking everyone on the bus.

There are stories like y'alls every year. I think we pay too much for these races to have to worry about getting there.

 

[mickeysgal]

We were at OKW. Got to the bus stop around 3:30. We were able to get on the second bus that pulled in after about 10-15 minutes of waiting. Then, bumper to bumper traffic all the way to Epcot. We crawled. I believe we must have pulled into Epcot around 4:45 at least. There were a long line of busses in back of us as well.

Got through bag check, hit the porta potties, then headed down the long path to the corrals. It was wall to wall people. There were more porta potties on that road which created a bottle neck for those just trying to get around them and get to the corrals. People were walking on the embankment that let down to the stream/canal - anything to get around the porta potties log jam. While we were walking we heard the start of Corral A.

There was one lady volunteer trying to direct traffic into the various corrals. I felt sorry for her. It was very confusing and jammed with people. We made it into our corral (F) with very little time left.

Coming back from the race, the lines to the resort busses were incredibly long. Crazy long. We decided to walk it to Epcot and take regular bus transportation just as if we were spending a day at the parks. Bus pulled right up and off we went.

Next time, we need to be on the bus stop by 3am. No doubt about it.

Even with these logistics issues, we had an incredible time. What an experience!!

 

[cewait]

I walked over from OKW - much better than a bus!

How long did it take you to walk? Should I be looking into OKW for the next time?

We were at Animal Kingdom Lodge Kidani. The bus ride over at 3:30 a.m. took about 30 minutes. The transportation for the spectators was more of an issue. We knew people who left on the first spectator bus at 7 a.m. as well as someone else who left at 8 a.m. Both busses took 1 hour 15 minutes to get to Epcot. There were ladies on the first bus who missed their runner cross the finish line.

After the marathon, there was no line up for our bus to AKL. I saw the other line-up everyone is talking about and felt really bad for everyone waiting. There definitely should have been a more equitable system.

OKW Is at the start. Simply walk out through the cast member parking gate and it's a couple hundred yard walk to the corrals. I walked it one year.

Now the disclaimers.

It is next to impossible to check a bag so you will need to depend on a spectator for post race needs.

Only runners get past the canal, so no close spectating.

This is not an official path to the race. One of the 13 years I have been coming, runners had issues getting through this way. Obviously, taking this path is at your risk.

For the spectator issues seen this year, they will NOT be able to walk from OKW.

 

[Saylan]

I was running it with my Dad (his first race), we were at Pop and I insisted we would be leaving our rooms for the bus line before 3:30. We got to the lobby right around 3:30 and the line was just starting to enter the lobby from the bus area. By the time we left the lobby it was wrapping back and forth about 3 times over. They double loaded (two buses at once) when we got there, so the line portion was not that long a wait. The ride was very long due to traffic (I don't think my driver got lost, at least it didn't seem like it) and we didn't arrive until shortly after 4:30. Quick picture and we were off... to another herd.

Honestly, the congestion trying to get onto the path for the corrals after the bag check area was almost entirely due to the enormously long lines at the portapotties and the V-shaped entrance the wide group of people had to condense into. I think that was the biggest issue. It took us until almost 5:15 to walk from the bag check to the corrals.

It sounds like it wasn't all about the buses so much as the traffic in terms of getting TO the race. I heard many a story (including my own with my bf) where spectators got on the buses at 7 am and didn't make it to the race area until 8-8:30 just due to traffic. More than a few ChEAR members missed their racers finishing. My bf missed me but he wouldn't have had ChEAR access anyway. It was a LONG bus 'ride' (more like bus sit) for him so I felt bad he got stuck in that.

I remember seeing a couple people taking cabs to the race, stuck in the same traffic, and I was cringing at the thought of those cab bills.

Pop had its own bus and while the line looked long, it seemed to move fast enough and I don't think we ended up waiting too long (comparatively to the length of the line).

 

[lukemorenus]

How long did it take you to walk? Should I be looking into OKW for the next time?

We were at Animal Kingdom Lodge Kidani. The bus ride over at 3:30 a.m. took about 30 minutes. The transportation for the spectators was more of an issue. We knew people who left on the first spectator bus at 7 a.m. as well as someone else who left at 8 a.m. Both busses took 1 hour 15 minutes to get to Epcot. There were ladies on the first bus who missed their runner cross the finish line.

After the marathon, there was no line up for our bus to AKL. I saw the other line-up everyone is talking about and felt really bad for everyone waiting. There definitely should have been a more equitable system.

It was probably a 10 minute walk - left the room around 4:40, although I watched many others making the trek over just before the start...