Buses on race morning

[TEK224]

I know for participants they say the last bus leaves for the start area at 4 AM. But what about for spectators? Will the marathon buses keep running to take spectators over to the start? For instance, if scream teamers want to catch a bus at 6 AM to get to finish area, will they be able to do so? The reg. Disney buses aren't running that early, so I was just wondering.

Also, do you think parking will be crazy for the 5K on Friday? I was planning to drive people over from SSR to AK for that race.

Terri

 

[cewait]

I know for participants they say the last bus leaves for the start area at 4 AM. But what about for spectators? Will the marathon buses keep running to take spectators over to the start? For instance, if scream teamers want to catch a bus at 6 AM to get to finish area, will they be able to do so? The reg. Disney buses aren't running that early, so I was just wondering.

Also, do you think parking will be crazy for the 5K on Friday? I was planning to drive people over from SSR to AK for that race.

Terri

Yes you should be able to get on a Marathon bus around 6 AM. You may set on the bes for a while as traffic clears the start but should be at the TTC by 7:15-7:30 at the latest.

 

[TEK224]

Thanks!

 

[princessrunner]

I have another question regarding the marathon day transportation for spectators...if I get to the TTC by 7:30, will I be able to get back to CBR by 10 a.m.? My ME pickup will be around 9:30 to 10 a.m. on marathon day but I would LOVE to cheer on my fellow WISHers!!!

 

[cewait]

I have another question regarding the marathon day transportation for spectators...if I get to the TTC by 7:30, will I be able to get back to CBR by 10 a.m.? My ME pickup will be around 9:30 to 10 a.m. on marathon day but I would LOVE to cheer on my fellow WISHers!!!

Let's try this timeline.

Leave the TTC at 8:30 am. Monorail drops you at Epcot at 8:50. You pick up a DISNEY (not marathon) bus at 9:15. Arrive CBR at 9:40.

This is a conservative timeline though monorails are not affected by the event nor are the Disney buses to CBR at that time. I would keep looking back at the ramp for the Epcot trains and make your judgement as the crowds gather.

Good luck and thanks for cheering!

 

[princessrunner]

Thanks Charles. I forgot the regular transportation would be running as the park is open, doy!! Sometimes I wonder where the blonde moments come from being a brunette. I am going to have to check what my hairdresser puts in my coloring agent!!!

 

[Kimmumum]

I know for participants they say the last bus leaves for the start area at 4 AM. But what about for spectators? Will the marathon buses keep running to take spectators over to the start? For instance, if scream teamers want to catch a bus at 6 AM to get to finish area, will they be able to do so? The reg. Disney buses aren't running that early, so I was just wondering.

Also, do you think parking will be crazy for the 5K on Friday? I was planning to drive people over from SSR to AK for that race.

Terri

Last year, my DH ran the 1/2 (this year the goofy). He got on the 3am bus (at CBR). My friend and I got down to the bus at 5. We waited 1 1/2 hours and a bus never came. There were a ton of us at the bus stop. We called the transportation center many times. We found some guy in a golf cart who went to the office to check for us. Every one said the buses were running and should be there soon. The whole time there was a marathon bus sitting in the parking lot. We finally walked over to the bus, woke up the bus driver and asked if he could drive us to Epcot. He was told that we was to stop driving at 4 and start again at 8 but he was nice enough to drive about 25 of us to Epcot anyway. We could not thank him enough. I think he made good tips that morning

Do not rely on buses between 4 and 8 is my advice to you. We are staying at Boardwalk this year and I plan on just walking over

 

[panthergirl]

Last year, my DH ran the 1/2 (this year the goofy). He got on the 3am bus (at CBR). My friend and I got down to the bus at 5. We waited 1 1/2 hours and a bus never came. There were a ton of us at the bus stop. We called the transportation center many times. We found some guy in a golf cart who went to the office to check for us. Every one said the buses were running and should be there soon. The whole time there was a marathon bus sitting in the parking lot. We finally walked over to the bus, woke up the bus driver and asked if he could drive us to Epcot. He was told that we was to stop driving at 4 and start again at 8 but he was nice enough to drive about 25 of us to Epcot anyway. We could not thank him enough. I think he made good tips that morning

Do not rely on buses between 4 and 8 is my advice to you. We are staying at Boardwalk this year and I plan on just walking over

My family had the same problem from BCV a couple of years ago. No bus in sight so they ended up having to take a cab to the Contempory as the cab driver said he could not take them to the Epcot parking lot - which was wrong! The bus drivers they use for race day are not Disney drivers and that can cause some confusion.

 

[10nis]

Kimmumum- Where are you planning on walking from BW and at what time? The world showcase entrance to EPCOT doesn't open until the park opens...at 9am I believe? Also, don't forget your park passes if you plan on walking through EPCOT.

My Mom was out jogging on the BW on Marathon morning one year super early - like 530am, and found some girl crying her eyes out because she could not get to the start of the marathon from the BW area. (This was before they did the A and B courses.)

I do agree...relying on the buses for spectator transportation after 4am is very risky. My family got stuck on a spectator bus at MK for more than an hour in traffic. Monorail is the only safe mode of transportation on the morning of the marathon. I have also heard of spectators taking Taxi's and that seems to work out well, too??

Good Luck!

 

[julia & nicks mom]

Does anyone know what time the International Gateway entrance will open so my family can walk over from Boardwalk? In the final instruction e-mail it says at 7:45 am you will need park passes

I was at BCV last year and there were no buses for spectators - it was my worst Disney experience ever - we were there at 5:30 and finally at 6:30 we found a taxi to drive us to the MK with 7 other people - we were so grateful he made a small mint off of us!!!

When we complained to BCV they told us that there were not supposed to be buses running - when I said I had asked the night before and told that there would be buses - the manager said to me - "That is not true - NONE OF MY EMPLOYEES would have told you any such thing"

I would plan on driving or calling a cab - do not rely on buses

 

[Kimmumum]

Hmmm....I thought that entrance might be open. I guess I'll have to try to get on the bus with DH at 3:30. Yuck

 

[cewait]

All –

Contrary to the tone of this thread the marathon bus system works well. I have no doubt that snafus do occur and have experienced then my self as a runner (see below)

I am going to say that the bus issues listed here seem to have some commonality BUT that the marathon bus is still the way to go for spectators. First everyone should read the race literature. Officially, the Epcot parking lot is closed between 5 and 7 am so busses and vehicles will not have access during that time and buses might not run until 7. That means if you go out looking for a bus at 5:30 you will wait for a while.

For those spectators considering riding the bus by all means take it as the system remains reliable. If you are nervous about getting to the race then go early rather than late. Remember, all transportation race morning is stressed due to road closures. Remember that the Epcot parking lot closes at 5 am as the course uses the same roadway.

I have been at Disney since 1999 and my DW has faced only one bus snafu when the driver let them off back stage Epcot. I as a runner have had an almost snafu in that period where we got out to the bus stop a little late and waited for an eternity to for a bus to come. Finally, 8-10 buses showed up in force. Mears does a great job but as with everything human dependent there will be those issues.

My near snafu also brings up a good point. When you read the small print you will note that spectators may be asked to not board buses in the 3-4AM range. In the event that buses are filling to capacity and lines are long, spectators may be asked to not board so that runners can get to the race. Again, I have only seen this invoked once and spectators were actually on the 6th or 7th bus of the 8-10 that came in mass. If you are a spectator please respect this request if asked.

As stated above my DW has had little issue with the bus. She attempts to grab a bus around 6:15-6:30. One of the little secrets is that buses will resume once the red course clears the first sweep point in front of Epcot. Officially, Disney publishes a 7 am reopening of the Epcot parking lot, but it usually happens earlier. She does wait some for a bus (remember Disney’s regular busses and the marathon only promise a 20 minute interval for bus service). She has never failed to get to the TTC with enough time to see me pass. (11 minute pace) Unfortunately for her this year is a little faster but she is well armed with my personal time ranges and knows that if she gets to the TTC past a certain time period she will move over to the Poly.

If the spectator is tracking a faster runner, then they will need to catch a bus in the 4 am range like this thread suggests. If you are spectating a little more casual runner you have the option of waiting a bit.

Walking to the Monorail through Epcot
For those wanting to walk from BW to the monorail, the International Gate opens at 7:45 for those attending in park breakfasts, ONLY. If you are expecting to pass through the park you will not be granted access! The park will open at 9 am for those who do not have a PS for breakfast.

Susan mentions waiting on a spectator bus at MK. I think you are saying a Disney bus, not a marathon bus as the marathon buses do not go to the MK. You are very correct in stating that between MK back down to Epcot the monorail is the only and one regular speed mode of transport back to Epcot. Remember, runners have the southbound side of World Drive, the most commonly used roadway from the MK area. Compounding the loss of that road is that Floridian Way, the road in front of Contemporary, Grand Floridian and Poly is a one lane road that morning. Just like a construction zone flaggers regulate traffic back and forth.

The rule that morning for all is to expect delays, adjust if caught up and have fun. Remember, the first priority is to the runners. Getting them to the race on time and keeping them safe.

 

[10nis]

Charles, that is a great post. Thanks for all of the information. It is helpful to realize that the Mears buses aren't running between 5am-7am. As a racer, I have not had issues w/ buses on race mornings--only small snafu was waiting about 40 minutes last year at the BC (Sunday morning) and having 3 buses show up at once!! We usually get to the bus stop around 345am.

Disney can be an okay race to have spectators, if you plan in advance and read Charles's threads! It is obvious when you are running the race that there are spectators that have the system down--last year we saw the same people in 4 or 5 different locations!

By the way, I do think that it was a Disney bus that my family got stuck on. Had to have been because they drove to TTC .... suffice it to say, they were Disney newbies and even armed with a very good, written plan (the plan did not include getting on a disney bus!) -- they did not execute the plan and we didn't see them until mile 24! That was our first marathon and it was disappointing for us when they weren't at the designated cheer spots.

Suzy

 

[cewait]

Charles, that is a great post. Thanks for all of the information. It is helpful to realize that the Mears buses aren't running between 5am-7am. As a racer, I have not had issues w/ buses on race mornings--only small snafu was waiting about 40 minutes last year at the BC (Sunday morning) and having 3 buses show up at once!! We usually get to the bus stop around 345am.

Disney can be an okay race to have spectators, if you plan in advance and read Charles's threads! It is obvious when you are running the race that there are spectators that have the system down--last year we saw the same people in 4 or 5 different locations!

By the way, I do think that it was a Disney bus that my family got stuck on. Had to have been because they drove to TTC .... suffice it to say, they were Disney newbies and even armed with a very good, written plan (the plan did not include getting on a disney bus!) -- they did not execute the plan and we didn't see them until mile 24! That was our first marathon and it was disappointing for us when they weren't at the designated cheer spots.

Suzy

Suzy, my sole snafu mentioned was BC in 03 or 04. I was meeting a virtual buddy who was running late. We got out at 3:50 ish and waited. Hmmmmmm. I too was kind of like the girl some your mother found on the BW loop that year. I was upset with my running patner, upset that I could hear the announcements from the race and upset that I could not get to the start without a bus. I was never as happy as I was to see a line of busses.