Busy Marathon and MLK Birthday Weekends?

[Disneyhappy]

I'm thinking of sending DH to WDW to run the 5K on the marathon weekend for his Christmas and/or birthday. DSon has a 5 day weekend off from school for MLK birthday so I thought he and I may also take our on quickie trip. Is it hard to get into DVC at 7 months during these time periods? The 5K is run in the AK so I thought it would be great to reserve AKV for DH. I was also thinking about OKW or BC for DSon and I for MLK weekend. Any thoughts?
TIA!

 

[Disneyhappy]

Just bumping to get a feel of how busy DVC is for these weekends?

 

[twotoohappy]

I booked at 11months last year for marathon weekend
at the Beach Club and waitlisted at 7 months for a BW
Boardwalk View and didn't get it.
But...... BW views are hard to get anytime

When we were there the front desk person said that
Disney was at "capacity" with all the runners so I would
book as soon as you could.

We'll be there again this year doing the 5k and the Goofy!
Your wife will have a blast!

 

[Gopher5]

I'm thinking of running the '09 5K and half marathon. I too am interested in any experiences on booking that weekend.

 

[Meliechick]

We did the '08 Marathon. I was able to book a std view 1 bdr at BWV (not my home resort) at the 7mth mark. I had several choices of room size and views. I didn't do day by day but I did call exactly 7mths from my check out day. I didn't have to waitlist for any of my days.

 

[n2mm]

I booked MLK week at the 11 month window. I'm hoping to change to the VWL at the 7 month window. If not, I'll stay put in my standard view studio.

I mentioned on another site that not only is Monday 1/19 a federal holiday, but the government in the dc/baltimore metro area is also closed on Tuesday 1/20 for inauguration day. Schools may be closed and when the USG is closed in DC, often lots of private companies will be closed too. Mostly because the streets of DC are used for the parade and activities. Because we have a 4 day weekend, I've already booked my Jan/MLK 2009 trip. I wanted to be ahead of the curve.

 

[Shellandscott]

Keep in mind that MLK weekend this year was a nightmare. I went for the first time this January and there were people everywhere and fast passes sold out by 1 or 2pm for all the good rides. I usually go marathon weekend as it works well with DH Bday. The crowds were double for MLK as they are on the marathon weekend.

 

[Starr W.]

I booked MLK week at the 11 month window. I'm hoping to change to the VWL at the 7 month window. If not, I'll stay put in my standard view studio.

I mentioned on another site that not only is Monday 1/19 a federal holiday, but the government in the dc/baltimore metro area is also closed on Tuesday 1/20 for inauguration day. Schools may be closed and when the USG is closed in DC, often lots of private companies will be closed too. Mostly because the streets of DC are used for the parade and activities. Because we have a 4 day weekend, I've already booked my Jan/MLK 2009 trip. I wanted to be ahead of the curve.

We get the Friday before off(teacher's record day). Booked fairly close to 11 months and plan on rolling the dice at 7 months to see what I can get!

We went this year, came in Thursday night. The weather was much better than NW Ohio!

I didn't think it quite the nightmare, DH took the youngest back to BCV(with all the AP's ), so he left the eldest and myself with 4 EE FP's. We would have done the safari(only 1hr FP) but didn't have the tickets. ERRRRRR!

There were more people than I have ever seen at AK on Sunday of MLK(even more than Thanksgiving day). Didn't do MK that trip, but hit Epcot and DHS heavy and rode all the popular rides(including Soarin 2x).

 

[twotoohappy]

I'm thinking of running the '09 5K and half marathon. I too am interested in any experiences on booking that weekend.

The Goofy and the 1/2 marathon are already closed. The full marathon is at 50%. If you're going to do the 5k, I'd sign up soon. The only way now to get into the 1/2 is to enroll with a charity and fund raise. It's worth the experience!

 

[bobbiwoz]

The Goofy and the 1/2 marathon are already closed. The full marathon is at 50%. If you're going to do the 5k, I'd sign up soon. The only way now to get into the 1/2 is to enroll with a charity and fund raise. It's worth the experience!

Please elaborate on the "fund raise for charity" part. We're talking about the 2010 1/2-marathon. DDiL has a definite desire to raise money for one of the cancer societies. Is there a different procedure for doing that?

DDiL's project was discussed 2 weeks ago, and we're all for her doing it!!!

Thank you.
Bobbi

 

[twotoohappy]

Please elaborate on the "fund raise for charity" part. We're talking about the 2010 1/2-marathon. DDiL has a definite desire to raise money for one of the cancer societies. Is there a different procedure for doing that?

DDiL's project was discussed 2 weeks ago, and we're all for her doing it!!!

Thank you.
Bobbi

I was stating that 2009 was already closed for the 1/2.
Next January is when you'd register for the 2010 1/2.
As for fund raising...
Some charities are able to get a certain amount of registrations
and in order to book with them as part of their team, you would
have to fundraise for them and you would still have to pay your
entrance fees.
here's some info on the charities:
http://disneyworldsports.disney.go....rathonWeekendGroupsCharitiesDetailPage&bhcp=1

It's a great time

 

[El&Asmom]

I had a conference over MLK this past Jan in Orlando. Dh and my parents took the kids to MK on Sunday and said it was a complete waste of time. Dh said it took ten minutes to walk ten steps. The rest of the week was more crowded than what we are used to during our Sept trips, but very doable. We spent MLK Monday at Epcot, and it wasn't bad at all. We got FP for Soarin pretty early in the day, and are glad we did. Had we waited an hour or two we would have missed out.

I booked a 2bd at OKW in Sept for that trip. I had to waitlist Sunday night, but it came through pretty quickly.

I'm not sure I would go again that weekend unless I do the conference again. We did love the weather though as compared to the heat and humidity of September.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I was stating that 2009 was already closed for the 1/2.
Next January is when you'd register for the 2010 1/2.
As for fund raising...
Some charities are able to get a certain amount of registrations
and in order to book with them as part of their team, you would
have to fundraise for them and you would still have to pay your
entrance fees.
here's some info on the charities:
http://disneyworldsports.disney.go....rathonWeekendGroupsCharitiesDetailPage&bhcp=1

It's a great time

Thank you for the link! We had looked on the general marathon site and somehow didn't see this page. "Her" charity of choice is listed. She's ready to begin working for the 2010 event.

Bobbi

 

[Lexxiefern]

I booked BCV at 11 months out last year and then switched to BWV boardwalk view at 7 months no problem. I even added on the wed night before marathon weekend 1 week before the trip no problem.

Liz, I am surprised to read that you were not able to get BW view 7 months out. Were you looking for a studio? I booked a 1 bedroom, maybe that is why?

I booked standard view for marathon weekend this coming january. I found that after running the 5k + goofy I didn't spend much time enjoying the boardwalk view and decided to save the points.