CBR vs POFQ vs Pop for a run event?

[RunnyBabbit]

I'm stuck deciding between Caribbean Beach Resort, Port Orleans French Quarter, and Pop Century for an upcoming trip in Feb 2020 for the runDisney Princess event. (Would ultimately love one of the Epcot/Boardwalk resorts but they are waaay out of our price range.) Two adults, I'll be running the 10K and we'll be spending time in MK, Epcot, and DHS. Pop Century and CBR have the edge with the upcoming skyliner/gondola transportation, as that will provide an alternate way to get to two of the parks and the boardwalk area as well. Current pricing shows Pop quite a bit cheaper, while POFQ and CBR are nearly equal. Not sure if it will be warm enough in Feb for the pools, so that may be a moot point. CBR appears to be HUGE and maybe too spread out, but also has more dining options. Has anyone stayed at these and can give their opinion, good or bad? How fast/slow are the park buses for each resort? I've watched sooo many video review and feel like I'm constantly debating between them with no resolution. Thanks!!!

 

[Chrisizzle]

I’m doing a few runs this year and have discovered something transportation related.

As you may know, the event starts early at 5:30am. I believe the busses start running at 3am.

For my first run, I was staying at French Quarter and the recommended departure time by bus was before 4:30am (if I recall correctly).

I was alone for my second run and stayed at the cheaper All Star Muzac. The recommended departure from there was 3:30am.

My assumption is French Quarter was located closer to the start line, whereas the All Stars are far away from everything. I don’t know the locations of all the resorts but staying at one closer to the start line could buy you an extra hour of sleep.

 

[RunnyBabbit]

at the cheaper All Star Muzac.

LOL

Thank you so much for the advice! Very helpful, and I agree that an extra hour of sleep is alone worth the cost of POFQ or CBR.

 

[sparkle78]

I don’t know about those resorts for Run Disney events, but will comment about the buses for race days Incase someone else reads this thread. One year we stayed at yacht club with an Epcot starting line. ( can’t walk. Gates not open that early ). We waited a good 20 minutes for bus to arrive around 4:15 am. I was surprised with it being so close to Epcot. Later, was told, buses are not Disney but hired for the event so drivers not as familiar with all the roads. Last year, we stayed at Wilderness Lodge for Star Wars 10K with a start at magic kingdom parking lot. They had 2 buses at the stop when we got there. Also as we were pulling out of the lodge , a 3 bus arrived. They were organized.

 

[MeridaMonkey]

Stay at the resort that works best for you, if transportation is running as it should there isn’t enough of a difference in the early morning ride to the start between the resorts for that to be the deciding factor....regardless of resort location my recommendation would be to be on the bus no later than 3:30, just to be on the safe side.

I’ve done two Star Wars Half Marathon Weekends (2017 & 2018) and one Princess Half Marathon weekend (2019), for those I stayed at AllStar Music, Art of Animation and Old Key West. My running buddy and I were on the second bus of the morning (3:20ish) for the Princess Half this year and we almost didn’t make it before the start because of a car accident on the main road to Epcot.

Over 3 race weekends and 6 races, this is the only issue I’ve ever had on the race buses (and this was obviously outside the driver’s control) but I don’t think the extra sleep is worth the possibility of missing the race entirely.

 

[Chrisizzle]

Later, was told, buses are not Disney but hired for the event so drivers not as familiar with all the roads.

lulz. I can attest to this. After the Star Wars Half, the bus driver drove completely around all the All Star resorts at least once before a passenger realized he was lost and told him where to turn.

Anyways, you should obviously stay at the resort of your preference. The transportation system works and shouldn’t be a ‘deciding factor’. However, I present transport time as an unexpected side effect of choosing a resort.

(I’d be curious to know the recommended departure time of the Animal Kingdom resorts. I’ve heard their normal bus routes to the parks are much longer... let alone a 3am version)

 

[MeridaMonkey]

(I’d be curious to know the recommended departure time of the Animal Kingdom resorts. I’ve heard their normal bus routes to the parks are much longer... let alone a 3am version)

I'm curious as well!! Two running buddies and I are staying at AKL Kidani for the 2020 Marathon weekend (we're doing the Dopey Challenge ).

 

[cincystamper]

I was at POFQ for the 2019 Star Wars 10k. That early of a morning (we caught a 3:30 a.m. bus on race day) and after my very first 10k......let's just say I REALLY appreciated the small size of our resort. So French Quarter has THAT going for it.

I can also attest to the bus drivers not being as familiar as Disney drivers. We were on the first bus of the morning....until our driver took us to Epcot instead of MK. (Epcot is the finish line, MK is the start.) Luckily, there was a worker in the Epcot lot who could move some cones so our bus could make the loop and leave. Our driver was giggling as we all exited the bus..."Oops, I thought it was at Epcot!" SHE thought it was hilarious. Those of us on the bus anxious to get to our race, not so much.