Discounted Park Tickets for Marathon?

[AmyM]

I apologize because I'm sure this has been answered, but my searches have not gotten me the information that I'm looking for. I just called runDisney about purchasing discount tickets for marathon weekend. We are a group of 9 people running different events(5 of us the Dopey!). I am a DVC owner so we are staying at BWV through me. I was just told that they are not selling discounted park tickets alone this year, but only as part of a room package. Is this information correct? I thought I had read previously that people were able to purchase discounted theme park tickets? TIA!

 

[jmasgat]

They haven't done discount tickets for marathon weekend in the entire time I have done the event (since 2009). And they seem to be phasing this out for other events that previously have had discounts, e.g. Princess.

 

[cewait]

I do not recall that the January races have ever had a discounted park pass - at least since 99. I have read a couple times that discounts were associated with Sports Reservation packages, but when I followed up on them in the past, they were the same 'discount' that anyone staying on property could receive as part of the "Magic My Way" pass.

I do know that the Princess and maybe other races had discounted passes.

 

[paxsarah]

None for the marathon. When I called to ask a few months ago, they didn't mention a package option (though I didn't ask, either), and I ended up booking a package with a public discount for January. No ticket discounts for Princess 2014, either. I know several in my party had the discounted tickets this year (I had an AP at the time so I didn't know the details, but I think it was a fairly attractive discount), but we were told none for 2014.

 

[Diskidatheart]

You can get slightly discounted tickets at Undercover Tourist. There is no connection to the races, but you can get them for slightly less money than what you would pay through Disney (unless you get a package deal).

 

[Tropical Wilds]

I managed to get hugely discounted sports accommodation package prices for Wine and Dine... I think it was $550ish and change for two people, 3 nights, 3 day PH, but only if I stayed at CBR. When they priced me staying at Pop, it was more expensive... By more than just a couple dollars. And I had to stay the 3 nights, because when I stayed 2, the package was around the same price but slightly more.

We talked to a bunch of CBR folks on the bus and they commented on how cheap the rooms were if you did the sports package, and I spoke to somebody who was staying at another Mod (not POR, or POFQ) and they said the same thing, so I think it may have been resort-specific.

Keep in mind though, I booked for Wine and Dine waaaaay late. Like mid-to-end of September late.

I got no such discounts for Princess... Though I did have to re-book my reservations yesterday after a glitch with the FP+ reservations from my November trip (long story, don't ask) and they re-booked me in a package $500 less than what I had before despite the fact that when I booked initially, I got the cheapest price available at that time.

 

[cherrybomb11]

I managed to get hugely discounted sports accommodation package prices for Wine and Dine... I think it was $550ish and change for two people, 3 nights, 3 day PH, but only if I stayed at CBR. When they priced me staying at Pop, it was more expensive... By more than just a couple dollars. And I had to stay the 3 nights, because when I stayed 2, the package was around the same price but slightly more.

What an amazing deal. I just called the runDisney line and the prices were slightly higher (within $20) than what WDW website's room only offer.

 

[cewait]

What an amazing deal. I just called the runDisney line and the prices were slightly higher (within $20) than what WDW website's room only offer.

Generally, while related, the sports reservation folks can get a great deal based on the rack rate. Like any other large group, they negotiate a rate based on expected capacity. What they cannot do, is match the CRO best rates during discounted periods since the deep discounts are generally limited in nature and for a short period of time.

I rarely recommend going through runD as I think a good shopper can usually snag a better deal through CRO. For me the year that proved that was the year that Disney decided all marathon ressies had to go through sports to have access to the pasta meal. In the old days it was in a large white tent off to the side of the WWoS parking lot. Back then it was a whopping $20/head. I think it 2003 or 4 when they decided to force the bundle and most runners simply said NO. The pasta feed died the following year.

Funny, you used to could tell with Sports had a large event in town. The Mini-golf courses would be full that weekend. The clue was that a free pass was included in each reservation as a perk and folks would take advantage of the perk.

 

[Tropical Wilds]

What an amazing deal. I just called the runDisney line and the prices were slightly higher (within $20) than what WDW website's room only offer.

It was a great deal, I was stunned. I was anticipating $800 for Pop because that's what they priced out when I bought my tickets. But when I went to book, the agent actually suggested checking the price for CBR and got me that quote.

Looking at the website (thank goodness they don't update it a lot), I'm seeing a promotion where if you bought a 3 day park hopper you saved 40% I see there was another promotion for 20% off CBR if you booked a 3 day stay... My rates for 3 days before that were $127 per night for a standard, then take off another 20%, that's just under $100 a night. I wonder if that's the deal I got?

They had something similar for ToT, but nothing close for Princess or Marathon weekend.

Looking at my reservation, I booked the first week of Oct and paid in full. So I think the lateness of my reservation must have meant they created special deals to spread out the runners between the different resorts, since CBR was for sure not a lot of people's top pick for a hotel... And while CBR was my favorite resort, this stay made me wish I'd booked Pop.

The funny thing was we got there and I got upgraded from standard to water view pirate room. I made out like a bandit on that booking.

 

[geaux_half]

I apologize because I'm sure this has been answered, but my searches have not gotten me the information that I'm looking for. I just called runDisney about purchasing discount tickets for marathon weekend. We are a group of 9 people running different events(5 of us the Dopey!). I am a DVC owner so we are staying at BWV through me. I was just told that they are not selling discounted park tickets alone this year, but only as part of a room package. Is this information correct? I thought I had read previously that people were able to purchase discounted theme park tickets? TIA!

Have you looked into tickets through GetTravel? They are one of the travel providers listed on RunDisney's website.

 

[taratru]

I think W&D is the only race left that does discounted tickets. I got our 4-day hoppers for like $220 each without a room, since I did DVC. I realllllly hope they keep doing that for that race.

I'm doing tickets/room through GET for Tink, since it's way cheaper.

 

[dburg30]

Have you looked into tickets through GetTravel? They are one of the travel providers listed on RunDisney's website.

those 3 and 4 day tix are really good pricing. but it also says call for availability, so wonder if they still have them.. After that starts to line up with UT.

 

[appleorchard]

Acclaim Travel has hoppers for $60 off Disney prices for the January and February races.