Disney Half Marathon

[rutgers1]

I have a few questions....
1) There is a half marathon during food and wine. What are the odds that I can get a room at the Boardwalk at the 7 month mark at that time?

2) Has anyone run a race at Disney before? What are your thoughts?

3) Is it possible to just come down for a long weekend (Friday-Monday) and still have fun even though a race is wedged in there somewhere? Any tips for making the most of it?

 

[Simba's Mom]

DH ran the Wine and Dine half marathon last year and had an awesome time. Although the race is 13.1 miles, Disney supplies so much entertainment and support for the runners that the race was over before you know it. He's already planning for another Disney race next year.
Unfortunately, from what I've heard here, I don't think you have a great chance of BWV at 7 months.

 

[queendarvet]

The half marathon has been moved to Nov 9-10 this year. I was able to book opening weekend for Food and Wine yesterday (Sept 28) at BWV at the 7 month mark. We got a 1 bedroom, pool/garden view, which I believe are the easiest to get. There is a 10 miler (tower of Terror) going on at the Studios that same weekend. I would think that the weekend of the half marathon would be very difficult to get since it is the ending weekend of food and wine and it's also part of Jersey Week. Good luck, though.

 

[scottashackleton]

I ran the wine and dine last year as well as the disney goofy challenge in january. I got a beach club villa studio for wine and dine so i think it could be a possibility!

We loved doing wine and dine this year!! I only went for 3 nights so what we did was fly down early Saturday morning, go to the expo, and run the race that night. That way the race was done and we were able to enjoy 3 more days in Disney afterwards.

 

[hakepb]

For 3). A co-worker just did an extended weekend for a half-marathon and their evening flight down was delayed 8 hours, so they only got a few hours of sleep that night. And if they did it again, they would not plan on doing anything else the rest of the day after the race.

Now, you are talking about a night race, so I guess you would at least sleep in on Saturday. But I'd guess you have to arrive (or take transportation) few hours earlier to check in so you don't get a full Friday either..

Short weekends are fun, but flights can reduce them a lot. And adding in a race really reduces the amount of free time. But it all depends on your preferences and ability.

 

[hakepb]

Dp

 

[bigtony777]

It may be tough to get one, but I would make sure to try right at the 7 month mark. We have done both of the Wine and Dine races and will be going down in November for this year's race as well. The first year we stayed at AS Music and last year at BCV. I will say that staying at an Epcot resort is so much better. Can't beat just walking to your room from the party instead of walking out to the bus stop to wait on a bus.

As far as number of days, we fly down on Friday morning and back on Monday afternoon. It is a different kind of trip when going for a race. On Friday we go to the expo for packet pickup and then go to a park for awhile. Saturday we plan on eating around noon and then head back to the room for an afternoon nap for a couple of hours. That evening is the race and the party afterwards lasts until 3am. Depending on your running experience and how you are feeling, you could easily do a park on Sunday. It will actually be good for sore muscles to walk around that day.

The one thing I don't like about the date change this year is that as a runner, you can't partake too much with the food and wine until after the race. With the dates this year that only leaves Sunday. It was nice to also have Monday after the race to try the food and drinks.

 

[debaudrn]

We just booked at the BWV for that weekend. I have 2 studios Friday - Monday (11/9 -11/12). I was not able to get them for Thursday 11/8. We are at OKW for that night and then moving to the BWV. For the 2nd room initially I only had Friday and Sunday nights. I think you can try and if not available waitlist it. Last year I tried for rooms the same weekend and I waited too long. At about 4 months out I couldn't get anything anywhere. This year it is the last weekend of Food & Wine, the half marathon, Veterans Day and apparently "Jersey Week" too. YIKES.

 

[sammo]

I would say give BW a try. Have a back up plan in case you’re not able to switch at 7 months. The first time we went for F&W in 2006, we had just bought in and didn’t book until June for October. No studios were available, but we were able to get a one bedroom at BW four months out. Of course the last weekend of F&W will be busier than mid-October.

My daughters (and oldest daughter’s boyfriend) did their first half marathons last year – the Princess at the end of February at WDW, and the Labor Day weekend at DL. Because of school schedules, we only had the weekend to spend at Disney for both, but they were so much fun!! Now the oldest only wants to do them at Disney – says the entertainment is great and doesn’t think other races would be near as fun.

It was a quick weekend, and ours was really short. Our plan was delayed about an hour and a half, and we didn’t get in until midnight Friday. Saturday was the expo and some park time. We were back in the room early and in bed by 10:00 because we had to get up about 3:30 for the early morning race. They went back and took a nap after the race and we went to the park the late afternoon and evening and on Sunday. Monday one daughter had to get up at 4 to make an early flight to get back for classes (she ended up having 4 tests that week – something she didn’t know when they signed up for the race). But even with the limited time, they were all glad we went. They had fun at the race and the parks and are wanting to do more. My husband and I watched and cheered them along the way and we would like to run / walk the next one they do. This year just didn’t work out with the dates.

We got the 2 bedroom at BW for the February race about 4 months out, but only for 2 nights and had to waitlist the Friday, which came through about 3 weeks later. But February isn’t as busy as the last weekend of F&W.

Good luck with the race and your reservations!!

Sheri

 

[luckyman_apd]

We are going that week and weekend and I can tell you BLT is completely booked for the 9th. I got every night I need except for that night. So, I expect the 7 month mark to be tough. I've gotta find something for that night. Good luck.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I just tried to book for the Tower of Terror weekend earlier in the Food & Wine.

I admit I screwed up and was a day late, but.... I wanted a studio at BWV or BCV Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Got Thursday and Friday at BWV and am waitlisted for the other two. YMMV but it's not a gurantee IMHO.

(Oh and for BW assume it's the Garden or Pool view. Standard and BW are gone early )

I have run several Disney races including this one and have mixed thoughts.

Pros... It's Disney so you get an excuse to go to Disney. Entertainment on the course is generally good. Bling is good!

Cons.... Post race support and food compares poorly to most races. Shirts are DIRT cheap and goodie bags are Cost is VERY high! Plus there's not a lot of "crowd support" if that's important to you. Courses are generally congested due to the number of runners. The biggest CON. For this race you spend about 3 hours in a field waiting on the start. Disney makes you arrive HOURS before a race starts!

Unlike an earlier posters family member I have cut way back on Disney races as I find more support and fun at others but...(Breast Cancer in Jacksonville is GREAT. So good that I won't be doing Princess ever again, can't do both and LOVE Breast Cancer....) This one is unique. I did it year one (which was a DISASTER) and skipped last year. However, reviews were so much better last year that if they had not put in the Tower of Terror race I would have tried it again.