Disney Marathon

[Disneylovingmom]

My family is planning a trip for the first week of January. We'll be leaving to go home on Sunday morning, the day of the marathon. However, I know there is a half marathon on Saturday. Is there a park that we should avoid on Saturday? Do they run through the parks or outside the parks? I know there are other events that week leading up to the marathon. Are the parks usually crowded during this time? We always go in January, but we seem to haved always missed the marathon before. Thanks for any information!!!

 

[HopperFan]

Half Marathon starts and finishes at EPCOT. They go through the MK but should be clear by time it opens. I would avoid EPCOT mostly from a traffic/parking point of view.

Last year that week was pretty crowded. DTD was totally unenjoyable. We went to MK on the 3rd and it was packed. I think what added to it was the races were split on different days last year therefore increasing the numbers of runners by thousands (and if they bring their families....). The family 5k was so much bigger last year than the year before. Also many folks, like us were out of school until the 9th, this year the 8th.....so we are doing a week long trip as opposed to the long weekend for race only. Every time our schools get that week after New Years we go to Disney. Prior to 2006 it was 2002. And it has always been very busy.

 

[dixiedizfan]

Agree totally with previous poster. That first week of January will be very crowded. And Epcot would be the park to avoid on Saturday the 6th, for traffic reasons alone.

 

[scoolover]

Actually, the half marathon in on Saturday and the full marathon in on Sunday. It will be a busy weekend and the traffic in the mornings will be tough, I'm sure.