Disney Marathon

[jorescue]

Hey has anyone camped at the Fort for the Disney marathon?
If so what method of transportation did you take to get to the start? Does Disney run a bus from the Fort tjhat early for the event?
And how long did it take to get to the start?

Thanks for the info...

 

[John VN]

This past Jan., DW and I walked to WL and got the bus from WL to Epcot for the 5K. We were told that there would be busses from FW to Epcot for the 1/2 and Full but this I can not confirm.

We already have our reservations at FW for 2011 Marathon Weekend since DW and I will do the 5K on Friday and 1/2 on Saturday together and then on Sunday I will do the Full. We plan on taking the bus on Friday and then driving over on Saturday and Sunday.

 

[bama_ed]

I've run both the Half and the Full and stayed at the Fort and in the past and they run busses from the front of the Fort by the check-in area by the kennel and horse ride corral. Internal busses are running through the Fort to get you there.

The year I ran the full they want you at Epcot at 4am so it is an EARLY start. Lots of standing around time (I heard it was really cold this past year). Then you move down to the main street that goes by Epcot (the boulevard) into your assigned starting corral based on your historical finish times. The start was 6am as I recall.

At the end after you finish busses are lined up to take you back to the Fort and other resorts. So it works fine but like I said it starts EARLY in the morning. I think I got up at 3am to dress and get the internal bus.

Bama ED

 

[TOGA]

Good info. We too are staying at the Fort the very first two weeks of 2011 and plan on running all the races. I'll do the 5k, kids will do the fun runs and dw will do the 'Goofy'.

We've seen/heard that the races fill quickly, so we've registered for all the races already and purchased the special pins and hats that are available.

Good luck. You have nearly a year to train!

 

[John VN]

Good info. We too are staying at the Fort the very first two weeks of 2011 and plan on running all the races. I'll do the 5k, kids will do the fun runs and dw will do the 'Goofy'.

We've seen/heard that the races fill quickly, so we've registered for all the races already and purchased the special pins and hats that are available.

Good luck. You have nearly a year to train!

Have your wife join you in the 5K and then she will have done the Dopey. I am doing it because it's just who I am.

 

[jorescue]

Sounds like its going to be a super early morning...
When can you start booking the campground for January? I tried the other day and ressies are through Dec 31st.
Is the finish inside Epcot?

 

[bama_ed]

Jorescue,

On-line may be until the end of the year but if you call you can go out further (500 days).

The routes for the Half and Full marathons have been altered since I ran them but they do route you under Spaceship Earth and then out into the parking lot to the finish line so you are briefly in Epcot for the Half. For the Full, you go through all 4 theme parks. We came into the back of Epcot at the International Gateway between France and Great Britian, went through the countries counter-clockwise (toward the American Pavilion), right down the middle toward the Fountain in Future World, under Spaceship Earth and out into the parking lot to the Finish Line.

The new Half Route starts out on the road in front of Epcot, goes all the way down to the Magic Kingdom (up Main Street, through Tomorrowland, through the castle, out through Frontierland) and back to Epcot just skimming Spaceship Earth as I said.

The really wonderful part of the Full was when I was limping my way into the back of Epcot and came through the International Gate, it was before 11am so no one was back there yet in the Countries area (except a few CM getting ready for work) and it was quiet and time to reflect on the accomplishment. Then when you run into FutureWorld there's more people and it's gently downhill around Spaceship Earth you get a little hitch in your giddyup and then go out into the parking lot where the crowd is, people are cheering, the announcer is calling out names of people finishing, it's an emotional finish and a relief to cross the finish line.

So go do it and enjoy the experience.

Bama ED

 

[jorescue]

Thanks Ed,
The r4eason I was asking about the finish was I wanted to know if it was inside or outside the park. The family is coming along and I wasnt sure if they would have to have a park ticket to get into epcot for the finish. thank You for the info.

The medals are super cool. I think the goofy would be a little to hard on the body for me though.

Anyone have any good marathon stories?

 

[John VN]

As mentioned, the finish is outside of Epcot so no ticket is required. Scroll down and go on the W.I.S.H Forum, click on Events/Competition and join in. You can also find the routes for this past year.

I got out early this AM and did 14.4 miles with DW joining me a little past half way so she did 6.4 miles. Still a long way to go but we are having fun for a couple of soon to be 60yo. I called and made our 2011 reservations for FW on January 2nd this year.

 

[TOGA]

I called direct on December 17, 2009 to make my January, 2011 reservations. The online registration thingy seems too 'iffy' to me. I like to talk to a real person.