Disney Races (specifically, TOT 10 miler) if staying off site?

[VAfamily1998]

I'm sure there are some threads that discuss this already, but I did a search and didn't see. Maybe I used the wrong search words?

Anyway, I have decided to do the TOT 10 miler for 2013! I am so excited as this will be my first race EVER!

At this time, I haven't decided who I am going with--a relative expressed interest in coming along (probably just as a spectator) and making it a girls weekend...I know my Dh and kids would love to come, but it's in the middle of school (and more importantly to Dh, football) season--so that might not happen. Who knows, I might end up doing it all on my own!

So, not knowing who else will be with me, and also the fact that it is still so far away, I am exploring every possible type of lodging, including off site.

If you have stayed off site for a race, how difficult was it to get there? I'm hoping the fact that the race starts at night, instead of at the crack of dawn, makes it easier to get there? Anything I should take into consideration?
In an ideal world, I would stay at the BWI, BC, YC, or Swan/Dolphin just for the proximity to HS--but Swan/Dolphin says there are NO rooms available at that time. It is because it truly is booked for the race? Or do they just not do reservations this far out? I think BWI, BC, and YC may be out of my budget this time. I've stayed at BWI and YC before, but always when either 1) I was someone else's guest or 2) I got a military discount. Unfortunately, the TOT 10 miler is just a few days past the current military promotion, and I know I can't count on them extending it another year.

Anyway, any thoughts (or leads on better terms to search in the search engine for past threads?) on this are appreciated.

 

[DOOM1001]

I stayed at a Disney hotel for the full marathon in January and plan to do it again when I run it again next year,I am however also planning on doing the ToT 10 miler and plan to stay offsite,having the race at night how exactly does the parking work?I hear they're making people park at WWoS and take a shuttle to DHS for the start,what about if you visit the park during the day,do you just leave your car there.

 

[freepixie]

Yes, they make anyone who is not staying at a host resort park in the WWOS. Last year they said no parking and no drop-offs at HS, and I have a feeling that will remain the same.

Last year, we stayed at the Poly, and although it is on-site, it was not a host resort. What we did, and worked well for us, and will probably do again- we took a cab from the Poly to WWOS, then got on the bus with everyone else to get to HS. After the race and party, there were cabs in the HS parking lot, so we just caught one from there and headed back.

IMHO it was worth the fare! For people that parked at WWOS, they had to get back on the bus and get back over there, and I have read a few reports that the busses got a little nasty by later in the evening. (There was a huge problem of a lot of people puking- myself included) It was nice to be in a cab and back to our resort in under 5 minutes

I'm sure more people will be along to share their stories from last year

 

[DisneyRunnerGirl]

I'm sure there are some threads that discuss this already, but I did a search and didn't see. Maybe I used the wrong search words?

Anyway, I have decided to do the TOT 10 miler for 2013! I am so excited as this will be my first race EVER!

At this time, I haven't decided who I am going with--a relative expressed interest in coming along (probably just as a spectator) and making it a girls weekend...I know my Dh and kids would love to come, but it's in the middle of school (and more importantly to Dh, football) season--so that might not happen. Who knows, I might end up doing it all on my own!

So, not knowing who else will be with me, and also the fact that it is still so far away, I am exploring every possible type of lodging, including off site.

If you have stayed off site for a race, how difficult was it to get there? I'm hoping the fact that the race starts at night, instead of at the crack of dawn, makes it easier to get there? Anything I should take into consideration?
In an ideal world, I would stay at the BWI, BC, YC, or Swan/Dolphin just for the proximity to HS--but Swan/Dolphin says there are NO rooms available at that time. It is because it truly is booked for the race? Or do they just not do reservations this far out? I think BWI, BC, and YC may be out of my budget this time. I've stayed at BWI and YC before, but always when either 1) I was someone else's guest or 2) I got a military discount. Unfortunately, the TOT 10 miler is just a few days past the current military promotion, and I know I can't count on them extending it another year.

Anyway, any thoughts (or leads on better terms to search in the search engine for past threads?) on this are appreciated.

What dates did you put in for Swan/Dolphin? I just found rooms at Swan for Friday check in and Sunday check out with AAA rates. No Government Employee rates available that weekend, but AAA seems to be. I stayed there last year and it was AWESOME for walking to and from the race.

I used www.swandolphin.com to check the dates.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[PrincessV]

Would you have a car? If so, I think it would be easy enough to drive. You'd want to leave early to allow for possible road congestion and time to bus from WWOS to the start. I stayed at SSR last year - it wasn't a host resort and we weren't keen on dealing with WWOS, so we drove to POR for dinner and left my car there; took the race bus to and from and drove back from POR to SSR. Worked great!

 

[VAfamily1998]

Thanks Everyone!

For the Swan/Dolphin dates, I put in a check out date of the following Tuesday, and was unable to get ANY room. I ended up calling their reservation line and was told they are having a HUGE conference, beginning that Sunday, so no rooms are available for the Mon. and Tuesday following the 10 miler. With the bash ending at 4 am, I was thinking I'd be wanting to go back to the room, shower, and sleep for a while--so an 11 am check out would be rough, and I wanted to add an extra day or two (hence the Tuesday check out I was looking for).

If I stay off site, I will definitely rent a car. I'm leaning towards just biting the bullet and booking Beach Club...I'm a little concerned that they WILL come out with another military deal after Sept. 2013, but I won't be able to take advantage of it because it will be too late to cancel--I'm trying to remember, is the cancellation with refund 30 days? This would be for room only...
I also see that one of the host resorts is POFQ, which I think looks beautiful, and is about 1/2 the price...so that is a thought too

thanks again, for everyone's imput! I am so excited for the race--this is going to be a long 7 months to wait!

 

[debrapagliasotti]

I am doing ToT solo and I booked at POFQ. I liked the idea of it being a smaller resort.

 

[VAfamily1998]

I am doing ToT solo and I booked at POFQ. I liked the idea of it being a smaller resort.

I think POFQ sounds beautiful! I'm sort of leaning that way right now--the fact that you can take a boat to Downtown Disney is a huge plus...

Another question--I see that BC and YC are "host resorts"--is there any advantage in staying at those instead of BWI? BWI is actually a closer walk to HS than either of those (though minimal).

 

[StarGirl11]

Just out of curiosity for future reference are the only host resorts for the ToT race the ones right next to HS?

Not running it this year but would love to maybe do it a few years down the road.

Trying to imagine how to swing that pitch of staying at a Deluxe for the ToT. Not that I wouldn't mind at all but still.