driving to the races

[sanapunk]

Staying offsite is sadly looking like the better option for my group of girls for princess weekend. Does anyone have experience with driving in to the races? How early did you have to wake up? I was looking into the vistana which is not too far from WDW.

 

[MaMa3Princess]

Staying offsite is sadly looking like the better option for my group of girls for princess weekend. Does anyone have experience with driving in to the races? How early did you have to wake up? I was looking into the vistana which is not too far from WDW.

I did the 2012 Princess half marathon. We stayed in Windsor Hills. I woke at 3:45 am. My hubby drove me to the race and I arrived at 4:30 am. There were 2 lanes, one to park and one for drop offs. Drop off
Was very easy. I met the ladies I was running with right at bag check and we waited in the staging area until they had us walk to corrals. It was a very easy process in my opinion.

 

[InspiredbyMadi]

I wish I could help answer all your questions but I'm a newbie to this... I just wanted to stop in and give a thumbs-up for Vistana. We have stayed there a few times and it's a great place. We might stay there as well.

 

[DisneyRunnerGirl]

I drove to Jan 2012 Half in search of my Donald medal. I am one of those who believe "To be early is to be on time." LOL

I left my son's apartment (behind MK) and headed out to I-4 (as suggested by Disney to avoid road closures) at 2:45. I pulled into EPCOT at 2:58. Absolutely no traffic at that hour. I was parked in the 2nd row of cars. Took me less time than during my test run the day before

The funniest part was when I decided to immediately get out of the car to check things out and there was a young family next me unloading. Mom, Dad and 3 kids. The kids all looked under 8. As I walked by them the oldest of the 3 said in a questioning, but not whiny voice "What time is it? The moon is still out!"

After getting the lay of the land and checking out the merchandise booth, I just relaxed in my comfy rental car and ate my pre race breakfast. I would not hesitate to drive again, but will continue to arrive early as I am most comfortable with that plan.

 

[InspiredbyMadi]

As I walked by them the oldest of the 3 said in a questioning, but not whiny voice "What time is it? The moon is still out!"

I can totally see my daughter asking this now. Madi will be 5 at the time of the race and I'm sure she'll be skeptical about the early wake-up call. I ALMOST signed us up for the Royal Family 5K but decided to try and tackle my person goal first before insisting my family join in. Haha!

 

[ZellyB]

Staying offsite is sadly looking like the better option for my group of girls for princess weekend. Does anyone have experience with driving in to the races? How early did you have to wake up? I was looking into the vistana which is not too far from WDW.

I wondered about this as well. We are staying at Windsor Hills. Last year we were at Shades of Green and rode the buses. We were paranoid about being late so we were on the first bus out at 3 AM. At that time, the roads were deserted. But, I'm paranoid to wait too long and end up being late. But, it would seem that we could leave WH closer to 4 AM and still have time to get there, park and walk over.

 

[dburg30]

I drove to Jan 2012 Half in search of my Donald medal. I am one of those who believe "To be early is to be on time." LOL

I dunno, must be something in the central ohio water . If I'm not at least 15 minutes early I really do feel like I'm late.

 

[DisneyRunnerGirl]

I dunno, must be something in the central ohio water . If I'm not at least 15 minutes early I really do feel like I'm late.

Actually, the quote is something I learned from The Ohio State University Marching Band. The whole thing is...

"To early is to be on time.
To be on time is to be late.
To be late is to be LEFT!"

O - H!

 

[buckeyecinderella]

I - o !

 

[cewait]

A great rule of thumb is to plan on arriving in the Epcot parking lot no later than 0330.

Note from Vistana, you do not want to follow Garmin directions to the race. Ecpot Drive is closed north of Buena Vista. So either...

- Head up 535 past I4 to Hotel Plaza Road and then drive to World Drive, or

- Take I4 but do not exit at the first exit (Epcot) - take the Osceola Parkway exit, follow Osceola west to World then north to Epcot.

 

[zeltoo]

Staying offsite is sadly looking like the better option for my group of girls for princess weekend. Does anyone have experience with driving in to the races? How early did you have to wake up? I was looking into the vistana which is not too far from WDW.

We've done vistana for several races. Take a right out of vistana onto 535. Take your first right onto 536 which turns into Epcot center drive. Take first exit in Disney world then turn right. Goes past wwos. Then take ramp on right to world center drive and follow cars. It's easy peasy. We prefer it to onsite.

We leave vista at 3:15 and normally get there by 3:45. Bout half hour with race traffic. Bout 5 mins without

 

[paxsarah]

A great rule of thumb is to plan on arriving in the Epcot parking lot no later than 0330.

I used this rule of thumb for Goofy 2012 and I did zero waiting both mornings. It was perfect.