entrance to the parks..

[smom1976]

Ok for runners and for spectators.. how does that work.. we are going to do the 1/2 in January.. and the kids do the 5k and the other races.. and such..

This will be our first...

SOOOOOO... Reading up I found that Magic kingdom opens up at 5:30 for spectators who do not have to have a ticket and the other parks open up as well but you have to purchase a ticket if you enter after the park opens.. how do they know if you didn't purchase a ticket after the park opens? How does this all work with the parks and tickets and such..

 

[FireDancer]

They clear the Magic Kingdom of the spectators before the park opens for the guests. Even if you have a ticket you will have to leave and re-enter the turnstiles. Spectators are only allowed on Main Street, not into any other part of the park. There are no rides open either. You literally go in, stand on Main Street, cheer on the runners, and leave.

The other parks won't open until their normal time. They don't allow you in early to watch. There they will handle park admission the way they normally do. Since he is doing the half the other park would be Epcot. Keep in mind he may be done with the race before Epcot opens. Depending on his corral and his run time it might be a non issue.

To be honest the best place to see the runners is outside of the parks, especially if you hope they will see you. Depending on how quick you and the pace of the person running you can actually see them 3 times. Once before they enter the MK in the eastern end of the parking lot, once after they leave MK out along the road by the GF and Poly, and once again just before they enter Epcot again by the resort bus area.

 

[smom1976]

They clear the Magic Kingdom of the spectators before the park opens for the guests. Even if you have a ticket you will have to leave and re-enter the turnstiles. Spectators are only allowed on Main Street, not into any other part of the park. There are no rides open either. You literally go in, stand on Main Street, cheer on the runners, and leave.

The other parks won't open until their normal time. They don't allow you in early to watch. There they will handle park admission the way they normally do. Since he is doing the half the other park would be Epcot. Keep in mind he may be done with the race before Epcot opens. Depending on his corral and his run time it might be a non issue.

To be honest the best place to see the runners is outside of the parks, especially if you hope they will see you. Depending on how quick you and the pace of the person running you can actually see them 3 times. Once before they enter the MK in the eastern end of the parking lot, once after they leave MK out along the road by the GF and Poly, and once again just before they enter Epcot again by the resort bus area.

ahhh.. ok an answer to my question... we both will be running but we have friends in orlando that will be cheering us on and grandma will be with the kids cheering us on..

so trying to find places for them to go to and see us.. stepping into the magic kingdom this time may be the only time this trip..

we will do it again another trip.. have done and will do.. we will prob be tired this trip anyway..

how about the cheer squad.. for the price is that worth it? we were not planning on doing parks this time.. although my 4 year old will be turning 5 on the 7th.. soooo really not sure what we are going to do.. got to find something he has his 200m dash on that day.. and we have our race.. the others will be completed on the 6th.. so I am also trying to figure that one out...