Epcot on Marathon Day - am I crazy?

[coolmark18]

Hi guys,

Looking for advice for a 5 day trip to the world staying off site. My first trip to WDW since I was 7 so pretty excited.

My plan includes Epcot on Sunday 10th. I know this is Marathon Day. I have a car but I'd like a few drinks around WS so will get a taxi/uber. Plan is too arrive an hour before RD - around 8am?

I know there are many road closures so I've given myself 30minutes to get there from LBV?
The Crowd Calendar on Touring Plans says it's only a 4? I know there may be path way limitations but should the park be okay for rides and having a wander around WS? It's my only day at Epcot.

Other days are:
Saturday 9th
Keys to the Kingdom Tour and spend the rest of the day at MK.
It's CC is at 7 but I'll get FP+ for attractions in the afternoon and check out quieter rides, PeopleMover etc.
Ive got an ADR for Liberty Tree Tavern in the afternoon.

Sunday
Epcot day as above

Monday
Hollywood Studios

Tuesday
A full day at MK (though ADR at Cali Grill at 6pm)

Wednesday
A full day at Animal Kingdom

 

[PCFriar80]

Hi guys,

Looking for advice for a 5 day trip to the world staying off site. My first trip to WDW since I was 7 so pretty excited.

My plan includes Epcot on Sunday 10th. I know this is Marathon Day. I have a car but I'd like a few drinks around WS so will get a taxi/uber. Plan is too arrive an hour before RD - around 8am?

I know there are many road closures so I've given myself 30minutes to get there from LBV?
The Crowd Calendar on Touring Plans says it's only a 4? I know there may be path way limitations but should the park be okay for rides and having a wander around WS? It's my only day at Epcot.

Other days are:
Saturday 9th
Keys to the Kingdom Tour and spend the rest of the day at MK.
It's CC is at 7 but I'll get FP+ for attractions in the afternoon and check out quieter rides, PeopleMover etc.
Ive got an ADR for Liberty Tree Tavern in the afternoon.

Sunday
Epcot day as above

Monday
Hollywood Studios

Tuesday
A full day at MK (though ADR at Cali Grill at 6pm)

Wednesday
A full day at Animal Kingdom

We go to Epcot each marathon Sunday, after running the 1/2 on Saturday. We stay at the BC and enter through IG. Since you said you will be taking a taxi/uber I would suggest you take it to one of the Epcot resorts [BC or BW] and navigate from there to IG. You will have to do some "bobbing and weaving" through the marathon as mile 24 - 25 run through the access point to IG. Having said that, at 8:00 AM the volume of runners will be "light" with the top runners coming in at the 2:30/3:00 mark. Once in Epcot, you'll encounter one managed crosswalk in UK as you make your way to future world and then a couple of more in future world itself. Have fun!

 

[grahamharvey1982]

We went to Epcot on marathon Sunday two years ago, and the park was crowded but not as bad as expected. However, the traffic getting in was another story. We were arriving that day and checking in at the Beach Club to get our Magic Bands (which had our tickets on them). It took us an hour and a half (!!!!) to get from the front gate of Disney World to the Beach Club. The marked road to the Beach Club was completely closed, and there was no signage showing another route to get there. I'm pretty familiar with WDW, so I was surprised that we couldn't find it. Cast members gave us incorrect directions, and we kept being directed back through traffic to the same closed road. At one point we actually ended up at the Epcot parking, but couldn't go there since we didn't have our tickets.

I like PCFriar80's suggestion of using the back entrance to Epcot but if your Taxi/Uber driver for any reason can't get to the resorts, I think you would also be okay going straight to the front entrance. When we finally arrived, getting into Epcot parking seemed like no problem. Having run the marathon a few years earlier, I remember that it started very early, so if you are arriving at 8am, the runners will already have parked their cars a few hours before.