EPCOT Resorts and Marathon weekend

[gnargle29]

Hi everyone. This will be my first year doing Goofy. I did the 1/2 last year and had a horrible time meeting up with my dad afterwards. Mainly this was because we were both completely new to the event and did not really know what to expect. Trying to plan meeting up with my parents afterwards and needed some help.

First some details...we are staying at Saratoga Springs and will have a car. They are fairly familiar with Disney roads and can navigate the area pretty well.

For the 1/2 this was my plan - have them drive to EPCOT before the roads close and take the monorail to the Contemporary. Watch from the area in front of the Contemporary and then they would go get breakfast at the Wave and I would finish. We would meet at the staging area after the finish and then drive back to the hotel.

For the full, they would drive to the Boardwalk and have breakfast at Captain's Grille. Watch the race from mile 25ish (from the map it looks like the course does go through the Boardwalk area, is this correct?). Then I would finish, walk back through EPCOT and through World showcase, meet them at the Boardwalk and go back to the hotel. I will have a park hopper that I intend to use that day so I just need to make sure that I remember that with all my race stuff.

So my question is does this make sense? Does anyone see any major flaws or can you suggest a better option. They really don't want to follow the race, just want to see me running at one point during each race.

Thanks in advance!

 

[cewait]

What nice parents to get up that early....

Seriously, the contemporary is probably the worst resorts of the three for spectators to see you at due to being on the wrong side of the roadway and the fact that it is still dark. Recall that we are on the left side of World Dr and the roadway is heavily coned and travelled. In addition, Disney security sometimes prevents folks from crossing the road to be next to the course. On the other hand, the contemporary is the best resort for them to have a nice breakfast and still have time to get back to Epcot. I like this plan. Though prior to their departure, have them walk with you from the car to the gate of the staging area. There are palm trees in the median of the parking lot roadway even with the fence separating parking lot from staging area. Pick out a tree to meet at. It is just too crowded to meet in the family reunion area.

On marathon morning, the Yacht Club is about mile 24.6 I would have your folks park at the Yacht Club for breakfast rather than the Boardwalk. That way they do not need to cross the course.

 

[gnargle29]

Thank you! That is so helpful! Just one more quick question about roads. Last year every cast member we talked to at the hotel was really unsure of what would be closed so I want to figure this out ahead of time. They actually were not planning on driving me to the start, i was just gonna take the bus. So if World Drive closes 5am - 7:30am, would they be able to leave the hotel at 4:15, park at EPCOT and take the monorail over to the Contemporary?

Another option is to have them watch from a different point in the course. I just realized I will probably be done with the 1/2 by about 8:45 so we could always get breakfast afterwards. Would anyone be able to suggest another part of the course that they would be able to get to easily?

Lastly, when they go to the Yacht Club, do they need to be worried about any roads being closed?

Thanks!!!!!!!!

 

[cewait]

From SSR, do the loop around DTD (not the direction towards OKW). The road in front of DTD is Buena Vista. They should follow that road both mornings. On Saturday, just follow the crowd onto World and then into Epcot. On Sunday, either direction on the Epcot Resorts Blvd is open.

I would not have them leave that late. I think they would make it into the parking lot but there is a chance of not making it. I do think the Epcot parking lot stays open longer for the half than the full but it really depends on who is directing the field work that morning. You really hate to have active roadways on your course once you pull the trigger. It's a little tricky if they do not make it by cut off as the World to Epcot exchange does not open as quickly as one would think. Remember that Epcot is used as the last couple miles of the half. I think I would have them leave no later than 4 AM.

I think they will have a better shot of catching you from a couple different location strategies. For a double shot, they could catch you at the TTC (at the point where you run under the breezeway then walk over to the Poly or monorail to GF. The GF is a point where it is really quite and they have a great chance of getting up to the roadway. The other option is to head to Main street and wait for you there. It's a tougher place to site you unless they hang at the course corner Near Tony's or down where it turns towards Tomorrowland.

A third option would be to head directly to the GF or Poly and have a light breakfast then head out to see you.

 

[jenifred]

Sorry to hijack, but I was wondering the same thing.

DH and I are doing the Half for the first time and I'm not sure how to plan for the "after".

We are staying at Old Key West. My parents will have our kids (1 and 4 - Thanks MOM and DAD!) They are planning to only watch us at the finish line. I think it wold be too much to have them carting the kids all along the route.

I was going to tell them to take the regular EPCOT bus from OKW and try to find a place near the finish line. Then, meet us in the reunion area. But from what you posted, this sounds like a mistake.

Now I'm thinking it would be better to meet up inside EPCOT after the race. My guess is that we are probably going to finish right around park open. The folks are planning on staying at EPCOT while we shower and change anyway. What do you think????

Any tips on where they can watch us near the finish that is not too crowded?

 

[cewait]

Make sure of your corral and then apply your expected finish time to the start time. I would think that They would due more excited about seeing you near the finish line.

If you are finishing around 9 am, then they have the option of taking either the marathon or regular Disney transportation. Though later during the race, marathon buses will most likely drop folks closer to the race staging/family reunion area than they do at 4 am. Regardless, I am thinking that meeting in the park is problematic since you will be hot and tired and sweaty.

Look at the Race program, page 21, for a layout of the staging/family reunion area. What is not pictured is the small tents in the middle of the mess that will have alpha characters on them that are generally used as the family region spots. You will see the fenced off area noted by the solid line. You will follow the cute down from the finish line and then exit the secured area through the sets of tents labelled Baggage Claim. Then the area bounded by the tents, and stage are the family reunion area. This area is fenced and the exit to the parking lot is noted with 'Entrance'.

I would suggest meeting outside this block with two young ones. You see the park entrance in the bottom of the drawing.... I would suggest either meeting along or next to a tree outside the entrance or over by the monorail/park entrance. Pick out the spot on Friday.

They have two places to see you on race day in the parking lot. one is where you, the runner, enter Epcot. It is the big blue cast member gate near the bus stops. They can camp in this area and see you closer than near the finish. Then they can hustle over to the opposite side of the park entrance and catch you leaving the park. I would suggest not trying to get into the bleachers, rather camping out near the place where you exit the park.

Hope answered with out into too wide a circle

 

[jenifred]

That pretty much answers it. There is so much info out there about what do during and before the race, but not much about after. I appreciate the info...again.

 

[cewait]

pretty much the Mouse says pick out a spot to meet and oh we have a reunion area. It has been a zoo over the last 3-4 years inside the fence. Now that I am telling what I do, the palm trees may be crowded. Yikes