Exiting DisneyWorld after the marathon

[anibee]

Hi,

My Hubby and I will be running the WDW marathon (Goofy challenge actually) and are planning/hoping on taking a cruise out of Port Canaveral afterwards.
My question is, if I finish the Marathon in 5 hours, what time can I expect to be out of the WDW resort? Also, how is the traffic in the area?

We need to get to Port Canaveral before 3pm, and return a rental car close to the Port. Any tips or suggestions are appreciated. Thank you!

 

[BamaEd1]

Hi,

My Hubby and I will be running the WDW marathon (Goofy challenge actually) and are planning/hoping on taking a cruise out of Port Canaveral afterwards.
My question is, if I finish the Marathon in 5 hours, what time can I expect to be out of the WDW resort? Also, how is the traffic in the area?

We need to get to Port Canaveral before 3pm, and return a rental car close to the Port. Any tips or suggestions are appreciated. Thank you!

Getting out is usually no problem; they have busses/monorails running for everyone staying on property and the crowd is dispursed. By the time we finish (PR 4:58:31), the jack-rabbits will be gone. Driving to the START looks like a nightmare. I'm going Goofy, too and we'll be together. Best of luck training!!!!!

 

[Kirsty-Leigh]

Are you driving? If you are then leaving shouldn't be too big of a problem; however, if you are planning on taking a bus you might want a plan B lined up. I did Goofy last year and it took me 1 1/2 hours to get on a bus back to my hotel. Granted it was so cold that all anybody did was finish and leave which made the transport situation worse, plus I was staying at the all star and they only had one bus for all three resorts. I don;t know where you are staying - the other lines weren't nearly as bad as ours. But like I say if you are relying on Disney transport have a plan B. For the full I had to get someone to come and pick me up - I just couldn't wait another hour + in the cold after that.

Good luck with your training - Goofy is an awesome experience- pray for some milder weather... I surely am

Kirsty

 

[cewait]

IT WILL BE TIGHT.

If you are staying on property I would sggest the Epcot Resort Area (BWV, BC, etc) as then you have the walk back back-up plan. The next best resort option would be a monorail resort. If you are elsewhere on property I would suggest driving. I am only aware of 2 parking lot exit issues in the last 6 years. In both cases it took an hour or longer to leave the lot. But regardless, you are in control of your drive as you leave and will not be subject to disoriented bus drivers. (they also have the same issues leaving the parking lot).

Your biggest issue with an on property resort is getting a checkout time later than your finish time. Disney is nearly impossible to get a late checkout time. With an 11 am checkout you will cross the finish line the same time you need to be out of the room. Add travel time back to the room and you may not be able to even get into the room. If off property then you can usually negotiate a later time.

Once off property you should not have an issue. It's a good hour drive to the port from the middle of the WDW property. Beach LIne Road can be heavily patrolled so stay within traffic speeds.

Hopefully you are renting Avis. They have a free shuttle to the ship. Plan on 30 minutes to get through that.

So looking at the times.

5 hour finish - 11 am
1 hour to work through finish chute and get to car - noon
1 hour to get to room - 1 pm
1 hour to clean up - 2 pm
1 hour to drive to the port - 3 pm
30 minutes to get through the rental return 3:30


Ship sails at 4

I think I am long on a couple of the times but a blister here, a slower pace there a cramp or two and you may come over the causeway only to see the ship heading down the channel. It's a tough call but I would look to the cruise returning THursday before the weekend

 

[anibee]

Thank you, that is really great advice.

Based on your calculations we should be OK!

We are planning on checking out of our room before the marathon since we cannot get a late checkout, and driving straight to the port. That should make things much easier and shave 2 hours off the time you have estimated!

We are actually renting from budget and planning on taking a cab from the dealership to drive us to the port. The reason I rent budget is because I'm 23 and they are the only rental agency, that I know of, that do not charge the underage fee (because I'm a costco "executive" member).

Once again, thank you all!

 

[heatherlynn444]

def will be cutting it close. we left marathon day this year and most of the roads were closed and we were trapped and couldn't get out! As long as the whole race is done and cones are picked up you will easily get off property. it is a solid hour to the port...if the ship sails at 4 everyone HAS to be on board an hour before it sails, so if it sails at 4 they will not let you on after 3:00, they are pretty strict on it. good luck!

PS just train more and run faster lol!

 

[cewait]

def will be cutting it close. we left marathon day this year and most of the roads were closed and we were trapped and couldn't get out! As long as the whole race is done and cones are picked up you will easily get off property. it is a solid hour to the port...if the ship sails at 4 everyone HAS to be on board an hour before it sails, so if it sails at 4 they will not let you on after 3:00, they are pretty strict on it. good luck!

PS just train more and run faster lol!

Curious --- were you headed back into property of out bound. I know that the parking lot was a mess both days with more of the parking lot filling than I have ever seen for the race due to the cold and wet. I understand that security did kind of hold some portions of the course open longer than normal (i.e. the contemporary was still coned off as we passed on the monorail as I came back).

Generally, once out of the lot - if one heads to property exit (south on Epcot Dr) then the toll way (FL 117) you have no issue since you are in the area that has not been closed for 3.5-4 hours.

If I were headed the the port I would definitely go park exit, stay on Epcot Dr under Lake Buena Vista (following WDW Exit signs). Once past that underpass there is no marathon involvement.

Stay left with this sign http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&i...=PjzuyZrpVmjNwQoocIhLTg&cbp=12,168.94,,0,5.09

Then follow the signs to the Airport
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&i...49&ll=28.364127,-81.532215&spn=0,0.00283&z=19

And once past the Airport you will be looking for Beach Line but look out for this guy
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&i...4&ll=28.386167,-81.258885&spn=0,0.005659&z=18

Oh and ignore the search line on the maps I was looking for a place to swim next week while out of town

BUT I also emphasize the boat leaves when it is scheduled to leave. It sets at the dock for at least 30 minutes fter the gang way is pulled....