pixarmom
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Oct 20, 2009
- Messages
- 6,932
Hi Trish! This January, we did Marathon Weekend! I ran the full marathon, our teens ran the half marathon and we all ran the 5K. In February 2014, I ran the Princess Half Marathon and the kids ran the Princess 5K with me. In 2016, we don't plan to be there for Marathon Weekend in January, but we DO plan to run all three races for Princess Half Marathon Weekend in February. I love Marathon Weekend, but with two in high school and one in elementary, the February race is better timing for us.
For the actual race weekends, we've stayed at BWI and Poly - CL at both. CL is very very important to me for race weekends, but that's because I'm running and managing three kids. (My husband arrives close to the race, but he's not there with us the whole time.) It's wonderful to have that extra space in the lounge the nights before the races (since we have to get to sleep so early and we're not out in the parks) and after the races. Nice to return to a quick breakfast in the lounge so that we don't have to wait until everyone is showered and ready to get breakfast. I also appreciate the light snacks during race weekends - cheese, fruit, veggies, etc. that I probably wouldn't access as easily if not staying CL. Finally, the lounge is great if your runners need a nap. After the full marathon, I took a short nap while our kids went to MK and my husband, mom and dad watched football in the Poly lounge.
Honestly, as much as I love Poly, I think I actually prefer BWI or another Epcot area resort for race weekends. The monorail is fun, but actually requires long walks on race mornings. We walked from our room in Hawaii to the TTC monorail, hopped on the monorail to Epcot and then walked from the monorail to the race start. It's a great warm-up, but time-consuming at 3am. If it's cold, the monorail is COLD and so is the walk. One morning, it was so cold that we boarded the monorail at the GCH and then switched at TTC - that was even more time-consuming and not very warm.
Staying at BWI, we went right out to the front near the lobby and boarded a warm bus that took us very close to the start. At the end, we boarded a close, very warm bus that took us right back near the BWI lobby. I finish the half marathon way before Epcot opens, but if it's open when your kids finish, you can either take the bus or walk back through Epcot (I think you have APs - right?)
I've run into so many DISers while at the Polynesian in the Hawaii building. It's fun to kind of "know" someone else there! 
Anyone who wants to be added just comment here or send me a PM with your dates and resort. 
I've added the list to page 1, post #3.
AKL June 3-June 10
Glad you could come out of the shadows and finally post here with us! I got your trip added, looks like we've got someone crossing over with your dates already. Awesome! 
