Going to Disney in a few days-NEED HELP

[Drew*smom]

Hi Everyone!

Me, DH, DS(22months),brother, and father are going to Disney this upcoming Friday and staying for four days. We are primarly going b/c DH and brother are running the half marathon on Saturday. We plan on doing Epcot on Sunday and Animal Kingdom on Monday. We have a 2 room suite at the Lake Buena Vista Residence Inn. Here are my questions:

1. DH and brother are waking up early at 3AM on Saturday to head over to Disney for the race. They will be driving over in our rental car. DS, dad and me are planning on waking up around 6 AM and heading over to view the race. However, I have no idea where we should go to best view things and then meet up with our party, any ideas? Also, we were thinking of taking a cab over..good idea or not??

2. We plan to stay all day at Epcot and AK but I don't know what to do about DS nap. We will have a stroller but he doesn't nap in that...what can we do??

3. We are planning on flying back home on Tuesday but my brother needs to leave on Monday. His flight is at 8PM. What time should we leave AK that day to get to the airport? Also, is there anywhere to get dinner in between AK and the airport?

4. Any fun ideas to do on Saturday after the race??

THANKS IN ADVANCE!!
-Carrie

 

[karibritt01]

If your son doesn't pass out, you could take him back to the hotel for a short nap in the afternoon. The buses will be running by then, and its really easy to hop one back to your hotel. As for your brother, I would seriously consider calling Disney, and setting him up with Magic Express service. With only 2 days in the park, taking him to the hotel for his stuff, and then to the airport, is going to waste several hours. If he uses ME, he can stay at the park with you until about 3 or 4, then catch the bus for the airport. On sat after the race, you could take the kids to shop at DTD, eat at Rain Forest Cafe, boat ride from DTD to POR and back, or go to TTC and ride the monorail to Poly for the MK fireworks from the beach. Also, take advantage of the heated pool at your hotel.

 

[latexscooter]

Hi, I'm running the marathon and will be there the same timeframe. Here's the best I can do for responding. Since you're staying off-site I'll do the best I can, do you have two rental cars? I'm responding as if you do. Also, I don't know the pacing of your family so I'll just use generalities.

1. DH and brother are waking up early at 3AM on Saturday to head over to Disney for the race. They will be driving over in our rental car. DS, dad and me are planning on waking up around 6 AM and heading over to view the race. However, I have no idea where we should go to best view things and then meet up with our party, any ideas? Also, we were thinking of taking a cab over..good idea or not?? First, I don't think you should bother to go to the start. You're not really going to be able to see anything so you're better off going to one of the viewing areas Disney has set up. According to the race program there are three for the half marathon. They are:

• T6:25-7:35 am at the Contemporary
• 6:35-8:15 Grand Floridian
• 6:40-8:25 Poly

The finish is at EPCOT and it will be crazy so if you want to see that go as early as you can. See the race guide on page 32 for more info.

2. We plan to stay all day at Epcot and AK but I don't know what to do about DS nap. We will have a stroller but he doesn't nap in that...what can we do??If he normally won't sleep in his stroller I recommend going to one of the Baby care stations and trying to get him down there. Once he's asleep transfer him to the stroller and go from there. That worked for my daughter.

3. We are planning on flying back home on Tuesday but my brother needs to leave on Monday. His flight is at 8PM. What time should we leave AK that day to get to the airport? Also, is there anywhere to get dinner in between AK and the airport?Are you planning on bringing his stuff in the car or do you have to go to back to the hotel? If you bring his stuff alot for at least 30 minutes drive time and then the buffer for security check-in etc. (I think they ask for people to get there 2 hours ahead but we always do 75-90 minutes.

4. Any fun ideas to do on Saturday after the race?? Well, that's personal so it really depends on him. After the marathon I'm going to go take a nap and then have dinner at 'Ohana and then the MK after that. I'd set up an ADR at a favorite place and then do the rest according to how he feels.

Have fun and good luck to your family on race day.

Carrie (I'm a Carrie too!)