Half Marathon Resort Dilemma

[Tam1067]

I'm running my first half marathon in January.

I have heard that the monorail makes transportation to and from the race much nicer.

Right now, I'm booked at the GF with the 35% off for Disney Visa card holders. But even with that discount, the cheapest room I can get there is $400 a night. When I called, CR and the Poly were not available for the discount.

I'm wondering, is being on the monorail THAT big of a deal during marathon weekend?

I'm considering switching to WL or POR, though I'm hesitant because I've heard horror stories about the buses getting runners to and from the race.

Any thoughts from experienced marathon weekend veterans?

Thanks.

 

[JohnGuin]

I did the half marathon in January and we stayed at the Caribbean Beach Resort. There was no monorail and I relied on the buses to haul me to the start.

Honestly, Disney runs these races VERY well and the buses were fine.

One tip - plan on going early so you don't have to wait for the bus/monorail, and then plan on standing around a fair bit until the run starts. It may be surprisingly cold...

Oh, I am going in Nov 2012 for the Wine and Dine Half. Staying at Shades of Green which is near the Polynesian. In this case, I will rely on the monorail so we'll see how it goes.

Good luck on the run. Enjoy the sites!

 

[wdwrich]

DD ran last year's half marathon and stayed at OKW. She said the buses getting runners over to the start at EPCOT sat in traffic for a l-o-n-g time. At least the monorail wouldn't be affected by traffic on the roads.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I drove from OKW to Epcot the morning of the half marathon in Jan 2011. My husband, son and their friend took the bus over much earlier. I left OKW at 4:30AM and barely arrived at Epcot at 5:30AM when the race began. Traffic was horrible along Vista Drive between the Epcot Resorts and DHS and I saw many runners abandoning vehicles along the side of the road and trying to run to the start.

If you decide to stay at a non-monorail resort, just make sure you catch the bus by 3 or 3:30AM. Then you will be fine. And make sure your bus driver knows where he/she is going. Disney charters buses to transport the runners and some get lost. The roads will be closed along the race route, so they have to take the longer way into Epcot.

We're staying at VWL this year and my runners will be taking the bus. I will, too, and then the monorail between Epcot and MK to see them run through.

 

[Tam1067]

These horror stories of bus traffic jams and confused drivers are what's making me think I should just pay for the monorail.

But then it's a lot of money....

 

[minniebeth]

Did you try pricing out rooms through the RunDisney discount?
Yes the monorail is so nice but we've had experiences with the buses too and as long as you leave early enough you shouldn't have a problem like a pp said. We find Disney's race transportation run very well overall and have never known anyone who has personally experienced these problems.
This really only affects you one way on race day: is the cost of the monorail worth it vs. leaving a little more early with the bus at another resort? You're talking of a difference of maybe an hour if that.

 

[Dizzytime]

I've run both the half and full, both times staying at the BC and the bus was no problem from there. Originally thought by staying at an Epcot resort I could walk to the start through the park, or around the park.... but no deal and no walking.
I've never slept well the night before, I always wake up early anyway, and the occaisions (in other marathons) that I've had an extra hour or so in the room is just, for the most part, sitting around waiting to leave.
JMHO, but I'd save the money and get into the mix and experience of the run early by taking the bus ride.

I wish you the most fun and best of luck with your run!! I think you'll love it!



PS... if you haven't already checked WISH forum, it's great probably a lot of people talking about the same thing...

 

[WsPrincess]

These horror stories of bus traffic jams and confused drivers are what's making me think I should just pay for the monorail.

But then it's a lot of money....

I didn't think the monorail was running early enough for runners to take it to the start. I could be wrong since I have not done a RunDisney race but I am pretty sure for the Princess I was told I had to take the bus even from a monorail resort but spectators could take it and it would be open after. Again, I could be completely wrong and it might start running by 3am or so for the race start.

 

[jimandami]

I didn't think the monorail was running early enough for runners to take it to the start. I could be wrong since I have not done a RunDisney race but I am pretty sure for the Princess I was told I had to take the bus even from a monorail resort but spectators could take it and it would be open after. Again, I could be completely wrong and it might start running by 3am or so for the race start.

Yes, it definitely starts running early enough for runners to take it. Having said that, our experience with Run Disney bus service has been fine and I personally would not pay that rate just to take the monorail to the start

 

[minniebeth]

We've stayed at the Polynesian and the Contemporary for Marathon Weekend and at both resorts we had to take a bus to the 5K at Epcot on Friday mornings. The monorail was not running for that.

For the 1/2 and full Marathons the monorail does run early for runners. If you are staying at the GF, Contemporary or Polynesian, you need to change monorails at the TTC. (Or if you are staying at the Poly you can just walk to the TTC it's easier.)

 

[Tam1067]

Thank you all for your feedback. I switched to Wilderness Lodge and am saving over $300 for the 3 nights.

 

[WhitGB]

We stayed at the pofq and you can walk across the street to the race start. Probably not the safest thing to do but everyone else was doing it so I went right along. You can see the start corrals from the resort parking lot. Those running the race just ushered us to our corral and did not say a word.

Btw, I ran the 1/2 and took the bus over, my husband, doing the full, was the walker after he watched those from the resort do this during the 1/2. The info above was from him.

 

[lilouisianagal]

Just look at the cut off time that they give for the buses and make sure you are on a bus 1/2 hour before that. I've done buses from CBR and Pop for 3 goofy races with no problems.

 

[Dizzytime]

Thank you all for your feedback. I switched to Wilderness Lodge and am saving over $300 for the 3 nights.

I like it!! Wilderness Lodge is fantastic, as you already know, and that $300 will buy you a LOT of beer after you finish!!

Best of luck!

 

[Tam1067]

I like it!! Wilderness Lodge is fantastic, as you already know, and that $300 will buy you a LOT of beer after you finish!!

Best of luck!

Thank you! I am really looking forward to the whole experience.