Half Marathon Spectator Viewing Spots

[dobball23]

A few questions on spectators trying to watch the Half Marathon (my dad will be watching my wife and I)...

1. If he wants to watch us run through the Magic Kingdom, where should he park? And what is his best mode of transportation to get there (he will have a car)?

2. Outside of the Magic Kingdom, where else can he watch some of the race? Best ways to get to those locations?

3. I read that the Epcot parking lot entrance from World Drive is closed from 5-7 a.m. Is the entrance from Epcot Center Drive open?

4. Another other advice/words of wisdom for a spectator I can pass along to him?

Thanks!

 

[JCH]

A few questions on spectators trying to watch the Half Marathon (my dad will be watching my wife and I)...

1. If he wants to watch us run through the Magic Kingdom, where should he park? And what is his best mode of transportation to get there (he will have a car)?

2. Outside of the Magic Kingdom, where else can he watch some of the race? Best ways to get to those locations?

3. I read that the Epcot parking lot entrance from World Drive is closed from 5-7 a.m. Is the entrance from Epcot Center Drive open?

4. Another other advice/words of wisdom for a spectator I can pass along to him?

Thanks!

Others will pop in with more detailed advice, but here is what my DH does:

1. To get there, he gets on the bus with me. Yeah, that gets him up super early and he has to stand around for an hour, but it's the easiest.

2. He walks over the monorail to get to the Ticket and Transportation Center. There they have a cart with coffee and pastries. He can then sit and drink his coffee and discuss with the other DHs how crazy we all are (this was for the Princess)

3. Watch me pass at mile 3ish. It wasn't too crowded and I found him before he found me.

4. Take the path to the Polynesian. This gives another chance at coffee and pastries, and some warmth inside the Poly if its cold. This is mile 8, and takes about 10 minutes to walk to.

5. Walk back to the TTC and take the monorail to the finish.

6. Had he wanted to go to MK, the plan would be different. He would still go with me, but then hop on the monorail and switch to the MK monorail at the TTC. Once done there, he would leave MK and hop the monorail to Epcot for the finish. I prefer for DH to do the one I outlined for a couple of reasons. It gives him a chance to warm up a little if its cold, it is easier for me to find him as the MK is crowded, and quite honestly, MK has so much going on, I don't "need" him as a distraction.

Best of luck!

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

I think JCH answered your question completely. I found a link on Event site that has a "Spectator Tool" you can input your expected finish time and could use that as a judge of timing.

Since I looked it up I figured I'd post it. Really though, I think your best bet is what has already been described.

 

[cewait]

A few questions on spectators trying to watch the Half Marathon (my dad will be watching my wife and I)...

1. If he wants to watch us run through the Magic Kingdom, where should he park? And what is his best mode of transportation to get there (he will have a car)?

2. Outside of the Magic Kingdom, where else can he watch some of the race? Best ways to get to those locations?

3. I read that the Epcot parking lot entrance from World Drive is closed from 5-7 a.m. Is the entrance from Epcot Center Drive open?

4. Another other advice/words of wisdom for a spectator I can pass along to him?

Thanks!

Adding.....

1) while a pain to get up with you, the best chance he has to get to Main Street (mile 5.4) and set up in a spot favorable to spotting you two is to head up to MK as soon as runners are released to the corrals. Depending on your speed and corral, you could be up and on Main prior to the bus service resuming. In addition, the traffic up to MK parking must take secondary streets up to the park and return from the park.
2) We have always thought the better option for viewing the half was to set up at the TTC. It is at mile 4 into the race. From there, he would head (walk) over to the Poly (mile 8). He can grab some Tonga Toast and a coffee while he waits for you to loop. After you pass, then he would walk back to the TTC and monorail back to Epcot.
3) The ONLY path into Epcot Parking Lot is from World Drive. The start line is set up on Epcot Dr. Note that for the half, World Drive up to MK also closes shortly after the Epcot parking lot entrance, locking the N Bound traffic up just south of the Epcot turn off for a good 90-120 minutes.
4) His best plan is to plan… Understand your paces and once you get to Disney and learn corral placement, figure out a time window that you should pass through the area. So if you normally run a 10 minute pace, then you would pass the TTC about 40 minutes after the wave start time; or Main about 53 minutes after the start time of your wave. Plan on maybe a minute faster and a couple slower for a time range.

ALSO, he should know what you are wearing and you him. There are thousands of runners wearing a while top and black shorts. As he sets up camp, he should set up in a corner that sees the course coming at him. Saying it differently, if the course turns right, he should be in the corner on course left. That way he will see you coming up the course longer.

By heading over with you in the morning, you guys can hang around in the staging area. Post race, this same area is the family reunion area. While waiting, this is a great time to pick out a plce in this area for meeting up.

Hope this helps

 

[jmasgat]

Just one note....the spectator tool is still showing the old marathon course. Not an issue for this OP, but just in case others check it out.

 

[Tigjam630]

I agree with the previous responses. When I cheered on my DH for the half marathon I bused with him to the start, took the monorail to the TTC at mile 4, took the path over to the poly to view past mile 8, took the monorail back to epcot and watched as he came into epcot past mile 11, then went over to the finish line. I knew his estimated time/mile, so knew I would be able to make it everywhere in time. I also signed up to get text message updates on his status. I think they sent me an update on his status every 5K, but can't remember for sure off the top of my head!

 

[cewait]

I agree with the previous responses. When I cheered on my DH for the half marathon I bused with him to the start, took the monorail to the TTC at mile 4, took the path over to the poly to view past mile 8, took the monorail back to epcot and watched as he came into epcot past mile 11, then went over to the finish line. I knew his estimated time/mile, so knew I would be able to make it everywhere in time. I also signed up to get text message updates on his status. I think they sent me an update on his status every 5K, but can't remember for sure off the top of my head!

Yeppers, the half updates are Start, 5k, 10k, 15k and finish. The full are at 5 miles, 10 miles , half, 20 miles and finish

[ADDED]

I used to suggest watching the folks come into Epcot at mile 12 and then head over to the finish. It always seems so doable to walk a quarter mile while the runner runs a mile. I then had a very mad spouse once PM me telling me that was a lousy suggestion. I am so glad to see this works for someone other than my sherpas.

Thanks

 

[dobball23]

Thanks for all the advice! It's definitely helpful.

Does anyone have any advice for spectators if they don't go to the race at the same time as me? Let's say my Dad decides he wants to leave our resort (Pop Century) at 6 a.m. in hopes of getting to the TTC/Poly area to watch us run by around 7 a.m.

Any thoughts/suggestions on transportation/parking, etc. for a plan like that?

 

[flatlandcycle]

As the race goes on, the line for the monorail from TTC to EPCOT becomes very long. It took over 45 minutes to get through the line during the Princess last year. The line fills the entire space between the TTC ticket windows and the monorail entrance ramps. We were following 16 min/mi walkers and we nearly missed their finish.

 

[cewait]

Thanks for all the advice! It's definitely helpful.

Does anyone have any advice for spectators if they don't go to the race at the same time as me? Let's say my Dad decides he wants to leave our resort (Pop Century) at 6 a.m. in hopes of getting to the TTC/Poly area to watch us run by around 7 a.m.

Any thoughts/suggestions on transportation/parking, etc. for a plan like that?

From Pop....
Best bet for that time period is to hail a cab rather than drive. The path would be similar for both cab or driving.
They would leave the resort head up to Buena Vista. Make a right on Buena and pass World and Epcot Drives. Immediately after Epcot, turn left onto Bonnet Creek. Follow Bonnet Creek up past POR to Vista. Turn left on Vista and follow to World Drive. Turn right onto World (towards the Contemporary). If driving there should be a side gate into the MK parking lot open on the left. I know in the past there has been a gate open, BUT have never actually seen it since I have run every half since the new course started. If in a cab, the destination is the TTC taxi stand. It is located between the TTC and the Poly. Cab fare less than $20 with the longer route.

Hope this helps

 

[flatlandcycle]

Thanks for all the advice! It's definitely helpful.

Does anyone have any advice for spectators if they don't go to the race at the same time as me? Let's say my Dad decides he wants to leave our resort (Pop Century) at 6 a.m. in hopes of getting to the TTC/Poly area to watch us run by around 7 a.m.

Any thoughts/suggestions on transportation/parking, etc. for a plan like that?

He can easily get into TTC parking but he may not have an easy time leaving. The normal exit from TTC is blocked by the race course until the last sag wagon. He might, that's a big might, get out through a "race day" bus exit and drive down around the race area past the Wilderness Campground.

It's a matter of having a safe race course closed to vehicular traffic.

A taxi might work, if you get a driver that knows the race day pattern, from the Pop to the Poly.

 

[pmcue]

This is great info, as I am trying to keep my family from having to get up at 3:30. We are currently at Beach Club. It appears that if they do not need to see the start, then the best resort would be Poly and have them walk to TTC and then back to Poly and then board there to get to Finish Line?

 

[cewait]

This is great info, as I am trying to keep my family from having to get up at 3:30. We are currently at Beach Club. It appears that if they do not need to see the start, then the best resort would be Poly and have them walk to TTC and then back to Poly and then board there to get to Finish Line?

Actually, yes. Plus it gives you an extra 30 minutes or so sleep. Disney will ask all bus riders to board buses between 3 and 4 due to the fact that the roads into Epcot parking will be closed for the race. This does not affect the monorail so folks on the rail get a little extra time... say 4:20 or so before boarding. I am sure there are some who board later, but this is the latest I have boarded.

Plan on walking to the TTC rather than riding to save some time looping around then rid ethe rail to Ecpot. You family would then just catch you as you said.

The Beach would require them to get up early or understand a workaround commute up to teh TTC area.

 

[JeffW]

As the race goes on, the line for the monorail from TTC to EPCOT becomes very long. It took over 45 minutes to get through the line during the Princess last year. The line fills the entire space between the TTC ticket windows and the monorail entrance ramps. We were following 16 min/mi walkers and we nearly missed their finish.

A second vote for this, but even with runners. We nearly missed the finish for our runner (Corral C, 10 min/mile pace) due to the mile 8 viewpoint near the Poly. Make sure to understand if seeing your runner near the finish is really important to them (ex. Mom's really like seeing their kids' smiling faces near the finish when they are tired), and plan your risks accordingly.

 

[Princess Steph]

I got so many great tips from these posts: Mile marks, traffic patterns, monorails issues, start times, text updates. Thanks everyone!