Half Marathon

[tripletsmama]

Does anyone know where the half marathon starts? Is there a resort where you can walk to the starting line, or is it always necessary to drive or take a bus? Any information is appreciated.

 

[MaggieMollyMom]

Hi, you have to bus it to the marathon....if you go to rundisney.com they will have lots of info. good luck!!

 

[Bound and Rebound]

There's a thread over in the WISH forum for marathon lodging and people say you can walk from OKW. We're staying at CR so it'll be monorail for me!

 

[cobbler]

The events/competition board will be most helpful. I have read OKW is a good place for walking but all Disney resorts provide transportation to the start and finish for Marathon Weekend.

 

[Deb & Bill]

The half marathon and marathon both start at the same place - on Epcot Center Drive (you line up in your corral in the parking lot at Epcot and they lead you over to the start. In 2011 when my husband and son did the marathons, we were at OKW. But OKW did sent out flyers to all the guests asking them to take the bus to the start instead of walking. The road was barricaded so you would have to climb over the barricade.

 

[tripletsmama]

The half marathon and marathon both start at the same place - on Epcot Center Drive (you line up in your corral in the parking lot at Epcot and they lead you over to the start. In 2011 when my husband and son did the marathons, we were at OKW. But OKW did sent out flyers to all the guests asking them to take the bus to the start instead of walking. The road was barricaded so you would have to climb over the barricade.

So really even at OKW, for safety you need to go ahead and take the bus. Thanks for the information. We're not booked for half marathon as of now, but are toying with the idea of extending our trip to include it.

So even though OKW is walking distance, an Epcot resort might be better because the drive to the starting point would be shorter? It sounds like there's not really a best marathon resort.

Thanks everyone for the information.

 

[Deb & Bill]

So really even at OKW, for safety you need to go ahead and take the bus. Thanks for the information. We're not booked for half marathon as of now, but are toying with the idea of extending our trip to include it.

So even though OKW is walking distance, an Epcot resort might be better because the drive to the starting point would be shorter? It sounds like there's not really a best marathon resort.

Thanks everyone for the information.

It's really hard to get out on Buena Vista Drive (where BC/YC/BWI/BWV/S/D all exit) the morning of the half or full. I was in stop and go traffic from about 4:30AM until 5:30AM and that was to get from OKW to the light at World Drive. It was bumper to bumper and people were getting out of cars and trying to run to the start. Cars were abandoned on the side of the road all over the place. My guys had taken the bus at 3:30AM and I was driving to the Epcot parking lot to watch the half. I got to the parking lot just as the fireworks went off to start the race.

With Epcot Center Drive closed to all traffic, I had to take Bonnet Creek Parkway to Buena Vista Drive. When I got to World Drive (just past the light that goes to Swan/Dolphin), there was an Orange County Sheriff blocking traffic from heading to Epcot. He asked me where I was going. I said Epcot and he told me that the parking lot was going to be closed from anyone exiting the lot for at least three hours and did I still want to go. I said yes, he let me turn right and I sailed into the Epcot parking lot. I took the monorail, saw them on Main Street, took the monorail back to Epcot, watched them re-enter Epcot and watched them finish the race. The lot was opened back up when they all finished and we drove back to OKW in minutes.

Really, the monorail resorts, as long as the monorail is operating, would be the absolute best for the race. Otherwise, just get your bus early enough to get to the start which is 5:30AM now. And remember the buses don't make all the bus stops at the resorts. Usually they just stop at one main stop. They aren't the WDW buses and are usually charter buses with bus drivers who may not know their way around WDW, especially when some of the roads are closed. I've heard some stories about the bus drivers getting somewhat lost and heading towards the airport instead of Epcot parking lot.

 

[tripletsmama]

It's really hard to get out on Buena Vista Drive (where BC/YC/BWI/BWV/S/D all exit) the morning of the half or full. I was in stop and go traffic from about 4:30AM until 5:30AM and that was to get from OKW to the light at World Drive. It was bumper to bumper and people were getting out of cars and trying to run to the start. Cars were abandoned on the side of the road all over the place. My guys had taken the bus at 3:30AM and I was driving to the Epcot parking lot to watch the half. I got to the parking lot just as the fireworks went off to start the race.

With Epcot Center Drive closed to all traffic, I had to take Bonnet Creek Parkway to Buena Vista Drive. When I got to World Drive (just past the light that goes to Swan/Dolphin), there was an Orange County Sheriff blocking traffic from heading to Epcot. He asked me where I was going. I said Epcot and he told me that the parking lot was going to be closed from anyone exiting the lot for at least three hours and did I still want to go. I said yes, he let me turn right and I sailed into the Epcot parking lot. I took the monorail, saw them on Main Street, took the monorail back to Epcot, watched them re-enter Epcot and watched them finish the race. The lot was opened back up when they all finished and we drove back to OKW in minutes.

Really, the monorail resorts, as long as the monorail is operating, would be the absolute best for the race. Otherwise, just get your bus early enough to get to the start which is 5:30AM now. And remember the buses don't make all the bus stops at the resorts. Usually they just stop at one main stop. They aren't the WDW buses and are usually charter buses with bus drivers who may not know their way around WDW, especially when some of the roads are closed. I've heard some stories about the bus drivers getting somewhat lost and heading towards the airport instead of Epcot parking lot.

WOW! We're DVC, but if we extend our trip we'll just be booking a regular room somewhere. It seems we've used all our points. Sounds like Poly/Contemporary/Grand Floridian might be a good choice. Do you know if Wilderness Lodge would work? I know you can get a ferry from there to Contemporary and then monorail, but maybe not at that early hour? I wonder if driving from Wilderness Lodge to Contemporary and then taking the monorail would be an option? We will have a rental car.

Also, do you need passes to go into the parks to watch your runner? I would have to have all 4 of my kids with me as DH would be the one running and that might be a lot to get them all up and ready that early, but it's something to think about.

 

[Deb & Bill]

WOW! We're DVC, but if we extend our trip we'll just be booking a regular room somewhere. It seems we've used all our points. Sounds like Poly/Contemporary/Grand Floridian might be a good choice. Do you know if Wilderness Lodge would work? I know you can get a ferry from there to Contemporary and then monorail, but maybe not at that early hour? I wonder if driving from Wilderness Lodge to Contemporary and then taking the monorail would be an option? We will have a rental car.

Also, do you need passes to go into the parks to watch your runner? I would have to have all 4 of my kids with me as DH would be the one running and that might be a lot to get them all up and ready that early, but it's something to think about.

We'll be at the VWL this coming marathon. We were there several years ago and we all took buses. The half marathon ended at the Pluto Parking lot at the TTC and we met up there and took the ferry to MK and the boat to VWL. But my guess is we will be taking the bus to the start from VWL - me at 4:30AM since the race starts at 5:30AM. My runners will probably be on the bus at 3:30AM.

If the parks have opened for the day, you'll need park admission to enter the park. The MK isn't opened yet when runners go through Main Street (figure 6:30AM or sooner depending on your runner's speed and corral), so you can enter the MK to watch your runner on Main Street. You'll be blocked from going past the hub at the castle. At Epcot you just wait in the parking lot/finish area to watch your runner come across the line.

It's really hard to get to all the parks to see your runner unless you have a car and can get through the closed area because you know your way around the place. And then you have to have the incoming messages telling you which mile mark the runner has past. I know I have waited on the side of the road at AK outside the park and saw my husband run by, but missed his buddy. We skipped DHS because we wanted to see them finish and it would take too long to get back to the car, drive to Epcot, park the car and see them finish.

Unless your runner is going to be just in front of the sweeper and will take seven hours to finish. Then you might have a little more time.

 

[lovesdumbo]

I did the half in Jan with a friend. We stayed at Pop and had great bus service from there and it was close to the expo at the ESPN center where you have to pick up your packet. We got to the start early and were shocked to see folks arriving so late they were having to run to the start. When I got back home I read on the Dis that some resorts had bus issues-especially the Epcot resorts.

The runners are through Magic Kingdom before the park opens so you don't need a ticket to cheer runners on there but you do have to sign up to get in. If you want to see them inside other parks you would need a ticket. There were lots of folks cheering at the TTC, in front of GF and outside Epcot at the finish line.

 

[tripletsmama]

We'll be at the VWL this coming marathon. We were there several years ago and we all took buses. The half marathon ended at the Pluto Parking lot at the TTC and we met up there and took the ferry to MK and the boat to VWL. But my guess is we will be taking the bus to the start from VWL - me at 4:30AM since the race starts at 5:30AM. My runners will probably be on the bus at 3:30AM.

If the parks have opened for the day, you'll need park admission to enter the park. The MK isn't opened yet when runners go through Main Street (figure 6:30AM or sooner depending on your runner's speed and corral), so you can enter the MK to watch your runner on Main Street. You'll be blocked from going past the hub at the castle. At Epcot you just wait in the parking lot/finish area to watch your runner come across the line.

It's really hard to get to all the parks to see your runner unless you have a car and can get through the closed area because you know your way around the place. And then you have to have the incoming messages telling you which mile mark the runner has past. I know I have waited on the side of the road at AK outside the park and saw my husband run by, but missed his buddy. We skipped DHS because we wanted to see them finish and it would take too long to get back to the car, drive to Epcot, park the car and see them finish.

Unless your runner is going to be just in front of the sweeper and will take seven hours to finish. Then you might have a little more time.

Thanks again for all of the information. With 4 kids and 1 stroller I think our plan will be send daddy on the bus at some ungodly hour and get ourselves to the MK via monorail at 6:30 and then monorail it over to the Epcot parking lot so we can all head back to the hotel together. It ends in Epcot parking this year, not TTC, right? I'm leaning toward Wilderness Lodge or Polynesian. We might see you there!

I did the half in Jan with a friend. We stayed at Pop and had great bus service from there and it was close to the expo at the ESPN center where you have to pick up your packet. We got to the start early and were shocked to see folks arriving so late they were having to run to the start. When I got back home I read on the Dis that some resorts had bus issues-especially the Epcot resorts.

The runners are through Magic Kingdom before the park opens so you don't need a ticket to cheer runners on there but you do have to sign up to get in. If you want to see them inside other parks you would need a ticket. There were lots of folks cheering at the TTC, in front of GF and outside Epcot at the finish line.

I hope Disney has worked to resolve some of the bus issues. That would be stressful enough for me to back out of running! How do you sign up to get into MK? Do they limit the number of people who can come in?

 

[Deb & Bill]

... How do you sign up to get into MK? Do they limit the number of people who can come in?

I've never had to sign up to enter the MK. Just go and enter the park and leave to get to the next spot. The monorail can get pretty busy heading back to Epcot, though.

 

[Qltrgrl2]

I stayed at the Polynesian in January for the marathon relay and thought it worked out perfectly. The monorail was my transportation to the start and I was able to use a real bathroom just at the bottom of the exit. I have already rebooked the Poly for January 2013 when I attempt the Goofy challenge!

 

[Deb & Bill]

I stayed at the Polynesian in January for the marathon relay and thought it worked out perfectly. The monorail was my transportation to the start and I was able to use a real bathroom just at the bottom of the exit. I have already rebooked the Poly for January 2013 when I attempt the Goofy challenge!

Good luck on the Goofy. My husband has done it twice and now he is done with it.

 

[tripletsmama]

I stayed at the Polynesian in January for the marathon relay and thought it worked out perfectly. The monorail was my transportation to the start and I was able to use a real bathroom just at the bottom of the exit. I have already rebooked the Poly for January 2013 when I attempt the Goofy challenge!

I'm not even willing to attempt the half...can't imagine the Goofy. Amazing! Glad to hear the Poly worked out well. We'll have spent the week before marathon at the Boardwalk Villas so it might be nice to switch to the MK area.

 

[Qltrgrl2]

Double post. Sorry