Help - Best (Safest) Viewing Spots

[pigletliz]

Hi,

My teen-aged daughter will traveling with me to the WDW 1/2. (I'm running, she's observing. ) We are staying at the POR (first time at this resort) and much to her horror, she will have to wake up when I do I've done a search for the best viewing spots, but I'm trying to find one safe spot for her to watch the race before she heads to the finish area. She will be alone, so she won't really feel comfortable going back and forth via WDW transportation. Would it be best for her to just wait at the finish line while I head to the start? Any suggestions would really be appreciated. Thanks!



Piglet Liz

 

[Kristi1357]

Would she be comfortable going with you to Epcot in the morning, then monorailing over to MK? She could see you run down Main St., then she could monorail back to Epcot & the finish line. If she's not comfortable with that, I'd just have her wait at the finish on the stadium seating.

 

[KelNottAt]

Thanks for posting this question. I've been wondering the same about my kids. I doubt I'll drag them to the start with me. I'm just hoping they can cheer me on in MK.

What time will MK open for HM observers? Since Main Street appears to be between mile 5 and mile 6, I guess we should estimate our arrival based on pace??? But what if that's before park opening?

Anyone know?

 

[wtpclc]

I second Kristi. Monorail to MK and back. It's an odd morning. Lots of people up and about very early. It's a whole different WDW. I thiink she'd feel a little safer than normal.

Another option might be to check teh list of who's staying where (I think it's on the thread of who's matrathoning that Honeibee has) and see if your dd can tag along with someone else's scream team.

 

[Kristi1357]

Another option might be to check teh list of who's staying where (I think it's on the thread of who's matrathoning that Honeibee has) and see if your dd can tag along with someone else's scream team.

That's a great idea too!

Maybe she could just sleep in a bit and then bus to MK to see you run? I guess it depends on how old a teen she is.

And yes, they do open MK early for spectators to watch their runners - no ticket needed.

Every year I do my "marathon," chasing hubby around as he runs WDW. This is the first year I am participating, or I would have offered to have her come with me! I am quite the expert cheerleader at this point (if I may say so myself). I'll be doing my mini-cheerleading-photo-taking race on Sunday while hubby does the Full. I try to see him as many times as possible along the route. Last year I think I found him 4 times. I love that they text message your stats to anyone in real time - helped alot last year! We also always each have our cell, so Chad can call me and update me on his progress. After MK, he usually calls me every mile. The first year without cells, and me not knowing where he was, was awful.

 

[10nis]

I agree w/ the monorail to MK and back to EPCOT ...I think I read MK is mile 5?? she could hop on the monorail right after the start, catch you on main street (loads of fun---one of the best spots of the race IMO) and get back on the monorail back to EPCOT. You could do a "practice" run on the monorail the day before! I would feel comfortable allowing my 15 yo to do this. There will be other spectators doing the same ...

The start is not the greatest place for spectators. It is dark and d/t the congestion of runners it is difficult to find your loved one. The spectators are only on one side of the street.

 

[wtpclc]

Last year I did not think they allowed sepctators at the start of teh half. Was that just done to keep the numbers down?

 

[pigletliz]

Thanks Kristi (and everyone for the great ideas). It was really nice of you to even think about having her tag along with you. Since she is 16, I will probably go with the "dry run" to MK and back the day before. At this age, she is trying to appear independent and is normally quite decisive and opinionated, but is actually pretty timid when she is not with friends or family. Mile 5 is the perfect spot for her to remind me to keep moving.

Piglet Liz

 

[wtpclc]

Piglet Liz - Another thougth would be to go to the Friday night dinner. Maybe you will meet up with someone she feels comfortable to hang with. I'm sure she'll be fine on her own, though. Cam, my dh and I (and anyone else who cares to try to find us) will be wearing our lime green on main street. If nothing else, let her know to look for the shirts.

 

[RedSonya]

Every year I do my "marathon," chasing hubby around as he runs WDW. This is the first year I am participating, or I would have offered to have her come with me! I am quite the expert cheerleader at this point (if I may say so myself). I'll be doing my mini-cheerleading-photo-taking race on Sunday while hubby does the Full. I try to see him as many times as possible along the route. Last year I think I found him 4 times.

I'm doing the full this year and my DH wants to try to find some places to see me run by. He'll be at the start and finish and mile 4ish. Then MK via monorail. Any recommendations on other viewing places he can get to and still be at the finish? I'm also planning on the cell phone to send him pics along the way.

Thanks,
Sonya

 

[WDWFAN9]

I'm doing the full this year and my DH wants to try to find some places to see me run by. He'll be at the start and finish and mile 4ish. Then MK via monorail. Any recommendations on other viewing places he can get to and still be at the finish? I'm also planning on the cell phone to send him pics along the way.

Thanks,
Sonya

Last year I stood by the AK tram drop off circle and cheered for the full, I had just gotten off at the bus drop. That should be a good spot because your DH can hop off a bus, cheer for you, and then hop back on another bus.

 

[wtpclc]

If you're not too fast, he can hop on the monorail after MK and catch you on Floridian Way. Not sure if he could catch AK or not.

 

[taz4disney]

That stretch between mile 20 & 21 looks tough. Any chance a Scream Team could get strategicly placed there outside Sports Complex? What about cheering outside MGM? And I run pretty slow...could they boat over to boardwalk and catch me there? Would getting from there to finish line be to congested?

 

[wtpclc]

taz - That is a tough spot, but I don't recall many cheerers there. I think it'd be hard to get to. I was real fuzzy by then, though. I think it'd be very hard to get from BW to the finish, though. Last year there were some wonderful WISHers on the BW, though. Just knowing they'd be there got me through a lot of that 20 to 24 stretch.

 

[Kristi1357]

My plan for following Chad each year has gone something like this:

1. Park our car at Epcot so it is there after the finish. They usually open the lot around 7:15am.

2. Monorail to MK. View from Main st.
(this year there was major traffic, Epcot lot opened late, etc. I ended up monorailing over to GF instead to watch for him there - after MK)

3. Monorail to TTC, then bus to AK.

4. Watch him go by at AK.

5. Bus to MGM

6. Watch for him in front of hat (if I have an AP).

7. Bus to Epcot to meet up with him at finish. If it's a year I have an AP, I go just inside Epcot to watch him just before the finish line.


In 2005, I hopped the bus to MGM from AK, just after seeing Chad. As my bus went by, we saw each other! Him running along, and me on the bus waving like a freak! Very cool moment though.

Also, all this is only possible with Chad calling me on the cell periodically so I know where he is. And I can modify my plan if i know I won't make a certain destination.

OP - if your daughter is 16, she should be fine! The monorail idea from Epcot will be perfect.