Help w/ marathon viewing

[MagicKisses2]

I'm not sure if this is the best place for my question, I tried searching for similar threads, but didn't have much luck.

My DH is running the 1/2 marathon this coming January, I think I heard that family can't go to the starting line but there are viewing spots around the course and transportation between the two parks will be provided.

Has anyone out there in the DIS family been a spouse or parter of a runner? What did you do during the time? Do you have any tips to share?

Thanks so much for your help and advice! I'm so happy to go and I really wanted to be able to watch or catch him run through the finish line, but I have a feeling there are going to be restricted areas...

 

[Disney Doll]

We've done this for several years.

If you have a car, driveo to Epcot & park. Go toward the big ball. You will see him run through Epcot at about mile 1...it will be shortly after the start. Try and figure out which side he is going to be on...they have 2 lanes...one runs to the left of the big ball (Spaceship Earth) and one runs to the right of it. Based on his average mileage, you should be able to "gauge" how long it will take him to get there, taking into consideration the slowness of the start. If he runs a 10 minute mile, you can probably expect him to go through Epcot between 20-25 minutes after you hear the starting fireworks. There is a large "crush" people at the start until the pack starts to thin out a bit, so he won't be doing a 10 minute mile on mile 1. Keep in mind that there are also 2 starts...one for the wheelchair racers who go out first and then the one for the runners.

Once you see him go through Epcot (or you have stayed there long enough where you are pretty sure you've missed him), get on the monorail and head to the Magic Kingdom.

You will be able to get into the MK without a ticket (although I always bring my ticket just in case)...they give you a wrist band, because you are there at like 7-730AM. Go to the circle where the flag is. Go to the side that is closer to the castle (as opposed to the side that is closer to the train station). If you are standing on that circle looking at the castle, if you look to your right (next to Tony's restaurant) you will see a green gate. The runners will come through that gate and take a right up Main Street USA heading toward the castle. It's a good viewing spot. If you move fast enough, once you see your runner go by, you can run up the left side of Main Street USA (the side the Emporium and Caseys is on), go to the left of the circle in front of the castle and catch your runner coming out of the castle down the ramp there. They rope the area off and you will be able to tell by the crowd where you should be headed once you get up there.

Then you have a fairly long wait till the finish line, because the MK is about mile 6 or 7 on the route I think. What we do is take the monorail back to Epcot, where we have parked our car. We then jump into the car and drive to Osecola Parkway over near the Wide World of Sports and wait to see them there. All our marathoners have told us that that is a tough stretch and having fans there really helps. If you do not have a car, then you have time to get breakfast somewhere (maybe head to one of the MK resorts) and then get back on the monorail to Epcot and see him at the finish.

 

[tassma]

There are also some tips and a spectator guide on disney's marathon website

Good luck!

Tassma

 

[MagicKisses2]

Thank you both so much this is exactly what I needed.
Now I feel like I know a little bit more of what to expect and where to find info online. Oh it's coming soon!

 

[Sandy321]

just to add - the HALF Marathoners do not run by WOS - they run from Epcot to MK and then back to MK - The worst stretch for me is getting to Mile 10 in the alotted time (16min miles or you are "swept" into a bus and driven to the finish line!) Mile 10 - to Mile 12 is closed to traffic you are running on the road!

So like Disney Doll said but if you do Drive to Epcot you must get there before 5am - they start closing roads to Epcot at 5am!! The monorail is running from monorail to MK at this early time!

I missed the last bus (5am) by seconds and had to grab a cab (to watch dh in the Marathon)

BUT like Disney Doll said - you can watch the start of the race - but its crazy crowded and you probably wont see him - so get to the MK and stand on mainstreet - the runners do thin out by the time they get to MK

Then they run over to Tomorrowland up thru Fantasyland and out the castle- so you can catch him running out of the castle!!

Some of the Scream Teamers (from the WISH event/comp board) gather outside of the Polynesian road - I was grateful for that support (mile 7 or 8 I believe!)

but do take the monorail to EPCOT - now you can either stand right there at mile 12 at the entrance to the parking lot - or you can stand over by the bus drop off you walk up the lane a bit and run into Epcot in a CM entrance - you do need a ticket inside of MK - we run up to Futureworld, turn and run back to the right of the Space Ball -

but in order for you to meet back up with your dh - I would reccommend standing at the entrance to Epcot at Mile 12 (you can see the group from the top of the overpass - I loved knowing my dh was there!) then head with the crowd of cheering relatives to the entrance of the staging area!!

So the runners run in - get their medals, take off the chip, pick up their bags if they checked anything - then get a banana, bagel - then walk thru to the band staging area! You meet up by different stands that has different alphabet letters - meeting up is easy this way!

I would suggest you have a cold washcloth in a ziplock bag with you - that was so refreshing after the race!!

Do go to the event/comp board http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=30&f=109

lots of helpful runners over there!! They are always glad to answer any questions!! Esp as it gets nearer to the run!!

 

[MagicKisses2]

Sandy, thanks for the information!! I'm going to check out that link this morning.

 

[Uno Mas]

My DH and DS are running the half and we are staying on the Boardwalk - will I be allowed to enter Epcot through the International Gateway to go to the entrance to the park to watch the start? Are there any other viewing areas in Epcot where I can see them come by? I know they run through WS at some point and would love to be able to see them pass through there, but don't know enough about whether I'll be allowed into the park or not at that time. I'd rather hang out at Epcot to see them versus going over to MK and back if I can help it. Thanks!

 

[MagicKisses2]

Hi Uno Mas,
This is my first time going also, so I'm not sure where you can view the runners in Epcot, but I was playing around with the Disney Marathon website and I believe there is a viewing spot locator.

Try this link:

http://disneyworldsports.disney.go.com/dwws/en_US/marathon/spectator/detail?name=SpectatorDetailPage

I don't know how the entrance to the parks goes if you are walking there that early in the morning! I plan on entering through the main gate.

Good Luck!
Judi

 

[Rpsemont]

Check out this link and use spectator resourses
http://disneyworldsports.disney.go....eventDetail/detail?name=WdwMarathonDetailPage

I think Disney Doll may have been discussing the full Marathon. I ran the 1/2 last year and we did not go into Epcot for mile 1.
For my experience last year, DH DD and DDF met me in pre race staging area about an hour before the race. (I had to be there much earlier than they did) It was nice because the jacket I needed at 4AM, I figured I could do without at 5:30 so I did not have to check anything, just gave it to them.
There was not a way for spectators to view the start of the race. They really didn't pay attention to me when I tried to make suggestions for viewing and just headed to the MK. I was at a 15 min mile so it took me over 2 hours to get there from the time we parted company pre race. Then they headed back to Epcot and waited over an hour for me again. They did say at one point they just rode the monorail back and forth from Epcot to TTC because they were cold. There were places for spectators at TTC, Contemp, MK,and Poly, Entrance to Epcot, in Epcot, finish line. The 1/2 did not go around the World Showcase.
If I was watching someone running the 1/2 with the same course at last year, this is what I would do (based on a 12 min mile pace)
Take last possible bus to pre race staging area (providing DH wants you to "see him off" )
From there, I would take the monorail to TTC. Assuming that race start is 6AM, that we parted pre staging at around 5:15, and that runner is in wave 3 -which probably won't cross the START line until 6:20 +/-, than runner won't get to TTC until 7:15. Assuming I got to TTC by 6AM, I would go to Contemp and get breakfast. Then I would either watch at Contemp or go to MK. Important note, I don't think shops or restaurants are open at MK so if it's cold then better to plan to hang at resort where you can at least stay inside. After viewing at CR or MK, I would probably try to also view at Poly, but would not be disappointed if I couldn't make it in time. Then back to TTC, Monorail to epcot, view as runner enter epcot and scoot around to the finish line.
Also, in advance of the race, I was able to sign up for text message alerts. At the 5K and 10K marks a text was sent to DH phone. Of course, I also carried a cell phone, so I called him a couple times to let him know about what time I'd be at certain locations.

 

[Sandy321]

My DH and DS are running the half and we are staying on the Boardwalk - will I be allowed to enter Epcot through the International Gateway to go to the entrance to the park to watch the start? Are there any other viewing areas in Epcot where I can see them come by? I know they run through WS at some point and would love to be able to see them pass through there, but don't know enough about whether I'll be allowed into the park or not at that time. I'd rather hang out at Epcot to see them versus going over to MK and back if I can help it. Thanks!

Running the Half -

If you know how fast they run ( 12 minute miles, or 9 minute miles, or ???) then you will know how soon to get to EPCOT.... Yes, you can get to EPCOT from Boardwalk thru the IG - ( a great perk!)

But the IG is NOT open that early - BUT there is a bus that runs from Boardwalk to the entrance of the Half - do NOT be late (when they say the last bus leaves at 5 am - they mean 5am - the roads close!) to see the start -

see my earlier post for viewing points for the Half!!