How crowded are DVC resorts during the Marathon?

[bookswin]

January is a slow time in general, of course, but do the DVC resorts usually have good availability at the 7-month mark for the Th-Sun of the Marathon Weekend? Any difference between odds of getting studio/1-BR/2-BR? Much possibility for BCV/BWV/WVL? (I'd be using SSR or OKW points)

Any insight would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[CarolMN]

Based on the last few years, the smaller resoprts will fill very quickly for that weekend once the 7 month window opens. Call as soon as your window opens.

 

[PEANUT1]

We were in the world during the marathon this year and couldn't get our room at the 7 month window for Jan 8th. We were in a 1br value at AKV so I think it would have been hard to get anyway.

 

[Muhlenberg]

There was no availability for a 2 BR at SSR on Jan. 8th this year. I suspect most all the DVC were filled on that date.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I've been asking questions about where to stay for the marathon weekend next year for awhile now. There are people who do prefer staying at OKW or SSR. We'll be booking at 11 months, VWL...2 bedroom and a studio, but I'm still trying to find out just where to stay is "best."

Bobbi

 

[december14disney]

Is the 11 month booking window for that thursday February 7th?
We will be booking a savanna studio at Kidani!

 

[bobbiwoz]

Is the 11 month booking window for that thursday February 7th?
We will be booking a savanna studio at Kidani!

Yes, do you have 1/2 marathon experience? Do you know what to expect getting to/from AKV? I'm looking for stories regarding spectators and participants.

Bobbi

 

[december14disney]

Yes, do you have 1/2 marathon experience? Do you know what to expect getting to/from AKV? I'm looking for stories regarding spectators and participants.

Bobbi

Lord no. I registered for the half the day it opened as it is my "new years resolution" i figured with that will come health and lose fitting jeans!
I dont know if you are into "podcasts" for your Ipod but WDW Today www.wdwtoday.com and the Be Our Guest Podcast www.beourguestpodcast.com has GREAT Marathon reviews. The Be Our Guest Podcast goes into detail about the logistics and spectator viewing spots and everything. They were great! I highly recommend them. You dont need an Ipod for them..just download them off the website. They were both fairly recent.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Lord no. I registered for the half the day it opened as it is my "new years resolution" i figured with that will come health and lose fitting jeans!
I dont know if you are into "podcasts" for your Ipod but WDW Today www.wdwtoday.com and the Be Our Guest Podcast www.beourguestpodcast.com has GREAT Marathon reviews. The Be Our Guest Podcast goes into detail about the logistics and spectator viewing spots and everything. They were great! I highly recommend them. You dont need an Ipod for them..just download them off the website. They were both fairly recent.

OK..thanks...I'm listening right now, and have sent the link to my DDiL.
Bobbi

 

[CarolA]

I am out of OKW points. So I am going to book at 11 months probably at AKV since I still have some "current' points there and then try to change to OKW.

At this Marathon I realized you could WALK from OKW so you could SLEEP an extra half an hour.... I am all about that extra half hour LOL!

We stayed at AKV this year. Can't speak to transporation for viewing, but for the race it self the transport was great. We didn't wait at all on buses going or coming. They have them lined up waiting!

 

[december14disney]

I am out of OKW points. So I am going to book at 11 months probably at AKV since I still have some "current' points there and then try to change to OKW.

At this Marathon I realized you could WALK from OKW so you could SLEEP an extra half an hour.... I am all about that extra half hour LOL!

We stayed at AKV this year. Can't speak to transporation for viewing, but for the race it self the transport was great. We didn't wait at all on buses going or coming. They have them lined up waiting!

This is great to know! Any comment on transportation to and from the WWoS to get your packet and goodies beforehand on Thursday or Friday?

 

[DVCSAMNH]

Disney suspends all transportation on the day of the full marathon between 5-7am due to road closures and such. That said, we took our car from SSR at 6am to the ticket and transportation center to catch my son as he ran through there and by the POLY later on and we had no trouble at all. The directional signs they have up are pretty bad, though. We knew where we were going and ignored them and went straight to the TTC without any problems. No roads were closed. If you don't have a car, the monorail is your only mode of transportation during this time.

There were runners running to the start from SSR. Just a leisurely jog before the 26 mile run. But, I don't understand the desire to run 26 miles in the first place.....

My son was pleased with the transportation from the resorts back and forth to the Runner's Expo at the WWoS. He said that he barely waited.

Marathon weekend was the first time I have ever seen SSR look busy. And most of us that frequent the place know how busy it has to be before that happens. The parks were very busy all week long after the marathon as were the restaurants. Not a week I would pick if I didn't have to. Certainly nothing like Christmas but if I had the option to wait a week or two I would.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Disney suspends all transportation on the day of the full marathon between 5-7am due to road closures and such. That said, we took our car from SSR at 6am to the ticket and transportation center to catch my son as he ran through there and by the POLY later on and we had no trouble at all. The directional signs they have up are pretty bad, though. We knew where we were going and ignored them and went straight to the TTC without any problems. No roads were closed. If you don't have a car, the monorail is your only mode of transportation during this time.

There were runners running to the start from SSR. Just a leisurely jog before the 26 mile run. But, I don't understand the desire to run 26 miles in the first place.....

.

We will have a car...when you say TTC...are you parking where the busses are or in the MK parking lot? Someone told me that the boats will be running from the WL to the Contemporary...so that's how we planned to get to MK, but if it's not the case, we'll drive as long as I know where to go.
Bobbi

 

[DVCSAMNH]

We will have a car...when you say TTC...are you parking where the busses are or in the MK parking lot? Someone told me that the boats will be running from the WL to the Contemporary...so that's how we planned to get to MK, but if it's not the case, we'll drive as long as I know where to go.
Bobbi

They directed us into the regular parking lot. We parked across the road from the bus lot. We just walked across to the viewing area and then over to the Poly and took the monorail to Epcot for the finish. The bright side about being up and around at that time of morning is that we had one heck of a parking space much to the delight of one very tired runner. By the time we returned to the car it was after 10AM and all the parks were open so that is why even at 6am you would not be able to park in the bus lots.

I don't remember any of the bulletin boards I read talking about the boats, but it would make sense for them to be running from WL. Everything I remember directed you to the monorail. But, I admit I was focused on what affected me.

 

[DisneyWalker44]

At this Marathon I realized you could WALK from OKW so you could SLEEP an extra half an hour.... I am all about that extra half hour LOL!

Some folks get a lot more than an extra 1/2 hour of sleep by staying at OKW. After you've done the race a few times, being on a bus at 3:30 (or even 4:00) just doesn't seem all that important!

 

[SamSam]

Some folks get a lot more than an extra 1/2 hour of sleep by staying at OKW. After you've done the race a few times, being on a bus at 3:30 (or even 4:00) just doesn't seem all that important!

Please explain. I'm not a morning person, so the later I can sleep the better. I plan to book 11 months at AKV, but will gladly change to OKW at 7 months if it means a little later wake up time. I know that probably sounds pretty pathetic, but I really am a night person and early mornings are my enemy.

 

[weluvslinkydog]

This is great info! So, you can walk from OKW? that's a plus...and someone mentioned that all transportation is suspended from 5-7 am the day of the marathon? I imagine then, that the runners on a bus before 5 am? Where does the race begin? Terrific information...thanks!

 

[dairyqueenmom]

January is a slow time in general, of course, but do the DVC resorts usually have good availability at the 7-month mark for the Th-Sun of the Marathon Weekend? Any difference between odds of getting studio/1-BR/2-BR? Much possibility for BCV/BWV/WVL? (I'd be using SSR or OKW points)

Any insight would be appreciated. Thanks.

I booked a value studio at the 9 month mark at AKV for that exact Sun-Wed time frame. I did check availability as we went along and it did shrink and even sell out.

 

[SamSam]

This is great info! So, you can walk from OKW? that's a plus...and someone mentioned that all transportation is suspended from 5-7 am the day of the marathon? I imagine then, that the runners on a bus before 5 am? Where does the race begin? Terrific information...thanks!

I'm trying to picture this, and my feeble brain is just not working. Please tell me how to walk from OKW.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I'm trying to picture this, and my feeble brain is just not working. Please tell me how to walk from OKW.

Can someone tell how to walk from OKW? Could a person drive the runner from SSR? Are we trying to get to the front entrance of Epcot?