How crowded does it get with the Marathon?

[oogieboogie]

Trying to get an idea on how much more crowded WDW gets during the week before the marathon, which next year is on January 9th.

Does it get crowded during the week of the 2nd - 9th or is there a lull in the crowds after New Year's?

Will it be as crowded as October is now?

 

[karebear1]

I think marathon crowds starts coming in on Friday- which would be the 7th next year. they pretty much just stick around for the weekend and are gone by Monday or Tuesady- and, I din't really think they affect the crowds at the aprks that much either. they're too busy getting rest for the marathon!

 

[DisMN]

This will be the first year we've missed the marathon weekend. It's never been crowded the times we've been there, even though they say the MK is usually packed that weekend, we never found it to be too bad.

It feels more crowded because you see more cars and general busy-ness surrounding the event, but if you aren't involved in the marathon yourself it's very easy to avoid the areas that will be the most crowded during that week.

We've found it to be a good time to go.

 

[buzzz1]

Well...... I just tried tonight to make reservations for Jan. 12th at the Contemporary and it was FULL that whole week. I tried at the Grand Floridian, as well as Polynesian.... everything on the monorail loop was FULL.

We really want to stay at one of those 3 resorts, so the guy said to keep calling and they would get cancellations. He said there were several conventions and that it was Marathon week.

It does concern me.... we have never had any crowds in mid January !!

 

[oogieboogie]

We'll be leaving on the 8th so we won't be there for the marathon but just wanted to know if marathoners typically will come from NYE and just stay thru that week or if they only come during the weekend.

It looks like the majority will be just during the weekend then I can handle the crowds since this will be our relax trip. No must-dos and just take it easy trip.

Thanks

 

[jaysmom4285]

We were at WDW Thursday-Saturday of Marathon Week in 2002 and 2003 and crowds were very low at the parks. Don't know if resorts were full, although they may very well have been, but the race didn't seem to affect park attendance that much. On Marathon Day itself on Saturday, the race winds through each park, and while the runners are going through whichever park, it creates some congestion because foot traffic is rerouted or held back briefly in some spots to allow the runners to pass unhindered. But as soon as the bulk of the runners is out of that particular park, things go back to normal very quickly. And it does cause some traffic delays Saturday morning if you're driving between parks or taking a bus, but it was fairly minor, as I recall. In summary, except for race day itself, you wouldn't know anything was going on.

 

[jfranklyn]

We were there for Marathon weekend this past January. I would say the parks were a LITTLE more crowded, but not bad at all. But we were staying at POP Century, which got VERY busy on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Lots of very thin people in sweats eating carbs. You can't miss 'em!!

 

[tarmand]

Originally posted by jfranklyn
Lots of very thin people in sweats eating carbs. You can't miss 'em!!

That's what I used to think before I did one myself. I was about 50 lbs overweight when I did the marathon. It was the hardest, but most rewarding thing I have ever done!

On the other hand, those skinny people could walk the next day......I couldn't walk for a week!

One more thing - I don't think I would ever do that again, but I'll never say never!

The crowds were very small the Saturday before the marathon when we were there in 2003. We only went to the parks until about noon though.

 

[jfranklyn]

LOL Tarmand! My dad ran marathons for about 15 years, and we used to treck all over the east coast to see him run past us! I have to say that the more "hefty" marathoners did sort of stick out like a sore thumb!!! (I'm "hefty" myself, so please don't take this personally!) Congratulations to you for making it, though! It's not easy.

It was kind of funny at Pop Century the night before the marathon, though. In the food court, there is one area that serves Pasta, and there had to be 50 people waiting on that part of the line, and about 3 people on the salad line. Too funny!

 

[tarmand]

Originally posted by jfranklyn
I have to say that the more "hefty" marathoners did sort of stick out like a sore thumb!!! (I'm "hefty" myself, so please don't take this personally!) Congratulations to you for making it, though! It's not easy.

No offense taken at all. In fact, the reason we are so easy to spot is cause we are all rounding up the end of the group. I was one of the last people allowed to receive an "official" time. I made it in 7 hours and 2 seconds. Believe it or not, there were other "skinny" people in my group that finished behind me. Boy were they mad! They got a medal, but no official time listed on the website. I tore muscle tissue in one foot and also broke some bones in both of my feet. Not to mention that darned sciatic nerve that still acts up on me from time to time. I have said it before and I'll say it forever......childbirth was much easier than 26.2 miles of running...jogging...walking....limping.

It took me 1 1/2 years to be able to look at WDW again. By the end of that marathon I thought I never wanted to see WDW again. Thank God I finally came to my senses! I leave in 10 hours!