How much does the Princess Half Marathon on 2/25 affect MK crowds and access?

[jenniferhouston2]

We were planning on going to the MK tomorrow (2/25) at 8am for a PPO ADR. However, I saw that the Half Marathon starts at Epcot at 5:30AM and travels through the MK, and then ends back at Epcot.

Can anyone give strategies or guidance on how this event effects crowds and parking at MK early in the morning? Does any one have an estimate time as to when the runners make it to the MK, if the race begins at 5:30AM in Epcot?

Any advice from past experiences? TIA!!

For you running experts, according to the course map, the runners enter the MK five miles into the race.

 

[1lilspark]

Race should be cleared by then

 

[jenniferhouston2]

Thanks. In your experience, are the crowds in MK and EPCOT impacted after the races?

 

[1lilspark]

I’ve never done princess however during wine and dine going into Epcot the Sunday after a half there was a bit of a bottleneck at the enterence while the back of the packers finished.... I’d imagine for princess that runners would go to magic post half to get medal pictures with the castle and princesses

 

[hiroMYhero]

Thanks. In your experience, are the crowds in MK and EPCOT impacted after the races?

The most impact that I’ve seen is at Disney Springs immediately after the 1/2.

A lot of runners don’t go into the parks and there are photo ops and discounts for runners throughout Disney Springs - shops and restaurants.

 

[mountdew1]

MK will be cleared of runners before park open. There is a chance that you may still have a slight delay getting to the park depending on how quickly they are clearing out the cones and how early you are trying to arrive. Epcot will have runners in park while open, but any delays/affects will be slight. Getting from one side of Future World to the other might take a little bit longer as the runners go out and back on the central spine, so you will need to wait for CMs to send you across in batches. But after about 10-10:30, even that should be done.

After park impact should be minimal. Some runners may stay at Epcot immediately after the race, and others may go over to MK after getting cleaned up, but it's not like there is a mass migration of bodies.

 

[scheddj]

Huuuuge impact on the bus trying to get to the park.

 

[Malestrom Troll]

Traffic is impacted. EPCOT is impacted at park opening in Future World.

 

[DIShawn]

They opened Test Track and Soarin’ at 8am for people who got to Epcot early trying to beat traffic. The crosswalks in Epcot can be a pain but the park seems relatively dead even at 10:30. Minimal waits for everything.

 

[Cjtigger]

I just got back and participated in the Princess 5K. We were done by 7:30 went back to All Start Movies to shower and get changed and back to Epcot by 9:30. The parks were not impacted by the race I do not believe.

 

[mountdew1]

I just got back and participated in the Princess 5K. We were done by 7:30 went back to All Start Movies to shower and get changed and back to Epcot by 9:30. The parks were not impacted by the race I do not believe.

Yes, the 5k and 10k's are done pre-park open. It's only the longer distance races, half or full marathon, that will interfere with anything during operating hours.

Congrats by the way.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

OPs question is past needing to be answered, but just posting for future reference.

I am here and went to MK this morning. The Princess Half race certainly impacted PPO park travel.

MK opened at 9AM, I was aiming to get to MK around 7:45AM (wanted to do some shopping, get a coffee, enjoy the morning). Left BWI via Minnie Van at 7:08AM, was dropped off at CR at 7:42AM, which is a lot longer than that trip should normally take.

The MK bus plaza was NOT accessible while the race was going on. Buses were dropping people off at the TTC and you needed to take the Monorail or Ferry over. Wish my Minnie Van driver had known this... the bulk of the delay was on World Drive where it goes under the 7 Seas Lagoon towards CR.

The CR walkway was not open, I had to take the Resort Monorail from CR around to MK. Got off the monorail at MK at 8:02AM.

At that time, runners were still entering the MK. Runners on the right side of Main Street, day guests to the left. You could not get to Starbucks or any shops on the right.

The last runners and the end of the race crew came through approx 8:19AM, at which point things started to get more normal on Main Street. I was sitting in the Hub enjoying my coffee at 8:24AM (I was the second guest in the Starbucks line).

I knew the journey to MK was going to be longer - the app was posting warnings all weekend to expect delays. I wasn’t really in any hurry, so no big deal for me.

If you had a PPO ADR or early ADR at CR, GF, or Poly, you definitely needed to add extra time to get around. I could see how it’d be easy to be caught off guard if you didn’t know about the race.

I should add, being in the MK for those approx 20 minutes the race was still going on was really cool. They had some wonderful background music playing and cheering on the runners was tons of fun. Just an awesome vibe.

Happy to answer any questions.