How will the Princess Half Marathon affect our stay Feb 19-26, 2017?

[hodad]

I'm just now realizing that the Princess Half Marathon will take place at the end of our visit next winter. Surely someone somewhere has written a blog post about how these runDisney events affect the normal operations of the parks. What should we know, and how will the race and its related events affect our normal touring plans?

 

[hiroMYhero]

I'm just now realizing that the Princess Half Marathon will take place at the end of our visit next winter. Surely someone somewhere has written a blog post about how these runDisney events affect the normal operations of the parks. What should we know, and how will the race and its related events affect our normal touring plans?

The 5K and 10K runs finish well before Epcot opens. Detours are minimal for the 10K race and will only impact you if you are driving around at 5:30/6:00am.

If you'll still be visiting the parks on Sunday, the 1/2 marathon morning, avoid Epcot and you won't be impacted. The most noticeable thing I have noticed during the Princess weekends is the runners who are in Disney Springs after the 1/2. Many runners come in for the runs and don't visit the parks. Disney Springs offers discounts and freebies for runners.

As long as you book your ADRs as soon as your booking window opens, you'll be fine. The runDisney threads keep everyone posted on ADR booking dates etc. so there is always an awareness of specific alerts and reminders for the runners.

 

[Dreamport]

We're usually arriving for our vacations at the start of the final marathon, typically around 11am/noon to the AoA/Pop Century area, and don't really notice a decrease in crowds until a couple of days later. They're never really too bad. This upcoming year we're planning on arriving just prior to the event instead of going Sunday through Saturday, so I'll be interested in anything you find out as well. Fingers crossed it doesn't affect much for the both of us!

 

[BethR9]

This is also Presidents' Day weekend, correct? So it will be very busy over the weekend through Monday, I believe.

 

[inkedupmomma]

I ran the race this past February. Arrived a few days before and stayed a week after. It was BUSY. Wouldn't deter me from going again though.

 

[Allison]

This is also Presidents' Day weekend, correct? So it will be very busy over the weekend through Monday, I believe.

President's Day is Monday, February 20th so the long weekend is the week prior to the 1/2 marathon. I'm not sure how many people stay the full week versus the long weekend. The 1/2 marathon is the following weekend on the 26th.

 

[BeerMe]

For us it's a great time, but we run in the half.

 

[JimmyV]

Check the route and road closures, especially if you plan to drive anywhere. Even buses will be impacted, depending on which park you go to. We were there for the Star Wars Half Marathon in April and Osceola Parkway was still closed by 8:30 a.m., and that is the only road in and out of AK. Cars were offered a detour of 192 to Sherberth Road to the Cast Member parking lot, but that route could not handle the traffic. It took 45 minutes to go 2 miles and arriving at Rope Drop was impossible. Buses were parked on the side of the road waiting for Osceola to re-open so that they didn't have to take the detour. I suspect that any other park we chose to go to that day would have been fine, but AK on race day with Osceola being shut down was a very bad way to start off our vacation.

 

[hiroMYhero]

Check the route and road closures, especially if you plan to drive anywhere. Even buses will be impacted, depending on which park you go to. We were there for the Star Wars Half Marathon in April and Osceola Parkway was still closed by 8:30 a.m., and that is the only road in and out of AK. Cars were offered a detour of 192 to Sherberth Road to the Cast Member parking lot, but that route could not handle the traffic. It took 45 minutes to go 2 miles and arriving at Rope Drop was impossible. Buses were parked on the side of the road waiting for Osceola to re-open so that they didn't have to take the detour. I suspect that any other park we chose to go to that day would have been fine, but AK on race day with Osceola being shut down was a very bad way to start off our vacation.

That's good to point out to check the route. Star Wars had a major impact on Osceola because that race ended at WWoS/ESPN.

Princess 1/2 will begin and end at Epcot. If you use Disney buses, they'll use the detours to get you where you are going. OP: if you are leaving for the airport in the morning, give yourself extra time.