I know it is early......Spectator ?s for Marathon Weekend 2015

[irishtwins1112]

We are planning to stay at Kidani in AKV. My husband will have the boys (2 and 3 years old) and I want to him to see me somewhere on the course. I was thinking the easiest option would be for them to ride the bus to AK and see me exiting the park. Then they could hop a bus to Epcot and wait around to see me finish. Thoughts?

 

[Castle2Castle]

We are planning to stay at Kidani in AKV. My husband will have the boys (2 and 3 years old) and I want to him to see me somewhere on the course. I was thinking the easiest option would be for them to ride the bus to AK and see me exiting the park. Then they could hop a bus to Epcot and wait around to see me finish. Thoughts?

I've not spectated, but that sounds like it should work without too much difficulty. Once you have corral information, you can combine an estimated start time with your anticipated pace to provide a window for them to look for you at AK (either as you leave or in the park). My mom saw us at Hollywood Studios before catching us again just before the finish line at EPCOT, so with even more time to get from AK to EPCOT, I think they should be able to swing that.

 

[Nole95]

You can also sign up for the runner alerts once they become available. It only gives the time at certain points, but that might help in setting up a time for them to see you.

If you both have IPhones, another option might be to use the Find My Friends app. Your husband could check his phone at anytime and see exactly where you are. That is what DW and I plan on doing when I run the marathon.

 

[ANIM8R]

You can also sign up for the runner alerts once they become available. It only gives the time at certain points, but that might help in setting up a time for them to see you.

If you both have IPhones, another option might be to use the Find My Friends app. Your husband could check his phone at anytime and see exactly where you are. That is what DW and I plan on doing when I run the marathon.

This works great. My wife and I use the app "GPS Tracker". She meets me at the castle in MK, then the baseball stadium at WWoS, then at the finish line.

We've done this two years now...of course, all credit goes to me and my slow pace since it probably wouldn't work out so well if I ran faster!

 

[Tigger1221]

I had DD who was 20 months last year and we will be there again this year watching DH. Honestly with kids that age I recommend not getting on the busses as it can take awhile to get any where. We drove over with DH but stayed in the car a little while, then took the monorail to the MK. We watched DH run by and then went and had breakfast at ohanas. Then we were able to take the monorail back to Epcot and watch him run there. We played in the parks when not watching him and the other runners. We will be doing the same thing this year.

The finish line is very crowded and unless you do the reserved seating you won't see much and it's very crowded. Inside the park it was much calmer. I loved using the monorail since I didn't have to fold the stroller. Also DH texted me every mile (just the mile number (4,5,7,20)) I would sometimes text back encouraging words. I was also using the runner tracking. We all had a great time and I'm excited he is doing it again.

 

[Fruto76]

If you both have IPhones, another option might be to use the Find My Friends app. Your husband could check his phone at anytime and see exactly where you are. That is what DW and I plan on doing when I run the marathon.

This works great. My wife and I use the app "GPS Tracker". She meets me at the castle in MK, then the baseball stadium at WWoS, then at the finish line.

We've done this two years now...of course, all credit goes to me and my slow pace since it probably wouldn't work out so well if I ran faster!

This is brilliant. My husband has used the runner texting alert to follow me and it was good enough except this past Princess half it did not work at all. I'm going to have to remember the find my friend? Gps tracker idea. Thanks

 

[skiandrun]

My mom and my two kids will be there to cheer me on. Good to know about the finish line being super crowded. We are staying at the Grand Floridian and they are planning to wake up kind of early and just walk out across the parking lot to see me once and then have breakfast and take the monorail to epcot to see me "as I finish" - by which I mean as I run around the countries because I have heard that is better for actually seeing your runner.

I was thinking of having them hold a certain combo of balloons so that I could spot them without paying a ton of attention. Does everyone else do this as well though, making it pointless?

 

[Tigger1221]

Epcot is great to watch them run thru. When my husband gets close to Epcot I text him where we will be so he knows to look for us. Last Year we were in front of Mouse Gears so he knew to look then. We met him after he finished and I couldn't find him in all the people so if you are going to meet then have a meeting spot or plan.

 

[JenaRuns]

I second the motion of staying away from the buses whenever possible on race morning. The traffic is unbelievable, and add in the road closures, and...sheesh! It can take an hour--or more--to get anywhere.The monorail and walking are the way to go.

 

[Nole95]

Used the Find My Friend app this past weekend to track DW while she ran the DL Half. It worked perfect. I had my spectator spot staked out and plenty of time to get there before she came running by.

 

[derekleigh]

Does anyone have any suggestions when comparing Using Park Hopper vs. ChEAR Package? How much is it to add a Park Hopper for day (if even possible)?

My wife is insisting she wants me to see me at various points. I keep saying stay at the villa with everyone else and sleep in, go shopping, etc because it probably won't be 10 or 11 until I finish depending on corral placement, etc. But she wants to be there so I trying to find the best or most feasible idea to it.

 

[Fruto76]

Does anyone have any suggestions when comparing Using Park Hopper vs. ChEAR Package? How much is it to add a Park Hopper for day (if even possible)?

My wife is insisting she wants me to see me at various points. I keep saying stay at the villa with everyone else and sleep in, go shopping, etc because it probably won't be 10 or 11 until I finish depending on corral placement, etc. But she wants to be there so I trying to find the best or most feasible idea to it.

She can be in MK on Main street without Cheer Package before MK opens and then she could easily make it to another location about midway (I'm not sure of the route this is my first full but I think HS or WWOS , maybe?) and then possibly the finish line where she will not need a ticket because its in the parking lot at Epcot.
I do not think a Park Hopper or Chear Package is necessary to see you along the way. My husband has been able to see at either TTC or MK and be back at finish during the halves at WDW so I think for the full there should be plenty of options with no need to buy either.

 

[derekleigh]

She can be in MK on Main street without Cheer Package before MK opens and then she could easily make it to another location about midway (I'm not sure of the route this is my first full but I think HS or WWOS , maybe?) and then possibly the finish line where she will not need a ticket because its in the parking lot at Epcot.
I do not think a Park Hopper or Chear Package is necessary to see you along the way. My husband has been able to see at either TTC or MK and be back at finish during the halves at WDW so I think for the full there should be plenty of options with no need to buy either.

Thank you. Very helpful. This is my first full and the route obviously goes through all four parks and WWO. But I guess it depends on where she can make it and the pacing of my race. Guess we need to do some number crunching.

 

[jeanigor]

My mom and my two kids will be there to cheer me on. Good to know about the finish line being super crowded. We are staying at the Grand Floridian and they are planning to wake up kind of early and just walk out across the parking lot to see me once and then have breakfast and take the monorail to epcot to see me "as I finish" - by which I mean as I run around the countries because I have heard that is better for actually seeing your runner.

I was thinking of having them hold a certain combo of balloons so that I could spot them without paying a ton of attention. Does everyone else do this as well though, making it pointless?

I think it sounds very helpful, especially if you are in a pack of runners or if the location that they are cheering from isn't extremely specific or had to change after being discussed.

I've had friends that said, we'll cheer for you from the Boardwalk. Yeah. Real specific. And they ended up being in front of Beach Club.

She can be in MK on Main street without Cheer Package before MK opens and then she could easily make it to another location about midway (I'm not sure of the route this is my first full but I think HS or WWOS , maybe?) and then possibly the finish line where she will not need a ticket because its in the parking lot at Epcot.
I do not think a Park Hopper or Chear Package is necessary to see you along the way. My husband has been able to see at either TTC or MK and be back at finish during the halves at WDW so I think for the full there should be plenty of options with no need to buy either.

The midpoint of the Marathon is around AK. Mile 20 is at WWoS, in the stadium if I recall correctly.

 

[bumbershoot]

How much is it to add a Park Hopper for day (if even possible)?

Hopping is a flat fee and on all the days of your tickets. With normal tickets it's about $50 plus tax to add.

 

[CheapRunnerMike]

This is brilliant. My husband has used the runner texting alert to follow me and it was good enough except this past Princess half it did not work at all. I'm going to have to remember the find my friend? Gps tracker idea. Thanks

There is a great app for runners/cyclists that RoadID put out...it will track your run and text out a url to whoever you want, showing them where you are and a map showing where you've been.

 

[parkhopmom]

Has anybody ever watched the marathon from the area near the McDonald's on Osceola Parkway? It looks like it could be possible down a little way past McDonald's, past the shrubbery along the road. And it looks walkable from All Star Sports.

 

[FFigawi]

Has anybody ever watched the marathon from the area near the McDonald's on Osceola Parkway? It looks like it could be possible down a little way past McDonald's, past the shrubbery along the road. And it looks walkable from All Star Sports.

Shrubbery? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69iB-xy0u4A

 

[RD-SOX]

Shrubbery? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69iB-xy0u4A

Bahahahaha......

 

[jeanigor]

Has anybody ever watched the marathon from the area near the McDonald's on Osceola Parkway? It looks like it could be possible down a little way past McDonald's, past the shrubbery along the road. And it looks walkable from All Star Sports.

There were folks in lawn chairs in the median of Osceola Parkway (on the ESPN WWoS side of McDonald's) last year.

So yes, I would say its possible. I know there are spectators for the Wine & Dine Half in that area too.