January Visit, Marathon & Resort Availability?

[DisneyObsessive]

Ok so ive done a bit of research on the board and noticed that the marathon will fall around the weekend of the 7th-8th. I notice people said it doesnt really effect park crowds, but possibly resort availability. How early on would i have to book to ensure no problems? Or would it be best to travel down there a couple of days after, like around the 10th? Originally i was thinking from the 8th-13th (5 nights, 6 days). opinions?

 

[Tiffa]

We have gone twice for just the marathon and it would stink to go there and not know the marathon was going on, the parks are cut in the middle with ropes for the runners to go thru and I do mean all the parks they might have changed it by now. We stayed for a couple days after and it was great! No crowds but lots of rides in refurbishment - since they moved it further into Jan we can no longer do it with the kids in school- there are about 30,000 people just for the marathon and now they split it into 2 different days I think - I would not go in the park on a day when they are running - we stayed off site so I can't help on lodging

 

[Novinha]

We plan to go the first week in January (2-8) and I was wondering about the availability of the on-site hotels as well. We really really want to stay at POFQ. As of now, we are planning to book sometime this summer. I am hoping that will not be too late to get a room there.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I'll tell you my experience with resort availability for 2 years in a row, when I'd try to book for the first week in January. Both years, I called in late summer, only to be told that all the resorts I asked about were full. But then, when I called again in late September, there'd be a lot of availability everywhere! When it happened the second year, I mentioned it to the CM, who told me this is probably happening-travel groups, running clubs,etc.-block off large groups of rooms for the marathon. Then, as they get a better feel for how many they really need, which is always far fewer than they originally anticipated, they turn rooms back in, so-availability!

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Where can I find out the date for the Marathon in January 2007? We are taking our first trip to WDW in October, so a trip again in January 2006 would be fun but completely out of the question. If we aim for 2007, I figure we might be able to work in a cruise, too. I've never done a marathon but it's a great incentive to train!
TIA for any assistance!

 

[THE HAT]

we were there this year at the same time as the marathon was going on. i booked our room at pop in july, with no clue of the marathon.(didn't find the dis until after) i was glad that i had found this site so i knew what would be going on, with all the people with their medals, but if i hadn't it wouldn't have affected our stay. i just would have had to ask the first person i saw with one what was up.(can you imagine the look that would have brought, like who doesn't know this, lol)

we are not morning people, so while we were eating breakfast around 9sih alot of runners were back. and by the time we got to the park on sunday (mgm) around 10ish, there was no sign of anything out of the ordinary going on, until later in the day when the brave runners showed up sore, and hobbling. one poor women was wearing slippers cause her feet were full of blisters, and sooo sore.

we went to mk on monday (which is its busier day) and there were alot of runners at the park, but we still had no wait except on btmrr and that was just for 15 min.

it got busier that friday, as people were starting to come in for the holiday weekend (martin luther king).

we can't get back until jan 2007 but we are going the same time again. nice weather, no crowds, and away from the maine brrrrr.

 

[Bill From PA]

We got the Teacher's Discount for Swan and Dolphin that week and both Pop and AllStar were available for the same time frame. The day of the marathon we went to MGM and we had to walk on the grass by the walkway between S/D and MGM and we had to wait a few times to cross streets in the park, but other than that we felt no impact from the race.

Hey, Simba's Mom, were you in MK early in the first week this year dressed in all lime green, including a green bag, pushing a baby carriage? We saw such a person right after rope-drop but lost them in the crowd.

Bill From PA

 

[Bob P]

Where can I find out the date for the Marathon in January 2007? We are taking our first trip to WDW in October, so a trip again in January 2006 would be fun but completely out of the question. If we aim for 2007, I figure we might be able to work in a cruise, too. I've never done a marathon but it's a great incentive to train!
TIA for any assistance!

Can't tell you for sure, but historically it is usually the weekend in between New Year's and MLK Day. Looking at a 2007 calendar I would guess Sunday, Jan 7.

I hope you do it...we did it last year (the half marathon) and it was a great experience!

Good luck,
Bob

 

[magicmouse2]

I have read that it will take place on Jan 7th. We will be there the week prior and after. I am not taking part, not fit enough!!! and I am planning an offsite day that day.

 

[John Dobbertin]

Marathon Day creates havoc for bus transportation at WDW. This year folks were basically shut off for most of the morning from getting to MK from non-Monorail resorts, or from Monorail resorts + WL to MGM, Epcot, AK. Yes, there were "control points" where traffic was allowed to move through -- At Intervals. Word was WDW farmed out the security/traffic for the '05 Marathon. We encountered many-many very frustrated, unhappy folks. Your best strategy if you're there on Marathon Day is to go to the Park closest to your hotel. We went by boat from WL to MK, then directly to Frontier Land & beyond -- no one there! Find out "the path" of the Marathon thru the Park you want to go to, then develop your own strategy for avoiding "the path." You'll find you have WDW's attractions pretty much to yourselves.

 

[drusba]

Disney has already announced the dates and events -- the half marathon is January 7 and the full marathon January 8. Go here for more info: http://disneyworldsports.disney.go.com/dwws/en_US/marathon/listing?name=Marathon2005EventListingPage

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Can't tell you for sure, but historically it is usually the weekend in between New Year's and MLK Day. Looking at a 2007 calendar I would guess Sunday, Jan 7.

I hope you do it...we did it last year (the half marathon) and it was a great experience!

Good luck,
Bob

Excellent! WHat a reat place to run a Marathon. The kids will still be on break from school, too. I suppose arriving several days before the marathon gets most people acclimated to the humidity, etc. I would suspect rooms fill up quickly at that time. Is it too early to book now? I can't believe I am EVEN asking that question!!

 

[DisneyObsessive]

Thanks everyone for your help! We should be (tentatively) arriving the day of the full marathon but by the time we'd get there and check in itd probably be a little later in the day, andif the marathon starts at 6 am like it said on the site i hope that wont be too bad. I'll just be sure to get my friend's butts in gear so we can book ASAP. Better safe than sorry.

 

[joliesmom]

January has been our standard time to visit WDW, yes the marathon makes a difference in crowd, hassle, and transportation. I suggest avoiding the marathon weekend. We are switching to October this year because the last two years in January have been too cold, we had highs of 60 and lows of 40's. This year we only had one day warm enough to swim. It is a wonderful time for crowds but like someone else stated a lot of rides are closed for rehab. This year there was no Dumbo, Timekeeper, Liberty boat, IASM or astro orbiter to name a few. The upside is we booked our trip in November, got AP rates and were upgraded.

 

[Bob P]

Excellent! WHat a reat place to run a Marathon. The kids will still be on break from school, too. I suppose arriving several days before the marathon gets most people acclimated to the humidity, etc. I would suspect rooms fill up quickly at that time. Is it too early to book now? I can't believe I am EVEN asking that question!!

I don't think you can book yet for January 2007; probably in early 2006. Maybe I'm wrong though...give it a try!

We arrived the day before the half marathon and there was no humidity to get accustomed to! We left NYC on Saturday and it was 3 below zero. We got to WDW and it was in the 40s.

Race time temperature, or should I say, out on the course time temperature (4:AM) was in the upper 30s. It got up to about 50 that afternoon but (aside from the early morning chill) it was perfect running weather.

But this year (2005) I heard it was pretty warm...typical Orlando January weather...can be cold, can be warm!

I can't imagine running a half marathon anywhere else!

Bob

 

[welovedis]

If you are looking for more info on the 2006 WDW marathon or 1/2 marathon, visit the Marathon FAQ thread on the WISH (We're Inspired to Stay Healthy Board) right here on the DIS:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=725285

There are a lot of fellow DISer's signed up for the 1/2 marathon on Sat 1/7/06 and also a bunch for the full marathon on Sun 1/8/06.

For the person who asked about 2007-the "official" dates are not yet set, but the obvious thinking is the 1st week of Jan 2007 (5-7).

We've been there once for marathon weekend and while the area was busy on Sun morning, it was fine for us since I participated in the event. Keep in mind that in 2006 the events are split-instead of running both the 1/2 and full marathon on the same day/time, they are now being held on seperate days and how that will affect things remains to be seen.

Also-the 1/2 marathon starts at 6am on Sat, all runners should be off the course by 9:30 or so. However, the Family Fun 5K race will start right after the 1/2 finishes and when that race finishes the children's races will take place. So Epcot will be pretty busy on Sat morning/early pm for those events.

The full marathon starts at 6am on Sun, all runner should be done by 1pm or so and obviously, the later on the morning, the less it will affect your park touring unless you will be in Epcot-that is where the finish line will be and there would be more people in that area.

Good luck with your plans and hope to see some of you over on the marathon thread!

EDITED TO SAY: What I left out of my post is that the finish line is in the Epcot parking lot and while some portions of these races do go thru the parks, they also take place on the regular roads and parking lots. There may be more spectators in Epcot's lots as family members/friends lend moral support to the runners.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Hey, Simba's Mom, were you in MK early in the first week this year dressed in all lime green, including a green bag, pushing a baby carriage? We saw such a person right after rope-drop but lost them in the crowd.

Bill From PA

Nope, it must have been one of the many other DISers who were there (but I didn't see one!) The day I went to the MK, I was solo-my "baby" was back at BWV sleeping in after his "wine around the world" tour at Epcot the night before-Oh, to be 21 again!