Marathon, crowd levels and ADD

[homeschoolmomof4]

How does the marathon effect the crowd levels the week After the marathon? Currently, we have reservations for our family November 30th - December 6th. But I'm concerned that the crowds will be too much for my ADD/OCD child to handle. So I was looking to rebook in the January/February time frame avoiding the Superbowl, Marathon, MLK Day, and Presidents Day if at all possible. So I was looking at arriving the Sunday of the marathon and then staying the rest of that week. Will the crowd levels be effected by the marathon? If they will be impacted negatively, any suggestions for a better timeframe? Thanks!

 

[Mickey_Man]

Crowds weren't too bad at this year's marathon weekend. I think probably elevated over the idea of no marathon, but b/c there is a limit to the # of runners, it is not too overwhelming. Traffic is a challenge, especially on marathon Sunday, and getting around that day (esp to and from the airport) requires a bit of extra planning. We watched mile 24 of the marathon Sunday morning (After running the 1/2 the day before) so we really found ourselves focusing on the marathon events and not as much on the parks. It was an awesome time to be there - so many people were so supportive of the runners. If you are coming in Sunday afternoon, I doubt you'd really see an effect on the crowd levels at all.

 

[centurythree]

I've been down the last few years of the marathon and haven't experienced any crowd issues. The only "inconvenience" is having to cross the path of the marathoners in DHS, but there's a CM stationed at crossing points to help you out. In fact, many of them make into kind of a game.

 

[moredisneyplease]

I'm there almost every year to do a race or too and the only year the crowds were bad was 2006 because the race was moved a weekend earlier (1/6 & 1/7) which means the marathon people mixed with the remaining New Years people so it was busy. As long as the race is when it "should" be (the second weekend in January.....around the 11th/12th) the weather should be nice and the crowds should be good!

 

[micmacmissy]

We were there this year during marathon week...it was not bad at all.

I will say this, though--do NOT plan your check in or check out on marathon day. The roads into GF, the Poly, Shades of Green, and the CR may be blocked off...it was really inconvenient. Had we known they would have closed roads, we would have changed our departure date. (We had to haul our suitcases from SOG to the Poly to have the limo pick us up...not fun with 3 big suitcases, two kids, carry-ons, and a stroller!)