Marathon day Question

[rkandmjsmommy]

Hi

I have been reading the boards for a few months now and have learned SO MUCH!!!!!!

I bought some DVC points and we are THRILLED to be staying at Boardwalk Villas Jan 11-16 2004

Jan 11 is my DD's 5th b day, we have a PS for CRT!!!!!

My question is the marathon is Jan 11, a sunday, and that is also MK's Extra Magic Hour day, will they still open at 8am? or will the keep it at 9am? due to the marathon?


any help would be appreicated

thanks so much




Steve, Denise, Rachel and Matthew

 

[kathylovesdisneyworl]

We have been to the world twice while there was a marathon going on. I doubt it will affect opening time since some people will still be able to get there. It can be very difficult to get there depending on where you are coming from. We sat in traffice for 1 hour and that was after waiting 45 minutes for our bus. If at all possible I would suggest staying away from Magic Kingdom in the morning and going to one of the other parks.

 

[mom-2greatkids]

We were at WDW last year during the marathon. If I remember correctly, MK did not open early, EMH was switched to a different park.

We had an EARLY PS that morning at CRT. Depending on what time your PS is, allow extra time to get there. We had to get off our bus at TTC and take the Monorail to MK. They weren't allowing busses to go to MK.

We arrived breathless at CRT about 15 minutes after our PS. The CMs just laughted and said that no one arrived on time the morning of the marathon and not to worry. We were seated right away.

Have a great trip! Maybe we'll see you there.

 

[rkandmjsmommy]

We were at WDW last year during the marathon. If I remember correctly, MK did not open early, EMH was switched to a different park.

Hmmmmm,. we have our PS at 10:20 so we should have plenty of time, we were hoping to get in 2 hours of Fantasyland before we eat, when will we find out if the park is opening early?


thanks for your response

 

[wdwrich]

We too were there last year on marathon Sunday. They definitely moved early entry to another park on that day. When you check in at your resort, you will be given a brochure with operating hours for the parks etc, which covers at least a week's time. Guest services can also give you updated information on park hours and early entry.

 

[bjakmom]

rkandmjsmommy - We'll be at BWV the same time - keep an eye out for an incredibly young looking grandmother -that's me - (just kidding!) pushing around the most beautiful 5 mos old baby girl you've ever seen ! - oh yeah, and a bunch of big kids who will be acting cool and asking me for money!

I've been noting marathon posts for a while and also read that EMH was switched to AK last year and that once things were over at MK in the morning the park was not crowded at all - so if you can get to your PS on time, you should have a wonderful day! In fact I read a post by someone who showed up for EMH and then went to another park when they were told they had to wait an hour for it to open. My crew is just taking the boat over to MGM that morning to avoid any transportation bottlenecks.

Maybe I'll see you by the pool - Enjoy!!

 

[rkandmjsmommy]

thanks BJKAMOM

I hope you are right, we decided not to rush to get to MK too early, we are now planning to make it to MK by 10:25 for our PS, kids can sleep a little bit later and we plan on having a wonderful day.

I am a 28 year old, dh 44 with the cutest 5 year old(on Jan 11) and cutest 19 month old son

 

[Jillpie]

I'm glad you posted this, we were planning on EMH at MK too that morning . I don't understand something, if the runners go through all the parks that morning, why do they switch the EMH to some other park than MK? Do they give us another early morning there that week besides Thursday?

 

[Luv2Roam]

I was in the MK last January while the marathon was on.
I don't recall what time it was, but I think it was before the park officially opened. But wouldn't swear to that. They were not even checking for passes. (Although I had an AP.) I went early thinking I would just wander around until it opened and was surprised they were letting whomever in.
January is so slow there anyway. Weekends are a lttle busier. But nothing to speak of.
I had MK to myself that morning!! The further back I got, the more private it was.
The only people around were CM's and a few runners going through. Just stay behind the ropes and out of the way.
I even had a private PotC cruise.
I say MK is THE place to be early marathon morning.
You need to consider taht area is busy because the half marathoners get done earlier than the marathoners. I think Disney figures in that. And I think they were allowing anyone into MK so guests can watch for family members running in the marathon.

 

[rkandmjsmommy]

Originally posted by Luv2Roam
I was in the MK last January while the marathon was on.
I don't recall what time it was, but I think it was before the park officially opened. But wouldn't swear to that. They were not even checking for passes. (Although I had an AP.) I went early thinking I would just wander around until it opened and was surprised they were letting whomever in.
January is so slow there anyway. Weekends are a lttle busier. But nothing to speak of.
I had MK to myself that morning!! The further back I got, the more private it was.
The only people around were CM's and a few runners going through. Just stay behind the ropes and out of the way.
I even had a private PotC cruise.
I say MK is THE place to be early marathon morning.
You need to consider taht area is busy because the half marathoners get done earlier than the marathoners. I think Disney figures in that. And I think they were allowing anyone into MK so guests can watch for family members running in the marathon.

I am SOOOOOOOOOOOO THRILLED to hear this, I want this day to be perfect for my Daughter, she has been asking to go to disney for months now and Jan 11 is her 5th bday, I CANT WAIT TO GO

 

[AKASnowWhite]

DH and I are running the 1/2 marathon in January....the race begins at 6:00am in Epcot, heads to MK, ending in the parking lot....the full marathoners then continue on to MGM and AK (or vice versa).....by 8:30 or 9am almost all of the 24,000 race partipants should be thru MK.....actually the marathon winners will be done (and thru all 4 parks) around 8:15!

The *official* info says that if a runner isn't able to keep up a minimum pace (I think it was 16mins/mile but I could be wrong) they will be picked up and transported to the end of the course. I'm sure that Disney wants to make sure the parks are cleared out for the days visitors at a *reasonable* hour.

 

[InstImpres]

Originally posted by AKASnowWhite
The *official* info says that if a runner isn't able to keep up a minimum pace (I think it was 16mins/mile but I could be wrong) they will be picked up and transported to the end of the course. I'm sure that Disney wants to make sure the parks are cleared out for the days visitors at a *reasonable* hour.

My understanding is they are pretty strict on this. I called as I am not a runner but wanted to participate. I can walk about a 14 min. mile but have never done it for that lenght. He said I would definetly be picked up if I didn't maintain pace.

For anyone interested, use the link below and go under :course" you'll get a map of the route.

http://dwws.disney.go.com/wideworld...t/sportingeventindex?id=SPORMarathon04SporEvn

Good Luck AKASnowWhite

Sandy

 

[jann1033]

we are planning on skipping the parks that day but have ps for Boma at 9:30 am. we are staying at fw..any ideas how long it might take to get to AKL from fw? I was planning about an hr for the trip but could try to make the ps for later. any ideas?

since so many are there to compete has anyone noticed an increase in attendance around then in general..or do most marathon contestants run and leave?

Thanks

 

[AKASnowWhite]

Originally posted by InstImpres
Good Luck AKASnowWhite

Sandy [/B]

Thanks! I've never had to get up to catch a 3am bus to get to a race before

for jann1033......

While I can't speak for anyone else, DH and I are planning on arriving on Friday and staying thru Tuesday.

 

[Luv2Roam]

AKASnowWhite -- Be prepared. It most likely will be cold and you will be standing around a long time. DH has seen runenrs hiding in the port a johns and riding the busses as long as they can, just to stay warm.
One WDW marathon was the only time DH has worn his emergency garage bag to keep warm!
But the WDW marathon is DH's favorite of all!

 

[AKASnowWhite]

I read somewhere that someone was shocked by the amount of clothing that was removed and discarded along the way!

Your DH must have been pretty cold to wear a garbage bag

 

[Moonmom]

Originally posted by AKASnowWhite
I read somewhere that someone was shocked by the amount of clothing that was removed and discarded along the way!

Disney collects and donates the discarded clothing to a charity... I think I heard it was a homeless shelter.

As for the garbage bag... I felt kinda silly when I heard about that tip...but ya know... it worked! Kept the body heat in...the dampess out... and it was cheap! I thought I 'd feel silly..but then I looked around and saw plenty of other "Glad Bags" standing, sitting, sleeping; some were quite inventive; even had extras to make "sleeves"!

For the poster that asked about getting from FW to over to AK the morning of the marathon it's hard to say. They restrict a lot of road traffic that morning. The day before they inform the resort guests with a notice of the road closures.

BTW... if you happen to wake up early... or not even so very early... all the participants of both the half and the full marathon..whether they be the "fast and furious" or the "just make it under the allotted time" all could use some "pixey dust" ...so if you want to come cheer for any of us... just come on down to anywhere along the route and cheer!

 

[tripletvan]

hey i'm a 13 year old & i'm gonna tackle the disney marathon next year. what's the course like??

 

[Deb & Bill]

Check out the Disney Sports website. It has a map of the marathon and 1/2 marathon routes. Fairly flat, except where you have to run on the overpasses or underpasses. Starts at Epcot, run to MK, then AK, then WWS then DS and back to Epcot. 1/2 marathon takes same route, but ends in the Pluto parking lot after you go through the MK.

 

[littlegreydonkey]

just picking up on AKASnow White's point about the 3am buses - how near can you drive to the start of the half. I'm going to be jet lagged enough without getting up 4 hours before I have to start running so am trying to work out, if I can get dropped off about 5 and run a mile or two to the start as a warm up!!!