Marathon Expo and Crowds

RnbwSktles

DIS Veteran
Joined
Feb 13, 2013
Messages
1,061
Our flight lands around 3pm on Thursday (1/9) and I am hoping to go right from the hotel to the expo. I know there is no precedent for the Dopey, but how busy do you think the Expo will be at that point? Is there any advantage to waiting until Friday morning?

On the same subject, are there buses from the hotels to the expo every day, or do we need to arrange alternate transportation to get there?

Thanks!
 
There are buses from all the hotels directly to the expo each day.

I think going Thursday would be fine. I don't know what you'd gain by waiting til Friday--unless they refresh merchandise overnight and you are interested in buying stuff.
 
I agree with the strategy of going in the afternoon rather than waiting for the next morning... as long as your schedule works for that. The largest rush will be over the day prior so the expo ay not be as crowded as you think.

One strategy may be if you find the official merchandise section overly crowded and picked over is to come back on Friday AM. The larger crowd will be on line at the HP Building waiting to get bibs. A much smaller line will form at the Jostens, the place where you find the merchandise.
 
Thanks for the advice. Is it normal for them to refresh merchandise overnight? I am only interested in marathon stuff since that is the only race I am doing. I'm sure Dopey merch will sell quickly!
 

I am sure that there are mid-day restockings, but it is hit and miss when the crowds are huge. I know that overnight, there is a thorough refresh and on occasion an item thought to be sold out the day prior or even a new item appears.
 
I know my brother forgot to pack his shorts for the races! He packed long pants and the heat was stiffening....so he went to the expo...Friday I think and it was SO packed that he had to stand in a line that formed around the outside of the building to go in.
 












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