Marathon in January?

[DisneyDuo]

We are planning a DVC trip home in January 2005 - 3rd through 11th - and I keep seeing talk on the DVC forum about a Disney Marathon during that time. Can anyone fill me in on how this affects the parks? i.e., is it in the parks, if so which ones and which days, how does the race impact park attendance, etc.

Thanks for your help!

Lin

 

[WDWmaniac125]

I will actually been attending the marathon, not running, just attending. I know that the Marathon & Half Marathon are on Sunday Jan. 9, and the family run is on Saturday Jan. 8. I'm not sure what days they will be going to each park. But I think that the marathon & half-marathon end at the MK.


Hope that helps!

 

[Happy2BGrumpy]

The half and full marathon are both on
Sunday the 9th, start time 6:00 AM from
EPCOT. The half ends at the Magic Kingdom and the full marathon back at EPCOT. I have not run it but have "thought" about it. Something about starting a race at 6:00 AM doesn't inspire me. Most of the half marathoners are finished by 9:00 - 10:00 so there is little
impact on MK. I believe admission time or attractions are not altered at all. Just be prepared to see alot of hurting people
while you're having breakfast.

 

[ironz]

I've been 3 times for the 1/2 and full marathons. I would say that the worst of the crowds for when you are going are those leftover from the winter school break. The marathon itself does not add significantly to the crowds (the week after the marathon is really not crowded at all). It's a good time of the year to go, but weather is unpredictable (it was warm one trip, and cold the next two).

As for race day...there can be some traffic delays in getting around, as the full marathon goes all over the WDW property, but I think Disney transportation handles it pretty well, overall.

 

[DisneyDuo]

Thanks for the info, everyone! We usually go to WDW in late Jan or early Feb, so haven't run ;-) into this marathon before!

I send liberal sprinklings of pixie dust your way!!!

Lin

 

[Calcio]

Both races start at 6:05 on the 4 lane road to the east of the EPCOT parking lot (wheelchairs go off at 6).

They go through EPCOT, up the Main Drive, through the TTC, and enter the MK to the right, by the CR. They exit the MK by Splash Mountain, and run behind the MK, up to the GF and the Poly. The 1/2 finishes at the Poly, the full goes on to Coronado Springs, the Animal Kingdom, the World of Sports, MGM, by the Boardwalk, through EPCOT, then finishes in the EPCOT parking lot.

Runners and walkers must keep a 16 minute per mile pace or the broom truck will scoop them up, so given the start time, the last participant will exit the MK by 9 am (by the way, running up main street in the MK is totally righteous!).

So the MK isn't impacted by the race, but the Animal Kingdom, MGM, and EPCOT are. Runners will be going through them during the morning, but it isn't a problem.

The roads around EPCOT are unbelievable between 5 and 6 am, but if you have any sense you'll not be up then. I wouldn't be if I wasn't running.

The race doesn't impact park attendance much, except for all the visibly limping people you'll see Sunday afternoon.

So, enjoy the trip, the race won't have much impact on you at all.

 

[cobbler]

I have been thinking about doing this marathon thing, well actually the half one
but can never find info on it.

Can someone direct me to the right source for it?

And how long is the half marathon, miles wise and junk like that.

And info on the family race would be great too.

Thanks

 

[DawnAK]

cobbler-a marathon is always a standard 26.2 miles, so a half marathon is always 13.1 miles.
Go to www.disneyworldsports.com for information.
DH and I walked the half marathon last year, and it was a wonderful experience. Everyone who finishes gets a medal (donald for half marathon, mickey for full). It starts at 6am, and the half marathoners have 3.5 hours to finish and full marathoners have 7 hours. The course goes around, and through the theme parks, watching the sun rise while in the parks is pretty cool! DH and I are thinking about volunteering this year!
Dawn

 

[cobbler]

Originally posted by DawnAK
.
DH and I walked the half marathon last year, and it was a wonderful experience. Everyone who finishes gets a medal (donald for half marathon, mickey for full). It starts at 6am, and the half marathoners have 3.5 hours to finish and full marathoners have 7 hours. The course goes around, and through the theme parks, watching the sun rise while in the parks is pretty cool! DH and I are thinking about volunteering this year!
Dawn

You can walk the half marathon?? Oh I could do that then I don't know about running the whole 13 miles because um, ouch?? Well a little too long for me.

What is the family one like? Is there one, did I read that correctly?

By the way, thanks for the info!!

 

[DawnAK]

cobbler-here is the link for the family info. It is the day before the marathon.

http://dwws.disney.go.com/wideworld...ortingeventindex?id=SPORFamilyFunRun05SporEvn

yes, you can walk the half marathon as long as you can keep a 16 minute mile pace for the entire 13 miles. Those participants that don't finish will be scooped up and deposited at the end!
Let me know if you have any other questions! They have regisrtation available still, but once it is booked, its' booked!
dawn

 

[cobbler]

Wow, thanks so much!!

 

[Deb & Bill]

Both the 1/2 and full marathons will have spaces for 12,000 runners. I got an e-mail a few days ago and there were about 500 spots left in the 1/2 and about 1000 left in the full.