Marathon Madness?

[keishashadow]

I'm in charge of DS's honeymoon trip in January. Just realized that the week I'm booking is the Marathon weekend.

Wondering about the traffic tie-ups, any disruptions to park hours, increased crowd conditions in parks, etc.

They'd be coming in on Saturday (1st day of Marathon?) from MCO to BWV, would be going to MK & on Sunday (2nd day of Marathon?) @ AK or MGM.

Already delaying honeymoon from Christmas/New Years' week...do you think they should delay it another week?

 

[Bill From PA]

We were at Dolphin from New Year's Day to 1/10 2005. After Mon. the 3rd WDW was as un-crowded as I've ever seen it. The next weekend of the Marathon the only inconvienence to us was in walking to MGM that morning we had to walk on the grass as the sidewalk along the canal was part of the route and once in MGM we had to wait, briefly, to cross certain streets that were on the route. The race was finishing up as we hopped to Epcot and that park showed no signs of unusual crowds. If you use Disney transportation to park hop you should have no traffic problems. Getting from MCO to BoardWalk might be the only issue. I'd go again that week in a heartbeat.

Bill From PA

 

[DianeL]

I'm in charge of DS's honeymoon trip in January. Just realized that the week I'm booking is the Marathon weekend.

Wondering about the traffic tie-ups, any disruptions to park hours, increased crowd conditions in parks, etc.

They'd be coming in on Saturday (1st day of Marathon?) from MCO to BWV, would be going to MK & on Sunday (2nd day of Marathon?) @ AK or MGM.

Already delaying honeymoon from Christmas/New Years' week...do you think they should delay it another week?

The Half on Saturday is pretty much over by 10 am. I've been looking at photos and there are a few coming in still around that but if your DS is flying in that day they probably will miss it depending on when they get in. By 9 am they should all be headed to Epcot and the roads starting to open up. Hopefully someone who was out and about around 9 am this past year can tell you how the roads were.

Sunday tell them to sleep in LOL Actually, we went to the AK in 2004 and it's were we viewed the Marathon still in progress and we were there around 11 am I think. It's foggy in my memory but by 12 noon the last of the runners were thru AK I think or close to it. We had no problem with the bus getting us there, we stayed at OKW that year. We did have to cross the course once (maybe twice) heading to DinoLand. When we went to leave we saw who we think was the last runner going thru as the bikes were following him out (i think it was a he! LOL) All in all it was very very kewl and very inspiring since it was THAT trip that got us thinking about doing races ourselves.

The races both start at 6 am. The Half (sat) has 3.5 hours to finish from crossing the start . The Full (sun) has 7 hours (think it's still 7). More info if you would like it can be found at the Wide World of Sports website and maps of the courses.

www.disneyworldsports.com

I would just plan what PS they want when they can but really we had no troubles. We book our room as soon as we can (DVC) and have had no problems.

It's a fun weekend Though I will say this year was a bit busier then we've been used to and we've been going in January a few years now. I think because we're heading down sooner after the holidays and people from out of the country also have different holiday lengths then we do. We talked to a lovely family from Aussie (sorry need my spellchecker!) who was there because it was their summer. Way kewl for them!

Congrats to them and hope they have a wonderful, magical honeymoon. At least they don't have to worry about loud parties next door for Saturday and Sunday nights. At least Susan and I are pooped. Mom has fetching duties for those days LOL

 

[keishashadow]

Thanks...I'll give them the info & let them decide. Doesn't seem too bad for non-runners to deal with...I'm lucky if I last our 3 - 7 miles/day in the parks, walking.LOL

They won't get into MCO until 11:00 a.m., hopefully using ME service in lieu of a rental car. Neither one's been to WDW lately and they'll have to get their "bearings"...maybe I should go too to make sure they don't get lost. Since they're honeymooning they probably won't be in a big rush to get anywhere.

Think I'll suggest they use on-site transportation for those 2 days & allow extra time for ADR's. Thanks for your help.

The Half on Saturday is pretty much over by 10 am. I've been looking at photos and there are a few coming in still around that but if your DS is flying in that day they probably will miss it depending on when they get in. By 9 am they should all be headed to Epcot and the roads starting to open up. Hopefully someone who was out and about around 9 am this past year can tell you how the roads were.

Sunday tell them to sleep in LOL Actually, we went to the AK in 2004 and it's were we viewed the Marathon still in progress and we were there around 11 am I think. It's foggy in my memory but by 12 noon the last of the runners were thru AK I think or close to it. We had no problem with the bus getting us there, we stayed at OKW that year. We did have to cross the course once (maybe twice) heading to DinoLand. When we went to leave we saw who we think was the last runner going thru as the bikes were following him out (i think it was a he! LOL) All in all it was very very kewl and very inspiring since it was THAT trip that got us thinking about doing races ourselves.

The races both start at 6 am. The Half (sat) has 3.5 hours to finish from crossing the start . The Full (sun) has 7 hours (think it's still 7). More info if you would like it can be found at the Wide World of Sports website and maps of the courses.

www.disneyworldsports.com

I would just plan what PS they want when they can but really we had no troubles. We book our room as soon as we can (DVC) and have had no problems.

It's a fun weekend Though I will say this year was a bit busier then we've been used to and we've been going in January a few years now. I think because we're heading down sooner after the holidays and people from out of the country also have different holiday lengths then we do. We talked to a lovely family from Aussie (sorry need my spellchecker!) who was there because it was their summer. Way kewl for them!

Congrats to them and hope they have a wonderful, magical honeymoon. At least they don't have to worry about loud parties next door for Saturday and Sunday nights. At least Susan and I are pooped. Mom has fetching duties for those days LOL

 

[Deb & Bill]

I only see the MK as any problem in the morning. The 1/2 marathon will be running on Sat and they are out of Epcot by 6AM. So they will be turning around at MK by about 7:30AM. The roads in and out are a bit of a problem. So don't plan a CRT breakfast on that morning at 8.

On Sunday, again the MK can be impacted by the marathon with MK getting hit with runners between 7 AM and 9AM. The halfway mark is just past the MK near the exit from the TTC parking lot. They have 3.5 hours to get to that place. Again, I wouldn't have a 'Ohana or Chef Mickey or CRT breakfast at an early time on those mornings.

 

[HopperFan]

HalfMarathon starts in front of EPCOT, goes through MK, then into EPCOT at the end and back out to parking lot. Race actually went until about 10:30 at which time they started setup for 5k. Good portion of the lots are blocked off for the race setup and kids races which followed. 11 am was the 5k through EPCOT and finished around noon, then the kids races in parking lot which went on for some time. EPCOT parking lot was packed till mid afternoon. By time the park even opened the parking lot was full. We went through park during the 5k, people were dodging across the path which is marked with cones. CMs all along to cheer us on and stop cross traffic. It surely had to be an effect on your park experience. Magic Kingdom is probably the least effected because the runners go through so early. They should all be out of the park by time it opens. Marathon starts at EPCOT, then MK, AK, MGM and through into EPCOT. 6 am - @ 1 pm... Roads do have closures in morning so best to use Disney transportation and give yourself extra time.

We were there all week this year and it was much more crowded than last year. Many schools were out until the 9th and a large number of visitors from Europe. Who can pass up the trip with the exchange rate so good. Our hotel at DTD was booked solid. We were at MK on the 3rd and it was PACKED, worse than I have seen some summer days. Lots of families. Went to US/IOA next two days and not as bad but still busy. We have the same schedule next year and will be doing it again. We did it in 2002 and it was the same thing, schools in south were out, parks were crowded. I imagine that after the weekend most US families with kids in school had headed home.

 

[eeyoreiscool]

Traffic is a mess while going to Epcot and MK on race days. The other parks don't seem to have a problem. Around noon-1:00, traffic seems to get better since most of the races are finished. If you just pick a different park to visit those two days, there shouldn't be a problem.

 

[dixiedizfan]

We were there January 1 thru 8, and that was the most crowded week we've ever been. We stayed at POFQ and took the resort bus to Epcot on the first marathon day, Saturday. The traffic was so backed up I thought we'd never get there, and when we did found Epcot to be VERY crowded. We didn't even attempt to go into a park on Sunday, the full marathon day.

 

[keishashadow]

With all the rides rehabed in January & uncertain weather, I really thought the World would be dead.

Last time I looked @ Unoffical Guide it was listed as a low period for crowds.

I'm thinking maybe moving it back 1 day to run from Sun to Sat (missing 1st day & morning of 2nd marathon).

Thanks for all your help.