Marathon Sunday- Early ADRs

[msb578]

We'll be taking our first Disney cruise in January. We're going to do one park day before the cruise- MK on marathon Sunday.

I'd like to book a pre-opening ADR (hoping they continue BOG breakfast).

Normally I like to drive everywhere (we bring our own minivan). I don't mind the whole TTC process. But on this day, when there are road closures, do the buses have access to detours that cars don't have? Or do the buses experience delays too?

 

[bumbershoot]

Take the bus. I hate the buses but if I were going to MK on marathon morning I would be at the bus stop as bright and early as possible. They will know the ways to go much better than you will.

 

[msb578]

Take the bus. I hate the buses but if I were going to MK on marathon morning I would be at the bus stop as bright and early as possible. They will know the ways to go much better than you will.

Thanks! I think we'll do that, even though we aren't normally fans of the buses.

 

[francie57]

Depending on when you make your ADR you may still have trouble getting there on time since the buses
actually stop running from 5-7 for the start of the marathon. There are numerous roads closed since
the race goes down the main road into the magic kingdom parking lots and the road leading to the contemporary.

 

[msb578]

Depending on when you make your ADR you may still have trouble getting there on time since the buses
actually stop running from 5-7 for the start of the marathon. There are numerous roads closed since
the race goes down the main road into the magic kingdom parking lots and the road leading to the contemporary.

Sounds like I really won the WDW lottery by booking a cruise that leaves the day after the marathon

 

[bumbershoot]

Not sure if I should tell you this, but if you're on the Disney Dream 4-night Bahamian Cruise embarking Jan 11, that's one with the Castaway Cay Challenge, which means a bunch of runners will be onboard with you. On the good side, the ship will be docking at Castaway really early in the morning so that race can be shortly after dawn, so you stand a really strong chance of docking at Castaway.

If you're going on another cruise, ignore that.

 

[msb578]

Not sure if I should tell you this, but if you're on the Disney Dream 4-night Bahamian Cruise embarking Jan 11, that's one with the Castaway Cay Challenge, which means a bunch of runners will be onboard with you. On the good side, the ship will be docking at Castaway really early in the morning so that race can be shortly after dawn, so you stand a really strong chance of docking at Castaway.

If you're going on another cruise, ignore that.

Yup, that be the one...

 

[bumbershoot]

Try to get up super-early (or stay up late) on Castaway day, because you should be able to get some GORGEOUS moonlit photos of the island from the ship. I think we docked at midnight this January.

 

[joelkfla]

Depending on when you make your ADR you may still have trouble getting there on time since the buses
actually stop running from 5-7 for the start of the marathon.

I don't think that's true -- at least, I've never heard that before.

Buses to the marathon start area and family area at Epcot do stop running for a time around the start of race. And there is no bus service to Epcot for the 1st couple of hours that Epcot is open; the buses are diverted to TTC for connection with the monorail.

MK buses go to TTC instead of directly to the park, also for connection with the monorail, which opens extra early both for the runners and for MK Guests. The buses (and Guests' personal vehicles) take a circuitous route past Ft. Wilderness to avoid crossing the race path.

 

[msb578]

I don't think that's true -- at least, I've never heard that before.

Buses to the marathon start area and family area at Epcot do stop running for a time around the start of race. And there is no bus service to Epcot for the 1st couple of hours that Epcot is open; the buses are diverted to TTC for connection with the monorail.

MK buses go to TTC instead of directly to the park, also for connection with the monorail, which opens extra early both for the runners and for MK Guests. The buses (and Guests' personal vehicles) take a circuitous route past Ft. Wilderness to avoid crossing the race path.

Thanks so much- I was hoping you'd see the thread at some point.

 

[CQuinn]

We had a 45 minute ride from BWV to MK on Marathon day, because of road/lane closures. It was about 9 am when we got on the bus.

 

[bumbershoot]

In the Spectator info on the rundisney page for January:

Athletes and spectators should plan on arriving at Epcot® by 4:00 a.m. on Half Marathon or Marathon race morning. The main entrance of Epcot® from World Drive will be closed to all traffic from 5:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. on the mornings of the Half Marathon and Marathon. All traffic will be directed to the Magic Kingdom® Park Parking Lot where they will be transported to Epcot® via monorail. Traffic will not be affected for the Walt Disney World® 5K.

So there's the 5-7 thing.

Get on the bus early.

 

[joelkfla]

In the Spectator info on the rundisney page for January:



So there's the 5-7 thing.

Yes, traffic into Epcot ... not TTC.

 

[bumbershoot]

Yes, traffic into Epcot ... not TTC.

Yes, I was showing the whole statement directly from Disney to help the OP understand.

Since all traffic to Epcot is going to be shunted over towards MK, she needs to get on the bus early.

 

[joelkfla]

Yes, I was showing the whole statement directly from Disney to help the OP understand.

Since all traffic to Epcot is going to be shunted over towards MK, she needs to get on the bus early.

Agreed. I would say 6:30, or 2 hours before the reservation, whichever is later.

Also, since the Epcot buses will actually be going to TTC for a while -- if an Epcot bus shows up before an MK bus, ask the driver if it's really going to TTC, and get on it if it is.