Marathon Weekend 2016

[cavepig]

Does anyone think there's a chance the Osborne lights will still be up? I've seen they are supposed to come down Jan. 3, but it seems like Disney has been keeping the Christmas decorations up later the past few years. Hoping to see them once more before they disappear.

Doubt it, they weren't on last year. The lights are still up, but they don't turn them on.

 

[rteetz]

Doubt it, they weren't on last year. The lights are still up, but they don't turn them on.

They started taking them down during marathon weekend last year. I wouldn't expect them to be extended at all because DHS is going to become a construction zone in January and they are going to want to start ASAP.

 

[DopeyBadger]

Fortunately the flight is direct and should be on a plane that begins the day at my airport, so the risk is a little mitigated... but it is something I may have to deal with.



DopeyBadger, I knew I could count on you for a calculated verification of when I might hit the start line and I appreciate it. Regarding the 5am spectator bus from POP... does that ONLY go from POP directly to Epcot and if so does that mean that those spectators could then catch the monorail over to TTC if they wanted to see me before, during, and/or after MK? In other words, if they could get to TTC they could either see me entering MK/exiting MK around the TTC and Poly or they could go into MK to see me once in there. How does Disney facilitate people going in MK before the park opens and then get them out of there? My family will all have magicbands, but I'm guessing there is a way for people to go in there for some period of time without park admission to view the race while it is closed.

I'm guessing that the 7am buses you speak of are the "normal" hotel buses that go to parks in the normal course of a day. If I was in a later corral or a different pace, I'm guessing people in my party could catch one of these and get straight to MK if they wanted to go that route or get to AK, HS, etc. in a similar fashion.



So I guess you are saying your family was able to walk from AofA to mile 16.5 or did you have other transportation?

Good on the flight as that makes things a little less constrained.

The 3am-5am bus would only go to EPCOT. Your family could catch the monorail and go to either the TTC or MK or anything else on the loop for that matter. I have seen many people throughout the parking lots of the TTC and have felt that if you want to be able to personally see your family that might be easier. However, if you want that cool pic of you running though MK then Main Street is the best. Depends on your desires here. There is nothing special (no theme park tickets or magic bands) necessary to enter the MK for spectators to see you there. However where they get to stand is dictated by the CheerSquad purchase. As a runner, that main street entrance is exhilarating with the crowds.. But as a spectator, I have to imagine its a little more nerve racking being so tightly packed and then having a short window to see your runner.

The 7am buses are still running weekend related and will only go to EPCOT. The other hotel buses will start approximately 45 minutes before the specific park opens. Since all of the parks are scheduled to open at 9am on Marathon day the normal buses don't start until 8:15am. Since you plan to run a 8:35-9:09 min/mile the only other park your family could catch you at using only Disney transportation is DHS or EPCOT (AK would be about 7:35-7:45am for you).

My family cut through a hole in the fence at AofA that is used for the grounds-crew (its near the road entrance to AofA, if AofA is behind you its about 400m to the left of the entrance). Technically, Disney doesn't want you walking in the grass along the road to the intersection, but my family has never been stopped. It only takes 10-15 minutes to walk from the exit of AofA to that intersection. Afterwards, they walked back to AofA and got on the running weekend bus that took them to EPCOT just in time to see me finish. There were other people there and the grassy area along the road is quite wide and not unsafe in my opinion.

 

[DopeyBadger]

How can you get to the ESPN expo area early if you don't have a car? Specifically from the POP resort and before the buses start? I'm trying to figure out if I can walk there or get transportation on Wednesday morning so I can get in line for the shopping...any ideas? I think the resort buses to espn start around the same time expo opens so that would already put me behind.

In my two years of experience at AofA I have gotten on the first bus available and made it to the expo well before the lines started to get massive or merch was gone. I even got my bib first and never waited more than 10-15 min in the checkout. However I do know I would be a little more anxious if I was at a further hotel or missed the first few buses. I think as long as you're there in the first 2 hours you'll likely see all the merch available. Never been there later so I can't speak to a specific merch sell out cutoff.

 

[cburnett11]

Good on the flight as that makes things a little less constrained.

The 3am-5am bus would only go to EPCOT. Your family could catch the monorail and go to either the TTC or MK or anything else on the loop for that matter. I have seen many people throughout the parking lots of the TTC and have felt that if you want to be able to personally see your family that might be easier. However, if you want that cool pic of you running though MK then Main Street is the best. Depends on your desires here. There is nothing special (no theme park tickets or magic bands) necessary to enter the MK for spectators to see you there. However where they get to stand is dictated by the CheerSquad purchase. As a runner, that main street entrance is exhilarating with the crowds.. But as a spectator, I have to imagine its a little more nerve racking being so tightly packed and then having a short window to see your runner.

The 7am buses are still running weekend related and will only go to EPCOT. The other hotel buses will start approximately 45 minutes before the specific park opens. Since all of the parks are scheduled to open at 9am on Marathon day the normal buses don't start until 8:15am. Since you plan to run a 8:35-9:09 min/mile the only other park your family could catch you at using only Disney transportation is DHS or EPCOT (AK would be about 7:35-7:45am for you).

My family cut through a hole in the fence at AofA that is used for the grounds-crew (its near the road entrance to AofA, if AofA is behind you its about 400m to the left of the entrance). Technically, Disney doesn't want you walking in the grass along the road to the intersection, but my family has never been stopped. It only takes 10-15 minutes to walk from the exit of AofA to that intersection. Afterwards, they walked back to AofA and got on the running weekend bus that took them to EPCOT just in time to see me finish. There were other people there and the grassy area along the road is quite wide and not unsafe in my opinion.

Your comments about MK vs. TTC make sense. I have a photographer in my family so it is possible that he can get to MK to get "that cool pic" on Main Street. My wife and others may want to see me twice in a more relaxed atmosphere and could pull off the TTC/Poly double.

Yeah, so now I understand that the 7am buses are still runner related. Those runner buses probably overlap running from the hotel to Epcot with the normal buses that will run from the hotels to the park. I guess I was thinking about the early breakfast buses that would run a little earlier than the 45 minutes pre-opening if someone wanted to get a direct bus to another location.

Great to know about the AofA plan in case my family fails and sleeps in a bit. They can get from Pop to AofA and go that route if they need to.

 

[ANIM8R]

I'd love some input from repeat Disney marathon runners on what their family/friends did to watch the race. I know when I'm heading to the race, but wasn't sure what their options would be.

The first thing I'd recommend is plan out in advance (with as much detail a possible) where you'll meet them. (Across from the ladies rest room at the TTC, in front of the Crystal Palace on Main St, etc) They will have to watch thousands of runners go by and picking you out of the crowd is going to be tough. You'll still have to seek them out of the throng of other spectators but discussing meeting locations will ensure you not missing them and them not missing you.

The second thing I'd recommend is download a real-time GPS app. My wife and I use "Real-Time GPS Tracker". I'm not hawking it but that's what we use for purposes like this. She can pinpoint my location at anytime and I can pinpoint hers.

I would also recommend carrying your phone. My wife texts me when she's at the particular location with details (i.e., "in the stands on the left just past the Finish Line"). I don't know if you're averse to getting texts while running at that pace, but it helps. I'll text, too. (i.e., "Coming through the castle"). We just find that helps a lot.

You're much quicker than me (by about an hour) but here is our plan. We've done this now for three years at the WDW marathon: she'll go to MK and I'll meet her there. She'll then go to ESPN and we'll meet in the stadium. She'll then go and meet me at the finish.

At my speed, she could probably also meet me at AK but that's pushing it.

That's my advice from 3 years worth of WDW marathons. I hope that helps!

 

[kevdad]

Got everything I wanted no problem.

Ditto, everything we wanted at all the right times (though we didn't try for A&E this time). I must say, slim pickings at HS and Epcot because of the tiering system... All good, though, can't believe it's only 60 days away!

 

[cburnett11]

You're much quicker than me (by about an hour) but here is our plan. We've done this now for three years at the WDW marathon: she'll go to MK and I'll meet her there. She'll then go to ESPN and we'll meet in the stadium. She'll then go and meet me at the finish.

How does your wife get from MK to ESPN on race day? ESPN is one location at WDW that I've never been to.

I would also recommend carrying your phone. My wife texts me when she's at the particular location with details (i.e., "in the stands on the left just past the Finish Line"). I don't know if you're averse to getting texts while running at that pace, but it helps. I'll text, too. (i.e., "Coming through the castle"). We just find that helps a lot.

I don't normally carry my phone when I race, but I did last weekend and I think I'll do it at the marathon. I normally don't wear headphones either, but did last week to practice it. I have a nice set of bluetooth (Plantronics BackBeat FIT) that I'll wear. I won't even listen to music, but can fairly easily take or make a call via Siri and pushing one button. They can be used to answer something simple from the wife like, "did we miss you or are you not here yet?" If I'm doing all this, I'll probably just go ahead and wear my fuelbelt so I can take/refill liquid when I want instead of feverishly gulping down at specific points in time. I always wear it on runs at least 10 miles, but have never raced with it. But I do like the idea of having liquid with me as a bit of a crutch during the marathon.

That's my advice from 3 years worth of WDW marathons. I hope that helps!

Your reply helped greatly! Thanks.

 

[rteetz]

Ditto, everything we wanted at all the right times (though we didn't try for A&E this time). I must say, slim pickings at HS and Epcot because of the tiering system... All good, though, can't believe it's only 60 days away!

Yes we also didn't go for anna and elsa. I thought Epcot tiering was especially hard to choose from.

 

[SarahDisney]

For people interested in Anna & Elsa...
We got A&E for the 6th, and there were a decent number of times available. We didn't get the exact time we wanted, but we got about an hour later. I just checked now and there are still some afternoon times available.
Of course, it's only 2 of us, and larger parties may not find the same availability.

We did get 7DMT for both the 6th & the 11th at almost the exact time we wanted.

 

[rteetz]

We did get 7DMT for both the 6th & the 11th at almost the exact time we wanted

Yes I only got one 7DMT FP this trip and had no problem with times for that. I didn't even check A&E.

 

[RunDisneyDad]

We did get 7DMT for both the 6th & the 11th at almost the exact time we wanted.

What time did ya'll go in to make your selections? Did you do right at midnight? It's Midnight Eastern right?

 

[rteetz]

What time did ya'll go in to make your selections? Did you do right at midnight? It's Midnight Eastern right?

yes midnight eastern so it was 11 pm for me since I am in the central time zone

 

[ANIM8R]

How does your wife get from MK to ESPN on race day? ESPN is one location at WDW that I've never been to.

Monorail to TTC. TTC (bus) to ESPN.

 

[SarahDisney]

What time did ya'll go in to make your selections? Did you do right at midnight? It's Midnight Eastern right?

Yup. We were on at 12:00am (aka midnight) Florida time ... which also happens to be midnight our time (NY).
But even now at 3:30 I can change my time - and there are a lot of times available.

 

[GreatLakes]

How can you get to the ESPN expo area early if you don't have a car? Specifically from the POP resort and before the buses start? I'm trying to figure out if I can walk there or get transportation on Wednesday morning so I can get in line for the shopping...any ideas? I think the resort buses to espn start around the same time expo opens so that would already put me behind.

I don't see any reason why you couldn't walk from POP to WWoS. It is just over a mile. There aren't sidewalk but you can walk on the grass if you don't want to walk on the road. Florida pedestrian law stipulates* you are permitted to walk on the roadways so don't let anyone tell you it isn't allowed.

I did the walk from Pop to the Boardwalk twice. It really wasn't a problem.

Florida Statutes. Title XXIII, Chapter 316.130

(3) Where sidewalks are provided, no pedestrian shall, unless required by other circumstances, walk along and upon the portion of a roadway paved for vehicular traffic.
(4) Where sidewalks are not provided, any pedestrian walking along and upon a highway shall, when practicable, walk only on the shoulder on the left side of the roadway in relation to the pedestrian’s direction of travel, facing traffic which may approach from the opposite direction.

 

[Z-Knight]

I don't see any reason why you couldn't walk from POP to WWoS.

I'm gonna Google Maps the shiznit out of it tonight! I have no idea what I even want to buy at the Expo/Disney store yet, but I figure whatever it is I better be the first at the rack. Actually I know I want some Dopey stuff and I hear that goes fast.

Thx. Mapping Time Tonight!!! I'm gonna be more prepared for the expo then the marathon.

 

[Keels]

I'm actually hoping that RunDisney starts doing the night before event like they did for W&D, because it would be worth every dollar I spent.

The Expo today was an absolute debacle (I was there at 10:15 a.m.) and by the time I got to the register, it looked like locusts had blown through.

For Dopey, I guess I'll wait in line early (since I can drive), but now? If I have a chance to throw money at the issue, get my bibs and shirts, do some shopping and get a meal, I'm going to do it.

Today was awful.

 

[Baloo in MI]

Two hours to fast pass selections. I remember when November 7th sounded so far away! First long run this weekend since my last marathon, excited to see how I respond to the longer time.

 

[Waiting2goback]

I'm actually hoping that RunDisney starts doing the night before event like they did for W&D, because it would be worth every dollar I spent.

The Expo today was an absolute debacle (I was there at 10:15 a.m.) and by the time I got to the register, it looked like locusts had blown through.

For Dopey, I guess I'll wait in line early (since I can drive), but now? If I have a chance to throw money at the issue, get my bibs and shirts, do some shopping and get a meal, I'm going to do it.

Today was awful.

Today was awful but you were still at Disney so that makes it less awful by default, right?