Marathon Weekend 2016

[TXHauntedMansionFan]

We will be there Jan 7-14 staying at POFQ. Bringing the DW, DD and the inlaws for some babysitting during the race/recovery.

 

[RunDisneyDad]

We are getting there on the 8th and leaving on the 14th staying at CR. Two years ago we arrived on Thursday, but I felt like that extra day (I only do the marathon) was a bit too much time on my feet. My two youngest boys are doing the kids races, so we'll hit the expo Saturday morning, do the races and get dinner. I'm still figuring out where we'll eat the night before the marathon.

 

[FFigawi]

Not counting the time it takes to get there and back, I would allow 30-45 minutes at the expo to get your bibs and check out a vendor or two. Actually getting your bibs and shirts doesn't take long, but navigating through the crowds for the shopping will. If you want to do any more browsing or shopping than that, allow for at least an hour. Wednesday afternoon will be crowded with people running Dopey and people running other races who have arrived early.

 

[IamTrike]

Question about the Expo.
We are planning on flying in on Wed. morning arriving around 10ish Florida time. So thinking 11ish check in at the Contemporary BLT. If we grab lunch and do a couple Fast pass rides in the Magic Kingdom, how much time should we allow for our family (or just my Dad & I who are running) to head over to the Expo for packet pickup?

If you are renting a car I would just go by ESPN on the way to BLT. If you don't have a car I think FFigawi's estimate of 30-45 minutes for packet pickup is reasonable. However, the last time we took the expo bus from the Contemporary it left from the Convention Area not the normal resort bus stops. Given that the bus not leave immediately and that you might want to look at some of the race merchandise. I would budget 1.5 hours for round trip time to walk to the bus, catch it, do the expo stuff and get back. It could be faster than that, but there is a fair amount of stuff out of your control.

 

[RunDisneyDad]

If you are renting a car I would just go by ESPN on the way to BLT. If you don't have a car I think FFigawi's estimate of 30-45 minutes for packet pickup is reasonable. However, the last time we took the expo bus from the Contemporary it left from the Convention Area not the normal resort bus stops. Given that the bus not leave immediately and that you might want to look at some of the race merchandise. I would budget 1.5 hours for round trip time to walk to the bus, catch it, do the expo stuff and get back. It could be faster than that, but there is a fair amount of stuff out of your control.

I just checked and in 2014 we arrived in Orlando at 2pm, were at the hotel by 4pm. I headed over to the Expo at 4pm and made it back to Epcot for a dinner reservation by 5:30pm. That was simply getting my packet and leaving, not hitting the expo at all.

 

[Kathymford]

Our trip is 1/4-1/11 and so far we are staying at VWL. In my heart of hearts I'm hoping to switch to Beach Club for the weekend portion, but I am relying on a waitlist, so I'm sure it's not likely. My ADR day is the day after tomorrow!! Yikes!! We are going with a bunch of nonplanners, so I haven't really haven't done much (not our first rodeo). But I am trying to get BOG for later in the week for 7 people. Fingers crossed!

 

[JClimacus]

We (me, son and daughter) are coming in on Thursday, staying at POFQ, and leaving Tuesday. I'm doing Goofy and my two (adult) kids are doing the half. We also have a friend staying at POFQ who will be running the full with me. This past year I did the full and came in on Saturday, arriving in Orlando at 2:00 and getting to the Expo around 4:00. It all worked out, but I found the timing nerve wracking and I was terrified of something going wrong and missing packet pickup. This time I'm leaving a day to go to the Expo so we can be relaxed about it.

We are planning on doing Universal on Monday if anyone has tips on that. From what I've been reading, it seems the best way for us to get from POFQ to Universal is by renting a car. Does anyone have experience with that?

 

[cavepig]

We are planning on doing Universal on Monday if anyone has tips on that. From what I've been reading, it seems the best way for us to get from POFQ to Universal is by renting a car. Does anyone have experience with that?

a few years ago we went to Universal Islands of Adventure and took a cab. Very easy, out front of the resort (we stayed at Art of Animation) was a cast member who called one over for us. Then leaving Universal we just walked back to the cab area where were dropped off at and went to the stand with a worker to call one over to us. I can't remember how much, maybe $25-$30 with tip each way, but very easy and worth it. We had thought of doing a shuttle bus but read how that can take hours to get back as it stops at many places.

 

[MelissaN]

We (me, son and daughter) are coming in on Thursday, staying at POFQ, and leaving Tuesday. I'm doing Goofy and my two (adult) kids are doing the half. We also have a friend staying at POFQ who will be running the full with me. This past year I did the full and came in on Saturday, arriving in Orlando at 2:00 and getting to the Expo around 4:00. It all worked out, but I found the timing nerve wracking and I was terrified of something going wrong and missing packet pickup. This time I'm leaving a day to go to the Expo so we can be relaxed about it.

We are planning on doing Universal on Monday if anyone has tips on that. From what I've been reading, it seems the best way for us to get from POFQ to Universal is by renting a car. Does anyone have experience with that?

We used a company that had tranfers from Disney to Universal and included tickets. It worked out well for us. We might have stopped at POR and OKW from POFQ on the way there and at OKW on the way back, but that was it.

 

[tinkermomto3]

We (me, son and daughter) are coming in on Thursday, staying at POFQ, and leaving Tuesday. I'm doing Goofy and my two (adult) kids are doing the half. We also have a friend staying at POFQ who will be running the full with me. This past year I did the full and came in on Saturday, arriving in Orlando at 2:00 and getting to the Expo around 4:00. It all worked out, but I found the timing nerve wracking and I was terrified of something going wrong and missing packet pickup. This time I'm leaving a day to go to the Expo so we can be relaxed about it.

We are planning on doing Universal on Monday if anyone has tips on that. From what I've been reading, it seems the best way for us to get from POFQ to Universal is by renting a car. Does anyone have experience with that?

We always have our car since we are about 6 hours from Orlando, it's very easy to drive if you have a car available.

I'm running the half and my husband is doing goofy. We are just staying Friday (probably right after lunch time) to Monday. We are staying at POP and it's a quick trip because we'll be leaving the kids with grandparents (first time taking a kids free weekend!). The only thing I'm unsure of at the moment is if I want to make some kind of reservations after the half, but I think we'll just wing it and eat whatever quick service at a resort. We aren't doing parks (We are going with the entire family this October) and I'm excited to get to walk around the resorts and have a nice signature sit down meal on Sunday night.

 

[Keels]

We (me, son and daughter) are coming in on Thursday, staying at POFQ, and leaving Tuesday. I'm doing Goofy and my two (adult) kids are doing the half. We also have a friend staying at POFQ who will be running the full with me. This past year I did the full and came in on Saturday, arriving in Orlando at 2:00 and getting to the Expo around 4:00. It all worked out, but I found the timing nerve wracking and I was terrified of something going wrong and missing packet pickup. This time I'm leaving a day to go to the Expo so we can be relaxed about it.

We are planning on doing Universal on Monday if anyone has tips on that. From what I've been reading, it seems the best way for us to get from POFQ to Universal is by renting a car. Does anyone have experience with that?

It's a VERY easy drive, even if you haven't driven in Orlando before.

It's only about 10 miles and you can either take I-4 directly or I can give you direction via back roads (Turkey Lake Road). I went to high school directly across the street from Jurassic Park/where Harry Potter is now, so I'm extremely familiar with the area!

That said - if you don't want to bother with a car, I just did a fare estimate on Uber. It looks like it's $13-17 each way, which is way cheaper than the cost of renting a car AND paying $16 or whatever it is to park. Just another option!

 

[Baloo in MI]

I have a question hoping someone can help answer. The trip was going to be with the whole family, but now it is going to be a solo trip as we are returning to Disney in April for my daughters' dance performance. But originally my daughters were going to run the Mikey Mile. Now that they are not going can I pick up their t-shirts, bids with out their being there? We were joking about having them run a mile at our local track to "earn" the shirts, so hopefully I can pick them up when I get my stuff.

 

[JClimacus]

It's a VERY easy drive, even if you haven't driven in Orlando before.

It's only about 10 miles and you can either take I-4 directly or I can give you direction via back roads (Turkey Lake Road). I went to high school directly across the street from Jurassic Park/where Harry Potter is now, so I'm extremely familiar with the area!

That said - if you don't want to bother with a car, I just did a fare estimate on Uber. It looks like it's $13-17 each way, which is way cheaper than the cost of renting a car AND paying $16 or whatever it is to park. Just another option!

thanks for the advice, everyone! I should have mentioned we are flying in (from Massachusetts). Looks like a cab is likely the best option.

 

[RunDisneyDad]

Has anyone stayed at Contemporary or Grand Floridian Marathon weekend? Specifically, we staying at CR and are likely going to hit Animal Kingdom on Saturday morning, but I'm curious how the Half Marathon route will affect us getting over there. I assume they have detours and I vaguely remember one side of World Drive being closed in front of the CR when I ran in 2014. Just curious if anyone knows how much of a hassle it is moving around the morning of the Half and Full.

 

[Waiting2goback]

I have a question hoping someone can help answer. The trip was going to be with the whole family, but now it is going to be a solo trip as we are returning to Disney in April for my daughters' dance performance. But originally my daughters were going to run the Mikey Mile. Now that they are not going can I pick up their t-shirts, bids with out their being there? We were joking about having them run a mile at our local track to "earn" the shirts, so hopefully I can pick them up when I get my stuff.

Normally you can't pick up for other people anymore but in this case, assuming they are still minor children, you would be the one picking up for them anyway. You might want to call runDisney to confirm that you can pick up for them if they haven't arrived yet. (You could just tell them they are coming in on a later flight)

 

[ANIM8R]

Hi, All,
While looking for resort information, I came upon this thread earlier this evening--74 pages and 3+ hours later...wow, incredibly helpful insight and advice. Thanks.

Whoa - reading through 74 pages of this thread about a marathon in one sitting is more of an undertaking than running an actual marathon!

 

[derekleigh]

I have a question hoping someone can help answer. The trip was going to be with the whole family, but now it is going to be a solo trip as we are returning to Disney in April for my daughters' dance performance. But originally my daughters were going to run the Mikey Mile. Now that they are not going can I pick up their t-shirts, bids with out their being there? We were joking about having them run a mile at our local track to "earn" the shirts, so hopefully I can pick them up when I get my stuff.

If they are running the Mickey Mile, they are 13 or under and are considered a minor in which you will be able to pick up their stuff even without them being present. My wife and I did so this past year (our oldest ran the mile) and all we ever had to give them with their signed waivers, which ONLY you can sign off for them.

 

[kevdad]

If they are running the Mickey Mile, they are 13 or under and are considered a minor in which you will be able to pick up their stuff even without them being present. My wife and I did so this past year (our oldest ran the mile) and all we ever had to give them with their signed waivers, which ONLY you can sign off for them.

I assume that would also apply for the 5k? My DS10 is running with me and I'll probably try to pickup his packet.

 

[roxymama]

This should probably go in dining, but I like you guys.
If you had to choose between Chef Mickey's and Tony's Town Square for pre-race dinner for your family including toddler, which would you pick? It will be first sit down meal of our trip. We will be at MK day before race and CM is by our hotel.

I'm not in need of mega-carb load...but my little tyke likes noodles/mac n cheese. We will likely hit up multiple character meals during rest of trip. Should I save CM for a brunch?

 

[cavepig]

This should probably go in dining, but I like you guys.
If you had to choose between Chef Mickey's and Tony's Town Square for pre-race dinner for your family including toddler, which would you pick? It will be first sit down meal of our trip. We will be at MK day before race and CM is by our hotel.

I'm not in need of mega-carb load...but my little tyke likes noodles/mac n cheese. We will likely hit up multiple character meals during rest of trip. Should I save CM for a brunch?

I would do Tony's, less hectic and you won't be tempted to over eat like at a buffet on things that might not agree with you the next day. We did the last Breakfast sitting once at Chef Mickey's at was great for character interaction as we weren't rushed at all.