Marathon Weekend 2016

[SarahDisney]

A question not about food! But about planning my after race morning.

For those of you who have run disney races before, especially the 5k that ends in Epcot. How much time did you spend after you were done racing at the race finish site? And then about how much time did it take you to get onto a monorail or bus if you headed somewhere other than Epcot during the day?
Just trying to decide if we want to Epcot or Magic Kingdom that morning or go back to the hotel first before going to a park. We have park hoppers which makes things easy. And I'd like to get us a character meal that morning. (ok so it was about dining afterall too)

My guess on my race...I'm registered as 11min mile jogger even though I'm down around 10min right now and likely will be faster by Jan, but add in a few pic stops and thousands of fun runners (and myself probably not speeding to take in the atmosphere) will bump that up considerably. I also realize I won't be in corral A, so won't start exactly at 6am.

I hope this seemed like it had a point. Basically I'm being indecisive on what to do after the race.

When I did the Princess 5K last year, we went back to the hotel after the race because we wanted to shower, change, and get our stuff together (we didn't check bags at the race).
The race started at 6:15, we were in the last corral and started at around 6:45, and my sister (who walked) finished around 8. We didn't really stick around after the race and were back at All-Star Sports around 8:30. After showering, changing, and getting organized, we made it to Hollywood Studios a little before 10. So from when we crossed the start line until we got to a park it was a little over 3 hours, and from when we finished to when we got to a park it was about 2 hours.

Considering the fact that this race starts 15 minutes earlier and you're certainly faster than a walker (even if you make stops), I think you'll be done with the race before 7:30 (probably earlier), meaning that even if you stick around for an hour after you finish to check out the finish area, you can probably still be back at your hotel by 9. If you don't stick around for that long, you'll be back much earlier. If you're okay not showering/changing (or changing in a port-a-potty) and want to do Epcot, there are EMH that morning starting at 8 (at least according to the current schedule), so your family could meet you at the park and you can go in almost right away. Even if you want to go back and shower/change, since you're at BLT, you can probably make it to MK before opening. Personally, I wouldn't make any reservations before 9:30 just in case, but I think you could easily do a character meal around 9:30 (maybe even earlier if you're doing Chef Mickey's, since it's just a quick hop away from your hotel!)

To sum up everything I just said ... you've got a lot of options. The 5K really doesn't interfere with your park day too much. Just make sure you give yourself some time to recover!

 

[Barca33Runner]

A question not about food! But about planning my after race morning.

For those of you who have run disney races before, especially the 5k that ends in Epcot. How much time did you spend after you were done racing at the race finish site? And then about how much time did it take you to get onto a monorail or bus if you headed somewhere other than Epcot during the day?
Just trying to decide if we want to Epcot or Magic Kingdom that morning or go back to the hotel first before going to a park. We have park hoppers which makes things easy. And I'd like to get us a character meal that morning. (ok so it was about dining afterall too)

My guess on my race...I'm registered as 11min mile jogger even though I'm down around 10min right now and likely will be faster by Jan, but add in a few pic stops and thousands of fun runners (and myself probably not speeding to take in the atmosphere) will bump that up considerably. I also realize I won't be in corral A, so won't start exactly at 6am.

I hope this seemed like it had a point. Basically I'm being indecisive on what to do after the race.

In 2014, my sister and I were finished with the 5K a little after 7:00 (I started in corral D and finished in about 29:00 and she was already finished from corral B), we took a character picture after the race with Pluto (took somewhere in the range of 15 minutes), and returned to POR/showered/back to Epcot before the park opened at 9:00.

This year, my mom came and walked the 5K from the last corral and finished somewhere between 7:30 and 7:45. It was cold so we pretty much tried to just head back; but there was a big logjam of buses at the finish(back to POR and POFQ specifically, but it seemed they had yet to generally figure out their system as well) and we weren't showered and back to Epcot until 9:45 or so.

So, there are a lot of variables in place. Thursday is somewhat the guinea pig for all of the transportation plans; especially those from the finish line back to hotels. The transportation is generally very good for the number of people they are moving around, but there can be unexpected waits.

 

[rteetz]

No wonder the reservation site kept kicking me out. We booked 6 ADRs today. Akershus Dinner, BOG lunch(hoping a dinner opens up instead), Portobello, Chefs de France, 1900 Park fare and cape may cafe.

 

[roxymama]

Thanks Sarah and Barka! I think I'm going to go with Epcot Thursday of 5k for the morning. Try for Akershus princesses that morning. Seems the least stressful option. And I can have a beer once world showcase opens.
I was originally thinking trying for a pre-opening Magic Kingdom breakfast but that now seems like it could get all messed up with one transportation snafu.
We are going to probably just shower/change when we take our lunch break/nap break back at the hotel.

This is more stressful than my actual run training. New Sleepy medals should be handed out for people who both run a race and get up in the AM to make ADRs.

 

[Simba's Mom]

And I may be crazy but this will be my 4th solo trip and I never do ADR's. You guys have me nervous though, now I feel like I should be.

Neither do we, at least not in advance. If we make any, it's just the day beforehand or that morning. The only ADR I might make in advance is for Beaches and Cream, for DH's traditional post-race (post-Dopey this time) No Way, Jose.

 

[Keels]

All you people making your ADRs for the actual weekend.

It's all fun and games until you have to go through Group Dining.

 

[LSUlakes]

We cant make our ADR's till Monday, and I have to say I am a little jealous of those who already have. A curious question/questions for yall... how many days will you be at the resort/park before the event you are running? If you are arriving early, are you planning on walking around the parks like you would any other day, or do you plan to stay off your feet as much as you can and not spend as much time at the parks? Do more people come in before and during the running weekend, or for the running weekend and a few days after?

We will be there the day before the marathon for about a half a day at the park. I'm scheduled for a 4 miler that morning, but I think I am going to skip it since we will spend some time at one of the parks that afternoon.

 

[Kathymford]

We cant make our ADR's till Monday, and I have to say I am a little jealous of those who already have. A curious question/questions for yall... how many days will you be at the resort/park before the event you are running? If you are arriving early, are you planning on walking around the parks like you would any other day, or do you plan to stay off your feet as much as you can and not spend as much time at the parks? Do more people come in before and during the running weekend, or for the running weekend and a few days after?

We will be there the day before the marathon for about a half a day at the park. I'm scheduled for a 4 miler that morning, but I think I am going to skip it since we will spend some time at one of the parks that afternoon.

We arrive the Monday before marathon weekend starts. This is vacation for us, so we are still hitting the parks and Potter. This is not our first trip, so we are more leisurely in general, but that will not limit us. Also, it's not like we are doing Dopey. I'm doing the half and my BF is doing the full.

 

[StarGirl11]

Just wanted to ask anyone here done the Dine With An Imagineer? Wanting to book it for Marathon week but so far the ability to pick past before Christmas isn't showing up which is a bit odd. I meant to call them today but I was busy getting ready for my race this weekend. And the one time I did the system happened to be down.

 

[Waiting2goback]

I feel the same way. Marathon weekend will be my first solo trip now that my family is not going (due to a later trip in the spring). Usually I am going crazy with ADR's; setting them, cancelling and setting new ones, and then setting new ones again...

Going to do this trip with no ADR's and just play it by ear while I am there. But in a few months for the April trip I will go to town again playing with ADRs!

Solo trips are awesome. Very relaxing because you can do what you want, when you want. Where are you staying, I can't remember if you said so or not yet.

Maybe if you book through a TA, but I don't think there's a general link like some of the other races. I could be wrong though.

I will look into it, thanks.

We cant make our ADR's till Monday, and I have to say I am a little jealous of those who already have. A curious question/questions for yall... how many days will you be at the resort/park before the event you are running? If you are arriving early, are you planning on walking around the parks like you would any other day, or do you plan to stay off your feet as much as you can and not spend as much time at the parks? Do more people come in before and during the running weekend, or for the running weekend and a few days after?

We will be there the day before the marathon for about a half a day at the park. I'm scheduled for a 4 miler that morning, but I think I am going to skip it since we will spend some time at one of the parks that afternoon.

I am planning to get there Friday morning, hit the Expo and then a park that night. I am running the marathon only so I plan to spend time at the parks. I don't care if it hurts. The only thing that might change my plans is if I need to run the race for time. I am trying to qualify for Boston this year and if I can't do it in my October race, but I am close I will be using Disney as a second chance.

But, I will be hitting the parks if I do qualify or I am just not that close in October. I will take a little slower this time. I was trying to get so much done in October before the ToT I got blisters walking around the parks. I didn't get any all summer from training, I get that in the parks. So I ran the ToT with huge blisters. Hoping to avoid that this time around.

 

[Baloo in MI]

I've never done a solo trip but I imagine if I did I'd go crazy eating all the bad for me snacks around the parks at all the counter service and cart areas. No waiting for a waiter, no stressing about ADRs, eat literally whatever garbage I want and not have to share. Not having to make sure my child eats her whole dinner so she doesn't crash out.
Taco salad with fake cheese for late breakfast?, maybe later a churro to wash it down?, maybe an ice cream bar for dinner, egg rolls for dessert...sure! It'd be so bad and yet so so good. I'd have to run the full marathon just to work it all off.

Ain't that the truth! Good thing I am taking on Dopey, between the calories from the treats and the miles I will need to run hopefully I will break even.

 

[Baloo in MI]

Solo trips are awesome. Very relaxing because you can do what you want, when you want. Where are you staying, I can't remember if you said so or not yet.

I am excited about going solo,a little intimidated given the long stay while doing Dopey. Normally we book everything out have a firm itinerary, etc. so I am looking forward to running and then just doing what sounds fun. I am staying at Pop Century.

 

[roxymama]

ADR morning went smoothly. I just kept hitting the find table 4 times to get times to pop up. Thanks all for the tips.

We are doing Tonys night before race.
Then Chef Mickeys after our race, so we can shower/change at hotel.
And one BOG lunch.
I got my coveted Cindy breakfast for Sat morning AND BOG dinner sat at 4:25. Kinda early, I'll keep checking back.

I did wishes dessert for Thursday. My mom in law was so into the idea. At least I know I can cancel if I have a moment of sanity.

 

[roxymama]

Do more people come in before and during the running weekend, or for the running weekend and a few days after?

We are coming in day before our race, so Wed. I imagine lots of Dopeys coming on Wed too?
My buddy who is only doing marathon is coming day before her race. Bet lots of marathon only people are coming Sat.
Just a guess!

 

[FFigawi]

We cant make our ADR's till Monday, and I have to say I am a little jealous of those who already have. A curious question/questions for yall... how many days will you be at the resort/park before the event you are running? If you are arriving early, are you planning on walking around the parks like you would any other day, or do you plan to stay off your feet as much as you can and not spend as much time at the parks? Do more people come in before and during the running weekend, or for the running weekend and a few days after?

We drive over the day before (Wed for Dopey, Fri for Goofy) and stay until Tuesday or Wednesday after. We go to the parks for a few hours each day so we don't spend the whole weekend sitting in the hotel rooom. I wouldn't recommend spending the entire day walking around the parks, but a little while won't hurt any.

 

[TXHauntedMansionFan]

We get down to WDW on Thursday and we are running the half that Saturday. Thurs is an expo/DTD day for us and then Friday we are spending a little time at the parks before an early dinner and back to the resort. We are staying until Thursday after the race.

 

[kevdad]

We cant make our ADR's till Monday, and I have to say I am a little jealous of those who already have. A curious question/questions for yall... how many days will you be at the resort/park before the event you are running? If you are arriving early, are you planning on walking around the parks like you would any other day, or do you plan to stay off your feet as much as you can and not spend as much time at the parks? Do more people come in before and during the running weekend, or for the running weekend and a few days after?

We are arriving WDW 1/5, leaving 1/11. DS10 and I are running the 5k, then I'll do the marathon solo. I'm really looking forward to it and hoping to run more Disney races with my family some day.

We're planning to hit the parks hard all week fully expecting I'll run the marathon 20-30 minutes behind my PR. This will be the first marathon that I won't care about the time. I just want to have fun and soak it all in. I may even get crazy and not wear my Garmin!

 

[LSUlakes]

We are arriving WDW 1/5, leaving 1/11. DS10 and I are running the 5k, then I'll do the marathon solo. I'm really looking forward to it and hoping to run more Disney races with my family some day.

We're planning to hit the parks hard all week fully expecting I'll run the marathon 20-30 minutes behind my PR. This will be the first marathon that I won't care about the time. I just want to have fun and soak it all in. I may even get crazy and not wear my Garmin!

i think I would go crazy without my watch even for a easy/fun run. I love looking at data.

 

[kevdad]

i think I would go crazy without my watch even for a easy/fun run. I love looking at data.

I'm a data freak too (use both Garmin Connect and MapMyRun...why???), but when not training for anything I leave the watch at home and just enjoy the scenery. Running without the watch is referred to as "Daddy's running naked!" in my family.

 

[LSUlakes]

I'm a data freak too (use both Garmin Connect and MapMyRun...why???), but when not training for anything I leave the watch at home and just enjoy the scenery. Running without the watch is referred to as "Daddy's running naked!" in my family.

I hate running with a phone, which I did when I was getting started for music and tracking. I no longer use it because I find hearing the rhythm of my breathing helps me settle into my pace and not hearing vehicles and other things concern me. I've run one marathon with my phone for safety purposes only. I plan on sharing that story one day on the wish journal when I can get around to it.