Marathon Weekend 2017!

[pixarmom]

Disney Visa discounts out today, with general public released on Monday! We now have NYE through mid-week at All Stars (combo of Movies and Sports - following the discounts) and then BWI CL when the big kids arrive. Once I start running the Dopey races, I'm relying on CL for my family's breakfasts. Yay!

 

[rteetz]

Disney Visa discounts out today, with general public released on Monday! We now have NYE through mid-week at All Stars (combo of Movies and Sports - following the discounts) and then BWI CL when the big kids arrive. Once I start running the Dopey races, I'm relying on CL for my family's breakfasts. Yay!

Normally I'd be all over this but we don't have to worry about it with being in a DVC resort this time.

 

[Keels]

If you're on the fence about Marathon Weekend, Jim Stone (Acclaim Travel) is offering a fire sale on Marathon AND Dopey bibs. They both still require hotel and tickets (though there is an option if you're an AP holder). Marathon is $149. Dopey is $399. You can purchase the Dopey bib and transfer/get a refund from RunDisney for an existing registration if you're thinking about making the jump ... that's almost $200 off Dopey.

 

[Ariel484]

^^i almost wish I didn't know that.

 

[Keels]

^^i almost wish I didn't know that.

I'm sorry.

Also - I would be watching the Active site VERY closely in the next few days. Marathon Weekend is currently down for registration - I have a feeling we're going to start seeing some bibs for sold-out races become available very, very soon ...

 

[camaker]

^^i almost wish I didn't know that.

It always seems to go on sale just after you've bought it! Doesn't really seem to matter what "it" is, either!

 

[pixarmom]

I'm sorry.

Also - I would be watching the Active site VERY closely in the next few days. Marathon Weekend is currently down for registration - I have a feeling we're going to start seeing some bibs for sold-out races become available very, very soon ...

Under these circumstances, they should bring these resort rates down too! Even with the discount, the rate for BWI CL during value season is just silly.

 

[Keels]

Under these circumstances, they should bring these resort rates down too! Even with the discount, the rate for BWI CL during value season is just silly.

This has really killed the market (at least at WDW) for TA's with bibs - they just can't find people willing to take on the hotel and ticket requirement that WDW is asking of them. Meanwhile, no requirements for Disneyland. What gives?

I'm just glad I booked DVC the minute I could, and that I got in on a friend's group rate for an extra night.

 

[rteetz]

This has really killed the market (at least at WDW) for TA's with bibs - they just can't find people willing to take on the hotel and ticket requirement that WDW is asking of them. Meanwhile, no requirements for Disneyland. What gives?

I'm just glad I booked DVC the minute I could, and that I got in on a friend's group rate for an extra night.

Different markets and different amounts of rooms. Disneyland hotels have no problem selling out since there are only three of them. WDW resort hotels are a much different story. WDW is a bit more greedy than DL too.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Look on the bright side - maybe the crowds will be lighter while we are there.

 

[rteetz]

Look on the bright side - maybe the crowds will be lighter while we are there.

I've never found crowds to be bad during marathon weekend. At least when comparing to the summer when I usually would go.

 

[Ariel484]

It always seems to go on sale just after you've bought it! Doesn't really seem to matter what "it" is, either!

Days after I transfer...sigh.

It wouldn't have worked for me, anyway - I'll have an AP and I rented DVC points months ago.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

I've never found crowds to be bad during marathon weekend. At least when comparing to the summer when I usually would go.

They were not light last year because of the rides closed in Epcot and the proximity to NYE. Maybe compared to summer, but not compared to previous years.

 

[rteetz]

They were not light last year because of the rides closed in Epcot and the proximity to NYE. Maybe compared to summer, but not compared to previous years.

Interesting. I've only been to marathon weekend in 2015 and 2016 and both times I didn't feel it was that crowded. Sure there are people there and sure there are going to be some lines that's expected but I never felt that there was just a sea of people or anything.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Interesting. I've only been to marathon weekend in 2015 and 2016 and both times I didn't feel it was that crowded. Sure there are people there and sure there are going to be some lines that's expected but I never felt that there was just a sea of people or anything.

You didn't think that MK was crowded this January? It was jammed every day that we were there, and we went on the most recommended days. Once Soarin' closed Epcot became a ghost town - MK got all of the overflow traffic. Also, the crowds overall were higher because it was the last year for the Osborne Lights. We left for a cruise a day or two after the marathon, so maybe the crowds dropped off after that.

 

[rteetz]

You didn't think that MK was crowded this January? It was jammed every day that we were there, and we went on the most recommended days. Once Soarin' closed Epcot became a ghost town - MK got all of the overflow traffic. Also, the crowds overall were higher because it was the last year for the Osborne Lights. We left for a cruise a day or two after the marathon, so maybe the crowds dropped off after that.

It was crowded but not unbearable that it made me say oh man it's crowded or something along those lines. I saw the Osborne lights on their final day of operation forever and I expected crowds for that.

 

[ZellyB]

You didn't think that MK was crowded this January? It was jammed every day that we were there, and we went on the most recommended days. Once Soarin' closed Epcot became a ghost town - MK got all of the overflow traffic. Also, the crowds overall were higher because it was the last year for the Osborne Lights. We left for a cruise a day or two after the marathon, so maybe the crowds dropped off after that.

I'm hoping for a return to crowd levels that we saw when we went in 2013 for our first marathon. We'd only ever been before in the summer and at spring break and we were in heaven at the light crowds. Subsequent years were busier though.

 

[Keels]

This year from NYE through Marathon weekend wars the busiest I've seen it in 4-5 years, and I'm there every year for the holidays.

 

[rteetz]

This year from NYE through Marathon weekend wars the busiest I've seen it in 4-5 years, and I'm there every year for the holidays.

I think it will be down this year.

 

[Keels]

I think it will be down this year.

Maybe. I just know that this past year (December 12-January 20), I spent more time running through Magic Kingdom than actually in the park itself. It was a crowded beating almost daily.