Marathon Weekend 2017!

[hauntedcity]

Uh oh, I'll be staying at saratoga springs this time. Other than that issue was it ok for the marathon weekend? In regards to transportation for the runners that is.

I've stayed at Saratoga many times for races, and overall it's been great. The only time I've ever had a problem was getting back from the Dark Side 10K (and EVERYONE had problems then).

 

[singastory]

My only goal is to somehow manage to go to sleep super early three nights in a row... My fiance and I are both night owls and I'll probably be anxiously excited!

I'm so torn in terms of hotels. We stayed at POR last year and loved it. A short morning bus ride is definitely tempting! I usually stay deluxe but we're getting married in 2018, so I really should be saving and not indulging my Disney addiction . I'm in the queue with a points rental company for AKV but no points have come available in almost a month! Grr.

 

[donk3]

any idea on disney deals being offered for marathon weekend ? just booked our stay for wine and dine and they there were not any big savings at all , wondering if it will be the same for marathon weekend

 

[rteetz]

any idea on disney deals being offered for marathon weekend ? just booked our stay for wine and dine and they there were not any big savings at all , wondering if it will be the same for marathon weekend

I believe last year there was a stay play and dine offer which was a small percentage on room and dining packages. They also usually do a room only discount. Check Mousesavers.com for more info on what they did last year.

 

[donk3]

I believe last year there was a stay play and dine offer which was a small percentage on room and dining packages. They also usually do a room only discount. Check Mousesavers.com for more info on what they did last year.

will do thank you !

 

[pixarmom]

What's the best place to stay for a runner and a spectator as far as transportation options? Poly? An Epcot resort?

We've stayed at Poly (x2) and at BWI (x1) for WDW race weekends so far. For spectators, we prefer Poly. As others mentioned, it's really easy to watch the races from Poly. The day before I ran the full marathon in 2015, I watched my husband and teens run the half. I was able to see them at TTC, then again outside of Poly, hopped on monorail, saw them enter Epcot and then ran over to see them at the finish. I felt very accomplished and Poly made it all possible!

As a runner, I definitely prefer the Epcot area resorts. While I usually hate buses, I love the bus for the races. In my experience so far, the bus is far warmer than the monorail and the bus drops off/picks up right near the start/finish. When taking the monorail, you have to walk from the monorail station over to the start/finish and then go through Epcot security on the way back to the monorail. I don't mind the walking, but I do mind the cold when it's cold! And transportation is becoming more of a wash as the monorail hasn't been available for 5Ks and 10Ks. So I prefer to stay at an Epcot resort and have a short bus ride to the start for all the races. Also, since race weekend is tiring, it's nice to just walk over to World Showcase if we want just a little park time. Finally, my family has already seen me run enough. So nobody needs to be at the 5K finish (and I'm running with our youngest, so I'll have company!), they can just pop out on the Boardwalk for the 10K, they can show up at the finish for the half and for the marathon, I'm just asking them to go straight to WWOS and then the finish. So based on their plan for Dopey, Poly isn't as key.

Now let's just hope for some good discounts in the Epcot area, or all this is out the window!

My only goal is to somehow manage to go to sleep super early three nights in a row... My fiance and I are both night owls and I'll probably be anxiously excited!

Same here. And we usually eat late - like around 7:30pm or 8pm. So my plan is to gradually start moving dinner up to 6pm all week and then get to bed right after. Good luck to us!

 

[Keels]

My only goal is to somehow manage to go to sleep super early three nights in a row... My fiance and I are both night owls and I'll probably be anxiously excited!

I'm so torn in terms of hotels. We stayed at POR last year and loved it. A short morning bus ride is definitely tempting! I usually stay deluxe but we're getting married in 2018, so I really should be saving and not indulging my Disney addiction . I'm in the queue with a points rental company for AKV but no points have come available in almost a month! Grr.

I am a LEGIT night owl - as in, I usually go to bed around the time I should be getting up for Dopey.
I tried, in earnest, to got to bed early and wake up early in the week or so leading up to Dopey - I would get up when the alarm went off and would go sit outside and read for a while, but I'd always end back up in bed sleeping by 8 or 9 a.m. And I would still be up until midnight or 1 a.m.

But we get to Dopey week and it was like my brain knew that it was time to get serious. With the exception of the night before the half, I was in bed and asleep by 10 p.m. at the latest.

The mornings really aren't that bad - the excitement and adrenaline of the challenge will likely wake you up thirty minutes before the alarm will!

 

[suppinfalls]

Uh oh, I'll be staying at saratoga springs this time. Other than that issue was it ok for the marathon weekend? In regards to transportation for the runners that is.

I didn't have any issues staying at Saratoga Springs and I wouldn't recommend against it. It was fine as a runner. The only issue we found was for my wife as a spectator wanting to view from the Magic Kingdom and the finish line. She had too much time to kill, but not enough time to go back to the resort. If that won't be an issue for you, then Saratoga Springs shouldn't be a problem.

 

[DOOM1001]

I'm just like Keels in that my normal bedtime is the typical RunDisney race wake up time,what I do is get little to no sleep the night before my trip so when I get to 5-6pm the next day I'm ready for bed,that and melatonin!!In all honesty for me that's the biggest challenge of all these races,the falling asleep,the running is no biggie,that's the fun part,falling asleep somedays is a true mission!!

 

[bellanotte10]

I'm lucky... RunDisney race weekend wake ups are only about an hour earlier than when I normally get up for work...so getting up isn't too bad for me

 

[JClimacus]

...

As a runner, I definitely prefer the Epcot area resorts. While I usually hate buses, I love the bus for the races. In my experience so far, the bus is far warmer than the monorail and the bus drops off/picks up right near the start/finish.

Now let's just hope for some good discounts in the Epcot area, or all this is out the window!


Same here. And we usually eat late - like around 7:30pm or 8pm. So my plan is to gradually start moving dinner up to 6pm all week and then get to bed right after. Good luck to us!

We stayed at Poly for my Marathon in 2015, and at FQ for the Goofy this past year. The Poly was great for the spectators, as you say, and I agree that the busses are preferable for the runners. It was a long walk to the monorail, topped off with a nice little walk up the on ramp, which I found very painful after 26.2! The busses are right there at the finish, they are warm, and not a long wait.

 

[croach]

We stayed at Poly for my Marathon in 2015, and at FQ for the Goofy this past year. The Poly was great for the spectators, as you say, and I agree that the busses are preferable for the runners. It was a long walk to the monorail, topped off with a nice little walk up the on ramp, which I found very painful after 26.2! The busses are right there at the finish, they are warm, and not a long wait.

Took the monorail to the start and the bus back so I didn't have to do the shuffle to the monorail. That walk isn't fun after finishing. But you guys are making consider changing to the Beach Club.

 

[UNCBear24]

I'm lucky... RunDisney race weekend wake ups are only about an hour earlier than when I normally get up for work...so getting up isn't too bad for me

It's the same way for me. I had no trouble getting up 4 days in a row.

 

[donk3]

my normal wake up for work is around 3am so its pretty much the same to wake up to run, just less running around to get lunch and work stuff ready . its actually a nice break

 

[alexksmith]

my normal wake up for work is around 3am so its pretty much the same to wake up to run, just less running around to get lunch and work stuff ready . its actually a nice break

Wow and I complain about getting up at 6.

The getting up early 4 days in a row is my main concern as well. Especially with all the excitement of being in disney world, I know I'll want to stay up late.

 

[donk3]

Wow and I complain about getting up at 6.

The getting up early 4 days in a row is my main concern as well. Especially with all the excitement of being in disney world, I know I'll want to stay up late.

I have a 60 miles commute to work and my start time is 5am so by six im wide awake!!! yes the excitement of being at disney does make it hard to go to bed at around 8pm but i had some ear plugs so i could not hear all the fun people were having ....

 

[lhermiston]

I am up at 5:30 every day, but usually in bed by 9:30. Between being at Disney and the excitement over the race the next day, I doubt I sleep much or well.

At least it's only one morning and maybe I'll do AK the day before the race. I can mill about, instead of commando touring like at MK, and won't feel the need to stay late.

 

[rteetz]

I am up at 5:30 every day, but usually in bed by 9:30. Between being at Disney and the excitement over the race the next day, I doubt I sleep much or well.

At least it's only one morning and maybe I'll do AK the day before the race. I can mill about, instead of commando touring like at MK, and won't feel the need to stay late.

AK is going to be open late now though with a bunch of new nighttime things to do. The night before the 5k I stayed up and watched illuminations but we were staying at BC so it was an easy 10 or so walk from our viewing location back to out room. The night before the half last year I stayed at Disney Springs until maybe 8:30-9:00 and then left to go back to the room. Both times I didn't fall asleep until maybe 10:15-10:30. The excitement of the race kept me up longer where I couldn't fall asleep.

 

[bellanotte10]

chear squad is still greyed out and half is still listed as open. wonder whats up

 

[lhermiston]

AK is going to be open late now though with a bunch of new nighttime things to do. The night before the 5k I stayed up and watched illuminations but we were staying at BC so it was an easy 10 or so walk from our viewing location back to out room. The night before the half last year I stayed at Disney Springs until maybe 8:30-9:00 and then left to go back to the room. Both times I didn't fall asleep until maybe 10:15-10:30. The excitement of the race kept me up longer where I couldn't fall asleep.

I'll stay for the nighttime safari and some photos, but of the four parks, AK's night entertainment is less appealing. I'd rather stay up for Wishes, IllumiNations and the Star Wars fireworks, so that's the plan for right now. I'm staying at Pop. Nothing is particularly close.