Marathon Weekend 2017!

[PCFriar80]

Does the Expo stay open until 8:00 on Wednesday?
How long should I give us to get from Epcot to the Expo if we are driving our own vehicle?
Thanks
We are just picking up kids packets.

Hours this year for Wednesday, 1/6 were 8:30 AM - 7:30 PM. Epcot to Expo; parking lot to parking lot allow 15 minutes. There tends to be a bottleneck arriving at the expo, but that could be time dependent so assume the worst.

 

[rdominy]

Hours this year for Wednesday, 1/6 were 8:30 AM - 7:30 PM. Epcot to Expo; parking lot to parking lot allow 15 minutes. There tends to be a bottleneck arriving at the expo, but that could be time dependent so assume the worst.

So as long as we left EPCOT by 5:30 we would have no problem getting there and getting everything done?

 

[Keels]

So as long as we left EPCOT by 5:30 we would have no problem getting there and getting everything done?

Absolutely no problem. If I remember correctly, the Kids Race booth was on the concourse of the stadium - right next to the 5K booth - and a LOT easier to get to than the rest of the races. You will have to go into a different building for shirt pickup.

Kids Races are the one thing I wish RD would do race-only pickup for. Going to the Expo just to pick up kids' packets is an unnecessary hassle, especially when the races are AT WWoS.

 

[PCFriar80]

So as long as we left EPCOT by 5:30 we would have no problem getting there and getting everything done?

That will give you plenty of time!

 

[StartedByAMouse]

Just booked my hotel stays for marathon week. So excited!

My wife, daughter and I will be coming in early and spending a couple of days in a savanna-view room at Animal Kingdom Lodge before moving over to an Art of Animation Little Mermaid room for the duration of the weekend. I know most people say when doing a split stay to do the value before the deluxe but this gives us a chance to actually enjoy AKL before the string of early-to-bed, early-to-rise Dopey nights for me kick in. I stayed solo at AoA for the 2015 marathon and really enjoyed it. Looking forward to a great race-cation!

 

[rdominy]

If we are staying at AoA is it easier to ride the bus or drive our own car to ESPN?

 

[Baloo in MI]

I have never driven, so can't speak to that. But I have stayed at Pop the last two years and found the bus system to be very simple, quick and relaxing. Just hop on, space out and then hop off once there. And getting back was pretty easy to. I was in early corrals so that might have helped some but I had either no wait or very little wait to get back on the bus and get back to Pop. It is a very short ride. Enjoy AoA, looks like a fun resort.

 

[rteetz]

I just realized there's is like two weeks until I can start making ADRs! I guess I have to decide where I want that celebratory dinner after dopey.

 

[Keels]

If we are staying at AoA is it easier to ride the bus or drive our own car to ESPN?

If you drive, you can leave when you want instead of waiting for a bus.

I've driven to the Expo every time and I've never had a parking, walking, you name it situation that would ever deter me from it. I've usually parked in the parking area closest to the WWoS buildings, where the busses drop off a little further.

I like the control of getting in and out when I want to.

 

[Keels]

I just realized there's is like two weeks until I can start making ADRs! I guess I have to decide where I want that celebratory dinner after dopey.

What are you considering?!?

Also - I have a few spots left on my second Illuminations pontoon boat, if anyone else is interested! The price is $27/pp and I'm covering catering and tip!

 

[rteetz]

What are you considering?!?

Also - I have a few spots left on my second Illuminations pontoon boat, if anyone else is interested! The price is $27/pp and I'm covering catering and tip!

I have no idea really I want to do something good. Marathon Sunday I'll have my grandma and my sister with me everyone else I'm with is leaving Saturday.

 

[Keels]

I have no idea really I want to do something good. Marathon Sunday I'll have my grandma and my sister with me everyone else I'm with is leaving Saturday.

I'm sure others will chime in, but here's MY first Dopey input!

After the Marathon (and I'm talking like immediately ... through the finish chute, pictures, move the car) and we were starving. Like, would eat anything. We went straight to Electric Umbrella and I'm fairly certain we waited twice as long for the food as it did to eat it.

Then, it was a change of clothes and a refresh, a meet-up with the rest of our group and then a ride on TT.

Then we just drank and snacked around the world. None of us could really appreciate a true meal until the next day - your body just goes through SO much during the course of Dopey.

Personally, I would pick a place you like that makes you happy - as garbagey as the food is, we're even thinking about Chef Mickey's if we can get there - because of pictures with all the guys.

I wouldn't put emphasis on a big, expensive meal because you're really going to be sad if you are too tired to make it or you go and can't/don't eat anything to make it worth your while.

 

[rteetz]

I'm sure others will chime in, but here's MY first Dopey input!

After the Marathon (and I'm talking like immediately ... through the finish chute, pictures, move the car) and we were starving. Like, would eat anything. We went straight to Electric Umbrella and I'm fairly certain we waited twice as long for the food as it did to eat it.

Then, it was a change of clothes and a refresh, a meet-up with the rest of our group and then a ride on TT.

Then we just drank and snacked around the world. None of us could really appreciate a true meal until the next day - your body just goes through SO much during the course of Dopey.

Personally, I would pick a place you like that makes you happy - as garbagey as the food is, we're even thinking about Chef Mickey's if we can get there - because of pictures with all the guys.

I wouldn't put emphasis on a big, expensive meal because you're really going to be sad if you are too tired to make it or you go and can't/don't eat anything to make it worth your while.

Yeah I wasn't thinking too big or expensive but maybe Be Our Guest, or maybe Ohana. Thanks for the advice!

 

[lhermiston]

Yeah I wasn't thinking too big or expensive but maybe Be Our Guest, or maybe Ohana. Thanks for the advice!

I'm doing Ohana for dinner after the marathon. That's my "treat yo self" meal. Quick service likely the rest of the trip.

 

[Tardisblue]

What are you considering?!?

Also - I have a few spots left on my second Illuminations pontoon boat, if anyone else is interested! The price is $27/pp and I'm covering catering and tip!

This is Sunday night, correct? I may be interested in one of the spots - still uncertain if my wife is coming down to watch me run the races.

 

[rteetz]

I'm doing Ohana for dinner after the marathon. That's my "treat yo self" meal. Quick service likely the rest of the trip.

I've never done Ohana for dinner so I'd like to try it since I've heard good things about it.

 

[Barca33Runner]

I don't know what we are going to do this year. We have always stayed at POR, but with a larger group this year we decided to rent a house and try the off-site commuting route for the races this time. We have always raided the POR food court for Pizza, Chicken Fingers, Red Velvet Cake, you know, all the healthy and nutritious food we can find (showers are our first priority when we finish the marathon, so eating from the food court is expedient). We then hold it together as well as we can for a few hours before hitting Boatwright's for our celebratory dinner. The good thing is, there's almost no way to go wrong when you're at Disney (well, as far as deliciousness goes...Calorie-wise? Maybe not so much). I am sure we will figure something out.

 

[croach]

What are you considering?!?

Also - I have a few spots left on my second Illuminations pontoon boat, if anyone else is interested! The price is $27/pp and I'm covering catering and tip!

Might be interested. What time do you have to be on the boats? I'm guessing the leave from the Boardwalk area?

 

[lhermiston]

I've never done Ohana for dinner so I'd like to try it since I've heard good things about it.

It's pretty good. It's our favorite spot to eat at WDW. Good food and lots of it. I figured that's a winning combination for post-marathon.

Plus, it's on the monorail, which is ideal for my plans to head to Epcot that night.

 

[rteetz]

@DopeyBadger Hey are you planning on doing that spreadsheet thing again like you did this year? If not I'd be willing to help out or do a similar one. I know we still are far out from the weekend but I like planning ahead.