Marathon Weekend 2018

[FelisLachesis]

I haven't been a spectator for Marathon weekend before but will be supporting partner & sister-in-law when they do the half. Do I need a special pass to cheer from MK? Is it at all feasible to get from MK to the finish line near Epcot?

You can get chEAR Squad, but it's not necessary. There's space for just being able to come in, cheer, and leave from MK. chEAR Squad gives you better seating within MK and Epcot, along with a bunch of other goodies. Since running through MK happens before the park officially opens, there's no park ticket requirement to get in.

Transporting from Epcot to MK (or vice versa) can all be accomplished via the monorail. Go from one theme park to the Transportation and Ticket Center, and from there, transfter onto the other monorail leading to where you want to go.

 

[Z-Knight]

Haven't done a runDisney race yet so my current favorite medal is the 2012 Marine Corps Marathon. DC is my favorite city, the globe spins, plus I love how the medal is the Marine Corps logo. It was a very emotional race with all the Marines lined up along the course and then having a Marine place the medal over my neck after I finished is a great memory!

My first runDisney medal will come at the Wine & Dine 10K this year, but I'm most looking forward to the 6 I'm going to get after I complete Dopey 2018!!!!

btw, here are pics of the 2016 medal (I got mine, but these are not my pics)....such a cool medal, it opened that year. Although I must say I wish I could have gotten the 2015 version because it was beautiful:






You can see exactly why this is one of my favorites as well, and why so many people want to do this race.

Also a cool thing is that you will NOT see the medal in the weeks/days before the race. The first time you see the medal is AFTER you finish the race and a Marine puts it around your neck. So awesome.

 

[ChipNDale86]

Although I must say I wish I could have gotten the 2015 version because it was beautiful

wow, that 2015 medal is beautiful! Such a great race!

 

[mawatcha]

@FelisLachesis Thank you!

 

[FelisLachesis]

@FelisLachesis Thank you!

You're very welcome!

Just regarding the point of not needing a park ticket, here's a course map

http://eatruntravelrd.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/2015HalfOverview.jpg

Provided they can get everyone on the road by 7:00, the absolute last set of runners (starting in corral OMG, and literally staying 2 steps ahead of the balloon ladies) will be through The Kingdom in an hour, so by 8:00. MK historically opens at 9 everyday in January (save any morning EMH) and they'll never make half-marathon day and full marathon day an early EMH day for MK. That's why no ticket is necessary.

 

[Mimsy Borogove]

I'm assuming most if not all have been to a Disney park at least once. So what keeps you going back?

(Catching up, hope this hasn't been posted)

 

[Curiouser&curiouser!]

You're very welcome!

Just regarding the point of not needing a park ticket, here's a course map

http://eatruntravelrd.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/2015HalfOverview.jpg

Provided they can get everyone on the road by 7:00, the absolute last set of runners (starting in corral OMG, and literally staying 2 steps ahead of the balloon ladies) will be through The Kingdom in an hour, so by 8:00. MK historically opens at 9 everyday in January (save any morning EMH) and they'll never make half-marathon day and full marathon day an early EMH day for MK. That's why no ticket is necessary.

We just happened to be in the MK early on Marathon day this year (had Keys to the Kingdom booked). We got there SUPER early because we were told we had the 8:00am Keys tour, but apparently they don't' run an 8am one on Marathon Day. Anyway . . . here is what we experienced first hand.

We arrived around 6:45am. The park was open to anyone (no ticket needed). We were told to come back just before 8am to be let in 'officially' with our tickets for the tour. We went in and saw the runners and spectators for about an hour. It was a great atmosphere.

We weren't back out to be let in officially at about 7:45am. Runners were still making their way through the park at this time. Spectators had not been cleared from the park yet. We were let in after getting our tickets scanned and found out the tour time was wrong and to spend some time on Main Street and come back just before 9am.

Runners and Spectators were still in the park until about 8:30am. We actually saw the Balloon ladies walk through with the official bikers right around that time. They immediately started cleaning up behind them and there was no sign of the race at all by 8:45am. The park cleared out naturally on it's own, but was never officially cleared.

 

[Jescue]

Question: Did the Half sell out this year? I have a friend debating on whether to sign up for the 2018 half, but was curious when she needed to make a decision by.

 

[rteetz]

Question: Did the Half sell out this year? I have a friend debating on whether to sign up for the 2018 half, but was curious when she needed to make a decision by.

It was then they reopened it. This year was also an anniversary year which might have contributed to that.

 

[FelisLachesis]

It was then they reopened it. This year was also an anniversary year which might have contributed to that.

I would think that this year's race getting rained out might have more to do with 2018 getting a small bump.

 

[MeridaAndAngus]

Anyone have experience staying at the Hilton Bonnet Creek or Waldorf for marathon weekend? My husband has a ton of points so I'm considering those locations this year. Do they run buses race morning?

 

[Greatfalls]

Anyone have experience staying at the Hilton Bonnet Creek or Waldorf for marathon weekend? My husband has a ton of points so I'm considering those locations this year. Do they run buses race morning?

I am considering this, too, so I Googled Hilton Bonnet Creek Marathon Weekend. They have special packages for all marathon weekends that includes complimentary bus service to and from the race. The rates are much lower than their regular rates.

 

[ywgckp]

They run buses to the half and the full, as per their website.

I've stayed at the Waldorf a few times. The room quality is better than a Disney deluxe hotel, I find, and service is excellent. It's almost always cheaper than a deluxe.

I haven't stayed there for a marathon weekend yet, but I am booked there for W&D, and unless that doesn't go well, probably for marathon weekend as well.

 

[jmasgat]

I am considering this, too, so I Googled Hilton Bonnet Creek Marathon Weekend. They have special packages for all marathon weekends that includes complimentary bus service to and from the race. The rates are much lower than their regular rates.

Thanks for the suggestion. They have a great nightly rate--but the $30/night resort fee and $27 for parking is a killer!

 

[PrincessV]

Anyone have experience staying at the Hilton Bonnet Creek or Waldorf for marathon weekend? My husband has a ton of points so I'm considering those locations this year. Do they run buses race morning?

I've stayed at Hilton Bonnet Creek a bunch of times, for races and for regular visits. I haven't taken their race buses, but can tell you that they only run them for the half and full marathons,not the 5Ks or 10Ks. And they are not official WDW race buses, so they don't drop off/pick up in the same area. I'm not sure where they go, but make sure you find out if staying there and using them. Rooms and service are great - I've been very happy there.

They have a great nightly rate--but the $30/night resort fee and $27 for parking is a killer!

Yep, that's why I haven't been staying there lately! Parking used to be much lower and the resort fee is a fairly recent addition. Kills any value for me, unfortunately.

 

[FelisLachesis]

Thanks for the suggestion. They have a great nightly rate--but the $30/night resort fee and $27 for parking is a killer!

Yep, that's why I haven't been staying there lately! Parking used to be much lower and the resort fee is a fairly recent addition. Kills any value for me, unfortunately.

My first time paying for a trip to WDW (not runDisney), My only options were Dolphin or POR. (I was setting up a Christmas trip the week after Labor Day, this was all Disney's site had left). Dolphin's price was pretty good, but then the resort fee and parking really did it in. I think it was like $47 a day for both, that extra $235 just made me go "nope" and I booked at Riverside.

 

[rteetz]

My first time paying for a trip to WDW (not runDisney), My only options were Dolphin or POR. (I was setting up a Christmas trip the week after Labor Day, this was all Disney's site had left). Dolphin's price was pretty good, but then the resort fee and parking really did it in. I think it was like $47 a day for both, that extra $235 just made me go "nope" and I booked at Riverside.

I've done both. We didn't have a car so didn't have to pay for parking but did have to pay for a shuttle to and from the hotel. The dolphin is nice and has a great location to two parks but I preferred POR.

 

[MeridaAndAngus]

I've stayed at Hilton Bonnet Creek a bunch of times, for races and for regular visits. I haven't taken their race buses, but can tell you that they only run them for the half and full marathons,not the 5Ks or 10Ks. And they are not official WDW race buses, so they don't drop off/pick up in the same area. I'm not sure where they go, but make sure you find out if staying there and using them. Rooms and service are great - I've been very happy there.

Thanks for this info. I'll probably have a rental car for race weekend, but I wanted to get an idea of the options if I don't want to drive to the marathon on Sunday.

 

[FelisLachesis]

I've done both. We didn't have a car so didn't have to pay for parking but did have to pay for a shuttle to and from the hotel. The dolphin is nice and has a great location to two parks but I preferred POR.

Plane tickets were quite expensive (holiday season), and we had extra time, so that's why my girlfriend and I drove. We met up with our kids at the resort (they flew in from a different city). I also wanted to see South of the Border. That place was depressing.

 

[huskies90]

I have a couple of questions about corals. I submitted a half marathon time when I signed up (1:47). So question 1) When does the coral get assigned and how can I check which coral I am in. Question 2) I am running the 1/2 with my wife and daughter. They do not have a qualifying race but I am encouraging them to run at least a 10K so they get into a coral because I heard getting stuck in the back corals is bad. At what point does this make sense? They are not runners and probably won't get a great time anyway. I assume having any qualifying time is better than not having one or am I off base? By the way, I plan to go back to their coral and start with them and run with them at their pace not mine.