Marathon Weekend 2019

[Dis_Yoda]

We are booked for AKV since that is our home resort. It would be nice to be closer to the other parks but oh well.

Having never registered for DMW, I'm liking the delay - more time to decide for sure what I want to do.

We're at AKV because I got a 1 Bedroom Value and the points value for that makes it great for a race weekend when you want laundry!

 

[Bree]

Btw ... race-wise, I'm actually a little more nervous staying at a deluxe. I know a lot of runners stay at the values, so I know the transportation, etc will be good and I'll never be waiting alone for a bus.
I don't know how many people stay at the deluxes for races, so I'm a little more nervous about how the transportation will be and whether I'll be out there alone in the dark waiting for buses, which makes me a little nervous.

I just stayed at BC for Princess Weekend. Lots of runners were there! The location is wonderful and they had free coffee in the lobby before the 10K and half. The only thing I didn’t care for were the buses coming back from the races. They stopped at Boardwalk, Swan/Dolphin, Yacht Club then Beach Club.

 

[Dis_Yoda]

I just stayed at BC for Princess Weekend. Lots of runners were there! The location is wonderful and they had free coffee in the lobby before the 10K and half. The only thing I didn’t care for were the buses coming back from the races. They stopped at Boardwalk, Swan/Dolphin, Yacht Club then Beach Club.

Interesting as usually the route is: Swan, Dolphin, Yacht Club, Beach Club then Boardwalk. We've stayed at the Boardwalk for a lot of race weekends and typically are the last off the bus!

 

[Bree]

Interesting as usually the route is: Swan, Dolphin, Yacht Club, Beach Club then Boardwalk. We've stayed at the Boardwalk for a lot of race weekends and typically are the last off the bus!

You would think that would make sense, right? I must have gotten on the buses with drivers who don’t know the area. After the 5K we went Buena Vista Dr - Epcot Resorts Blvd - BW - Buena Vista Dr - other end of Epcot Resorts Blvd - S&D - YC - BC. Coming back from the 10K the driver missed the turn for Epcot Resorts Blvd to get to Boardwalk. Instead of just continuing on to the next entrance for Epcot Resorts Blvd and doing Boardwalk last he made a u-turn to go back. Then he went back to Buena Vista Dr to head towards the swolphin and missed that turn!!! He had to make another u-turn. I walked back to BC after the half.

 

[cavepig]

Any thoughts on Boatrights?

I actually have never ate there, but it seemed to always have a good crowd when we passed it by. One time we would have but didn't have an ADR and a wait was going to be over 60 min, so nope! It gets mixed reviews but then all WDW restaurants do. I say if you think the menu has options you think look good, go for it.

 

[apdebord]

I've stayed at Boardwalk, Poly, Saratoga, Swan and Wilderness for rD weekends. We'll be in a Poly studio this year, same as when DH did Dopey in 16. I've always thought the transportation has been really good. The only hiccup was getting back to Wilderness after Princess this year. Major traffic jam! I think it took about 45 minutes to get to Fort Wilderness, I was starting to lock up, so we got off there and then took the internal bus back to the boat, and got to Wilderness Lodge that way. I don't know if it saved any time, but it was nice to be moving.

 

[SarahDisney]

I just stayed at BC for Princess Weekend. Lots of runners were there! The location is wonderful and they had free coffee in the lobby before the 10K and half. The only thing I didn’t care for were the buses coming back from the races. They stopped at Boardwalk, Swan/Dolphin, Yacht Club then Beach Club.

This is good to know.
Although I'm the kind of person who will probably just get off at the first stop, walk back to my hotel, and then regret all of my life choices.

 

[jmasgat]

So I have 90 DVC points to play with over Marathon weekend (3 or4 nights). Already, stuff is gone. If I'm going to do this, I need to decide soon (they are not my points). Was thinking 1BR at OKW--one of my favorites--but seeing the totally bland renovations, I am disappointed. Still love the amount of space, but yuck on the generic decor (sigh, Disney, this is one reason why you have lost me). Maybe I should just go new: BLT (also bland, but that way from the start!), or back to WL to see the newest construction.

It's just me thinking of going, and doubt I'll be doing parks. Loved staying at AKL this year (regular room), although the room was dated and lacked the functionality of Pop reno'd room.

Decisions, decisions.......

 

[lhermiston]

I actually have never ate there, but it seemed to always have a good crowd when we passed it by. One time we would have but didn't have an ADR and a wait was going to be over 60 min, so nope! It gets mixed reviews but then all WDW restaurants do. I say if you think the menu has options you think look good, go for it.

I’m leaning toward it, but looking at the ADRs I have planned, a lot of them are pretty “adventurous” (at least by Disney standards) and I’m a little worried I’m playing with fire by eating at all of these places during marathon weekend.

Boatrights
Boma
Restaurant Marrakech
Yak and Yeti

 

[Barca33Runner]

I’m leaning toward it, but looking at the ADRs I have planned, a lot of them are pretty “adventurous” (at least by Disney standards) and I’m a little worried I’m playing with fire by eating at all of these places during marathon weekend.

Boatrights
Boma
Restaurant Marrakech
Yak and Yeti

You've listed 3 of my absolute favorites and another (Yak and Yeti) that I enjoyed the one time I ate there. I admit that I'm not hard to please (or at least look for the best in my experiences) and I like to get as "adventurous" as I can when going out for dinner and very rarely order steak and potatoes (it seems only chain restaurants can survive in Indiana and most of them are some sort of Texas-themed steakhouse...so I don't eat out much at home). That said, I'd feel safer eating at those places on days when I don't have a race the next morning. This is because I tend to go a little "safe" on days before races, and I'd prefer to eat at these restaurants when the full menu is available and I'm not worried about possibly over-indulging.

 

[mrsg00fy]

This is good to know.
Although I'm the kind of person who will probably just get off at the first stop, walk back to my hotel, and then regret all of my life choices.

I typically stay at boardwalk. Swan is first stop and boardwalkbia last. After a race my legs start to feel right if I sit down too long and I’m generally too impatient for the bus to make all those stops before boardwalk. So I typically will get off the bus at the Swan and walk to the boardwalk.

 

[Bree]

I haven’t decided where I’m staying yet. I was leaning towards shades of green, but I really like the Epcot resorts area. The parking fees at WDW have really made me mad.

 

[Princess KP]

So I have 90 DVC points to play with over Marathon weekend (3 or4 nights). Already, stuff is gone.

What?!? I thought there was lots of availability! I better book something soon.

 

[lhermiston]

You've listed 3 of my absolute favorites and another (Yak and Yeti) that I enjoyed the one time I ate there. I admit that I'm not hard to please (or at least look for the best in my experiences) and I like to get as "adventurous" as I can when going out for dinner and very rarely order steak and potatoes (it seems only chain restaurants can survive in Indiana and most of them are some sort of Texas-themed steakhouse...so I don't eat out much at home). That said, I'd feel safer eating at those places on days when I don't have a race the next morning. This is because I tend to go a little "safe" on days before races, and I'd prefer to eat at these restaurants when the full menu is available and I'm not worried about possibly over-indulging.

That’s what I’m a little worried about. It could be years before I get to these places again and I don’t want to stick with chicken strips and cheeseburgers this trip. I guess we’ll see what happens!

 

[run.minnie.miles]

Where do you usually stay for Disney vacations?
If you're used to a moderate and willing to pay the price, then definitely stick with Coronado. I'm sure it'll be great.
If you're looking to do this vacation very cheap, then you really can't go wrong with Pop.

You do you - don't let us sway you (unless you're considering going deluxe and staying at Beach Club, in which case ... yes)

Is there such a thing a "very cheap" Disney vacation?

We've actually only stayed in moderates or off-site. We've just never spent enough time at the resort or in the room to justify a deluxe! I'm all about opportunity cost with that ol' economics degree of mine. I was asking (my non-Disney obsessed) DH about it last night and he asked about trying one of the "BAM! Disney!" resorts (aka values ha) after his sister mentioned them this past weekend, so I might look into that a little more. I've honestly never really considered values before. Although when I woke up at 1am last night thinking about this, I firmly decided to stay at Coronado in my sleepy stupor. I'm a mess.

 

[run.minnie.miles]

On a non-resort note... I think this could be a cool option for someone just doing a single race:

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2018/04/what-is-memory-maker-one-day-and-where-can-i-buy-it/

 

[MilesMouse]

So I have 90 DVC points to play with over Marathon weekend (3 or4 nights). Already, stuff is gone. If I'm going to do this, I need to decide soon (they are not my points). Was thinking 1BR at OKW--one of my favorites--but seeing the totally bland renovations, I am disappointed. Still love the amount of space, but yuck on the generic decor (sigh, Disney, this is one reason why you have lost me). Maybe I should just go new: BLT (also bland, but that way from the start!), or back to WL to see the newest construction.

We ended up booking at OKW. We've never stayed anywhere but All Stars (including marathon 2016 weekend) so how does transportation look from OKW? It looks to be pretty spread out if you're not close to a bus stop.

 

[PrincessV]

Is there such a thing a "very cheap" Disney vacation?

Yep! I mean, it depends on how we define "cheap," of course. But I'm estimating a total outlay of less than $100 for Dark Side weekend, Thurs - Mon, not including race registration. Staying at a friend's house, buying the same groceries I'd buy at home for those days, using Disney Visa reward points for meals at WDW, entering parks on an AP.

 

[jennamfeo]

Is there such a thing a "very cheap" Disney vacation?

My goal is to stay under $2500, for just me, including race registration. Is that cheap? I mean, maybe not to some. But it sure as heck beats how much we spent on our family vacation to WDW in November. Haha.

 

[SarahDisney]

My sister and I can usually do it in the $2000-$3000 range. But we stay value, bring a lot of our own food, dont park hop, and dont buy much.
Other than maybe the food, I'm doing the opposite of that this trip.