Marathon Weekend 2019

[PrincessV]

Sigh. I had so many issues with fallen kingdom. I won’t spoil the movie here, but feel free to DM me if you want to discuss.

THAT SAID...I do love ranking stuff, so here goes:

1. Jurassic Park
2. JP3
3. Jurassic World
4. The Lost World
5. JW: Fallen Kingdom

Agree with this 100%! Fallen was such a disappointment to me.

Ok all of this weather talk on the running thread today has me wondering about "normal" Marathon weekend temperatures. I know there have been several cold years, but how about heat? Is that more common?

Nope, there is no more prevailing temp - it;s been cold, "hot", warm, cool, sunny, cloudy, windy, still, rainy, sleeting. I live down here and can tell you it's a total crapshoot: all depends on whether or not a cold front happens to dip down at the time of race weekend. It can truly be anywhere from 20-85, and can even swing from one to the other in a matter of days.

 

[a-mad]

re: UO (@Keels)

My wife and I are spending Wed and Thurs AFTER marathon weekend there (Jan 16-17), and we've get a rez at Cabana Bay. Not sure if it would qualify for a ticket discount if it's after marathon weekend, but let me know if it does. My dad-in-law can get military tickets, which is a bit of a discount from the online price, which is what we were planning on purchasing.

I've been to UO a couple of times. We love WWoHP, but haven't seen Diagon Alley/Hogwarts Express which we are looking forward to. I have mixed feelings over much of UO, but I also love a lot of it. To me, Spiderman is still one of the best theme park rides in the world.

 

[lhermiston]

In 2017, we got in on Friday and it was around 80. Then the storms that cancelled the half rolled in. The morning of the marathon it was probably 32 and windy.

The best part of that was all of us up north doing heat acclimation, when the temps we’d been running in were pretty close to the marathon experience.

In 2019, I’ll be packed and prepared for all outcomes.

 

[huskies90]

How many people are interested in UO/IOA during Marathon Weekend? If we get a hand-raise of over 20, I can probably get a convention rate on tickets.

What kind of discount are we talking about? I might be interested if it is a decent discount.

 

[Keels]

What kind of discount are we talking about? I might be interested if it is a decent discount.

They're usually about 20-percent off lowest online cost, but it depends on season. They do offer half-day park-to-park tickets, so I've requested info on those as well. I'd need at least 20 committed to buy tickets to access the discount for either.

 

[YawningDodo]

I haven't been to UO since the late 90's. I'm pretty sure every single ride that was there at the time is gone now. I know I'd enjoy it (being a theme park addict and all), but I've kind of been waiting for my nieces and nephews to be old enough to go on all of the attractions. The two oldest went this spring and had a blast, so I'm sure I'll be there in the next couple years.

Also, as a person with a dog named McFly, the absence of the Back To The Future ride is a big negative.

Y E A H, when I was a kid I remember there was a commercial for Universal on one of our VHS tapes that prominently featured the Back to the Future ride. Years and years later I finally got to go down there and ride it, and it was cheesy and glorious and one of my favorite things. I can't stand the Simpsons ride that replaced it, partly because it makes me nauseous (in all fairness, the BTTF ride might have made me nauseous if I was older when I rode it) and partly because I just get depressed being in there and remembering what it looked like when it was themed after something I actually cared about.

Also eternally bummed out at the loss of the Jaws ride. The Harry Potter areas are fantastic, but I wish they hadn't had to bulldoze Jaws to put Diagon Alley in. It was another highlight of the parks for me back when it was still there.

I like Universal but I have to limit Universal. As most of their rides are simulator based, it can wear on you after a bit. My mother and I went in July 2017 and had a great time but with my husband and I going in November during our long trip - we'll skip Marathon Weekend. I love the theming of Harry Potter and Simpsons.

The Jimmy Fallon ride also sucks because of the que system used. It felt like forever to actually get on the ride even with the use of the Express Pass.

It seems to me, from my last visit, that Universal is progressively removing all the rides with real, physical effects and replacing them all with simulators. I like a simulator ride now and then, but an entire day of them gets old (and makes me queasy). Tbqh it's why I'm a lot more happy about N'avi River Journey than Flight of Passage over at WDW; at least NRJ has some actual animatronics (including the awesome one at the end).

I should probably stop poking my nose in here since I'm not doing marathon weekend until 2020...but all this parks talk has me reconsidering yet again whether I really want to do a cruise after marathon weekend or if I want to spend that week in the parks with a UO day. Pretty sure the parks are actually cheaper than the cruise when one travels solo. I've just done the parks so many times that I wonder if it's really how I want to spend my time (also, concerned that my legs might be Dead that week).

 

[Dis5150]

I can NOT handle simulator rides at all so I think UO will be a bust for me but I am looking forward to eating at some of the restaurants. I have been perusing their menus over on the UO board.

 

[MapleGirl]

Jumping in. I've been lurking for a little while. I'm doing the C25K now and plan to run/walk the half in January. I started the race in 2010 but had to leave at mile 5 due to intense asthma. It's been haunting me ever since. This is the year I finish that race! I'm working through an old knee injury, so I'm taking this slow and easy. I figured I have until 7/17 (DVC registration day) to decide if I'm up to it. I hope I am.

The plan is for my husband and I to fly from Massachusetts to Orlando on Friday, race on Saturday, return home on Sunday. I've made my hotel (Saratoga Springs) and flight reservations.

I'm nervously optimistic.

(I went to Diagon Alley last February. It was fantastic! We went over to the rest of US but I got sick on the first ride so we ended up leaving. I cannot do simulator rides. Boo.)

 

[Princess KP]

How many people are interested in UO/IOA during Marathon Weekend? If we get a hand-raise of over 20, I can probably get a convention rate on tickets.

A maybe for 1. When do you need to know by? Can it be used after Marathon Weekend? Thanks!!

ETA: What are the date restrictions? Can it be used the Tuesday after Marathon Weekend?

 

[pluto377]

SW flights booked. Not super happy with the price, but oh well.

I've been to the Harry Potter part of UO and it's amazing! We plan to go back when our kids are older because they're really not into any of the stuff there yet.

 

[cavepig]

Return flight booked for the Saturday after, price good & Non-Stop which is rare for us, with Southwest. Hoping the Art Festival Returns and we'll get to do it this time as we left the day it opened this year. Now to just wait and see what going down flights do. 1 thing booked!

 

[croach]

In 2015 it was not cold or hot but it did rain some, I don't remember anything extreme. In 2016 it was 100% humidity, overcast mostly so the humidity just stayed even as the sun came up, Temp was 70 I think (correct me someone if I'm off). The humidity was bad, that's what you really have to watch for in my opinion.

It wasn’t as cold as the last couple years but if I remember correctly 2015 was still pretty chilly in the morning. I think a lot of people including myself were caught by surprise, especially for the half. To be fair though, it may have just been chilly for Florida.

 

[emilyindisney]

It wasn’t as cold as the last couple years but if I remember correctly 2015 was still pretty chilly in the morning. I think a lot of people including myself were caught by surprise, especially for the half. To be fair though, it may have just been chilly for Florida.

I second this! This was our first January race weekend so I think we saw 60s-70s and naively thought that would feel warm when coming from a New England winter. I don't think it was nearly as cold as 2017 or 2018 were (but I'm sure I've learned my lesson since then and have been much more liberal when packing the throw-aways.)

 

[cavepig]

It wasn’t as cold as the last couple years but if I remember correctly 2015 was still pretty chilly in the morning. I think a lot of people including myself were caught by surprise, especially for the half. To be fair though, it may have just been chilly for Florida.

and I had the flu so I could be off in memory too. I do remember starting with a long sleeve under my tank and a mile in I had to get it off I was hot.

 

[PrincessV]

2015 I ran the 10K and half, spectated the full...
10K was chilly, by my Floridian standards: two layers of tights, long sleeve thermal under short sleeve tech shirt.
Half was downright cold - mid-30s and windy pre-race, as I recall: thermal tights, thermal mock turtleneck, short sleeve tech over that, neck gaiter, ear cover, gloves, plus throwaway leg warmers and a fleece jacket.
Full - I got out around 7am and was in regular weight tights, short sleeve tech under long sleeve tech, plus a fleece jacket. I was down to just the tights and short sleeve tee by mid-morning.

 

[goingthedistance]

Regarding weather, I'm Perfectly Goofy/Perfectly Dopey so I have not missed a marathon weekend since 2006. I've seen all kinds of weather during marathon weekend from literal freezing cold with ice slicks to snow/sleet to overcast to rain to fog to bright hot sunshine. Pack and train for all conditions. Also ignore the 5-15 day forecast before the weekend. I've seen the forecast change on the Thursday before the races.

 

[SarahDisney]

The 10K in 2016 was rain, rain, and more rain.
The temperature was decent, but ... too wet.
I don't really remember what the temps were for the rest of the weekend. I'm still too bitter about the rain.

I do remember that Princess Weekend in 2015 was a study of extremes. Sub-freezing for the 5k and pretty hot for the half.

tl;dr - Florida weather is unpredictable.

 

[Simba's Girl]

SW flights booked. Not super happy with the price, but oh well.

I've been to the Harry Potter part of UO and it's amazing! We plan to go back when our kids are older because they're really not into any of the stuff there yet.

I booked ours today too. I'm not excited about the prices but they weren't that bad either considering that they include 2 checked bags & DH is doing Dopey, I'm doing marathon and DD is doing 10K. If it's absolutely frigid like last year we can bring alll the clothes!!! DH goes down the day before the girls and I do because he needs to p/u bibs for Dopey (and DD's 10K). Same flight as us afternoon from Hartford, direct and late enough that I can just dismiss girls early and go to the airport so they won't miss too many school days. IRC if price drops you can get credit on SW so it's all good!

 

[Dis5150]

So Southwest flights are kind of a disappointment, after waiting all this time for them to be released. I am considering a 2 stop, 1 plane change flight that goes thru St. Louis and Raleigh/Durham. The benefit of this flight is that DD28 would be flying out of Raleigh on the same flight so she would get on my plane there. But I usually avoid flying thru places with snow on Marathon Weekend. Anyone fly out of/thru St. Louis that can weigh in? Plus, is 50 minutes enough time to change planes in that airport? I have never been there before....

 

[cavepig]

So Southwest flights are kind of a disappointment, after waiting all this time for them to be released. I am considering a 2 stop, 1 plane change flight that goes thru St. Louis and Raleigh/Durham. The benefit of this flight is that DD28 would be flying out of Raleigh on the same flight so she would get on my plane there. But I usually avoid flying thru places with snow on Marathon Weekend. Anyone fly out of/thru St. Louis that can weigh in? Plus, is 50 minutes enough time to change planes in that airport? I have never been there before....

St. Louis is a common stop for us & while you could have snow we've been lucky every Jan trip. Light snow you'll be fine. A blizzard well no, but it's a chance and most likely my outgoing flight will go through St. Louis too , but I won't worry until Jan. I'll weather stalk leading up to it for sure in case I need to last minute change to an earlier flight. Yes, 50 minutes is enough time at St. Louis, I've had 30 and been fine.