Marathon Weekend 2023

SAFD:
When you are on property at WDW, and not for a runDisney event, do you get in a run or two? Do you utilize a fitness center or run on property? Where would you recommend?
If I'm staying more than a couple days, I usually get a run in, and I've run all of the WDW resorts at one time or another, plus quite a few treadmills. A more or less Best to Worst list...

EP resorts loop - this is the outer loop, on a sidewalk alongside Epcot Resorts Blvd. Except that small section with no sidewalk, which is good for waking the brain up as you dodge food trucks delivering to the resorts. Enough distance when combined with the inner Crescent Lake loop and the path to DHS, to cover long runs.

CBR - I've always really enjoyed sunrise runs there! Wide, undulating pathways, and enough distance for a solid 3-4 miler without a ton of repetition. Nice scenery and plenty of shade later in the morning.

CSR - same general experience as CBR, but you can also exit the resort and run the sidewalk to BB and All Stars for some extra distance.

AKL/AKV treadmills - those fitness centers have always been really quiet when I've used them, and the general ambience of walking to and from them through the resorts is always relaxing.

SSR treadmills - full-size fitness center, awesome treads, always lots to choose from. Often hardcore fitness people in there midday, so it feels like a "real" workout.

CSR (non-tower) treadmills - another great fitness center, with the added bonus of a quiet pool and laundry immediately adjacent! Great way to put in a wash, get in a run, transfer clothes to a dryer, get in a swim, and head back to the room to fold and shower.

SSR - lots of options to put together some miles, wide undulating paths, and the possibility of combining it with OKW. If the fitness center wasn't so good, SSR's outdoor paths would rank higher.

POR/POFQ - meh... I know a lot of folks love that run, but for me, the river section is great, but too short, and running all around the inner pathways gets annoying. It's fine for a couple miles.

Poly/GF - I last did this before the new section of pathway opened, so it may be a better experience now. Just too much weaving around for me for more than a short run.

GDT treadmills - kind of a sad, albeit fresh & new, little fitness center; not a fave.

Crescent Lake loop (BW) - people looove this and it's totally beyond me! Too much traffic, unless you're out there super early. And I don't want to be out there super early on vacation, lol!

WL treadmills - not my favorite of fitness centers, though I don't really know why.

Value resorts - so. many. sidewalks. Nope.

FW - I wanted to love this, but it just didn't deliver. Too much traffic, the day I ran, anyway. I'd like to give it another shot someday.

AKL/AKV - the WORST! I wrote an entire blog post about how I cobbled together a run from going back and forth between Jambo and Kidani, a "behind the scenes" road I wasn't supposed to be on, and a bunch of parking lot loops. Stick to the treadmills here!
 
SAFD:

AKL/AKV - the WORST! I wrote an entire blog post about how I cobbled together a run from going back and forth between Jambo and Kidani, a "behind the scenes" road I wasn't supposed to be on, and a bunch of parking lot loops. Stick to the treadmills here!

I wish at some point they just make a long pathway to AK from AKL... then that would be a good out and back run.... a girl can dream.
 
Random question. Anyone ever try to bring one of their resort fountain cups back to get them reactivated? Is that even a thing?

Heading down for Spring Surprise but just bought two cups during Marathon Weekend. I love getting my money’s worth of Diet Coke during a stay. But already have a cupboard full of those cups. Anyone ever able to do this?
 

Random question. Anyone ever try to bring one of their resort fountain cups back to get them reactivated? Is that even a thing?

Heading down for Spring Surprise but just bought two cups during Marathon Weekend. I love getting my money’s worth of Diet Coke during a stay. But already have a cupboard full of those cups. Anyone ever able to do this?

That would be a great option -offer a couple of dollars discount if you bring back your previous cup.
 
We’re booked in a 2 bedroom savannah view at Kidani! Ideally I’d like to stay at BLT, but we don’t have enough points there to book the whole trip, and I don’t want to do a split stay. Any experiences with staying at AKV/AKL for race weekends?

DAFD: Vacations are my time to forget about real life, so I’ve never worked out outside of rundisney. I think with getting serious about training, that’ll have to change
 
We’re booked in a 2 bedroom savannah view at Kidani! Ideally I’d like to stay at BLT, but we don’t have enough points there to book the whole trip, and I don’t want to do a split stay. Any experiences with staying at AKV/AKL for race weekends?
We really liked that it was so convenient to get the bus (as opposed to other resorts like Pop and SSR that you have to get to the front of the resort). Plus breakfast at Sanaa after the race was a great bonus!
 
We really liked that it was so convenient to get the bus (as opposed to other resorts like Pop and SSR that you have to get to the front of the resort). Plus breakfast at Sanaa after the race was a great bonus!
I'm definitely planning on requesting a room close to the lobby if we don't end up switching. We just got back from a split stay there, and I made a room request too late, and we were sooooo far from the buses. I can't imagine having all that walking after the runs.
 
My wife and her running buddy just did the Rock N Roll Half Marathon in New Orleans. They are both planning on doing Dopey next year also. Her friend is a DVC member. While they were in NO, they discussed the MW2023 trip. Her friend offered to use some of their DVC points to book us into AKL for MW. Super excited for this. This is one resort I didn't think I would ever stay in. Even more excited for MW2023 now!!
 
My wife and her running buddy just did the Rock N Roll Half Marathon in New Orleans. They are both planning on doing Dopey next year also. Her friend is a DVC member. While they were in NO, they discussed the MW2023 trip. Her friend offered to use some of their DVC points to book us into AKL for MW. Super excited for this. This is one resort I didn't think I would ever stay in. Even more excited for MW2023 now!!
I ran the Rock n Roll Half in NOLA a couple times when I lived there years ago. The second time I used it as a training run for the Austin Marathon a couple weeks later and it was one of the most enjoyable race experiences I've ever had. It's such a fun race!
 
I ran the Rock n Roll Half in NOLA a couple times when I lived there years ago. The second time I used it as a training run for the Austin Marathon a couple weeks later and it was one of the most enjoyable race experiences I've ever had. It's such a fun race!

From what my wife told me, they changed the course this year. She said they moved it from the French Quarter to running around University of NO. The course had a bunch of overpasses. She said it was disappointing and not fun as in the years past.
 
Woo, just realized that the week we booked in January 2023 coincides with this event weekend, so I'll probably be running the 10K. We're going to be there with my husband's side of the family, and coincidentally, they all agreed on this week without realizing it was a Marathon weekend. Haha! Their lack of planning is to my advantage!
 
Does anyone know how early Disney usually releases room booking dates online? I have phone anxiety lol. I know I can book if I start it 12/31 but I know I’m not going to get there that early so I would rather wait.
 
Does anyone know how early Disney usually releases room booking dates online? I have phone anxiety lol. I know I can book if I start it 12/31 but I know I’m not going to get there that early so I would rather wait.

A few years back I remember I waited to make my reservation online and it was springtime when I was able to make it. Just did a quick search and could not find a definitive date for 2023. Might be best to just call - I don’t like doing that either, much prefer to use the website. But room bookings are open now if you call.
 
Good Morning runDisney All-Stars! It is Sunday, so time for SAFD.

Question: Do you have a favorite/must do quick service restaurant on property? Which one and why?

My Answer: La Cantina de San Angel in Epcot. It is across from the pyramid in the Mexico Pavilion. It has outdoor seating right along the lake and serves my favorite quick service meal Tacos de Barbacoa, comes with three tacos, rice and beans. Add hot sauce and I am in heaven! We will literally work our Epcot plan around having lunch or dinner at La Cantina; definitely a family favorite. Wonderful memories of eating dinner there and having a incredible table to watch Illuminations. But I would be ashamed of myself if I did not mention a very close second in our family - Flame Tree BBQ in Animal Kingdom!
 
From what my wife told me, they changed the course this year. She said they moved it from the French Quarter to running around University of NO. The course had a bunch of overpasses. She said it was disappointing and not fun as in the years past.

This actually makes me feel a lot better about skipping out and losing our registration $$$.
 
SAFD:

Question: Do you have a favorite/must do quick service restaurant on property? Which one and why?

My family’s favorite quick service changes every few years. Right now I would say it is Satu’li Canteen in AK. There are so many variations of their bowls you can make and it works well for my vegetarian husband as well as my picky kid. And I like the theming of the indoor portion as well.
 














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