Marathon Weekend 2024

[jpeterson]

I’ve used a travel agent in the past and realized that I’m way too much of a control freak about my trips. I hated that I could not make any changes on my own and had to contact the TA for everything.

I also know that sometimes there are places or services that kind of fly under the radar but their name gets passed around on the disboards.

That's fair. I was just throwing it out there as an option. I know that people that are deep in the weeds of disboards are typically not the type of people that will use a TA.

 

[camaker]

For anyone wondering, trying to purchase a new annual pass today makes RunDisney registration seem like a breezy walk in the park.

Edit: At least it's done now. Entered the queue around 9:30a and at 1:16p it was still over an hour wait with less than a quarter of the progress bar complete. In parallel, I was trying to call the ticketing phone number when my work schedule allowed. After nothing but "all lines are busy, please try your call again later" it finally rang through around 1:10p. I spent <5 minutes waiting for a representative and then had no issues making the purchase!

 

[Grabnar]

Rumor mill is spinning that they're restarting the Epcot hotel project. Any thoughts on how construction would impact the races, if any impact at all?

 

[Baloo in MI]

Rumor mill is spinning that they're restarting the Epcot hotel project. Any thoughts on how construction would impact the races, if any impact at all?

Maybe it would be good if it did have a big impact; forcing runDIsney to start and finish in a new location(s) and the corresponding different courses! I had not heard about the Epcot hotel project but today I did hear that there is discussion about tearing down the cabins at Fort Wilderness and replacing with new DVC Cabins.

 

[fatmanatee]

Rumor mill is spinning that they're restarting the Epcot hotel project. Any thoughts on how construction would impact the races, if any impact at all?

Do we know where it would be? I’d imagine that they’d find a way to run around the construction, that’s what we’ve been doing while they do work *in* the park.

Anyway you won’t find me arguing against putting the 5k in a different park for a change.

 

[Grabnar]

Do we know where it would be? I’d imagine that they’d find a way to run around the construction, that’s what we’ve been doing while they do work *in* the park.

Anyway you won’t find me arguing against putting the 5k in a different park for a change.

Ken Pozek was talking about it this week on his stream

Pulling from a competitor's site from 2021:

Site B is the proposed site, near the Land pavilion. The permits were apparently revitalized this week with the Buena Vista Construction Company being awarded the contract.

 

[fatmanatee]

Ken Pozek was talking about it this week on his stream

Pulling from a competitor's site from 2021:

Site B is the proposed site, near the Land pavilion. The permits were apparently revitalized this week with the Buena Vista Construction Company being awarded the contract.

Ah, ok. That seems manageable? I dunno, obviously there’s more space to be used in the building process but I feel like they could work around that.

 

[nancipants]

To me, it seems like it would be a horrible location. Sure, it's close to the front of Epcot... but that's it. The monorail to MK would be nice, but there's nothing else close by in terms of food or amenities. You could go into the park to get food, but that's much more feasible when you're entering through the International Gateway. I guess they could create their own entry to Epcot. I'm thinking of all the other hotels that seemingly stand alone. Coronado Springs, but that's huge and in a much more central location to the parks. Animal Kingdom Lodge, which is close to AK but has the benefit of the animals. Every other hotel is either part of a resort group.

 

[Jason Bryer]

To me, it seems like it would be a horrible location. Sure, it's close to the front of Epcot... but that's it. The monorail to MK would be nice, but there's nothing else close by in terms of food or amenities. You could go into the park to get food, but that's much more feasible when you're entering through the International Gateway. I guess they could create their own entry to Epcot. I'm thinking of all the other hotels that seemingly stand alone. Coronado Springs, but that's huge and in a much more central location to the parks. Animal Kingdom Lodge, which is close to AK but has the benefit of the animals. Every other hotel is either part of a resort group.

Site A seems weird to me. It would block that icon scene of Spaceship Earth as you approach. I like site B though. I have wanted them to build a walkway from the International Gateway to the monorails. If they could do that that would give this hotel access to everything there, and easier access to the gondolas to get to HS.

 

[DopeyRunner486]

Rumor mill is spinning that they're restarting the Epcot hotel project. Any thoughts on how construction would impact the races, if any impact at all?

Well first off thats not a very strong rumor right now and we clearly aren't even near beginning construction if it was.

 

[DopeyRunner486]

Ken Pozek was talking about it this week on his stream

Pulling from a competitor's site from 2021:

Site B is the proposed site, near the Land pavilion. The permits were apparently revitalized this week with the Buena Vista Construction Company being awarded the contract.

Ah this...

Its baseless. There have been no actual permits for this project. There are people/websites that track disney permits intently and nothing has come up regarding a major project like a hotel.

Buena Vista Construction would never be "awarded" a project like this either. They are Disney's internal Constuction company and do not do large builds. You would see them doing repairs and smaller projects like building a kiosk. They won't be in charge of a hotel.

 

[Jason Bryer]

I just booked Saratoga Springs by renting DVC points for MW. Very excited. Turned out to not be that much more than Pop but feel like the accommodations will be better especially since we will only do one park day, if any. Walking over to Disney Springs will be nice. I find this funny since I live 20 minutes from the real Saratoga Springs.

 

[Herding_Cats]

I just booked Saratoga Springs by renting DVC points for MW. Very excited. Turned out to not be that much more than Pop but feel like the accommodations will be better especially since we will only do one park day, if any. Walking over to Disney Springs will be nice. I find this funny since I live 20 minutes from the real Saratoga Springs.

We are staying there as well (for the same price reason!) When they were charging for parking it only pushed us further into the "rent dvc" column. We stayed there this past MW, and really enjoyed the easy walk to DS....especially with how close the dolewhip counter is to the entrance.

 

[Let's Get Kronk]

For anyone wondering, trying to purchase a new annual pass today makes RunDisney registration seem like a breezy walk in the park.

Edit: At least it's done now. Entered the queue around 9:30a and at 1:16p it was still over an hour wait with less than a quarter of the progress bar complete. In parallel, I was trying to call the ticketing phone number when my work schedule allowed. After nothing but "all lines are busy, please try your call again later" it finally rang through around 1:10p. I spent <5 minutes waiting for a representative and then had no issues making the purchase!

I had the easiest/luckiest AP purchasing experience yesterday morning, and now I feel like I've jinxed myself for every runDisney race going forward as a result. I woke up at 4:30 CDT to enter the queue. It didn't open until around 5:45 CDT, but once it did my wait time was only 20 minutes. The clock counted down pretty reliably and I had no issues buying my pass. I was checked out with my Incredi-pass by 6:05 CDT and back to bed for a nap before work. I am so grateful after following everyone else's experiences on DIS and Facebook yesterday.

And now I'm officially a WDW AP holder for the first time ever! I made all of my park reservations for Wine & Dine weekend as well as for MW and I still can't believe it's real. It definitely changes my approach to race weekends because now it's worth it to go into the park every day, even if only for an hour or two. Eek!

 

[jpeterson]

I had the easiest/luckiest AP purchasing experience yesterday morning, and now I feel like I've jinxed myself for every runDisney race going forward as a result. I woke up at 4:30 CDT to enter the queue. It didn't open until around 5:45 CDT, but once it did my wait time was only 20 minutes. The clock counted down pretty reliably and I had no issues buying my pass. I was checked out with my Incredi-pass by 6:05 CDT and back to bed for a nap before work. I am so grateful after following everyone else's experiences on DIS and Facebook yesterday.

And now I'm officially a WDW AP holder for the first time ever! I made all of my park reservations for Wine & Dine weekend as well as for MW and I still can't believe it's real. It definitely changes my approach to race weekends because now it's worth it to go into the park every day, even if only for an hour or two. Eek!

being able to just go in for a lunch reservation or to hit the food booths in Epcot is pretty awesome.

 

[RunWI1265]

And now I'm officially a WDW AP holder for the first time ever! I made all of my park reservations for Wine & Dine weekend as well as for MW and I still can't believe it's real. It definitely changes my approach to race weekends because now it's worth it to go into the park every day, even if only for an hour or two. Eek!

That’s one of the best parts of being AP! Being able to just pop into a park for a meal or a spin around the people mover. Or when you have a decent amount of hours on arrival or departure day but not enough to want to add on a day ticket.

 

[accm]

That’s one of the best parts of being AP! Being able to just pop into a park for a meal or a spin around the people mover. Or when you have a decent amount of hours on arrival or departure day but not enough to want to add on a day ticket.

Our newest tradition is on our departure day, to stop by magic kingdom, share a nutella waffle, and go on carousel of progress. If any popcorn carts are open, we'll also get one last refill on our popcorn bucket to eat at the airport/plane.
We'd never be able to do it without an AP!

Another perk of the AP is when you planned on going to the parks, but end up sleeping the whole day after the half during MW. You don't feel guilty about "wasting" a park day. Not that I have personal experience with that one or anything...

 

[Naomeri]

Another perk of the AP is when you planned on going to the parks, but end up sleeping the whole day after the half during MW. You don't feel guilty about "wasting" a park day. Not that I have personal experience with that one or anything...

I feel seen Though I don’t usually sleep all day, just feel too lazy to do much

 

[Jason Bryer]

We are staying there as well (for the same price reason!) When they were charging for parking it only pushed us further into the "rent dvc" column. We stayed there this past MW, and really enjoyed the easy walk to DS....especially with how close the dolewhip counter is to the entrance.

They have dolewhip! That may offset all the miles I'm running.

 

[Baloo in MI]

Having an AP is really very freeing during the race weekends for sure. LIke many others it sounds, we generally add parks for arrival and departure days. In the past the plan has always been to arrive early enough to unpack, settle and head to MK for dinner and the fireworks And on departure day to go to a character breakfast in MK or AK.

Unfortunately, we originally got our AP’s a few years ago when they had a special promotion for DVC. The passes did not activate until we went to Marathon Weekend that year so ours always expire in late December. The renewal period is 60 days out and this leads to us have to wait until October to book parks for Marathon Weekend the past two years. Not the end of the world, but I am a huge planner and I hate not being able to book them yet! I have issues!