Marathon Weekend 2024

[Naomeri]

I pretty much do normal park touring with two exceptions, I don't stand in any lines more than maybe 15 minutes (this means either skipping rides or buying Genie+) and I try to be back in my room after dinner, and have an early dinner around 5. If you're in good shape, the walking around the parks shouldn't be an issue. But the standing is what really tires me out, so I avoid long ride lines. Sit as much as possible, during meals, during snacks, people watching, etc. I found that a hot bath in the evenings and mornings helped relieve any stiffness in my legs as well.

This is exactly how I do the parks. The occasional ice bath for my feet helps too (the medium plastic shopping bags from any Disney shop are perfect for doing one foot at a time)

 

[azrivest]

Similar to what others have said, but I try to be at the resort by dinnertime, in time to be in bed by 7pm.

My family is okay with that since we're not late-night park goers. We hate fireworks crowds.

 

[jrsharp21]

Pretty much normal park habits except for staying until close at MK. I have an AP and my family usually gets park hoppers when they come with me. In the past two years, we have flown in on Tuesday and then visited the parks every day. I will stay at the parks until around 8pm/9pm to get in about 4 hours of sleep before having to get up and head to the starting line.

This year we are flying in on Dec 30th and doing NYE at the parks. The family bought a 6 day hopper pass. We will take two non park days while we are there and go explore and see things we usually don't take time out to do.

 

[PrincessV]

Dopey veterans: what do you like to do in terms of number of park days, hopper vs not, which parks on which days, etc? Thanks!

(edited since curious to hear what works for other people)

I alwys like to enter these talks because I’m a little different than most in my Dopey approach…

I have an AP and I don’t really combine races with vacation, so that colors things a lot up front. I can’t help at all when it comes to ticket options!

But I’m a strong believer in replicating in a race weekend what worked best for me in training. For me, that means plenty of down time to relax and get off my feet. Historically, that‘s looked like this:

Wed: drive to WDW, expo, check in resort & get settled, grocery run. Dinner at 6pm, bed by 8pm
Thu: 5K, resort to do recovery exercises and eat/shower/etc. Theme park for lunch and a little touring. Resort dinner at 5, bed by 8pm.
Fri: 10K, resort, recovery, etc. Theme park for lunch & touring. Resort dinner at 5, bed by 7pm.
Sat.: Half. Resort day - focus on recovery and staying off feet. Laundry, reading, watching TV, taking a stroll for lunch or just because the weather is nice. Nap if I need it. Resort dinner at 5, bed by 7pm.

I know my body and it NEEDS sleep, so that’s a priority. And I do best not spending a ton of time on my feet between races, so I limit that.

 

[RuntheMouse]

No full park days prior to race days for us. We have APs so we take it easy and will do more things after the races are done. Dinner at 5, in bed by 7 to unwind.

This year we are arriving on NYE and going to Hilton Head the Monday after the marathon to recover. Returning to WDW that Friday to play and celebrate my birthday!

 

[lookingforsunshine]

I did full park days this past year (I was registered for 5k, 10k, and marathon), and I tested positive for COVID after the 10k. So this will greatly inform how I do Disney this time. I’m not going to avoid the parks entirely but will probably take it easier and maybe mask.

I also have an AP now though, with a Halloween and Christmas trip coming up, so I don’t feel like I’m missing out too much.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

@PrincessV said nearly exactly what I would have said. We have APs and are fortunate to go a few times a year. My Dopey trip this year (first Dopey, first marathon) was mostly all business. We’d do a park or resort hop but it was generally for a meal more than anything else. Used the downtime to explore, shop a bit more than we otherwise would, rest, go back to the expo, and generally relax. Certainly didn’t get my ‘money’s worth’ but I was really focused on the task at hand.

 

[1lilspark]

Not a dopey runner… normally I do “just” the 10k and occasionally the 5k on race weekends … my normal touring style is
-expo/check in/springs and/or park (if doing the 5k start heading back to my resort between 6-7 pm)
-(5k) light park touring and/or springs (head back to resort between 6-7)
-10k, head to park …depending on energy levels and weather stay for nighttime spectacular
-check out, maybe do some more lite park touring till early evening than drive home
(Fwiw I’m an AP)

My first/only “challenge” was springtime surprise last April my pass tier was blocked out most of the weekend so it was
-expo/springs
-5k, lunch at contemporary, overall vibing at monorail resorts
-10k, relax in room, DIS meetup, early dinner beach club
-10M, studios
-check out/magic

 

[GuinnessRunner]

Depends on if the family comes down with me or not. On years they come, like @DopeyBadger it becomes family first and races second, so we park hop every day. I always say I'm going to leave them early and head back to the room, but never do.

If it's a solo trip, then I still go to the parks every day right after the race that morning because I like the active recovery and it helps me for the early bedtime if I don't go back and immediately nap after the race. However, I typically don't park hop and try and head back to the hotel by late afternoon to save my legs a bit. Lucky in that I am an AP holder and we get down a couple times a year so I don't feel like I have to get my $ worth every day.

 

[DisneyParrothead]

A piece of advice for anyone doing both Marathon Weekend and Disneyland, DCA has a few of the same attractions as Epcot, MK, and Studios:
Soarin' Around the World
Toy Story Mania
Turtle Talk
the Little Mermaid Dark Ride
Mickey's PhilarMagic

And DL has Galaxy's Edge

If you want to skip some of those on one trip, you can get them done on the other trip.

 

[nekonekoneko]

A piece of advice for anyone doing both Marathon Weekend and Disneyland, DCA has a few of the same attractions as Epcot, MK, and Studios:
Soarin' Around the World
Toy Story Mania
Turtle Talk
the Little Mermaid Dark Ride
Mickey's PhilarMagic

And DL has Galaxy's Edge

If you want to skip some of those on one trip, you can get them done on the other trip.

Aren't both MK and DL GEs the same?

 

[1lilspark]

Aren't both MK and DL GEs the same?

We never walked back to Battu west when I was in land but from what I’ve heard I know they have more roaming characters as well as different food options and I think the attraction placement is mirrored from Battu east

 

[Baloo in MI]

Good morning runDisney All-Stars, it is time for Sunday’s are for Disney. This week’s question asks who is your favorite Disney villain?

My answer - well I love a good villain, so I am cheating as three come to mind for me: Ursula, Gaston and Dr. Facilier and of course a nod to Shere Khan. Ok that was four…. Hope everyone has a good week!

 

[FFigawi]

SAFD: stretching the definition of Disney out to the MCU, I’m going with Killmonger. The best villains are the ones with a point, and he certainly had one.

 

[princesspirateandrunner]

SAFD: I’m going with Yzma and the Evil Queen. DH reminds me that I’ve not done either costume for a race weekend. I’m going to have to think about that. We were at the Sept. 28 MNSSHP, and there was a group in costume from the Emperor’s New Groove. I was very impressed with their costumes, especially Yzma’s. It wasn’t something I could copy for running, but it looked great at the party.

 

[DisneyParrothead]

SAFD: as a little girl my favorite was Captain Hook. Right now it’s Maleficent, and my costume for the Princess 10k is Maleficent. I’m also dressing as the Queen of Hearts for the DL 10k. Kronk is an honorary villain and one of the best!

 

[nekonekoneko]

SAFD: I dunno, Bob Chapek?

 

[Naomeri]

SAFD: Maleficent, she’s got style, she can turn into a dragon, and she had a legitimate gripe about not being invited to Aurora’s christening

 

[jmasgat]

SAFD: First thought of WORST villain--not favorite.....Cruella deVil. Anyone who would mistreat and kill dogs for fun and fashion is a psychopath. (And no I have not ever seen the movie Cruella. I don't care about her backstory)

As for favorite: I'm going with Judge Doom from Who Framed Roger Rabbit. He was one twisted toon.

 

[The Expert]

SAFD: Maleficent was scariest to me as a kid, so I have to go with her. But I also recently rewatched Hercules have to shout-out to Hades. He's just fun!

Chernabog and Shan Yu are both super scary but neither has any personality or motivation. Boring.