Marathon Weekend 2025

[lahobbs4]

SAFD:
I love everyone's choices!

1. Somewhere island-y (Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Bahamas, etc.)
2. Greece
3. Spain

 

[DianaMB333]

I would love to see:
SouthAmerica: Brazil/Colombia
Russia
Caribbean islands

 

[pinkxray]

I’m not a big Epcot fan so I don’t really know what else to put there. However, after seeing some of the ideas here I would like some IP related stuff. The Emperors New Grove ride or Hercules sound pretty cool. I would be happy if they just added old ideas like the bullet train coaster in Japan or a Mary Poppins ride in UK.

 

[Herding_Cats]

I’m not a big Epcot fan so I don’t really know what else to put there. However, after seeing some of the ideas here I would like some IP related stuff. The Emperors New Grove ride or Hercules sound pretty cool. I would be happy if they just added old ideas like the bullet train coaster in Japan or a Mary Poppins ride in UK.

There was an article shortly post lock-down about ride plans for the scrapped Cherry Tree Lane UK expansion. It was basically teacups/alien saucer swirl, but umbrellas. Which....is that really the best that Disney can come up with? There are only so many ride iterations that you can copy (looking at YOU dumbo/magic carpets/dino)

 

[Herding_Cats]

SAFD: since Disney has announced that everything new going forward will be IP based (sigh)

-Greece (for reasons already mentioned....architecture and food would make this an easy fit for the park)
-Something Central or South American
-Oceana: Rescuers Down Under (not sure if that would pass the publicity test these days) and Finding Nemo/Dory could be the IP there, but I think it would take a newer, successful movie similar to Encanto to pull the clout needed to get into a park.

 

[Cabius]

-Oceana: Rescuers Down Under (not sure if that would pass the publicity test these days) and Finding Nemo/Dory could be the IP there, but I think it would take a newer, successful movie similar to Encanto to pull the clout needed to get into a park.

If they had the them park rights to Bluey they'd just make Australia into a bizarro Bluey land and I would love it and hate it in equal measure, more than anything else in the world.

 

[DisneyParrothead]

To whoever mentioned Untapped, thank you! I ordered 5 packets to try it out, figuring if I didn't like maple syrup as a fuel, I'd put it on my pancakes. I tried it this weekend on my long run, and it was so smooth!

 

[Zutroy]

SAFD: After Epcot was built, Disney started advertising Phase II of World Showcase, which would add Israel, Venezuela, Spain, and Equatorial Africa. I’d definitely say half of those countries aren’t happening. Rumors have been Brazil will be added, and I hope they make it culturally authentic. The main ride would consist of wearing a tour group t-shirt pushing your way through the line pretending to meet up with a friend. And the lightning lane only works by having your magic band get rejected, and then standing there and arguing in Portuguese with the cast member for 15 minutes before they give up and let you through.

 

[runwithperseverence7]

I feel the same about Epcot @pinkxray Not my favorite park. But I love all the suggestions that have been mentioned. Definitely vote for Greece!

 

[disneyrunnergrl]

SAFD: I’ll add another vote for Greece. Mainly because I want the griddled cheese available year round!

 

[Stitch&Co.]

SAFD: I’ll add another vote for Greece. Mainly because I want the griddled cheese available year round!

Yes to the griddled cheese, please.

 

[nekonekoneko]

Well I was going to say
Russia
Iran
North Korea

Wasn't that the old "Axis of Evil"?

SAFD: there are some areas of the world just so underrepresented in World Showcase. South America, Eastern Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa really come to mind. South Asia, too.

Ok, that's 4 oops!

 

[JulieODC]

I get ocular migraines also and usually is the warning sign that I am dehydrated. Usually a bottle of sports drink and sitting in a nice dark room will squash them in 15-30 minutes. But yes, they are very annoying and inconvenient especially when they pop up in the middle of an activity or driving. The blurry spots in your vision are the worst.

This is a very delayed response- but I get these and they really are the worst. I had 2 this week when I let my hydration status get away from me when the weather turned warm and humid. I think I need to carry water on every run and add in some salt tabs.

QOTW: I’ve got nothing original to add - Greece, Oceania, and a South American country seem like good options!

 

[NileNellie]

SAFD: I never stop running so we are running this summer. I run about 4-5 a week and bike other days with a "rest" day 1 day a week. We are planning a half for the fall, then focusing on MW which is the 1/2 and 10k for us. We have been keeping a base for our long runs since Princess weekend and we hover around 7-9 miles depending on weekend events. That should put us in great shape for training for our October 1/2.

Strength training is something Iove to throw in. I usually do some weight work after my run (push ups, core, chin/pull ups, kettle bell work), but I also do Pure Barre 4-5x a week which has really been great for all those muscles around my hips. In fact, a lot of the movement we do is similar to what I did for PT when I had piriformis issues years ago.

Wow this is amazing! Sounds exhausting just reading it lol.

 

[camaker]

Good afternoon RunDisney All-Stars! Welcome to this week's edition of Sundays are for Disney (SAFD). This week's question might be a little late in coming for this MW, but it's a topic that comes up over and over again on the boards. What are your favorite places to stay during MW? On site or off? Anywhere you don't recommend?

SAFD: I'm a dedicated member of team "on site". I'll start off with the generic advice to stay where you enjoy the theme and amenities. All resorts have transportation to and from the Expo and the races. My go-to resorts are POFQ for its small size and proximity to Epcot and, more recently, CBR as I've found the Skyliner to be an absolute transportation game changer for getting to and from DHS and Epcot. In addition, I rarely use the food court, so the Sodastream machines they've installed all over the resort meet my needs perfectly making the resort size a non-issue for me. The only place I've stayed that I absolutely wouldn't recommend is CSR. The resort is just too big, with potentially long distances between room and food/drink options. I know many love CSR and my opinion is colored by the fact that I stayed there during a cold and windy MW 2018 when I developed bronchitis during the races, so YMMV.

 

[disneyrunnergrl]

SAFD: I never stay on site because I’m team Hilton - either want to redeem points or earn them. I love the Signia Bonnet Creek for marathon weekend. They do a send off party, with coffee and pre race snacks and cheerleaders which is awesome. They also have carb loading pasta dinners available the night before the races which makes dinner easy. They do have bus transportation to the races, but I usually rent a car and drive myself. They haven’t opened marathon weekend booking for any of the races next season though which is making me nervous. They usually have it open by now. I do have a room booked with the normal honors rate, but I’ll be disappointed if they do away with the marathon weekends package!

 

[RuntheMouse]

SAFD: Team onsite here…….always. Boulder Ridge has become our go to for MW. It’s so relaxing for downtime, the pool and hot tub are amazing and of course the food options there. I *think* I’m going to try something new each year but I.just.can’t.do.it!

 

[Barca33Runner]

SAFD: If I had unlimited funds I would stay on-site every time. There is definitely something more magical about staying at a Disney resort during a Disney vacation. When I come outside of Marathon Weekend we always stay on-site (since the Skyliner debuted, almost exclusively at Pop!).

But, for Marathon Weekend, we generally have a large multi-family group that requires a good number of beds and doesn’t easily split into economically efficient hotel groupings. Renting off-site allows us to do the vacation much cheaper on a per person basis and gives us a private pool and hot tub. We also have come to like driving in to the races and having the option to stay in a climate controlled vehicle longer. While this would be still be possible on-site, we’d probably forgo it in the interest of free transportation.

We have done both, they are both viable and we have always had a great time. Like I said, there is something more magical about staying on site; but there is absolutely nothing wrong with staying off-site and doing so during Marathon Weekend contributes to my being able to do more Disney vacations overall.

 

[Naomeri]

SAFD: 2025 will be my first MW, but for race weekends (and WDW trips in general) I am team on-site all the way. I’ve stayed at CSR, ASMo, ASMu, and Pop for race weekends and they’ve been pretty good. For the values, I’ve learned not to cheap out, and pay for the preferred location after getting a room at Pop last year that was as far as possible from the bus stop and from the skyliner. For CSR, I make sure to get a room in the Casitas section so I’m at the first park bus stop.

For MW 2025, I had planned to do CSR, but realized I could rent DVC for a preferred studio at SS for less than $200 more than rack rate at CSR, so that’s what I’m doing.

 

[Baloo in MI]

SAFD:

I have two favorites: Wilderness Lodge and Pop. WL is just my all time favorite resort so any chance to stay there is a good thing. Specific to the races I have found it to be more of a getaway resort. Quiet, peaceful not a lot of runners but so great to decompress and relax at the pool or get a meal by the lake. Pop is the exact opposite, it is just filled with runners and though not really a good relaxing resort is fantastic to embrace the race weekend atmosphere. At SS this past April coming off the buses after the races the Pop staff was there to cheer us, offered water and bananas and even had a photo op area - so much fun! Generally if it is a family trip we are going to WL and if I am solo I am going to Pop.

Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there!