Marathon Weekend 2025

SAFD: I’m team Bus and team Car. It all depends on where I am staying. I find that for MW I prefer to stay on property and take the buses. But if I am staying off property driving is easy too. I always aim for one of the first buses and I take that same approach when driving myself. If the buses start running at 2:30 that’s when I aim to leave if I am driving. That way I can still make the meetup or grab a pre-race picture.

I did learn the hard way this past PW to take a minute to see where I’m parked. I didn’t think anything about it for the 5K and that wasn’t terrible. But for the 10K I completely misjudged how far down the row I was and spent 10-15 minutes wandering around the parking lot looking for my car. When I actively made an effort to notice for the half I ended up getting the very last spot on the row so it wasn’t necessary at all. Lessons learned.

One day (hopefully 2026) I will be Team Monorail! It’s good to have goals.
 


SAFD:

I’m Team Car due to staying off site. I’ve never had a problem driving in and do enjoy the added flexibility of hanging out in the car if necessary. Def do NOT like the long walk back post half or full marathon.....I almost ALWAYS get routed to park in the FARTHEST spots from the staging area. I’ve tried multiple strategies to avoid it, but NOPE!
 


SAFD: Team car. I took the bus one time and was one of the rare bus got lost situations. It ended up taking 45ish minutes and just isn’t worth the stress for me personally. Never again. I’m familiar enough with the roads and don’t mind getting there early to avoid traffic. I’m out the door by 2:30 and usually in line at security by 2:50.
 
SAFD: Team Monorail if at all possible. It's rarely crowded, no waiting for a bus to fill up before it leaves, and is pretty fast which allows more time for sleeping in. Second option is Team Car. Great place to wait when it's cold or raining, and again, often faster than a bus for more sleeping time. Coming in last is Team Bus when the other two options aren't ideal.
 
SAFD: Team Bus - less stressful, and the camaraderie with fellow runners on the bus is part of the experience.
One year we stayed at the Poly though and the short walk to the TTC and taking the monorail was wonderful! Currently waitlisted for the Poly (we are DVC but AKL is our home resort) in the hopes of having this option again. Only downside was the hike up AND the hike down the monorail station ramps after the marathon! I was hobbling like a little old lady!
 
SAFD: I initially was Team Bus, but switched to Team Car even though I never had a problem or horror story. However, there were a number of times where I got up so early and was sitting there at the resort waiting for the bus getting nervous that I missed the bus or that the bus wasn't coming. I would rather just get up and go to Epcot without having to wait for a bus let alone having a driver get lost.
 
SAFD: I was Team Bus for many years, staying at BWV for pretty much all my race weekends. DH and MIL did the Star Wars 5K one year -- I wanted to spectate and hang out with them pre-race, and storms were forecasted, so we drove. If any of you were there, you know we made the right decision! They cleared the corrals when lighting moved in and we were able to retreat to the car to wait out the delay.

When I moved to Bay Lake for MW, I became Team Car for the 5K and 10K and Team Monorail for the half and full. I've only had one monorail incident, at this past MW HM, when the one in front of us broke down between Bay Lake and TTC. But they were ready, got it towed in, unloaded and fixed in about 10 minutes.

I do still kind of play it by ear for the 5K/10K as that post-race walk to the car is not fun. And I do enjoy the camaraderie of Team Bus.

.I almost ALWAYS get routed to park in the FARTHEST spots from the staging area. I’ve tried multiple strategies to avoid it, but NOPE!
I've had pretty consistent luck staying to the left when you get into the lanes to turn into the parking area. USUALLY they have CMs on both sides routing cars and the left lane goes to the closer parking area.

Only downside was the hike up AND the hike down the monorail station ramps after the marathon! I was hobbling like a little old lady!
I actually like the (slow) hike up after as it helps flush out my legs a bit. What I dislike is sitting on the freezing cold monorail alllll the way around to Bay Lake!

No matter what mode I choose, I am either on the first bus or leaving when the first bus would leave. I have to get there early, even if it means just standing around at the meetup longer or jumping in a few character lines to kill time.
 
SAFD: Team driving here. Of all my MW, I have only taken the bus one time. It was for last year's marathon as my wife needed the rental car to drive my parents over to Epcot to watch the finish. While it was okay, I like have my music playing in the car and also not having all the different conversations around me that early in the morning. I usually arrive to Epcot at 3am for the 5k & 10k. For the half and full, I get to Epcot around 2:45am. There is usually not a back up yet, just slow moving cars getting into the parking lot. I will lay my seat back and take about an hour nap, setting my phone alarm for 4am. Then I will usually make my way over to the race area around that time. Having your own car also makes for getting back to the hotel much quicker, especially on 5k and 10k days.
 
SAFD: Team car all the way. I tend to be there early and sitting in the warm car is so great. I usually stop to get coffee in the resort cafeteria and am glad I'm not in the long line for the bus. I have even driven a few fellow runners over the years (staying at Pop this year so reach out if you want a ride).

Question for you all. My wife has decided to come down to cheer my son and I for Dopey (his first marathon and Dopey) and is now interested in running the 10k with us. I've been stalking the site and Telegram but haven't seen any 10k bibs come up. Thinking of going the charity route. Does anyone know of any charities with 10k bibs left? TIA.
 
SAFD: Well I've only done one MW and I used the bus from POFQ. It was fine. POFQ is small, easy to walk, and convenient to Epcot although there was a wait to get the bus back to the resort after the races. Not a terrible one but if the weather is crappy or you just really need to sit down I could see how it could get bothersome.

Which brings me to a question: has anyone stayed at Coronado Springs for MW? POFQ is my favorite resort and I am booked there again for Dopey 2025, but I can book CSR for a decent savings over POFQ (~$380) with the most recent winter room rate deal that's out. $380 is nothing to sneeze at and would more than pay for my flights.

I'm just wondering how CSR is for MW? My recollection is that it's a huge resort and I could be walking a bit to get back to my room which might be less than ideal after the marathon lol. My assumption is that the race bus only leaves from the main lobby bus stop, is that right? And I'd of course be leaving my favorite resort! Any thoughts welcome!
 
Which brings me to a question: has anyone stayed at Coronado Springs for MW? POFQ is my favorite resort and I am booked there again for Dopey 2025, but I can book CSR for a decent savings over POFQ (~$380) with the most recent winter room rate deal that's out. $380 is nothing to sneeze at and would more than pay for my flights.

I'm just wondering how CSR is for MW? My recollection is that it's a huge resort and I could be walking a bit to get back to my room which might be less than ideal after the marathon lol. My assumption is that the race bus only leaves from the main lobby bus stop, is that right? And I'd of course be leaving my favorite resort! Any thoughts welcome!
I stayed at CSR for MW 2018 and absolutely hated it. Now, in the interest of full disclosure, MW 2018 was a cold, windy week and I came down with bronchitis, both of which color my opinion of the resort.

I found it to be too large, with more than a quarter mile walk to the food court from my room, but that could be as much as a 3/4 mile walk from some of the further buildings. That, coupled with a lack of Sodastream machines made it a trek to get not only food, but drinks as well.

On the plus side, race buses run from all stops at the resort so you don't have to get to the front to catch a bus.

There are plenty of folks who love CSR and I'm sure they'll chime in with their perspective, but I won't stay there for another race weekend. My "go to" moderates for race weekends are POFQ (Building 4 FTW) and CBR (Sodastream machines throughout plus Skyliner access trump the size of the resort).
 
SAFD: Well I've only done one MW and I used the bus from POFQ. It was fine. POFQ is small, easy to walk, and convenient to Epcot although there was a wait to get the bus back to the resort after the races. Not a terrible one but if the weather is crappy or you just really need to sit down I could see how it could get bothersome.

Which brings me to a question: has anyone stayed at Coronado Springs for MW? POFQ is my favorite resort and I am booked there again for Dopey 2025, but I can book CSR for a decent savings over POFQ (~$380) with the most recent winter room rate deal that's out. $380 is nothing to sneeze at and would more than pay for my flights.

I'm just wondering how CSR is for MW? My recollection is that it's a huge resort and I could be walking a bit to get back to my room which might be less than ideal after the marathon lol. My assumption is that the race bus only leaves from the main lobby bus stop, is that right? And I'd of course be leaving my favorite resort! Any thoughts welcome!
I love Coronado for race weekends, though I haven't stayed there for MW. The buses hit each bus stop around the resort loop so you don't have to walk to the front. @camaker is right, it is a large resort, and unless you book a preferred room, or a Tower room, you will be walking a little bit. It doesn't bother me, but I've never done a marathon, and since you love POFQ, it would be quite different. I stayed at FQ last year for Princess and I agree, the small size was great for a race weekend. I did have to trek through Riverside once, and I think that is either bigger than Coronado, or Riverside just doesn't have way to cut through to the front like Coronado has.
 
SAFD: Well I've only done one MW and I used the bus from POFQ. It was fine. POFQ is small, easy to walk, and convenient to Epcot although there was a wait to get the bus back to the resort after the races. Not a terrible one but if the weather is crappy or you just really need to sit down I could see how it could get bothersome.

Which brings me to a question: has anyone stayed at Coronado Springs for MW? POFQ is my favorite resort and I am booked there again for Dopey 2025, but I can book CSR for a decent savings over POFQ (~$380) with the most recent winter room rate deal that's out. $380 is nothing to sneeze at and would more than pay for my flights.

I'm just wondering how CSR is for MW? My recollection is that it's a huge resort and I could be walking a bit to get back to my room which might be less than ideal after the marathon lol. My assumption is that the race bus only leaves from the main lobby bus stop, is that right? And I'd of course be leaving my favorite resort! Any thoughts welcome!
i haven't done it for MW, but I've done it for a couple other race weekends, and I really like it. It's much quieter than the values I usually stay at, and I've always had good luck getting a requested room in the Casitas section to be near the first bus stop (or second if the race bus stops at the tower first)
 
SAFD: Well I've only done one MW and I used the bus from POFQ. It was fine. POFQ is small, easy to walk, and convenient to Epcot although there was a wait to get the bus back to the resort after the races. Not a terrible one but if the weather is crappy or you just really need to sit down I could see how it could get bothersome.

Which brings me to a question: has anyone stayed at Coronado Springs for MW? POFQ is my favorite resort and I am booked there again for Dopey 2025, but I can book CSR for a decent savings over POFQ (~$380) with the most recent winter room rate deal that's out. $380 is nothing to sneeze at and would more than pay for my flights.

I'm just wondering how CSR is for MW? My recollection is that it's a huge resort and I could be walking a bit to get back to my room which might be less than ideal after the marathon lol. My assumption is that the race bus only leaves from the main lobby bus stop, is that right? And I'd of course be leaving my favorite resort! Any thoughts welcome!
We stayed at CSR last year for MW. No issues at all with it. We were in Casitas building 4, so not too far of a walk to the dining options. Bus stop #2 was right outside the building, so it was a quick walk to the bus stop for the first time I have ever taken a bus. The only issue we had was on marathon day, leaving the resort. Since the marathon route comes down the side of the Coronado Springs, traffic was backed up in front of the resort. So we did have to wait a little bit in a car/bus line to get out of the resort when heading back to the parks.
 
For bussers, it's also important to understand how the race busses work at individual resorts. Is it a multi-resort, shared bus? Is there only 1 common pickup/drop area? Do they loop around the resort to stop and multiple areas? What is that order? If they DO make multiple stops, do they always start at the main lobby/building and fill up first and then squeeze in a few more? All things that are good to know.
Anyone stayed at All Star Music for MW? What is the bus situation like there?
 
Anyone stayed at All Star Music for MW? What is the bus situation like there?
I've stayed at the All Stars the last few years and have no bus complaints. They're always lined up and ready to go. Last year I counted at least 5 just sitting and waiting for the official bus start time. No idea what it's like if you're trying to get on a later bus.
 














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