Marathon Weekend 2025

[runwithperseverence7]

Questions about merch:
I just went online to pre purchase the women jacket in S and it is sold out!!! I now regret not buying it during registration

Will it get replenished for pre purchase until the race?
Should I get the XS and try to exchange it at the expo? (The say no returns or exchanges…)
Is there any chance I can get one at the expo? I am flying in on the Wednesday around 10:30 and will try to get a VQ as soon as we land…but won’t be in the first to get in…
Thanks

@Isabelle12345
Are you preordering? If so, what are you getting? I was planning to preorder this week and was planning on a small. I think I could do an XS but I prefer a little room. Hate to go medium and it be too big.

 

[runwithperseverence7]

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.

I definitely want to be on one of the first buses. Being a first timer. I would rather be there early. I hate being late to anything.

 

[Let's Get Kronk]

SAFD: I am Team Bus all the way, especially because I never rent a car when I do any race weekend at WDW (or at DL for that matter, but you can walk to the race start there if you stay close like I do). I have been lucky that I have not had a "lost bus" story, although the one time I stayed at CBR, the bus driver for the 5K circled the internal resort bus stops twice before people on the bus started yelling at him to take us to the race. Lol. Like others have said, I really enjoy the comfort of not having to drive myself and just kind of chilling out and eating my pre-race stuff while listening to the quiet chatter of excited runners. The bus environment makes it seem more of a group thing if that makes any sense. I also tend to be a late bus kind of guy; I hate standing around before the race any longer than I have to and I enjoy "sleeping in" until 3:00 or so. One day I will try a monorail resort and see how the other half lives.

 

[deadvc]

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 don't know if the Tower is included in that, or if it would negate the savings, but it eliminates the large resort concerns and is pretty nice/modern/comfortable. Some dislike it for lack of theming and being a bit more "generic", so if that matters to you it may not be a great option of course.

 

[Isabelle12345]

@Isabelle12345
Are you preordering? If so, what are you getting? I was planning to preorder this week and was planning on a small. I think I could do an XS but I prefer a little room. Hate to go medium and it be too big.

I was also trying to preorder a S jacket

Now I am not sure if I want to order XS and risk it being too small, or take my chances on the expo day and get the extra 20%AP discount IF it is still available (unlikely from what I hear…) …

 

[Jackie Skellington]

SAFD: I am team bus and have never had an issue with numerous race weekends over the past few years (although one time our bus driver heading back to our resort after a race got us a little lost and took the wrong turn off...)

 

[KellyKateri]

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.

The prices for MW registration go up today ($10), so you may have some hope in the next day or so. I feel like they may have held off on releasing MW bibs until the price switch happened. I have been training like I am running the 10K and the half, but have only secured the half registration. I noticed the W&D races also had many, many, MANY bib releases in the past few weeks so hoping that MW has a similar pattern as we get closer. The telegram game is not fun, wishing you the best!

 

[camaker]

The prices for MW registration go up today ($10), so you may have some hope in the next day or so. I feel like they may have held off on releasing MW bibs until the price switch happened. I have been training like I am running the 10K and the half, but have only secured the half registration. I noticed the W&D races also had many, many, MANY bib releases in the past few weeks so hoping that MW has a similar pattern as we get closer. The telegram game is not fun, wishing you the best!

They don't hold back bibs for the price change. They seem to trickle out very limited numbers of bibs for all race weekends, most likely as a result of cancellations or charities returning bibs that they weren't able to sell.

 

[KellyKateri]

They don't hold back bibs for the price change. They seem to trickle out very limited numbers of bibs for all race weekends, most likely as a result of cancellations or charities returning bibs that they weren't able to sell.

I am not debating that they have limited bibs after registration. My point is that if there were *any* bibs available in the last two weeks, from a pure business stance, they would prefer to sell them once the price change goes in effect. There is no doubt that they will sell the extra bibs (either 2 or 2000) in 2 minutes or less, as seen by the telegram patterns, why not just wait two weeks and make an extra few dollars?

 

[fatmanatee]

I don’t think I’ve ever seen an indication that they withhold bibs until price increases, if they did surely someone would pick up on it by now. It seems very random.

 

[runsparkles]

SAFD: I am team bus, we usually catch one of the first buses and have never had an issues. Fun to see everyone in their costumes.

 

[SheHulk]

SAFD: Team Bus, except the one year I was Team Monorail. I am the World's Laziest Distance Runner TM and I did not like the walk up the ramp to the monorails and having to go back up & down ramps to change at the TTC, after running the marathon. I love that the buses are so close to the finish, lined up and ready to take me back to my room.
I get too anxious in traffic before a race, so driving would not be for me.

 

[Dopey 2020]

SAFD firmly on team drive. Used to be on team bus when I started but post Covid the waiting around it the end of a race was brutal. Waited on a bus 45 minutes after the villains 10K before enough people complained and they left, they wanted to wait for more people even though there was another bus. Add to that Disney breaking the bubble with getting rid of ME and DD being in school in FL, we always have either our car or a rental. After the first couple times driving I found it very easy to get around, the only traffic I ever hit was going to copper creek post marathon and the buses were in the same traffic. The trade off is a long walk back to the car post race but well worth it to have control of the heat/ac and leave when I want.

 

[kps7795]

The trade off is a long walk back to the car post race but well worth it to have control of the heat/ac and leave when I want.

I was reticent about mentioning this, but this is one of my biggest reasons for riding on Team Car (pun intended). It was especially beneficial following the 2024 MW 10K when I was able to heat up my car and turn on the seat heaters as well.

 

[The Expert]

I did not like the walk up the ramp to the monorails and having to go back up & down ramps to change at the TTC

Hint: There are elevators if you look for the HC signs! I've been known to cheat now and then and use one.

 

[StarGirl11]

SAFD: Wheels is a bit of a different thing. It's really either a 'your on property and most likely need assistance' or 'your off property and can get to the start on your own'. There's a reason I've stuck with on property since hanging up my racing shoes for a set of wheels. Like could I stay off property and drive in? Yes. Do I want that hassle? No.

We get whatever shows up for us in the morning. This can be anything from accesible taxis to those lift vans. Coach busses even for the most ambulatory of us can be extremely difficult. We have to sign up for transportation at the expo. Give them our names, what races we are doing, and what time we want the drivers coming to pick us up.

It usually goes fairly well. Though there have been some headaches over the years. One time they sent us a lift van and there were two chairs trying to get to the start. And when you have two chairs that measure around 6 feet in length. Well it gets difficult to say the least.

Sometimes they show up early which is all fine and dandy if you're already out the door. But sometimes I'm running a few minutes behind and have to tell them I am walking over now.

This coming year is going to be interesting since it will be my first time racing in the cycle and staying at Pop. When I've brought my chair I've historically just put it on its rear wheels up against the wall. My handcycle is too front heavy for that. I'm going on a vacation in November where I'm staying at Pop and bringing the cycle with me. So I'm going to be asking about keeping it in the luggage area so I don't have to keep it in the car the whole time.

So guess I'm technically team bus after all of this rambling.

 

[StarGirl11]

SAFD: Team Bus, except the one year I was Team Monorail. I am the World's Laziest Distance Runner TM and I did not like the walk up the ramp to the monorails and having to go back up & down ramps to change at the TTC, after running the marathon. I love that the buses are so close to the finish, lined up and ready to take me back to my room.
I get too anxious in traffic before a race, so driving would not be for me.

As @The Expert said there is an elevator coming down from the platform at Epcot. So you don't necessarily have to walk the whole way. But (and this is just in general in note for anyone else who might be considreing the monorail) you will have to deal with anyone on the disabled side possibly trying to get up and down as well. And those elevators are not big.

Not trying to gatekeep the elevators to be clear. But its always something I try to ask when theres limited elevators to go around to let people who absolutely cannot get down by any other means to use them first.

(The ramp at Epcot is on the steep side for wheels so while we could technically go up it sans elevator its definitely not the preferred method.)

 

[Barca33Runner]

Hope that everyone who lives in Florida is safely out of Hurricane Milton’s path. Also hoping that, perhaps against all odds, the storm will weaken before it hits land and the catastrophic effects and damage being predicted will be minimized.

 

[Mr_Incr3dible]

I don't know if the Tower is included in that, or if it would negate the savings, but it eliminates the large resort concerns and is pretty nice/modern/comfortable. Some dislike it for lack of theming and being a bit more "generic", so if that matters to you it may not be a great option of course.

I've stayed in both the tower and the casitas; I was in Coronado for Princess weekend last year, in one of the casitas. The resort has multiple bus stops, so none of them are too distant. I don't recall any issues with the walk to/from the buses. We really enjoyed the bar and dining out in the middle of the lake. The Mexican restaurant on site was also good.

 

[The Expert]

Not trying to gatekeep the elevators to be clear. But its always something I try to ask when theres limited elevators to go around to let people who absolutely cannot get down by any other means to use them first.

Oh absolutely -- without question! I actually discovered the elevators a few years ago when going to Epcot with DM who was recovering from knee surgery and needed to use it. I was blown away as I'd never even thought to look for one there!