Marathon Weekend for Non-Marathoners

[xipetotec]

So we will be arriving Marathon weekend in January and have on important question.

We know it's blisteringly busy on Marathon weekend. In your experience where is the LEAST busy during that time?

 

[larsonb74]

We are coming during the marathon weekend in November and staying at BC and would be interested knowing how impactful the marathon and F&W at Epcot will be.

 

[GBBTomorrow]

This year on Marathon Sunday we walked on to Frozen Ever After with ZERO wait in the morning. As long as you're not planning on driving anywhere and you take Disney transportation, it's not a super big deal. I'd also stay away from the Germany pavilion in Epcot after the races. Runners like beer! It gets busy in there.

One place where you might experience congestion is between Canada and the UK in Epcot. That's where the runners enter the parks, and the park guests are limited to the sidewalk, which is narrow. As the park gets busier, that area gets a very long, slow line to head back toward France. People seemed a little frustrated by that, so you might want to go a different way at that point.

 

[mickeyfanachey1999]

Marathon weekend this weekend wasn't bad at all. Marathon Sunday we rode Soarin, Mission Space, Test Track, walked to Japan, walked back to Norway and rode FEA and still made it to MK by 11:30.

 

[Mr. Drauer]

We are coming during the marathon weekend in November and staying at BC and would be interested knowing how impactful the marathon and F&W at Epcot will be.

The marathon weekend is in January. If you are referring to the Wine and Dine half marathon weekend in early November, then I can tell you that it doesn't affect the parks too much, though that is nearing the end of F&W, and the weekends at EPCOT are much busier then. Last year, there was a runner's party in EPCOT Sunday at night, which started at 10:00 PM. As soon as Illuminations ended, they closed down all the F&W kiosks and rides to get the park guests out. Many runners arrived earlier so crowds were pretty busy between 7 and 9. There is limited effects on traffic in the early morning, mainly at EPCOT.

 

[xipetotec]

Okay, but isn't the Marathon *around* epcot? Wouldn't it be better to avoid epcot altogether?

I guess I'm worried because, as a DVC member, *all* the resorts are now basically *completely booked* for that weekend. That tells me it's going to be a busy weekend! (January 5-6 )

 

[xipetotec]

The marathon weekend is in January. If you are referring to the Wine and Dine half marathon weekend in early November, then I can tell you that it doesn't affect the parks too much, though that is nearing the end of F&W, and the weekends at EPCOT are much busier then. Last year, there was a runner's party in EPCOT Sunday at night, which started at 10:00 PM. As soon as Illuminations ended, they closed down all the F&W kiosks and rides to get the park guests out. Many runners arrived earlier so crowds were pretty busy between 7 and 9. There is limited effects on traffic in the early morning, mainly at EPCOT.

Yeah well that's it. We're going in January, which is when I'm very concerned about.

 

[Mr. Drauer]

Yeah well that's it. We're going in January, which is when I'm very concerned about.

you are going to experience two issues: first is that schools have not returned yet, and it is the extended New Years Week, which if anything like last year, means that the parks were very crowded. This will make more of an impact than the races. The runners that are there for the races do not have a huge impact on the parks, just a slight uptick as many make it a parks vacation too. The days of the races for Thurs/Fri/Sat do not really do much to get in the way of park goers. The races all start early 5:30 or 6:00, and the 5K and 10K are basically finished by 8:00. The half marathon on Saturday will be done by 10 or 10:30ish, and it really only effects EPCOT as that is the finish area, though it doesn't get in the way of normal parking, and only modifies some of the roadways coming in to the park. There may be some minor waiting inside the park if you are crossing over the course, but the CM's shuffle people through pretty consistently. For the marathon on Sunday, there is a bit more in the way of roadway issues, but those are still only in the morning. The issues inside the parks are still only with EPCOT as that is the last park on the route. The runners get through MK first typically and are all out of there prior to park opening.

 

[xipetotec]

So if we ARRIVE on Saturday the 6th around lunch time, it wouldn't be a huge deal to go to the Magic Kingdom then since it will be after lunch? We usually like to do MK on arrival day, but have never visited at this time of year. And I guess avoid EPCOT on sunday the 7th...

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Okay, but isn't the Marathon *around* epcot? Wouldn't it be better to avoid epcot altogether?

I guess I'm worried because, as a DVC member, *all* the resorts are now basically *completely booked* for that weekend. That tells me it's going to be a busy weekend! (January 5-6 )

It will be busier than most years because it is closer to NYE than usual. The Epcot resorts always book up for this event, but the crowds are not going to be higher because of the Marathon. They will be higher because more students do not resume school until after that week.

In short - you are picking a bad year to travel to WDW on Marathon weekend because of where it lands on the calendar.

 

[Mr. Drauer]

So if we ARRIVE on Saturday the 6th around lunch time, it wouldn't be a huge deal to go to the Magic Kingdom then since it will be after lunch? We usually like to do MK on arrival day, but have never visited at this time of year. And I guess avoid EPCOT on sunday the 7th...

Saturday is going to be one of those busy days at all the parks based upon the fact that many who have come for New Years it will likely be the last park day. Sunday would be the start of many new arrivers park days. No telling if MK will be super busy (it usually is on any given Saturday). You might find Sunday morning rope-drop at MK or other park is going to be the least busy time you see (many Sunday mornings are the least crowded in my experience), and EPCOT is fine if you want to go late morning or afternoon. All those who just did a marathon are not likely to be right back in the parks, as most take a rest and come back for late afternoons and early dinners, though not all. If it was like this past year, the days after marathon weekend were lighter than almost any other time of the year.

 

[bumbershoot]

Okay, but isn't the Marathon *around* epcot? Wouldn't it be better to avoid epcot altogether?

I guess I'm worried because, as a DVC member, *all* the resorts are now basically *completely booked* for that weekend. That tells me it's going to be a busy weekend! (January 5-6 )

Part of it is in Epcot but remember the half on Saturday and the full on Sunday start at 5am. The last person would start around 6 and there's a hat 16 minute mile limit for the last starters. As the last people are going through they are pulling up the markers etc. as people are finishing the runs when parks open (this is NOT for MK) the CMs do very well at balancing out runner and tourist needs and safety.

Take Disney transportation. Leave for everything early. If you see runners, clap for them. Be excited. If you're at a park and you're seeing people still out there, they need your love.

 

[mountdew1]

As a PP pointed out, there is only ONE marathon weekend, and that is in January. runDisney currently has 3 other event weekends at WDW, all of which have a half marathon as the longest race. Several of the halfs have different courses, but most have minimal impact on non-runners as long as you pay attention to the information WDW provides, and allow extra time to get places during race hours.

Yeah well that's it. We're going in January, which is when I'm very concerned about.

Don't be. Avoid any early morning bookings at MK and the MK area on Sat/Sun and you will be fine. World Drive going under the water bridge is a one lane road until about 30-45 mins before MK opens, so traffic can get very backed up in that area causing heavy delays until the second lane opens. Other than that, there is minimal impact upon other guests. Yes, for Marathon Weekend in January the races start and finish in the Epcot parking lot. But the 5k and 10k (Thurs and Fri) are both essentially done before the park opens, so other than the infrastructure in the parking lot, you won't even know something happened. Sat, the half is through MK before the park opens, and only goes into Epcot for the last mile or so while Epcot opens. Pay attention to the cones and the CMs, and don't cross back and forth between TT and the Land and it's not a big deal. Sun with the full runners will be in AK, DHS and Epcot while the parks are open, and there will be road closures between the three that will affect traffic getting to/from the parks. (MK is done pre park open, and most of the way from MK to AK is in CM only roads) Once again, allow for a bit of extra time for travel using WDW transit when possible, and pay attention to cones and CMs. Park attendance won't get that much of a bump from runners. Booking hotels at that time are hard as they will fill up for marathon weekend itself from runners (especially DVC), but will often have occupancy before and after. Resorts will be full, and non-park dining will be full. But the parks themselves won't be extra crowded due to runners. The crowds may be higher based on when schools go back, and that has a much greater impact than runners.

 

[xipetotec]

As a PP pointed out, there is only ONE marathon weekend, and that is in January. runDisney currently has 3 other event weekends at WDW, all of which have a half marathon as the longest race. Several of the halfs have different courses, but most have minimal impact on non-runners as long as you pay attention to the information WDW provides, and allow extra time to get places during race hours.



Don't be. Avoid any early morning bookings at MK and the MK area on Sat/Sun and you will be fine. World Drive going under the water bridge is a one lane road until about 30-45 mins before MK opens, so traffic can get very backed up in that area causing heavy delays until the second lane opens. Other than that, there is minimal impact upon other guests. Yes, for Marathon Weekend in January the races start and finish in the Epcot parking lot. But the 5k and 10k (Thurs and Fri) are both essentially done before the park opens, so other than the infrastructure in the parking lot, you won't even know something happened. Sat, the half is through MK before the park opens, and only goes into Epcot for the last mile or so while Epcot opens. Pay attention to the cones and the CMs, and don't cross back and forth between TT and the Land and it's not a big deal. Sun with the full runners will be in AK, DHS and Epcot while the parks are open, and there will be road closures between the three that will affect traffic getting to/from the parks. (MK is done pre park open, and most of the way from MK to AK is in CM only roads) Once again, allow for a bit of extra time for travel using WDW transit when possible, and pay attention to cones and CMs. Park attendance won't get that much of a bump from runners. Booking hotels at that time are hard as they will fill up for marathon weekend itself from runners (especially DVC), but will often have occupancy before and after. Resorts will be full, and non-park dining will be full. But the parks themselves won't be extra crowded due to runners. The crowds may be higher based on when schools go back, and that has a much greater impact than runners.

Thanks, I hear ya regarding hotels. We're *mostly* booked already. Meaning that I booked reservations back in February, but I waited too long ( end of feb ) and am still missing a couple of days. I've booked those days at NON-dvc properties for now and am on waiting lists... fingers crossed.

Good to know for dining... we might have to book non-park dining ( for logistics reasons in our group that I don't need to get into here ) but I'll make sure to book the full 180 days out.

 

[crewmatt]

its really not a big deal, this year will be worst then most due to the proximity of Marathon and New Years. But next year assuming the marathon moves out to the later weekend you won't even notice it compared to the busy season.

The only real impact the marathon has is while the race is running - most of the other races are finished well before people wake up, however the marathon goes longer. For the most part MK should be open no issue, Epcot will have a lane of people going through it while its open. You might also see people in or near HS.

The biggest headache would be early morning transportation, so just give some more time, or goto parks relatively near your hotel (if you're in an MK area hotel stay up there, Epcot either do DHS or Epcot, AK Lodge do AK).