Marathon Weekend Lodging Questions?

[MickeyT]

Hey All,
Spent some time wondering whether to post this here or on the resort board. Figured you guys would know better about this particular time of year plus the fact you're just generally smarter!
Being the Disney junkie in our family I've been given the task of finding our crew three rooms for the marathon weekend. Now I've already laid down the rules that we are staying on property but figuring out which resort is best is the hard part. I’m leaning toward a moderate. We’ve stayed at CBR and POR but are there any advantages to any moderate over the other on marathon weekend? Anyone stayed at CSR and enjoyed? Is it better for one of us to book all the rooms hence getting all rooms close together?
Just needing advice again and you guys are always the best. Thanks in advance for any help!!!!

 

[Whiste Pig]

I've been wondering about lodging for that weekend as well. As a runner, is it more convenient to stay on or off site? I understand that if you stay on-site you have to be there at 4'ish. Wouldn't it be better to stay off-site and drive in and not have to wait so long before the start. Or is it fun waiting before the race?

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

Mike, I'm going to transfer this thread to the Events side of WISH. I know there are many folks there with the advice you seek.

Any on-property site has bus service to the event that morning. It is not the Disney bus system and you have to know where to catch the bus. Usually you find out the days before when you go to the expo. The same busses take you to the expo for check in. Yeah, you need to get moving early race day, but I prefer to have someone else drive and I like getting there early since it is part of the whole experience for me.

I know that there are many others who like to get there a bit later. Some will stay on property and drive themselves. You just need to know if you drive that traffic will become a major issue the longer you wait to get there.

Others pick the resort so they can walk to the start. I'll let them tell you that part.

Good luck deciding.

 

[EPCOTDUDE]

I had the same questions last year and most seemed to agree that all the on property locations were fine. I stayed at AKL which is well removed from most of WDW and had no problems with anything. Transportation to and from the expo and the race was great. The staff was very helpful too. I think you can't loose if you stay Disney.

 

[princessrunner]

I stayed at CBR and had no problems with either Expo transportation or transportation to the half. It was pretty smooth. I have stayed at CSR not for the marathon and loved the resort but you should pay the extra $$ to stay closer to the main building. It is quite a hike or you have to hitch a ride with the little carts to get to food. Bus service stops all around the resort. I don't think I remember anyone having problems with bus service for this past marathon weekend. I would stay where everyone is the happiest and can get the rooms close together.

 

[scoolover]

I've done Pop two years in a row and both years were great.

 

[moredisneyplease]

I've stayed at Ft. Wilderness cabin, SSR, and Cont for the marathon weekend and had no problems.............besides waking up at an unGodly hour to catch a bus! Our marathon group is from CA (3 hours behind in time) and some of the group decided just not to go to bed!!

 

[scuba diver]

I've stayed both off property and on property. The real issue is if you will drive to the race or take the busses.

I like to drive and we get there really early, like 3:30 am.

We pack blankets and a pillow and enjoy a 2 hour nap before we have to get up and get dressed to go. I'm a morning guy and don't sleep well before a race so getting there early and grabbing a nap works great for me.

Now, in 2009 DW if running the Half. I don't know if she will be so happy about getting up at 2:30.

 

[dsnyfan21]

I like staying on property. I have stayed at Pop and Poly. Bus transportation was great, at Poly you take the Monorail and that was evertless. I think I will try the Poly again next year. Other than that I would do POP again anytime!!

 

[DreamBeliever]

I was a little apprensive about how the bus service would be during marathon weekend, since 2008 was my first marathon experience. I've been to Disney on several occasions and at times, bussing can be questionable. However, I was pleasantly surprised I feel completely confident saying that you will not have a bussing issue if you stay on WDW grounds. We stayed at POFQ and enjoyed meeting other marathoners hearing inspirational stories. There is an addictive buzz that carries throughout Disney on marathon weekend.

In addition, the bus service to/from wide world of sport was easy as well.

Best of luck with your training.

 

[wdw4us]

I too was worried and we stayed at the Dolphin, again no problem!

denise

 

[Moonie]

I stayed at Pop - my first time staying in a Disney hotel ever, and my first marathon - and had a great experience with the buses. From everything I've heard of traffic, I probably wouldn't recommend trying to drive in from offsite, but I can't comment on that from any sort of personal experience.

 

[windwalker]

If you have the option stay on property. You have to be on property to get the full dose of Disney magic. We have stayed at several resortsa and they are all good. We prefer the boardwalk area because you can walk to 2 parks and monorail to a third, busses are only required for the AK or water parks. We usually end our evenings at the Big River brewery.

Disney Lover Panda

 

[Cruella de mom]

I have stayed at CSR the past two years and I love it. I will probably stay there again this year. The hotel is packed to the brim with TNTers running the race and therefore CSR has twice as many marathon buses assigned to it as the other resorts. The marathon buses are usually waiting for you and You rarely have to wait more than 10 minutes for resort buses.

I also like that they have the cantina so you can buy your pre race meal the night before.

Also, my sisters also discovered that if you order room service coffee at 10pm, it is at perfect drinking temperature at 2 am when you need it.

 

[ScoJo15]

I stayed at CSR last year and fell in love with the place! To Cecilia's point, it was packed with TnTers but it kind of added to the whole vibe, seeing people's doors decorated and having so many others doing the race around you...lots of medal wearing on the Monday after!

Transportation to and from was incredibly easy and we did not have to wait more than a minute or two for a bus...for both the marathon and regular park hopping.

I think overall, Disney does a tremendous job with the race morning logistics and you'll be just fine whereever you choose to stay.