Marathon Weekend or MLK

[MrFredricksen]

We are considering going early January and will have to overlap with either the marathon or MLK. Which is better for the following?
1 - park crowds/lines
2 - hotel prices
3 - ticket price
And how difficult is it to get around during the marathon - are there road closures?

 

[mom2rtk]

Whichever is cheaper is the weekend Disney expects less crowds.

Transportation is a very real issue marathon weekend. We've done it 3 times because of my daughter's school schedule. 2020 we got stopped on a Disney bus for 45 minutes very close to the MK on marathon Sunday. This year we got sidelined on half-marathon Saturday. Our Disney bus got stopped for a while then dumped us unceremoniously at the TTC instead of the bus stops. A very frustrating experience.

If you go marathon weekend, try to stay at a Skyliner resort and schedule Epcot and DHS for that Saturday and Sunday. We did great on Sunday this year going to DHS by Skyliner. Unfortunately our trip was too short to do the same on Saturday.

 

[Disneyhanna]

I did MLK 2022 and MW 2023 and I think if I wanted a less busy time I would go with MLK. MW is really close to New Years again next year which I think makes it busier than if MW falls a week after since many folks (like myself) take advantage of the NY holiday to extend a MW trip. Prices should be very comparable between the two. Mousesavers posts 2023 room rates by date and just pulling up Pop for example, the MW and MLK pricing are $2/night different. I imagine tickets are similar.

 

[soniam]

The parks are less crowded for Marathon Weekend than MLK. However, like @mom2rtk said, traffic can be bad for the the marathon. Also, some of the hotels get really busy and so does dining.

 

[ghtx]

If you go marathon weekend, try to stay at a Skyliner resort and schedule Epcot and DHS for that Saturday and Sunday. We did great on Sunday this year going to DHS by Skyliner. Unfortunately our trip was too short to do the same on Saturday.

Is it also true that staying at a monorail resort, and using the monorail for MK or Epcot would avoid the marathon traffic?

 

[CarolynFH]

Is it also true that staying at a monorail resort, and using the monorail for MK or Epcot would avoid the marathon traffic?

Yes, that’s true too.