Marathon Weekend People (Jan 11, 2008-Jan 13 2008) Book Now!

[chasgoose]

We were planning on going to Disney from January 5th-12th and I had FINALLY decided to stay Atrium Club at the Contemporary. I figured I would book it room only to lock it down and to make it more real in my head. Well, imagine my surprise when I found out the night of the 11th was booked. RPC at the GF was also booked too. Basically if you have a particular room type in mind and you are traveling over those dates and you were waiting for the 2008 room rates/packages to come out or waiting for some other reason. I would call and reserve now just to secure your room type before it gets booked up.

Thankfully we were pretty flexible (we were also going to stay a couple nights on-site at Universal Studios so we can just do that at the end of our trip instead of at the beginning like we originally planned) we won't miss the winter break crowds as much as we wanted, but we can make do or maybe I will stay at my second choice, Poly LVC. Grrr. Just when I thought I had decided on the resort, Disney throws me a curveball.

 

[Momof2J's]

We are going January 6-11th, so after seeing this post thought I should call incase there would possibly be a problem for the 10th. Called and booked ASMu family suite. The CM said that they expect the 2008 rates later this month and the package rates about a month after that.

 

[Rneighh]

Now I'm scared. Most people have said the Marathon does not affect crowd levels in the parks. But with rooms booking up how can that be? Don't the rummers go to the parks?

Renee

 

[Dragonfly0521]

We were in the parks over Marathon last year. The parks were crowded... but not so crowded as to compare to peak levels. Bus rides take longer as you are moving around the Marathon course. By mid-week after the marathon the parks were so empty... I missed the hustle of the crowds.

But... it is busy for January and I think most runners stay onsite but make minimal trips to park. Met a lot of runners the night of the Marathon and the day after.

Also... most runners wear their medals around the parks... it's a great conversation starter and we met some wonderful people from all over the world!

 

[Momof2J's]

We were in the parks over Marathon last year. The parks were crowded... but not so crowded as to compare to peak levels. Bus rides take longer as you are moving around the Marathon course. By mid-week after the marathon the parks were so empty... I missed the hustle of the crowds.

But... it is busy for January and I think most runners stay onsite but make minimal trips to park. Met a lot of runners the night of the Marathon and the day after.

Also... most runners wear their medals around the parks... it's a great conversation starter and we met some wonderful people from all over the world!

We're going to be there the 5 days before the marathon & was wondering how crowds were then? Were you there before it started at all or just during and after?

 

[dontajo]

We're going down 1/7-1/14 and staying at the ASMu with a family suite. I have been down during marathon week before and I've found that the morning is wonderful - you can get on anything you want with no waits. Of course, as the day progresses, the more crowded it gets. All in all though, I've found it to be a very enjoyable time to go.

 

[HugsForEeyore]

Now I'm scared. Most people have said the Marathon does not affect crowd levels in the parks. But with rooms booking up how can that be? Don't the rummers go to the parks?

Renee

Almost every room on-site books up the Saturday night before the marathon! I know this first hand - on one trip back in 2003, I was staying 10 nights at WDW, and the Saturday night of the Marathon was my 4th night out of the 10. I could easily get rooms for most nights but absolutely nothing available for that Marathon night! So I had to go off-site that night. Basically my trip was 3 night at POFQ; then off-site 1 night at Hawthorn Suites SeaWorld; then back on-site for 6 more nights at the Beach Club. It was nuts to plan an on-site, then off-site, then back on-site trip, but it worked out in the end!

I don't remember the parks being too busy over that time period, though! But the resorts - book them now!

 

[dshowgina]

so, if i book, i can check in in 2008?
and how long the whole Marason will take?