Marathon weekend theme park crowds?

[Simba's Mom]

I just realized that the time I picked for a few days at WDW in January coincides with Marathon weekend. Is the Marathon increase crowds? If so, is it better (less crowded) for a non-marathoner to be there the week before or the week after the marathon?

 

[Run princess]

If you are thinking of crowd levels only the week after may be better. Further away from New Years Eve and such. I don't think marathon weekend is very crowded but then again we are usually running! So I probably just don't notice the crowds.

 

[francie57]

Agree with pp - the week after the marathon would probably be much less crowded. We have run the past 2 years and we have not any problems at the parks after we were done with the races with crowds.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I don't think marathon weekend is very crowded but then again we are usually running! So I probably just don't notice the crowds.

This is what I was hoping to hear! Sounds like it may be OK, after all. I'll check the runDisney website to find out what's happening when-maybe certain activities will affect certain parks at certain days/times. DH has run Marathons, but not that one. But he did do the F&W half, so I'll bet he gets info about the Marathon weekend.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

The crowds begin to thin out on the Thursday before the marathon, and the following week is a dream. The only problem that we had was the weather - it got cold a few days on our trip. Cold - highs never reached 50, and it was cloudy and very windy. Wind chills were horrible. Way too cold to enjoy the parks.

But the trip was awesome!

 

[michsig]

I was there in January 2013 during marathon weekend. The parks weren't really crowded, but I found that the resort/resort pool were a lot more crowded!

 

[PaulaVonSchweetz]

We've been there during marathon weekends and I never even knew anything was going on.
Didn't find out until Monday when I noticed many people with their medals checking out.

 

[RnbwSktles]

I ran the marathon this past Jan so I can give you a little advice based on what I saw. The full marathon on Sunday is the only event that will affect you at all (and minimally). I might avoid DHS and EPCOT that morning. The other events that weekend are done before the parks even open (for the most part).

I was still running through DHS and EPCOT around noon and by then those parks were pretty crowded. CMs held people back from crossing the course until there was a gap in runners. There were also a lot of people standing along the route cheering. It was similar to if a parade had been going on to get an idea of what I'm talking about. This might make it more frustrating to tour the park if you're really in a hurry, but otherwise won't really affect anything.

If you are driving your own car, be prepared for some road closures. Bus transportation might be affected as well, but all I saw was this outside of DHS...

Anyway, the general crowds were not bad the week after the race. I did not do any parks that weekend so I can't tell you about Sat/Sun. However, keep in mind that the following weekend is the MLK holiday and we noticed crowds pick WAY up that Friday.

It's definitely a great time of year to go! I hope you have a blast!

 

[Simba's Mom]

I ran the marathon this past Jan so I can give you a little advice based on what I saw. The full marathon on Sunday is the only event that will affect you at all (and minimally). I might avoid DHS and EPCOT that morning. The other events that weekend are done before the parks even open (for the most part).

I was still running through DHS and EPCOT around noon and by then those parks were pretty crowded. CMs held people back from crossing the course until there was a gap in runners. There were also a lot of people standing along the route cheering. It was similar to if a parade had been going on to get an idea of what I'm talking about. This might make it more frustrating to tour the park if you're really in a hurry, but otherwise won't really affect anything.

If you are driving your own car, be prepared for some road closures. Bus transportation might be affected as well, but all I saw was this outside of DHS...

Anyway, the general crowds were not bad the week after the race. I did not do any parks that weekend so I can't tell you about Sat/Sun. However, keep in mind that the following weekend is the MLK holiday and we noticed crowds pick WAY up that Friday.

It's definitely a great time of year to go! I hope you have a blast!

Actually, in Epcot and DHS, are there places where spectators can go and cheer contestants on? If so, I'd probably enjoy doing this. In his younger days, DH ran marathons, and I stood along the route many times (sometimes even driving from one spot to another) to cheer him and other contestants on. Two years ago, when DH ran the F&W 1/2, I was disappointed that since it was held at night spectators weren't allowed to cheer the runners on in the parks. Heck, we weren't even allowed at the finish line (grumble, grumble).

 

[RnbwSktles]

Actually, in Epcot and DHS, are there places where spectators can go and cheer contestants on? If so, I'd probably enjoy doing this. In his younger days, DH ran marathons, and I stood along the route many times (sometimes even driving from one spot to another) to cheer him and other contestants on. Two years ago, when DH ran the F&W 1/2, I was disappointed that since it was held at night spectators weren't allowed to cheer the runners on in the parks. Heck, we weren't even allowed at the finish line (grumble, grumble).

Yes, absolutely! You can stand and cheer in almost any place along the course. If you want to get up at 5am, you can even stand on Main St in the MK before it opens and cheer for runners All of the other parks (AK, DHS, and EPCOT) require park admission.

The end of the course goes through DHS, past the Yacht & Beach Club Hotels, around the World Showcase, and finishes in the EPCOT parking lot. You probably can't get close to the finish line because people pay extra for that privilege, but there should be plenty of standing room along the rest of the route. Many spectators make signs, which is fun for everyone!

 

[niffer5150]

I was there in January 2013 during marathon weekend. The parks weren't really crowded, but I found that the resort/resort pool were a lot more crowded!

i was there at that time too. i failed on this aspect of planning and first marathon day was our IOA day. it took us over an hour to get off property in a taxi. the MK that night was only slightly more crowded, but the pools and restaurants seemed busier than anything else.

 

[Kat913]

We've been there 4 or 5 times during marathon weekend in jan. & there was no real impact on our trip due to crowds - wasn't an issue.
Have a great trip!

 

[Itinkso]

We were there the first two days of Marathon weekend in 2013 and didn't notice a difference in the crowd level especially compared to the previous week. For the Princess 1/2, the only place I noticed crowds was at DTD after the 1/2.