Marathon Weekend - where to stay?

[poohs4me]

As a possible participant, I am trying to decide where to stay for marathon weekend. I am torn on whether to stay in a villa (kitchen and laundry) or a regular resort room. Does anyone have any experience they are willing to share on it?

I am also curious if anyone knows any has any resorts they have stayed at for participating in marathon weekend that they would complete avoid again. If so would you please share the resort and the reason why?

 

[Dug720]

I don't know how it's been since 2015, but between 2011 and 2015 there were the most reports of bussing issues from Saratoga Springs unless you were on the first bus at 3am.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

I have not done the WDW Marathon weekend, but have done the other race weekends a handful of times (which I guess is like saying I stayed at a Holiday Inn last night relative to your question, sorry). If my memory is correct, I've stayed at YC, AKL, WL, Poly, and CSR (GDT), all Club Level. CL is certainly a splurge, but I've appreciated the amenities on race weekends - mainly for coffee/celebratory beverages/quick bites when getting back to the resort. Also it makes it easy to grab a bagel, snacks, etc from the lounge the day before for pre-run sustenance. CL makes it so I don't really have to think/plan too much about that part, which is nice on what are often busy/chaotic weekends.

Some CLs (YC, WL) put out little wrapped bagels/muffins and peanut butter cups to grab in the morning, some don't, but this has been inconsistent over time in my experience.

AKL has historically put a coffee bar in the main lobby for free grab/go coffee for all runners on the way to the buses - it's literally like the best amenity on race weekends and almost worth staying there for that alone. (I'm one of those that 'has' to have at least a little coffee before the race)

I haven't had a bad experience at any of the resorts I've stayed at for a race weekend. Always so many pros/cons though. I really like YC for being able to walk to Epcot after cleaning up to celebrate (and walking back directly after a race assuming the park is open at that point). Places like AKL and CSR lack the walkable parks/amenities, but on some level it's nice to be further away from fireworks and other noise and makes it easier to actually try to get to sleep early. At places like Poly - depending on where your room is located - you have the electrical water pageant noise, fireworks noise, and boat noise which, may/may not impact you if you're trying to get some sleep. Probably comes more into play for those doing multiple races/multiple early wake-up calls. (And there are probably many that say to heck with sleep, I'm at WDW!)

My favorite resort race memory was probably WL. Just a chill vibe and there's something special/unique about walking through that lobby at 3am.

I forget which race it was - one of the 5ks I did in the last few years was delayed by weather and we got totally drenched - like soaked to the bone. I wasn't in a villa but I remember at the time wishing I had a washer/dryer available in the room when I got back from that one!

FWIW, I was supposed to do Marathon weekend this year and I kept changing back and forth between CR and YC when I was making plans.

 

[Dug720]

The biggest advantage of Marathon Weekend is there is transportation from ALL resorts. The smaller weekends usually have "host resorts" which will provide transportation but if you stay at another location you're on your own (or taking a Lyft/Uber to one of the host resorts at which point you might as well just take it to the starting zone).

 

[GADisneyDad14]

The biggest advantage of Marathon Weekend is there is transportation from ALL resorts. The smaller weekends usually have "host resorts" which will provide transportation but if you stay at another location you're on your own (or taking a Lyft/Uber to one of the host resorts at which point you might as well just take it to the starting zone).

Just FYI, runDisney stopped doing the “host resort” thing for the other races a couple of years ago. Transportation is (well, was, when runDisney was having in-person races) available from all resorts. Makes things much nicer/easier to plan than when it was just the host resort setup for sure.

 

[Dug720]

Just FYI, runDisney stopped doing the “host resort” thing for the other races a couple of years ago. Transportation is (well, was, when runDisney was having in-person races) available from all resorts. Makes things much nicer/easier to plan than when it was just the host resort setup for sure.

Ah, gotcha. I quit running after Goofy 2015 did me in. (Started back during COVID times as gyms were closed...and Orangetheory is pure torture in a mask even now.) Hoping Wine & Dine happens this year!

 

[gillep]

As a possible participant, I am trying to decide where to stay for marathon weekend. I am torn on whether to stay in a villa (kitchen and laundry) or a regular resort room. Does anyone have any experience they are willing to share on it?

I am also curious if anyone knows any has any resorts they have stayed at for participating in marathon weekend that they would complete avoid again. If so would you please share the resort and the reason why?

I like doing laundry during race weekends so that we are not bringing my husband's stinky clothes back on the plane so I always plan on staying somewhere with laundry in the room (one bedroom for us) or I plan on paying to use the resort laundry rooms. I also like the DVC rooms because they have a toaster and we bring bagels with us.

I love staying at AKL for race weekends because they usually put out a little coffee bar on race mornings and twice the AKL GM has had a character come to the lodge for post-race pictures. I also like that the bus for the expo services just Kidani and Jambo, we stayed at Wilderness lodge once for a race and the expo bus (possibly the race morning bus too but I didn't take that since I am not the runner) serviced three different resorts and I felt like it took forever.

 

[Cabius]

Whenever races start back up, I'm planning to stay at the Polynesian (DVC studio), mostly because it makes it easier for my wife to get up w/ the kids and cheer me on. somewhere on the monorail loop.

I've stayed at CBR for my one previous race, and getting to the starting line was fine, but it was too much of a hassle for my wife to get the under-3s all the way across property.

 

[Wishuponastar0412]

We've stayed Pop Century for the past 2 race weekends. We aren't in the room too much and it was cheap. It worked for us for 2 years, but we are looking to upgrade. We had been booked for Coronado for Wine & Dine before that was canceled. However after staying at the Poly & Grand Floridian studios (DVC) this year, my husband has requested one of those hotels for next marathon weekend because of the seat in the shower. He did Dopey in 2020 and said he cannot wait to sit in the shower for an hour after the last Dopey race next year (fingers crossed). I think having a hot tub will also be nice for tired muscles!

 

[Deb & Bill]

We've stayed Pop Century for the past 2 race weekends. We aren't in the room too much and it was cheap. It worked for us for 2 years, but we are looking to upgrade. We had been booked for Coronado for Wine & Dine before that was canceled. However after staying at the Poly & Grand Floridian studios (DVC) this year, my husband has requested one of those hotels for next marathon weekend because of the seat in the shower. He did Dopey in 2020 and said he cannot wait to sit in the shower for an hour after the last Dopey race next year (fingers crossed). I think having a hot tub will also be nice for tired muscles!

Not a hot tub, an iced tub. Fill the tub with cold water and add a lot of ice. Your muscles will thank you.

 

[cutigerlady]

I've stayed at YC, BC, and Poly for Marathon weekend. I like those 3 because you can see your runner from the resort and it's fairly easy to navigate to multiple places to watch. It can be very COLD in January, so being able to get out of the cold for a few minutes was nice too! Everyone has to arrive by bus, so there is no advantage for getting to the race and where you stay. I would ride with my family (once I realized I was never doing a marathon again) and then take the monorail over to the TTC. You can watch your runner on the way into MK and then walk across and catch them coming from GF. Then I would walk to the TTC and take the bus to AK and watch them there. Next, I took the bus to the BW/YC/BC (depending on how fast they run, you may need to be on the YC/BC side) and saw them again. At the end of the race, I thought the buses were easy to catch back to the resort so walking back wasn't an advantage. We were there the year the 1/2 marathon was cancelled and it was nice to see many people doing their own race around the lake by YC/BC and down to HS and back. My husband was doing Dopey and he wanted to get in his miles so he could say he really finished it!

We stayed at the Poly in CL and it was nice to have the lounge for snacks and they did open up early and stayed open later after the race. For other Disney races we have stayed at Pop, CB, POR, and PORFQ. I think most all of them had coffee on the way to the bus in the morning.

 

[jlovesee]

I have done Marathon Weekend every year since 2013, this was the first year without a live race (cry). Anywho. We are DVC members so we have stayed at a variety of DVC's and different types of rooms for various years. I've never had a bad experience with any of them, though I have to say I really like have a 1 bedroom or larger, the wash and dryer right there and the full kitchen comes in handy especially if you have multiple people doing multiple races. Poly was great because you could simply walk to TTC and grab the monorail to Epcot, (assuming that that is back in operation by the time Marathon Weekend becomes operational again), BLT was great because it was also on the monorail, and then you could walk to Magic Kingdom. Boulder Ridge/Copper Creek is nice as it is tranquil and away from a lot of noise, which is great for relaxing. I've also stayed at OKW and no complaints with that either, though I am not a fan of the theme so much. We have never had any issues with buses though we always leave early and sometimes have driven on cold mornings.

Jennifer

 

[Edeyore]

I ran the marathon in person January 2020. Transportation from the resorts was summarily panned. The traffic was horrendous. I stayed at the CBR and the bus went through our resort and then to the Riviera for passengers. It took over an hour to get to Epcot. My girlfriend came with me. It was pretty much we are here, quick kiss, and then I am headed for the starting line and she was finding a way
to the Magic Kingdom. They need to do something to improve the transportation. I have run the Marathon 5 times since 2014 and this was the absolute worst year for transportation.

 

[Blondie58]

As a possible participant, I am trying to decide where to stay for marathon weekend. I am torn on whether to stay in a villa (kitchen and laundry) or a regular resort room. Does anyone have any experience they are willing to share on it?

I am also curious if anyone knows any has any resorts they have stayed at for participating in marathon weekend that they would complete avoid again. If so would you please share the resort and the reason why?

"Possible participant": I hope your training is going well and you fulfill your Disney Marathon dream. Don't go for time but go for the fun. I did the Goofy (5K, 10K, half and full) a couple years ago. We stayed at the Contemporary. There were no hitches in bus transportation at all on any of the four days. (This is not to say other resorts did not have issues.) I just know about my experience.

The worst part of the experience for me was COLD weather on marathon day. The other days were chilly but "windless". The wind was whipping and there were not enough tents for folks to stand in out of the wind and cold. I should have planned for wind even if in FL. (Note: I am from northern Ohio. I am used to cold.) Cast members did not want you in the tents but I was shaking and so cold!! DH was NOT permitted inside a tent at all the day of the marathon!! (He had done the shorter races and had a numbers but was not doing the marathon.) He finally left and went back to the hotel instead of waiting with me. I did not blame him. (At Disney you wait a good long time once you get to the race start!!!)

So I suggest: Double check the weather AND go through your closet and take clothes that can be left behind. Take a throw away $1.00 poncho or an extra large garbage bag with you. (Cut the bottom out and put drawstring ties at neck.) Both are good for rain but more importantly they cut the wind. If it is wet you need plastic to sit on while you wait to be sent to your corral for the start. (Toilet paper and very small hand sanitizer is not a bad idea either.) Also take an old pair of shoes if it is wet out. Change to your good dry shoes right before you start. A nice dry pair of feet sure helps if you are are prone to blisters at marathon distances. (I have completed 65 marathons and have learned along the way. I often go to Goodwill or garage sales to buy sweatshirts that I can toss and most all runners always have an old pair of shoes.

One last thought: I always duct tape one energy packet around each forearm. Some races are good with energy gu and others are not. I honestly do not remember at Disney as I carry my own. This all sounds like a lot but when the marathon starts I am carrying nothing. Anything extra is left behind and I am comfortable and my hands are free. I do not carry fanny packs or anything like that. I don't need the weight or movement. HAVE A GREAT TIME!! (PS. Lots of folks did carry cell phones in this marathon.)

 

[stitchfan18]

We like the Epcot resort area. The 10K and Full both run through that area so it’s easy for family not running to find a spot to cheer you on. It’s also great to be able to walk to Epcot for a bit later in the day to keep some of the soreness at bay. The one downside when we stayed at BCV for marathon weekend were the fireworks from Epcot waking me up at 9PM the night before the marathon, then not being able to fall back asleep for quite awhile.