Need advice from experienced spectators at PHM

[dminnie]

After spending about an hour the other night figuring out a plan for spectating at an out of town race we went to made me think it might be nice to start planning in advance for the PHM. Truly I think spectating can be as exhausting as running the race!

We are not buying the Chear squad packages. We'll be staying on-site (probably POR). We'll be relying on Disney transportation.

Where are the best places to see your runners? What are the easiest places to get to to see them and still be somewhere near the finish area to meet up with them after the race? Hoping to see them maybe 3 times on the course, with the third place somewhere close to the finish. Is this reasonable? How did you get around?

Does Disney have a family reunion area that makes it easier to find your runner? Do they have refreshments for sale in this area, or is the only way to have refreshments to get a RR package? Actually RR package is out of the question...we'll pack something to bring if there won't be anything for sale.

 

[steph0808]

My family had a terrible time with the buses for spectating for this year's marathon. I think the best places would be at the TTC/Contemporary/Grand Floridian - the course should go right by the resorts. At the finish line is pretty good too. Magic Kingdom was packed so if you want to see them/them to see you, they need to get there early.

Refreshment boxes are handed out at the finish - water, Gatorade, crackers, fruit snack, banana, etc.

At the marathon, assuming it is the same for PHM, they had a family reunion area that was organized alphabetically. For instance, I told my family to meet me at the L-P tent since since my last name starts with a P. It was very, very easy to find them there.

 

[dminnie]

Um... Maybe feeling guilty... I know they have refreshment boxes that they hand out. Those are for the runners right? Anything for sale for spectators at the finish /family reunion area? We are usually pretty hungry after all that cheering!

Also, are there buses for spectators? How early do you need to leave the resort to watch the race?

 

[steph0808]

Um... Maybe feeling guilty... I know they have refreshment boxes that they hand out. Those are for the runners right? Anything for sale for spectators at the finish /family reunion area? We are usually pretty hungry after all that cheering!

Also, are there buses for spectators? How early do you need to leave the resort to watch the race?

Oh ya, the refreshment boxes are for runners! At the marathon, they did have food for sale, and beer too, I think. I was just so tired and hot that I just hopped on the air-conditioned bus! I'm not sure about for the Princess, though I would assume they would have some stuff for sale. It is Disney, after all.

Buses... 3-4 a.m. for runners, and I believe 3-5 a.m. for spectators. If you weren't on a bus by 5, they weren't running again until 7 because of road closures.

 

[joan4mickey]

After spending about an hour the other night figuring out a plan for spectating at an out of town race we went to made me think it might be nice to start planning in advance for the PHM. Truly I think spectating can be as exhausting as running the race!

We are not buying the Chear squad packages. We'll be staying on-site (probably POR). We'll be relying on Disney transportation.

Where are the best places to see your runners? What are the easiest places to get to to see them and still be somewhere near the finish area to meet up with them after the race? Hoping to see them maybe 3 times on the course, with the third place somewhere close to the finish. Is this reasonable? How did you get around?

Does Disney have a family reunion area that makes it easier to find your runner? Do they have refreshments for sale in this area, or is the only way to have refreshments to get a RR package? Actually RR package is out of the question...we'll pack something to bring if there won't be anything for sale.

It is going to depend on how fast you run, and what corral you are in to organize spectators. I have been in Corral A and am in the MK within the hour so my people get up early and get the PHM bus to Epcot and then the monorails (don't forget the change) to see me on Main Street and then back to the finish line. It is VERY crowded at the finish line. Once I cross the line (this is for all runners) there is a "maze" to go through...medal presentation, med. tent if needed, water/gatorade pickup, photo op and then food. Bag pickup and then you exit to the meeting area. Yes, there are tents with letters on them. Good place to meet. There are also more photo ops.

I think they have snacks to purchase, I just haven't so I can't be for sure.

 

[joan4mickey]

Buses... 3-4 a.m. for runners, and I believe 3-5 a.m. for spectators. If you weren't on a bus by 5, they weren't running again until 7 because of road closures.

Good point! And I think the traffic gets worse for a bit as regular park people come in. A lot of information is covered in the program and there is a spectator guide on the runDisney site. Let me see if I can get that. I can't find it. But there has been one in the program in the past.
Here is a link to the 2011 program, a pdf file. scroll down to page 32-33
opps, for got link
http://espnwwos.disney.go.com/media/ewwos/pdf/sports/rundisney/Princess11Program.11.pdf

 

[dminnie]

Oh ya, the refreshment boxes are for runners! At the marathon, they did have food for sale, and beer too, I think. I was just so tired and hot that I just hopped on the air-conditioned bus! I'm not sure about for the Princess, though I would assume they would have some stuff for sale. It is Disney, after all.

Buses... 3-4 a.m. for runners, and I believe 3-5 a.m. for spectators. If you weren't on a bus by 5, they weren't running again until 7 because of road closures.

Ha! Of course, it's Disney, so they will more than likely have something we buy!

Good point! And I think the traffic gets worse for a bit as regular park people come in. A lot of information is covered in the program and there is a spectator guide on the runDisney site. Let me see if I can get that. I can't find it. But there has been one in the program in the past.
Here is a link to the 2011 program, a pdf file. scroll down to page 32-33
opps, for got link
http://espnwwos.disney.go.com/media/ewwos/pdf/sports/rundisney/Princess11Program.11.pdf

Thanks for the link to the previous program guide. It looks like they provide pretty specific information for spectators. That should be helpful. I'm guessing that we'll try to see them at mile 7 or 8 and then at the finish. Main street sounds like quite a crowd. I'd rather go to a spot where I know they will see us and we'll see them.

 

[Bephus]

Really the best locations to be seen is TTC and then walk over to Grand Floridian. Then hop onto monorail back to Epcot for finish. The only way to do this with Disney transportation is to ride the bus with your runner (or one of the last runner buses) and hop onto the monorail to TTC from Epcot before the start (or just after).
If your runner is not too fast and will be finishing after 9:00 you can see them in Epcot as long as you don't mind using a park pass, MK is free- Epcot is not.

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[DVCFan1994]

Is there anywhere to watch inside EPCOT? And does anyone know what time they start letting people through the EPCOT gates so they can walk back to Epcot hotels if they so choose? Is it regular park opening at 9?

I'm really struggling with the spectating aspect of all this. My parents, DH and kids, 5 & 7 are all going to be at WDW with me, so it seems silly not to have them watch somewhere. I am kind of hoping the 10k course will go past BWV, since we are staying there. The description says it will go past the EPCOT resorts. Then maybe I can just have them watch at the finish for PHM? Would be nice to have them see me on Main Street, but that seems like a whole lot of hassle

 

[kappyfamily]

Is there anywhere to watch inside EPCOT? And does anyone know what time they start letting people through the EPCOT gates so they can walk back to Epcot hotels if they so choose? Is it regular park opening at 9?

I'm really struggling with the spectating aspect of all this. My parents, DH and kids, 5 & 7 are all going to be at WDW with me, so it seems silly not to have them watch somewhere. I am kind of hoping the 10k course will go past BWV, since we are staying there. The description says it will go past the EPCOT resorts. Then maybe I can just have them watch at the finish for PHM? Would be nice to have them see me on Main Street, but that seems like a whole lot of hassle

Main street is a nightmare, you won't see them anyway, everything is so surreal with the castle in front of you, loud music, a TON of runners. My husband gave up trying to get a spot and just stood on the other side of Poly and then right the finish line, exactly when I needed to see his face!!!

 

[DIS-OH]

Rather than fighting the crowds near the finish line, my family has watched for me in at the bus loading area at Epcot. Runners pass this area just before entering Epcot. It's near Mile 12 and seeing my family there gives me a blast of energy for the last mile.

After seeing me, they then cross the Epcot parking lot and meet me in the family reunion area.

 

[DVCFan1994]

Main street is a nightmare, you won't see them anyway, everything is so surreal with the castle in front of you, loud music, a TON of runners. My husband gave up trying to get a spot and just stood on the other side of Poly and then right the finish line, exactly when I needed to see his face!!!

Edited because when I reread earlier posts, saw one I missed before with my answer. No transportation at all between 5:00 and 7:00 right? No way to get to TTC for say 6:30? Could you drive yourself or are road closures that extreme?

 

[dminnie]

Rather than fighting the crowds near the finish line, my family has watched for me in at the bus loading area at Epcot. Runners pass this area just before entering Epcot. It's near Mile 12 and seeing my family there gives me a blast of energy for the last mile.

After seeing me, they then cross the Epcot parking lot and meet me in the family reunion area.

This sounds good. Mile 12 is just when DD will need some cheering. So, can you get to that without going into the park? We won't have park hoppers and Epcot isn't our park for that day.

Based on the suggestions, I'm thinking TTC, walk from there to Grand Fl, then take the monorail to see them by the bus area by Epcot and then find them in the family reunion area. I don't want to mess with the crowds at MK or the finish line, but I do want to be there to encourage/cheer when it will be the most helpful to see us! Will that work or will it be impossible to get to all those places?

 

[geaux_half]

Edited because when I reread earlier posts, saw one I missed before with my answer. No transportation at all between 5:00 and 7:00 right? No way to get to TTC for say 6:30? Could you drive yourself or are road closures that extreme?

The only time I spectated for Marathon weekend, I took a cab from the hotel to TTC. Actually split a van cab with 2 other families waiting for bus transportation to spectate as well. Split 3 ways I think the fare was $5 including tip per family.

 

[DIS-OH]

This sounds good. Mile 12 is just when DD will need some cheering. So, can you get to that without going into the park? We won't have park hoppers and Epcot isn't our park for that day.

Based on the suggestions, I'm thinking TTC, walk from there to Grand Fl, then take the monorail to see them by the bus area by Epcot and then find them in the family reunion area. I don't want to mess with the crowds at MK or the finish line, but I do want to be there to encourage/cheer when it will be the most helpful to see us! Will that work or will it be impossible to get to all those places?

No park ticket required! The spectators line the course thru the parking area/resort bus loading area right up to where the runners enter the backstage area at Epcot.

And signs are fun for runners to read...so be sure to make some!

Last year my older DD made a sign for her sister that said, "Run faster, Janie! Don't let Dad beat you!". Another runner ran up to her and said, "I know that's not for me, but my name is Janie, too, and I appreciate the encouragement!".

 

[Bephus]

This sounds good. Mile 12 is just when DD will need some cheering. So, can you get to that without going into the park? We won't have park hoppers and Epcot isn't our park for that day.

Based on the suggestions, I'm thinking TTC, walk from there to Grand Fl, then take the monorail to see them by the bus area by Epcot and then find them in the family reunion area. I don't want to mess with the crowds at MK or the finish line, but I do want to be there to encourage/cheer when it will be the most helpful to see us! Will that work or will it be impossible to get to all those places?

This is exactly what you should do. Very easily done as long as you are willing to get up early and take the runners bus (before 5:00). It cannot be emphasized enough that there is no transportation between 5&7 and the roads are a mess so driving is a disaster. If you want to get there on time- get there early. And for sure make signs! The funnier the better, it really helps all the runners. And make sure your runner knows what you are wearing, they will see you long before you see them.
Have fun!!

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