Official 2015 Disney Marathon Thread

[bryana]

The stitch is a good idea actually! I could probably do that pretty quickly the morning of since I can see it stretching/pulling taking the sleeves on and off.




Well I already mentioned my full costume (Jessie). Since I am doing Dopey, I am planning 4 simple outfits:

5K - Not really a costume. I have a cheap cotton tshirt that says "And she ran happily ever after" that I figure I won't have many opportunities to wear. Thinking of pairing it with a tiara if I can find one for cheap.

10K - Someone mentioned dressing up as the Blerch for this race so I am probably going to wear my virtual Beat the Blerch shirt and try to find them for a photo opp! (if this isn't going to happen, I'd love to know and think of another idea!)

Half - I have the Red Queen shirt from raw threads. Will probably put a matching ribbon or something in my hair. I saw some cute Queen of Hearts arm warmers but I think I will die in those

Full - Jessie inspired outfit. Red head band (or visor if raining), hair in a braid with yellow ribbon, white tank top, blue shorts, yellow wrist bands, cow socks with feet cut off.

If you have Claires/Icing at your local mall, check there for a tiara. I got the one I wore for PHM there for $5!

Your Jessie idea sounds great. I did a Disney Bounding-esqe Merida for PHM. I ran the 10K in a Belle costume. Like, legit halloween costume. Great for the pictures, but omg, with how humid that race was, boy was I miserable! I knew that going into it though, which is why I didn't wear it for the half, lol.

Here are pictures:

This year I'm going to take a similar approach. I just haven't decided what to be yet though. I was kicking around either Robin Hood or Sora from Kingdom Hearts.

 

[jerivera]

EXPO on Friday...

What's the best time to go in order to pick up our bibs/packages? Morning, noon, afternoon, other (and avoid the huge rush)?

We get to Disney on Thursday night, so sadly Thursday is not an option for us.

 

[RnbwSktles]

If you have Claires/Icing at your local mall, check there for a tiara. I got the one I wore for PHM there for $5!

Your Jessie idea sounds great. I did a Disney Bounding-esqe Merida for PHM. I ran the 10K in a Belle costume. Like, legit halloween costume. Great for the pictures, but omg, with how humid that race was, boy was I miserable! I knew that going into it though, which is why I didn't wear it for the half, lol.

Here are pictures:

This year I'm going to take a similar approach. I just haven't decided what to be yet though. I was kicking around either Robin Hood or Sora from Kingdom Hearts.

Both of your costumes look great, but I can't imagine running in a full costume! I think I would only consider a full costume for a 5k someday.

I hope 2015 isn't one of the years that it ends up being really cold! I don't want to spend more money on a "winter" version of my Jessie outfit!

 

[thill]

EXPO on Friday...

What's the best time to go in order to pick up our bibs/packages? Morning, noon, afternoon, other (and avoid the huge rush)?

We get to Disney on Thursday night, so sadly Thursday is not an option for us.

I'm worried about this as I probably won't be able to get in until Friday. So that means I'll have to check in to my resort and pick up my numbers that day. I may try to switch things around to get down earlier in Friday but I don't see any way to get there on Thursday.

 

[Ariel484]

I'm worried about this as I probably won't be able to get in until Friday. So that means I'll have to check in to my resort and pick up my numbers that day. I may try to switch things around to get down earlier in Friday but I don't see any way to get there on Thursday.

Expo is open until 7 that day, so depending on when you get in you might be okay.

Hours (per runDisney.com):
Wednesday, January 7, 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Thursday, January 8, 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Friday, January 9, 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Saturday, January 10, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

My flight lands on Wednesday at about 11 and I HAVE to go to the expo that day since the 5K is Thursday, so I'm just going to take DME to my resort, check in, grab the expo bus and hope for the best.

 

[Woodmnky]

I'm sorry if this has been covered, but I haven't kept up with the thread in a while and my husband (the runner) has some questions.

- Tips for driving to the 1/2 marathon? We are staying offsite, so he will have to drive.

- Are the character photo ops generally stationed near the water stops or at other areas along the way?

- His mother is going to go with him to the race and watch. I believe that I have read that she can go to Magic Kingdom to watch the runners as well, is this correct? I assume that the monorail is running? Anything in particular that I should tell her if she decides to do this? She has never been to WDW, so I will have to brief her well before she goes. I have to stay at the hotel with a sleeping toddler, so she will be on her own.

 

[Weluvdisny]

Where's some of the best locations for my family to see me and for me to see them? My DH went to MK to see me at the 1/2 in 2013 but it was way too crowded there so we never saw each other. I was thinking the Polynesian might be an option. It wasn't too crowded for the 1/2. And we don't have a vehicle so it needs to be where they can get there by bus or monorail.

 

[PrincessV]

- Tips for driving to the 1/2 marathon? We are staying offsite, so he will have to drive.

There will be driving directions in the race program. But really it's just a matter of leaving EARLY (I suggest no later than when the race buses start running - 3am, I believe) and getting to EP. Roads will still be open at that time, so no special detours necessary.

- Are the character photo ops generally stationed near the water stops or at other areas along the way?

I can't say that I've ever noticed a pattern in where characters are located. He'll just need to keep an eye out! They can be on either side of the course.

- His mother is going to go with him to the race and watch. I believe that I have read that she can go to Magic Kingdom to watch the runners as well, is this correct? I assume that the monorail is running? Anything in particular that I should tell her if she decides to do this? She has never been to WDW, so I will have to brief her well before she goes. I have to stay at the hotel with a sleeping toddler, so she will be on her own.

She should just know that it will be crowded - allow plenty of time to get anywhere, as lots of folks will be using the monorail to get around for cheering. It's tough, I'm told, to see your runner from within the MK - she may want to consider cheering outside the Grand Floridian, or from the TTC. Wait and see what others post on this topic, though...

 

[Woodmnky]

Next question that I forgot to post above, have the race program emails be sent out yet? I haven't received anything other than Spam emails from Active.com and I'm just wondering if I need to be worried.

 

[rteetz]

Next question that I forgot to post above, have the race program emails be sent out yet? I haven't received anything other than Spam emails from Active.com and I'm just wondering if I need to be worried.

I haven't gotten anything so I would guess no

 

[PrincessV]

Next question that I forgot to post above, have the race program emails be sent out yet? I haven't received anything other than Spam emails from Active.com and I'm just wondering if I need to be worried.

Nope, nothing yet. They don't usually show up until a few weeks out from the race.

 

[Ariel484]

I'm sorry if this has been covered, but I haven't kept up with the thread in a while and my husband (the runner) has some questions.

- Tips for driving to the 1/2 marathon? We are staying offsite, so he will have to drive.

Can't give you tips on driving but I can chime in on some other stuff...

- Are the character photo ops generally stationed near the water stops or at other areas along the way?

I don't think they are normally RIGHT by the water stops - I think that would make the course way too crowded, having the water stops and a character line right by each other. If you look back through other race reports you can sort of see locations where they seem to have characters year after year (i.e. Lunching Pad in Tomorrowland, Mad Tea Party, etc.).

- His mother is going to go with him to the race and watch. I believe that I have read that she can go to Magic Kingdom to watch the runners as well, is this correct? I assume that the monorail is running? Anything in particular that I should tell her if she decides to do this? She has never been to WDW, so I will have to brief her well before she goes. I have to stay at the hotel with a sleeping toddler, so she will be on her own.

Yes she can, and yes the monorail will be running.

I did this for Princess this year, which is the same course as the WDW Half. The easiest thing for her to do would probably be to drive with your husband to the start and park at Epcot. After the start, she can walk to the Epcot monorail station, take the monorail to the TTC, switch monorails and go to the Magic Kingdom.

People stand and watch on Main Street. Eventually it'll get a few people deep...again, this picture is from February but you get the idea (apologies for the tiny size). There were carts selling some food and coffee, which was nice. We didn't know they would be doing this so we brought snacks:

We stood and waited for the runners for quite awhile (about 2 hours if I recall correctly), but it was a really fun environment, and REALLY cool to see the lead runner come through.

After we saw our friend, we hopped back on the monorail and went to Epcot. We were able to see her coming into the park, and then on the other side of Spaceship Earth as she was leaving the park. Then we met her at the finish line.

So it takes some knowledge of the parks, the transportation system and the course, and the willingness to get up early even if you won't be running, but it's doable. What helped a lot was texting with our friend to cheeck and see where she was - the runner text alerts were set up but seemed to be coming in very slowly.

Sorry for the novel... If you go to runDisney.com they have a Spectator section that may be helpful.

Next question that I forgot to post above, have the race program emails be sent out yet? I haven't received anything other than Spam emails from Active.com and I'm just wondering if I need to be worried.

I haven't gotten any either...I was getting Wine & Dine emails so I just don't think they have sent any yet.

When they do, they normally post them here (Runner Info > Event Communications in case this link doesn't work): http://www.rundisney.com/disneyworld-marathon/#event-communications

 

[Mgslalala]

Hi all,
Hope the training is going well.
Anybody know when they tend to release the corral placements?
Must be sooner rather than later?
Cheers

 

[Ariel484]

Hi all,
Hope the training is going well.
Anybody know when they tend to release the corral placements?
Must be sooner rather than later?
Cheers

I wouldn't expect corrals/waivers until the first week of December (i.e. 1 month before race weekend).

 

[ZellyB]

- Tips for driving to the 1/2 marathon? We are staying offsite, so he will have to drive.

As mentioned, the race program will give you suggestions on how to arrive. We decided to do a quick practice drive the night before the race to be sure we knew how to get there following the suggestion. Also allowed us to make sure we knew how long it would take. If you leave early enough though, it's very low traffic and easy to get there and park. We just sat in our car once we arrived until closer to start time and then headed straight to the corrals.

 

[ZellyB]

I wouldn't expect corrals/waivers until the first week of December (i.e. 1 month before race weekend).

But, that's only a couple of weeks away at this point! WOOHOO!!! It's getting close now.

 

[Ariel484]

But, that's only a couple of weeks away at this point! WOOHOO!!! It's getting close now.

I know...!!!

 

[irishtwins1112]

So....what's the story on Coach? I haven't seen him around in a while and I pm'd him something ages ago and he hasn't responded....which isn't like him. Anybody know? Or maybe I just haven't been looking where he has been posting.

 

[bumbershoot]

...she may want to consider cheering outside the Grand Floridian, or from the TTC. Wait and see what others post on this topic, though...

Goes to show you how much I was paying attention in January...the 1/2 course goes by the GF and TTC?* (maps of WDW are not my forte)


So the spectators can get into MK to watch the 1/2 without Chear Squad or park tickets?


*OK, the TTC, yes. I still think of it as MK parking lot, and I know we were in that region. And now I'm having flashes of memory of going through the area other than just the parking lot. But we ran by the GF? Huh.

 

[rteetz]

Question regarding the expo. We get to Disney late Wednesday and plan on going to the expo on Thursday afternoon after a morning at Animal Kingdom. The expo is open until 7 pm I expect to get to the expo between 3 and 4 pm. How long should I expect to spend there on Thursday afternoon and does anyone have info regarding the shoes? I know they had like a scheduling thing for the shoes and my mom really wants me to get her a pair so I was wondering how that worked.