OFFICIAL January 2012 5K, Half Marathon, Marathon, Goofy or Dopey Challenge Thread

[cewait]

Thought about OKW? Not sure what your drivers are but have stayed at OKW for a couple marathon weekends and had no issues at all.

 

[CoasterAddict]

Bummed - couldn't get studio at BCV, BWV or BLT. Not sure what I'm going to do!

Take whatever they've got and waitlist.

 

[RadioFanatic]

question - does WDW provide transportation to starting point from all of the resorts? if not, how do you get there -and where exactly is the starting point for the 1/2 marathon?

 

[CoasterAddict]

question - does WDW provide transportation to starting point from all of the resorts? if not, how do you get there -and where exactly is the starting point for the 1/2 marathon?

Yes, absolutely! The half and full both start in the Epcot parking lots. And BTW, you can't walk from BCV or BWV. International gate is not open. So that locations wouldn't help you in terms of getting to the start.

 

[RadioFanatic]

Take whatever they've got and waitlist.

can't bc I was renting points.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Bummed - couldn't get studio at BCV, BWV or BLT. Not sure what I'm going to do!

Why can't you stay somewhere without renting points?

 

[RadioFanatic]

Why can't you stay somewhere without renting points?

It's just much more expensive - BCV, YC and BWV are about $450 a night just for a standard room, which I'm just not willing to pay.

 

[CoasterAddict]

can't bc I was renting points.

We're at the seven month window. Points are good at any resort.

 

[RadioFanatic]

We're at the seven month window. Points are good at any resort.

I know, we called yesterday and was hoping to get either BCV, BWV or BLT -nothing available. Do you have points? Are now interested in WL.

 

[CoasterAddict]

I know, we called yesterday and was hoping to get either BCV, BWV or BLT -nothing available. Do you have points? Are now interested in WL.

Yes, we're at BLT. Made that reservation the day the 11 month booking window opened. We only have a few BLT points, so we can only do that every three years or so. Currently signed up for the 5k and the half. Seriously thinking about adding, or changing to, the marathon relay. I did the full last year. Too much for my sis, so we're back to 13.1.

 

[RadioFanatic]

Hey! I'm still training - which believe you me, is a big deal! Hope everyone else is doing well!

Anyway, I have some questions I'm hoping you can help out with. We are considering using dolphin/swan, but have a couple of questions:

1. can you use magical express for them?
2. we are doing the disney 1/2 marathon in january - will they have transportation to get us to the starting point like the other disney resorts do? thanks!

 

[jeanigor]

Hey! I'm still training - which believe you me, is a big deal! Hope everyone else is doing well!

Anyway, I have some questions I'm hoping you can help out with. We are considering using dolphin/swan, but have a couple of questions:

1. can you use magical express for them?
2. we are doing the disney 1/2 marathon in january - will they have transportation to get us to the starting point like the other disney resorts do? thanks!

1. The Swan/Dolphin do not participate in Magical Express. You would need to rent a car, use a car service, or find a magic carpet. Be advised that S/D charges a daily fee for parking on top of their daily resort fee.

2. I am not sure that they are an official resort. But the Yacht Club or Boardwalk are a short walk, if the S/D proves to be the best bet for you.

 

[FireDancer]

Hey! I'm still training - which believe you me, is a big deal! Hope everyone else is doing well!

Anyway, I have some questions I'm hoping you can help out with. We are considering using dolphin/swan, but have a couple of questions:

1. can you use magical express for them?
2. we are doing the disney 1/2 marathon in january - will they have transportation to get us to the starting point like the other disney resorts do? thanks!

I Stayed at the Swan this year for marathon weekend and they do have marathon transportation just like the rest of the resorts. As Todd stated, you can't use ME for the Swan/Dolphin but all other Disney transportation is the exact same there as other resorts.

 

[cewait]

1. The Swan/Dolphin do not participate in Magical Express. You would need to rent a car, use a car service, or find a magic carpet. Be advised that S/D charges a daily fee for parking on top of their daily resort fee.

2. I am not sure that they are an official resort. But the Yacht Club or Boardwalk are a short walk, if the S/D proves to be the best bet for you.

I want to add, you do NOT have to pay the resort fee - but they do not explain that very well.

Also, I thought Mears served the Swan/Dolphin OUTSIDE the DME service. Cheaper than a cab but more than DME

and as Frank says you do have marathon xport once there. Actually nice as they are the first stop on the loop.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

I want to add, you do NOT have to pay the resort fee - but they do not explain that very well.

Also, I thought Mears served the Swan/Dolphin OUTSIDE the DME service. Cheaper than a cab but more than DME

and as Frank says you do have marathon xport once there. Actually nice as they are the first stop on the loop.

I'm pretty sure you cannot stay at the S/D without paying the resort fee.

 

[FireDancer]

I'm pretty sure you cannot stay at the S/D without paying the resort fee.

I have heard you can ask it to be waved if you don't use any of the included amenities like the Internet or water. I am not sure though, I've never asked for it to be waved.

 

[jeanigor]

I want to add, you do NOT have to pay the resort fee - but they do not explain that very well.

Also, I thought Mears served the Swan/Dolphin OUTSIDE the DME service. Cheaper than a cab but more than DME

and as Frank says you do have marathon xport once there. Actually nice as they are the first stop on the loop.

You may be able to have them waived, but you are normally charged a daily resort fee.

Mears does service the S/D. Magical Express only services WDW owned & operated resorts

 

[cewait]

You may be able to have them waived, but you are normally charged a daily resort fee.

Mears does service the S/D. Magical Express only services WDW owned & operated resorts

You just have to ask at check in.... can't ask after the fact. All it pays for is internet and water.... pricey for just those items.

Just so all are clear. Mears (yellow and black buses and vans charge for the trip while the ME does not. Oh, and you cannot grab a ME bus thinking you will be able to walk over to the swan/dolphin.

Oh, one of the advantages of the swan/dolphin is that they still offer discounts to government and school district employees. Not near as deep as a few years back but a dollar here and there helps

 

[Tinkerboy00]

gah!! We need to book our room. We might just stay off property to save money and rent a car if we cant find anything good

 

[WriteDisney]

gah!! We need to book our room. We might just stay off property to save money and rent a car if we cant find anything good

I know we need to book our room too. We're still contemplating all the options... APs (we might do two trips next year and are thinking of picking them up), AAA discounts, possible future pincodes? (we've gotten lots lately).

Its almost the 180 day mark for the race. Do the restaurants fill up? We usually love our DDP, but this trip is going to be short so we probably won't pick it up. We want to do one really nice meal (meaning one TS) after the race. I guess it's a stupid question, but the restaurants ADRs on marathon weekend fill up fast?

We were really thinking of Swan and Dolphin since it's so cheap, but it looks more expensive when you consider transportation to and from the airport. Does anyone know when they usually put out AP discounts for January?