Please advise about driving to the races!

[WaDiWo]

Hi all!

next week there will about 11 of us running in the various WDW marathon weekend events. Can you please advise us about driving to the start?

What time should we get there to park, etc?
Is there a lot of traffic getting there?

I will have to mobilize my group, many of whom like to sleep in!!

Thanks!

 

[jmasgat]

You have to be at Epcot early and yes, the traffic will be awful. There are multiple detours--check the RunDisney site for recommended driving directions.

You don't mention where you are staying--that will have a big impact on how much time it will take. You should plan on getting to Epcot by 4:30, which might mean leaving your hotel as early as 3:30-3:45.

If you're onsite, consider taking the bus.

 

[paxsarah]

Your late sleepers may not want to hear this, but depending where you're staying, planning to arrive at the Epcot lot by 3:25-3:30 should allow you to avoid pretty much all of the traffic. (Earlier if there is inclement weather.) Motivate them to get there early by reminding them that once they are parked, they can take a cat nap or relax in the car until it is time to walk to the corrals, but the peace of mind you get by not getting stuck in traffic is so totally worth it.

Edit: this would be for the half and full marathon. I'm guessing you have a little bit more of a buffer for the 10K, and the 5K starts later so move those times forward accordingly by how much later the start is (which I don't know off the top of my head).

 

[gsu1988]

I agree with paxsarah. Plan to get there super early and you will avoid the traffic and can nap in the car. That is one reason I have always driven to the races. I like having the car for a nap or shelter and for storage of items I do not want to put in my checked bag. I have never had a problem with traffic but I have also been alone and gotten there super early.

 

[Disneyland_emily]

if you are driving in from off property you MUST use world drive to access Epcot as Epcot Center drive will be shut down- I come from the 192/27 area and never have hit traffic but I also leave my house no later than 300/315 because Im a hurry up and waiter

 

[flatlandcycle]

If you're onsite, consider taking the bus.

I love the bus with all that nervous anticipation. You can look down at the parking lot that was World Dr., 20 minutes ago, and say, "I'm glad I'm not driving."

 

[John VN]

DW and I stay at FW in our motorhome. I leave FW at 0230 and arrive at EPCOT parking lot by 0250. Traffic is very light at that time and builds from 0300 to very slow 0330/0415 and starts to thin some by 0430. Late arrivals park farthest from staging thus have longer walk just to get to the gathering area.

McFlurry John

 

[WaDiWo]

thanks everyone!

we're actually staying onsite at Old Key West. yes i know onsite and we should take the bus but my group wants to drive so we can have the car there and rest before the race(s).

can we drive the normal way from OKW to epcot via epcot center drive? i know part of epcot center dr will be closed for the race, but starting at what time?

 

[FFigawi]

We drove on Sunday last year. Left Boardwalk around 415, had our bags dropped by 5, and were in our corrals by 530.

 

[John VN]

thanks everyone!

we're actually staying onsite at Old Key West. yes i know onsite and we should take the bus but my group wants to drive so we can have the car there and rest before the race(s).

can we drive the normal way from OKW to epcot via epcot center drive? i know part of epcot center dr will be closed for the race, but starting at what time?

NOPE....exit OKW and left on Disney Vacation Club Way. Left at light onto Bonnet Creek Parkway. Right onto Buena Vista Drive. Right onto World Drive. Right to EPCOT Center Drive and follow into parking lot.

 

[thndrmatt]

First caveat, the pre-race festivities are awesome, especially for first timers. Hanging out in the corrals with everyone from the boards is a great time that should not be missed.

HOWEVER! On race days of the pass where the temps were frigid and it was NOT beneficial to get there early, I have driven in from various resorts via World Drive much later than advertised, and as a result there is negligible traffic. You can park immediately, walk through bag check and keep on going toward the corral, and get there with 10-15 min before the start.

For those who prefer their own royal throne up until the last minute, or due to weather conditions, there's always that option. Yes it will be a little stressful, but until they physically close the roads (which is usually 30 min prior to race start and NOT what's in the handbook) you'll still be able to get through without issue. They obviously don't want EVERYONE doing this so they put the sky is falling threats all over the paperwork.

The reason I mention this is for those Dopey types, for whom 3am departures might get old by the end of the weekend...

 

[gsu1988]

The only word of caution that I would give this year about leaving later would be that this year there is a bag check/inspection line that everyone (spectators and runners) will have to go through before entering the pre-race area and baggage tents. In the past you could hop right out of the car and zip through the crowd and tents but in this world of tighter security there may be back-ups getting into the those areas this year.

 

[paxsarah]

The only word of caution that I would give this year about leaving later would be that this year there is a bag check/inspection line that everyone (spectators and runners) will have to go through before entering the pre-race area and baggage tents. In the past you could hop right out of the car and zip through the crowd and tents but in this world of tighter security there may be back-ups getting into the those areas this year.

Good point. Though those driving could then choose to leave everything in the car, as I would expect there's a pass-through for bagless people just like they have on the way into the parks.

 

[cewait]

thanks everyone!

we're actually staying onsite at Old Key West. yes i know onsite and we should take the bus but my group wants to drive so we can have the car there and rest before the race(s).

can we drive the normal way from OKW to epcot via epcot center drive? i know part of epcot center dr will be closed for the race, but starting at what time?

Disagreeing SLIGHTLY with John. I would loop around the DTD loop by leaving the resort to the right, passing SSR and then looping around DTD. I am sure Bonnet Creek works but I have seen it blocked once or twice through the years.

 

[John VN]

Disagreeing SLIGHTLY with John. I would loop around the DTD loop by leaving the resort to the right, passing SSR and then looping around DTD. I am sure Bonnet Creek works but I have seen it blocked once or twice through the years.

That's the way I have taken the last 3 years from FW, but then again I'm on the road in the motorhome pretty early.

McFlurry John

 

[cewait]

That's the way I have taken the last 3 years from FW, but then again I'm on the road in the motorhome pretty early.

McFlurry John

your out before the bars empty