Princess 1/2 Help!

[Katiaz]

I discovered that I’m planning on visiting Epcot on the day of the Princess half marathon Sunday Feb 23. Help me plan! I’m driving to All Star Music from East of Orlando to check into my hotel and then going to Epcot. My plan was to drive and go to PPO breakfast at Garden Grill 8:05 reservation.
1. Will there be roads closed either getting to the hotel or driving to Epcot?
2. Should I drive?
3. Will Epcot be more crowded?
4. Is it still a good idea to have a ppo? I wanted to avoid the stampede to Soarin (Test Track is closed that day and we have a fastpass for FEA)

 

[Unvoiced_Apollo]

Not sure how the roads will be but just as a note, you could do on-line check-in. Then foregoes the need to stop at the resort and you'll be notified when your room is ready.

What time are you expecting to arrive in the area?

 

[sunflare]

I discovered that I’m planning on visiting Epcot on the day of the Princess half marathon Sunday Feb 23. Help me plan! I’m driving to All Star Music from East of Orlando to check into my hotel and then going to Epcot. My plan was to drive and go to PPO breakfast at Garden Grill 8:05 reservation.
1. Will there be roads closed either getting to the hotel or driving to Epcot?
2. Should I drive?
3. Will Epcot be more crowded?
4. Is it still a good idea to have a ppo? I wanted to avoid the stampede to Soarin (Test Track is closed that day and we have a fastpass for FEA)

Yes, roads will definitely be closed at that time. The race starts and ends in the Epcot parking lot, and the last group probably won't be released until 6:30am or so. I would utilize online check in so you don't have to go to your hotel first. However, if you get there early enough, you might want to use the bus system, as they are more likely to have priority getting through the roadblocks. If the race course is the same, then it will pass right by the entrance to the Land, so it may be a bit crowded there, too.

 

[Tink9721]

I was almost late to a 10:00 Garden Grill ADR on marathon day last month, so I would definitely leave yourself a lot of extra time. It took almost an hour to get to Epcot from WL by bus.

 

[Katiaz]

This is really stressful. I’m so confused as to what’s being said because elsewhere I’ve seen that this race impacts touring only a little:

https://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/how-much-does-the-princess-half-marathon-affect-epcot.957242/

 

[Katiaz]

This is really stressful. I’m so confused as to what’s being said because elsewhere I’ve seen that this race impacts touring only a little:

https://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/how-much-does-the-princess-half-marathon-affect-epcot.957242/

Ok that was not the right link, I can’t find it now. This seems to confirm roads are closed until 8:30?! How can we get to Epcot for rope drop?

 

[Unvoiced_Apollo]

Ok that was not the right link, I can’t find it now. This seems to confirm roads are closed until 8:30?! How can we get to Epcot for rope drop?

A possible solution is to park at Hollywood Studios and take the Skyliner. If you're arriving at the resort around 6:30/7, then buses should be running and still get you there in time for your PPO.

 

[RunningGamer]

https://guide.rundisney.events/transportation/
https://guide.rundisney.events/wp-c...01/2020-Princess-Half-Marathon-Course-Map.pdf
There are links to the half marathon course map and what they have available regarding specifics for traffic and closures. You can see where in EPCOT will be affected and it most likely will have runner traffic until at least 10-10:30am depending on when the last people cross the start as they will be going at a 16min/mi pace and it can take an hour or more from the start time to when the last person crosses the start. Given that World Drive Northbound will not be opening until 8:00am (which would still allow for rope drop of EPCOT since it doesn't open until 9am on Feb 23rd), you most likely will have a much less stressful time if you travel to Hollywood (busing or driving) and either walk or take the skyliner to EPCOT (depending on if the connection to EPCOT is running before 8am).

 

[bumbershoot]

They do not close ALL the roads.

This might help: https://guide.rundisney.events/transportation/

I strongly urge you to go to AS very early, then take Disney transportation.

Or just head to Epcot from offsite. Again, very early, looking at the road closures and taking them into account.

Transportation from AS is what I would do, personally.

runners (me being one of them) will still be on the course as you are going in. They have changed the in-Epcot course this year, so I don’t know how it will be, but in the past there are places where runners are going through “intersections”, and the CMs will be keeping the traffic going. So again, be there early in case you need to cross at some point, and follow what the CMs say.