Princess Half for Spectators

[DoubleDown7]

Hey everybody. I posted this in the wrong section earlier this weekend so I am posting it here now. Any help with this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.


My wife is running the Princess Half in February and the kids (son 8, daughter 6) and I want to cheer her on. I can't find many places that give good information for spectators so I'm looking to y'all for help...

- I read somewhere that the last bus for runners leaves the resort at 4am. Are there separate busses for spectators going directly to Main Street USA? If so what time should we catch that? FYI we are staying at Kidani.

- Speaking of Main Street will we even get a viewing spot or is most of that area reserved? And what time should we arrive so that my little kids can get a front row view?

- After my wife passes through Main Street is there any where else we can get to to see her? If so, where is a good place?

- Finally, I think, is there any entertainment or food available before the runners come by? I'm just wondering how long I have to keep the kids busy until the runners come by.

Thanks everyone. Any help that you could provide would be awesome. Four and a half months...can't wait!

 

[cewait]

The best places to catch the half are in the MK area; Main Street USA or the TTC + Poly.

For Main Street, if I were setting up to watch, I would try really hard to catch the corner of the course just in front of Tonys. This gives both of you a face on face view and you are much more likely to spot one another. You have the entire length of Main  all the way to the hub. The other plan along Main would be after the corner at the hub. It is tougher to get in and out, but again it provides a face on face sighting arrangement. There is a reserved section on the left side of the hub for the CHEAR package folks. The remainder of Main is open and free of charge.

The alternate location is to set up in the TTC area. You have lots of room here to see one another. It is not as exciting for the kiddos, but then at 7AM what really is exciting. From there you can walk to the Poly and see her again. Note that I would not recommend trying to catch a resort after Main& Its tough/impossible to do.

At both the Main and the Poly you have food opportunities.

After passing, the Poly, you need to hustle to get back to Epcot. You can watch from the grassy area between the runner park exit and the bleachers. Grabbing a seat can be difficult.

As far as getting to the MK area&. The best option is to head out on the runners bus. Its early and tough on the kiddos. By doing this, you can pick out a spot to meet up post-race. Bussing will continue a little after the 4 AM date so you could leave a little after your DW. As an alternative, one could hail a cab to the TTC (not MK). A cabbie can work up to the TTC with little encumbrance from the race road closures. I know through my DW hat this works, but it will take extra time. Basically from most all resorts, the path up is along Bonnet Creek, to Vista the up World and left on Seven Seas.

Hope this helps

 

[Lawyer Mommy]

I ran the Princess Half Marathon for the first time in February, and I did a lot of research to help my husband and kids be spectators. I thought this blog entry by a husband who was watching his wife was particularly helpful:

http://www.theworldofdeej.com/2011/03/disneys-princess-half-marathon_07.html

 

[Figment1990]

Thank you for posting that link. I'm not sure what to have my family do in February. We're staying at the Grand Floridian, so they could see me there, but then I was hoping they would get to the finish also but with lines, who knows. I got them the chEar squad with the race retreat, so maybe they should just go right to the finish.

Anyone have spectators stay at the Grand Floridian and then go to the finish who want to share their experiences? I'm not a fast runner (about 12min miles) and could even slow down further with pictures I guess.

Would this plan work?
The runDisney page says that the Epcot entrance will be closed (for cars) until 7am on race day. If I don't start until 5:50 due to my corral (guessing), and it takes me an hour & a half-ish to get to the Grand Floridian, I'll be there around 7:15-7:20. Could they then drive over and park at epcot and see me finish? Would they make it in an hour?

 

[cewait]

Thank you for posting that link. I'm not sure what to have my family do in February. We're staying at the Grand Floridian, so they could see me there, but then I was hoping they would get to the finish also but with lines, who knows. I got them the chEar squad with the race retreat, so maybe they should just go right to the finish.

Anyone have spectators stay at the Grand Floridian and then go to the finish who want to share their experiences? I'm not a fast runner (about 12min miles) and could even slow down further with pictures I guess.

Would this plan work?
The runDisney page says that the Epcot entrance will be closed (for cars) until 7am on race day. If I don't start until 5:50 due to my corral (guessing), and it takes me an hour & a half-ish to get to the Grand Floridian, I'll be there around 7:15-7:20. Could they then drive over and park at epcot and see me finish? Would they make it in an hour?

First, forget about driving. To leave the GF, you they will be directed north and have to go through the holy h#$$ of the one lane closure on World Drive from before the Contemporary through the TTC.

Based on what I know of the monorail lines, I would say they should be safe catching you at the GF, hopping the monorail and then walking over to the finish. I am not sure that they would be able to grab a spot in the bleachers by doing this as you are in the sweet spot for the run and the bleachers are generally full.

To take better advantage of the ChEar pack, I would suggest waiting for you at the TTC then deadheading to the finish, or just heading to the finish first with you.

Lots of options....

 

[Figment1990]

None of my family is goign to get up at 3am with me to go to the finish (except MAYBE my DH). My son is 5 and I'd really like him to be able to sleep in a tiny bit, at least until 6:15/6:30. If they head right to the TTC at that point, will they get to the bleachers in time for maybe a couple of them to find a seat? Is it possible for DH to stay at the finish line and grab a seat for himself and my son at least for when my parents bring him later?

I got the cheer squad for them mainly so that they would have a warm place to spend time with me after the race, or during the race if it was cold or raining (my mom doesn't like to be cold). The bleacher seats would be nice, but I thought they would appreciate the race retreat and the tshirts, clappers, etc more even than the bleachers.

 

[cewait]

None of my family is goign to get up at 3am with me to go to the finish (except MAYBE my DH). My son is 5 and I'd really like him to be able to sleep in a tiny bit, at least until 6:15/6:30. If they head right to the TTC at that point, will they get to the bleachers in time for maybe a couple of them to find a seat? Is it possible for DH to stay at the finish line and grab a seat for himself and my son at least for when my parents bring him later?

I got the cheer squad for them mainly so that they would have a warm place to spend time with me after the race, or during the race if it was cold or raining (my mom doesn't like to be cold). The bleacher seats would be nice, but I thought they would appreciate the race retreat and the tshirts, clappers, etc more even than the bleachers.

I fully understand the ughh, what time are you really going to get up mentality. WIth your audience, It really sounds like the option 1. You text from Tomorrowland, they come down to be ready to watch you pass by, then they hop the monorail and get over to the finish. From there, a courtesy text as you come off the last overpass so they can start looking for you.

Not sure if you are a runkeeper user. If you load their free app on your smart phone and then upgrade to the pro/premier/whatever the name service, your crew can watch you live on the web. It helps them know where you are and when to start looking down the road. We find that it is within a quarter mile of correct due to all the communication lags.

 

[Figment1990]

Actually I'm not a runkeeper user or even a text while I'm running type person. But I could be.... gonna look into that idea. In fact, I'll probably be running with my phone anyway because I think I'm planning to take some pictures.

thanks for the advice!

 

[flatlandcycle]

Note about bleachers:

ChEar packages take the best viewing spots.

General viewing at bleachers is relegated to the 20 yard line. Views of backs of heads crossing the line are provided. Then a chain-link fence and metal barriers until you spit out at the Baggage Claim Tents, almost a 1/8 mile before you see family.

Viewing spots may open near the regular Disney Transportation bus stop, on the opposite side of the monorail, and right at the 13 mile sign.