Race week/end itinerary

[wvjules]

Here's what I have:

1/5 - arrive early evening followed by dinner at Chef Mickey's.

1/6 - Hollywood Studios because it is the only night of Fantasmic while I am there. So I have to do HS that day. I am not getting hoppers.

1/7 - Epcot

1/8 - Half Marathon followed by cold showers and heading to MK with our medals.

1/9 - Animal Kingdom then fly home early evening.


Do I have the 7, 8, 9th scheduled the optimal way?

• I chose Epcot the day before since we can do all we want and be back to the room early.
• I picked MK on race day because it has the longest hours and hopefully the Disney magic will make me forget how much pain I'm in after the race.
• I picked AK on departure day because I think we can do all of that park in the time alloted.

Also, when do you suggest I get our packets? And how do I get there from another park? Or do I have to go back to our resort the get the bus to expo?

 

[cewait]

I am not a big fan of parking from open to close pre-race, even for a half. Saying that, your logic is sound. If Fantasmic were available a different day I would suggest DHS on Friday since it is a smaller park.

As far as getting to the expo, you are going to lose park time at some point. Historically, WWoS has been served by Disney bussing from DHS (anyone wanting to head to DHS on Disney transpiration had to go to DHS then transfer to the WWoS bus). There is some confusion as the WDW website lists three possible routes to WWoS. The three routes are mutually exclusive of one another. I would recommend walking to BW or Swan and grabbing a Marathon bus sometime Thursday afternoon or leaving I-Gate Friday and walking to BC and grabbing a marathon bus. It will take you a good 90 minutes minimum to make the trip so plan on that.

 

[verticalchaos]

Hey Coach! Quick question regarding buses to the Expo. Do they go from all the resorts or just certain resorts? (It could be a moot point depending on what my sister's doing that day, but I figure better to have a Disney transportation plan. I'll definitely be taking Disney transportation to the Half.)

Also, what would you think about a water park the day before - not all day, but some of the day to chill in the water. Or would you just suggest chilling in the water at the resort pool? Weather pending of course.

 

[cewait]

Hey Coach! Quick question regarding buses to the Expo. Do they go from all the resorts or just certain resorts? (It could be a moot point depending on what my sister's doing that day, but I figure better to have a Disney transportation plan. I'll definitely be taking Disney transportation to the Half.)

Also, what would you think about a water park the day before - not all day, but some of the day to chill in the water. Or would you just suggest chilling in the water at the resort pool? Weather pending of course.

For January all resorts are served by bus for the expo. Frankly if you are not hitting the expo as it opens the parking lot becomes a mess; therefore, busses are the way to go. Note that busses run from all resorts for the kids races and 5k events. For the half and full, one would use the monorail from resort served by it while every other resort is bussed.

Water parks would be fine – wear water shoes to minimize injury possibility. Also, don’t think you must do much more than hang. Remember to hydrate

 

[verticalchaos]

Great, thanks!

 

[J3nn78]

Sounds like a pretty good plan

Here is my itinerary
Friday-Late arrival-probably close to 11pm by the time we get to POFQ

Saturday-head to Expo to get packet, slow and leisurely dat at Epcot, dinner at WPC

Sunday- full marathon and after shower and cool down celebratory dinner at Ohana followed by MK

Monday-Epcot, lunch at Le Cellier, catch ME at 3:15 and back home to NJ by 10pm

Thinking work on Tuesday morning will be rough...

 

[cewait]

Sounds like a pretty good plan

Here is my itinerary
Friday-Late arrival-probably close to 11pm by the time we get to POFQ

Saturday-head to Expo to get packet, slow and leisurely dat at Epcot, dinner at WPC

Sunday- full marathon and after shower and cool down celebratory dinner at Ohana followed by MK

Monday-Epcot, lunch at Le Cellier, catch ME at 3:15 and back home to NJ by 10pm

Thinking work on Tuesday morning will be rough...

Take your medal!

 

[FireDancer]

With that itinerery I would hit the expo on Thursday when it opens. Either make it a late start or leave the park, do the expo, drop the stuff at your resort, and return to the park. I did this in 2008 for the half and it worked out well.

I have a feeling this will turn into an itinerary thread so here is my tentative plan:

1/6: Arrive early. Go to the resort to unpack and be on the first bus to the expo. Spend the rest of the day touring the resorts and DTD then hitting City Walk at night (dinner at Margaritaville).

1/7: Breakfast on the Boardwalk, Epcot rope drop, not sure after that.

1/8: Spend day in the parks and then 7:00pm dinner at Boma

1/9: Marathon then back to the resort. We'll probably hang out there then get lunch at either Kona or The Wave. We are hitting a local Microbrewery for dinner and to celebrate or drown our sorrow depending on how we do. No parks that day.

1/10: Marathon Monday in Epcot

1/11: Goodbye breakfast somewhere (probably in a resort) then fly home.

 

[verticalchaos]

Here's what I know of mine (my CM sis will have some say in things we do...and she and my new running buddy's partner are planning something celebratory for after - my personal guess is "The Hoop" but we shall see)...

1/6 - arrive at MCO at 10:40pm, Magical Express to CBR

1/7 - sleep in a bit, go to the expo to get my stuff, then TBD

1/8 - run/walk the half, hotel for cool shower/bath, then unknown (though sis has said "and keep moving" so we may hit a park for a bit, then whatever celebratory they plan

1/9 - sleep in, fly back to NYC!

 

[wvjules]

Take your medal!

I'm going to wear mine all week!

I think going to the Expo Friday morning before Epoct would probably be the best. There are only a handful of attractions in Epcot that are "musts" so if we lose a few hours that is ok.

 

[FFigawi]

I'm planning on making my itinerary the same as last year. It worked fine, so why mess with success.

1/6 - drive over to expo to pick up everything and do a little shopping

1/7 - check in at Pop, dinner at Portobello

1/8 - run the half, ice bath, nap, dinner at Flying Fish

1/9 - run the marathon, ice bath, nap, Guiness at Epcot or DTD

1/10 - marathon Monday at Epcot, dinner at V&A

 

[JimB.]

Arrive Thursday - Check in

Friday - Expo. Rest. Eat. Sleep (ha!)

Saturday - 1/2 M. Rest. Eat. Sleep. (again, Ha!)

Sunday - Full. Rest. Eat. Sleep. (for real this time) Probably dinner at DD somewhere clanking around in my neck full o' medals.

Monday - Marathon Monday in the MK. Drive home in the afternoon.

 

[Bephus]

1/7 - drive down from Jax and arrive around 2:30. Check in, expo, dinner at DTD

1/8- half, possible breakfast at Tusker house, AK for a few hours, Pool at resort, dinner at Shutters, bed

1/9- full, lunch at Big River Brewery, resort, shower, Epcot, dinner and beer at Biergarten, bed

1/10- marathon Monday at MK RD

staying until 1/13

 

[BrianD]

Clearly, a lot of you are in a lot better shape than I am, because I would be toast if I did that much park touring before race day. I have found, for me, that I like to get to Disney at least 36 hours before the race, to settle in and recover from the traveling. As for pre-race park touring, I try to do as little walking as is possible at Disney, and try to stick with one of the smaller parks, like MK and DHS. I avoid the thrill rides and focus on longer indoor, sitting down attractions. I try to avoid being in the sun too much too - if the weather is warm.

Here is my plan:

1/7: Arrive mid-afternoon, go to expo / packet pickup, spend the late afternoon and early evening at MK.

1/8: DHS until about 5:00. After that, head back to resort and get ready for race day.

1/9: Marathon. Then on to Epcot or MK for as long as I can stay awake.

1/10: Marathon Monday: MK and/or Epcot - rope drop until closing.

1/11: Another full day of park touring.

1/12: Go home.

 

[wvjules]

Clearly, a lot of you are in a lot better shape than I am, because I would be toast if I did that much park touring before race day. I have found, for me, that I like to get to Disney at least 36 hours before the race, to settle in and recover from the traveling. As for pre-race park touring, I try to do as little walking as is possible at Disney, and try to stick with one of the smaller parks, like MK and DHS. I avoid the thrill rides and focus on longer indoor, sitting down attractions. I try to avoid being in the sun too much too - if the weather is warm.

Here is my plan:

1/7: Arrive mid-afternoon, go to expo / packet pickup, spend the late afternoon and early evening at MK.

1/8: DHS until about 5:00. After that, head back to resort and get ready for race day.

1/9: Marathon. Then on to Epcot or MK for as long as I can stay awake.

1/10: Marathon Monday: MK and/or Epcot - rope drop until closing.

1/11: Another full day of park touring.

1/12: Go home.

I am in slightly better than horrible shape but I can't go to Disney and not DO Disney, KWIM? My original plan was to Arrive Friday, race Saturday, then do the parks Sunday-Tuesday. However DD has High School Assessments that week and can't miss school. So touring the parks before hand it is. Being that this is my first race, I really hope I don't regret it.

 

[BrianD]

I am in slightly better than horrible shape but I can't go to Disney and not DO Disney, KWIM? My original plan was to Arrive Friday, race Saturday, then do the parks Sunday-Tuesday. However DD has High School Assessments that week and can't miss school. So touring the parks before hand it is. Being that this is my first race, I really hope I don't regret it.

I know exactly what you mean. You gotta do what you gotta do. Just take it easy at Epcot that day before the Half - that's a lot of walking. I think Future World alone is bigger than DHS. Or what if you swapped your MK & Epcot days?

 

[wvjules]

I know exactly what you mean. You gotta do what you gotta do. Just take it easy at Epcot that day before the Half - that's a lot of walking. I think Future World alone is bigger than DHS. Or what if you swapped your MK & Epcot days?

I picked Epcot because I figured that's the place we could do the least amount of walking. DBF really has no interestin WS so we are just going to pick some highlights, take it easy, and split early. I think we would do more walking, or atleast intense walking in MK.

MK is for the day of the race because I imagine I'll need to be in a "happy" place after running 13.1 miles for the first time ever. lol

 

[J3nn78]

Take your medal!

Most definitely. I only got 2 day park tickets. DH will upgrade his and I will have my medal to get me in on Marathon Monday!


Loving all these itineraries. Keep em coming!

 

[corinnak]

Don't forget about the traditional Friday Night POP Century WISH meet! It's the biggest WISH gathering of the year. I think it was 6pm last year - visiting, photos, and then many people stay on for pre-half marathon pasta dinner at the POP food court.

For me:
Friday afternoon, Arrive, Check in, Expo, POP meet, Soft Serve Ice Cream, Sleep.
Saturday - Half Marathon, Epcot for traditional Post-race Welsh Dragon and music
Sunday - Volunteer and Cheer for Full Marathon, collapse in a heap, dinner...somewhere.
Monday - Boardwalk Breakfast Meet (if it is on), fly home

 

[wvjules]

Don't forget about the traditional Friday Night POP Century WISH meet! It's the biggest WISH gathering of the year. I think it was 6pm last year - visiting, photos, and then many people stay on for pre-half marathon pasta dinner at the POP food court.

For me:
Friday afternoon, Arrive, Check in, Expo, POP meet, Soft Serve Ice Cream, Sleep.
Saturday - Half Marathon, Epcot for traditional Post-race Welsh Dragon and music
Sunday - Volunteer and Cheer for Full Marathon, collapse in a heap, dinner...somewhere.
Monday - Boardwalk Breakfast Meet (if it is on), fly home

I didn't know about the POP Meet. I will have to squeeze that in. I think Friday morning we will do Epcot, head to the expo to get our stuff then head back to the resort. Or maybe first thing Friday then off to Epcot but then I"ll have to go back to Pop to drop off our bags. That will give us even less park time. I wish we had more time after the marathon to do things! Sigh. But on the bright side...I am running a half marathon and I'm doing it in Disney!

I was reading the booklet about last year's expo and got unusually excited over some of the speakers, Galloway, Higdon, Bingham. Who knew that that would excite me! lol