Race weekend - Animal Kingdom

[barb007]

We were planning to go to Animal Kingdom on Sunday the 6th, but it appears to be that it is part of a running race course for that day (at least the morning). Will this cause major problems/headaches (extra crowds, traffic, etc). Should I plan to change to day to another park? Or will this be done by 9am?

 

[Wood Nymph]

We were planning to go to Animal Kingdom on Sunday the 6th, but it appears to be that it is part of a running race course for that day (at least the morning). Will this cause major problems/headaches (extra crowds, traffic, etc). Should I plan to change to day to another park? Or will this be done by 9am?

What is the length of the race and what time does it start? A 5K race will be over in an hour while a marathon will take until after 2 pm to clear out.

 

[Robo]

The event begins at 5:30AM, and should be over (for the most part) by 7:30AM, so it won't affect the 9AM crowds at the parks.

And, please be more specific when asking about events and dates.

"Sunday the 6th" is a bit imprecise when discussing a place like WDW that is open 365 days a year and hosts many different race events throughout the year.

 

[Fire14]

If you are referring to Jingle Jungle 5k in November. The race should be over by time park opens, early dining res may have some runners to watch out for but if you and runners stay on correct side of cones it should be minimal issues. In terms of parking I never drove but never noticed any issues coming/going to AK. And Robo the Jingle Jungle race starts more like 6:30 Am, I know it has later start time than other 5k's I've done.

 

[Accident]

Traffic can sometimes be interesting when the longer races that run between parks are happening. It's a good day to not be so early to rope drop

 

[Fire14]

Traffic can sometimes be interesting when the longer racers that run between parks are happening. It's a good day to not be so early to rope drop

True there. ONe of reasons I refused to drive to MK sunday of Princess weekend.

 

[barb007]

It is the mini marathon being run on Nov 6 which starts at 5:30am at ESPN, goes through animal kingdom and ends at excited.

 

[barb007]

It is the mini marathon being run on Nov 6 which starts at 5:30am at ESPN, goes through animal kingdom and ends at epcot

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

We were at AK early one morning during the January marathon - we drive from AS Music and had no problems. In fact we got to pass through the runners (CMs were on hand to tell us when to cross) We joke that we "ran" 12 feet of the Disney Marathon.....oddly enough we didn't get a metal at the end

 

[MeganMango]

Something like a 5k or a 10k will probably not affect you. Disney has "marathon weekend" once a year in January. That brings thousands and thousands of people in and I think they keep the course open til 2pm or so.

 

[Fire14]

It is the mini marathon being run on Nov 6 which starts at 5:30am at ESPN, goes through animal kingdom and ends at excited.

Yes I forgot they swapped time of race to AM this year. I'd say you will be mostly OK but allow extra time to get to AK.

 

[Robo]

And Robo the Jingle Jungle race starts more like 6:30 Am, I know it has later start time than other 5k's I've done.

My info for Nov. 6, 2016 gives a 5:30AM start.

 

[Fire14]

My info for Nov. 6, 2016 gives a 5:30AM start.

They may have changed for this year and I'd forgotten they had changed half to AM from PM.

 

[DOOM1001]

The Wine and Dine half marathon was changed for 2016,there's now a 10K Saturday morning at 5:30am and the half marathon moved from Saturday night at 10pm to Sunday morning at 5:30am.What does this mean for opening at AK on Sunday?Since the race starts at 5:30am the last corral of runners will likely start at 6:15-6:20am,the slowest runners will be doing about 16 minutes per mile and its around 5-5.5 miles for the runners to completely exit AK and head towards Epcot,so you're talking about an hour and a half after the last runner starts that AK will be cleared of runners (8-8:30am).Traffic however could still be an issue depending on where youre coming from as there could be runners on Osceola Pkwy close to 9am.