repeat monorail and marathon question(sorry)

[ufmurphy]

I think I have asked this before but can't remember the answer (yikes). I will be attempting the full marathon (1st marathon) and will be staying at the CR, does anyone know how late I can get on the monorail and still make it to the corral on time? Any chance of a late check out that day? And any advice on eating prior to the race would be appreciated. I usually have a bagel and coffee and banana on my long run days but don't want to wake up my family will trying to make a pot of coffee in the room at 3 AM. Is there anywhere in the resort that I could get something at that hour? Thanks again for any advice. My nerves are starting to set in. :

 

[Aisleleven]

I think I have asked this before but can't remember the answer (yikes). I will be attempting the full marathon (1st marathon) and will be staying at the CR, does anyone know how late I can get on the monorail and still make it to the corral on time? Any chance of a late check out that day? And any advice on eating prior to the race would be appreciated. I usually have a bagel and coffee and banana on my long run days but don't want to wake up my family will trying to make a pot of coffee in the room at 3 AM. Is there anywhere in the resort that I could get something at that hour? Thanks again for any advice. My nerves are starting to set in. :

I'm doing the Half Marathon and will be staying at the CR as well...

The monorails will start at 3:00AM and run until 4:00AM...I HIGHLY recommend not waiting until the last minute to catch the monorail...Believe it or not, it will be VERY CROWDED!! and traffic at that hour is a nightmare...Last year, we stayed at the BC and the bus did not show up until nearly 4:00AM and we were there waiting at 3 - that is the reason we are staying at CR this year...hopefully the monorail should be more dependable...but I expect it will be crowded...

As far as breakfast goes, I am pretty sure there they will be serving breakfast at the hotel somewhere...but I am not 100% sure...I don't drink coffee before a race...if I were you, I would find a bagel and a banana somewhere the day before and have that as a "just in case" there is no place open...not sure what to tell you about the coffee...

And as far as the late checkout...you will have to ask once you get to the hotel...

Good luck and see you on the course!!

 

[Luv2Roam]

DH has run in the last 4 or 5 WDW marathons/half marathons.
Here's his suggestions:

Try to be on a monorail by no later than 4:30 a.m. Earlier would be better. At about 5:00 a.m. everyone has to start the walk to the start line, which is around a 1/2 mile or more from the staging area.

We do not know about late check out. Check with the resort and see. Worse case they may charge you for another night. DH thought he has heard people planning late check outs on Marathon day.

Do not change what you normally eat. Trying something new on Marathon day is not a good idea.
He has found the food courts are open at 3:00 a.m. Marathon day for the runners. But does not know specifically about CR. (We have stayed at CSR and the All Stars.) Someone at CR should be able to answer what will be open.

Everything will go fine providing you stay relaxed.
I will add to make sure you drink plenty of water the day before, and stay off your feet! DH literally made himself sick one year from dehydration and not relaxing the day before. After that year, we arrived a day earlier, just to kick back.

When we vacationed here for the marathon, we stayed the week following the marathon. Many runners stayed the week before and their feet were trashed for the marathon.

As a guest at CSR, while DH was running in the marathon, I luckily awoke early and took a shower.
The hot water ran out in the morning for regular guests, since the marathoners rose EARLY, showered, and left.
No one I overheard talk about it at CSR seemed to mind though.

You can always tell the marathoners who stay during the week. They are the ones having a hard time lifting their legs high enough to get on the bus.

DH LOVES the WDW marathon., He says it is the best!
Have great time!

 

[ufmurphy]

Thanks for the input. Do you know how far it is from where you get off from the monorail to the staging area?

 

[Deb & Bill]

E-mail we just got from Disney about the marathon says that the monorail starts running at 3AM and runs all day. Also says that runner must be in the staging area by 4AM. No bus transportation from the MK resorts to Epcot. Only the monorail. But you can get a bus back afterwards. It's a little hike over to the staging area from where you get off the monorail. Not too bad though.

Ask when you check in if you can get a late checkout that day. If they say no, you'll have to make some arrangements for checking out (unless you are pretty fast and not too sore).