Reservations for Half Marathon

[HookdonWDW]

Okay, I know that it seems a bit early, but we're DVC members, and we're trying to make our reservations at 11 months out, which means that it's time to decide where and when to make the reservations. So, I thought I would gather thoughts from all of you.

This year, we drove down to Ocala on Friday, got up Saturday morning, drove to WDW, picked up my race packet at WOS, and then hung out at DTD for the day. We watched a movie, shopped, and generally kept it low-key. We stayed until Tuesday morning, visiting the parks. I wasn't one of the people who had trouble touring after the half. In fact, it seemed to help loosen some of my muscles.

Now, I'm looking at DS's school schedule for next year. It looks like they will be going back to school on Tuesday, 1/3/06. We're figuring that we'll need to fly down to WDW nlt Thursday night in order to register and settle in for the marathon. Given the school schedule, I'm thinking that we'd be better off going down on Sunday/Monday, visiting the park for the week, doing the marathon and going home, rather than having ds return to school from break for two days, and then leave on vacation again (in the second scenario, we'd stay at WDW from Thurs - Tues.).

So, which would you do? Make a week of it, and go from Sun/Mon - Sun (missing 4 days of school), or maximize the school days, and go Thurs - Sun (missing 2 days of school)?

Thanks,

Lisa

 

[Lani]

In general, I discourage folks from doing the parks BEFORE the marathon (or half). You don't want to expend your energy or wear out your feet right before your big event. That's the week you need to be tapering down and decreasing your mileage.

Take that week as easy as possible. If that means you get in on Thursday night or Friday day, I'd suggest that.

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

I would tend to agree about all that; I would not want to go before as I would be too stressed about everything to really enjoy myself. If you were ok with it last time and continue your program you would know your limitations. Also, with missing school I guess you know your children better so it would be difficult to comment. I guess it would also depend on what grade. IMO as they go upward in school it would be more difficult to remove them. Good luck with your decision.

 

[welovedis]

We are faced with the same decision and we have decided to pull him out for at least part of the day on Thurs (depending on what flight we get), get to WDW by Thurs eve and then stay after the marathon for the following week.

My decision was based on a couple of things:

1. We did this in 2004 & enjoyed the park after the marathon-low crowds, etc...
2. Wanted to be "fresh" for the race and touring the parks beforehand (for us) would leave us more tired than if we stayed home the week before
3. DS will be in 3rd grade at that time and we will not be pulling him out of school anymore after this trip
4. DS is an excellent student and can make up his missed work easily

The way that we are doing it means he misses a bit more school but that is not a big concern of mine (or his teacher as I already know who he will have for next year & we've talked it about it already, lol!). You know your child better than anyone though and have to decide how easily you think the work will be to make up and how well they would do the week before the marathon at school.

GL with your choice!

 

[HookdonWDW]

Thanks for the opinions. We've decided to go with showing up on Thursday, and staying until at least the Tuesday after the marathon. Part of the reason for the worry is that we are moving, and ds will be attending a new school. My mil said that she will come stay w/ ds if we can't pull him, but we're hoping it won't be an issue.