Room rate for Marathon weekend in january

[weesignlanguage]

I don't have alot of time right now to look thru older threads....could someone help me out?

I wondered if there is a discounted rate for persons sign up for the half marathon during Marathon weekend in January 2012...I would check in on January 5 (Thursday) and out on January 8 (Sunday). Never done this race before so I am learning as I go!!

Thanks in advance!!

 

[FFigawi]

Nope, no special discounts for being registered for one of the marathon weekend events. The actual room rates haven't been released yet - they're typically released in late summer - but you can still make a reservation now by calling WDW.

 

[weesignlanguage]

So, can I guesstimate according to the rates from this past January listed on Mousesavers? I know rates will go up a little but will this be close?

 

[jmasgat]

Yes....I made a reservation at PO-FQ and they just use current rates. Rates will come out August, and that's also when the first of the discounts come out too (i.e. AP holders, general public room only/packages, AAA, etc)

 

[weesignlanguage]

Thanks for the info! Is there any benefit to staying at a disney resort versus an off site hotel for the weekend?? Is there a hotel that alot of the particpants tend to stay at? Any tips would be awesome!!

We will be there for the whole week after marathon weekend just like we did last year (I didn't run last year though) b/c my hubby has a conference at Coronado Springs. We were fortunate enough to book the Free Dining package but couldn't check in for that package till Sunday. So, we stayed off site on Friday and Saturday...and it was MUCH cheaper too. I just wonder if that would work again or if I should book two sets of ressies at the same disney resort we'll be staying for the whole next week (hopefully w/ free dining again next year)...

what do y'all think??

 

[Worfiedoodles]

Personally, I think it's pretty easy to get around if you stay onsite -- you can easily take a bus to the Expo from your resort, and also take the busses right to the start line (or the monorail, if you are staying at a monorail hotel). But I am one who really likes to stay onsite in any case, so I'm biased.

For marathon weekend, all of the hotels are designated as host hotels (well, I'm not sure about SOG, but all the others are). You will find participants at all of them. I think the greatest concentration will be at the Values, because many people come just to do the race and want to stay as inexpensively as possible. I noticed that the lines on race morning are the longest at the Values, but that could just be my perception. We've stayed at POR, CSR and WL, and found them all to be fine for the races. I stayed at AS Sports for the Princess, and that line was pretty scary, but it worked for me.

The only downside I can see is that depending on when you finish, you can have a long line waiting for your bus to get back to your resort, and the line is longer if there are a lot of people at your resort...but that said, they run the busses continuously and I don't know if it would be any quicker to try to drive off of property. Oh! And if you are onsite you have to catch your bus pretty early, I'm not sure if you could leave later driving since they close off the roads and it seems complicated to me to get around, but someone who has stayed offsite for a race could give better advice.

Enjoy your training and the race, Disney races are special!

Maria

 

[justcrusin]

We called and made a reservation for POP. It was less than $100 per night, which we were told was the maximum it would be. Seems fair to me to not have to worry about renting a car or transportation the morning of.

 

[weesignlanguage]

We definitely prefer to stay onsite too. We will be driving b/c we live in Alabama. Is driving to the marathon site not allowed? Just wondered if I am required to use the bus or if there is an upside to the bus versus driving my car. Thanks for all the awesome advice!! I'll be asking LOTS before January I'm sure!

 

[ludari]

We definitely prefer to stay onsite too. We will be driving b/c we live in Alabama. Is driving to the marathon site not allowed? Just wondered if I am required to use the bus or if there is an upside to the bus versus driving my car. Thanks for all the awesome advice!! I'll be asking LOTS before January I'm sure!

You can drive to the marathon event however you'll have to leave early because they close some of the streets for the actual race. In addition you'll have to take a shuttle from the parking lot to the actual starting point. I would definitely take the bus over driving.

 

[fashionista311]

You can drive to the marathon event however you'll have to leave early because they close some of the streets for the actual race. In addition you'll have to take a shuttle from the parking lot to the actual starting point. I would definitely take the bus over driving.

Granted it's been quite some time since I came for marathon weekend (I think the last was '09?) and then Princess in '10 - but we always stay at Port Orleans, and drive right in...I think it took us maybe 10-15 mins max? We were able to get an extra hour of sleep over the bus ppl and still had plenty of time to walk to our corrals. We never had to take a bus or anything...but again, that might have changed. I don't remember traffic being bad at all leaving - but we would usually hang around for my mom to finish (she's a walker and would come in around 3:15ish) so maybe traffic had dissipated somewhat by then.