Running AWAY from the marathon

[DanenRox]

We booked our winter vacation Jan 6- Jan 12 to accomodate College breaks, only to find ourselves at BCV during the Marathon. Where exactly does the marathon take place and which direction should we head in day/night to avoid the congestion?

 

[RobDoc]

The marathon begins in the early morning (6:00am?) and is pretty well concluded by noon by everyone. The winners will be done about the time the parks open. The course begins in the Epcot parking lot staging area and I think the runners pass thru all of the parks during the race.

I wouldn't plan my day around the race since the runners usually don't stop to ride attractions or congest restaurants until well after they have completed the race - and the only way you'll recognize them at that time will be if they are wearing their Mickey Marathon medallions around their neck.

Our experience has been that other than seeing some of the stragglers as we entered a park, we weren't even aware the event was taking place. The race shouldn't detract from your vacation at all.

Enjoy your stay.

 

[Jynohn]

I agree. We go every year during the marathon and the only problem it may cause is with transportation in the morning, especially if you are planning on driving off property as some of the roads are blocked off. The marathon officially ends at 1PM and by that time, all of the runners are back in their hotels soaking in the hot tubs!

Enjoy your trip, January is a great time to go!

 

[Deb & Bill]

The Family Fun starts on Friday. You won't be there to worry about it.

Half marathon starts on Sat at 6AM from Epcot parking lot to MK and back. 3.5 hours max. Don't schedule Chef Mickey's, Ohana, CRT, CP, etc for 8AM.

Marathon starts on Sun at 6AM from Epcot to MK to AK to Disney Studios (past the Boardwalk and YC/BC to Epcot through International Gateway. 7 hours max.

You do the math.

 

[lillasmom]

Just don't make breakfast reservations for anything around the marathon route! We made PS reservations for the Chef's Mickeys, and getting there was a disaster!

 

[MonkeyPants]

I'll be flying in on the 7th...everything will be over by the time I get to my hotel

 

[DisneyPhD]

We were at SSR last year during the marathon and it didn't bother our vacation at all. The morning of the both marathons taking Disney transport is a good idea, they know where to go to avoid any road problems. We got to MGM as runners were making their way through. It was pretty neat to see actually. Some people in speed whell chairs, so awe inspiring. There was charters cheering people on all along the path. It was all over by 1:00.

The parks didn't seem overly crowded and the rest of the week is rather empty.

This year we are staying at VWL (our home resort) we are actually wait listed for BCV, but I don't think it is going to come through, just because of that weekend.

We go during that week for the same reason (DH's teaches college and doesn't start back until Jan 13th. We will be there Jan 3th to the 10th.)

It can get cool in Jan, pack accordingly. We made our ADR's last week and got them all (but HDDR, they said we couldn't book it yet.)

 

[Disney Doll]

You have to keep a 16 minute or less pace, which means the 1/2 Marathon will be over by by 930AM, the full marathon by 1PM.

There may be some detours if you are driving in WDW on those mornings. There probaly won't be any huge issues in the parks.

As far as crowds, many folks come in on the Thursday or Friday before marathon weekend and are gone by the Tuesday after.