Running Disney Marathon 2012???

[MADCLFAN]

ok..here we go... I am not the fastest runner in the world. I participated in my first Disney half marathon 1/2010. It was a blast..so i have signed up for the Wine and Dine half marathon for this yr 2011! Sooo excited! My husband and I were supposed to do a back to back disney cruise for New Years, but when I realized that the cruise go to port on sunday of the marathon I had a change in plans. So we cancelled the 2nd cruise and decided that I would run again. I am just undecided to run the half marathon or a full. I have never run a full marathon and I am very nervous! i have alot of running planned for this summer..so I think I will be ok..considering that I will complete 13.1 in Oct!

 

[G-Mouse]

Thinking about running this race. Is there any way to avoid those horrible processing fees?! I think I saw $19 for processing fees. Register 3 people and you're starting to talk about real money!

 

[cewait]

ok..here we go... I am not the fastest runner in the world. I participated in my first Disney half marathon 1/2010. It was a blast..so i have signed up for the Wine and Dine half marathon for this yr 2011! Sooo excited! My husband and I were supposed to do a back to back disney cruise for New Years, but when I realized that the cruise go to port on sunday of the marathon I had a change in plans. So we cancelled the 2nd cruise and decided that I would run again. I am just undecided to run the half marathon or a full. I have never run a full marathon and I am very nervous! i have alot of running planned for this summer..so I think I will be ok..considering that I will complete 13.1 in Oct!

Courageous! Not sure that I would run a race after being on a cruise....but sounds like you will have 3 -4 days to get your legs back

Thinking about running this race. Is there any way to avoid those horrible processing fees?! I think I saw $19 for processing fees. Register 3 people and you're starting to talk about real money!

Not really, fees are a necessary evil of electronic registrations. Some races underwrite more of the fee that Disney; but even Disney has taken on some the Active's costs as compared with a few years back. Let me ask it a different way? Would the race cost too much if you paid $160 with no fee?

 

[G-Mouse]

Courageous! Not sure that I would run a race after being on a cruise....but sounds like you will have 3 -4 days to get your legs back



Not really, fees are a necessary evil of electronic registrations. Some races underwrite more of the fee that Disney; but even Disney has taken on some the Active's costs as compared with a few years back. Let me ask it a different way? Would the race cost too much if you paid $160 with no fee?

Considering I paid $70 (+ $8 processing fee) for the Georgia full Marathon, then, yes, I would say $140 and $160 are both a little high. Which is why I was a little miffed about the additional processing fee on top of the $140. I know Disney will do a great job. Frankly, I will expect it.

Thanks for the thoughts, Coach.

 

[ludari]

ok..here we go... I am not the fastest runner in the world. I participated in my first Disney half marathon 1/2010. It was a blast..so i have signed up for the Wine and Dine half marathon for this yr 2011! Sooo excited! My husband and I were supposed to do a back to back disney cruise for New Years, but when I realized that the cruise go to port on sunday of the marathon I had a change in plans. So we cancelled the 2nd cruise and decided that I would run again. I am just undecided to run the half marathon or a full. I have never run a full marathon and I am very nervous! i have alot of running planned for this summer..so I think I will be ok..considering that I will complete 13.1 in Oct!

I had almost the same dilemma. My first half marathon was the Princess at WDW in February and I am so motivated I wanted to try the full marathon. I too am very nervous so I decided to run all of Disney's half marathons first to gain confidence and skill and then run a Disney full marathon. If all goes according to plan I should complete my first Disney full marathon sometime next year.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[Panda82]

Hi,
I decided to make the 2012 WDW Marathon my first marathon ever. I'm super excited to run through the parks and see everything, I've never been to DWD. I'd like to start planning the hotels and flights just to get a rough estimate but it's a little difficult since they aren't booking online through Jan yet. Did anyone participate in the 2011 marathon and are you willing to share some prices? There will be 2 of us and I'd like to stay at the Port Orleans or maybe downgrade to Pop Century so we have $$$ for other things. Also we are thinking of making it a big trip so how much time should we budget to get everything in? A week? 4 days?
Thanks bunches!

 

[cewait]

Hi,
I decided to make the 2012 WDW Marathon my first marathon ever. I'm super excited to run through the parks and see everything, I've never been to DWD. I'd like to start planning the hotels and flights just to get a rough estimate but it's a little difficult since they aren't booking online through Jan yet. Did anyone participate in the 2011 marathon and are you willing to share some prices? There will be 2 of us and I'd like to stay at the Port Orleans or maybe downgrade to Pop Century so we have $$$ for other things. Also we are thinking of making it a big trip so how much time should we budget to get everything in? A week? 4 days?
Thanks bunches!

This could be a book….

First about planning. Look at Allears.net for a lot of great information. The site has 2011 rates listed on the site for the January time period. For budgeting, add 5-8% to that + 11.5% taxes and you will have a great idea the price range you are looking for. You can make your reservation now through central reservations (407WDWDisney). They will reserve at the full highest price rack rate, but in August-September period you can call and revise your reservations to reflect the better published rate. Also, keep an eye out for special discounts offered in the fall. Again, you can call if there are any offered and take advantage of the lower rates. Flights are on line now for the major carriers. Though the best time to reserve is not until August-September.

You will want to review the Restaurant section of the All Ears site now and get an idea of where you may want to eat. You can start making reservations in June for places.

As far as schedule arrival is kind of a mixed thing. The race expo (where you pick up your packet and bib) opens early Thursday. The race is Sunday. You do not really want to spent Thursday, Friday and Saturday on your feet or Marathon Sunday may not go as well as it could. I am thinking that a Friday arrival may be in order (waiting until Saturday opens travel risk of a bad weather period). Once you get checked in then you can head to the expo. You amy miss the opportunity to purchase one or two items by waiting until Friday but it will save you some $$ by not idling in the room/resort one day. Saturday, the better bet is to hit Animal Kingdom. You do not want to hit the park heavily but it is a park where you do not have to be on your feet all day, either. Try to get out of the park by 2 so you can chill for the remainder of the afternoon. AK is a park that you can easily revisit.

For the first time WDW visitor, I think 4 full days is not quite enough. Having hit AK on Saturday, I think that leaving Thursday would give you time to see most everything you would want to see in the four days post race. It is your call as to whether you go to the park on Sunday, but I would encourage hitting a park like Epcot on Sunday afternoon. The World Showcase (in the back) is a great place to stroll and satisfy a new found hunger for most any bad food out there. Staying in the parks for a few days post race is a great way to overcome the post race soreness that most folks feel. Also, Disney will most likely off Marathon Monday again this year. It is a free pass to the park of your choice on Monday.

As far as your two choices of resorts. POR is a great resort. It is the second moderate resort constructed. Caribbean Resort was the first. The rooms in CBR are actually larger than the other moderates. The issue is that the food court lacks a lot after the last attempt to remodel. POR overall seems to be a better choice. Pop is a great economy choice for one really neat reason. Only one resort on the bus line. It is the furthest bus stop at most parks from the ate but it you do not have to circle through other resorts on the bus. On marathon morning that is a great thing.

 

[Panda82]

Thank you so much for the info! I greatly appreciate it! so excited for the marathon!!!

 

[orlandothebeagle]

Courageous! Not sure that I would run a race after being on a cruise....but sounds like you will have 3 -4 days to get your legs back

Thats what I was thinking I am cruisnig post race!!!!!!!

Hi,
I decided to make the 2012 WDW Marathon my first marathon ever. I'm super excited to run through the parks and see everything, I've never been to DWD. I'd like to start planning the hotels and flights just to get a rough estimate but it's a little difficult since they aren't booking online through Jan yet. Did anyone participate in the 2011 marathon and are you willing to share some prices? There will be 2 of us and I'd like to stay at the Port Orleans or maybe downgrade to Pop Century so we have $$$ for other things. Also we are thinking of making it a big trip so how much time should we budget to get everything in? A week? 4 days?
Thanks bunches!

We are coming from scotland for this race
mental or what, flights 800 bucks each and thats us just getting there!!
Happy planning

 

[hops&dreams]

Great advice cewait!!!

I agree - Allears.net is a WEALTH of info. Great advice on restaurants, etc.

DH and I took DD for her first visit for marathon weekend and the week after in 2010. She turned 6 2 weeks prior. It was a greatt ime of year to go because crowd levels were so low.

We did not participate in any of the race events, and found that they didn't effect non-racing guests that much. But we also didn't leave our rooms until about 10. Anyway, we did a week there, which was perfect, imho. We started with a full day at each park, then extra days wherever we wanted to re-visit. For example, we took one day at Epcot and did everything but World Showcase. Another day, we did all of World Showcase, in great detail, then hopped over to Magic Kingdom for a quick show, and the night parade and fireworks.

We are going again in 2012, and I hope to participate in race(s).

cewait - do you think I have enough time to realistically train for Goofy if I start in April? Right now I'm only doing 6-8 miles per week.

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

Hope you don't mind. I am transferring this thread to the events side of WISH. Hoping you will continue to get good information.

 

[Tinkerboy00]

I will be running my first (non-disney) marathon this Fall. I ran my first half last year, and will do two halves and my first full this year.

I am already itching to sign up for the Goofy Challenge for 2012! I think I'm going to register this week if I can still get in.