Running on property at Disney

[roomthreeseventeen]

Hey guys,

We're going to be in the World the last week of August, which is right in the middle of my marathon training for Marine Corps (and Disney, I guess). I have an 18 mile training run the morning that we leave for Disney (I think we'll probably fly late afternoon), but want to get in a few runs while we're down there.

If you run on property, where do you do it? We're staying at GF, so we'll have access to the treadmills, but I hate treadmills, and would rather not do more than 4 or 5 miles on them. I was planning to maybe run back and forth to the Polynesian/TTC, or maybe around the EPCOT resort loop?

Also, what time of day do you run? I'm thinking REALLY early morning, leaving us enough time to get to rope drop at whichever park. My DH usually likes to have downtime (nap!) in the late afternoon before dinner, but I can't imagine it's going to be very nice outside at that time of day.

Thanks in advance.

 

[cloudnut220]

Since you're at GF, why not try doing Poly to TTC to WL and then from the WL you can run to the campground on the trail. Once you're in the campground, you can do endless loops, which should help get you to 18!

The only bad thing about August is you'll have to run really early. But at least on the WL/Campground loop you'll have shade!

 

[Rose&Mike]

I second WL to the campground. It's a nice run. There's some shade. We've seen deer in the mornings. If you stop at the desk at WL they will give you a little map. And it's easy to do loops around the campground.

We also run at BW. We've run out to DHS, around the lake, and on the sidewalks on the streets around the resorts. It's not as shady, but it's a fun run.

 

[bunnyfoo]

I loop around the Poly and GF a couple of times. You do have to watch out for people walking around and the service carts. There are also steps on some of the Poly paths. I usually run first thing in the morning, sometime between 6-8AM. After 8AM, I find it gets too hot.

 

[SAHDad]

For me, running at Disney depends on where we are staying. When we have been at AKL and WL, I tend to use the treadmill, but at Boardwalk and POR, I run around the resort area. While I still do my daily runs at WDW, I tend to cut them down to 3-4 miles, and do them in the morning - although I have been known to run in the afternoon, rather than try to fit them in at the end of the day.

 

[chimera]

The top secret OKW to Cirque De Soleil loops nets about 5 - 6 miles depending on where you start at OKW

 

[SAHDad]

The top secret OKW to Cirque De Soleil loops nets about 5 - 6 miles depending on where you start at OKW

Right now, I think we are staying at OWK on our next trip - I may have to run that route.

 

[John VN]

Actually, from OKW you can head to DTD then SSR then THV then back to SSR, cross the bridge and back to OKW or just backtrack.

Last time we were at SSR, DW and I got out at 4:00am for a couple of hours then back to room for breakfast then the Parks.

 

[AUdisneyDad]

I enjoy running the epcot resorts and over to Hollywood studios. Also the OKW-DTD-SSR loop is nice.

 

[chimera]

Right now, I think we are staying at OWK on our next trip - I may have to run that route.

my favorite route at WDW! usually bunnies and all kinds of birds, CMs in boats on the water, the occasional golf court. And I almost always see otters at SSR on my way through!

DTD in the morning while the CMs are cleaning is fab! The music is playing...it's pretty much empty...best run music ever!

 

[stitchfan18]

my favorite route at WDW! usually bunnies and all kinds of birds, CMs in boats on the water, the occasional golf court. And I almost always see otters at SSR on my way through!

DTD in the morning while the CMs are cleaning is fab! The music is playing...it's pretty much empty...best run music ever!

Does anyone have a map that shows this route? I'm sure I won't use it in January when we are there for marathon weekend, but OKW is quickly becoming one of our favorite resorts!

 

[fashionista311]

The last few times I've always been to disney, it's been for races, so I've never ran on property...so I'm no help on that

But August in Florida? Yikes! I visited my parents during marathon training last year in Miami at the end of July...and I was DYING. Not that it doesn't get super hot up here too, but the humidity down there makes it so, so much worse. I think it might actually be worse in Orlando than Miami too, because Orlando is the center of the state - at least Miami you have the ocean to somewhat cool it down. Since you want to be at the parks for rope drop anyways - I would say try and get your runs in either pre-dawn, or right when the sun is coming up...it will still be like 95 degrees and 99% humidity I'm sure, but at least the sun won't be beating down on you.

 

[FireDancer]

I think the best run on property is the Boardwalk area. You can get in a long run by doing the crescent lake loop and then heading down to DHS and back a couple of times. Even when I don't stay in any of the Epcot area resorts I get over to do the run. I think it is best to get there really early and when you are done grab something to eat and drink from either the Boardwalk Bakery or the Belle Vue Lounge in the Boardwalk resort and eat out by the lake. The area is really quite and peaceful in the morning.

My second favorite is to go to Port Orleans and run the paths along the river. It is a much shorter run and I have gone there to do it while staying elsewhere when I had a car.

 

[John VN]

We each have our own favorite area and even though I mentioned the OKW route, my favorite is the FW loop at 4:00AM. The Fort Wilderness Trail/Big Pine Dr. stop sign/stop sign loop is 1.44 miles. 10 loops gives me my 1/2M with a DIP in the pool any time I feel like it. If going around during daylight there is plenty of shade and refreshment stops. If a longer loop is desired, head to WL, TTC, Poly, GF and back as previously mentioned.

The absolute best part about FW is staying there during Marathon Weekend. DW and I wake up early, drive motorhome to EPCOT, park and unlike all other athletes, we have our home right there. Warm and dry in the winter, shower after the 1/2M and Full, then dress, have breakfast, relax and then hit the Parks.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Ft. Wilderness seems like a good option. We were going to spend an afternoon there, so I may just run and then hop on a boat or something.

 

[chimera]

Does anyone have a map that shows this route? I'm sure I won't use it in January when we are there for marathon weekend, but OKW is quickly becoming one of our favorite resorts!

You can get one at the front desk.

Quick directions:

If you head down Peninsula Road toward Turtle Pond and the SouthPoint Bus Stop, you turn left at the little road to the quiet pool before you get to the South POint bus stop. The road ends in a circle. Cross the circle to the golf course and the path is right there. Turn left (can't go right) and run along the river to SSR. Watch out for CMs in golf carts, they go pretty quick back there, but will pull over when they see you.

 

[mickeysgal]

You can get one at the front desk.

Quick directions:

If you head down Peninsula Road toward Turtle Pond and the SouthPoint Bus Stop, you turn left at the little road to the quiet pool before you get to the South POint bus stop. The road ends in a circle. Cross the circle to the golf course and the path is right there. Turn left (can't go right) and run along the river to SSR. Watch out for CMs in golf carts, they go pretty quick back there, but will pull over when they see you.

Thank you for posting this. We have reservations at OKW for the half-marathon (my first!) in January and I was stressing about coming into Disney a few days early to enjoy the parks and not being able to get my runs in. This solves that problem!

 

[rundisneymom]

I think the best run on property is the Boardwalk area. You can get in a long run by doing the crescent lake loop and then heading down to DHS and back a couple of times. Even when I don't stay in any of the Epcot area resorts I get over to do the run. I think it is best to get there really early and when you are done grab something to eat and drink from either the Boardwalk Bakery or the Belle Vue Lounge in the Boardwalk resort and eat out by the lake. The area is really quite and peaceful in the morning.QUOTE]

We are staying at the BCV next week. How far is the run around crescent lake? What about from the resort to DHS and back? I am a newer runner (max run to date is a 10K) but am training for my first 1/2 at the 2012 Princess Half Marathon. I would love to get a few early morning runs in next week, but I don;t want to start on a course that will take me all morning to complete...I AM on vacation after all, lol!

 

[stitchfan18]

We are staying at the BCV next week. How far is the run around crescent lake? What about from the resort to DHS and back? I am a newer runner (max run to date is a 10K) but am training for my first 1/2 at the 2012 Princess Half Marathon. I would love to get a few early morning runs in next week, but I don;t want to start on a course that will take me all morning to complete...I AM on vacation after all, lol!

Here's a link to a map of the Epcot resort running paths. It has the distance for each route listed. http://allears.net/acc/jog.jpg

 

[rundisneymom]

Thank you!