Should we be concerned: Princess Half Marathon

[CinderellasBFF]

I just discovered that the Disney Princess Half Marathon is the same day of our wedding. Should we be concerned? It must have recently been announced, because I don't remember seeing anything about it when we set our date.

 

[sambycat]

concerned how? do you have your locations and venues set? the race will bring in folks making it maybe a more busy weekend then it could be but disney does a great job of orchestrating all that and people are going to be concentrated in the race areas - i’m assuming it starts in epcot? i don’t even know anymore! - and the wide world of sports. really the main race activities all occur fairly early in the mornings and are wrapped up by noon lets say. the main concern is if random guests or you are trying to drive themselves around on the morning of the race(s) (i’m sure there is a family run or something the day before?). disney cast members will know the work arounds, guests should expect some driving delays and different bus schedules morning of.

i would look at which hotels are the “host” hotels (these days it’s starting to seem like all of them are! ) and your event times/locations v. half marathon times first. it may be a non issue!

 

[bigr3ddog]

It depends on your day. Friday is the 5k, which last year ran around World Showcase, and they should be done by 8 am. Saturday is the 10k, which affects Epcot and the Epcot resorts, including Sea Breeze Point. However, it should be done by 9 am, and if your ceremony is in the late morning or afterwards, you shouldn't have a problem. However, on both days, you would not be able to have an Epcot bridal portrait.

Sunday is the half marathon, which will affect Epcot, Magic Kingdom, and World Drive, which connects the two. You will not be able to have a Magic Kingdom Portrait session, but you could have an Epcot bridal portrait because the race does not run through World Showcase. It also does not affect the Epcot Resorts, so Sea Breeze Point is open. We were told that they would not allow any weddings during Princess Half at the Wedding Pavilion because the race makes transportation very difficult, and DFTW had a hard time keeping things on time as a result. However, the afternoon or evening could be possible. The race should be done by 11 am at the latest.

If your ceremony is at Sea Breeze Point on Sunday, you might have transportation issues if your room block has any Magic Kingdom resorts because World Drive will be blocked off. However, you should be fine if you're in the afternoon, and since your Pixar Place reception can't occur until after DHS closes that night, it won't be an issue.

 

[ironz]

The runDisney event dates are generally set 8-12 months before an event, so it probably just wasn't on your radar.

Where is your wedding, what time, and is it the Saturday or Sunday of that weekend? Even for the longer race (the half marathon), racers are off the course by about 9:30 or 10. Depending on what time your wedding is, there may be some traffic, but if you let me know, I've done lots of the Disney races and can help give you some info.

 

[ironz]

adding to say..since I'm in a time warp....yeah the timing is about right for the announcement of race dates.

As the poster above mine (who gave more details than I did) said...the only one of your events possibly affected is SBP, but that is only if it's on the Saturday of marathon weekend, and only if very early in the morning.
And then, depending on time of day, maybe some traffic impact on Sunday morning, but the run on Sunday doesn't go by SBP.