For anyone who will be watching and cheering at the races during the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend, Jan 9-11, 2009, here is the information I promised:
There is a lot of information on the boards and podcasts regarding preparation and strategy for participants in the Walt Disney World road races, but not enough for spectators, at least in one place, so here it is!
With over 30,000 racers that weekend, there are going to be at least that many spectators lining the courses. The event wouldnt be the same for the racers without the spectators cheering them on. So if you want to know whats the best way to get around? How far do I need to go from my hotel? Where can I park if I drive? Can I view from inside the theme parks? Do I need park admission? What if I want to catch a racer several times? As a participant in the '06 marathon, and as a spectator for the half, I can offer advice from being both on and off the courses.
The 5K race at Animal Kingdom on Friday starts at 7 AM and should not affect normal park operation. The family races take place later at Wide World of Sports.
The half-marathon on Saturday and full marathon on Sunday both start at Epcot at 5:50 AM and require a bit more planning for all guests, not just racers and spectators.
If you are staying onsite, it is best to use resort transportation unless you are at your final parking destination by 6 am. Disney brings in extra busses anticipating the crowds for the entire weekend, but be sure to allow plenty of extra time and patience to get around during the race intervals. Busses are available from all resort hotels to Epcot except from the Magic Kingdom resorts area, which use the monorail. For Epcot resort guests, there is no thru access to the front of Epcot from the international gateway until 9 am, and after that requires park admission. All racers and spectators must take resort busses or drive to the main parking lot.
Transportation to Epcot starts at 3 AM. If you want to see the start of the race, you need to pick up a bus by 4 AM to insure your arrival by 6. There will be no bus service to Epcot from 545 am to 7 am because of the race start. There is also plenty of parking at Epcot and the TTC should you wish to drive, and no charge if you arrive before 830 AM. Epcot Center drive will be closed to all traffic north of Buena Vista Drive. All cars must enter Epcot from World Drive. From 530 am to 730 am, all cars will be diverted to the TTC. On Saturday, this will most likely be down to one lane with the new 2009 half-marathon course now following the northbound lanes of World Drive to the Magic Kingdom.
If you are following a particular racer, and know their pace, you can determine the approximate time they will arrive at various points on the course to help develop your strategy, especially should you wish to catch them more than once. The course maps are available on disneyworldmarathon.com.
The half-marathon runs from Epcot to the Magic Kingdom and back. The start can be viewed on a large monitor in the parking lot near where the racers check in. Once the race is underway, the racers can be seen from the north end of the parking lot as they head toward World Drive and to the Magic Kingdom. Taking the monorail to the TTC will provide many viewing spots in and near the Magic Kingdom.
At the TTC, the race course follows the path that the trams take, allowing a lot of room for spectators, and then down the road to the Contemporary Resort. Spectators will be allowed on Main St in the MK after 6 AM without park admission. If you get there too early, the monorail will not open its doors. If that is the case, walk over from the Contemporary.
The racers enter next to Tonys Town Square Restaurant, head down main street to the hub, and then into tomorrowland. Later, they come through the castle from Fantasyland down the left side ramp and head into Frontierland. That is the last point to catch the racers while in the Magic Kingdom.
Once the racers leave the Magic Kingdom, they go thru the backstage area and come out onto Floridian Way, taking them past the Grand Floridian, Shades of Green, and the Polynesian resorts, all accessible by the monorail or walking from the TTC.
You could catch your favorite racer twice in this area by watching first near the monorail station, then walking across the parking lot to Floridian way near the Polynesian. The racers continue down Floridian Way between the Magic Kingdom parking lot and the golf courses.
Because of the required pace, all of the racers will be out of the Magic Kingdom on Saturday well before park opening. Disruption of normal access to the TTC and the Magic Kingdom along World Drive should be minimal once the Magic Kingdom opens.
The half-marathon course continues on World Drive and then left onto Epcot Center Drive, follows the overpass just before the Epcot toll plaza, and then past the bus pickup area on the west side of the Epcot parking lot. The racers then enter Future world on the west side and proceed out to World Showcase lagoon before heading back to exit Future World on the east side of Spaceship Earth. The finish line is in the Imagine section of the parking lot near the check-in. Spectators should be able to catch their favorite racers at the bus pickup and the again at the finish with there being a mile of race course between those two spots.
There are bleachers near the finish, but these are likely to fill up fast. There is a stretch of 100 yards or so from exiting Epcot to the bleachers that does offer a lot of spectator viewing.
The required pace should have all racers out of Epcot by 10AM for park guests; however, the activity in the parking lot will go on much later. Normal operation resumes at Epcot by noon. The best way to get around during the races is to use the monorail.
The full marathon runs thru all 4 parks. The strategy is nearly the same as the half up to and including Floridian Way. This course splits and loops thru Epcot first with some racers going past the monorail station and all racers passing the north end of the parking lot a second time before heading for the MK. It will be 5 miles later in the race than the half and spectators will be ushered out of the MK at 830 if they do not have park admission. Dont expect to be able to drive to the MK resorts before 930 am without lots of traffic.
From Floridian Way, the marathon course turns right onto Bear Island road short of the car care center and heads for the Animal Kingdom. Much of the race will continue during normal operating hours in the Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and Epcot. There will be course crossing points for guests directed by cast members acting as crossing guards. The park that will be least affected on Sunday is the Magic Kingdom, but traffic all over the world will be affected until at least 3pm due to the race near the other 3 parks. It is best to use Disney transport, but allow plenty of time to get around.
The racers appreciate a crowd near the entrance to the Animal Kingdom since there are long stretches of the course with few spectators before and after. Depending on traffic, it is very possible to get a bus to Epcot before the racers you are following arrive at the finish.
The race course then goes East on Osceola parkway to the entrance of Wide World of sports where it takes a hairpin turn back to and heading north on World Drive and into the Studios. Lots of spectator viewing is available as the racers leave the front of the Studios and take the walkway past the Epcot resorts before entering World showcase between Canada and Great Britain. Epcot guests here have a long stretch to watch the racers as they travel around world showcase counterclockwise, enter Future world, and then exit east of Spaceship Earth. The finish is in the Imagine parking lot, same as the half marathon. Once the racers cross the finish, they make their way to the Wonder lot.
Spectators who wish to meet the racers after the finish of both marathons can go to the family reunion tents in the Wonder lot. Disney transportation from Epcot will take a long time due to the volume of people. Using the monorail is the best alternative other than driving. Theme park tickets will be required for the MK & Epcot after 830AM. It will be after 12 before the Animal Kingdom is back to normal, 2pm for the Studios, and close to 5 before Epcot is not affected by the race proceedings. Sunday is a good day to relax at your resort for the day.
That should be everything anyone would need to know about Marathon weekend; certainly enough to satisfy the die-hard planners out there in the Disney fan community. My family will be cheering me on, from several locations, as participate in the 2009 Goofy Challenge. Thanks to all who come out and support the racers!
Off you go. . .
Great job in your research! Thanks for sharing your information.
