Spectators???

[Camno's Mama]

Is there a thread on here for the cheerleaders? I looked through, but I was getting a headache...I think I'm skipping things!

I have posted on other places on the dis about good places to watch and all that, but I thought this might be the best place to get a lot of info about it!

I've got two little ones and we are staying at Pop...I'm going to have to bring the stroller, so I have to keep things pretty simple. What time should I take a bus out of there?

I'm thinking I'll stay in the MK/Epcot area during the marathon, using the monorail to get from one to the other.

Any suggestions???

 

[scoolover]

Last year my girlfriend watched from about 7 different places. She saw the start, mile 4 which when we run back around past the start again. She saw me at the TTC and on main street. She then went to the Grand Floridian and watched there. After, she hopped a but to the Animal Kingdom and then another bus to the finish back at Epcot.

My slow running and her hurry up and wait attitude allowed it to happen. The only close one was the TTC and Main Street. With kids, you may want to choose one or the other. I'd choose main st.

I am not sure about spectator busses. They say that the last busses leave the resort at 4am. Many spectators go over to the staging area at Epcot with their runners.

 

[dsnyfan21]

Try this post also, alot of people talking about spectators and transportation...

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2005096.

Race starts around 6am, so depending on how early you want to be up and with little kids in toe running around to different spots, will dictate where and when you want to be and how many spots you want to view from.

If your spectating for the full, then the start is a possibility, go over to MK and then maybe to a hotel parking lot like Grand Floridian or Poly and watch there, then back to EPCOT for the finish. The time from MK-AK-Oseola-HS-Boardwalk and back to EPCOT will be the longest time spent "waiting" for your runner to get to the finish line. You could then walk around the resort like Grand Floridian or Poly and grab a bite to eat and relax a bit, or let the kids run around the beach areas or play areas, maybe go into EPCOT (if it's open at that time, depending on how fast your runner is) and do a few things at the front of the park and then exit out into the parking lot to watch the finish.

Hope some of this is helpful.
--More spectator information/transportation will come out once the Marathon Program is released to everyones email - which should be soon.


Tracy

 

[Camno's Mama]

Thanks guys! I think watching on Main Street would be so fun for the kids, but I wonder if the TTC is less complicated. Which one comes first?

I like the idea of using the parking lots of the resorts...and definitely the finish at Epcot. My boys will love riding the monorail to get from one spot to the other. Seriously, we could go to Disney, and as long as we stay on property and get to ride the buses, monorail and the airplane, they would be happy campers. We don't even have to invest in the theme park tickets!

 

[dsnyfan21]

I would try to get the bus from your hotel over to EPCOT. Which bus would depend on how early your want to get up. Last buses for racer and fans leaves at 4am. But remember, the race starts about 2 hours later. The "regular" disney buses are usually running pretty early also for EPCOT. When you get to EPCOT, head over to the Monorail and that will take you to the TTC. You have a decision to make at this point. Get off and walk down and find the area (as your walking down the ramp) to your left and that is where you can see runners go by. Or you can transfer to the Magic Kingdom monorail and head over to Main Street to see the runners. Only Main Street is open to spectators. There is a possibility of doing both, watching at TTC and then going over to MK to see your runner again. You can do it easily. After MK, take the resort monorail over to the POLY or GF. (You won't have enough time for both) The area on the road just between the Poly and GF would be the last place to see the runners go by - closer to the POLY. You would get off the monorail and walk out through the parking lots and find a spot along the road to cheer. Then hang out at the hotel, get a bite to eat, whatever you like. Then head back to the resort monorail which will take you back to the TTC and then transfer to EPCOT and over to the finish line area.

Just some suggestions, Tracy

 

[Camno's Mama]

Just thought I would give this a bump as people are probably really starting to think about where they want to watch. I forgot to ask DH...did they send the marathon email out with all the info that someone mentioned earlier in this thread?

Hope everyone's training is going well. Dh ran his 18 miler this weekend on a treadmill. I feel for all of you that have to train that way...I know it's a lot more fun to train outside! But if you are in the cold states, 20 degrees is not optimal running weather! Good luck everyone...it'll keep your holiday calories down!