staying offsite for the marathon

[RENThead09]

The only way I was able to afford the last minute trip to head out to WDW for the marathon was to stay off site. I am at the Howard Johnson Maingate East, about "2 miles" from the parks. (but YAY for having the Nike store just a block away!)

Has anyone else stayed offsite and if so, do you have any suggestions as to what time I should leave the hotel/arrive at Epcot. I have heard stories of the traffic madness that happens that morning.

Am I better heading out earlier and heading to one of the resorts and getting a little breakfast at one of the foodcourts?

Thansk for any insight you might have.

 

[cewait]

The only way I was able to afford the last minute trip to head out to WDW for the marathon was to stay off site. I am at the Howard Johnson Maingate East, about "2 miles" from the parks. (but YAY for having the Nike store just a block away!)

Has anyone else stayed offsite and if so, do you have any suggestions as to what time I should leave the hotel/arrive at Epcot. I have heard stories of the traffic madness that happens that morning.

Am I better heading out earlier and heading to one of the resorts and getting a little breakfast at one of the foodcourts?

Thansk for any insight you might have.

Never thought of stopping off at a resort for breakfast. I am thinking your better bet is to just come to the lights. It's about a 15 minute drive with no traffic to the epoct parking lot. You will want to head west to World then up to the epcot exit (past the Epcot resorts exit). Stay in the right lanes and you will head into the lot. I would plan on at least 30 minutes to get into the parking lot and would attempt to be there no later than 4:15.

 

[RENThead09]

thanks as always for sharing you experiences with us.

the reason I was thinking about breakfast at the resort was that I am not getting a car, so i will be taking a taxi that morning.

But that helps. If I am on the road to Epcot by 3:30, I should be OK I hope.

 

[cewait]

thanks as always for sharing you experiences with us.

the reason I was thinking about breakfast at the resort was that I am not getting a car, so i will be taking a taxi that morning.

But that helps. If I am on the road to Epcot by 3:30, I should be OK I hope.

Main reason I was avoiding a resort was due to possible guard hassle on race morning. Normally not a problem to pop into a resort for a run or breakfast but at 3 am they are a little more grumpy.

If you do head to Pop or other resort leave around 3 to have a few moments in the resort. You will need to be on bus by 4 at the resort.

I still like just coming over. Look around the lobby, I am sure you can split a fare!

 

[syko]

On the video GoofyinOhio posted it mentions parking charges for the races.

There is no way i'm paying to park after what i've paid to run, and I know they wont let me use my AP to park for free either.

 

[TnTsParty]

Kirstie - there is usually no charge to park in the parking lot for the racers. We used the bus for last years marathon but the other races I have done at Disney we drove to the start and there was no charge. The toll booths are usually empty. Hope that is the case with marathon weekend because that would stink if they charged to park.

 

[cewait]

Parking is free

 

[syko]

I know it has always been free thats why I was surprized to see them say parking charges!!!

We still might be staying on site.....just waiting to hear if a room comes up.

 

[Kirsty-Leigh]

I thought I read in the program it was free to park till 7 but I could be making things up!

Just a word of warning to everyone driving, FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS IN THE HANDBOOK! Now I speak from experience when they say they will close the roads they will! When I did the Princess we stayed off property at the crossroad junction and the instructions told us to get back onto I4 then take exit 65 to EPCOT but that seemed silly to me since we would be turning back on myself so I went my way! Well long story short we ended up driving through MK on the back roads to who knows where and eventually back onto the I4 and to exit 65 it took us nearly 2 hours!!! And we nearly missed the race!

Driving to a resort sounds like a good plan as long as they let you in and as Charles mentioned they might not be so aimiable at 3 am!

Kirsty

 

[FireDancer]

The only way I was able to afford the last minute trip to head out to WDW for the marathon was to stay off site. I am at the Howard Johnson Maingate East, about "2 miles" from the parks. (but YAY for having the Nike store just a block away!)

Has anyone else stayed offsite and if so, do you have any suggestions as to what time I should leave the hotel/arrive at Epcot. I have heard stories of the traffic madness that happens that morning.

Am I better heading out earlier and heading to one of the resorts and getting a little breakfast at one of the foodcourts?

Thansk for any insight you might have.

If I were staying off site I would go to the Boardwalk and either park in self parking or the overflow lot behind the Hess station. Back when I was an AP holder I used those lots and because they are for the Boardwalk area and not just the resort I never had a problem. Then you can take the bus from the Boardwalk resort and walk back through the park when done (or take the Boardwalk bus again).

 

[scuba diver]

I've stayed both on property and off property for my Goofys. I take a little different approach.

I alwasy drive to Epcot nice and early, get a good parking spot, pull out my blanket and pillow, and enjoy a good 2 hour nap.

While others are on the buses or standing in cold or rain, I'm in my car with ear plugs, eye shades, and several alarms set.

 

[RENThead09]

So if I said that I was meeting a friend to grab food before the race, would the guards still be crabby. considering what I will probably be wearing, they would most likely believe that I was doing the race.

 

[cewait]

So if I said that I was meeting a friend to grab food before the race, would the guards still be crabby. considering what I will probably be wearing, they would most likely believe that I was doing the race.

I have never been denied entry into a resort when saying I was coming in to eat. The 2:30-3 am entry is where the issue lies as these folks are, well kind of programmed. Not in the adioanimatroncs sense but the brain washed sense.

Though, in a taxi you are not going to have any issue what so ever.

 

[Duanerice]

If you are going to pop into a resort, I'd make it a monorail resort so you can just hop on the monorail and come to the start. Gives you a little more time. Not sure if any of them have a food court or not though.

If it has food at 3:30 am, the Polynisian would be perfect as you could easily walk to the monorail that takes you over to EPCOT. Otherwise come over to POP Century with us cool kids!

enjoy,
DUane

 

[cewait]

If you are going to pop into a resort, I'd make it a monorail resort so you can just hop on the monorail and come to the start. Gives you a little more time. Not sure if any of them have a food court or not though.

If it has food at 3:30 am, the Polynisian would be perfect as you could easily walk to the monorail that takes you over to EPCOT. Otherwise come over to POP Century with us cool kids!

enjoy,
DUane

Hey Duane, we have counter service up in the Ritz.

It just adds $5 to the cost of the fare. I like the idea. You know I could have a breakfast in my BLT Villa.

Oops, that was supposed to be my inner voice.

 

[Duanerice]

Hey everybody - breakfast is at the Charles suite at BLT! Yahoo....

 

[sasha's goofy]

I would just take a cab to the start. I am not a big pre race eater so I can on go on passing the food court to get to the bus but if I remember correctly the food courts are closed. They may have a snack box you can purchase but that is it. Not even sure if the coffee pots were on yet.