cewait
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 3, 2000
- Messages
- 5,695
I have visited through the years with a few 1994 inaugural WDWM alumni.
The race in the early years was much different from today. First the expo was not a huge affair. In fact it was held at Pleasure Island. The expo was a two day affair Friday and Saturday. At the time and through the early 2000,s WDW held as official pasta feed. In 1994 it was held at the Contemporary on Saturday night.
Also in 94 the race started at 6 am. The starting line is approximately in the same Epcot Parking Lot location as the Epcot based 5ks; at the canal near the current finish line. From there the race took the feeder road out along the path you drive into the parking lot today for the race. From the start it bended left and then made one of the parking lot exits onto Epcot Drive. The course followed Epcot up the Cast Member Drive ramp and then into the backstage area of Epcot. Note this is the reverse of the current course from about mile 4.5 back through 3.5. Instead of coming into Epcot in the World Showcase, the route took a path from the guard shack into the Futureworld section just under Spaceship Earth for those around 10 years ago, the OLD 5k course at this point). From Spaceship Earth the course followed the current course path around the World Showcase up to the point of the International Gate. At the I-Gate the course exited the park and then made a path around Crescent Lake on what would become the Boardwalk Inn and Villa side of the like. The boardwalk was in place for the tram that operated between the Swan/Dolphin Resort to the I-Gate, but the BWV was just starting construction.
After hitting the intersection neat the current Atlantic Dance Hall, the course took a cast member road past the Yacht Club Resort and out through the YC valet parking lot. Once out onto Epcot Resorts Blvd the course went right and followed the road past the Beach Club, under the water bridge that is along that rode and followed Epcot Resorts Blvd across Buena Vista and into MGM Parking (now DHS). The course entered the front of MGM and ran kind of backwards to the path taken today down Hollywood Blvd, commissary lane, and the Streets of America and then backstage. The course exited MGM at the point we currently enter on Buena Vista. Like today, the course heads east but once on World Dr heads north to MK. Once past Epcot Blvd, the course follows the current course up to MK parking, the TTC, under Seven Seas and into the Cast member gate near Space Mountain.
The course essentially follows the same route, making the right hand onto Bear Island towards the water works plant. In the vicinity of the plant, the course U-turns and comes back out Bear Island making a 3 mile out and back loop. Once back to the World Dr, the course returned back to Epcot just like the half does today. The exception is that the course takes the real road into the parking lot and follows the tram road up to the front gate. The course entered the park and finished under Space Ship Earth. OK the last sentence seems to be a rumor as the first finish was just in front of the gate.
Changes in the years
There were only two races a 5k and the marathon and yes some ran both.
There were kiddo races also.
Marathon ran through all three parks
The first race sold out at 6,000 runners. Today the race weekend will have the capacity to have sold 50,000 plus spots.
Much of the course uses the same roadways, but not in the same order.
The original time limit in 94 was 6 hours, not the 7 of today.
The first races used to old stay in your corral line after you cross the finish and your tear off tog from your bib will be placed in order and attached to a time.
The first race had many VIPs , Salazar, Galloway, Benoit-Samuelson, Bill Rogers, Greg Meyer, Mary Slaney.
The first race was started with a marching band parading through the start line just before the start.
The race in the early years was much different from today. First the expo was not a huge affair. In fact it was held at Pleasure Island. The expo was a two day affair Friday and Saturday. At the time and through the early 2000,s WDW held as official pasta feed. In 1994 it was held at the Contemporary on Saturday night.
Also in 94 the race started at 6 am. The starting line is approximately in the same Epcot Parking Lot location as the Epcot based 5ks; at the canal near the current finish line. From there the race took the feeder road out along the path you drive into the parking lot today for the race. From the start it bended left and then made one of the parking lot exits onto Epcot Drive. The course followed Epcot up the Cast Member Drive ramp and then into the backstage area of Epcot. Note this is the reverse of the current course from about mile 4.5 back through 3.5. Instead of coming into Epcot in the World Showcase, the route took a path from the guard shack into the Futureworld section just under Spaceship Earth for those around 10 years ago, the OLD 5k course at this point). From Spaceship Earth the course followed the current course path around the World Showcase up to the point of the International Gate. At the I-Gate the course exited the park and then made a path around Crescent Lake on what would become the Boardwalk Inn and Villa side of the like. The boardwalk was in place for the tram that operated between the Swan/Dolphin Resort to the I-Gate, but the BWV was just starting construction.
After hitting the intersection neat the current Atlantic Dance Hall, the course took a cast member road past the Yacht Club Resort and out through the YC valet parking lot. Once out onto Epcot Resorts Blvd the course went right and followed the road past the Beach Club, under the water bridge that is along that rode and followed Epcot Resorts Blvd across Buena Vista and into MGM Parking (now DHS). The course entered the front of MGM and ran kind of backwards to the path taken today down Hollywood Blvd, commissary lane, and the Streets of America and then backstage. The course exited MGM at the point we currently enter on Buena Vista. Like today, the course heads east but once on World Dr heads north to MK. Once past Epcot Blvd, the course follows the current course up to MK parking, the TTC, under Seven Seas and into the Cast member gate near Space Mountain.
The course essentially follows the same route, making the right hand onto Bear Island towards the water works plant. In the vicinity of the plant, the course U-turns and comes back out Bear Island making a 3 mile out and back loop. Once back to the World Dr, the course returned back to Epcot just like the half does today. The exception is that the course takes the real road into the parking lot and follows the tram road up to the front gate. The course entered the park and finished under Space Ship Earth. OK the last sentence seems to be a rumor as the first finish was just in front of the gate.
Changes in the years
There were only two races a 5k and the marathon and yes some ran both.
There were kiddo races also.
Marathon ran through all three parks
The first race sold out at 6,000 runners. Today the race weekend will have the capacity to have sold 50,000 plus spots.
Much of the course uses the same roadways, but not in the same order.
The original time limit in 94 was 6 hours, not the 7 of today.
The first races used to old stay in your corral line after you cross the finish and your tear off tog from your bib will be placed in order and attached to a time.
The first race had many VIPs , Salazar, Galloway, Benoit-Samuelson, Bill Rogers, Greg Meyer, Mary Slaney.
The first race was started with a marching band parading through the start line just before the start.
So, it's all good. Plus, I can't imagine anything better than running at Disneyworld. I may think differently in 2 weeks though.
