transporation for marathoners???

[pixiedust27]

Hello!
I was wondering if anyone who's run the Disney Marathon before can tell me if it's possible to get to the start without utilizing the bus (we're hoping to avoid a 3 am wake-up call).
We're staying at the Boardwalk Inn (sorry, I'm new to these boards and I can't remember all of the abbreviations )
I've heard that you can take the monorail to the start from the TTC but the question is: will we be able to drive to the TTC from the Boardwalk that morning or will the roads be closed?
If we had someone drive us to Epcot would the traffic just be horrendous getting there? AND, would they be able to eventually get the the car back to the Boardwalk without too much issue? I'm assuming that they'd stay at Epcot to watch the start, then go to Magic Kingdom on the monorail to see us there, and then go back to Epcot to pick up the car and bring it back to the Boardwalk.
If anyone has any advice on any of these questions I'd love the input! And any general tips about the marathon day are welcome too!
Thanks so much!

 

[Calcio]

Hello pixiedust27. Good luck with your training. 69 days and counting.

This January was my 1st run at WDW, and I too stayed at the Boardwalk. I wasn't keen on the 3 a.m. wake up, so i had the following adventure:

1. 4:30 a.m. wake up, stretch, very light snack, dress, etc.
2. Walked out the front of the hotel at 5:00 a.m. sharp.
3. Walked past the service station in front of the Boardwalk, and turned left, walking on the sidewalk behing EPCOT on the main east-west road, hoping to get to the SE corner and come to the start area from the south. By the way, the traffic was spectacular. Backed up like rush hour in a big city.
4. Picked up by a lovely lady in a Disney bus, she drove west on the road, past the Boardwalk, past the light to the Swan/Dolphin, merged right on the main road to the Magic Kingdom, merged right on the road to the EPCOT parking lot, drove into the lot, and I stepped out about 5:30.
5. Walked into the staging area, hit the port-a-potties, walked about 1/2 mile and entered my corral at 5:40.

I'm glad I didn't catch the early bus, but in retrospect, I was lucky to catch a ride when and where I did. I think I had plenty of time to walk around EPCOT, but still . . .

Traffic is really something at that hour. If your buddies drive you into the EPCOT lot (1) those are really good friends, want to share them?, and (2) they can take the monorail to the ticket and transport center and watch you go through mile 9ish, can take the monorail across to the MK and watch you go up mainstreet a bit past mile 10, and then back to the ticket and transport center to see the 1/2 finish and see you at mile 13, and take the monorail back to EPCOT to see you finish. They'll be able to get the car out at the marathon finish no problem.

Your marathon packet has a great course map. The weather is likely to be almost anything, so bring lots of alternative clothing. If you have any other questions, feel free to sent me a message with your e-mail address, I'll respond as best I can.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Disney leases just about every bus within 100 miles of WDW for the marathon. We stayed at VWL last January and there must have been six to eight buses waiting when we left for Epcot. Take the bus, it is very convenient.

My husband got his bus at 3:30AM and my son and I got our bus about 4:45 AM (we were just spectators). Traffic was horrid around Epcot and the road is closed from the MK area (runners run on the road from MK instead of to the MK) until they get to the parking lot area.