Transportation for Marathon Weekend

[ladyjayhawk]

Please tell me about the transportation for Marathon weekend. If you are at a Disney resort, are there buses that will get you to the Expo for packet pick up on Friday? How often do they run? I know that there are early, early buses to get the runners to the races on Sat and Sun, but what do the spectators do? If my family wants to watch me at the MK or Epcot, how would they get there? Thank you for your help!!

 

[hockeygirl]

I stayed at Pop Century in January, and although we had a rental car, I noticed that it seemed like there was always busses out front going to the expo. Every time I went over to the food court building, there was an expo bus sitting there waiting.

As for race morning, I got out there pretty early and there was already a line of 5-6 busses just sitting there waiting for people to go to the starting area. I hopped on one and only had to wait a few minutes before we headed out to Epcot.

From my viewpoint, It seemed as though Pop Century was pretty good for the transportation to/from marathon events.

As for the spectators, I can't answer that as my fiance used our rental car and drove to Epcot then took the monorail over to the MK to see me.

Hope this helps!

 

[FireDancer]

The busses run pretty frequently. There isn’t a set schedule but the busses run a fixed route from the WWoS and your resort. They aren’t like the WDW buses that might go from one resort to a park and then return to a different resort. If the bus goes from the Pop to the WWos it will continue on that route for the day.

I just missed a bus once and still only had to wait about 15 minutes.

I stayed at the Pop for both of the marathons I did (and also the Inline marathon in 2005).

 

[skfulkers]

Here's the short answer: yes, there are buses that run to the expo from the resorts on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. I don't know how often, as I've always driven over to the expo, but I would assume it would be at least every half hour or so. And you are correct, there are NUMEROUS buses that run from the resort to the races on Saturday and Sunday morning. They start about 3:00am. Racers are supposed to be on them by 4:00am, but honestly, I would assume you could push 4:30 or 4:45 and still make it to the start. Spectators can also take the buses, which run throughout the morning between the resorts and Epcot. The roads can get congested between about 5:30am and anywhere between 8:00 or 1:00 for the full or half marathon, so I would advise them to get on a bus early if they want to watch you.

If they can get to the monorail, it is BY FAR the best method of transportation on race morning for spectators.

I'm sure others can chime in with all sort of tips.

Hope that helps!

Steve

 

[dsnyfan21]

Buses were no problem for the two times I did the WDW Half. First year I was at All Star Sports and second year I was at the Poly. Buses for the WWoS were fine and never really had to wait for too long for any of them.
If you stay at a Monorail resort race day transportation is VERY easy. You hop on the monorail over to the TTC and then the Monorail to EPCOT - that's it. They do NOT have bus transpo over to EPCOT just the monorail from those resorts. Also monorail is the best way to get around to view racers. If you can get a bus over to EPCOT in the morning either with the other racers or alittle later after the start. Traffice does get backed up a bit around start time because the roads are blocked and lanes are cut off for the racers.
Viewing for the Half (haven't done the Full) can be done at the start area, TTC center over to the right side near wear the buses drop people off, Magic Kingdom Main Street area, outside Grand Floridian and outside Poly, Parking lot area of EPCOT again in the area wear buses drop off people, EPCOT itself near the from of the park and the Finish line.

Sure someone else can give more tips.

 

[ladyjayhawk]

Thanks everyone for the great info!

So my DH and children should be able to catch a marathon bus from the resort to get to the finish, right? Is this a good spot for them to go, since I can't see them getting up really early to see me at the MK? Thanks!