Transportation for Spectators

[MichelleTO]

Hi all, we will be running the Disney 1/2 and our husbands would like to watch from the area where we pass the road to the Poly heading towards the Magic Kingdom and then hike over to the other side to watch us on the way back. What are the transportation options for them from POP, or are there any? I was wondering if there will be any buses to the TTC or Magic Kingdom that they could catch to be able to watch us. Or if we chose to rent a car will there be any roads open for them to make this drive over and then get back to Epcot for the finish.
I would really appreciate any advice for on how the spectators get around.
Thanks!

 

[dsnyfan21]

Best bet is to catch the disney buses to EPCOT in the AM, then jump on the Monorail to the TTC, get off and walk over to the area wear they can see the spectators. (can't miss it, there will be lots of people out there.) They could then take the monorail over to the MK to see you on Main Street, then take the resort Monorail to the Poly and/or Grand FL and walk out to the street. Walk back over to the TTC and then back on Monorail to EPCOT to see you finish.
The reg Disney buses to EPCOT start pretty early, don't think they can take the racers chartered buses with you in the AM. I will find out what time my mom caught the bus in the AM from POP. Or could even get a taxi to take them over to EPCOT in the AM. Traffic in the early am will be backed up and crowded. I think easiest is to get over to EPCOT and take monorail around.

Should be more information about spectators and such when the WDW marathon weekend program comes out. You be able to get the electronic version soon, otherwise you have to wait until packet pick-up to get the actual program itself.

Hope this helps some.

Tracy

 

[MichelleTO]

Thank you for the great suggestions! We will watch for the program info as well.

 

[wtpclc]

The later buses (the ones fro specs, not racers) will take tehm to MK or TTC. They can monorail from there. DH and I have doen this 3 times now and loved it. We catch teh bus about 5 or 5:30 IIRC.

 

[dsnyfan21]

Hmmm, my Mom was able to catch a bus to EPCOT. They start running Disney Buses early to EPCOT, probably alittle bit after the last corral starts. I know she did it and maybe took a bus around 7am. She then took Monorail. Again during the Half Marathon it starts at EPCOT and goes toward magic kingdom. Traffic after it starts going toward the MK might be a problem because lanes of traffic will be blocked. And this year the route has changed alittle bit, Half is going out in the same direction as traffic and coming back the same as previous years - not going and coming back on the same side.

Tracy

 

[wtpclc]

My bad, Tracy. Your mom was later than us. If you miss teh ones that are before 5 or 5:30, tehy will take you to TTC. Later they will only go to Epcot, because the roads to MK are closed.

 

[dsnyfan21]

hey it's cool Captain Carrie!

 

[skfulkers]

Just my two cents….if your husband leaves the Pop at 5:00am or earlier, he will have more options. As Tracy and Carrie said, taking the bus, either to Epcot or MK/TTC would be the best bet if you want to ensure you’ll get where you need to be. And for what it’s worth, I caught the “event busses” from Pop the past two years around 4:30am and they were letting both spectators and runners on board, so I don’t think he’d have any problem getting on the buss with the marathoners.

If he indeed leaves before 5:00am, I’m pretty sure he could drive straight to the TTC parking lot and park there. I know that we drove to the start of the half the past two years around 5:00am, and when we got off the exit on World Drive towards Epcot, I saw several motorists heading straight through on World Drive towards the TTC/MK. Most everyone was heading towards Epcot of course, but I know they had at least one lane open heading to MK so that resort guests at the MK resorts could physically get “through” to their resorts.

The problem of driving to the TTC, though, is that if he decides to leave after he sees you at mile 4 and 8, he’ll have a heck of a time getting his car out of the TTC parking lot. This is due to the fact that the course utilizes one side of World Drive for runners, so all the traffic is forced to split the difference on the other side. It can get VERY congested at that point.

So having said all of that, I would agree with Tracy and Carrie that the busses and monorail are the best option. Hope that helps!

Steve