WDW Marathon weekend crowds?

[ktbugsmom]

We are heading to Disney and arriving on Saturday (potentially Friday if I can add another day to our trip) of the WDW Marathon weekend. I was just wondering what the crowds are like for that weekend - and following week? (We will be there until January 14).

We were there last January, and left the weekend of the marathon. I felt the crowds were "heavy" for off season -but we arrived last year on January 1 - so I think we go residual New Year's crowds.

Excited for our trip - and may even do the 5K family run if I can talk hubby into leaving on Friday!

 

[Bob P]

We did the half marathon in 2004 and crowds in the parks were very light all weekend. The main thing to be concerned about is getting around by bus or car on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Traffic is awful all morning, many roads are closed and even the WDW buses are not immune from the detours and delays.

Bob

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

In a word...sloooow! We were there a couple years ago, BIL ran the full marathon, and basically walked on to most rides. Maybe 15 minute waits at the very longest, and the weather's beautiful! Cool and clear.

 

[ktbugsmom]

Thanks for the quick responses!

I was hoping they would not be too bad. We have been to Disney in late August (not bad crowds), March (spring break - the most crowded for us), early December (felt more crowded than August!) and early January (more crowded than expected - but decent). But my family is now a bunch of early morning Disney pros - we are at the parks when they open, and usually leave by 1pm for a break. Then head back to Epcot for dinner since we stay at BWV or BCV usually.

However, I was worried about getting to MK on Sunday due to the marathon. Oh well... we will just plan to leave a little earlier than we normally do. On Saturday, depending if we do the 5K or not, we can always walk to MGM or Epcot from BWV - so that won't be an issue... but we "need" to get the MK for our girls (ages 5 and 11) by Sunday. I am sure you can all relate.

Here's to talking my hubby into doing a family 5K at WDW! How cool would that be?!

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

Thanks for the quick responses!

I was hoping they would not be too bad. We have been to Disney in late August (not bad crowds), March (spring break - the most crowded for us), early December (felt more crowded than August!) and early January (more crowded than expected - but decent). But my family is now a bunch of early morning Disney pros - we are at the parks when they open, and usually leave by 1pm for a break. Then head back to Epcot for dinner since we stay at BWV or BCV usually.

However, I was worried about getting to MK on Sunday due to the marathon. Oh well... we will just plan to leave a little earlier than we normally do. On Saturday, depending if we do the 5K or not, we can always walk to MGM or Epcot from BWV - so that won't be an issue... but we "need" to get the MK for our girls (ages 5 and 11) by Sunday. I am sure you can all relate.

Here's to talking my hubby into doing a family 5K at WDW! How cool would that be?!

We stayed at the BC and just walked into Epcot the morning of the marathon. It was ghost town dead. It also solved the transportation issue. The same could probably be said about any of the monorail resorts.

 

[ktbugsmom]

Good point. Both of my girls do love Epcot - so that would not be bad. (Test track, Living Seas are big hits on FW side and they love all of the entertainment and kidcot stations on the WS side) We have not tried Soarin yet either - and have read the great reviews - so that could make for a fun morning on Sunday. I can always hit of MK many other mornings the rest of the week. I will admit, being that we usually go to Epcot in the evenings, we have never gone in the morning... silly us!