Where to stay for Marathon?

[Maddykins06]

DVC member here.

First I thought BCV, but then I read I couldn't walk through Epcot to get to the start.

I also read the Poly would be best, so for DVC should I plan on BLT?

 

[momof2minnies]

Busses are available at all the resorts for the marathon in January.

 

[FireDancer]

No matter where you stay you will have transportation to the start and back afterwords for the January event. I believe that the monorail resorts don't have buses because they have the monorail but I am not certain, I just stay at POP.

Now, the other runs (Princess, Wine & Dine, shorter races) often have specific resorts with transportation so keep that in mind, but in January you don't have to worry about that.

 

[JimB.]

I stayed at BLT for the Marathon this year. It was very convenient walking just a very short distance & hopping on a monorail.

However, onr unintended effect of this is that you have to walk to the monorail station at Epcot to get BACK. AT 4 am, this is no big deal, but depending on how you feel, AFTER the Marathon the 500 yd+ walk can be a VERY big thing.

The bus pickups are right next to the reunion area, (& I do not know if there is bus service back to the CR) and is really easy to get to.

This year I will most likely be at AKL (DW's preference).

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

Any resort. They all will have busses and you can enjoy pretty much any spot you like. The walk to the busses or the monorail after the event may be slow, but you'll get there.

 

[Maddykins06]

Thanks everyone! I knew about the buses (guess I should have been more specific).

I was hoping to walk to the start to warm-up, (guess that won't happen), but I was also thinking about AFTER the race which would be easiest to get to.

Thank you!
Karin

 

[goofyinohio]

Thanks everyone! I knew about the buses (guess I should have been more specific).

I was hoping to walk to the start to warm-up, (guess that won't happen), but I was also thinking about AFTER the race which would be easiest to get to.

Thank you!
Karin

Hi Karin,

No matter where you stay you will get to walk to warm-up. If you stay at a Monorail resort or any other resort you will get a nice walk in. By the time you leave the bus or Monorail and walk to the start you will have had a nice warm up. Someone can help me here, but it takes in the neighborhood of a half hour or so (20 minutes or so from Bag Check and 10 from the bus or Monorail to the Family Reunion/Bag Check area.) Hopefully you can stop by the W tent and say hello to the rest of us WISHers!

Here is last years program that may help you out some....

http://adisneyworldsports.disney.go...urSports/PDF/Endurance/WDWMarathonProgram.pdf

 

[ultramickeymouse]

I always have stayed at the BWV for the last 5 Goofy's. Yes, you have to take the bus to the start but you can have a nice walk back to your room through Epcot after the race. A good treat and works out the legs

 

[Bookwood]

You can walk back (just remember to bring your park ticket) to any Epcot area resort. So pick you fave and go for it if that's what you want to do.

My thought would be to stay at a resort you love- why not pamper yourself for the race!

 

[goofyinohio]

I stay at pop myself and the lines for the buses back can be crazy. I walked right on this year but saw lines especially for all star resorts. I'm with these other guys if you have the means and the ticket then I would stay at Over at BCV.

 

[GBBTomorrow]

We stayed at SSR for our first marathon this year, and it went very smoothly. The busses were right where they were supposed to be, and we got on the second bus in the morning and walked right on to one for the ride back. Also, it was really nice to be stuck in traffic on the bus in the morning: longer time spent in the heat!

Next time, hopefully in 2012 or 2013, we plan to stay at BLT or Contemporary. That way our kids (oldest will be a teenager) can come out and cheer us on past the Contemporary and then hop the monorail to Epcot for the finish.

Really, though, it seemed like Disney had their act together as far as the transportation.

I second the person who mentioned the length of the walk to the monorail station after the race. Think about the slope of that ramp. There are races where that wouldn't bother me, but if I'd had a rough one...ouch!!

Whatever you do, good luck and have fun!

 

[crewmatt]

I stayed at POR. The buses were no problem at all. However according to my wife and my friend Tim's girlfriend, they could have easily walked it. Next year I'm doing AKV.

 

[Duanerice]

You can't wrong wherever you stay. Like Chris said, if I wanted to spend that kind of money I stay somewhere nice. Poly, Boardwalk, etc. But, I've stayed at the POP the last 3 years and have not had an bus issues.

Just can't spend the big bucks for a room when I am getting up at 3:00 am 2 days in a row

enjoy,
Duane

 

[FireDancer]

I want to remind everyone that walking back to your resort through Epcot requires a park ticket. If you have one and it is a Parkhopper, no big deal. If you have single park tickets make sure that is going to be your Epcot day because once you use it there you are stuck there.

If you have single park tickets and want to do a different park on race day you will have to take the buses back.

 

[stampingoddess]

We are DVC members and have stayed at Boardwalk which my hubby likes because he can come back, shower, and watch the walkers, like me, come past the Boardwalk.

This past year, we stayed at Bay Lake Tower and really enjoyed the convenience of staying at a monorail hotel. This allowed us to sleep in a bit later on race day which was especially nice.

 

[lenshanem]

We're booked at BCV, but thinking about switching to BLT.
I have wondered if I'll be able to walk that slope to the monorail after the marathon, though. (first full)

We stayed at BCV for the half a couple years ago and just walked back to our room thru Epcot after. This trip we won't have passes so I'm wondering if BC will have a bus back to the resort? Anyone know?

 

[BrianD]

We're booked at BCV, but thinking about switching to BLT.
I have wondered if I'll be able to walk that slope to the monorail after the marathon, though. (first full)

We stayed at BCV for the half a couple years ago and just walked back to our room thru Epcot after. This trip we won't have passes so I'm wondering if BC will have a bus back to the resort? Anyone know?

I can't say from experience but I'm fairly certain that they should have bus transportation back to the Epcot area resorts. I can't imagine that they would require you to have park tickets just to get back to your resort.

 

[disEAR]

DW and I are doing the Goofy next year and we're stuck in the same situation, trying to figure out which Resort to stay at. Right now we're booked at Animal Kingdom Lodge, but we're wondering if it would be better to stay at a Resort closer to Epcot.

We've thought about staying at BLT because of the Monorail, but we can't fathom the extra walking after.

No matter where we end up staying, I know we'll have a great time.