Which DVC for Marathon?

[bobbiwoz]

DDiL asked if we could plan a family vacation for the Marathon in January 2010! This is great news. She's trumped my planning attempts, I've only been willing to seriously plan through '09, but this takes it up a notch!!!

We have March UY and so, I'll begin using '09 points for my March trip next year, and I want to "save" enough points for a particular resort so that we can all be together. I have already used many '09 points and will be dipping into '10 for the Marathon, so I don't want to run out of the particular points that I will need.

The resorts that we could book at 11 months would be AKV, VWL or BWV. Is one of them "better" regarding Marathon logistics than the other. For instance is it harder to stay at VWL because the route blocks the access to VWL? Is there transportation to Epcot so early in the morning from BWV before the race?

I'm excited, and ready to plan, but I need some answers, please.

Bobbi

 

[emlutz23]

I'm not sure about the route to VWL being blocked, but every resort, DVC or not, will have transportation to EPCOT. I believe buses started picking up at 3am. Even though BWV is close to EPCOT, you still have to take the bus to the start. The IG won't be open to walk there. But you can always walk back aftewards if you're up for it!

I have heard of people walking to the start from OKW, but I'm not sure how long of a walk that is. But wherever you stay, you'll have designated marathon transportation back and forth from your resort.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I'm not sure about the route to VWL being blocked, but every resort, DVC or not, will have transportation to EPCOT. I believe buses started picking up at 3am. Even though BWV is close to EPCOT, you still have to take the bus to the start. The IG won't be open to walk there. But you can always walk back aftewards if you're up for it!

I have heard of people walking to the start from OKW, but I'm not sure how long of a walk that is. But wherever you stay, you'll have designated marathon transportation back and forth from your resort.

Thank you. I don't know about the route being blocked either, I was just thinking that it seemed like the route of running goes past that access road to VWL. We have no experience at all, and it looks like a very huge event!!!
Bobbi

 

[drusba]

There is no blocking issue or transportation iissue with BWV, you walk to Epcot.

Note, from BWV, you can actually watch the runners because they run along the lake past YC/BC.

 

[Deb & Bill]

If you are running, the best DVC to stay at is OKW because you can walk to the start. That is, you won't have to be on a bus at 3:30AM just to get there. If you stay at the Epcot resorts, you will still have to take a bus to the start since you can't walk through Epcot at 5AM.

If you are watching the race, BCV, BWV both are good spots to be able to watch the runners go from Disney Hollywood Studios to Epcot.

At WL and VWL, the runners are actually going through the MK parking lot and TTC instead of running on that road. Once they leave the TTC, they pick up the road to the MK going under the water (the drive underpass) and on to the MK. So there isn't really a problem with buses from the WL area.

We stayed at the VWL once and OKW three times.

When you leave Epcot you run on the over pass and circle on the ramp going opposite of normal traffic. So you are running opposite the traffic exiting the MK. As you near the MK, you go through the parking lots there, run past the MK kennels and TTC, through the TTC by the bus parking, out the lot where the buses exit/enter. Coming out of MK, you come past GF and cut off on Bear Island Road to AK.

Be careful of the buses to the race. Disney hires just about every bus company in town and many of the drivers don't have a clue of how to get to the Epcot parking lot. You may have to give them directions or you could wind up off the property.

By the way, the marathon fills up very quickly, so make sure you get signed up for the race as soon as it opens up (the day after the '09 marathon). And you anyone wants to do the Goofy Challenge, that fills up the first day.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Ok! I appreciate all that information, and I've forwarded it to DDiL. She's going to sign up for the 1/2 marathon, but we wanted to stay for the whole weekend. I think DH wants to do the family one. I "get" the part about signing up. When we were looking over the weekend, the Goofy Challenge for '09 is booked, and the 1/2 marathon is 85% full.

I didn't know about the drive underpass.


Bobbi

 

[Meliechick]

We stayed at the BWV for the 2008 Marathon with the intent of walking back to the room after the run. Reality set in at the end of the race and we took the buses. If your DDIL needs specific marathon info she should check out disneyrunning.com. Great info.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Ok! I appreciate all that information, and I've forwarded it to DDiL. She's going to sign up for the 1/2 marathon, but we wanted to stay for the whole weekend. I think DH wants to do the family one. I "get" the part about signing up. When we were looking over the weekend, the Goofy Challenge for '09 is booked, and the 1/2 marathon is 85% full.

I didn't know about the drive underpass.


Bobbi

The half marathon is basically a down and out. Leave from Epcot, mostly outside the park, run to MK (run through the castle) and back to Epcot to finish in the parking lot.

 

[melissalee1220]

no matter where you stay you still have to be in that race corral at an unGodly hour!!