Which marathon weekend is less crowded?

[kiramay]

Looking at dates for our next trip, and there's a runDisney event both of my possible dates.

Which is less crowded/smaller event? November Wine and Dine Half Marathon or January Marathon weekend? (If we go in November we'd go to F&W at least 3 days of our trip.)

Thanks!

 

[kydisneyfans]

Both weekends will feature sold out races. November falls during the Wine and Dine festival, which brings in large, especially weekend crowds. I think capacity is higher for the January marathon weekend though, so it may be a wash. Understand too that many runners never visit the parks. I'm coming in this Thursday for the Star Wars races, will run both Sat and Sun, but will only resort hop and visit Disney Springs during my down time.

 

[rteetz]

I've gone the last two January marathon weekend. January is runDisney's big event because it has four races where every other weekend has three. I've never had any big crowd issues in the parks. Many runners do go to the parks especially after they have run to show off their medals in the parks. Also most of the runners are very nice and friendly.

 

[DOOM1001]

January marathon weekend is bigger with many more runners but the parks are clearly less crowded when compared to Wine and Dine which is on a weekend during F&W which brings in huge crowds.So during January=biggest RunDisney event with more runners but with lower crowds,November W&D=fewer runners but bigger crowds at the parks.As was previously said the runners aren't as big an impact on park attendance as you'd think,for this weeks Star Wars races the half marathon starts at 5am which means I have to get up at like 2am,I'll probably be in my room attempting to go to sleep at like 5-6pm. Wine and Dine is also switching to becoming a morning race this year,the biggest impact these races have are bigger crowds at the resorts and some traffic issues with roads closed in the morning.

 

[kiramay]

It's a tough decision! On one hand, the older kids want to go back to Epcot F&W. On the other hand, it was pretty crowded last time we were there....

Thanks for the info!

 

[ars0525]

I have been during the Nov race a few times & never noticed an influx of "runners" in the parks. With F&W happening though it's crowded anyways. Of course that race used to be held at night & I believe it may be getting moved to daytime so that may change things? (I thought I read that somewhere)

I went this past January during the marathon weekend & I would say it was bigger than the Nov weekend. The parks were quiet in the morning (although you need to allow extra time getting places due to road closures & detours), but about 11am the runners start arriving & you see the increase in park traffic. The front of Epcot on the Sunday (marathon start & finish) was crowded with people cheering but the WS wasn't as much. Plus Soarin' had just been closed for the rehab so that may have changed people's touring plans as well.

If your kids like F&W, then I'd go for that time! F&W has become such a big event, I think any weekends starting in Oct are busy & especially as it gets near the end cause people try to overlap it with seeing xmas décor too.

 

[LSUfan4444]

January has more runners. November has bigger park crowds.