Which resort for the January Marathon?

[BambiTamby]

DH has gone back into training this year and has started his 5k and half marathon racing.
So, he registered for the January WDW marathon!

Has anyone or their spouse/family member/significant other been in this marathon and where did you/they stay?

Not too many answers online at this time.

Oh well, this gives DH something to train for and me,
another WDW trip to plan!!

 

[KatieBelle]

BambiTamby- My DH is running the marathon for the first time this year! I am so excited that we will be there at the same time. We will probably stay at the Polynesian. (But you probably could have guessed that!)

 

[Deb & Bill]

Son and I did the 5K race and my husband did the half. We stayed at VWL (DVC members staying on points). There is bus transportation for viewers and runners at all the resorts. The buses start leaving the resorts about 3:30AM for the runners. Runners have to be at the start by about 4 or 4:30AM. Even the Epcot resorts have buses because the International Gateway doesn't open that early.

My son and I got on a bus about 5:15AM since the race started at 6AM. We rode back and forth on the monorail between Epcot and MK about three times and watched the runners go through Epcot, down the road to MK and then watched my husband run down Main Street.

The half enters Epcot in the World Showcase and is only in Epcot in the WS, so you won't be able to see much of your husband in Epcot if he runs the half.

My husband is doing the full marathon this year and my son and I are still doing the 5K. I think we have talked my husband into doing the 5K with us. We did it slowly and finished in 59:57. My husband finished the 1/2 in 2:08:11.

 

[BambiTamby]

thanks for the replies!

Now, the race starts at Epcot...right?
So it really doesn't matter where we stay?

I was thinking a MK resort, because I thought the marathon started there.
LOL! This is going to be great new research for me!

Anyone else with answers?

 

[Deb & Bill]

Race starts in the parking lot at Epcot and then goes back through Epcot. Then on to MK (past Contemporary and into the MK near Tony's - up Main Street, around the Castle, through the Castle and out near Splash Mt. Then past the GF. The half finishes in the Pluto Parking Lot at the MK.

If you are running the full marathon, you head on to AK, through AK, then on to WWoS, back out toward Disney Studios, through that park, on past the Boardwalk then back into Epcot.

At 3:30AM it is dark and cold in January. At the Race Expo, they sell disposable racing suits (actually Tyvex suits that you can rip off and throw away as soon as you warm up - if they last that long). At the end of the race, they give the runner Mylar blankets to wrap up in.

 

[BambiTamby]

thanks for the great info!

And KatieBelle, looks like we'll be neighbors.
I booked the CR Tower Club today thru the WWoS for the 6th-10th.
Then, I'm hoping to get a AAA/AP rate to either move over to the Poly concierge or AKL concierge for DH to unwind the rest of the week!

Now, the gal at WWoS told me that we booked a special package which includes transfers throughout the whole weekend, which includes picking DH up at the CR about 3 am.
I went ahead and booked it, since he wanted to stay at CR and we wanted the Tower Club, since it sells out everytime we want to stay there.

Now, Deb & Bill....was she telling me all of this to book a package?
I would think that DH being registered would guarantee a seat on a shuttle for this marathon and to the Expo.
But, since we are "first timers" doing this event, I went ahead and booked a room and transfers to make sure that DH is where he needs to be, and at the right time!

As for the rest of the trip, I'll book like I normally would, AAA rate and watch for AP discounts, if any are released.

Again, thanks for the responses!

Oh, yes! DH says your DH's time is very good!

 

[ironz]

I've been out there and run the 1/2 marathon twice, and this year ran the full marathon (yay!).

Shuttles (as posted above) run from all resorts...yes, at an ungodly early hour, but I figure that's the only way they can get the thousands of runners ready to go by 6 am.
The "package" you are referring to, with regards to transportation, is part of the standard WDW "package"...though you don't need a package to get transportation to/from the race, to/from WWOS (expo), or to/from the parks. Anyone staying on WDW property gets that transportation. Someone may correct me if I'm wrong on that...but I think the advertising as transportation included in a "package" is to make people think they need to buy a package instead of doing room only reservations.

(ok..I'll get off the soapbox)

I have stayed at the Poly the three times I went for race weekend. I just like that you can hop on the monorail/grab a bus at TTC...it's just so convenient for transportation. And it's a great atmosphere. I have heard some runners talk about staying at OKW because they can walk to the race start, but I would think it would be easier on the spectators to have better transportation to watch the race as per Deb & Bill.

The last two years have been darn cold for race morning. You can buy those tyvek coveralls at the race expo, or even bring them from home (have heard they can been found in the paint dept. of Home Depot...might be cheaper). Or, you can wear a garbage bag...lots of runners will be hanging out in that fashion until they get moving. I, personally, bring extra clothes that would be donated to charity anyway, and toss those to the side as I warm up. Of course, the weather is not so predictable...in 2000, it was quite warm, and I have pics of us heading to the race start in t-shirts and shorts!

If you have any more questions, let me know...I have found that race to be a really fun experience! will probably be back for 2006.

 

[BambiTamby]

Oh, thank you, ironz, for the response!

I was thinking the SAME thing about the package thing, also.

I'll let DH know that you offered answers to questions!
He may email or PM you with some, ironz.

Again, thank you for your help!