Disney Marathon crowds

[novawildcat18]

Hello! I have an upcoming trip to WDW on January 5th-9th (it looks like we are spending the 5th-7th at WDW and the 8th and 9th at Uni/IoA. I read online that the Disney Marathon intersects with my trip because the marathon is the 6th-8th. Does this event significantly increase crowds and wait times? I also read a contradicting statement that the crowds in the first 2 weeks of January are two of the slowest weeks of the year so I don't know what to expect.

 

[lukacseven]

This will be my 7th Marathon Weekend. Park crowds are generally light, especially on Monday/Tuesday following the races. Wait times for attractions like Space Moutain, Soarin', & Toy Story Mania (Buzz Lightyear, Peter Pan, Test Track) can top 45 minutes, but most other attractions there is a minimal (up to 10-15 min.) wait.

The half marathon and marathon both start at 5:35 am. Take note transportation is suspended until I believe 7:00 am, after that busses that normally use the roads that are part of the race course are re-routed and travel time to theparks will take longer than normal, depending on which resort you're staying at. MOnorails will be unusually crowded until around noon. In both cases, MK opens to the general public after the runners have gone through and the course is clear of spectators. If you choose to visit AK, HS, or Epcot on Sunday, (the half on Saturday only goes through MK and Epcot) there will still be runners on the course during normal park hours, but areas will be roped off and there will be cones separating guests and runners.

Remember, even if you aren't there for the races or know anyone running, it's still okay to cheer when in the parks.

 

[dizzney]

This thread brings back memories of January 2010 when we were leaving for our flight via Magical Express from BLT and got stuck on the road between BLT and Polynesian for more than an hour and a half. The bus driver told us we should have taken the marathon into account. I said Magical Express knew our flight time and assigned the bus and should have taken that into account. We arrived at the airport 20 minutes before our flight was to leave, the only good thing was that the incoming flight from Newark was late and thankfully we were able to make the flight.

If you try to get around other than on monorail, allow for extra time, the roads are blcoked at times.

 

[Tinkwings]

OMG I had not thought on that...we will be leaving on Sunday the 8th for a 6:00ish flight so probably the Magical Express will arrive at 3:00ish....am I correct to assume the race and road snags should be DONE by 3:00? PLEASE ADVISE if you have further insight...but thank you, will mention it to the desk and see if there is an earlier bus if need be.

 

[Tinkwings]

What do you think the best park is to be at Saturday? I was planning on Epcot but now am fuddled about where to go that day...am hitting the MK on Sunday as we have easy access from the WL via boat there and back to catch out ME bus to leave that day....hmmmm....

 

[Tinkwings]

Question 3....where in Epcot do the racers run...around the world/lake area or in the front portion or both? How has this worked in the past?

 

[dreamfinder]

OMG I had not thought on that...we will be leaving on Sunday the 8th for a 6:00ish flight so probably the Magical Express will arrive at 3:00ish....am I correct to assume the race and road snags should be DONE by 3:00? PLEASE ADVISE if you have further insight...but thank you, will mention it to the desk and see if there is an earlier bus if need be.

Almost all the road closures will be done by 3 pm on Sunday. As stated, the race starts around 5:30. Even allowing for a staggered start, with the last people starting 45 minutes later (shouldn't be that long) they have a maximum of 7 hours to finish the course. So 1:30 or so, all the runners should pretty much be done. The last few miles are not on public roadways, but wind through DHS, the Epcot Resorts, and then Epcot itself. The biggest closure that causes issues are around MK. The runners are through MK early, and the roads are still closed when most people are trying to do character breakfasts, rope drops, etc. So that causes the most problems. Almost anything else on property is reasonable, especially by 10 or 11. Disney is phenomenal about reopening the roads as soon as possible. The cleanup crew basically follows the last runner around property.

What do you think the best park is to be at Saturday? I was planning on Epcot but now am fuddled about where to go that day...am hitting the MK on Sunday as we have easy access from the WL via boat there and back to catch out ME bus to leave that day....hmmmm....

Saturday doesn't really make a big difference. Most of the runners will be done by 9:30 or so. AK and DHS are pretty much not affected outside of any cross roads that may be closed early, so if you allow a little extra time for rope drop you should be fine. And even Epcot shouldn't be that bad by then, just be prepared for possible delays in traffic.

 

[dreamfinder]

Question 3....where in Epcot do the racers run...around the world/lake area or in the front portion or both? How has this worked in the past?

Which race and when? To see the courses, go to RunDisney.com, then the Marathon Weekend section, click Event Details, and then Course. That will also help you to see exactly where you may run into traffic problems.

They both go through the Future World area, and the full goes through the World Showcase. However, keep in mind that the World Showcase won't have anything open til 11, so many of the runners are going through there before attractions open.

 

[Tinkwings]

Thanks so much for all that perspective and insight...will be taken into consideration...Sooooooooooo if I go to Epcot Saturday in the morning...say leave our resort at 8:30ish to take a boat to Contemporary...and then take monorails to Epcot...I would avoid the road traffic slowdowns...and the monorails should not be too busy from Marathon peeps heading out TOWARDS Epcot at that time...does that sound logical to you guys? AK or DHS would require a bus ride from WL Saturday....would rather sit on a monorail I guess than a bus...:xmas:

 

[Tinkwings]

Need to print out routes today so I am in the know...wonder how well informed the concierge CM's are to traffic flow for marathon?

 

[lukacseven]

Need to print out routes today so I am in the know...wonder how well informed the concierge CM's are to traffic flow for marathon?

In the past the CM's had only very general info regarding the race & course. Your best bet is to talk to guests who have experience with previous race weekends.

Regarding the race course during regular park hours, runners will enter AK near Conservation Station and run through Asia, past Everest and through Dinoland & exit to a backstage area. At HS, runners from the backlot area through the main entrance to Lights Motor, Action stunt show, down NY Street, past the commisary, and towards the main entrance. Runners will then run through Yacht & Bach Club & enter Epcot through the back gate of World Showcase (behind England). There will be yellow cones along World Showcase and through Future World. There will also be cast members tending to roped off areas designated for crossing the course. They will allow as many people to cross as frequently as possible at gaps between runners.

In general, give yourself extra time for the first few hours on Sunday. Race busses are operated by Mears and are separate from the normal park transportation. AK will generally be the most difficult park to get to, based on the resort you're staying at.

 

[lukacseven]

Thanks so much for all that perspective and insight...will be taken into consideration...Sooooooooooo if I go to Epcot Saturday in the morning...say leave our resort at 8:30ish to take a boat to Contemporary...and then take monorails to Epcot...I would avoid the road traffic slowdowns...and the monorails should not be too busy from Marathon peeps heading out TOWARDS Epcot at that time...does that sound logical to you guys? AK or DHS would require a bus ride from WL Saturday....would rather sit on a monorail I guess than a bus...:xmas:

Epcot should not be a problem getting to on Saturday. With the 5:30 am start , there will be some stragglers still on the course 'til around 9:30. The monorail is definintely the way to go. The course actually comes into Epcot at the resort bus drop-off location and enters the backstage area behind Living Seas. The course goes around Spaceship Earth and towards World showcase, but turns around at the end of the straight walkway (it doesn't go around World Showcase) and comes back towards SSE and goes off backstage behind the kennel. Finish line is just outside the park. There is a roped off crossing area on either side of SSE, but by that time, the race will be limited to walkers and will be thinned out enough that crossing shouldn't be a problem.

 

[Tinkwings]

Oooh thanks much....that explains alot to me!

 

[Tinkwings]

In the past the CM's had only very general info regarding the race & course. Your best bet is to talk to guests who have experience with previous race weekends.

Regarding the race course during regular park hours, runners will enter AK near Conservation Station and run through Asia, past Everest and through Dinoland & exit to a backstage area. At HS, runners from the backlot area through the main entrance to Lights Motor, Action stunt show, down NY Street, past the commisary, and towards the main entrance. Runners will then run through Yacht & Bach Club & enter Epcot through the back gate of World Showcase (behind England). There will be yellow cones along World Showcase and through Future World. There will also be cast members tending to roped off areas designated for crossing the course. They will allow as many people to cross as frequently as possible at gaps between runners.

In general, give yourself extra time for the first few hours on Sunday. Race busses are operated by Mears and are separate from the normal park transportation. AK will generally be the most difficult park to get to, based on the resort you're staying at.

Thanks, I did not know there were seperate buses running that is a relief! AK is always a trip from WL so we shall avoid that park on race days and do earlier in trip! Now I have a better perspective and can visualize the courses thanks again!:sohappy:

 

[novawildcat18]

Since some of you have obviously been to Disney during the marathon weekend, are the Christmas decorations still up? I will be in Magic Kingdom tomorrow and I am wondering if the decorations will still be there.

 

[wdwmagic]

Since some of you have obviously been to Disney during the marathon weekend, are the Christmas decorations still up? I will be in Magic Kingdom tomorrow and I am wondering if the decorations will still be there.

Yes the MK decorations are still up. Have a great time!