Marathon Weekend questions

[j&bconnecticut]

Hello everybody,

In a January, my wife and I are going to be spending a few days in WDW for the disney marathon weekend. My wife is going to be doing the Goofy Challenge(1/2 marathon on Saturday, followed by the full marathon on Sunday). Does anyone have any ideas on what I can expect there that weekend? What are the crowds like during that time of year? What is the weather like? Do they do anything special for the runners? Also, my wife doesn't know that I'm going to be there to cheer her on. She is expecting to be there herself, but I'm flying down the day after she does, so that I can be there to see her run. Any ideas on what else I can do to surprise her?

Thanks in advance.
Bob

 

[Stitch69]

Bob- That is a great surprise. She will need your support. I have run the full marathon twice and I am also running the goofy challenge this year. I can't wait. The crowds have increased over the years. Both since it is right after the holidays it's not too bad. There will be over 35,000 runners this year with all the races going on. You will both have lots of fun. Make sure your wife takes it easy of Saturday after the 1/2....i hear it can hit you on Sunday for the full if you don't. Sunday she might want to hit the park for a few hours.
They do the awards at Pleasure Island SUnday afternoon if you are interested. Where are you staying? We're at the Wilderness Lodge for 5 days. Maybe we'll see you there.

 

[DisDawg30]

All I can tell you is the traffic during the marathon is horrible. Its very difficult to get from one area to another. I have ran into several peope on the bus that were trying to catch up with a runner. Plan your viewing areas carefully. There are several locations where you pass the same areas at different miles in the race. Also, you have to have a park pass in order to view the runners in the park.

 

[j&bconnecticut]

Bob- That is a great surprise. She will need your support. I have run the full marathon twice and I am also running the goofy challenge this year. I can't wait. The crowds have increased over the years. Both since it is right after the holidays it's not too bad. There will be over 35,000 runners this year with all the races going on. You will both have lots of fun. Make sure your wife takes it easy of Saturday after the 1/2....i hear it can hit you on Sunday for the full if you don't. Sunday she might want to hit the park for a few hours.
They do the awards at Pleasure Island SUnday afternoon if you are interested. Where are you staying? We're at the Wilderness Lodge for 5 days. Maybe we'll see you there.

We're going to be staying at the Port Orleans French Quarter. Do you have any suggestions for viewing areas? I want her to see me as much as possible during the full marathon. She's going to need as much support as she can get.

 

[Stitch69]

check out disney marathon website and you can check out the race map. If you start out at the race track(speedway by Magic Kingdom) She will run by you at Mile 8 & Mile 13.5, then head to area by wide world of sports and see her at mile 20-21( turn around), then go to Epcot Finish. Hope that helps(just a suggestion):wave:

 

[Chape19714]

Guests of runners are allowed to cheer on thier friends on Main Street USA. There is a specific time. You can also go to the finish line, in the Epcot Parking lot!

I'll be there as a Volunteer, so stop by and say hello! :wave:

 

[ilvdisney]

Your wife will get a booklet in the mail. Included in the booklet will be viewing areas and approximate times. One thing that worked for me last year, to avoid traffic - I stayed at the Poly the night before the race. That way I could take the monorail to the race start, and then back afterwards. Just a thought! Good luck to your wife!

 

[Stitch69]

Your wife will get a booklet in the mail. Included in the booklet will be viewing areas and approximate times. One thing that worked for me last year, to avoid traffic - I stayed at the Poly the night before the race. That way I could take the monorail to the race start, and then back afterwards. Just a thought! Good luck to your wife!

The Poly is a good suggestion!

 

[number1wdwfan]

Want to Ride Splash Mountain!!

Attention ALL participants in WDW Marathon Weekend 2010 and anyone who may be there during that first week in January -- January 3rd-10th:

It was just announced that Splash Mountain will be closed for rehab starting January 3rd, making it the THIRD straight year it will be closed at the exact time!

I am helping to orchestrate a sort of "petition" for Disney to postpone its rehab of Splash Mountain until AFTER Marathon Weekend. The Marathon Weekend is said to attract over 50,000 runners alone, and that's not even counting family members that travel along as cheerleaders! Splash Mountain is a tremendously popular attraction, and definitely one of the best in all of Disney World, and I know many agree with me in that it's a MAJOR disappointment to have to miss out on it - and for the third year in a row? We can't let this happen!

That being said, if we can get even 200-300 people to write in to Disney and suggest they postpone the refurbishment to perhaps January 11th or 12th, they will have to at least acknowledge our suggestion and consider complying!

So, PLEASE DO YOUR PART! Send a suggestion to Disney to postpone their extensive rehab of Splash Mountain to AFTER Marathon Weekend!: http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/contact/

Together, we will be able to ride Splash Mountain after missing out on this great attraction the past two years!

Please spread this to anyone you know that will be at WDW during that first week in January! Thank you!

 

[MKCP 1985]

:lol: I just saw that this thread is 3 years old. I guess Bob already figured it out and surprised his wife.

 

[GoofyFan1]

Be prepared when you head home. Last year the airport on Sunday was crowded...I was in line for TSA back past the Disney Store. Not sure what Monday is like, I'll find out this year.