Those steps are cruel.....
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Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend
- Thread starter wdwmagic
- Start date
Those steps are cruel.....
Texas84
Well-Known Member
Both!
Greenlawler
Well-Known Member
We used to stay at one of the monorail resorts primarily for the monorail access. We probably stayed on the monorail for 5 years in a row, until a friend of ours pointed out how close the buses were to the finish line.
That walk from the finish to the monorail station at Epcot post race was brutal. Then having to walk up that ramp. Never forget the year it was sooooo cold and having to walk all that way after waiting for my wife to finish and completing Goofy. My teeth chattered for 2 hours until I could get in the shower.
Now days we literally walk a couple of hundred feet to our bus, save some money, and enjoy the Boardwalk, or Wilderness Lodge.....gheez wish I had known.
That walk from the finish to the monorail station at Epcot post race was brutal. Then having to walk up that ramp. Never forget the year it was sooooo cold and having to walk all that way after waiting for my wife to finish and completing Goofy. My teeth chattered for 2 hours until I could get in the shower.
Now days we literally walk a couple of hundred feet to our bus, save some money, and enjoy the Boardwalk, or Wilderness Lodge.....gheez wish I had known.
lukacseven
Well-Known Member
We usually stay at one of the villas at Kidani all the way on the end, so it's quite a walk to get there. Don;t mind the walking or even going up steps. I have trouble getting up if I sit and going down stairs.
surfsupdon
Well-Known Member
I used to hate the achiness associated with competing at Disney....stairs, ramps, sitting, standing. But since I have made yoga a part of my training, I am no longer sore post race...not even after the Marathon.
I highly recommend practicing some yoga...it def will aid in your recovery.
I highly recommend practicing some yoga...it def will aid in your recovery.
lukacseven
Well-Known Member
Is there a credible source to this info? or just wild speculation? There's going to be a lot of upset people if they totally eliminate DHS. They'd have to make some major changes because they'd have to get you from WWoS to Boardwalk or Y&BC.Look for a different marathon course in 2020 with Galaxy's Edge open. Possibly bypassing DHS completely.
My prediction: More WWoS!
Could they conceivably manage guest flow in MK while the race was going through? If so, you could run the course in reverse (with some modifications) and incorporate a good part of DHS and be clear of the park by mile 4. You could also clear AK by mile 11.5, so maybe Pandora could be in play before the park opens...
lukacseven
Well-Known Member
Mapped it out to 26.2 miles...Same start line, south on Epcot Center Drive, exit right on Backstage Lane, right onto East Buena Vista Drive, Left on Cypress Drive into DHS. Follow the "old" course when it went through the backlot, but instead through TSL & SWGE, take Grand Ave. to Echo Lake & exit park through main entry. Follow new main access road to Victory Road & continue South on Victory Road, in reverse direction of the current course. Eliminate the stadium & track portions of the course and continue in reverse West along Osceola Parkway to AK. Take the first left and run through the bus drop-off area and through the main entrance to the park. Left through Pandora & follow water around to Tusker house, through Asia and exit park by restrooms and follow Conservation Way in reverse of current course - Savannah Circle to Bear Island Road (eliminate out-&-back on Western Way). Left onto Floridian Way North, then right into Simba Lot. Follow current Full/half course through MK, past Polynesian, then left onto Seven Seas Drive East. Right onto World Drive South & follow on newly constructed overpass back to Epcot along the same course as the current half. After entering Epcot at the buss drop-off, right on Avenue of the Stars, enter WS in England where current course does & follow around WS to the same finish.
Texas84
Well-Known Member
The second line was a joke.
surfsupdon
Well-Known Member
I can't imagine that we couldn't run through the Studios. Sunset to Hollywood Blvd takes up such a small portion of the park and is nowhere near Star Wars. And we run on a portion of the street instead of the total street.
Plus a sizeable chunk of people at Disney that weekend are there to run or cheer, and not interested in SWGE at that time of day.
Plus a sizeable chunk of people at Disney that weekend are there to run or cheer, and not interested in SWGE at that time of day.
Greenlawler
Well-Known Member
So I was updating the history thread when I noticed only 11,100 or so plus finished this years marathon!
Is that right? Was it the humidity? Lower registration numbers?
The lowest number of finishers I could find since 2017 was 17,775.
Is this disturbing to anyone, including Disney?
Is that right? Was it the humidity? Lower registration numbers?
The lowest number of finishers I could find since 2017 was 17,775.
Is this disturbing to anyone, including Disney?
lukacseven
Well-Known Member
Disney said the reason for not routing the course through Pandora was due to crowds, since the park is open to guests during the race. No reason to eliminate the current course through DHS, but using the same logic, I don't see anyway they can control the amount of guests and also have a race go through SWGE (at least for a few years).
lukacseven
Well-Known Member
I remember when WWoS was open on Monday after the Marathon to register for the next years races. I also recall the races selling out much earlier back in '07-09. This was the first year when multiple races still had availability leading up to the weekend. Curious as to when the race registration date changed? When did they start requiring proof of time? At one point they just asked for expected finish time and a time from a prior 10 mile or longer (10K for the half). Not sure they ever did the research to confirm.
Texas84
Well-Known Member
Whoa, that's what I see. Shocking if true. 11,000 less total for the weekend.
Texas84
Well-Known Member
Everyone has to go down Hollywood Blvd to get to Star Wars. Sunset is not a concern. Here is some wild speculation: They could keep the course and put up a temporary barrier down the middle of Hollywood to protect the runners. The morning mad dash has the potential to get very ugly. Even during marathon weekend since it will still be new.
Texas84
Well-Known Member
Marathon weekend will not go through SWGE but look for a new race course for Star Wars weekend in 2020. Speculation: Start at WWoS, run through SWGE, get out before the stampede. Even better would be a night race.
Greenlawler
Well-Known Member
Yes I think @Texas84 has stats on when races used to sell out. I can remember being on the phone on the day registration opened and not being able to get a 5k spot because it was already sold out. So I ran for charity that year.
The registration dates have changed several times. I am just going off my bad memory here but....I believe 09 and 10 registration was open the Monday after. 2011-2016 was some time in April. 2017 they invited runners from 15 to register in February after receiving an email, but it was open to everyone else in April. 2018 was early February. 2019 was July.
As far as proof. I believe they needed actual proof by 2010. I do know they check, I sent a wrong time in once and they put me in the last coral. I questioned it, and they said my POT was inaccurate. I think that was 2015 I should have been in B. I was so mad, I actually cut half an hour off my time that year lol. I will say it was fun bobbing and weaving in and out of folks for four hours. But at the end of the race I had run 27 miles I had gone side to side so much.
surfsupdon
Well-Known Member
It is alarming that numbers are so low!! Gotta spice up the weekends. Aside from Marathon Weekend, the race distances, challenges, and structures are all the same.
Do a morning 10K and a night Half, same day. That’s a Challenge!
Have a night race only!
Get some different distances. 13K, 10miler, Relay options, etc
Everything has become so streamlined. I still engage, but some differences would stir up some excitement.
Do a morning 10K and a night Half, same day. That’s a Challenge!
Have a night race only!
Get some different distances. 13K, 10miler, Relay options, etc
Everything has become so streamlined. I still engage, but some differences would stir up some excitement.
Greenlawler
Well-Known Member
Yes they really need to spruce things up.....
I don't think there is one single reason the registrations were down but several little things.
First and foremost I do think the runDisney running craze has died down a little. This is probably contributed by them letting some things slip. But some things that could help the marathon.....
Make every year special, start themes for the races. I think some people are holding out for anniversary years, because they have made them unique. The big five could still be the mascots but at least make it Donald's "Haunted Half" for example. That way people do not want to miss out. And after the first year don't reveal the themes.
I mean how many people have to complain before they remove WWOS from the course?
Does the early time knock some folks out? Could you push it back an hour later?
Offering free admission for one park one day would be a nice perk to bring back.
Changing up, adding more rare characters. This past year was better than the past but not as great as it used to be. Give people something to post about.
Things as simple as improving the swag like it used to be. Offering samples of items instead of just giving the t-shirts.
A hotel/dinning discount for Dopey/Goofy runners.
other thoughts?
surfsupdon
Well-Known Member
Like I said, make some new challenges. Two races in a day....or a return to a night race (does not need an afterparty). You are right, anniversary years are unique...but runDisney can create that uniquness at all events with new challenges, fun distances, and changing themes.
I agree with you- each race weekend should have a hotel discount associated or a free 1 day 1 park ticket (like in the past). Or have an afterparty at each weekend.
The gEar bag should have more giveaway stuff...we have gotten so far from that!
The Disney Springs discounts are a very nice touch!!! And appreciated.
Bringing back DLand races would help increase numbers too, as west coasties get their Coast to Coast.