scorp111
Well-Known Member
A couple of ideas from the internet, either straight from the Contemporary or monorail to the Poly/Grand Floridian and run between them:
Contemporary Resort Hotel
The best choice for guests staying at the Contemporary is to head toward the Magic Kingdom. Once you reach the main entrance to the park, stay on the brick walkway, going past the boat launches to the resorts and to the left of the monorail station. The course continues for a short distance along the Seven Seas Lagoon until it ends at a small canal. This is a very flat course, about 1.5 miles long, and one that is heavily traveled between the hotel and the Magic Kingdom. It is particularly crowded during the hour leading up to park opening and on until lunchtime. It is also completely unshaded, and is best suited for early morning runs, or runs later in the evening.
Polynesian Resort
Another of the original resorts at WDW, the Polynesian offers a running course throughout its lush grounds. A jogging map can be obtained at the front desk as you check in.
About a third of the path passes along the Seven Seas Lagoon, before essentially outlining the resort grounds. This is a very pleasant path, particularly in the morning. The path offers little shade, despite the wealth of tropical vegetation along the way. The course is somewhat winding, and therefore requires runners to exercise caution to avoid collisions with others.
For those who wish to add on some distance, the path can be extended by continuing past the Tahiti building towards the Transportation and Ticket Center. But the most pleasant choice would be to continue on past the Fiji and Aotearoa buildings, following the signs directing you to the Spa. The brick path will lead you beside the shore of the Seven Seas Lagoon, where you can hear the small waves lapping at the white sand beach. The path turns to sidewalk as it continues past the Wedding Chapel, eventually reaching the theme swimming pool at the Grand Floridian. This relatively wide path provides excellent visibility ahead of you, making this a true treasure of a run. The lack of shade makes this a better choice for cooler periods, however.
Grand Floridian Resort
The Grand Floridian sets the standard for elegance at WDW. For guests wishing to run, the path which runs along the Seven Seas Lagoon offers the best opportunity. Runners can join the path easily from Buildings 5, 7, 8 or 9, but it is quite convenient from anywhere on the resort. The path is unshaded, but offers a lovely view of the resort. As described in the section on the Polynesian Resort, more adventurous runners can take the walkway past the Wedding Chapel on to the Polynesian Resort (or even on to the TTC!). The paths are wide and have an easy view of what is in front of you, as well as a view of the lagoon, the Magic Kingdom, and the other monorail resorts.
