Marathon Weekend 2024

[nekonekoneko]

My race weekends have been from CR, VGF, BRV (WL) and OKW.

I liked the two monorail resorts because the half and full use the monorail. I hated OKW, but that's because getting to the buses is a hassle. If I'm ever in OKW again, I'm renting a car.

Driving from WL to the races is a bit of a hassle, because they close the ramp from World Drive southbound to Epcot Center Drive.

 

[Let's Get Kronk]

I usually stay at Swan/Dolphin. It’s a long story and a calamity of events, but I ended up staying in the Gran Destino Tower at Coronado Springs for MW. I LOVED IT! I enjoyed it more than BC, YC, BW, Swan and Dolphin. Toledo, Three Bridges and Dahlia Lounge have better food and drinks than BC, YC & BW and it was a welcome change from Swan/Dolphin. CSR is only 1 mile from Swan/Dolphin so it’s a super quick uber to the Crescent Lake resorts to access the International Gateway. I would definitely stay there again (only in the tower) if the price was right. It was cheaper to stay at Dolphin for Princess Weekend even though they have the resort fee and still charge for parking.

I just looked up rooms for Gran Destino Tower at CS and they are considerably cheaper than the resorts I am looking at so I may consider this! What were the down sides, if any?

 

[DopeyRunner486]

I just looked up rooms for Gran Destino Tower at CS and they are considerably cheaper than the resorts I am looking at so I may consider this! What were the down sides, if any?

My personal downside which really is not that big of one is transportation. Its a bit resort with several bus stops and only buses as transportation. The onsite food and amenities are great.

 

[Naomeri]

I just looked up rooms for Gran Destino Tower at CS and they are considerably cheaper than the resorts I am looking at so I may consider this! What were the down sides, if any?

I have been perfectly happy for 2 race weekends to stay in non-tower rooms at CSR. It’s such a peaceful resort, and I request (and have received both times) rooms in the Casitas section, so I get first crack at park buses, instead of last like the tower does (and Casitas is the first or second stop for the rD buses, depending on how the drivers enter the resort)

It was only a 5 minute walk from my room to the gift shop and quick service. Just something to consider.

 

[accm]

What are some of your favorite resorts to book for MW? I stayed at Beach Club last year and loved it, but am considering a new spot. To date, I've stayed at the Boardwalk Inn, Yacht Club, and Beach Club, and it's reaaaallllyyy hard for me to part with the location. My travel agent presented packages for Yacht Club, Beach Club, Contemporary, and Wilderness Lodge that are all decently similar in price. I am leaning towards booking Yacht Club again for the location and potentially trying a MK-area resort for W&D in November on a shorter trip. Thoughts?

I stayed at BCV for wine and dine in 2021 and loved it, but for MW, I don't think you can beat a monorail resort.

We stayed at BLT this year, and have it booked for MW 2024 in a one bedroom. I'm considering switching to the Poly so I can walk to the TTC, but I'll have my kids with me, so I don't think I want a studio.

 

[accm]

Well, life's been so busy I haven't been able to check this board in a while. I wish I had waited until after the 14th to check, because I've got major FOMO on the C2C track one medal. I barely have enough vacation days for MW, it's crazy for me to consider adding another race weekend right after. And yet... here I am. Hopefully I'm busy on registration day, so I don't "accidentally" register


SAFD: I've ended up taking more time off than I had planned, since we decided to finish renovating our playroom/workout area. Everything is put back together now, which means I can get back to working out regularly. My plan right now is to focus on strength training, with a couple of fun runs a week.

Part of the reno involved *finally* getting around to hanging these:

 

[accm]

Oh, also. Have we talked about the fact that the DL weekend has kids races? I wonder if that means it'll come to WDW as well? I hope so since I bet both my boys would love it. All the waiting around for the 5k was a bit too much for my 5yr old this year.

 

[WillRunForPizza]

Part of the reno involved *finally* getting around to hanging these:

I love that rack! I'm a sucker for merch with park symbols.

 

[Bunkie1979]

What are some of your favorite resorts to book for MW? I stayed at Beach Club last year and loved it, but am considering a new spot. To date, I've stayed at the Boardwalk Inn, Yacht Club, and Beach Club, and it's reaaaallllyyy hard for me to part with the location. My travel agent presented packages for Yacht Club, Beach Club, Contemporary, and Wilderness Lodge that are all decently similar in price. I am leaning towards booking Yacht Club again for the location and potentially trying a MK-area resort for W&D in November on a shorter trip. Thoughts?

For Marathon Weekend x4, we've stayed at:

Yacht Club - great proximity for bus transportation, park access and food options, bad for fireworks/sleeping
Beach Club - same as Yacht
Art of Animation - great for budget, buses okay, not so nice for long walking after marathon and bad for fireworks/sleeping
Animal Kingdom Lodge (with rental car) - glorious for food options, relaxing atmosphere, and quiet sleeping (our favourite so far!). Didn't miss park access as we chose not to go during race weekend.

 

[accm]

I love that rack! I'm a sucker for merch with park symbols.

Thanks! I love it too! I got it on Etsy, and even though it was expensive given shipping to Canada and the exchange rate, it was so worth it.

 

[Let's Get Kronk]

Thanks! I love it too! I got it on Etsy, and even though it was expensive given shipping to Canada and the exchange rate, it was so worth it.

I have the same exact rack and I love it! (Although I only have my three medals from Goofy last month and it looks terribly empty and sad. )

Thanks all for the resort recommendations. I didn't realize that CS is bus only to all the parks, which may be a deal breaker for me. Even having to take a bus to MK and AK when I'm there is not my favorite, so losing other options for the other parks might be too much for me. I may consider staying there for W&D to experience a new resort and save some money, but I think I'm just going to go ahead and book Yacht Club again for MW.

I considered Poly but it was too expensive for a week-long stay for MW. I'm sure I'll give it a go on a different trip.

 

[disneyrunnergrl]

Well, life's been so busy I haven't been able to check this board in a while. I wish I had waited until after the 14th to check, because I've got major FOMO on the C2C track one medal. I barely have enough vacation days for MW, it's crazy for me to consider adding another race weekend right after. And yet... here I am. Hopefully I'm busy on registration day, so I don't "accidentally" register


SAFD: I've ended up taking more time off than I had planned, since we decided to finish renovating our playroom/workout area. Everything is put back together now, which means I can get back to working out regularly. My plan right now is to focus on strength training, with a couple of fun runs a week.

Part of the reno involved *finally* getting around to hanging these:
View attachment 738849

This looks great!! Love the hanger!

 

[Bree]

I just looked up rooms for Gran Destino Tower at CS and they are considerably cheaper than the resorts I am looking at so I may consider this! What were the down sides, if any?

Multiple bus stops. Three? Four? I dunno. The Tower is the very first stop for the races. I have no idea for the parks. With the exception of MK, I tend to use Uber or drive my car instead of busses no matter where I stay.

 

[LEN375]

Planning dopey 2024 with no park days. What are some of your favorite things to do at Disney when not including parks? Restaurants etc.

 

[GollyGadget]

Planning dopey 2024 with no park days. What are some of your favorite things to do at Disney when not including parks? Restaurants etc.

We just spent Tuesday evening at the poly watching the fireworks and electrical water pageant. It was magical. They pipe in the music to the beach area.

During mw, we rented a boat from the contemporary with my extended family. That was also a fun way to spend the afternoon.

 

[Mr_Incr3dible]

I'll be there for MW 2024 but TBD whether I'll be attempting Dopey #3 or a combo of other races. (Ask me this time next week, based on how Dopey #2 goes.) I'll still be spectating those I don't run, with creative signs.

I’ve done a Dopey, got the t-shirts, got the medals, and the satisfaction of having done it. But for the time and money, I’m thinking probably just a Goofy in 2024.

 

[gosalyn_mallard]

Planning dopey 2024 with no park days. What are some of your favorite things to do at Disney when not including parks? Restaurants etc.

We've enjoyed several 'Enchanting Extras' in the past that don't require park tickets. They haven't restarted all of them, but may by Jan 2024. Backstage Magic and Wanyama Safari were our favorites.

 

[SheHulk]

I'm waiting to see if I get into the DL Half before deciding what I'm running MW I have high hopes for 100th anniversary medals. As someone who doesn't even display her medals it doesn't make sense but I do like to get nice ones.

 

[Bunkie1979]

Planning dopey 2024 with no park days. What are some of your favorite things to do at Disney when not including parks? Restaurants etc.

This past Dopey MW, we visited Disney Springs after the 5K for shopping and our first taste at Gideon’s Bakery. After the 10K we played Mini Golf at Winter Summerland (both courses) and walked around Fort Wilderness before first time at Hoop Dee Doo. After the Half took a lazy stroll around Boardwalk for shopping and a drink at Abracadabar before pre-marathon dinner at Trattoria al Forno. After the Full, we packed our bags for the Castaway Challenge Cruise before having dinner at Storybook Dining with Dopey.

 

[Baloo in MI]

Good Morning runDisney All-Stars! It is time for SAFD (Sunday’s Are For Disney) our weekly question to keep the ball rolling towards January, 2024. Everyone is welcome, and encouraged, to respond.

For today‘s question: In honor of the upcoming Princess Weekend, do you run any other runDisney Weekends? If so which? And, do you have a favorite?

My Answer: Even though I have been doing runDisney races since 2015 I have only run two different race weekends; Marathon Weekend and Spring Surprise. My favorite is MW, outside of 2019 when I was injured I have done in (including the virtual year) every year since 2015. I just love how much the parks, resorts, heck even the airports are just filled with runners. I always just want to say “ahhh, it is my people!” I love the running atmosphere as it is positive, exciting but not too intense/stressful; there is still a good mix of simply being at Disney! I am also addicted to Dopey! Hoping for it again in 2024! I do want to do the other weekends, work schedules make those more difficult unfortunately. I did start doing Spring Surprise and will try to stick with it to see if down the road runDisney has a perfect status for either the challenge or the 10-miler there. But MW will always be my favorite!