Bad idea to stay in Boardwalk area during Marathon?

dinosaurgertie · Jan 2, 2019

I just read the runners actually run through the Boardwalk resort area. Does anyone have any experience staying here during the marathon and what's it like? Is it a bad idea to stay here during this time if you aren't participating in the race? Thanks!

VAfamily1998 · Jan 2, 2019

Yes, the full marathon course goes down the path from Hollywood Studios to the boardwalk area, and then on to Epcot. This section of the course is towards the end, so the runners (and volunteers, and spectators) will still be out there until the early afternoon. I am a runner and have done the marathon, and I would not want to stay at those hotels unless I was running or there to support someone running.

VAfamily1998 · Jan 2, 2019

http://guide.rundisney.events/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2018/12/2019-WDW-Marathon-Course-Map.pdf

Here is a link to the course map to the marathon, you can see that the Boardwalk Inn is right around mile 24.

Also, during other races, some of the course will pass through the Boardwalk/Yacht club/Beach club area. Disney has race weekends throughout the year (Princess in February, Star Wars in April, Wine and Dine in November) and each weekend has at least 3 races, with various courses (some through the Boardwalk area and some not.)

dinosaurgertie · Jan 2, 2019

VAfamily1998 said:
Yes, the full marathon course goes down the path from Hollywood Studios to the boardwalk area, and then on to Epcot. This section of the course is towards the end, so the runners (and volunteers, and spectators) will still be out there until the early afternoon. I am a runner and have done the marathon, and I would not want to stay at those hotels unless I was running or there to support someone running.

This is really helpful! Do you remember seeing non-runners using the paths to the parks as well? I know that path from HS to Boardwalk can be narrow at times.

Any advice for how we can make the most out of it if we do stay here (because I might not have a say in whether we do or don't!)?

PSUGuy · Jan 2, 2019

I like to start my day by having coffee and a cigar on the bench near Atlantic Dance and in 2017 two mornings I was a little perturbed by the hub bub generated by the race and the CMs that were there to cheer. As a former competitive distance runner I'm a supporter of the races so I just found a smoking area near the Clown Pool and enjoyed my vice there on those days. I noticed no other problems created by the events but I will be sure to avoid AK on the day a race ends there, the line of cars entering the parking lot was almost back to the toll booths.

Bill From PA

VAfamily1998 · Jan 2, 2019

dinosaurgertie said:
This is really helpful! Do you remember seeing non-runners using the paths to the parks as well? I know that path from HS to Boardwalk can be narrow at times.

Any advice for how we can make the most out of it if we do stay here (because I might not have a say in whether we do or don't!)?

Hmmm well, by mile 24 I was pretty much just focused on just getting through the race, but I'm pretty sure that the path going from Boardwalk to HS was closed to non-runners. I'm not entirely sure about the International gateway area of Epcot, if that was open to non runners? But in both parks, there are areas where the runners go through and they will have cast members with ropes to keep the crowds back. They actually have a really great system where they are able to move the ropes and change the course so that crowds can pass--so they will do that every few minutes; but if you're just part of the crowd you may have to stand and wait.
If I was going to a park on marathon morning, I would choose Magic Kingdom because that is the first park the runners go through (race starts at 5:30 am) so the runners are out by the time the park opens in the morning. Animal Kingdom would be my second choice because that's about the half way mark of the marathon, so it will clear out of runners long before HS or Epcot do.

Just to clarify, you're talking about the full marathon in January, right? There is also a half marathon the day before, that spends some time in Epcot.

dinosaurgertie · Jan 2, 2019

VAfamily1998 said:
Hmmm well, by mile 24 I was pretty much just focused on just getting through the race, but I'm pretty sure that the path going from Boardwalk to HS was closed to non-runners. I'm not entirely sure about the International gateway area of Epcot, if that was open to non runners? But in both parks, there are areas where the runners go through and they will have cast members with ropes to keep the crowds back. They actually have a really great system where they are able to move the ropes and change the course so that crowds can pass--so they will do that every few minutes; but if you're just part of the crowd you may have to stand and wait.
If I was going to a park on marathon morning, I would choose Magic Kingdom because that is the first park the runners go through (race starts at 5:30 am) so the runners are out by the time the park opens in the morning. Animal Kingdom would be my second choice because that's about the half way mark of the marathon, so it will clear out of runners long before HS or Epcot do.

Just to clarify, you're talking about the full marathon in January, right? There is also a half marathon the day before, that spends some time in Epcot.

Thanks! Yes, we'd be there the entire marathon weekend, so every race.

Deb & Bill · Jan 2, 2019

Only Sunday's race will run by the Boardwalk. All the rest will either be in the MK and/or Epcot.

Keels · Jan 2, 2019

Deb & Bill said:
Only Sunday's race will run by the Boardwalk. All the rest will either be in the MK and/or Epcot.

Incorrect. The 10K circles the Boardwalk loop as well.

Deb & Bill · Jan 3, 2019

Keels said:
Incorrect. The 10K circles the Boardwalk loop as well.

Forgot about that one. Thanks. That should wake everybody up since the race starts at 5:30AM and is only 6.2 miles long.

focusondisney · Jan 3, 2019

We have stayed at YC during marathon weekend a few years ago. I thought it was great being there. Yes, the walkway to DS is closed, you have to take the boat. But the walk to Epcot & the IG are open. We had more trouble getting to MK than anything else. The traffic was backed up horribly, the buses couldn’t get into the normal bus station & had to drop us off at the offsite bus area. We then had to take either the monorail or ferry to MK. We were on the bus for over an hour & ended up more than 45 minutes late for rope drop.

Disney did a great job of keeping pedestrian traffic moving both on the walkways around the Epcot resorts & in Epcot & DS. I’d much rather stay at an Epcot resort than try to get to a park via bus during marathon mornings.

We did hear the fireworks going off as the races started tho. Didn’t bother us too much.

VAfamily1998 · Jan 3, 2019

focusondisney said:
We have stayed at YC during marathon weekend a few years ago. I thought it was great being there. Yes, the walkway to DS is closed, you have to take the boat. But the walk to Epcot & the IG are open. We had more trouble getting to MK than anything else. The traffic was backed up horribly, the buses couldn’t get into the normal bus station & had to drop us off at the offsite bus area. We then had to take either the monorail or ferry to MK. We were on the bus for over an hour & ended up more than 45 minutes late for rope drop.

Disney did a great job of keeping pedestrian traffic moving both on the walkways around the Epcot resorts & in Epcot & DS. I’d much rather stay at an Epcot resort than try to get to a park via bus during marathon mornings.

We did hear the fireworks going off as the races started tho. Didn’t bother us too much.

I guess my perception as a runner (of which park would be easiest to get to) is different than the reality

Dug720 · Jan 3, 2019

When did they change it to go around the Boardwalk rather than Beach Club/Yacht Club? I well remember doing Cape May Cafe to celebrate finishing the Half and going out after to cheer the Marathoners. And then when I did the Full, running around the Beach/Yacht Club area much more than the Boardwalk area.

Krandor · Jan 4, 2019

focusondisney said:
We have stayed at YC during marathon weekend a few years ago. I thought it was great being there. Yes, the walkway to DS is closed, you have to take the boat. But the walk to Epcot & the IG are open. We had more trouble getting to MK than anything else. The traffic was backed up horribly, the buses couldn’t get into the normal bus station & had to drop us off at the offsite bus area. We then had to take either the monorail or ferry to MK. We were on the bus for over an hour & ended up more than 45 minutes late for rope drop.

Disney did a great job of keeping pedestrian traffic moving both on the walkways around the Epcot resorts & in Epcot & DS. I’d much rather stay at an Epcot resort than try to get to a park via bus during marathon mornings.

We did hear the fireworks going off as the races started tho. Didn’t bother us too much.

yeah IG should be fine. The runners enter epcot through a back way near IG but not through the actual IG entrance. I know it is right along side where the gondala is being built.

Wood Nymph · Jan 5, 2019

dinosaurgertie said:
I just read the runners actually run through the Boardwalk resort area. Does anyone have any experience staying here during the marathon and what's it like? Is it a bad idea to stay here during this time if you aren't participating in the race? Thanks!

The BW will be a great place to stay during marathon weekend as long as you don't try to take a park bus on marathon day - Sunday. The buses get all backed up because of road closures. Skip AK, MK or Disney Springs until the afternoon and walk or take a boat to Epcot or DHS. You will be happy that you can get into Epcot or DHS ahead of the crowds who are stuck in traffic.

AngiTN · Jan 5, 2019

Krandor said:
yeah IG should be fine. The runners enter epcot through a back way near IG but not through the actual IG entrance. I know it is right along side where the gondala is being built.

Wonder if this can happen now. I can't visualize where runners could go through to reach that gate

Wood Nymph said:
The BW will be a great place to stay during marathon weekend as long as you don't try to take a park bus on marathon day - Sunday. The buses get all backed up because of road closures. Skip AK, MK or Disney Springs until the afternoon and walk or take a boat to Epcot or DHS. You will be happy that you can get into Epcot or DHS ahead of the crowds who are stuck in traffic.

Yep. To clarify, all resort guests that use buses are stuck dealing with traffic. Anywhere you can go bus-less is a good choice

Chami · Jan 5, 2019

So, say you were staying at the Boardwalk and needed to get to Universal Studios Sunday morning during the marathon. You had planned (very poorly) to Uber to Universal. What would you do? Sadly, the plan for visiting Universal can’t change to a different day.

Deb & Bill · Jan 5, 2019

Chami said:
So, say you were staying at the Boardwalk and needed to get to Universal Studios Sunday morning during the marathon. You had planned (very poorly) to Uber to Universal. What would you do? Sadly, the plan for visiting Universal can’t change to a different day.

Just give yourself enough time to leave the property. If you take Buena Vista Drive over to I-4, you should be okay. No one running there.

dinosaurgertie · Jan 21, 2019

Just thought I’d follow-up and thank everyone! We had fun cheering on the runners as they came through Boardwalk in the morning, and then we had a great park day. No major problems.

Reinshar · Jan 21, 2019

Thanks for the info

Bad idea to stay in Boardwalk area during Marathon?

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