Thursday, January 2, 2014

runDisney Spectator Viewing Spots

Happy New Year! As we begin 2014, we are one step closer to Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend and all the fun it brings!

Today, I’m partnering with a  fellow group of runDisney enthusiasts for a Marathon Weekend blog hop in our very own “Virtual Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend”. Throughout this blog hop, you’ll learn all you need to know about the ins and outs of Marathon Weekend – take a look, you might learn something new!

I’m here to share a few tips on Spectator Viewing Points during the Half/Full Marathon. Please note, the tips I’m sharing are not a part of the ChEAR Squad – these are tips/points are for free viewing areas throughout race weekend.

Page 62 and 63 of the official Marathon Weekend Program (from runDisney) lists several possible viewpoints and time frames to choose from. I’m here to share our experiences and the locations my husband (and I) have used in the past.

First and foremost, be prepared to wake up bright and early! The 10K/Half/Full begin at 5:30 a.m. and buses stop transporting people at 5a.m. – to resume at 7 a.m. From experience, I spectated with a friend at the half several years ago. I ignored my alarm and woke up at 4:30 a.m. I arrived at the resort bus stop around 4:45 a.m. and a bus was still waiting – but by the time we neared EPCOT, the roads were already being closed for the race. The bus driver dropped us off near the TTC and that’s where I remained to spectate the beginning of the race. Just be prepared to wake up EARLY! Also, I know my husband has taken the boat from Wilderness Lodge before but I don’t know the hours of operation – you would have to check that with the resort front desk. 

The places we’ve found the easiest to get to and maneuver around are:

runDisney Marathon Spectator Viewpoints
  • The Ticket & Transportation Center (Mile 4 for the Half and Full) - begin by taking a bus from your resort to the family reunion area, then hopping on the monorail to the TTC; or, if staying at a monorail resort, take the monorail to the TTC
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  • After watching your runner pass at the TTC, walk the path (or take the monorail around) to the front of the Polynesian Resort (Mile 7 for the Half and Full) Please note: as seen in the photo above, there’s a lane separating spectators from runners)
runDisney Marathon Spectator Viewpoints 2
  • From the Polynesian, take the monorail (or walk back) to the Ticket and Transportation Center, then board a monorail to EPCOT. You’ll be able to see your runner as they near the finish line. Those with ChEAR Squad wristbands are the only ones allowed in the grand stands at the finish line.
runDisney Marathon Weekend Spectator Points
  • As an added bonus, for the Full Marathon - if you have your own vehicle and are able to maneuver past closed roads (ie, you know back roads) stop by the Animal Kingdom parking lot to see your runner pass around Mile 14
Another spectating option accessible even if you don’t purchase a ChEAR Squad package is Main Street in the Magic Kingdom. A running buddy’s wife tried out this option for the Half/Full Marathon in 2013 and I asked about her experience. Here’s what she had to say:

A ticket is not required to enter the Magic Kingdom as a spectator for the Half/Full Marathons. According to the program, the gates open around 5:30 a.m. ChEAR squad has a special roped off area, so I found a spot along Main Street for the Half and again in front of the castle by the partners statue for the Full.

There were plenty of cast members and a few characters that interacted with waiting crowd before runners arrived. I think the emporium was open and there was a cart with snacks and coffee etc available for sale. After watching my designated runners go by, I left before the park opened to the public. (According to the program, the cheering section on Main Street is closed at 8:30 a.m. – I’m assuming before the park actually opens to the public.) The crowds were not bad and most were willing to share their spots if your runner was approaching. Spots were easy to find.

A few spectator points and tips from Jason:
  • Take into consideration the pace of your runner and how fast they are planning on running the race. If they are a faster runner, your time from point to point will be less.
  • Arrive at your waiting point and be prepared to wait. You’ll be entertained by all the runners in costume – you might even want to snap a shot or two!
  • Patience – You can’t walk up and get a rail-side view right away. If you wait for runners to pass and work your way up, you will have a better view.
  • Also, you won’t see your runner more than 2-3 times, unless you have your own personal vehicle to drive from point to point. Be careful with your own vehicle, though – there are many road closures during the races. Study the road map and bring someone along who knows the back way.
  • Be prepared for transportation malfunctions and no alternate routes. Remember, there’s a LOT of spectators and only a few modes of transportation. When one option malfunctions, it can get kind of crazy – remember to be patient. (Speaking from experience.)
  • As a spectator, plan accordingly for weather. The weather has ranged from 80 degrees to 25 degrees during marathon weekend, prepare for anything!
  • The best and most easily accessible places I’ve found for viewing points are the TTC, out in front of the Polynesian Resort, and near the finish line outside of EPCOT. Unless you have personal transportation, you’ll be able to access all of these viewing points using Disney transportation.
  • Have your camera ready – you’d hate to wait for your runner to pass by, then miss the perfect shot because you weren’t ready.
Last but not least, I leave you with a funny spectator story.

After the Half Marathon in 2013 (it was SO hot), I told Jason that my friend Jenn’s parents bought her a Dole Whip mid-race and gave it to her in front of the Polynesian. Jason said he saw someone do the same. Never did I think we were talking about the same person…

Disney World Marathon Spectator Viewpoints

Lo and behold, we WERE! Jason is all the way to the left of the above picture with Jenn and her parents. Small World, huh? Photo credit goes to Jenn.

Have you ever spectated at a Disney race? What’s your best tip to share?

Check out the other great topics runners have to share in our Virtual Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend Blog Hop below!

Virtual Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend Blog Hop Directory

24 comments:

  1. I have been a spectator several times at Disney. My sister is a fairly fast runner, so i've only been able to see her on main street and then again at the finish line. I always have these great thoughts that I will get that one fabulous shot of her running through the MK, but it has never worked out that way! It's always still dark when she runs through that part and my pics never turn out!

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    1. I hear you on that one! If you're a faster runner, the MK is still dark when runners go through.

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  2. I LOVE hearing all the spectators cheering during the race! So excited!

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  3. In the past (when we saw YOU during the full marathon one year) we have been able to easily watch runners at Animal Kingdom, and didn't have to get up so early since by the time runners were getting to that point in the race, transportation to that resort was up and running smoothly...

    I plan to do that again to see hubby run, since we have a toddler. We're not getting on a bus until after 7 am!!

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    1. Yes! That's right!! You guys were inside the AK! We've also seen spectators inside HS and EPCOT. Loved seeing you, JoDee, it was a great boost! I don't blame you for not getting on a bus until after 7 am! LOL

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  4. What a great post! I have never been a spectator, just a runner...but AS a runner, I would like to say how much we TRULY appreciate the thousands of people that come out to chEAR us on at o-dark-thirty! It's amazing and appreciated more than you know!

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  5. Great tips. Disney was my first full and my friends mom flew down to see us. With all the craziness we never even saw her.

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    1. Oh no! That's sad times...sorry that happened!

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  6. Love this! I'm spectating the full marathon this year, with friends of all paces, so I'm trying to figure the best plan of action. Spectating on Main Street might be a must!

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  7. I love seeing all the spectators, but I only spectate/volunteer at local races. If I lived locally, I would definitely volunteer for runDisney at some of the races!

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    1. I agree with you, Pam! Volunteers are awesome, too!!

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  8. Great post! I had a lot of fun tracking my husband during his Marathon last year - I'm hoping I'll have a lot of fun this year actually running the darn thing!

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  9. Thank you SO much for this! My BF is coming to see me run the marathon for Dopey next week, and since he hasn't been to Disney in, oh, 15 years, he pretty much has no clue what he's doing...so this is a huge help! :-D

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    1. Great! So glad to hear that! I hope everything works out! Have a great time running Dopey!!

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  10. Awesome post! I am going to share with my hubby so he can see me more than once.

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    1. Great!! Hope you have an awesome race, Christina!

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  11. My sister ran last year and will run again this year. Last year I spotted her at Magic Kingdom and ESPN Wide World of Sports. But this year I don't see anywhere that ESPN as an official spectator spot. Will there be an area to watch for her? Will they have buses running there and back to Epcot again this year?

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  12. Great post and lots of wonderful information. My sister ran the Marathon last year and will run again this year. Last year I spotted her at Magic Kingdom and ESPN Wide World of Sports. But I haven't seen ESPN listed anywhere this year for spectators. Will they have buses running from Epcot to ESPN and back again this year for spectators?

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  13. What a terrific outline Karen. My favorite "home base" for race viewing is at Disney's Polynesian Resort. (made even better if we are actually staying there)! The ease of walking to and from the TTC and monorail from Mile 7 makes it a pleasure. And as you point out, no need to worry about traffic or closed roads. Now to find someone to hand me that Dole Whip during the Princess Half!!! Thanks so much for sharing with us!

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  14. Thank you for this wonderful information (and the whole hop)! My husband is running the 2015 WDW Marathon next weekend. Will buses be running directly to Magic Kingdom for us to go watch him run Main Street?

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