Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend

Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend

Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend

( 159 reviews )
99% of reviewers recommend this race
  • Orlando,
    Florida,
    United States
  • January
  • 3 miles/5K, 6 miles/10K, 13.1 miles/Half Marathon, 26.2 miles/Marathon, Other
  • Road Race
  • Event Website

Stefan Gehrka

None, Germany
4 6
2019
"Disney Dopey Challenge 2019 (5k, 10K, 13.1, 26.2)"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management
Stefan Gehrka's thoughts:

First I have to say, that I traveled from Germany. So, the whole rating relies on traveling from overseas for this race.

EXPO:
I was at the EXPO area at 7:40am. It was scheduled to open at 10:00am. At the beginning we waited outside, in front of "The Arena". At 8:30, they opened the doors and let us in to wait in line in a hall with carpet on the floor. That made the waiting more comfy. a few minutes before 10:00 they let us into the EXPO area to all the merchandise. The area had a good size and there was enough space trough all the stands. And it was well organized. After I found all the nice stuff that I was looking for, I got to the checkout. I could melt my credit card without any wait time. After buying merchandise I went to the bib booth. The booth for the dopey bibs was separated from all other bib booths. That made it really easy to get the two bibs that you need for the four runs.
Everything worked out really smooth and everybody was quite nice.
After all that stress, I decided to stop for lunch at the ESPN Grill. I enjoyed a Buffalo Chicken sandwich. I can recommend this restaurant as well.

5K:
This was my first time that I used the complimentary bus service. That's a so nice service, so you don't need to think about how you get to the start line. After I entered the staging area, i had to walk arround to find out where everything is located. But I can say that there are signs everywhere, so you will find everything you're looking for. After enjoying the entertainment on the stage I brought my stuff to the gEARcheck and went to the corral. I was there early, and stand in the first wave of corral one. I liked it, because the wait lines at the character photos were short. I liked that we ran around the World Showcase at night with nice light and music. I also liked that there was a water stop on a 5K run. You will not find that on a German 5K. So, after I ran thru some countries in EPCOT they will bring you to the finish line after passing Spaceship earth. Here we got the nice first medal and a box with snacks. So the first short 5K was a good opening for that weekend.
After a few minutes of waiting we could enter the buses and they brought us back to the resorts.

10K:
After taking the bus service again and going around on the staging area I got to the corrals. By the way, you can buy something to drink like coffee there. In the corrals we waited for the start with the small fireworks. The first miles will bring you on the highway, where you run to an other entry of EPCOT. After the Highway, you will enter the park thru the same side entry then on the 5K. You will run thru the countries around the Showcase Lagoon before you left EPCOT to pass the Boardwalk Resort. This is a nice part of the run on the wooden jetty with all the cheering from the viewers. After Boardwalk you will enter EPCOT again and you will run the same way that you ran on the 5K. On this 10K a few other Characters were out there again for pictures. Some are hidden and I passed them. So, if you like pictures with rare Characters, keep your eyes open. In the finish line area, we got our second medal and the snack box, too. After you picked up your gearbag, you can go to the bus and enjoy the ride back to the resort. Half of the races are done. Only two times going up that early.

13.3:
Third night in row to get up early. I think that was the hardest challenge for me. Everybody has fun in WDW and I have to get up at ass o'clock. Same procedure as the last to days. Using the bus service, giving the stuff to the gEAR check and than going to the corrals. This time the corrals are on the highway in front of EPCOT. From there you are running almost 5miles on the highway with passing the Monorail station. Thats a little bit boring. But than you will enter Magic Kingdom thru the main entrance hand you will run on Main Street in the dark with al lot of cheering. Thats awesome. You will run thru Tomorrowland and then thru the Castle. There is no other way to run thru the castle than on this weekend. After this amazing part you will follow running at the backlot followed by running back to EPCOT on the highway again. You will pass a golf course and Shades of Green Resort. On the last miles you will get entertained by the Toy Soldier (favorite character of a friend) ;-). You will enter EPCOT behind Canadas pavilion ant then you will run the same way to the finish line by passing Spaceship Earth. There you will get the next medal and the snack box. The busses are still waiting for you there. After that races I enjoyed the shower and a 2hrs nap.

Conclusion:
I will definitely do that races again. And I will recommend it to others as well. Everybody was so friendly and everything worked out so smooth. Overall nice.

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