The annual Disney World Marathon Weekend is comprised of a 5K race through Animal Kingdom, a half marathon from EPCOT to Magic Kingdom and back to EPCOT, and a marathon through the four major theme parks and ending in EPCOT. Specifically, the "Goofy Race-and-a-Half Challenge" involves running the half marathon on Saturday and the full marathon on Sunday - all within the time limits of these races. It is a challenge, a physical and mental demand, an exciting adventure and a once-in-a-lifetime race experience (see Tips and Advice for pdf map viewings of the Disney World Half Marathon and Marathon race courses).
TIPS AND ADVICE
Registering
for your Disney World Half- or Full Marathon experience
is just the beginning. Aside from perusing the Disney World Marathon website until race day, here are some other important tips
and suggestions to help enhance your experience,
should you be staying on Disney property and running
either the Half or Full Marathon at Disney World.
Print
out this page and check off your list as you go
along. Should you have any questions, feel free
to email leehoedl@yahoo.com. Also,
revisit this particular page as additional suggestions
are added as they are remembered.
PRE-FLIGHT AND PRE-REGISTRATION
RACE
PROGRAM, RACE PICK-UP CARD, IDENTIFICATION
Before leaving on your flight or travels to Disney World, double check that you have all the necessary materials (race program, race waiver and personal identification).
DISNEY WEEKEND RACE PROGRAM
CLICK HERE to download the sample 2012 Disney Marathon Weekend program that was posted on the Disney Marathon website for runners and families to download. It has all the necessary general information about all the weekend races and the program (pdf file) is usually posted online toward the end of October/beginning of November prior to the upcoming races.
DISNEY MARATHON WEEKEND CHECKLIST
Also, click on the image on the left to open up the Disney Marathon Weekend Checklist that outlines all the items (racing clothing and accessories) you should consider bringing for your race experience.
HOTEL
RESERVATION (CONFIRMATION) AND DINING RESERVATIONS
With so many runners and family members attending each annual Disney World Marathon Weekend, it is beneficial to call ahead at least one week prior to your arrival to Disney World to confirm your room reservation. You can call (407) 939-7675 to confirm your present reservation.
If you are planning to eat out a Disney restaurant during the Disney World Marathon Weekend, be sure to make your dinner reservations well in advance (at least 90 days). You may make reservations online at http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/reservations/dining, or by calling (407) WDW-DINE or (407) 939-3463.
ARRIVING
TO DISNEY WORLD
SHUTTLE
BUS SCHEDULE
Take
a moment, when checking in, to see when shuttle
buses will be running (from your hotel [on Disney
property] to the Epcot parking lot) on the day
of your race. In 2007-2009, the shuttles typically
ran from 3:00 - 4:30 am, from Disney hotels to
the EPCOT parking lot (runners' staging area).
GROCERIES
SERVICE
When
checking in at your Disney hotel, check with the
front desk as to how you can secure basic groceries
(fruit, pasta, bagels, juice, etc.) or where you
can find your pre-marathon foods/snacks on Disney
property. Even if you have to take a shuttle to
another Disney hotel complex on property, the
ride doesn't take that long. Friday or Saturday
(if you're running the marathon) is a good time
to secure your food items.
RACE
REGISTRATION/PACKET PICK-UP
MAKE
SURE YOUR PLANS ALLOW FOR PACKET PICK-UP
All runners must attend the Disney' Health and Fitness Expo for their racing bib and packet pick-up. If you are planning to arrive at Walt Disney World Resort before Thanksgiving evening, it is recommended that you attend packet pick-up on Thursday to avoid expected long lines on Friday and Saturday.
Through racer-specific email (which allows online access and print out), participants will receive an official race number pick-up card and athlete waiver. All runners must bring the pick-up card, signed waiver, and photo I.D. and present them at the Expo in order to receive a race packet. Do not forget to bring your identification, pick-up card adn signed waiver.
Viewing an older version of Disney's (ESPN) Wide World of Sports Complex [click on the image to view and download the large-scale pdf view], you will see three shaded areas:
YELLOW - It is in this parking area where the Disney buses will drop you off.
BLUE - This is the Milkhouse, where you will first go to show your race waiver verification form and receive your racing bib(s) and your timing chips/strips. Once you've received these, you will then go to the Josten's Center.
RED- The Josten's Center (not built when this map was created) is shaded in red and where you will go to receive your race tech shirt(s) and your race goody bag - it is the site of the Disney Health and Fitness Expo. There is a general area within the Expo that will sell a large mount of Disney Marathon Weekend race memorabilia and the rest of the complex will be race-related vendors. For a more detailed view inside the 2012 Disney Health and Fitness Expo, click on the map below.
Race packet pick-up is held at the Disney Wide World of Sprots Complex. The hours for race packet pick-up have typically been (and will be for the 2012 Expo):
Thursday, January 5, 2012
10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Friday, January 6, 2012
9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Double check the official Disney World Marathon Weekend website for specific packet pick-up times during these three days of the marathon weekend. If you are running the Goofy Challenge, it is recommended that you attend the Expo/Packet Pick-Up on Thursday or early Friday morning - it gets very busy, very quickly.
OFFICIAL
RACE MERCHANDISE
A wide variety of Disney Marathon Weekend merchandise will be available for purchase at Disney's Health and Fitness Expo.
Following the Expo, there is limited race souvenirs and merchandise that will be sold in the runners' staging area of the EPCOT parking lot prior to the race, but after that, you won't find souvenirs or merchandise for sale. Be sure to get your merchandise at teh Disney Health and Fitness Expo.
BE
FAMILIAR WITH THE MARATHON ROUTE
Take
some time to review the Disney World Marathon
route the day before your race. That way you
have a better mental idea of the mileage placement
within the Disney World property. Click on
the image below to see the larger route maps
for 2011.
PRE-RACE
SUGGESTIONS
BE
READY FOR YOUR SHUTTLE BUS
After
you have found out what time the shuttle runs
from your hotel to the runners' staging area,
be sure to call desk service on the night
before the race and leave a wake-up call.
Shuttles
have typically started picking up racers at
3:00 am and stop their service at around 4:00
am. A wake-up call for 2:00 am should leave
enough time for a carbo-load breakfast, prep
and out to the shuttle pick-up location at
your Disney hotel's entrance.
BRING
A BLANKET/TOWEL, WARM GRUBBIES, AND CASH
When
you arrive to the EPCOT parking lot, there
will be a short walk to the runners' staging
area. If it holds true to the 2008-2010 races,
the staging area will be a large compound
where you can (1) listen to outdoor music,
(2) purchase limited marathon clothing and
souveniers, (3) purchase some food items (i.e.
energy bars, coffee, water, juice, etc.),
and (4) store your personal belongings in
the Disney bag drop-off/pick-up area.
The
runners' staging area is very large parking
lot area that is completely bordered by porta-potties
(enough for everyone). It's important to know
there are no benches, chairs, bleachers or
stands to sit on - there is only the graveled
parking lot. Having said that, it is recommended that you bring a oversized towel (and/or a disposable blow-up water mattress) to sit on
and to have space to stretch out. This towel
will fit in the bag given to you by Disney World, which you will drop off prior to the beginning of your
race.
The
average temperature when arriving to the runners'
staging area is in the low 40s, with
the race time temperatures ranging in the
60s and low 70s. Again, this is only an average.
In 2007 and 2008, it was 65-65 degrees when
arriving to the staging area and it reached
temperatures in the high 70s/mid 80s of the
marathon, with humidity over 50%. If temperatures
are in the annual average range, it is always
helpful to bring a pair of grubbies/old sweats
that you can discard at the start of the race.
Disney World staff will collect all clothing
and good will the items to local shelters.
Keep in mind that you will be in the staging
area from at least 3:30 - 5:00 am until you
walk about a quarter of a mile to the start
line. You will wait there until the 5:40 am
start, so it can get cold while you are waiting.
In
2007-2010, there were concessions available
for purchase in the runners' staging area.
Bring money for these items (coffee, hot tea,
snack bars, etc.) and for any souvenirs you
might want to purchase.
RACE
SUGGESTIONS
PACE
YOURSELF AND ENJOY THE OPENING CEREMONIES
There
were over 16,000 marathon runners and over 16,000
half-marathon runners in the 2008 and 2009 races and many more in recent years, so it not only will take
time to get to the start line but also it will
be slow moving in the first few miles. Be patient,
line up on the right side of the road prior
to the start line so that you can "high
five" Mickey Mouse and his character friends who usually stand on the right side of the road.
With
all Disney events, there are fireworks to kick
off the half-marathon and marathon - you can check
out video footage of the runners' staging area, walking to the
starting area, the race start and along the
route of the past several Disney World Half Marathons
and Marathons by going to Past Years' Goofy Challenges.
BRING
A CAMERA AND FEEL FREE TO TAKE PICTURES
One
of the greatest mistakes of running the Disney World
races is getting back home and then saying to
yourself, "I wish I had stopped to take
some photos." Bring a small digital
camera that can be put in a fuel pack pouch
on your waist. Take the time, if you have it,
to add on an extra half hour so that you can
pose with all the premiere Disney characters
- you won't regret it. There are characters galore along all the race routes!
POST-RACE
SUGGESTIONS
BE
SURE TO GET A FINISHER'S PHOTO
In
the area just out from where you receive your
finisher's medal, there will be oportunities to
take your official finisher's photo. Don't forget
to do so - just in case you want to order a copy
when you get home.
CELEBRATE
AND PAMPER YOURSELF
After
completing such a memorable and wonderful feat,
be sure to celebrate and pamper yourself. Go
out to a Disney dining experience - but be sure
to wear your medal (see below)! If you are running
in both the half and full marathon, be sure
to get back to your room and take a quick ice
bath to bring down any swelling and begin the
healing process.
DISPLAY
YOUR MEDAL(S) PROUDLY WHILE AT DISNEY WORLD
It
is customary and expected that you wear your
Disney World finisher's medal(s) while in the
parks. Don't be at all surprised if you are
congratulated by a number of other park visitors
- it's not only an honor to participate but
also to finish any of these races.
JOIN US FOR THE D1SN3Y IMPROMPTU FACEBOOK-TO-FACE POST-RACE CELEBRATION
Join us for the first (potentially "annual") D1SN3Y Impromptu "Facebook-to-Face" Post-Race Celebration: 1 Great Race Experience, 3 Days to Race. There is no fee (other than your own admission into EPCOT) and this is in no way sponsored by Disney World - it is a casual social gathering to celebrate our race experience(s) for runners and their families in the United Kingdom on Sunday, January 8 beginning at 5:00 pm. Each runner who attends will receive a free commemorative D1SN3Y racing bib (nametag). There is plenty of food and drink in EPCOT, so come and buy yourself some dinner and drink and join us to celebrate!
For more information regarding this impromptu gathering, click on the image below for la rger jpeg printout. We hope to see you there! Should you have any questions regarding this gathering, contact Lee Hoedl at leehoedl@yahoo.com.
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Finally, my friend, remember that the overall goald of the Disney World races is to have fun. Visit with people from all over the world, take pictures with Disney characters, wave at all the spectators, make some great lifetime memories and simply find that child within you.
RACE
PROGRAM, RACE PICK-UP CARD, IDENTIFICATION 
