The Walt Disney World Marathon weekend is going to be coming up in a couple of days, but it’s starting early. As of Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2014, Disney’s Health & Fitness Expo begins at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex and there is plenty for everyone to do.
Check out the full schedule of events below including road closures, viewing locations, transportation, and more.
Events (Wednesday January 8 to Sunday January 12 2014)
Disney’s Health & Fitness Expo
ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
Wednesday – 10:00am–8:00pm
Thursday, Friday – 9:00am–7:00pm
Saturday – 10:00am–4:00pm
Disney Family Fun Run 5K
Epcot
Thursday – 6:15am
Walt Disney World 10K
Epcot
Friday – 5:30am
runDisney Kids Dashes
ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
Thursday, Friday, Saturday – 11:00am
Mickey Mile
ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
Thursday, Friday, Saturday – 12:00pm
Walt Disney World Half Marathon
Start/Finish: Epcot Saturday – 5:30am
Walt Disney World Marathon
Start/Finish: Epcot Sunday – 5:30am.
Pasta in the Park Party
Date: Thursday, January 9 – Saturday, January 11, 2014
Buffet Dinner: 7:00 p.m.- 8:30 p.m.
IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth 9:00 p.m.
Location: Epcot World ShowPlace Pavilion
Scrumptious dinner and breathtaking light, laser, and fireworks extravaganza!
The sun never sets on the fun during the Walt Disney World Marathon weekend presented by Cigna. Make a date to celebrate the race just run – or the race to come – at the Pasta in the Park Party evening event at Epcot. It all begins with a runner friendly buffet dinner followed by Reflections of Earth – a spectacular light, laser, and fireworks extravaganza high above World Showcase Lagoon.
Departure Times for Race Participants
Disney Family Fun Run 5K Thursday
Guests from Walt Disney World Resort Hotels must board a bus or monorail to Epcot no later than 5:30am in order to arrive to their corrals on time.
Walt Disney World 10K Friday
Walt Disney World Half Marathon Saturday
Walt Disney World Marathon Sunday
Guests from Walt Disney World Resorts must board a bus or monorail to Epcot no later than 4:00am in order to make it to their corrals on time.
Transportation Pick-Up Locations
Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort – The Resort bus stop and fourth floor monorail station
Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music and Sports – Outside the porte cochere at each Resort
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge – Outside the porte cochere at each location
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort – Outside the porte cochere
Disney’s Beach Club Resort – The Resort bus stop
Disney’s BoardWalk Inn and Villas – The Conference Center
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort – All Resort bus stops except the Custom House
Disney’s Contemporary Resort – West side of the convention center and the fourth floor monorail station
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort – All bus stops
Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground – The Outpost bus stop
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa – The porte cochere and the second floor monorail station
Disney’s Old Key West Resort – At the Hospitality House Disney’s Polynesian Resort – The porte cochere and the second
floor monorail station
Disney’s Pop Century Resort – At the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex bus stop
Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter – Near the main entrance under the porte cochere
Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside – All bus stops at Resort
Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa – At the Performance Hall, directly across from the bus stop at The Springs
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge – Outside the porte cochere
Disney’s Yacht Club Resort – At the Convention Center Shades of Green – At the main entrance
Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel – Between the resort main entrance and the Convention Center main entrance
Walt Disney World Swan Hotel – At the Convention Center
Bus Transportation
Bus transportation is available for race participants and Guests staying at any Walt Disney World Resort Hotels . Buses depart approximately every 20 minutes and will be indicated by runDisney signs placed in the front windows. Please note that transportation is only provided to and from Walt Disney World Resort Hotels.
To/From ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
Wednesday – 9:30am–8:30pm
Thursday, Friday – 8:30am–7:30pm
Saturday – 9:30am–4:30pm
To/From Epcot
Thursday – 4:15am–5:30am, 7:00am–9:00am
Friday – 3:30am–5:00am, 7:00am–10:00am
Saturday – 3:00am–5:00am, 7:00am–11:00am
Sunday – 3:00am–5:00am, 7:00am–2:00pm
Monorail Transportation
Monorail transportation to Epcot is available beginning at 3:00am each day between January 9–12, 2014.
Other Important Transportation Information
For the safety of everyone, participants are not allowed to go directly to their corrals or the start line. All participants and spectators must enter through the Epcot parking lot. Failure to do so may result in disqualification.
Guests who wish to use a personal vehicle or taxi are required to park or drop off in the Epcot main parking lot (free parking for participants and spectators prior to 4:00am). Athletes and spectators should plan on arriving at Epcot by 4:00am on 10K, Half Marathon, and Marathon race mornings . From 5:00am to 7:00am those mornings, the entrance to Epcot will be closed due to race related road closures. Traffic will not be affected for the Disney Family Fun Run 5K.
Spectator Viewing
Spectators will be able to view Half Marathon and Marathon runners inside the Magic Kingdom Park at mile 5.3, near Cinderella Castle . The Park will be open at 5:30am, and you do not need a ticket to be in the Park at that time.
To watch your runner in another Walt Disney World Theme Park, you will need to purchase a Theme Park ticket once that park is open for the day. (Transportation to these parks is available through Walt Disney World transportation .)
The Finish Line is located in the Imagine Lot of Epcot.
For the 5K and the 10K, spectators will be able to view runners at the start and finish lines in the Epcot Imagine Lot. There is no on-course viewing for these events.
Parking
Guests who wish to use a personal vehicle or taxi are required to park or drop off in the Epcot main parking lot (free parking for participants and spectators prior to 4:00am). Athletes and spectators should plan on arriving at Epcot by 4:00am on 10K, Half Marathon, and Marathon race mornings . From 5:00am to 7:00am those mornings, the entrance to Epcot will be closed due to race related road closures. Traffic will not be affected for the Disney Family Fun Run 5K.
Cool Down Party
Celebrate your accomplishment by joining family and friends for an evening of fun, relaxation, and good times at the Cool Down Party at the Downtown Disney Area.
Enjoy delicious food, great music, and get a chance to pick up some last minute keepsake merchandise to remember the weekend.
Admission is open to race participants, their Guests and the public. Special offers are available at select locations by showing your finisher medal!
Medal must be presented to receive discount. Discount valid only on January 12, 2014 from 4:00pm–10:30pm All members of the party must be present at the time of purchase. Discounts and offerings are at the discretion of each operating participant. All offers are subject to change.
Downtown Disney Area
(Sunday) 4:00pm–8:00pm
Road Closures
There will be a number of road closures to accommodate the event during the following times.
Friday, January 10 at 11:00pm through Saturday, January 11 at 11:00am
Saturday, January 11 at 11:00pm through Sunday, January 12 at 2:00pm
Disney is the most expensive marathon in the nation. It is also the least amount of support. Over the years, it has become very sexist. No “male based” races anymore. They did away with the ESPN event and focus exclusively on females such as the Princess.
This year they gave way this effeminate powder blue shirt. Oh Lord.
But the sheep will always follow.