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Disney World Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Disney World Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.1 
Organization 4.3 
Spectators 4.0
Number of comments: 818 [displaying comments 611 to 621]
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Matt Burns from Texas
(1/12/2005)
"Magical Marathon " (about: 2005)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Disney World Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Great race. Well organized. Plenty of water/Powerade. Fast, flat course. I loved every step of the marathon. | |
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B. L. from Buford, GA
(1/12/2005)
"A great 1st time marathon" (about: 2005)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Disney World Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This was my first marathon, and everyone told me that Disney was the best to start off with, and they were right. Nice flat course. Plenty of water and food. The spectators and volunteers were awesome and so enthusiastic. I had a blast. Not to mention the Mickey medal is pretty cool looking. The only comment I have to make is they could have used more portable bathrooms around. When you got to them, the lines were long and there were too many people mooning me on the course using the bathroom in the bushes because they potties were scarce. All in all, a great event. Will do again! | |
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V. B. from Rockland, New York
(1/11/2005)
"Shattered dreams " (about: 2005)
First Marathon
COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 2 This was a very disappointing first marathon. Participants were required to gather at the staging areas by 4:30am. Only those in the first few corrals were privy to the pre-race 'show.' Seven and 3.5 hours were allowed for the full and half marathons respectively, and they meant it. Everyone was timed from a 6:00am start. No consideration was given for the people in the last corral who didn't cross the start line until 6:20am. Each group could have finished within the 3.5 or 7 hour limit from their own start times. Disney personnel were intent on opening the park and stopped participants from completing both 1/2 and full runs at 6, 9, 10, and 19 miles. Groups were left waiting in the sun for transport to other areas for up to an hour. At the finish lines, few voulunteers knew to direct runners so they could collect their belongings. I won't give up on marathons but Disney has seen me for the last time. | |
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Nick Dunford from Amesbury, MA
(1/11/2005)
"While flat the marathon may be a little too costly" (about: 2005)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Disney World Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 3 Disney was my first marathon and while a nice course there were many things I didn't like. Staying on the property at one of those resorts is not recommended as it costed a lot of money to get any kind of food or beverage. If one were to go I would suggest staying in Orlando and driving in for the start. The course is flat for the most part and the temperature is decent for a good performance but dealing with the whole Disney thing on the days leading up to the marathon is annoying. Good first time/fast marathon or if you have kids and don't mind spending a lot.. | |
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E. Z. from Denver, CO
(1/10/2005)
"A great family destination marathon" (about: 2005)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Disney World Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I had a great time at the 2005 Disney World Marathon. Understanding that weather is always unpredictable and what one runner thinks is ideal may be terrible for the next, the weather was tough for me this year. Being from CO, the humidity and warmer-than-normal temps this year just about killed me. Luckily I found that there were more than enough aid stations along the way to keep me as hydrated as possible. The pre-race organization was great and with the exception of the lines at the toilets near the start; I hardly saw anyone waiting in the staging area. With the pre-race entertainment, the wait at the start didn't seem all that long. I was pleasantly surprised by the number of spectators, etc. cheering along the way and running through the different parks was awesome. Many characters were out and cheering not only in the parks, but outside also. Sure there were a few stretches outside the parks that were a bit desolate, but what marathons don't have that? The medal was one of the best and it was nice to get a tech long-sleeve. Too bad they can't move it up a week so the kids would still be out of school (but I'm guessing the timing is part of the strategy). | |
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John D'Angelo from Orlando, Florida
(1/9/2005)
"Magic before dawn" (about: 2005)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Disney World Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 Congrats to all finishers! This was my 13th marathon and first time at Disney. Pros: 1. Running through the parks, especially the pre-dawn 3rd mile through the privately lit Epcot AND the run down Main Street and through the castle. 2. The medal and shirt are awesome! 3. The characters and supporters that showed up so early were extremely enthusiastic and helpful. 4. Number of port-o-johns. Excellent. 5. Number of water stops. Also excellent. Cons: 1. Too early. Today, it worked out because of the unseasonably warm temps, however, the only reason to start so early in January is to maximize their theme park revenue. It's dead anyway! Start at 7 or 7:30!! 2. The web page is pathetic. 3. The expo is a large runner's shop. Nothing new, no demonstrations, no food samples, no free Powerade or water. 4. The stage at the start is not in front of the starting line....it is back about 50 yards, so that all up front cannot see what's going on. 5. Early morning participants are told to go to a runner's holding area, but the band and entertainment are outside of that area. I was expecting a lot less and had an awesome day. I highly recommend this race for any Disney fan, first-timers or anyone who like to have fun while torturing themselves with 26.2 grueling miles, like myself! Regards, John - Orlando, Florida | |
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C. R. from longwood florida
(1/9/2005)
"too big for its own good" (about: 2005)
3 previous marathons
| 2 Disney World Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 Well this is an amazing race, as far as the specatators go. It's a very special feeling, the support you get. The course is fast. The shirts this year were very nice - tech t's I can actually use to run! But some things really disappointed me. For one - the bus drivers - they didn't know where they were, what they were doing or when they should be doing it. It was ridiculous. I don't blame them - obviously Disney just throws 'em out there and lets 'em do the best they can. Coming back to Epcot from the half finish the driver had no idea where to drop us off. We had to beg him to let us off near the Transpo Center so we could get back to our hotel. And spectator info? Good luck. They tell you where to go - but not when. My wife and daughter ended up WALKING to the half finish. From the pop century. They thought there would be some way to get around after 6 but there was not. And nowhere in any of the literature did it tell us that - and the front desk people really weren't helpful. After staying there for an Indy car race a few years ago, it's obvious to me Disney does their own day-to-day things very well - but special events? They don't do so well at all. It's a nice marathon, but not worth the aggravation in my opinion. | |
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M. D. from Eaton, Colorado
(1/1/2005)
"A Great Place to do a Marathon - Will do it again!" (General Comments)
6-10 previous marathons
| 4-5 Disney World Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I ran this marathon 5 of the last 6 years and plan on doing it again. I am registered to run in 2005 but a change in plans will prevent my participation. I have participated in the full and my wife has walked the half. I enjoy the early start, it just seems right to be running a marathon just as the sun rises. Temperatures can be in the 30s at the start, so be prepared. I have stayed on Disney property and used Disney transportation to get to the start and have stayed off property and driven to the start. I prefer driving if you get an early start; it provides the comfort of your own car prior to the start and immediately after the finish. If you take Disney transportation from Disney property you may have to wait for a bus to the start and for the return after the race. The race caters to the family runner; I run 3:30 and can get in the first starting corral. The start is on both sides of a 4-lane highway with plenty of room. The 6 am start does cause you to plan your resting, fueling, and hydrating the day before. There were plenty of water stops and food stops along the course. I enjoy the variety on the course, fans, solitude, highway, park, and back-lot roads. There are a few spots in the course where the running surface may change quickly, so be prepared at park entries and exits, bridges, and similar sections. The race organization is excellent, so enjoy all elements of the events. Remember this is Disney!!! | |
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B. R. from Boston
(11/24/2004)
"Great, Flat, Fun Course." (about: 2004)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Disney World Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I ran Disney for the first time in 2004 and it was my favorite marathon yet. I like that the spectators are jammed in certain areas and not in others. I feed off the loud cheers from the crowd near the parks and hotels and get back into my rhythm between parks. In some areas there is Disney music and characters, which is really cool. The early start is tough at first, but it is nice to finish as the parks are opening up. This year I will visit the parks with my kids after the race. The course is very well organized with more cones than I have ever seen. It is also very fast. Although I have done bigger races like Boston and New York and the Ironman, I have not had more fun at any race. | |
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A. L. from Dublin, OH
(10/18/2004)
"Disney's Losing its Rep on this one" (General Comments)
4-5 previous marathons
| 2 Disney World Marathons
COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 I ran Disney twice... never again. The first year, the early start was ridiculous and the rain basically ensured that any 'entertainment' on the course packed it up and went home so we had a total of 10-15 minutes in the park and the rest of the time (4:15) in not-so-lovely, spectator free swamp land. Park guests commandeered any characters who were near the course and Mickey spent more time taking pictures with people in the parks than cheering for us. People in the parks also seemed to think we were all nuts and not a single person offered a cheer. The t-shirts were cheap, and the only reason we came back for year 2 was the medal. We had wanted to do the half the next year, but even though we were told previous-year finishers would get a registration packet mailed to them, we never did and missed the half... a call informed us that they changed the policy - nice to know NOW. It's a great excuse for a vacation - but Disney makes mini-fortunes off us between food, park visits for families and lodging 'on Disney property'; and the race is one I will never return to... no matter how cool the medal is. |
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