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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 271 to 281]
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R. S. from Fairborn, Ohio
(1/13/2009)
"THE BEST" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Disney World Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 If you are a runner, like me, not a world beater, just out to get some exercise and have some fun this is your race. Fantastic course, great entertainment, and outstanding organization at the expo and on race morning. Lots of fun makes the 13.1 fly by (I ran 2:16) and it seems like I was only out there a very short time. Spectators are the best, many of them Disney employees and characters who are more than willing to take pictures with you. You run through Cinderella's castle; how cool is that? Water and PowerAde stations were always fully stocked and the volunteers ALL said what they had (either water or PowerAde) and were extremely encouraging. Transportation to and from the race and the expo is top notch. Nobody knows how to move people like Disney. For me, this was a great experience that I will definitely do again. One word of warning: if you aren't an early morning-person, this race isn't for you. If you are staying at a Disney Resort and using their transportation, you have to be on the bus by 4:00 a.m. on race morning; but believe me, it's well worth the trip. Great medals. Great tech shirts. | |
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S. K. from Jeffersonville, IN
(1/12/2009)
"A Magical Time" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Disney World Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was a wonderful race. I enjoyed every bit of it, especially since I was able to finish as a Goofy Challenge participant. My only complaint is the extremely early start. With a 5:50 a.m. start for both the mini-marathon on Saturday, and the marathon on Sunday, one has to wake up extremely early. If you stay on Disney property and take the shuttle bus, you have to be in line by 4 a.m. to guarantee getting a ride! Anyway, the course received 4 stars from me. The reason I didn't give it a 5 was because of the slant of the road on the on-ramps and off-ramps. It was like running on the side of a mountain at times. But the packet pickup and expo was well organized, and the volunteers were wonderful. Disney definitely knows how to put on a world-class event. | |
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J. W. from Sarasota, FL
(1/12/2009)
"You've got to love the Disney Magic!" (about: 2009)
2 previous marathons
| 2 Disney World Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Four years ago I did my first half marathon at Disney and loved it. I'm 43, and because I'm just starting my running adventure, it was the place to start. I completed 2 half-marathons and yesterday I finished my second full marathon. I love it! YES, it is expensive, maybe too expensive! YES, you can't be too concerned with PR; chances are, it won't happen! YES, it was crowded, very crowded! We go bottle-necked several times. YES, you have to get up early, really early! But how else are you going to organize 20,000 runners? YES, you run roads.... Where have you been running? BUT... The excitement of the fans and running the parks is worth it. You can't want for anything; it's there. The volunteers are awesome! There is a water station every time you turn (those candy bars were perfect at mile 22)! The med staff are fantastic! The new medals are sweet! And you get that Disney smile every time! (I don't care if they were told to smile!) It doesn't matter what kind of runner you are; what matters is that you set a goal, you challenged yourself, you trained, you competed, and you finished! In the last 4 years we have encourage so many to run the Disney, and not a single person was disappointed. I came home from the marathon today and signed up for the Goofy! Sure, in these economic time, who wouldn't love a price break? It's expensive! A change in the shirt would be nice as well. Shoot, a change up in the course would be nice! But either way you look at it, you are going to have fun and do something that so very few people can do: run 13.1 or 26.2 MILES! | |
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S. K. from New York
(1/12/2009)
"Disney has class" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Disney World Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 The organizers of the WDW Marathon deserve a lot of credit. They design a course that weaves through four theme parks and past countless WDW hotels without disrupting their operations. They have a live band at 4 a.m. and fireworks to get you started at 6. The WDW employees cheer with enthusiasm throughout the race and are prepared to take your photo (bring a camera) with strategically placed characters. The finisher chutes at the end were easy to navigate and clear of any spectators, which is more than I can say for other similarly sized races. Still, I would recommend a couple of changes. 1) The notion that guests on WDW properties needed to catch a shuttle to the race staging area by 4 a.m. is absurd. There is no reason to be there that early. There is limited benefit to staying on property if you get to sleep later off property. 2) The early start means running in the dark. There were times when the course needed better lighting (back lots of Epcot). 3) There were times throughout the race where the course narrowed too suddenly and too much for that many runners to move (e.g, beginning leg into Epcot and along the roadway out to the Sports complex). Consider a wave start to reduce congestion. This is a course on which a PR is definitely possible if you forgo the photos and can navigate the congested areas. If my schedule permits, I will be back. Look out, Goofy! | |
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A. O. from Detroit, Michigan
(1/12/2009)
"So much fun!" (about: 2009)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Disney World Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 What a fun race! This is the nicest marathon I've run in yet. The organization is top-notch. The only issue I have with organization is the very long walk to the start corrals and the lack of proper signage where the runners wait for the cue to start walking to the corrals. I really didn't know what to do or where to go, there was just a huge parking lot with people milling about. There were no coordinators or Disney personnel that I saw so I couldn't ask anyone what to do or where to go. It was difficult to find the potties, and difficult to get to the starting corrals. Other than that, this was a good race. The race course is quite nice. I have read many negative comments about how little time you actually run through the parks. I don't agree. I felt there was enough park running. I don't know how they would add much more, frankly. The run on the highway between the parks really wasn't bad. It gave you a chance to focus and there were spectators scattered about frequently. I didn't mind that part at all. The run through the parks is really the fun part. If you use the time between parks to focus and regroup you really can make the best of it. Running through the parks is so much fun! The spectators are awesome. The Disney personnel are totally overboard on their support too. If I had a dollar for every time someone yelled my name from my bib, I would have a free entry into the race by now. It's so inspiring and gives you such a boost. Thank you, strangers! I enjoyed running this marathon. I found it to be a very positive experience. The only negatives I can report would be a lack of adequate port-a-potties along the course (too few, so the lines were very long at each), no bagels after the race (just muffins), and the heat! It was almost 80 degrees this year, but how could Disney control that? I am a northerner, so I have been training in 15-25 degree temps. The heat really got to me, but even so, I still beat my previous marathon time by 4 minutes. I would recommend this marathon to anyone who wants to enjoy themselves. Maybe this isn't the race for you if you want to PR due to crowding, but I've been in crowded fields before that weren't managed anywhere nearly as well. (Are you listening Detroit???) A PR is definitely possible if that is your goal, but you might rather just take this for what it is: fun. Good job, Disney. See you next year for the Goofy Challenge! | |
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d. m. from maryland
(1/10/2009)
"we want more Disney in the Disney 1/2 Marathon" (about: 2009)
4-5 previous marathons
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 I ran this race with my dad - a total Disney nut. We were both so excited. Besides the early start time, the organization and start were great. It was the course I found fault with. I was expecting lots of park running, but instead we got a mile of the amazing Magic Kingdom, a brief view of the ball in Epcot, and lots of paved roads on the outside of the park with nothing to see but trees, grass and parking lots. This race was also very difficult for spectators, for many reasons. The early start time was one, but getting around to see the race was nearly impossible - unless, of course, they wanted to pay 95 dollars to sit in the stands and cheer on the finishers. I am glad I did it for the experience of running through the Castle and running down Main Street. But I was just really disappointed in the lack of Disney in the race. We saw a few characters on the run. I would have loved to have characters at the the finish zone for more photo ops. I knew going into it this was not a race to run for a PR, so I was looking to have a good time. I had about 3 miles of good time and 10 of road running. Not exactly what I was looking for. | |
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T. M. from Gaithersburg, MD
(12/18/2008)
"Reasons I love the Disney Marathon" (about: 2008)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Disney World Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 All over, the event was amazing. I've done MCM and Disney, and Disney was far cooler. Here are the reasons I loved it. 1. The fireworks at the starting line 2. Running through Epcot before sunrise 3. Running through the castle (A/C is nice) 4. Running down Main Street, USA 5. Getting shot at by a pirate ship commanded by Captain Jack Sparrow himself 6. Big support crowds at the parks from people and characters 7. Lots of drink and food stations (thanks for the chocolate on mile 22) 8. Lots of music: a. the bands; b. the pick your own music path; c. the 100-person chorus on the 26the mile (man, was that helpful) 9. The medical support (on the race track and at the resorts) 10. Best final mile by far: You get to run past all of the nations while the whole time staring at the big Epcot ball, knowing that the finish line is just right behind it I'll be there in 2009 and hope to run the Goofy in 2010. | |
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S. K. from Wallingford, CT, USA
(12/4/2008)
"Do it for the experience, not time!" (about: 2008)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Disney World Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 It's just plain magical to run this race. I would agree it seems lonely sometimes on the highway but the thought of getting to the next theme park was the best energy boost I could have. I recommend you run this with a friend and a camera to take pics with the characters. Don't do this for time; there is too much to miss to just run by it all. | |
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S. H. from Guatemala City, Guatemala
(9/19/2008)
"Disney Marathon´s Potential: Top 3 Worldwide" (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Disney World Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 If this marathon is well marketed, I believe it can become a top 3 in popularity within the next 10 years. It is one very special race!!! GO GET IT!!!!!!!!!! | |
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G. S. from Plano, TX
(7/19/2008)
"My 4th run at Disney; my 3rd Goofy Challenge!" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 4-5 Disney World Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I ran my first marathon at Disney in 2005 and I've been hooked since, completing 11 marathons to date. I've completed all 3 Goofy Challenge's and I will back in Jan. for another Goofy Challenge!! Needless to say, I'm a marathon freak now! Who wouldn't love running at THE HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH?! I agree with others' comments... there are some dead zones along the course, but you can't expect wall-to-wall spectators, and cheer teams for 26.2 miles. When you pass by the spectators, they give it their all! The Disney Marathon rocks!!! Great medals; great shirts!!! (Probably the only area of improvement would be the expo. It just needs more space for the vendors.) |
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