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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 381 to 391]
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C. N. from Cincinnati, OH
(2/10/2007)
"Awesome experience" (about: 2007)
First Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I'm so disappointed to read that people are trashing this marathon!!! This was my first FULL marathon and one of the best experiences of my life. I've run many, many races of all lengths and if people think that this one was poorly organized then they obviously haven't run many others! Yes, it was hot - uh, hello, it's Florida (I was loving it - getting out of the cold)! As for the medals they are gorgeous, and for those people who didn't get one, I'm sure it will be straightened out - there is no way a company with a reputation like Disney wouldn't make up for something like that. The characters/spectators cheered EVERYWHERE I ran, so I'm not sure what people are complaining about that for either. Overall I thank Disney for such a super, super race and want them to keep up the great job!!!! | |
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W. Frey from Hawaii
(2/6/2007)
"Awesome marathon" (about: 2007)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Disney World Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 What a great marathon - it was only my second but I had a great time. Well organized start; I was able to run my pace without weaving in and out to pass slow runners/walkers. Running through the parks is a great experience, especially later in the morning when they started to fill with guests. The Disney staff were all great as well. I finished early enough that I didn't have to deal with aid stations running out of water... obviously an unacceptable thing for such an otherwise well-organized race. My only other complaint deals not with the marathon, but with the Pirates & Princesses 5K and the kids' races. We made it a family vacation, with my wife and older daughter running the 5K, and my younger daughter running in the kids' races. These races were billed as "...an unforgettable finish where you can high-five your favorite Disney characters." Obviously my daughters were very excited at the thought of high-fiving Mickey as they crossed the finish, but we were disappointed to see NO CHARACTERS at the finish line... and thus no high-five. The Pirates & Princesses 5K had a couple characters walking around the finish area, but no Mickey or Minnie. For the kids' races, Mickey appeared on stage, but never came down to take pictures with the kids or high-five them, and no other characters were there. A huge disappointment.... It should be all about the kids at Disney. | |
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E. M. from Brooklyn, NY
(2/5/2007)
"Overrated." (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Disney World Marathon
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I ran the Goofy Challenge, and was disappointed with the entire weekend. The 4 a.m. starts are ridiculous. The course is 90% highways and parking lots, and hardly at all through the parks. The medals are absurd - a feat of strength, speed and endurance commemorated by cartoon characters? Additionally, both events are swamped with Team in Training runners, and by the end of the 39.3 miles, I was ready to strangle the next person who yelled out, "Team in training, woohoo!" Give me a small-town marathon over spectacles like this anyday. | |
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glenden riddle from Albuquerque, NM
(2/5/2007)
"Most enjoyable experience" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Disney World Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Having the national anthem with the fireworks shooting up and the explosion exactly when the singer hit "bombs bursting in air" was awesome. I have run 35 marathons in 4 years. This was one of most enjoyable. Approaching the Epcot ball in the fog was one of the most beautiful sights I've ever seen. Organization of getting from airport to Disney resort to the parks was fantastic. Even though there were few spectators and most seemed to be Disney employees/characters, they were very enthusiastic. Most beautiful medals. I appreciate that Goofy Challenge was limited. Disney did have a park to open on the same day for thousands. I thought they did a great job of working in marathon events with a typical business day. Getting out of parking lot was a problem on Saturday, but they had already improved it by Sunday. I loved this marathon, the route, and even the heat (I like warm weather). For those who complain about heat/humidity, try the Thailand Temple run near Bangkok or Singapore!!!! Thanks, Disney, for a truly enjoyable weekend and the joy of having survived the Goofy Challenge. I've never seen people more proud of the medals on the following day! | |
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J. L. from NYC / JC
(2/4/2007)
"I take it back..." (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
| 2 Disney World Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 Last year, I ran this and complained of the cold. I take it back. This year was just the opposite - the hottest start in the race's history, I was told. Other than that, there were plenty of water/aid stations and it was very well run. The cast members were out and making the race even more fun. :o) And of course, the medals are top-notch and... you are running at Disney World - so cool!!! :o) | |
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J. D. from Virginia
(2/3/2007)
"1st full marathon - overall great experience" (about: 2007)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Disney World Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 THE GOOD: 1) The Course: The best I've run. Although it's my first full marathon, I've run a few half marathons and know that all courses have their boring sections. But running through the parks is just plain fun and SO makes up for the boring sections - it was a great boost, especially if you're feeling tired. Disney characters are out in force and who can't help feel like a kid when you're standing next to Donald Duck getting your picture taken (yes lots of people stopped to take pictures with characters during the race)? It's a great race to just not stress about and just have fun. 2) KUDOS to whoever thought of putting the runner names on the bibs! Big plus having people call out during the race - great encouragement. 3) Although I heard they ran out of water towards the end, we did not, and I thought the number of water/med/nourishment stations was sufficient 4) Pre-race party is good: live band, fireworks - gets you psyched up even at 4:00 a.m. Plenty of porta-johns and water too. Quick transportation from the hotels to the race start. Post-race: good snacks, quick pictures, filtering out to the staging area was very efficient, and there were readily accessible buses back to your hotel. THE BAD: 1) Race merchandise: I ran the Disney Half Marathon the year before ('05) and it was the exact same merchandise for sale and tech shirts given out this year with just a date change. Many places might not be able to afford to have some new gear designed, but Disney can. Maybe the race organizers are on auto-pilot because it's Disney - they build it, and people will come. 2) There is one really lousy part of the course around miles 21-22... you're tired, you're hot, you're spent, and you have to run down about a mile of highway with no scenery, no crowds and then make a U-turn and come right back. In 40 square miles of the Disney Empire they could certainly find a better 2-mile section of road to run. If nothing else, make us do some monotonous 2-mile loops earlier in the race when we aren't so tired. THE UGLY: 1) HOW COULD THEY RUN OUT OF WATER? It didn't happen to me, but it happened to folks after us. It was a hot and humid day - runners were going through a lot more water than usual. Hello race planners: Have we heard of the Weather Channel? This is Florida, after all; in 14 years of this race you certainly have had other hot/humid days before. A smaller race I would excuse if the weather caught them by surprise. Someone like Disney doesn't have much of an excuse in my opinion. (Yes, it's a long review.) Overall I had a great time, would run this race again, and would recommend this race, especially for a first-timer. | |
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B. A. from Indiana
(1/31/2007)
"Definitely an experience." (about: 2007)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Disney World Marathon
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Disney was definitely an experience. I ran the half marathon only. We stayed at a Disney hotel and the transportation to the expo and the race were very well organized. We never had to wait for more than 15 minutes for a bus. The buses were also very clearly marked. The expo was well organized as well. The race itself was organized, but not one I would do again. There were over 150 portable restrooms at the corral area, but hardly any between there and the starting line. Once at the starting line (after walking for nearly a half hour), we stood/sat for an hour before the start. I did not mind the walk, but there should have been restrooms at the starting line. I cannot count how many men AND women who jumped the fences to use the bathroom off the road. I was one of them, and unfortunately got poison ivy for this. Obviously it was my own fault, but probably could have been prevented with some of the 150 restrooms closer to the start. The course was extremely boring when not going through the parks. I thought running onto the curved on-ramps and overpasses was very tough on my joints. Overall, it was a fun experience to go down for a weekend and to enjoy Disney. That part of it was great. | |
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Owen Keaton from Michigan
(1/30/2007)
"First-time marathoner (Team in Training)" (about: 2007)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Disney World Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This was my first marathon and I did it with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team in Training. Although I don't have other marathons to compare it to, Disney appeared to be well organized. A well organized start complete with the Disney characters and fireworks. Plenty of water, PowerAde, energy gels, and even candy along the course. Support from cast members, volunteers and spectators (God bless them for showing up on a Sunday morning at 6:00 a.m.) was fantastic. Running down Mainstreet, USA and through the castle is, without a doubt, the highlight of my running career. And then of course there is the Mickey Mouse-shaped medal. Loved this race; will be back next year. Who knows, maybe I'll even go GOOFY!!!! | |
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J. K. from Shepherdstown, West Virginia
(1/29/2007)
"A few bits of advice" (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Disney World Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 A few bits of advice: 1. The free tech shirts ran quite small, and Disney reserves a shirt in the size you request when registering for the race. They will NOT allow you to exchange for a different size at the expo. Suggest you request one size larger than you might usually wear, or it may not fit. 2. Do NOT need to arrive at 4:00 a.m. as Disney suggests. I arrived a little after 5 a.m. and had no problem reaching the start by 5:40 a.m., even though it is about a 3/4 mile walk from the parking lot. Give yourself the extra hour of sleep. 3. Register at the expo to have your split times sent by text message to your family's cell phones. My wife and kids really enjoyed this, though it can be a distraction during church! (Of course, if your family is on the West Coast, they might not appreciate messages at ~4 a.m.!) Overall an enjoyable marathon even though unseasonably hot and humid. I did not encounter any problem with walkers, as others have noted below. A very flat course, as you might expect, given that Florida is an oversized sandbar. | |
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G. B. from California
(1/28/2007)
"I have completed 16 marathons; this was the worst" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Disney World Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I signed up for both races in June, more than 6 months before the race. Goofy Challenge was sold out but I ran the half and full anyway without getting the Goofy medal. Heat and humidity were too high for a January race. Fortunately, I finished early enough to get my medals. Won't do this one again. Do not like the way Disney limits the Goofy to so few runners (compared to how many want to do it). Rock and Roll Marathons know how to do it! |
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