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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 551 to 561]
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D. P. from Virginia
(1/11/2006)
"Much Like a Trip to the Parks..." (about: 2006)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Disney World Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Just finished the 2006 Disney Marathon... my third ever and my third favorite (behind the Marine Corps and Steamtown Marathons). The experience was a lot like visiting the parks. You spend a lot of money & wait a really long time for a few short bursts of excitement. The crowd support was either thin (expecially on service roads between the parks) or very impressive (Magic Kingdom, Boardwalk, & the full gospel choir toward the end). My biggest issue (that Disney can correct) was air quality. Eliminate the sewage treatment plant(s?) from the course and ask the bus drivers (buses used to transport performers and volunteers) to kill the engines when runners are passing by. The diesel exhaust was pretty significant in many places. What they did well? Live music, big-screen displays with pre-race music videos, photos of fans & well-wishers (taken days before at the expo), loud music, fireworks and the facilities (Disney Sports facilities for the expo, Downtown Disney for the post-race party). If you're going to run this race, plan on opening your wallet. My family came to cheer me on at the finish line and had to pay full price to park. The massage tent charged a buck a minute for some stretching and the post-race party, while complementary for the runner, only welcomed guests (up to 3) who paid an entry fee (50% of the regular admission). Overall, I'm glad I ran it, but I don't expect to do it again. | |
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C. M. from Delaware, USA
(1/11/2006)
"More running through the parks." (about: 2006)
First Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Running through the parks for longer distances would be nice, if at all possible. The aid stations and the crowds were first-class all the way! | |
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J. K. from Snohomish, WA
(1/11/2006)
"Run this one for fun, not a PR" (about: 2006)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Disney World Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 We took the Goofy Challenge this year and ran the half marathon on Saturday, followed by a full marathon on Sunday. Our goals were to finish, and to have fun. We succeeded at both. The highlight was running through the parks, but the whole course was enjoyable for Disney fans. The support was excellent, with plenty of water, sports drink and bathrooms. We weren't thrilled about arriving at 4am for a 6am start time, but it is difficult to transport 16,000 people if everyone waits until the last minute. | |
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K. V. from Cary, NC
(1/11/2006)
"Fun race" (about: 2006)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Disney World Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my first marathon and certainly the largest event I have participated in. I thought the atmosphere was great, it was well organized and the spectators enthusiastic. There are some long stretches without spectators but when you find them they are fantastic. Plenty of friendly volunteers and well stocked water/food stations. The course has some long fairly uninteresting stretches but that just made me look forward to getting to the fun parts. I hope I can go back. | |
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W. S. from Chicago, Illinois
(1/11/2006)
"Race was great, expo was a pain" (about: 2006)
11-50 previous marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This was a very fun race, getting to go through the parks and getting a sneak peek into some of the areas behind the scene at WDW. I would definitely recommend it. The expo seemed unorganized. We went Friday evening around 6 pm only to find a huge line of cars trying to get into Wide World of Sports parking lot. Once parked, we walked up to the expo building ("Milk Room") only to find another line of runners waiting to get their chips and bibs. It took about 20 minutes in that line to get chip/bib, then found another long line downstairs for the goody bag. With small kids in town, I chose not to wait in another line for the nice-looking shirt. They need Fastpass for the expo. Arrive between 4 and 5 and walk right in to get your bib/chip/shirt. Race morning was cold, low 30's F, and no heat to be found. People were huddling around the generators that powered the overhead lights for warmth. Obviously not the organizers' fault that the temps were abnormally cold, but some kind of heated tent would have helped - especially because they make you get to the staging area so early (last bus left my hotel [Wilderness Lodge] around 4 am). I got off the bus at the staging area at 4:25, with 1 hour 35 minutes to kill and freezing temps. Oh well. It makes this race that much more memorable. | |
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john mitchell from Mississippi
(1/11/2006)
"WDW Marathon and 1/2 Marathon 2006" (about: 2006)
6-10 previous marathons
| 4-5 Disney World Marathons
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This is actually feedback for the WDW folks regarding the race(s) this year. Great job with running 2 huge races in two days! Only complaint I have is the narrowness of the start area and immediate course for the 1/2 marathon. It took well over 20 minutes to get to the start line only to find that the extremely narrow corral area matched the extremely narrow course for the first mile plus! It took almost 2 miles to get spread out enough to start on "normal" pace. Hopefully the route can be modified some to allow for a wider course at the start to alleviate the logjam. | |
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S. F. from Fort Collins, Colorado
(1/11/2006)
"Very Entertaining and Magical Experience." (about: 2006)
4-5 previous marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was a fabulous way to see Disney World for the first time! Other than having to be at the start two hours early, this race was a great experience. The race was extremely well organized, plenty of water/food/aid stations and awesome volunteers! I thought the spectators were great, seeing all the characters was entertaining and I really enjoyed running through Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, MGM and finishing at Epcot. It was the most entertaining 26.2 miles I've ever run.... Time went quickly with all the distractions. I would definitely recommend this race to anyone who wants to run a flat, organized course with lots of happy volunteers, spectators and fun characters to keep you going! | |
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Jim McCreary from Houston, TX
(1/10/2006)
"Up at 3, Bus before 4, Run at 6" (about: 2006)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Disney World Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 After 10 marathons at 5 locations this was the least popular. Yes, you run through the parks, but 80% was on boring highways. Yes, you see behind the scenes, like the sewage plant and get to smell it too. Only concession to starting so early was I could buy coffee at the hotel before getting on the 3:30 AM bus. After the race they provided an off-brand Twinky and a banana. I would not recommend this race to anyone. I had a woman in a wheelchair pushed into me. Where were the race officials? This was a hazard on the course and should not be allowed. The course, by the way, was very narrow and it was a little hard to run in the crowd. This race was all about making money for Disney. | |
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M. B. from Marshall, WI
(1/10/2006)
"Fun race" (about: 2006)
2 previous marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This was my first time running at Disney and it was a lot of fun! The course was flat (with the exception of some sections on bridges and on/off ramps on the road) and although there were some boring spots, the sections through the parks made up for it. Not sure why they want you there at 4 AM. Makes for a very early wake-up call and standing in the cold for 2 hours was no fun. Overall though, the race was great and very organized. The Goofy Challenge was definitely a "challenge" but the 3 great medals made it worthwhile! | |
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r. d. from boston
(1/10/2006)
"great marathon" (about: 2006)
6-10 previous marathons
| 2 Disney World Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Great race. I did the Goofy races - the half marathon and the full marathon. Very well put together; great course, great pasta dinner. I would do this marathon if you are doing your first. |
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