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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 801 to 811]
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Jerry Sumrell from Atlanta, GA
(1/17/2001)
 "Dull course in a magical land" (General Comments)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 I ran the 2000 marathon and the 2001 half marathon. Most people don't really think about how much dull, desolate space surrounds the various theme parks, and this race shows almost every inch to you. While you do get to run through all four parks, and near the Wide World of Sports park, most of the race is on boring roads with zero specators. The weather is rarely a problem, although temps were near freezing in 2001. The end of the marathon will perk you up as it is run through the Boardwalk and Epcot. The organization is top notch. Don't wear purple unless you want to be misidentified as a T'n'T runner (this is one of their flagship races). | |
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A Runner from Manhattan, KS
(1/16/2001)
 "Disney Magical!" (General Comments)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Disney 2001 was my second marathon after the Marine Corps 1998 in Washington, DC, and overall it was comparable in many ways. The weather this year was a totally unexpected temp in the mid-30's at the 6:00 am start, and stayed cool enough to see your breath throughout...wow! Other than that shock, the course was great, the crowd support good (other than a brief 4+ mile stretch at mile 17-21 between two of the parks), and the overall feel magical. The energy of 18,000 at the start, the burst of fireworks outweighing Mickey Mouse's cheesy introduction, and the weaving between parks was....plain and simple....just a lot of great fun. I hope to return to Disney to do this one again!! | |
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A Runner from Washington, D.C.
(1/13/2001)
 "Where's Mickey?" (General Comments)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I'm with ya Oldbird - this race was a bit of a disappointment. Fortunately, I'd spoken with several people who've run it and was warned that it was extremely boring in parts. Having said that, it's unfortunate that Disney skimps in the entertainment department. They need to put more characters or some kind of entertainment out on those highways. I don't recall ever seeing Mickey (I guess Disney didn't want to pay him overtime?) and apparently Minnie split after a runner slammed into her at the finish (I'm serious). Disney was my 15th marathon and I wouldn't even place it in my top ten. I've learned that not every race can be NYC, Twin Cities, or Marine Corps, but Disney should be better than it is. | |
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A Runner from Atlanta, GA
(1/12/2001)
 "Great first time race" (General Comments)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 I will disagree with the mostly negative comments I have read here so far. This was my first marathon and I thought it was great. Yes, there were times when the fan support was lacking, but it was more than in my training runs! I have read the comments for the other marathons and they actually had legitimate complaints like running out of sport drinks and not enough stops to refuel. I would much rather have a well organized race with plenty of stops and enough supplies than more fan support with inferior organization or inadequate amounts of fluid replacements. Thumbs up to the sweet tarts and sprees at the final fuel stop. It was truly a fun race and I enjoyed my experience!! | |
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A Runner from Long Island
(1/12/2001)
"Disney Fun-a first-rate day!" (General Comments)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Final thoughts about a great race: Organization was spectacular except for the delayed start (started 15 minutes late). Crowds and Disney cast members were enthusiastic and motivating. They were, however, few and far between for significant stretches of the course. Weather was perfect for a fast time-I never felt hot and even felt a chill in my hands as late as mile 15-16 going down the shady stinky road to Animal Kingdom (went right by the Poopy-detox plant for the waste products of those animals you see on the Kilamanjaro Safari). Other good things: Great and frequent water/replacement drink/food stops. Biggest hoots: Green Army Men from Toy Story handing out Sweet Tarts and imploring you to ?Move it! Move it! Move it!? at mile 23. Artificial encouragement at mile 19 on a barren limited access highway courtesy of a blasting sound system shouting encouragement?gave me a good chuckle and did in fact inspire me despite its patent fakeness. High fiving Mickey, Buzz Lightyear, Tweedledee and Dum, Country Bears, Cinderella Mice, Pluto and Goofy on the pass through Magic Kingdom. Wonderful to run through the parks before they were open to the general public. Even more surreal to bomb through when they were populated by paying customers a little later in the morning. By my calculation, you spend 2.5 of the first 23 miles in parks (1 mile in Epcot, 1 mile in Magic Kingdom, ½ mile in Animal Kingdom), then most of the last 3 miles in solid Disney territory as you pass through Disney-MGM, Disney?s Boardwalk, and Epcot. There?s probably a bit more actual mileage inside the parks, but when you?re running through a back section of Epcot or Animal Kingdom, it?s not much different from any other road you?ve ever been on. Loved the course. Lots of dead spots, but my lasting impression is of a real fun day. | |
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A Runner from Washington, DC
(1/11/2001)
 "Hosed at Disney" (General Comments)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 2001 event (I ran the half marathon): Previous comments are accurate. Disney does many things great, but here I felt much like a cog in a money-sucking machine. I kept track of my costs, more or less, for *one* person to go to Disneyworld for the Half Marathon. YMMV, and these numbers are inexact, but I think it would be very difficult to spend much less without staying off-property, driving to Orlando, and/or not buying a Disney entry ticket at all. $ 35 Half Marathon Entry $183 Flight to Orlando (RT from Baltimore) $ 28 Airport parking at home $142 Orlando car rental & gas, 4 days (I did use my car at least 4 times on Disney property, buses routinely took one hour plus to get anywhere) $ 22 Pasta dinner (which sucked, only water to drink and no dessert) $100 2 days park entry tickets, minor misc. $ 40 Other very minimal meal & souvenir expenses $270 Cheapest Disney property lodging, 3 nights (All Star Resorts; necessary to get official pasta dinner ticket) $820 Total My advice is to THINK HARD about going to this race if you?re on a tight budget. Even if you're a huge Disney fan, it?s a LOT to pay for a short mile or two of running through the Magic Kingdom! If you want to take the kids to Disney, you?re probably better off going some other time and not being distracted by all the crowds and delays associated with the race! You really cannot avoid a huge amount of walking there, either, before or after the race. If you want to race, you can probably go to at least two or three other major races for the cost of this one! | |
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A Runner from Golden, Colorado
(1/10/2001)
"A Great Race only Disney could do" (General Comments)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 As a competitive runner and triathlete I agree with some of these comments noted here but disagree with others. Everyone has their opinion and has preferences over one type of race or event experience. To me it comes down to the core values of why we run and race to begin with, general health, long life, fun and personal values. To do this in the house the Mouse built is the icing on the cake, I think Walt would be proud. If some of you think the access roads and parts of the course are boring boo-hoo race some where else! This is my second year running the Walt Disney World Marathon and I feel it is a very well organized and executed event with food and water not only plentiful along the course but at the finish as well. Disney attracts the 18,000 (current maximum, 13,000 for the Marathon and 5,000 for the half) participants without a cast of elite runners because it?s Disney, no other event can do that and target it to all ranges of runners including the family. On the day before the race there is FamilyFun Magazine?s Family Fun Run, which is a 5k race and kids races, which is free to ages 8 and under, complete with Disney charters. Although I have no children (yet) this is an event you can build a family vacation around and at the same time pass on the values you hold so close to your children by direct example. I think the race expo is well organized and by adding quality people like Creigh Kelley and the cast of great speakers places it with the best of them. Just because there is not 10,000 people cheering you on between certain areas on the course like New York or Chicago should not be the reason to dislike the event. Where were all those people on those 18 and 22 mile training runs to help you make it through? Who cares! It was nice to see the families enjoying the parks after the race wearing their race shirts, some wearing their prized finisher?s medal, each of which anxious to say way to go! Great job! How did you do? Transportation to the start and back to your Disney hotel is on luxury tour buses which is nothing less than first class. We stayed at the Beach Club the first year Yacht Club the second both were very nice. Restaurants on Disney property are always happy to custom make your pre-race meals on request, just ask. Sure there can always be improvements just make sure you direct your concerns to Reggie Williams, (Vice President Disney Sports Attractions) so they can be herd and proper consideration given so improvements can be made Disney does listen. If you want to have a great time expressing your passion for running and be in the best vacation spot in the world at the same time be there in 2002, I know I will! | |
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A Runner from Fort Thomas, Kentucky
(1/9/2001)
"I agree with most everything said on here." (General Comments)
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 I ran my third marathon (two previous marathons were Flying Pig in Cincy and Chicago) at Disney. Although I had high hopes and expectations for the race, I have to agree with most of the comments on this site. Here are some of my thoughts about the race: Expo: The expo is pretty small for a race with 18,000 people. The place at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex where the Expo is held is not big enough to hold the event. I realize this is trival, but the goodie bag was weak and the T-shirt did not have the year of the race, which makes me think we may see the extras for sale at a later event. Start: Although the start is well organized and I encountered no problems, the early arrival time and standing around for well over an hour in very cold weather was not in the least bit appealing. Course: The course is very flat with only a few very small hills, however, it is boring and not very scenic. The mile through Magic Kingdom was great, especially running up Main Street and around the castle, but beyond that there was little else that was memorable. Believe it or not the course actually goes by Disney's sanitation facility. Entertainment: By far this was my biggest disappointment. The advertising leads you to believe there will be Disney quality entertainment on the course. I would say 90% of the entertainment consists of wooden cartoon characters with whatever song they are most closely associated with blaring from a sound system. It seemed like I could hear the Poccahontas song 'Just Around the River' forever. However, as bad as the entertainment was, I was offended by the place on the course where they had a sound system playing recorded crowd noise and cheering. Crowd Support: Crowd support is bad for a marathon of this size. Mostly because there are really no good areas to view the race. There was a pretty good crowd at the start (considering what time they had to get up and what they had to fight through), the crowd on Main Street in Disney was great, the crowd at the 1/2 marathon was good, and the crowd around Wide World of Sports was good. There was also a good crowd at the finish line, however it is very congested. Medals: The medals are very nice medals, however, once again there is no date on the medal. The date is on the ribbon. It would be nice if the medal was not so generic as to be recycled year after year with a new ribbon. I am a Disney (theme park, movies, etc.) fan. I thought I would love everything Disney, but I could not help but feel like this was a corporation putting on a marathon only to take my money. Like others on here I would recommend Cincinnati's Flying Pig or Chicago's before I would recommend Disney. | |
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A Runner from Cincinnati, Ohio
(1/8/2001)
"Well-organized race, disappointing course" (General Comments)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 My wife and I ran the 2001 marathon. It was very well organized with an unbelievable supply of portolets and plenty of water, sports drink, or food stops along the way. The crowd support inside the parks was great, especially for middle-of-the-pack runners finishing after MGM and Epcot have filled up with guests. The 5-mile stretch of the course between the Animal Kingdom and MGM Studios (miles 17.5 through 22.5) was tedious. The slope on the highway ramps drew a lot of complaints from fellow runners. | |
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A Runner from Tampa, FL
(1/3/2001)
 "Don't forget your Wallet!" (General Comments)
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 I've run 5 Disney's in hopes that they will get better. They won't! Florida has so many better marathons, and it's not like you get a discount at the parks for running the race. The only reason they start so early is so they can get you outta the park and get the paying customers in! If you want to run in Florida do Jacksonville, Ocala, Hops, or Gulf Beaches and just visit Disney. It is the least of the Florida Marathons. |
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