Disney Marathon Weekend 2012

[Stu]

Disney fun at the 2012 Walt Disney World® Marathon Weekend 5-8 January, 2012. A weekend of races that are magical as they are memorable.

TV stars and wounded military soldiers are expected to be part of the more than 56,000 runners participating in the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend.

[Stu]

Ethan Zohn (Survivor / Amazing Race), Jenna Morasca (Survivor / Amazing Race) and Trista and Ryan Sutter (The Bachelor) are among the celebrities entered in the weekend of events at Walt Disney World Resort. All are running in the half marathon on Saturday along with four wounded veterans who are part of the Achilles Freedom Team, which supports disabled runners. Workout guru Tony Horton, founder of the P90X workout, will be on hand to prepare runners for their race.

The marathon weekend also features a new relay option that gives runners the opportunity to pair up and split the 26.2 mile journey through all four Disney theme parks – Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios – and receive a special Chip and Dale medal. And to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the half marathon, all finishers will be awarded a one-of-a-kind Donald Duck half marathon medal.

The 56,000 total runners – a new Disney marathon record – includes more than 26,500 registered runners for the half marathon, 16,500 for the marathon and 8,000 for the Family Fiesta 5K featuring the Three Caballeros – 3,000 more runners than last year. Approximately 6,500 runners will compete in Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge which involves running the half marathon on Saturday and the full marathon on Sunday – 39.3 miles. And about 3,000 young runners will join in the fun and participate in the Mickey Mile and Marathon Kids Fest events on Friday and Saturday.

There’s also a Health and Fitness Expo at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex Thursday – Saturday. Vendors will showcase the latest running merchandise and equipment, plus there will be seminars by leading healthy and fitness authorities, including marathon training expert Jeff Galloway, the official training consultant for runDisney.

Schedule

Packet Pick-Up
Location: Jostens® Center and HP Field House at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex

All runners are required to attend Disney's Health & Fitness Expo for race number and Packet Pick-Up. You will need to download your personalized race number pick-up card/waiver form online and bring it with you to Packet Pick-Up at the Expo when it becomes available online before the event.

To see more information about the Packet Pick-Up process and Absentee Packet Pick-Up, please visit our Event Details page.

Disney's Health & Fitness Expo
Thursday, January 5, 2012
10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
Friday, January 6, 2012
9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
Saturday, January 7, 2012
10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex

Walt Disney World® Marathon Weekend Events
Pasta in the Park Party
Thursday, January 5, 2012
6:30 p.m.

Epcot®
Disney Family Fiesta 5K featuring the Three Caballeros
Friday, January 6, 2012
6:30 a.m.

Epcot®
Disney Kids' Races
Friday, January 6, 2012 – Saturday, January 7, 2012
11:00 a.m.

ESPN Wide World of Sports Track & Field Complex
Mickey Mile
Friday, January 6, 2012
12:30 p.m.

ESPN Wide World of Sports Track & Field Complex
Walt Disney World® Half Marathon presented by CIGNA
Saturday, January 7, 2012
5:30 a.m.
Start/Finish: Epcot®

Walt Disney World® Marathon Relay presented by CIGNA
Sunday, January 8, 2012
5:30 a.m.
Runner 1 Start: Epcot®
Runner 1 Finish/Runner 2 Start: Magic Kingdom® Park – Pluto Parking Lot
Runner 2 Finish: Epcot®

Walt Disney World® Marathon presented by CIGNA
Sunday, January 8, 2012
5:30 a.m.
Start/Finish: Epcot®

[Stu]

Spectator Resources
As a spectator, you play a huge part in supporting your runner by cheering them on and motivating them throughout their training. Below is a guide to help you watch your runner during their magical race at the Walt Disney World® Marathon Weekend.
The Online Planning Tool is designed for spectators to plan their route along the race course so they can see their runner at key milestones. The ChEAR Squad offers several spectator packages from reserved viewing areas to VIP treatment in the Race Retreat.
Make sure you read the helpful tips on arriving to the race and parking on race day as well as the additional information about viewing your runner in the Walt Disney World® Theme Parks.

Runner Tracking
Family and friends will be able to track participants with live online runner tracking for the half marathon and marathon. Participants will have the opportunity to send split times via email and text messaging by registering for this service on the website. You can also sign up for runner tracking at Disney's Health & Fitness Expo.

ChEAR Squad
Be a part of the Walt Disney World® Marathon Weekend when you join the CHEAR Squad!
CHEAR Squad packages are available for purchase and include:
--Marathon Weekend E-newsletter containing information for race weekend
--Reserved viewing location at the Finish Line
--Much more!

Online Spectator Planning Tool
Do you want to know all of the best places to see your runner along the course? The online spectator tool will help you plan your customized route based on your runner's pace or estimated finish time. You can even plan a route to see your runner go through Cinderella Castle!

Parking
Athletes and spectators should plan on arriving at Epcot® by 4:00 a.m. on Half Marathon or Marathon race morning. The main entrance of Epcot® from World Drive will be closed to all traffic from 5:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. on the mornings of the Half Marathon and Marathon. All traffic will be directed to the Magic Kingdom® Park Parking Lot where they will be transported to Epcot® via monorail. Traffic will not be affected for the Disney Family Fiesta 5K featuring the Three Caballeros race.

Parking at Epcot® is free before 7:00 a.m., and if you arrive afterward, you will be charged the daily parking fee.

Viewing Your Runner
You can view your runner in a number of different areas along the Marathon and Half Marathon course including the Walt Disney World® Theme Parks and the Finish Line area.

Magic Kingdom® Park
Spectators will be able to see their runner run through the Magic Kingdom® Park near Cinderella Castle (Mile 5.3 for the Half Marathon and Mile 10.5 for the Marathon). This location will be open at 5:30 a.m. You do not need a ticket to enter the Magic Kingdom® Park, but to enter the ChEAR Zone area, you will need a ChEAR Zone wristband.

To reach the Magic Kingdom® Park spectator area from Epcot®, walk from the start of the monorail station at Epcot® and ride it to the Transportation and Ticket Center. Exit the monorail, walk down the ramp and follow the overhead signs for the monorail to Magic Kingdom® Park. Ride the monorail to Magic Kingdom® Park and exit the platform heading towards the Magic Kingdom® Park entrance. Proceed through the entrance and Main Street U.S.A. toward Cinderella Castle, where you will find the spectator area.

Other Walt Disney World® Theme Parks
If you want to watch your runner in another Walt Disney World® Theme Park, you will need to purchase a Theme Park ticket once that park is open for the day. Transportation to these parks is available through the monorail and bus system at the Walt Disney World® Resort.

Finish Line
Spectators can see their runners again at the Finish Line. There will be a limited number of complimentary seats along the Finish Line available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Reserved seating is available for purchase through our ChEAR Squad.

The Finish Line is located in the Imagine Lot of Epcot®. To reach the finish line from Magic Kingdom® Park, take the monorail back to the Transportation and Ticket Center. Exit the monorail and follow the signs for the monorail to Epcot®. Ride the monorail back to Epcot® and upon arriving, walk down the ramp and exit to your left towards the parking lots. The Imagine Lot and Finish Line area will be on your right.

for more information click HERE

[Guest]

This was an amazing event, from start to finish. So many Disney staff out cheering you along encouraging you to the end. All races started at 5.30 in the morning and the 5k on the Friday was routed around epcot, which is amazing with the sun coming up.

All the Charaters come out in each of the parks and that is why you probably wont do a PB if you are a serious runner, I stopped to get pictures where I could.

Thank you to everyone involved in the weekend and I would recommend the event to anyone.

I am very proud to say I am a Goofy Challenger Finisher!

Adele

[Princess Ploppy]

I was there this year at the time of the marathon weekend and it was great fun. All the characters were out at mile points along the course including some that you don't really see in the parks.

As a London dweller I witness the London marathon every year and whilst it is well organised it doesn't come close to Disney (of course!) who have to cope with tens of thousands of people wanting to visit the parks whilst the marathon runners are still trying to complete the course. We were in Epcot for the half marathon and Hollywood Studios on marathon day and it was seamlessly organised, changing the direction of the runners to get the park crowds across the crossings - I was very impressed!

Excellent time of year to be there.

[Guest]

Would love to be there to see this, mainly because I know DH would LOVE to take part. Every time he see anything to do with it here on the dibb he goes on about just flying out for the weekend so that he can get his Disney Marathon Medal

Maybe one year!

[Bobsledwheels]

The atmosphere in the parks over the marathon weekend was great - lots of people wandering around with their medals and teeshirts all week! Maybe one year i'll get involved when i am more athletic

[1968hammer]

I would like to echo all the comments above. It was my first time doing a race (scrap that it is an event not a race ) of this distance - I entered the half marathon and then thought well I am going all that way I may as well do the Goofy, so entered the Full Marathon too. All I can say is the organisation was fantastic, the experience second to none ... I want to do it again ... and would recommend it to anyone who might enjoy a challenge . Thank you Disney, thank you cast members and a big thank you to the volunteers and crowds mwah

[DIBBadmin]

This thread has been automatically closed as it has not been posted on in 365 days.