Hey there, Joanna! I am so happy to meet another runner at planDisney. I did a 13.1-mile training run yesterday and started to question why I had not only committed to
Goofy's Race and a Half Challenge but was excited to get registered. I still am. I am. I now understand the statement that training is the challenge and the race is the celebration of all that work.
Walt Disney World Resort offers special event transportation for its resort Guests to the
ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex for bib pickup and EPCOT (or wherever the Start Line may be) for the races. I know the
Holiday Inn Orlando near
Disney Springs offers a shuttle service during regular theme park hours. I called to ask about
runDisney weekends and learned they do not provide any service for special events. You can reserve the shuttle for the theme parks during the day but not for ESPN or early morning rides to the races.
Without a shuttle, you have a few options to consider. You can rent a car, and there is ample parking at ESPN Wide World of Sports for bib pickup and at the theme park hosting the event on race day. Parking has been available for these events without charge in the past. Another option would be to use a rideshare service, like Lyft or Uber. If you follow any of the runDisney athlete groups on Facebook, you will find a lot of runners who have driven and others who have used rideshares. They speak to the ease of both of these options. One piece of advice: pay attention to the race information sent to you a few weeks before the event. It includes transportation information, including parking and road closures. Many rideshare drivers know how to navigate these events, but you cannot wholly rely on the driver who picks you up to know all the whoozits and whatzits for race day.
I hope you have a wonderful time at runDisney Marathon Weekend. Last year was my first marathon, and this whole weekend won my heart!
Please race back by
planDisney with any other questions about the most magical place to race!
Every Mile is Magic!
Jana