Kidoctr's Progress Notes: Planning our first Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend trip (2016)!

I've planned TNTC (too numerous to count) Disney trips including WDW, DL, DLP, Disney cruises, Adventures by Disney, other runDisney events, and Disney's Aulani resort....but this one will be quite a bit different than we're used to. We've never been to Disney in January and we've never done multiple runDisney events in one trip. Our WDW Marathon Weekend trip will be from Wednesday, January 6th to Monday, January 11th and will include the Dopey Challenge: a 5K, 10K, Half Marathon, and Full Marathon (48.6 total miles) on 4 consecutive days for a total of 6 medals.

We opted to do the Runners World Dopey Challenge which includes:

Entry to the Dopey Challenge races (5K, 10K, Half Marathon, Full Marathon)
Entry into the WDW Marathon Weekend Breakfast in the Family Reunion Area after the 5K and 10K
Private packet pick-up at the runDisney Health & Fitness Expo
Access to the Race Retreat before and after the half marathon and marathon
Pre-race amenities include hot and cold beverages with fruit and bagels, dedicated stretching area, and private portalets & bagcheck
Post-race amenities include a nutritious buffet, massage, private portalet & bag pick up, and live results
Access to the Pasta in the Part Party on Thursday, January 7, 2016 at EPCOT (party includes buffet pasta dinner, live DJ, Disney characters, and viewing of the fireworks spectacular Illuminations: Reflects of Earth)
Exclusive pre-race walkout to corrals
A 16- or 20-week Dopey Challenge training plan designed by RW experts
Weekly emails leading up to race weekend from RW Chief Running Officer Bart Yasso with tips on training, nutrition, and injury-prevention for the weeks ahead
Online access to RW experts on training, nutrition, and injuries for one year
Access to private RW Challenge online training forum to connect with other runners training for Disney and other marathons and half marathons
A copy of The Runner's World Complete Book of Running
RW Challenge tech shirt
Four-month free trial of the Training Peaks training log premium version
Pre-race course strategy session with the RW experts and editors

The Runners World Challenge VIP package was particularly of interest to me because of the Race Retreat before the half and full marathon where they provide a private tent with porta-potties, food, a place to sit, private bag check, and temperature control.

Here's what I'm thinking which is quite different than the type of planning I normally do:

Wednesday, 6 January 2016
0610 - SW 2777 OKC to MCO
1140 Arrive Orlando
Disney's Magical Express to Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa for check-in
Lunch - Artist's Palette
1000 - 2000 RunDisney Health and Fitness EXPO for packet pickup. We should be getting:

5K t-shirt
5K/10K bib, 10 K long-sleeved tech shirt
Half Marathon long-sleeved tech shirt
Half/Full Marathon bib, Marathon long-sleeved tech shirt
Goofy Challenge long-sleeved tech shirt
Dopey Challenge long-sleeved tech shirt
Race Retreat wristbands
Pasta in the Park tickets
Gear check bag

Total shirts: 6! (to go with the 6 finishers' medals!)

1830 - dinner at Fulton's Crab House (453191610240)

Thursday, 7 January 2016

0415 - 0530 - Bus transportation to 5K
0600 - Disney Family Fun Run 5K starts
0630 - 0830 - Breakfast in the family reunion area
0700 - 0900 - Bus transportation to resorts
1240 - Lunch at Le Cellier (453191666868)
0900 - 2100 - EPCOT Park hours

1220-1320 Spaceship Earth
1350-1450 Test Track

1900- 2030 - Pasta in the Park party, EPCOT World Showplace Pavilion
2100 - Illuminations

5K and 10K course map

Friday, 8 January 2016

0330 - 0500 - Bus transportation to 10K
0530 - WDW 10K
0630 - 0830 - Breakfast at family reunion area
0700 - 1100 - Bus transportation back to resort
0800 - 2100 - Magic Kingdom park hours