Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend 2012

Don't miss this once in a lifetime opportunity to run a marathon through the most magical setting in the world and meet all your childhood heroes on the way!  And since Walt Disney World Resort in Florida is one of the very best holiday destinations on Earth, why not bring the rest of the family and have a great running holiday!

Interestingly from a female perspective, the Walt Disney Marathon has one of the highest female fields in the World.  In the past, over 48% of the runners were female, making it a more female friendly run.

It's well known that the Walt Disney medals are true collectors items and in 2012, the all-new Mickey Medal won't be the only thing Walt Disney World® Marathon participants will be running for.

The 2012 Walt Disney World® Marathon Weekend presented by CIGNA features:

Disney’s Health & Fitness Expo 5th – 7th Jan 2012: This 3 day event involves celebrity runner appearances, seminars on training, racing and nutrition, and the opportunity to experience the latest in running and fitness equipment. Located at Disney’s Wide World of Sports® Complex.

Disney’s Family Fun Run 5K on Friday 6th Jan 2012:  Adults, teens and kids will enjoy a fun-filled and exciting 5K course, starting at 7am, that winds through Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park with an unforgettable finish where you can high-five your favourite Disney characters! Children up to 11yrs can participate in kid’s races ranging from the 800m run down to the 100m dash. Even the infants can crawl in the Diaper Dash!

Half Marathon - Saturday 7th Jan 2012:  Participants will experience 13.1 miles of on course Disney music and entertainment visiting two Walt Disney World® Theme Parks along the way.  Starts at 5.40am.

Full Marathon - Sunday 8th Jan 2012:  Participants will experience the most magical 26.2 miles in the world with a race that winds through all four Walt Disney World® Theme Parks.  Starts at 5.40am.

Goofy Race and a Half Challenge – Sat 7th & Sun 8th Jan 2012:  Runners who are looking for the ultimate challenge can run the ½ Marathon on Saturday and the Full Marathon on Sunday. Those who finish both races within the allowed time will be rewarded with a special commemorative Goofy Challenge finisher’s medal at the finish line, as well as an exclusive Goofy Challenge participant T Shirt.

Our Travel Packages

By joining the Sports Tours International team of runners you will experience the best value Walt Disney World® Marathon packages. You will stay at one of the official Walt Disney World® resorts and you will enjoy the benefit and reassurance of a GUARANTEED RACE ENTRY. Your resort is located in the centre of the action at Walt Disney World® in Lake Buena Vista, near Orlando, Florida, with the added advantage of easy access to all of the Walt Disney World® Theme Parks and use of the FREE Disney Transportation System.

We have a choice between Disney All Star Resort and the Disney Polynesian Resort both with two options for the 2012 Walt Disney Marathon Weekend - one is for a 7 night travel package including flights, and the other one is for a 4 night hotel only package.

Disney’s All Star Sports Resort 

Sport is the spectacle at this fun resort! Sections are themed around football, baseball, tennis, basketball and surfing. 2 swimming pools, an arcade and a playground provide a fun family recreation area. This great value resort also offers a food court, a pool bar, pizza delivery to your room, even convenient laundry facilities. Rooms accommodate up to four people in 2 large queen size beds.

Services & Amenities:
Baby sitting and child services
Limited room service
Laundry facilities/services
Non-smoking rooms
Free parking
Merchandise and souvenir shop
Disabled rooms and facilities

Disney’s Polynesian Resort

Celebrates the captivating sights, sounds and culture of the South Pacific. The Polynesian Resort is a relaxing tropical paradise, featuring lush vegetation, thatched roofs, koi ponds and white-sand lakebeaches and offering a warm, welcoming world that celebrates the spirit of the South Pacific and ensures "Ho'Onanea"—the passing of time in languid tranquility.

Services & Amenities:
Room Service
Concierge Services
Laundry Services
Wheelchair Access
Extended Theme Park Hours
Key to the World Card
Purchases Delivered to Resorts
Resort Transportation
Balcony or Patio
Valet Parking
Club Level
Table Service Dining

Flights  We have arranged flights from London Gatwick Airport to Orlando McCoy Airport on Thursday 5th January.  Please note all return flights are overnight from Orlando and land into London Gatwick on Friday morning, 13th Jan 2012. Domestic flights from other regions can be requested at a supplement if required to connect to your international flight.

Transfers  These will be by Disney's Magical Express, direct from McCoy airport to our hotels in Walt Disney World.  We can also  book car hire for you on request if required.

Race Entry - Your official Walt Disney World® Marathon Weekend Tour Package includes the following:

GUARANTEED entry into your choice of race
Unlimited use of the complimentary Walt Disney World® Resort Transportation
Exclusive Commemorative Race Shirt
Official Walt Disney World® Marathon Programme
Finisher’s Certificate
Unique Collector’s Quality Medal for all participants who finish the marathon in under 7 hours and the ½ Marathon in under 3½  hours.
(Please note: Due to safety issues all participants of the Walt Disney World® Marathon and Half Marathon must be able to maintain a 16min per mile pace for the entire race. Anyone dropping below that schedule will be picked up en route and transported to the finish)

RACE ENTRY FEES

Walt Disney World® Marathon presented by CIGNA £93
Walt Disney World® Half Marathon presented by CIGNA £93
Goofy's Race and a Half Challenge presented by CIGNA £207
Family Fun Run 5K £33 or £37 for the Stroller Division.
Mickey's Marathon Kids' Fest presented by CIGNA £7
Mickey Mile presented by CIGNA £17

7 NIGHT FLIGHT INCLUSIVE  TRAVEL PACKAGE RATES: - Prices subject to confirmation at time of booking.

POLYNESIAN RESORT:
Single...£1799 per person
Twin.....£1199 per person
Triple....£999 per person (based on 3 adults sharing a room with 2 beds)
Quad....£899 per person (based on 4 adults sharing a room with 2 beds)

ALL STAR SPORTS RESORT:
Single...£999per person
Twin.....£769 per person
Triple....£699 per person (based on 3 adults sharing a room with 2 beds)
Quad....£669 per person (based on 4 adults sharing a room with 2 beds)

Note: if you require a different duration of holiday, then please let us know and we try to accommodate you.

Package price notes:
The above prices are per adult and DO NOT include the race entry fees.

Included in the price:  Return scheduled flights from London Gatwick to Orlando, inclusive of all taxes, fees and surcharges (Note: taxes and surcharges are not guaranteed until tickets are issued and are subject to change. At the point of ticketing, which is normally 3-4 weeks before travel, any increase in taxes and surcharges will be invoiced to the customer)
Your choice of Walt Disney World® accommodation on a room only basis, including all occupancy taxes.
Coach Transfers to and from your resort on our group flights.

4 NIGHT RESORT PACKAGE RATES: - Prices subject to confirmation at time of booking and do not include flights.

POLYNESIAN RESORT:
Single...£875 per person
Twin.....£449 per person
Triple....£319 per person (based on 3 adults sharing a room with 2 beds)
Quad....£249 per person (based on 4 adults sharing a room with 2 beds)

ALL STAR SPORTS RESORT:
Single...£349 per person
Twin.....£179 per person
Triple....£129 per person (based on 3 adults sharing a room with 2 beds)
Quad....£99 per person (based on 4 adults sharing a room with 2 beds)

Note: if you require a different duration of holiday, then please let us know and we try to accommodate you.

The above prices are per adult and DO NOT include the race entry fees or flights.

Included in the price:  Your choice of Walt Disney World® accommodation on a room only basis, including all occupancy taxes.  Transfers from and to McCoy Airport on your day or arrival and departure to WDW.

How to Book

To book, click on the green button at the top of the page.  In order to confirm your reservation we require a deposit of £200.00 per person, plus the applicable race entry fee per runner, at the time of booking.

Sightseeing and Excursions

There's so much to do in Central Florida and around the Parks and Orlando

Theme Park Entrance: Walt Disney World® Theme Park tickets add to the magic of your trip! We have specially priced Walt Disney World® Theme Park tickets available to our Sports Tours International customers.  Choose between a 4 day and a 7 day Magic Your Way ticker with Park Hopper option.  Enjoy incredible flexibility when planning each day's activities by being able to visit Magic Kingdom theme park, Epcot theme park, Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park and Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park on the same day. You can ride your favorite attractions at one park in the morning, then check out fireworks at another park in the evening, or go back to a park you've already visited to do something you loved the most. If you want to come and go as you please, this is the option for you.</p>

4 day - £158      7 day - £198

Our specially priced tickets are valid from 7 days before the Marathon and for 7 days after the marathon, so you must use up all the days during this period.

There is additional information about our other Concierge Services on our special web page.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

PASSPORTS -  THIS IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.

Please note: we will require a copy of your passport along with your application form.

Please – don’t leave it to the last minute. The following information is for United Kingdom passport holders only, other nationals including Eire should consult the appropriate embassy.    UK residents are allowed to enter the USA with a ten year passport, with no less than 6 months left before the expiry of the passport, if staying in the US for less than 90 days.  However, the rules are constantly updated, so we advise that you check your own individual situation as the visa waiver programme is subject to strict criteria, and for example, if you have a criminal record or have previously been refused entry to the US, you may not qualify for entry under the Visa Waiver programme.  Please check your status with the rules.

Passengers are no longer permitted to enter the USA with a non-machine readable passport unless their old style passport has a valid Visa stamp. The newer red passports are machine readable.  CHILDREN MUST HAVE THEIR OWN PASSPORT - If in doubt please contact the passport advice line on 0300 222 0000, or Passport Office Website or if applicable the American Embassy on 0207 499 9000 or the US Embassy Website.

IMMIGRATION TO THE USA

There are now very strict guidelines on entry to the USA and a new system put in place whereby you must have registered with the Department of Homeland Security at least three days before you travel.  More information can be found on the Department’s Official Website.

INSURANCE

For details of insurance for the our travel packages, please visit our travel insurance page.