Run Disney Viewing Locations

My wife is running the Star Wars Half Marathon in a few weeks and wanted some tips on good spectating spots. We have a car and are on-site at Pop. I have our two little kids in tow and of course we want to cheer on Mom!
We have a good handle on the race route, but I wasnt sure where we would be allowed to spectate from or if we would be able to enter the parks to watch the race.

Disney's info seems to amount to... buy the cheer package...

Could we watch from inside of AK or DHS assuming that we will be allowed to park our car or even be let into the parks that early?

Thanks!

Hello! Sorry I can't be of a huge help, as we've only participated in the Marathon weekend races but seeing as no one else has responded... When we run the half/ full marathons though Magic Kingdom, they do let spectators into the park to watch. That's about Mile 6 and I seem to remember them letting you in around the time the first runners start. I love running the races, but some of my most magical RunDisney moments have been as a spectator. Being in the parks that early is awesome, especially watching the sun rise over the castle. There's also a great sense of camaraderie among all the spectators since you're all just standing around waiting for a while, then cheering everyone on and waiting for "your runner/ runners."

I can tell you that traffic in the morning is crazy since they will have routes blocked off for the races. We've never had a car and when spectating, I take the rundisney buses to the starting line at Epcot then the monorail to Magic Kingdom and back to Epcot to catch the finish. There's really not a need to buy the cheer package, but they do give you designated areas to watch from. I've never had a problem getting a good spot without buying the cheer package, though.

There's a RunDisney forum on here (almost to the bottom of the page in the "just for fun" section) that you might get better answers from. Have fun and good luck to your wife! Your kids will have a blast - make sure you bring signs and noisemakers!

Thanks so much for your reply. I was able to find the RunDisney Thread and they had a Star Wars Race Thread where I was able to re-post my question... Because Pop is so close to DHS and the route goes through a section of the DHS parking lot, we are going to spectate from there... It sounds like the parks don't open to spectators for the Star Wars races until official opening times which rules out all but Epcot. If they don't let people in to the DHS lot to spectate (again its basically across the street from Pop with a car) our backup will be the boardwalk area resorts... 2 kids plus a double stroller would be challenging in a crowded Disney Bus without my wife.