Where to run at Disney World?

I am going to Disney World, FL in August. Where can I run a daily 8-12 miles? All the 'jogging paths' seem made just for what their title suggests, topping out at like 2 miles long. Can I run on the golf courses? Anybody know any more lengthy running loops without hitting interstates? It seems to me that on any given day there must be hundreds of runners at Disney World wanting a real workout - is there a local club that might host such a run?

IMHO, the best place to run at Disney is inside the Ft. Wilderness Campground. You can park at the entrance (River Country parking) and run into it from there. It has paths, lots of shade, water at all the comfort stations, low traffic, etc. There used to be a trail near the River Country area connecting with the Contemporary Hotel - if you took a little liberty with the roads.

Most of the resorts have 'jogging' maps, but they tend to be 2-3 miles in length at the most. There are a few roads and areas Disney does *NOT* want you to be, but generally you can get creative and run along most of the roads.

I'd be reluctant to run on the golf courses - that's the sort of thing they're probably picky about. (But I've never tried.)

Mike Tennent 'IronPenguin' Ironman Canada '98 Great Floridian '99, '00

It depends on where you are staying and whether you have a car. You can piece together runs over an hour looping around the internal resorts if you dodge parking lots and cross roads, etc. There is a buffer region betwen the the grounds entrance and resorts that is mostly fast highways without sidewalks. It is green, but can be muddy depending r rain. Outside the park to the south there are still lots of dirt rural farm roads that are fairly peaceful.

In the summer you have humidity, afternoon lightning, and more recently, acrid forest-fire smog to watch out for.

I was in DW in March, camping at Ft. Wilderness. The camp loops around Ft. Wilderness are all asphalt roads, and although it is running around in circles provides a fairly shaded and comfortable run; water and bathrooms are readily available. In the early morning you need to watch out for the Disney buses, but it isn't too bad.

Getting out of Ft. Wilderness was a little harder as all the work shows up at around 6-6:30 AM, the roads don't have much in the way of shoulders and they all drive fast. Still, once you get on the 'main loop' between the front gate and the Magic Kingdom you can run on the grass and also there are some safe spots on the road. There is a loop around the back of the Magic Kingdom that didn't seem too bad, and I saw a few folks running there.

I never left the Disney grounds on my runs. Also, the golf courses (immaculate!) were all drenched with dew when I was out so I didn't really try to run on them. However, most days between 6:30 and 7:00 I didn't see anyone out on them.

away from the place.

hahahahahaha..........isnt that the truth?? Ally whose goals and aspirations lead her to stupidly train for too much stuff

The area south of the park is fairly rural with long dirt roads. However, getting out of the park if you are staying inside is annoying. The entrance roads lack sidewalks, can be swampy in the rains, and are fairly busy speedways.