Need some advice for the Goofy Challenge

I found a great airfare but we have to leave Thurs. It's not available any other day of the week. So we're definitely arriving on Thurs.

Now I just have to figure out how long we are staying. I got a quote for staying through Sunday, the 15th and yowza! it was expensive.

Would you believe my kids don't want to go to the water parks or DisneyQuest? Lame.

I like the idea of getting together on Friday night. I don't think I want to deal with getting together race morning. What are the advantages of that?

Also, what's the deadline for submitting a time so you don't have to start in the "great unwashed masses" coral? I am going to do the SJ Rock 'n Roll Half-marathon Oct 3rd, I think.

the advantage for meeting on race day morning is that you will most likely be there super early to miss the gridlock traffic, so will have hours to wait (it is better to be early and wait there vs. wait in traffic and stress missing the start).  meeting at the letter tents like scott suggested is a really good idea, it is right in the area before the walk to the corals and plenty of access to the port-o-pots.  i met an old college friend last year at the letter tents and was able to shoot the breeze with him while we waited.

Oh, that sounds like a great idea. In other races, trying to cram in a meeting pre-race would just be stressful.

It's good we have some experienced WDW Marathon weekend peeps here to guide us.