I thought that the old course was vastly superior and mentally easier. Reasons why:
-The route through Epcot in the morning was maybe the best part of the race. Even when it was just the run throughthe parking gates and main gates into future world, you still ran through part of WS and saw the flames lit and music playing. Then going backstage under test track was maybe my favorite part
-It didn't really feel like you were rerunning the same portion at the start and at mile 4. You got to see the spectators again, which was great, but it felt different because of the way the route was laid out.
-If you are doing Dopey or Goofy, the first 7 miles of Saturday and Sunday are identical. That gets a little monotonous for me
-I don't like that both castle pictures are in the dark. I like when it was brighter during the full in the past
-The highlight for most is running through MK. Then you exit off of that huge high. In the past, you knew you were half done after leaving the MK hotels. Now it is only 8 miles in. Mentally that is tough. I think this is a very underrated benefit of the old course.
-I didn't mind the race track, but hated the steep grade going in. I never was on the track when the sun was up, but I imagine it would be quite warm on that asphalt.
-On the old course, once you exited AK, you were 18 miles in. Now you are only halfway done.
-Then you head for the dreaded out and back on Osceola. This is tough on the old course, but I think even tougher on the new course, because you still have that out and back plus several miles of similar scenery heading into WWOS.
-I did like running around the track at WWOS. The change of footing was a nice break.
-When you head back into Epcot, I love the difference between seeing it in the dark a few hours earlier and now in the bright sun towards the end. Presents a great dichotomy for the same place.
So, I hope they give us that Epcot loop back in the morning. Fingers crossed!