Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend
Lake Buena Vista, FL
- Dopey Challenge (48.6 Miles), Goofy Challenge (39.3 Miles), Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K, 5K
- Road (Paved)
- Official race website
Themed to different storybook genres, the Walt Disney World® Marathon Weekend presented by State Farm promises to be quite the page turner! You can enjoy a sci-fi 5K hosted by Pluto. Go nuts over a mysterious 10K led by Chip ‘n Dale. Fall for a romantic half marathon featuring Donald Duck … MORE
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Interesting but not for me
This is a race or race series if doing Dopey that is more for Disney aficionados than people interested in running. For some this makes this race perfect for others--well, … MORE
This is a race or race series if doing Dopey that is more for Disney aficionados than people interested in running. For some this makes this race perfect for others–well, I’ve done it once and that was fun but I can skip a repeat.
Firstly, these races start very, very early because Disney is desperate to open the parks to regular guests. We had cold weather for Florida this year. Better than the sauna it could have been, but freezing under mylar blankets in the dark is not a happy race morning. Disney is known for its entertainment, but it’s very repetitive after four days.
Secondly, I would never do these races without a proof of time. For the marathon and half marathon, I was in coral A. This was a much more enjoyable experience than the Coral D of the 5k and 10k. It is clear that many people are less than truthful in the times they will run. The 5k was like being at a shopping mall on Christmas Eve. Running wasn’t really happening, and while I wasn’t in any great hurry for the shorter races, I wanted to limit my time on my feet and get out of the cold. Come on Disney, if a runner has proof of time for the longer races, don’t stick them in the chaos of the later corals for the shorter races. To make matters worse, our bus driver refused to turn on the heat or the lights on the bus after the 5k, so we were all sitting in a freezing, dark bus while the course cleared.
Thirdly, there was a fiasco with the timing chips this year with many not working. I was fortunate that my timing chip worked for all the races. These races are way too expensive for the timing to fail and for Disney to shrug their shoulders and say you can still PR in fun or the like. Challenging yourself to run a decent pace, whether that is faster than I could ever imagine or barely beating the balloon ladies, in all four races is part of the fun. Also for the cost of these races, Disney should give age group awards. I’m all for encouraging all to participate, but it is a race, and it’s not wrong to race. I’m very much a mid packer at most races, but old enough that being in the middle of the pack takes some work and makes me competitive in my age group. I don’t think it’s wrong to celebrate competitiveness, but the Disney vibe is that competitiveness beyond finishing isn’t desirable. There is a place for both groups. Finishing is fantastic, but don’t dump on those of us who find finishing a bit faster is more our jam. The race is also our celebration, and I train hard so I can celebrate.
On the positive side, the medals are fun and fancy and the on course entertainment is excellent. The light show near the Polynesian for the marathon and the half marathon was great, and since I was in an early coral I could enjoy it without terrible over crowding. Running up Main Street with the cheering crowds was fun. I was disappointed not to be able to ride Everest since it wasn’t open yet when I went by. I personally don’t mind the freeway running because the crowds are more tolerable in those stretches and there was ample entertainment.
Overall if you can afford it, do these races at least once. It’s an experience and worth the hassle.
It’s Disney…what else can I say?!
Disney puts on a helluva race and a helluva production. It’s expensive but worth the experience and you’ll compare every race you run to a RunDisney race. From the expo … MORE
Disney puts on a helluva race and a helluva production. It’s expensive but worth the experience and you’ll compare every race you run to a RunDisney race. From the expo to the finish line, you are the star of the show. Running through all 4 parks is amazing and the crowd support is top notch.
Great For a First Marathon
The expo was well run and had 0 lines when I went the day before the marathon. I was not shopping for merchandise but they seemed to have stock of … MORE
The expo was well run and had 0 lines when I went the day before the marathon. I was not shopping for merchandise but they seemed to have stock of multiple items. Morning of the race the corrals were easy to navigate. Early start time was no issue, once on the course things went fairly well. Out of 26.2 miles you run about 5-6 in parks split up by around 7 mile increments in between. Most of the course was flat and simple to navigate. I am a fan of the large amount of refreshment stations along the course. Character meetings were ok, not my biggest draw for the race. One of the highlights was a “star wars mile” which was more entertaining than the usual highway stretch. Worst miles were the water treatment facility and 21-22. Finish line area was nice and post-race reunion area was organized well. The vintage theming of the race was nicely designed as well. I would definitely run this again.
Talk about an experience! Magical!
I completed the Dopey, with the last day being the marathon. The marathon race started at 4:30 am with corrals A-G starting in Epcot. It takes about an hour to … MORE
I completed the Dopey, with the last day being the marathon. The marathon race started at 4:30 am with corrals A-G starting in Epcot. It takes about an hour to get everyone started. So, it is crowded. You need to get to the race at least an hour or more ahead of the race start. This race is for the experience, many character stops, running through all 4 parks, and rode on Everest (a rollercoaster). Absolutely, the best for a Disney fan. Plenty of fuel (sports beans, bananas, & biscuit) provided. Water and Powerade on the course. You really can’t get a flatter course. It was a breeze. Wear Disney shirts, costumes, gear… the more you get into the spirit, the more you will enjoy. The only challenge is stopping and starting again for character photo ops. This is not how I train, so starting again in the double digits took a bit to get back to my race speed. These are optional stops, but I wanted the full experience.
Extremely Crowded Marathon #92
It is Disney Race so there were DOPEYS, GOOFYs and others out there. It was extremely crowded and the course is very narrow in place. Medals are amazing and characters … MORE
It is Disney Race so there were DOPEYS, GOOFYs and others out there.
It was extremely crowded and the course is very narrow in place.
Medals are amazing and characters were abundant.
Lots of time in MK and very little time in HS.
Weather was perfect!
Today, I crossed the finish line of my 10th Disney Marathon, and while the weather was absolutely perfect—cool and crisp, exactly what you hope for on race day—I found myself … MORE
Today, I crossed the finish line of my 10th Disney Marathon, and while the weather was absolutely perfect—cool and crisp, exactly what you hope for on race day—I found myself with mixed feelings about this year’s event.
First, the positives. Thanks to the weather, I hit a personal record (PR)! For any marathoner, you know how much of a difference cool temperatures can make, and today was one of those rare days where everything seemed to align. There’s something magical about running through Disney with the sun rising and hearing the cheers of cast members and spectators. The energy was high, and for all my gripes, I still love this race.
That said, the course was different this year, and I can’t say it was for the better. There were a lot of u-turns, which can feel tedious and mentally draining after a few miles. The route also seemed to minimize time spent in Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios—two of the highlights for me in years past. Running through the parks is what makes this race special, and less time there feels like a loss.
Disney Marathon weekend is iconic, but I can’t shake the feeling that the event has become more about Disney’s convenience than the runners’ experience. It sells out every year, so they have little incentive to make changes based on feedback. And yet, I’ll probably be back next year—because for all its flaws, the Disney Marathon still holds a special place in my heart. It’s not just a race; it’s an experience.
Here’s to another year, another run, and maybe a little pixie dust on the course next time.
Crowded and Narrow
It is Disney Race so there were DOPEYS, GOOFYs and others out there. It was extremely crowded and the course is very narrow in place. Medals are amazing and characters … MORE
It is Disney Race so there were DOPEYS, GOOFYs and others out there.
It was extremely crowded and the course is very narrow in place.
Medals are amazing and characters were abundant.
Lots of time in MK
It's not a race!
This review is for the 5K. I ran it as part of the Dopey event. I had never done the Dope, so I didn't know that this race is essentially … MORE
This review is for the 5K. I ran it as part of the Dopey event. I had never done the Dope, so I didn’t know that this race is essentially a 3.1 mile costume parade in Epcot before sunrise. Stupid me! I wore running clothes! There were unbelievably elaborate costumes and make-up on the MAJORITY of the participants. Tall, self-respecting adults with rather serious RBFs were transformed into pixies, fairies, pirates, cartoon characters–the whole pantheon of Disney! The other participants looked on me with pity, if they looked at me at all, because I was wearing: Plain. Running. Clothes. I half expected someone to hand me a sandwich and point to the railroad tracks because I looked like a hobo!! So you, runner friend, have been advised. Wear something festive for the 5K. You can thank me later.
The race was spectacular!! Running through EPCOT before sunrise, with huge torches burning, the World Showcase all brilliantly lit up, live musical groups, the smell of fresh baked goodies in the air, cast members cheering you along the route, makes for all the feels of a perfect event. 11/10 would do again in a heartbeat!!
So much fun!
Course was flat and easy. So much entertainment along the course. Got to ride the roller coaster Expedition Everest in the middle of the marathon. Had a blast. The race … MORE
Course was flat and easy. So much entertainment along the course. Got to ride the roller coaster Expedition Everest in the middle of the marathon. Had a blast. The race medals are works of art. The crowds were great.
Best race weekend Disney has to offer!!
Dopey challenge is a challenge in itself, but what a great year this was!! Granted the 1/2 marathon course got cut short due to thunderstorms, the marathons sure made up … MORE
Dopey challenge is a challenge in itself, but what a great year this was!! Granted the 1/2 marathon course got cut short due to thunderstorms, the marathons sure made up for it. It was the first time where I felt great running it the entire time. No pain or anything (thank you biofreeze!! lol). Disney knows how to do races, everything was worth it. I’d definitely do dopey again.
**Disney has plenty of water stations, first aid stations (more than any other race I’ve seen), entertainment, music, characters, etc**
Disney does not disappoint!
This was my 9th time running the Disney marathon. It is always so much fun. I ran it slower this time with my daughter, which was by far the best … MORE
This was my 9th time running the Disney marathon. It is always so much fun. I ran it slower this time with my daughter, which was by far the best part.
One of the observations I have made over the years of running this race is that it’s becoming less and less runner centric. Because the race sells out every year, it feels like Disney is working to make things more convenient for them, than the runners. For example, I had to walk a mile before the race started and a mile after the race ended for parking. Not ideal when you’re running a marathon, but the Disney marathon is a favorite and I will do it again next year , and probably every year for the rest of my life
Nice run for the experience
This is likely one of the only races where I would say I “only did the Full Marathon.” The Disney challenges (Dopey & Goofy) are the main event. Definitely on … MORE
This is likely one of the only races where I would say I “only did the Full Marathon.” The Disney challenges (Dopey & Goofy) are the main event. Definitely on my bucket list to attempt the Dopey someday!
Course: Nice flat course. A lot of the course is on roads between parks but they did a nice job of placing characters and DJs to distract you. The run down Main Street is Magic Kingdom was magical. It was also neat to run through portions of Animal Kingdom (I was able to ride Everest during the race!!), Epcot and Hollywood Studios. I committed to myself to enjoy the experience of the characters and wasn’t chasing a goal time. They probably had at least 30 character stops. There might’ve been more but there was a significant downpour for several miles and the characters get pulled.
Swag: The medals and shirts are nice! I chose not to wait for a half a day to visit the Merch area but it sounds like a lot of people really like to buy all of the merchandise. I liked that they had bananas on the course! They also had Sport Beans. Post race they provided plenty of water. Gatorade etc. They also had a nice snack pack for runners. Runner also got a set of Marathon edition Mickey ears.
All in all I had a great time and enjoyed this race!
Most fun I’ve had running a marathon
I’m not a huge Disney fan, but this was still the most fun I’ve had running a marathon. Once you let go of ego and quit worrying about your finishing … MORE
I’m not a huge Disney fan, but this was still the most fun I’ve had running a marathon. Once you let go of ego and quit worrying about your finishing time, this event gets a lot more enjoyable.
Nearly everyone I saw was doing some sort of Galloway method. For some it may have been a race strategy; for most, I suspect it was about soaking up the atmosphere. In fact, there were stretches where you had little choice but to slow down or walk due to congestion.
Character encounters were plentiful…at least one per mile until heavy rains soaked us around mile 7-8. After the rain passed, characters were back on the course…within 3-5 miles, I think. It was actually nice to stop once a mile to wait in a short line for a character encounter/photo op and catch your breath.
Water stations were plentiful, too: Water and Powerade every mile, with a few GU stops, too. Medical care was abundant. Support crews were friendly and energetic. Toilets seemed adequate, near as I could tell.
The course itself: Flat. A few baby hills while circling a highway on-ramp/off-ramp or too, but if you were put off by those “hills” you probably need to ramp up your hill training. They’re barely worth noting if you’ve trained on anything with more than 50-ft of total elevation gain.
The expo was…exactly what you’d expect from Disney. One arena was full of vendors selling you everything from run apparel to hairstyling products. The other was a typical Disney merchandise sales machine, with typically pricy Disney branded run apparel. There was some nice stuff…I just don’t wear Disney apparel, so I sure as heck didn’t need to pay a premium price to buy it. But to each his/her own.
The post-race was fine…food/beer/liquor for purchase, a free snack pack, and more merch in sizes that met the needs of very few runners (think XXXL shirts).
At the end of the day, this race is all about the Disney showmanship…all the typical race details are sorta trivial. My suggestion: Run this race, have the time of your life, where something fun, stop for as many character encounters as you can, and remember how to be a kid again for a few hours.
Great race, more fun than competitive
Great race, submit your proof of time as soon as you register so if your competitive you can run without the pack. I heard/saw many complaints online but being in … MORE
Great race, submit your proof of time as soon as you register so if your competitive you can run without the pack. I heard/saw many complaints online but being in group A, I had no issues running freely and enjoyed the race and all the festivities with it.
Parks were the best part
Very interesting race! Running through all the parks was a blast. Absolutely amazing time. As for the remaining part of the race, it was really brutal. LOTS of highway miles … MORE
Very interesting race! Running through all the parks was a blast. Absolutely amazing time. As for the remaining part of the race, it was really brutal. LOTS of highway miles (around 20 of them) which turns to being time long and boring.
Production wise, really well done. Easy transfer to my hotel after the race, and the expo was super simple.
Doesn't live up to the marketing hype
This race is excellent for those first time runners, who have proper training and feel prepared. I feel that runDisney is first and foremost a business, which gets prioritized over … MORE
This race is excellent for those first time runners, who have proper training and feel prepared. I feel that runDisney is first and foremost a business, which gets prioritized over supporting the runners. I highly recommend runners commit to local races and races put on by cities/towns first so that their race dollars go back to races that prioritize the running community.
The Pros: 1) The expo for every runDisney event is epic and well stocked. The swag is always super nice. 2) The Pacing Team, facilitated by Jeff Galloway and Chris Twigs are so hype and helpful! 3) THE SAVING grace to the runDisney experience: the Race Announcers, the Race Entertainment Team, and the Disney cast members. They see when folks are having a hard time and they make every effort to encourage you. 4) There are solid, helpful hydration and aid stations. 5) Finish line and party are fun whenever there isn’t bad weather and they are forcing you to run in it and then rushing you to your car. It was chaos in 2024. 6) the course is typically easy but you’ll be running on the “disney highways” for the majority of it.
The cons: 1)The races are really early, and you have to be in your corral MUCH earlier. Anticipate LOTS of walking to get to the start corral. If you are using on site transportation, plan for the extra time and significant walking before/after the race. 2) If you don’t seed into the beginning corrals, the course gets really crowded. There is a time limit, and so those beginners who are in the back definitely feel the pressure from the sweep team. 3) The attractions and character stops are nice if you are in the front. Otherwise the lines get very very very long. When I ran recently , they cut the course in half, due to weather. This made everything much more crowded than runDisney in the past. I was not able to get any character photos. 4) Also, they prioritize who spends the most. Dopey runners get the focus. If you are only running one race, it doesn’t seem as special in the event. It’s a weird vibe.
I tentatively plan to run another runDisney race in the future but I will absolutely make sure to submit fast qualifying times to see into the earlier corrals to make the price point and registration stress worthwhile. However, I need a few years to get over the hard that I experienced for the 2024 WDW Half.
Shortened course!
A storm was expected so they adjusted the start time & shortened the distance to 7 miles. It was very crowded on the course & almost half the participants walked … MORE
A storm was expected so they adjusted the start time & shortened the distance to 7 miles. It was very crowded on the course & almost half the participants walked the majority of the race. One complaint is-many runners weren’t using race etiquette and stopping & walking in front of people instead of moving to the opposite side of the path. This is a complaint because it’s dangerous for those actually running the course.
Fun Marathon
This was a fun experience. The best part of the marathon was running through the parks. Heads up- running through the parks is only for a very short distance compared … MORE
This was a fun experience. The best part of the marathon was running through the parks. Heads up- running through the parks is only for a very short distance compared to the rest of the marathon (maybe like 10 minutes out of over 5 hours?). Almost the entirety of this marathon is running on the highways, which was very boring. There were multiple characters throughout the marathon, which you could take pictures with. I went to Magic Kingdom later on in the day with my medal on and it was a lot of fun seeing all the other runners with their medals on as well. Beware- prepare yourself for the FREEZING cold waiting for the marathon to start!
Awesome experience
No better place to run a marathon! I did the foley in 2018 and came back this year. Great production as usual. Getting up at 3 in the morning is … MORE
No better place to run a marathon! I did the foley in 2018 and came back this year. Great production as usual. Getting up at 3 in the morning is always fun! Lol. Character stops were great. Well supported. Sufficient fuel along the course.
Every Mile is Magic
Disney always puts on a great race weekend. Easy transportation. This weekend, bag check was a little rough. I stood in a long line to drop my bag, maybe 15 … MORE
Disney always puts on a great race weekend. Easy transportation. This weekend, bag check was a little rough. I stood in a long line to drop my bag, maybe 15 minutes. Then it was a long walk to the chutes to start. Course was nice, flat, and entertaining. Lots of pace groups if that is your thing. Sometimes the courses get congested, which can be frustrating. The energy is electric at these races though. Great swag, and post race environment.