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.
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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.
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.
A MUST DO
First of all, if you PR a Diz race, you’re not doing it right. Btwn character stops, entertainment & the potential to grab a drink in Epcot, there is sooo … MORE
First of all, if you PR a Diz race, you’re not doing it right. Btwn character stops, entertainment & the potential to grab a drink in Epcot, there is sooo much to do to keep you entertained. This is the only race i dont wear my earbuds during. No need to. Theres so much more going on. DO IT!!!!!
Disney Running Magic
Running disney is a dream and the goofy was the most fun I could have distance running. - The expo: I was a little afraid of this cause I'm in … MORE
Running disney is a dream and the goofy was the most fun I could have distance running.
– The expo: I was a little afraid of this cause I’m in rundisney facebook groups and it seems like the first day is very very very crowded and a fight for “Hot” merch, but I went on friday (the day before my half) and didn’t wait in any lines and got a really cool marathon jacket!
– The races: I took my time for the half and stopped for every character! I literally didn’t stop smiling the whole time I was running! Disney has photographers on course so you can purchase those tickets but at each character, a cast member would take my phone and take pics. The marathon was awesome and I PR’ed. I would say there’s almost too many aid stations, but it was great for keeping me hydrated! These races are truly the most fun that you can have while running!
A Race to have fun
There are cool mile markers, and stops to take pictures with many Disney characters, so I would make an allotment of time to do this and perhaps not worry about … MORE
There are cool mile markers, and stops to take pictures with many Disney characters, so I would make an allotment of time to do this and perhaps not worry about finish time as much, wish I knew this going into it. I lucked out, because the weather was perfect for running at 49 -54 F. Have your camera out and ready or wear a go pro camera when entering the Magic Kingdom.
Perfect
Everything about marathon weekend is perfect- except maybe the 230 AM wake-ups! The Dopey Challenge was just that... a Challenge! But I would do it again in a heartbeat!! MORE
Everything about marathon weekend is perfect- except maybe the 230 AM wake-ups! The Dopey Challenge was just that… a Challenge! But I would do it again in a heartbeat!!
Best ever first marathon!!
Truly amazing for a first marathon ever! This race will hold a special place in my heart. Lots of characters, entertainment, spectators, you name it, Disney has it. MORE
Truly amazing for a first marathon ever! This race will hold a special place in my heart. Lots of characters, entertainment, spectators, you name it, Disney has it.
Love the Disney Marathon
The Disney Marathon continues to be my favorite marathon. I have run it 10 times or more and I have continued to love to run it. It really is an … MORE
The Disney Marathon continues to be my favorite marathon. I have run it 10 times or more and I have continued to love to run it. It really is an awesome race. I have also learned that you don’t need to get there as early as they say you do. I typically get there 1 hour before the race starts and then I walk to the start. There are so many rolling starts that sometimes I get into a different corral, but it is fine. If you love Disney, this is the race you need to do before you die!
First Marathon
Disney Marathon! It’s a great race. A lot of fun! Running through the parks is fantastic. Crowd support, even during Covid was great! There is a stretch between parks that … MORE
Disney Marathon! It’s a great race. A lot of fun! Running through the parks is fantastic. Crowd support, even during Covid was great! There is a stretch between parks that is t very nice but that is okay given the rest of the race.