| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |
| H (°F) | 83 | 74 | 66 | 80 | 83 |
| L (°F) | 68 | 50 | 49 | 62 | 64 |
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.
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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.
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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!!!!!
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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!
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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.
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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!!
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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!
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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.
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I got talked into running the Dopey Challenge at Walt Disney World on Marathon weekend and I am so glad I did. Even though it was rough getting up at … MORE
I got talked into running the Dopey Challenge at Walt Disney World on Marathon weekend and I am so glad I did. Even though it was rough getting up at 2:30 each race morning, it was also nice to be done the race and still have time to go to a park.
The 5K and 10K races both started in the parking lot of Epcot. The half marathon and marathon started out on the road near Epcot. Be prepared for a long walk from Epcot out to the start line for the half marathon and full marathon. Each race had several characters along the route where you could stop and get your picture taken with them. Most of the time, the wait was not very long to get a picture taken, but the more popular characters had a longer wait.
The races also had many very large aid stations with water and sports drink. I was very grateful for the medical stops, especially for the marathon. I was able to stop and get some Vaseline for chafing that I was experiencing, but they also offered biofreeze, bags of ice and sunscreen.
The 5K ran only in and around Epcot. The 10K briefly went in Hollywood Studios and then back to Epcot. The half marathon went to Magic Kingdom and then back to Epcot. The full marathon went to Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, the parking lot of Blizzard Beach, briefly in Hollywood Studios and then back to Epcot. Excluding the 5K, each race had stretches of highway that could have been boring except that they had character stops and some entertainment.
My husband ran just the half marathon but the entire week he kept saying he wished he had done Dopey also. We will go back in a few years when he is ready to run all the races. The only thing I would do different next time is to run the races first and leave the park visits for the week after the races.
Transportation during the races was easy as buses were provided for those staying on Disney property to get to and return from the start/finish in Epcot.
For the Dopey Challenge I got six tech long-sleeved shirts and six medals. That’s one shirt and metal for each race plus a shirt and metal for the Goofy Challenge (completing both half marathon and full marathon) and another shirt and metal for the Dopey Challenge (completing all four races).
The only disappointment for me was the Expo. Packet pickup was fairly straight forward, but shopping for merchandise was time-consuming and a waste of time. The Expo opened on Wednesday morning at 8 AM. We didn’t get there until Wednesday around 1 PM. It took a couple of hours waiting in line just to get in to look at merchandise. By then, there was very little worthwhile merchandise left to buy, and I ended up getting just a Dopey Challenge magnet. The Expo was open several days but anyone who didn’t get there very early on the Wednesday (and was willing to wait in line for 5-6 hours) did not have a good selection.
The most fun thing about these races was the costumes. I dressed up in a different Disney character for each race, as did many, many other people. It was so much fun looking at everyone’s costumes, from the very simple to the very elaborate.
I can’t wait to go back!
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I got talked into running the Dopey Challenge at Walt Disney World on Marathon weekend and I am so glad I did. Even though it was rough getting up at … MORE
I got talked into running the Dopey Challenge at Walt Disney World on Marathon weekend and I am so glad I did. Even though it was rough getting up at 2:30 each race morning, it was also nice to be done the race and still have time to go to a park.
The 5K and 10K races both started in the parking lot of Epcot. The half marathon and marathon started out on the road near Epcot. Be prepared for a long walk from Epcot out to the start line for the half marathon and full marathon. Each race had several characters along the route where you could stop and get your picture taken with them. Most of the time, the wait was not very long to get a picture taken, but the more popular characters had a longer wait.
The races also had many very large aid stations with water and sports drink. I was very grateful for the medical stops, especially for the marathon. I was able to stop and get some Vaseline for chafing that I was experiencing, but they also offered biofreeze, bags of ice and sunscreen.
The 5K ran only in and around Epcot. The 10K briefly went in Hollywood Studios and then back to Epcot. The half marathon went to Magic Kingdom and then back to Epcot. The full marathon went to Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, the parking lot of Blizzard Beach, briefly in Hollywood Studios and then back to Epcot. Excluding the 5K, each race had stretches of highway that could have been boring except that they had character stops and some entertainment.
My husband ran just the half marathon but the entire week he kept saying he wished he had done Dopey also. We will go back in a few years when he is ready to run all the races. The only thing I would do different next time is to run the races first and leave the park visits for the week after the races.
Transportation during the races was easy as buses were provided for those staying on Disney property to get to and return from the start/finish in Epcot. I would recommend getting to the start very early to get a good position in the starting corral.
For the Dopey Challenge I got six tech long-sleeved shirts and six medals. That’s one shirt and metal for each race plus a shirt and metal for the Goofy Challenge (completing both half marathon and full marathon) and another shirt and metal for the Dopey Challenge (completing all four races).
The only disappointment for me was the Expo. Packet pickup was fairly straight forward, but shopping for merchandise was time-consuming and a waste of time. The Expo opened on Wednesday morning at 8 AM. We didn’t get there until Wednesday around 1 PM. It took a couple of hours waiting in line just to get in to look at merchandise. By then, there was very little worthwhile merchandise left to buy, and I ended up getting just a Dopey Challenge magnet. The Expo was open several days but anyone who didn’t get there very early on the Wednesday (and was willing to wait in line for 5-6 hours) did not have a good selection.
The most fun thing about these races was the costumes. I dressed up in a different Disney character for each race, as did many, many other people. It was so much fun looking at everyone’s costumes, from the very simple to the very elaborate.
I can’t wait to go back!
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You should run the Disney Marathon if you are looking for a fun race with good entertainment and an easy course. You should not run the Disney Marathon if you … MORE
You should run the Disney Marathon if you are looking for a fun race with good entertainment and an easy course. You should not run the Disney Marathon if you thrive on “ideal” race conditions.
… I share significantly more details in the full race report at the link below.
https://nowenthomas5.wixsite.com/website/post/2022-disney-marathon
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I got talked into running the Dopey Challenge at Walt Disney World on Marathon weekend and I am so glad I did. Even though it was rough getting up at … MORE
I got talked into running the Dopey Challenge at Walt Disney World on Marathon weekend and I am so glad I did. Even though it was rough getting up at 2:30 each race morning, it was also nice to be done the race and still have time to go to a park.
The 5K and 10K races both started in the parking lot of Epcot. The half marathon and marathon started out on the road near Epcot. Be prepared for a long walk from Epcot out to the start line for the half marathon and full marathon. Each race had several characters along the route where you could stop and get your picture taken with them. Most of the time, the wait was not very long to get a picture taken, but the more popular characters had a longer wait.
The races also had many very large aid stations with water and sports drink. I was very grateful for the medical stops, especially for the marathon. I was able to stop and get some Vaseline for chafing that I was experiencing, but they also offered biofreeze, bags of ice and sunscreen.
The 5K ran only in and around Epcot. The 10K briefly went in Hollywood Studios and then back to Epcot. The half marathon went to Magic Kingdom and then back to Epcot. The full marathon went to Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, the parking lot of Blizzard Beach, briefly in Hollywood Studios and then back to Epcot. Excluding the 5K, each race had stretches of highway that could have been boring except that they had character stops and some entertainment.
My husband ran just the half marathon but the entire week he kept saying he wished he had done Dopey also. We will go back in a few years when he is ready to run all the races. The only thing I would do different next time is to run the races first and leave the park visits for the week after the races.
Transportation during the races was easy as buses were provided for those staying on Disney property to get to and return from the start/finish in Epcot. I would recommend getting there very early to have a good position in the starting corral.
For the Dopey Challenge I got six tech long-sleeved shirts and six medals. That’s one shirt and metal for each race plus a shirt and metal for the Goofy Challenge (completing both half marathon and full marathon) and another shirt and metal for the Dopey Challenge (completing all four races).
The only disappointment for me was the Expo. Packet pickup was fairly straight forward, but shopping for merchandise was time-consuming and a waste of time. The Expo opened on Wednesday morning at 8 AM. We didn’t get there until Wednesday around 1 PM. It took a couple of hours waiting in line just to get in to look at merchandise. By then, there was very little worthwhile merchandise left to buy, and I ended up getting just a Dopey Challenge magnet. The Expo was open several days but anyone who didn’t get there very early on the Wednesday (and was willing to wait in line for 5-6 hours) did not have a good selection.
The most fun thing about these races was the costumes. I dressed up in a different Disney character for each race, as did many, many other people. It was so much fun looking at everyone’s costumes, from the very simple to the very elaborate.
I can’t wait to go back!
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This was my 1st in person WDW race since COVID. I wore a mask in corrals but most did not. I did not get COVID & many on Facebook posted … MORE
This was my 1st in person WDW race since COVID. I wore a mask in corrals but most did not. I did not get COVID & many on Facebook posted that they did. Photos with characters were at a distance and there were no characters after the race as was done in the past. Medal design was awesome! You have to look far to beat a Disney medal. Great photo ops on course. Fun event & I look forward to doing this next year.
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The 2022 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend Half Marathon was the third half-marathon I have run at WDW. (I ran the 2017 Wine and Dine and 2019 Half Marathon as … MORE
The 2022 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend Half Marathon was the third half-marathon I have run at WDW. (I ran the 2017 Wine and Dine and 2019 Half Marathon as part of Marathon Weekend previously.) During the 2022 weekend, I also ran the 5K and 10K races (everything short of the full marathon…just not ready for the full Dopey yet!). And, in all honesty, I think I have finally figured out how to run (and enjoy!) a runDisney event!
Given I was up at 2:45 am three days in a row for the three races I ran, this has the potential to be a tiring weekend. There is also the temptation to go to and spend time in the parks each day, which could add to the physical exhaustion. As I approached and planned for my trip, I made the conscious decision to build in time each day to take at least a two-hour nap either in the morning after each race or later in the day before dinner. This was critical to me not collapsing at any point during the trip!
When I participate in a runDisney race, I also make the decision that I will not be running for time. Instead, I’m trying to soak up every possible experience that I can on the race route. Disney races are known for the character stops along the way, and this race was no exception. I was able to get pictures during the Half Marathon with Mary Poppins and Burt, Clarabelle the Cow, Tinkerbell, Buzz Lightyear, and Thumper from Bambi. I also was able to get my picture made in front of the castle in the Magic Kingdom. Standing in line for each of these characters takes time, which is why I simply throw any time goal out the window for runDisney races.
As I mentioned, I do feel like I have figured out the “right way” to do runDisney races (at least for me) now that I have run a few. It’s important to know that runDisney is very strict about being able to finish the race at a 16-minute pace. About three “balloon ladies” walk at this pace after the last corral crosses the starting line, and if you get behind them at any point, you will be swept from the course. Everyone tries to avoid the “balloon ladies,” although I have heard they are actually very nice and supportive (albeit scary!).
In the past, runDisney has labeled their corrals with letters, but they numbered the corrals this year. I was in Corral 2 (of 6) for the Half Marathon, which made me feel less stressed about being swept if I stopped for multiple character pictures. It is important to be aware of your corral placement, and how that might help or be limiting to your experience. Keep in mind that there are also literally thousands of people in the corral with you…that are a number of “mini-waves” within each corral. By the time I crossed the starting line in Corral 2, there were probably 10 or so mini-waves that had already crossed the starting line (with the requisite fanfare ahead of me).
As far as the course itself goes, it is fairly flat with a couple of “hills” you have to climb in order to run across an overpass. There are also some significant stretches where it seems like there is “nothing”. Although it can be (and is!) fun to run through the parks and on Disney property, there are also some long stretches of highway between parks and these more scenic places. Disney does try to strategically place characters, but there is maybe one character/mile, which can make the rest of that mile a little boring at times. I still rated the scenery high, though, simply because Disney really does a great job of keeping things interesting. There are also some points on the course that are quite narrow, and given the volume of runners, I had to slow down, walk, or even stop in order not to trip or step on someone. And, because there are so many folks who participate in this race who are new to running, not everyone knows the proper “race etiquette” in these situations, which can be a little frustrating and dangerous, to be honest. There are ample water stops, medical tents, and port-a-potties and bathrooms, though.
Overall, I love the Marathon Weekend at Walt Disney World and am sure that I will sign up again for future races, Registration does fill up quickly (often within hours of it opening), so it’s important to be “fully in” before registration opens so that you are ready to go. And, I might also suggest making your hotel reservations before or immediately after securing your race registration and staying in one of the Disney resort hotels since it makes transportation the morning of the race SO much easier. Disney provides busses from the resort hotels to the race starting area for each race.
I have also joined a number of runDisney Facebook groups that have helped me prepare for and stay motivated with my training for this race as well. I encourage folks to find these to get more inside scoop and tips about these races if you’re interested in participating as well. Overall, a truly “magical” experience!
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I got talked into running the Dopey Challenge at Walt Disney World on Marathon weekend and I am so glad I did. Even though it was rough getting up at … MORE
I got talked into running the Dopey Challenge at Walt Disney World on Marathon weekend and I am so glad I did. Even though it was rough getting up at 2:30 each race morning, it was also nice to be done the race and still have time to go to a park.
The 5K and 10K races both started in the parking lot of Epcot. The half marathon and marathon started out on the road near Epcot. Be prepared for a long walk from Epcot out to the start line for the half marathon and full marathon. Each race had several characters along the route where you could stop and get your picture taken with them. Most of the time, the wait was not very long to get a picture taken, but the more popular characters had a longer wait.
The races also had many very large aid stations with water and sports drink. I was very grateful for the medical stops, especially for the marathon. I was able to stop and get some Vaseline for chafing that I was experiencing, but they also offered biofreeze, bags of ice and sunscreen.
The 5K ran only in and around Epcot. The 10K briefly went in Hollywood Studios and then back to Epcot. The half marathon went to Magic Kingdom and then back to Epcot. The full marathon went to Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, the parking lot of Blizzard Beach, briefly in Hollywood Studios and then back to Epcot. Excluding the 5K, each race had stretches of highway that could have been boring except that they had character stops and some entertainment.
My husband ran just the half marathon but the entire week he kept saying he wished he had done Dopey also. We will go back in a few years when he is ready to run all the races. The only thing I would do different next time is to run the races first and leave the park visits for the week after the races.
Transportation during the races was easy as buses were provided for those staying on Disney property to get to and return from the start/finish in Epcot.
For the Dopey Challenge I got six tech long-sleeved shirts and six medals. That’s one shirt and metal for each race plus a shirt and metal for the Goofy Challenge (completing both half marathon and full marathon) and another shirt and metal for the Dopey Challenge (completing all four races).
The only disappointment for me was the Expo. Packet pickup was fairly straight forward, but shopping for merchandise was time-consuming and a waste of time. The Expo opened on Wednesday morning at 8 AM. We didn’t get there until Wednesday around 1 PM. It took a couple of hours waiting in line just to get in to look at merchandise. By then, there was very little worthwhile merchandise left to buy, and I ended up getting just a Dopey Challenge magnet. The Expo was open several days but anyone who didn’t get there very early on the Wednesday (and was willing to wait in line for 5-6 hours) did not have a good selection.
The most fun thing about these races was the costumes. I dressed up in a different Disney character for each race, as did many, many other people. It was so much fun looking at everyone’s costumes, from the very simple to the very elaborate.
I can’t wait to go back!
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Although I have participated in the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend several years, this is the first time I have completed the 10k during the Marathon Weekend. And, this was … MORE
Although I have participated in the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend several years, this is the first time I have completed the 10k during the Marathon Weekend. And, this was the second of three races I ran this particular weekend in 2022. After having run the 5k the day before, I really enjoyed the 10k and felt like it was an even better race.
If you read my review of the 5k, you’ll see that there were a couple of drawbacks I noticed – people walking the race and it still being pretty dark at that hour along with limited character stops given the short distance of the race. I felt like the 10k was much better in both of these regards. The course could still be crowded at times, but it seemed as if the “flow” of participants was better, and there were significantly more character stops. I was able to get some cute pictures with Alice in Wonderland; Peter Pan and Wendy; and Winnie the Pooh. And, given the race went through Hollywood Studios as well as a small part of EPCOT, a number of the Toy Story characters were out as well – Woody, Bo Peep, and Forky!
As with every Disney race, this starts especially early (5:00 am) and it’s important to be on the shuttle at the hotel between 3:00 and 4:00 am (at the very latest). This can become a bit tiring after several days of getting up at 2:45 am!
In the future, I will likely try to wear a costume for this race, as it’s a short enough distance to not have to worry about too much chafing. And, a lot of participants are wearing fun and cute costumes during the 10k as well.
Oswald the Lucky Rabbit was the character for the 10k race this year, and the shirt and medal were very cute. Overall, another great experience at a Disney race! Sign me up for next year!!
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I got talked into running the Dopey Challenge at Walt Disney World on Marathon weekend and I am so glad I did. Even though it was rough getting up at … MORE
I got talked into running the Dopey Challenge at Walt Disney World on Marathon weekend and I am so glad I did. Even though it was rough getting up at 2:30 each race morning, it was also nice to be done the race and still have time to go to a park.
The 5K and 10K races both started in the parking lot of Epcot. The half marathon and marathon started out on the road near Epcot. Be prepared for a long walk from Epcot out to the start line for the half marathon and full marathon. Each race had several characters along the route where you could stop and get your picture taken with them. Most of the time, the wait was not very long to get a picture taken, but the more popular characters had a longer wait.
The races also had many very large aid stations with water and sports drink. I was very grateful for the medical stops, especially for the marathon. I was able to stop and get some Vaseline for chafing that I was experiencing, but they also offered biofreeze, bags of ice and sunscreen.
The 5K ran only in and around Epcot. The 10K briefly went in Hollywood Studios and then back to Epcot. The half marathon went to Magic Kingdom and then back to Epcot. The full marathon went to Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, the parking lot of Blizzard Beach, briefly in Hollywood Studios and then back to Epcot. Excluding the 5K, each race had stretches of highway that could have been boring except that they had character stops and some entertainment.
My husband ran just the half marathon but the entire week he kept saying he wished he had done Dopey also. We will go back in a few years when he is ready to run all the races. The only thing I would do different next time is to run the races first and leave the park visits for the week after the races.
Transportation during the races was easy as buses were provided for those staying on Disney property to get to and return from the start/finish in Epcot.
For the Dopey Challenge I got six tech long-sleeved shirts and six medals. That’s one shirt and metal for each race plus a shirt and metal for the Goofy Challenge (completing both half marathon and full marathon) and another shirt and metal for the Dopey Challenge (completing all four races).
The only disappointment for me was the Expo. Packet pickup was fairly straight forward, but shopping for merchandise was time-consuming and a waste of time. The Expo opened on Wednesday morning at 8 AM. We didn’t get there until Wednesday around 1 PM. It took a couple of hours waiting in line just to get in to look at merchandise. By then, there was very little worthwhile merchandise left to buy, and I ended up getting just a Dopey Challenge magnet. The Expo was open several days but anyone who didn’t get there very early on the Wednesday (and was willing to wait in line for 5-6 hours) did not have a good selection.
The most fun thing about these races was the costumes. I dressed up in a different Disney character for each race, as did many, many other people. It was so much fun looking at everyone’s costumes, from the very simple to the very elaborate.
I can’t wait to go back!
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The weather for WDW Marathon Weekend was great, cool in the morning and warmer as the day progressed. Early mornings was something I was told is the hardest thing about … MORE
The weather for WDW Marathon Weekend was great, cool in the morning and warmer as the day progressed. Early mornings was something I was told is the hardest thing about doing the Dopey Challenge. The early mornings were just part of the experience, did not seem to have an impact on us.
What was a little dis heartening was the walk to the start line. The 5K and 10K had about a mile walk to the corals and the 1/2 marathon and marathon had a good two mile walk to the corals.
Day 1 – Epcot and Expo
Day 2 – 5K and Magic Kingdom
Day 3 – 10K and Animal Kingdom
Day 4 – 1/2 Marathon and Rest
Day 5 – Marathon and Rest
Day 6 – Hollywood Studios
I was expecting the Marathon on day 5 to be much more difficult than it was but there are so many distractions from character stops, sights to see, running through the parks, water stops and music that keep your mind off of the distance you have left. The miles just seem to add up as you continue without noticing how far you’ve gone. The experience was great and was a lot of fun, but what do you expect when going to WDW.
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Does a 5K get any better or magical than one at Walt Disney World?? For a short race, this is a really fun (albeit expensive!) option. This was my second … MORE
Does a 5K get any better or magical than one at Walt Disney World?? For a short race, this is a really fun (albeit expensive!) option. This was my second time to run/walk a 5k during the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend, and I enjoyed this one even more than the first, probably because I had a better sense of what to expect and how to prepare.
As with all the Disney races, the 5k starts at 5:00 am, but shuttles begin departing resort hotels at 3:00 am. So, I was up at 2:45 am to get ready and catch the bus to the resort. (Plus, if you’re spending all that money on the race, you definitely don’t want to miss it!) My assumption is also that the most people participate in the 5k of the four races presented that weekend, so it can be a bit crowded getting to the start line and then throughout the race.
Overall, I had another great experience at the 5k. Given the short distance of the race, there aren’t a lot of character stops (as there are during the 10k, half marathon, and marathon), but I managed to get a picture with Lumiere and Cogsworth from Beauty and the Beast. There were a few other options this year (Pinocchio and Abu from Aladdin, to name a couple), but I didn’t bother to stop for those just because they didn’t interest me as much and there is still a 16-minute/mile time limit as there is with other races (although the race is not officially timed) and I didn’t want to get swept.
A lot of participants choose to wear costumes for the race, which are really fun. In the future, this is something I would like to do also…just ran out of planning time this year! It’s also important to note that the race course can be quite crowded and most people seem to be walking the race. Given it’s also dark when the race starts (and ends for some folks!), the conditions can be a little dangerous. It’s important to be aware of this.
As I mentioned, I really enjoy this race and hope to sign up in future years as well. Being prepared to sign up the day the registration goes “live” is critical…it sells out quickly! And, like all other Disney races, there is a great shirt, and the medals this year were especially cool! Overall, another magical experience!!
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The Disney Marathon is amazing-- I guess I feel that way because I think that Disney is awesome. I have run the Disney Marathon 8 times. It was my first … MORE
The Disney Marathon is amazing– I guess I feel that way because I think that Disney is awesome. I have run the Disney Marathon 8 times. It was my first marathon, it was my fastest marathon, and it is the one I love to run every year! I suppose that is enough of a review.
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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!!
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.
WDW Dopey Challenge-can't wait to repeat
I got talked into running the Dopey Challenge at Walt Disney World on Marathon weekend and I am so glad I did. Even though it was rough getting up at … MORE
I got talked into running the Dopey Challenge at Walt Disney World on Marathon weekend and I am so glad I did. Even though it was rough getting up at 2:30 each race morning, it was also nice to be done the race and still have time to go to a park.
The 5K and 10K races both started in the parking lot of Epcot. The half marathon and marathon started out on the road near Epcot. Be prepared for a long walk from Epcot out to the start line for the half marathon and full marathon. Each race had several characters along the route where you could stop and get your picture taken with them. Most of the time, the wait was not very long to get a picture taken, but the more popular characters had a longer wait.
The races also had many very large aid stations with water and sports drink. I was very grateful for the medical stops, especially for the marathon. I was able to stop and get some Vaseline for chafing that I was experiencing, but they also offered biofreeze, bags of ice and sunscreen.
The 5K ran only in and around Epcot. The 10K briefly went in Hollywood Studios and then back to Epcot. The half marathon went to Magic Kingdom and then back to Epcot. The full marathon went to Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, the parking lot of Blizzard Beach, briefly in Hollywood Studios and then back to Epcot. Excluding the 5K, each race had stretches of highway that could have been boring except that they had character stops and some entertainment.
My husband ran just the half marathon but the entire week he kept saying he wished he had done Dopey also. We will go back in a few years when he is ready to run all the races. The only thing I would do different next time is to run the races first and leave the park visits for the week after the races.
Transportation during the races was easy as buses were provided for those staying on Disney property to get to and return from the start/finish in Epcot.
For the Dopey Challenge I got six tech long-sleeved shirts and six medals. That’s one shirt and metal for each race plus a shirt and metal for the Goofy Challenge (completing both half marathon and full marathon) and another shirt and metal for the Dopey Challenge (completing all four races).
The only disappointment for me was the Expo. Packet pickup was fairly straight forward, but shopping for merchandise was time-consuming and a waste of time. The Expo opened on Wednesday morning at 8 AM. We didn’t get there until Wednesday around 1 PM. It took a couple of hours waiting in line just to get in to look at merchandise. By then, there was very little worthwhile merchandise left to buy, and I ended up getting just a Dopey Challenge magnet. The Expo was open several days but anyone who didn’t get there very early on the Wednesday (and was willing to wait in line for 5-6 hours) did not have a good selection.
The most fun thing about these races was the costumes. I dressed up in a different Disney character for each race, as did many, many other people. It was so much fun looking at everyone’s costumes, from the very simple to the very elaborate.
I can’t wait to go back!
Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend
I got talked into running the Dopey Challenge at Walt Disney World on Marathon weekend and I am so glad I did. Even though it was rough getting up at … MORE
I got talked into running the Dopey Challenge at Walt Disney World on Marathon weekend and I am so glad I did. Even though it was rough getting up at 2:30 each race morning, it was also nice to be done the race and still have time to go to a park.
The 5K and 10K races both started in the parking lot of Epcot. The half marathon and marathon started out on the road near Epcot. Be prepared for a long walk from Epcot out to the start line for the half marathon and full marathon. Each race had several characters along the route where you could stop and get your picture taken with them. Most of the time, the wait was not very long to get a picture taken, but the more popular characters had a longer wait.
The races also had many very large aid stations with water and sports drink. I was very grateful for the medical stops, especially for the marathon. I was able to stop and get some Vaseline for chafing that I was experiencing, but they also offered biofreeze, bags of ice and sunscreen.
The 5K ran only in and around Epcot. The 10K briefly went in Hollywood Studios and then back to Epcot. The half marathon went to Magic Kingdom and then back to Epcot. The full marathon went to Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, the parking lot of Blizzard Beach, briefly in Hollywood Studios and then back to Epcot. Excluding the 5K, each race had stretches of highway that could have been boring except that they had character stops and some entertainment.
My husband ran just the half marathon but the entire week he kept saying he wished he had done Dopey also. We will go back in a few years when he is ready to run all the races. The only thing I would do different next time is to run the races first and leave the park visits for the week after the races.
Transportation during the races was easy as buses were provided for those staying on Disney property to get to and return from the start/finish in Epcot. I would recommend getting to the start very early to get a good position in the starting corral.
For the Dopey Challenge I got six tech long-sleeved shirts and six medals. That’s one shirt and metal for each race plus a shirt and metal for the Goofy Challenge (completing both half marathon and full marathon) and another shirt and metal for the Dopey Challenge (completing all four races).
The only disappointment for me was the Expo. Packet pickup was fairly straight forward, but shopping for merchandise was time-consuming and a waste of time. The Expo opened on Wednesday morning at 8 AM. We didn’t get there until Wednesday around 1 PM. It took a couple of hours waiting in line just to get in to look at merchandise. By then, there was very little worthwhile merchandise left to buy, and I ended up getting just a Dopey Challenge magnet. The Expo was open several days but anyone who didn’t get there very early on the Wednesday (and was willing to wait in line for 5-6 hours) did not have a good selection.
The most fun thing about these races was the costumes. I dressed up in a different Disney character for each race, as did many, many other people. It was so much fun looking at everyone’s costumes, from the very simple to the very elaborate.
I can’t wait to go back!
Fun, Easy, Great Entertainment!
You should run the Disney Marathon if you are looking for a fun race with good entertainment and an easy course. You should not run the Disney Marathon if you … MORE
You should run the Disney Marathon if you are looking for a fun race with good entertainment and an easy course. You should not run the Disney Marathon if you thrive on “ideal” race conditions.
… I share significantly more details in the full race report at the link below.
https://nowenthomas5.wixsite.com/website/post/2022-disney-marathon
Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend
I got talked into running the Dopey Challenge at Walt Disney World on Marathon weekend and I am so glad I did. Even though it was rough getting up at … MORE
I got talked into running the Dopey Challenge at Walt Disney World on Marathon weekend and I am so glad I did. Even though it was rough getting up at 2:30 each race morning, it was also nice to be done the race and still have time to go to a park.
The 5K and 10K races both started in the parking lot of Epcot. The half marathon and marathon started out on the road near Epcot. Be prepared for a long walk from Epcot out to the start line for the half marathon and full marathon. Each race had several characters along the route where you could stop and get your picture taken with them. Most of the time, the wait was not very long to get a picture taken, but the more popular characters had a longer wait.
The races also had many very large aid stations with water and sports drink. I was very grateful for the medical stops, especially for the marathon. I was able to stop and get some Vaseline for chafing that I was experiencing, but they also offered biofreeze, bags of ice and sunscreen.
The 5K ran only in and around Epcot. The 10K briefly went in Hollywood Studios and then back to Epcot. The half marathon went to Magic Kingdom and then back to Epcot. The full marathon went to Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, the parking lot of Blizzard Beach, briefly in Hollywood Studios and then back to Epcot. Excluding the 5K, each race had stretches of highway that could have been boring except that they had character stops and some entertainment.
My husband ran just the half marathon but the entire week he kept saying he wished he had done Dopey also. We will go back in a few years when he is ready to run all the races. The only thing I would do different next time is to run the races first and leave the park visits for the week after the races.
Transportation during the races was easy as buses were provided for those staying on Disney property to get to and return from the start/finish in Epcot. I would recommend getting there very early to have a good position in the starting corral.
For the Dopey Challenge I got six tech long-sleeved shirts and six medals. That’s one shirt and metal for each race plus a shirt and metal for the Goofy Challenge (completing both half marathon and full marathon) and another shirt and metal for the Dopey Challenge (completing all four races).
The only disappointment for me was the Expo. Packet pickup was fairly straight forward, but shopping for merchandise was time-consuming and a waste of time. The Expo opened on Wednesday morning at 8 AM. We didn’t get there until Wednesday around 1 PM. It took a couple of hours waiting in line just to get in to look at merchandise. By then, there was very little worthwhile merchandise left to buy, and I ended up getting just a Dopey Challenge magnet. The Expo was open several days but anyone who didn’t get there very early on the Wednesday (and was willing to wait in line for 5-6 hours) did not have a good selection.
The most fun thing about these races was the costumes. I dressed up in a different Disney character for each race, as did many, many other people. It was so much fun looking at everyone’s costumes, from the very simple to the very elaborate.
I can’t wait to go back!
In person but still COVID restrictions.
This was my 1st in person WDW race since COVID. I wore a mask in corrals but most did not. I did not get COVID & many on Facebook posted … MORE
This was my 1st in person WDW race since COVID. I wore a mask in corrals but most did not. I did not get COVID & many on Facebook posted that they did. Photos with characters were at a distance and there were no characters after the race as was done in the past. Medal design was awesome! You have to look far to beat a Disney medal. Great photo ops on course. Fun event & I look forward to doing this next year.
Every mile is magical!
The 2022 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend Half Marathon was the third half-marathon I have run at WDW. (I ran the 2017 Wine and Dine and 2019 Half Marathon as … MORE
The 2022 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend Half Marathon was the third half-marathon I have run at WDW. (I ran the 2017 Wine and Dine and 2019 Half Marathon as part of Marathon Weekend previously.) During the 2022 weekend, I also ran the 5K and 10K races (everything short of the full marathon…just not ready for the full Dopey yet!). And, in all honesty, I think I have finally figured out how to run (and enjoy!) a runDisney event!
Given I was up at 2:45 am three days in a row for the three races I ran, this has the potential to be a tiring weekend. There is also the temptation to go to and spend time in the parks each day, which could add to the physical exhaustion. As I approached and planned for my trip, I made the conscious decision to build in time each day to take at least a two-hour nap either in the morning after each race or later in the day before dinner. This was critical to me not collapsing at any point during the trip!
When I participate in a runDisney race, I also make the decision that I will not be running for time. Instead, I’m trying to soak up every possible experience that I can on the race route. Disney races are known for the character stops along the way, and this race was no exception. I was able to get pictures during the Half Marathon with Mary Poppins and Burt, Clarabelle the Cow, Tinkerbell, Buzz Lightyear, and Thumper from Bambi. I also was able to get my picture made in front of the castle in the Magic Kingdom. Standing in line for each of these characters takes time, which is why I simply throw any time goal out the window for runDisney races.
As I mentioned, I do feel like I have figured out the “right way” to do runDisney races (at least for me) now that I have run a few. It’s important to know that runDisney is very strict about being able to finish the race at a 16-minute pace. About three “balloon ladies” walk at this pace after the last corral crosses the starting line, and if you get behind them at any point, you will be swept from the course. Everyone tries to avoid the “balloon ladies,” although I have heard they are actually very nice and supportive (albeit scary!).
In the past, runDisney has labeled their corrals with letters, but they numbered the corrals this year. I was in Corral 2 (of 6) for the Half Marathon, which made me feel less stressed about being swept if I stopped for multiple character pictures. It is important to be aware of your corral placement, and how that might help or be limiting to your experience. Keep in mind that there are also literally thousands of people in the corral with you…that are a number of “mini-waves” within each corral. By the time I crossed the starting line in Corral 2, there were probably 10 or so mini-waves that had already crossed the starting line (with the requisite fanfare ahead of me).
As far as the course itself goes, it is fairly flat with a couple of “hills” you have to climb in order to run across an overpass. There are also some significant stretches where it seems like there is “nothing”. Although it can be (and is!) fun to run through the parks and on Disney property, there are also some long stretches of highway between parks and these more scenic places. Disney does try to strategically place characters, but there is maybe one character/mile, which can make the rest of that mile a little boring at times. I still rated the scenery high, though, simply because Disney really does a great job of keeping things interesting. There are also some points on the course that are quite narrow, and given the volume of runners, I had to slow down, walk, or even stop in order not to trip or step on someone. And, because there are so many folks who participate in this race who are new to running, not everyone knows the proper “race etiquette” in these situations, which can be a little frustrating and dangerous, to be honest. There are ample water stops, medical tents, and port-a-potties and bathrooms, though.
Overall, I love the Marathon Weekend at Walt Disney World and am sure that I will sign up again for future races, Registration does fill up quickly (often within hours of it opening), so it’s important to be “fully in” before registration opens so that you are ready to go. And, I might also suggest making your hotel reservations before or immediately after securing your race registration and staying in one of the Disney resort hotels since it makes transportation the morning of the race SO much easier. Disney provides busses from the resort hotels to the race starting area for each race.
I have also joined a number of runDisney Facebook groups that have helped me prepare for and stay motivated with my training for this race as well. I encourage folks to find these to get more inside scoop and tips about these races if you’re interested in participating as well. Overall, a truly “magical” experience!
Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend
I got talked into running the Dopey Challenge at Walt Disney World on Marathon weekend and I am so glad I did. Even though it was rough getting up at … MORE
I got talked into running the Dopey Challenge at Walt Disney World on Marathon weekend and I am so glad I did. Even though it was rough getting up at 2:30 each race morning, it was also nice to be done the race and still have time to go to a park.
The 5K and 10K races both started in the parking lot of Epcot. The half marathon and marathon started out on the road near Epcot. Be prepared for a long walk from Epcot out to the start line for the half marathon and full marathon. Each race had several characters along the route where you could stop and get your picture taken with them. Most of the time, the wait was not very long to get a picture taken, but the more popular characters had a longer wait.
The races also had many very large aid stations with water and sports drink. I was very grateful for the medical stops, especially for the marathon. I was able to stop and get some Vaseline for chafing that I was experiencing, but they also offered biofreeze, bags of ice and sunscreen.
The 5K ran only in and around Epcot. The 10K briefly went in Hollywood Studios and then back to Epcot. The half marathon went to Magic Kingdom and then back to Epcot. The full marathon went to Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, the parking lot of Blizzard Beach, briefly in Hollywood Studios and then back to Epcot. Excluding the 5K, each race had stretches of highway that could have been boring except that they had character stops and some entertainment.
My husband ran just the half marathon but the entire week he kept saying he wished he had done Dopey also. We will go back in a few years when he is ready to run all the races. The only thing I would do different next time is to run the races first and leave the park visits for the week after the races.
Transportation during the races was easy as buses were provided for those staying on Disney property to get to and return from the start/finish in Epcot.
For the Dopey Challenge I got six tech long-sleeved shirts and six medals. That’s one shirt and metal for each race plus a shirt and metal for the Goofy Challenge (completing both half marathon and full marathon) and another shirt and metal for the Dopey Challenge (completing all four races).
The only disappointment for me was the Expo. Packet pickup was fairly straight forward, but shopping for merchandise was time-consuming and a waste of time. The Expo opened on Wednesday morning at 8 AM. We didn’t get there until Wednesday around 1 PM. It took a couple of hours waiting in line just to get in to look at merchandise. By then, there was very little worthwhile merchandise left to buy, and I ended up getting just a Dopey Challenge magnet. The Expo was open several days but anyone who didn’t get there very early on the Wednesday (and was willing to wait in line for 5-6 hours) did not have a good selection.
The most fun thing about these races was the costumes. I dressed up in a different Disney character for each race, as did many, many other people. It was so much fun looking at everyone’s costumes, from the very simple to the very elaborate.
I can’t wait to go back!
A most magical 10k!
Although I have participated in the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend several years, this is the first time I have completed the 10k during the Marathon Weekend. And, this was … MORE
Although I have participated in the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend several years, this is the first time I have completed the 10k during the Marathon Weekend. And, this was the second of three races I ran this particular weekend in 2022. After having run the 5k the day before, I really enjoyed the 10k and felt like it was an even better race.
If you read my review of the 5k, you’ll see that there were a couple of drawbacks I noticed – people walking the race and it still being pretty dark at that hour along with limited character stops given the short distance of the race. I felt like the 10k was much better in both of these regards. The course could still be crowded at times, but it seemed as if the “flow” of participants was better, and there were significantly more character stops. I was able to get some cute pictures with Alice in Wonderland; Peter Pan and Wendy; and Winnie the Pooh. And, given the race went through Hollywood Studios as well as a small part of EPCOT, a number of the Toy Story characters were out as well – Woody, Bo Peep, and Forky!
As with every Disney race, this starts especially early (5:00 am) and it’s important to be on the shuttle at the hotel between 3:00 and 4:00 am (at the very latest). This can become a bit tiring after several days of getting up at 2:45 am!
In the future, I will likely try to wear a costume for this race, as it’s a short enough distance to not have to worry about too much chafing. And, a lot of participants are wearing fun and cute costumes during the 10k as well.
Oswald the Lucky Rabbit was the character for the 10k race this year, and the shirt and medal were very cute. Overall, another great experience at a Disney race! Sign me up for next year!!
Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend
I got talked into running the Dopey Challenge at Walt Disney World on Marathon weekend and I am so glad I did. Even though it was rough getting up at … MORE
I got talked into running the Dopey Challenge at Walt Disney World on Marathon weekend and I am so glad I did. Even though it was rough getting up at 2:30 each race morning, it was also nice to be done the race and still have time to go to a park.
The 5K and 10K races both started in the parking lot of Epcot. The half marathon and marathon started out on the road near Epcot. Be prepared for a long walk from Epcot out to the start line for the half marathon and full marathon. Each race had several characters along the route where you could stop and get your picture taken with them. Most of the time, the wait was not very long to get a picture taken, but the more popular characters had a longer wait.
The races also had many very large aid stations with water and sports drink. I was very grateful for the medical stops, especially for the marathon. I was able to stop and get some Vaseline for chafing that I was experiencing, but they also offered biofreeze, bags of ice and sunscreen.
The 5K ran only in and around Epcot. The 10K briefly went in Hollywood Studios and then back to Epcot. The half marathon went to Magic Kingdom and then back to Epcot. The full marathon went to Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, the parking lot of Blizzard Beach, briefly in Hollywood Studios and then back to Epcot. Excluding the 5K, each race had stretches of highway that could have been boring except that they had character stops and some entertainment.
My husband ran just the half marathon but the entire week he kept saying he wished he had done Dopey also. We will go back in a few years when he is ready to run all the races. The only thing I would do different next time is to run the races first and leave the park visits for the week after the races.
Transportation during the races was easy as buses were provided for those staying on Disney property to get to and return from the start/finish in Epcot.
For the Dopey Challenge I got six tech long-sleeved shirts and six medals. That’s one shirt and metal for each race plus a shirt and metal for the Goofy Challenge (completing both half marathon and full marathon) and another shirt and metal for the Dopey Challenge (completing all four races).
The only disappointment for me was the Expo. Packet pickup was fairly straight forward, but shopping for merchandise was time-consuming and a waste of time. The Expo opened on Wednesday morning at 8 AM. We didn’t get there until Wednesday around 1 PM. It took a couple of hours waiting in line just to get in to look at merchandise. By then, there was very little worthwhile merchandise left to buy, and I ended up getting just a Dopey Challenge magnet. The Expo was open several days but anyone who didn’t get there very early on the Wednesday (and was willing to wait in line for 5-6 hours) did not have a good selection.
The most fun thing about these races was the costumes. I dressed up in a different Disney character for each race, as did many, many other people. It was so much fun looking at everyone’s costumes, from the very simple to the very elaborate.
I can’t wait to go back!
Magical Miles
The weather for WDW Marathon Weekend was great, cool in the morning and warmer as the day progressed. Early mornings was something I was told is the hardest thing about … MORE
The weather for WDW Marathon Weekend was great, cool in the morning and warmer as the day progressed. Early mornings was something I was told is the hardest thing about doing the Dopey Challenge. The early mornings were just part of the experience, did not seem to have an impact on us.
What was a little dis heartening was the walk to the start line. The 5K and 10K had about a mile walk to the corals and the 1/2 marathon and marathon had a good two mile walk to the corals.
Day 1 – Epcot and Expo
Day 2 – 5K and Magic Kingdom
Day 3 – 10K and Animal Kingdom
Day 4 – 1/2 Marathon and Rest
Day 5 – Marathon and Rest
Day 6 – Hollywood Studios
I was expecting the Marathon on day 5 to be much more difficult than it was but there are so many distractions from character stops, sights to see, running through the parks, water stops and music that keep your mind off of the distance you have left. The miles just seem to add up as you continue without noticing how far you’ve gone. The experience was great and was a lot of fun, but what do you expect when going to WDW.
A most magical 5k!
Does a 5K get any better or magical than one at Walt Disney World?? For a short race, this is a really fun (albeit expensive!) option. This was my second … MORE
Does a 5K get any better or magical than one at Walt Disney World?? For a short race, this is a really fun (albeit expensive!) option. This was my second time to run/walk a 5k during the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend, and I enjoyed this one even more than the first, probably because I had a better sense of what to expect and how to prepare.
As with all the Disney races, the 5k starts at 5:00 am, but shuttles begin departing resort hotels at 3:00 am. So, I was up at 2:45 am to get ready and catch the bus to the resort. (Plus, if you’re spending all that money on the race, you definitely don’t want to miss it!) My assumption is also that the most people participate in the 5k of the four races presented that weekend, so it can be a bit crowded getting to the start line and then throughout the race.
Overall, I had another great experience at the 5k. Given the short distance of the race, there aren’t a lot of character stops (as there are during the 10k, half marathon, and marathon), but I managed to get a picture with Lumiere and Cogsworth from Beauty and the Beast. There were a few other options this year (Pinocchio and Abu from Aladdin, to name a couple), but I didn’t bother to stop for those just because they didn’t interest me as much and there is still a 16-minute/mile time limit as there is with other races (although the race is not officially timed) and I didn’t want to get swept.
A lot of participants choose to wear costumes for the race, which are really fun. In the future, this is something I would like to do also…just ran out of planning time this year! It’s also important to note that the race course can be quite crowded and most people seem to be walking the race. Given it’s also dark when the race starts (and ends for some folks!), the conditions can be a little dangerous. It’s important to be aware of this.
As I mentioned, I really enjoy this race and hope to sign up in future years as well. Being prepared to sign up the day the registration goes “live” is critical…it sells out quickly! And, like all other Disney races, there is a great shirt, and the medals this year were especially cool! Overall, another magical experience!!
Love Disney, Love Disney Marathon
The Disney Marathon is amazing-- I guess I feel that way because I think that Disney is awesome. I have run the Disney Marathon 8 times. It was my first … MORE
The Disney Marathon is amazing– I guess I feel that way because I think that Disney is awesome. I have run the Disney Marathon 8 times. It was my first marathon, it was my fastest marathon, and it is the one I love to run every year! I suppose that is enough of a review.