2026 Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend

[Naomeri]

This appears to be true.

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I absolutely can’t do W&D26, because I need to save PTO (and money ) to rollover to 2027 to do Dopey, but I love these themes!!

ETA: on the other hand, I’m not sad to miss out on the chance to be a guinea pig for this new 5K experiment, which is guaranteed to be insanity the first time around.

 

[DianaMB333]

Cool graphics.. I will do the challenge, as will do Halloween Party the night before 5k and this year I will not be sleep deprived all weekend LOL

What do those characters have in common for storyline?

 

[Novatrix]

I booked a DVC room post-MW for these dates just in case I liked the themes, and I do particularly love the half marathon theme. (And the 5k too, but no way I'm waking up that early for a 5k not part of a challenge.)

Looks like I might try for the challenge or half.

 

[The Expert]

5K - Aristocats

Well, CRAP! We weren't even coming down in October this year, since I'm running Chicago. But I may have to pop down for a few days and stay with my mom just for the 5K.

Did anyone else notice the 5k start times will range from 430am to 730am? They weren’t kidding when they said they were adding more entries.

Once again I can't help but feel like with anything else runDisney, this first weekend will be a complete disaster.

Yep, all of this. And of course, the 5K is the only race I'm interested in (though I love the Challenge theme). I volunteer as tribute I guess.

What do those characters have in common for storyline?

They all tie to World Showcase countries! France, Mexico, UK and Germany.

 

[FFigawi]

I thought they would expand the start window but my guess was that it would result some starts at 6:30. This is a huge window, which could mean quicker photo op lines for everyone, but also that they probably have to push a 16 min pace.

@FFigawi You gotta run the 5k five times now!

Or drop back for a later start and have pre-race beers. Or both.

 

[eminemilie]

Yep, all of this. And of course, the 5K is the only race I'm interested in (though I love the Challenge theme). I volunteer as tribute I guess.

I will be a tribute too. There's zero chance I'm missing this race lol

 

[Fenway1970]

ETA: on the other hand, I’m not sad to miss out on the chance to be a guinea pig for this new 5K experiment, which is guaranteed to be insanity the first time around.

And only slightly less likely to still be insanity come January. What letter will the corrals go up to this time? Z??

I was in F corral for this past Dopey (as compared to C and D for the previous ones I've run), and I found my biggest discomfort from that came not from worrying about where I was starting relative to the Balloon Ladies so much as it was the additional waiting around to get going. (Thankfully it was at least warm this time.)

If nothing else this incentivizes me to train for time in the 10-miler I'm running in May so I can put up a decent POT for Dopey '27 and hopefully not be in corral Q or whatever. Time to schedule some speed work!

With all that said, the W&D themes are pretty sweet. My runDisney experiences have all been limited to Marathon Weekend but Grumpy there is making me at least consider this one.

 

[jmasgat]

Anyone else have the thought that the theme artwork will translate into yet another large inflexible shirt front graphic? And so many questions about how they will change the 5k pre/race/post logistics. The cynic in me (~80% by body weight) says it will not go well.

That said, I would love the Mary Poppins theme.

 

[KellyKateri]

Soooo I had committed to the two course challenge before the announcement because wine and dine was my favorite weekend this past year. But the aristocats for the 5K?!? Looks like I am trying to run them all.

W&D overlaps with DC MCM weekend again, but I got into Chicago via lottery so W&D wins this year!

 

[FFigawi]

Anyone else have the thought that the theme artwork will translate into yet another large inflexible shirt front graphic? And so many questions about how they will change the 5k pre/race/post logistics. The cynic in me (~80% by body weight) says it will not go well.

That said, I would love the Mary Poppins theme.

Soooooo many questions….
- will they assign start groups like NY and other big marathons?
- how will they prevent, or will they prevent, everyone from dropping back to a 7-730 start?
- will they begin using a PoT for the 5k?
- will they enforce a time limit on all starting times to prevent people from having a 4-hour 5k?
- how long will those character lines be by 745?

 

[The running raven]

Oh I am SO in for the 5k! The art is adorable and I love the aristocats!! I also love the 1/2 theme, but idk if I can do both. But I’m definitely gonna sign up!

 

[KCO5988]

I'm doing NYC marathon the weekend after W&D so I don't see how I can logistically make this happen, but the themes are so cute!! Sad to miss out.

 

[Novatrix]

I'm doing NYC marathon the weekend after W&D so I don't see how I can logistically make this happen, but the themes are so cute!! Sad to miss out.

I mean, totally willing to register all 3 W&D races for you in exchange for your NYC marathon slot! (I kid, I kid.)

 

[KellyKateri]

I'm doing NYC marathon the weekend after W&D so I don't see how I can logistically make this happen, but the themes are so cute!! Sad to miss out.

Not helpful (but maybe helpful), this year I flew to FL for the mushu 5K on Friday, flew back to DC Saturday and ran MCM on Sunday.

AND while at the expo on Saturday for MCM in DC, I saw someone in an Olaf 10K shirt from THAT morning!

Anything is possible for a great theme.

 

[sunshine girl]

I like it!! Cute and nicely designed artwork, it has a cohesive look, and so so nice to see them tie it into World Showcase!! While I always hope for a Chef Mickey, I like this art and idea quite a bit. Well done Disney.

I'm definitely going to try to sign up for the challenge. But Aristocats! I never do the 5ks, but an Aristocats 5k is hard to pass up.

However, it sounds like the 5k will be an experiment this year in general. And I don't like the logistics of adding the 5k (needing to go to the expo on day 1, another early wake up, etc). So I may still pass on the 5k even though I'd love an aristocats medal...!

I already have a Caballeros medal from 2019's wine and dine challenge, so I wish the Aristocats were for the 10k instead!

 

[lookingforsunshine]

will they begin using a PoT for the 5k?

According to the event info on the website, no. But I wish they would.

Another thing is that this could greatly increase the number of people who attempt to do the 5K multiple times.

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

UGH!! I hate you RunDisney... after 4 nights in a row of the Dopey, I was only going to do one race at W&D and now this? I am in for the challenge for sure, and maybe even the 5k, although the guinea pig aspect may keep me from that one.

 

[lookingforsunshine]

The way we were all wrong about the fonts makes me think MW is going to be horror themed or something crazy

 

[Novatrix]

The way we were all wrong about the fonts makes me think MW is going to be horror themed or something crazy

Not going to lie, even if it isn't season appropriate, I'd love these guys for MW.

Frankly, now that there's no longer an official Disney Halloween race, I'd love these guys to be NEXT year's theme for W&D with emphasis on candy, candy apples + other Halloween treats.

 

[The Expert]

Another thing is that this could greatly increase the number of people who attempt to do the 5K multiple times.

Ohhh I didn't even think of that! Guessing they will somehow try and enforce those start times, but then that complicates someone wanting to drop back and do it with family/friends.