Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend 2026

[TarynM]

Hopefully everyone was able to book the dining reservations desired! Received this option for eligible DVC members if anyone is interested:

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That sounds fun (though expensive). I need to make more DVC friends.

 

[nekonekoneko]

I got that too! Did anyone go to the Halloween one? Any thoughts?

I'm not DVC, so no. But I went to Naples for Halloween. It was ok. The portions seemed small for the price they charge.

 

[dis_kegs]

I went for halloween pretty standard buffet pasta and food. Not super great quality. Also i have allergies and while it was noted there would be allergy options available they really didnt have anything and no one seemed to know anything. They had to go through like 3 people to finally find the buffet manager for grand californian and he basically went to the kitchen and had them make me something totally different. Which was nice but then i felt like i spent the $72 for one plate of food. Not worth it for me for sure.
What was cool was that the person that heads up rundisney at Land was there he gave a little talk and then came around to every table to connect with guest answer questions and listen to feedback.

Hopefully everyone was able to book the dining reservations desired! Received this option for eligible DVC members if anyone is interested:

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[Sleepless Knight]

Anyone want take bets on Small World being down for the Small World Half? We’ll know soon enough I guess.

Par for the course. Before the 2020 Star Wars races were canceled because of the pandemic, the courses were not set to run through Galaxy's Edge despite the entire race weekend being Star Wars themed.

 

[fatmanatee]

Speaking of Star Wars, some refurb news: Rise will be closed starting January 20, refurb expected to last a few weeks, so most likely closed during DL Half Weekend. BOOOOO.

 

[bmr1591]

Anyone know a good way to get into Dumbo? I'm trying to surprise my wife with an entry for Christmas. I'm on the Telegram/******* alerts, but those things go up and down in seconds and I'm not sure how anyone can realistically fill out all their info in the time they close. Is there a trick I should know?

 

[jmasgat]

Anyone know a good way to get into Dumbo? I'm trying to surprise my wife with an entry for Christmas. I'm on the Telegram/******* alerts, but those things go up and down in seconds and I'm not sure how anyone can realistically fill out all their info in the time they close. Is there a trick I should know?

Charities will sometimes make bibs available with reduced/no fundraising required close to the event (~3-4 weeks out).

As for Telegram, there used to be a site that let you do an auto script that would populate the page. Unfortunately, that got taken down. Not sure if anyone else has come up with something similar.

 

[fatmanatee]

There are a few charities that supposedly still have bibs, no idea how they're going to handle them if they're still left unsold in a few weeks, but it's going to be one of two options:

1. They announce that they're reducing the fundraising requirement until they're sold or eliminate the requirement entirely
2. They quietly offload them to RD and RD reopens registration for however many bibs are left

In either case it's going to happen on the fly. I'm not sure if there might be a timing issue with when the Telegram posts their alerts vs. when RD reopens but at the end of it you're competing with hundreds of people for these spots that are sometimes opened up one at a time and in this case we know it's the last DL race for the foreseeable future.

As for Telegram, there used to be a site that let you do an auto script that would populate the page. Unfortunately, that got taken down. Not sure if anyone else has come up with something similar.

Haven't heard anything about this trick in awhile.

 

[jmasgat]

How is it that they are closing It’s a Small World on Jan 26…..right before the half marathon, which is themed after iasw? I know at least 1 person who is running that race specifically because she used to be a cast member for the ride.

 

[The Expert]

How is it that they are closing It’s a Small World on Jan 26…..right before the half marathon, which is themed after iasw? I know at least 1 person who is running that race specifically because she used to be a cast member for the ride.

They did the same thing with Everest a few years back. Park ops doesn't care about racers, as they've made clear from recent course changes.

 

[fatmanatee]

RD deserves most the blame on this one TBH. Small World always goes down for refurbishment in January, not sure how much control they could have over *when* in January that happens. Haunted Mansion has one earlier to change back to non-holiday.

I like the idea of doing race themes around rides but this wasn't ideal! Hope they at least have it set up as a nice photo op for the half. Speaking of which, I think we might be approaching the time to start to look out for maps, last year it was December 19 (Thursday). Obviously the closer we get to Christmas, the more likely it gets pushed into January.

 

[AZMermaid]

How is it that they are closing It’s a Small World on Jan 26…..right before the half marathon, which is themed after iasw? I know at least 1 person who is running that race specifically because she used to be a cast member for the ride.

I predicted this a few posts back. It’s crazy but not surprised. Wonder if it will be behind walls. That would be really terrible. Run Disney doesn’t seem to talk with parks on these things.

That said…. I’m so bummed! I was Really looking forward to seeing/hearing the new verse.

 

[Rarity]

This is my third Disneyland trip, and my third time that small world was down for refurb We even fly out the day after it closes, ahaha. I was really hoping it would be running for the half this time. I even got a custom runner dress themed for the ride and was stoked to at least get pics in front of it so I'll be super bummed if there are walls up.

 

[bmr1591]

From what I've been told from people who've done runDisney a long time and know people who work in rD, Park Ops HATES runDisney. There's a lot of things runners ask for that rD would love to do, but parks see them as a burden instead of a benefit.

 

[bmr1591]

I got my wife into the half! Does anyone have any recommendations on where she should stay? I saw the Best Western Plus Pavilions had good reviews. Is that a good spot for her or is there somewhere better? On a budget, so not looking to stay 'on site', just a close walking distance.

 

[sandam1]

Does anyone have any recommendations on where she should stay? I saw the Best Western Plus Pavilions had good reviews. Is that a good spot for her or is there somewhere better? On a budget, so not looking to stay 'on site', just a close walking distance.

When we did DL in 2024, we stayed at the Clementine Hotel. The stay line for the half literally on the other side of the wall from the hotel and it is a pretty short walk to the park. The rooms all have full kitchens and the free breakfast was substantial.

 

[fatmanatee]

Merch preview:

https://www.rundisney.com/blog/2026-dlr-half-marathon-weekend-merchandise-preview/

(nothing about shoes here or in the social media vid they just posted)

Starting to wonder if they might hold off on the expo guide until *after* MW. Not a lot of time to get it out there before Christmas, New Years next week, and the following week is all about MW.

 

[The Expert]

I love that purple on the Dumbo shirt!

 

[kirstie101]

I got my wife into the half! Does anyone have any recommendations on where she should stay? I saw the Best Western Plus Pavilions had good reviews. Is that a good spot for her or is there somewhere better? On a budget, so not looking to stay 'on site', just a close walking distance.

Anything on Harbor across from the park is gonna be close to both the race and the parks.
We like Anaheim Desert Inn and Suites cause we’ve stayed there so often on vacation. But really any right around that area is good.

 

[jrsharp21]

Merch preview:

https://www.rundisney.com/blog/2026-dlr-half-marathon-weekend-merchandise-preview/

(nothing about shoes here or in the social media vid they just posted)

Starting to wonder if they might hold off on the expo guide until *after* MW. Not a lot of time to get it out there before Christmas, New Years next week, and the following week is all about MW.

The post on IG had some more video of the merch. I like the blue pullover the guy is wearing. I may have to grab that if any are left by the time I get there.