Marathon Weekend 2024

[The Expert]

SAFD: The only runs I've done that weren't races or resort fun runs were on the treadmill at the Boardwalk. Honestly, it wasn't bad! I did 9 miles there once, and you can see out the window to the courtyard and a bit of the boardwalk itself. The best discovery was that they have little fridges with wet, cooled towels (unscented and scented options). That cool rose-scented towel was heaven after that run! (And I may now know to pop in there if I'm walking by on an especially warm day on my way to or from a park.)

 

[Naomeri]

You have to pass The smoking at MK when going from the all star busses to/from the park and it wasn’t fun on my sinuses

That’s honestly one of the reasons I might not stay at the All-Stars anymore—that cigarette gauntlet at MK can be brutal

 

[GADisneyDad14]

SAFD: Love this topic! My favorite spot is probably early AM loops between Poly and GF, which was made even better in recent years with the new GF to MK path since it added materially to the possible distance. If it’s late enough and you don’t mind stopping briefly at security there and back you can even continue on to CR and cover more ground, although I’m usually too early for that. There’s just something so peaceful about the Seven Seas Lagoon vibe early in the morning before most people are up.

Of course the former awesome stretch between Poly and GF is detoured at the moment given the Poly DVC tower construction. I will forever miss that peaceful stretch and hold fond memories of the many miles logged with the way it used to be.

I also like the Crescent Lake resorts - same early morning vibe logging miles. Always seem to be a lot of runners out so that’s nice.

WL used to be an awesome place to run until Disney removed the path to FW when they started (and then stopped) Reflections, so it’s totally cutoff and very difficult to log miles other than just going around and around the resort. I leave politely worded ( ) feedback about that every time I stay there as it annoys me to no end.

I stayed at FW this past November and that was a great place to log Dopey training miles since you can cover a lot of ground and can manage repetition with all the choices of sidewalks and loops.

Honorable mention to CSR - while rather short, the resort loop around the lake makes for a pleasant run.

 

[Novatrix]

SAFD: I've had the pleasure of running many different areas of the resort, and much like the question of which is the best hotel to stay at, favorite depends on what else is going on during the trip and what type of run I'm looking for.

Quick shakeout run? Around Crescent Lake past BW, BC and Yacht Club.

Scenic long run? Fort Wilderness where I can be nosy and admire everyone's camping setups and go visit the horses afterwards.

Long run broken up by a snack? OKW/SSR/Disney Springs

Feeling like a badass medium run? All around Bay Lake Contemporary to TTC and back with the MK Security guards cheering you on.

But there are a lot of other nice runs too (Port Orleans, Riviera/Caribbean Beach, Hourglass Lake.) The only bad run on property is the AKL resorts, but their gyms are fantastic and I've enjoyed using their treadmills. (Plus who wouldn't find it funny to be running in the "Survival of the Fittest" gym...)

 

[nancipants]

SAFD: since I’m so new to running, I’ve never actually ran around property not during a race. I’d love to run around Fort Wilderness though. It’s so pretty and there’s a decent amount of shade.

Related, I’m going on a Disney cruise this October and I cannot WAIT to run around the promenade deck. My Garmin will have some pretty funny maps.

 

[jpeterson]

SAFD: since I’m so new to running, I’ve never actually ran around property not during a race. I’d love to run around Fort Wilderness though. It’s so pretty and there’s a decent amount of shade.

Related, I’m going on a Disney cruise this October and I cannot WAIT to run around the promenade deck. My Garmin will have some pretty funny maps.

If it's the Disney Wish don't get your hopes up. They don't have a space suitable for running.

 

[1lilspark]

SAFD: I did a virtual 5K for a cancelled due to Covid race looping around hour glass lake and had fun taking some character photos with some of the resort icons

 

[accm]

SAFD: does down Main Street count as an answer?

I’ve never actually run on property outside of the races. Our next trip will be immediately after a half marathon, so I doubt it’ll happen then either…

 

[MissLiss279]

SAFD:
I haven’t ran around too many resorts, mainly because I’m at Disney for races! But for the 2021 Virtual Goofy, I went ahead and went to Disney and did my runs there. I loved running around Saratoga to the Tree Houses and then once the sun started to come up running over to OKW. It’s a great place for long runs. I have also ran there once or twice when I have gone down early for races. It’s so peaceful and pretty in the morning (in my opinion).

 

[nancipants]

If it's the Disney Wish don't get your hopes up. They don't have a space suitable for running.

It’s not! The Magic.

 

[jillinastoria]

SAFD: Love this topic! My favorite spot is probably early AM loops between Poly and GF, which was made even better in recent years with the new GF to MK path since it added materially to the possible distance. If it’s late enough and you don’t mind stopping briefly at security there and back you can even continue on to CR and cover more ground, although I’m usually too early for that. There’s just something so peaceful about the Seven Seas Lagoon vibe early in the morning before most people are up.

Of course the former awesome stretch between Poly and GF is detoured at the moment given the Poly DVC tower construction. I will forever miss that peaceful stretch and hold fond memories of the many miles logged with the way it used to be.

I also like the Crescent Lake resorts - same early morning vibe logging miles. Always seem to be a lot of runners out so that’s nice.

WL used to be an awesome place to run until Disney removed the path to FW when they started (and then stopped) Reflections, so it’s totally cutoff and very difficult to log miles other than just going around and around the resort. I leave politely worded ( ) feedback about that every time I stay there as it annoys me to no end.

I stayed at FW this past November and that was a great place to log Dopey training miles since you can cover a lot of ground and can manage repetition with all the choices of sidewalks and loops.

Honorable mention to CSR - while rather short, the resort loop around the lake makes for a pleasant run.

SAFD: Great topic, and I totally agree with this post! I tend to choose shorter runs when I visit the parks--so much walking to come later, and we are generally rope-droppers. But the path between the Poly and the GF is such a happy memory, it was incredible to see the castle at dawn every morning! I'm sad that it won't be exactly the same (or open at all) next time we visit, but I'll cross my fingers for the future!

 

[PrincessV]

SAFD: My favorite is CBR at sunrise: it’s lovely, quiet, and peaceful! CSR comes close to the same experience, but not quite as tranquil. I know people love the Crescent Lake loop, but I’m not a fan - I do enjoy the outer EP resorts loop, though. A special mention about AKL/AKV: while its outdoor running options are the worst of the bunch, I really, really enjoy the Jambo treadmills! I miss the trail between WL and FW - that was a fun one.

 

[GreatLakes]

On property it has to be Crescent Lake and Epcot Resorts Blvd. This specific run was nice because I finished, kicked off my shoes, and jumped into the pool at the Dolphin:



The last few trips I started running in Celebration and I think I actually like that even better but it isn't on property so I'll call it an honorable mention. Here is a 13 miler I did in December:

 

[Disney at Heart]

SAFD: I’ve run all the places mentioned already except that when DH and I ran SSR/Disney Springs years ago, we got kicked out of DS by security, and never made it to the treehouses or OKW. I’ve also run all around the All Star Resorts and then down the sidewalk to CS and back. You have to stop for traffic lights, but you do pass McDonald's if you want to stop in for a quick snack. Anytime I run on property, it’s great because it is a change from regular routes.

My favorite was Hourglass Lake, running with some of you the morning of the cancelled half MW 2017. There was such a joyful atmosphere! Some families set up water stops for everyone, some people on a bottom floor were holding a sign pointing to their room, “bathroom break,” and one family had a baby in Stitch footed pajamas for a character stop. People all around the loop were cheering. I believe it took about 11 loops to make the HM.

 

[marty3d]

SAFD: I’ve run all the places mentioned already except that when DH and I ran SSR/Disney Springs years ago, we got kicked out of DS by security, and never made it to the treehouses or OKW. I’ve also run all around the All Star Resorts and then down the sidewalk to CS and back. You have to stop for traffic lights, but you do pass McDonald's if you want to stop in for a quick snack. Anytime I run on property, it’s great because it is a change from regular routes.

My favorite was Hourglass Lake, running with some of you the morning of the cancelled half MW 2017. There was such a joyful atmosphere! Some families set up water stops for everyone, some people on a bottom floor were holding a sign pointing to their room, “bathroom break,” and one family had a baby in Stitch footed pajamas for a character stop. People all around the loop were cheering. I believe it took about 11 loops to make the HM.

SAFD: Crescent Lake for me - and for similar reasons. That’s where I ran my 2017 half and the atmosphere with spectators and cheers were amazing. And there was a Photopass photographer outside DHS taking runners pictures with the Christmas tree. That weekend went from massive disappointment to memories I’ll never forget literally overnight!

 

[nancipants]

That reminds me, I think it was in 2014 the marathon was canceled? We were driving that morning and passed so many runners along 192 and the back roads in Kissimmee. Even though I couldn’t stand running at the time, I thought it was so cool they were still running their own races. I made sure to roll down the window and cheer for them all.

Edit: I realize I must be thinking of the year the half was canceled. For some reason I thought it was the marathon!

 

[BikeFan]

SAFD: Crescent Lake for me - and for similar reasons. That’s where I ran my 2017 half and the atmosphere with spectators and cheers were amazing. And there was a Photopass photographer outside DHS taking runners pictures with the Christmas tree. That weekend went from massive disappointment to memories I’ll never forget literally overnight!

As another finisher of the 2017 unofficial Disney World Half Marathon, I'd agree with all of this. I ran around the Crescent Lake area for my 13.1 that morning, and it was a blast. So great to see such an amazing response by the community, making the most of a bad situation. Definitely one of my favorite "races" ever!

 

[DopeyRunner486]

Today’s question: What is your favorite place to run while on WDW property?

Boardwalk area. I don't run at WDW outside of races often though.

 

[DopeyRunner486]

That reminds me, I think it was in 2014 the marathon was canceled? We were driving that morning and passed so many runners along 192 and the back roads in Kissimmee. Even though I couldn’t stand running at the time, I thought it was so cool they were still running their own races. I made sure to roll down the window and cheer for them all.

Edit: I realize I must be thinking of the year the half was canceled. For some reason I thought it was the marathon!

2017 half was canceled. I was there.

 

[dobball23]

SAFD: I’ve only done one non-race run on Disney property and it was around Pop and AoA. I was trying to stretch it out and run around the outside of the resorts but I missed a sidewalk to the outside of Pop and ended up running along Hourglass Lake, which was pretty, but stinky because it was evening and all the people back from the parks were smoking (in their designated areas, tbf)
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After one stay at Pop, I sent some feedback to the general manager about the smoking areas being along the running path and how the goals seemed to conflict. I don't think they have changed it, but I did receive a nice response making it seem like they would at least take my suggestion into consideration.