Marathon Weekend 2025

[Disneyhanna]

There is an after hours at Magic Kingdom on the 13th after the marathon. But the ticket price is pretty high 175-185. Has anyone done this? What was it like?

I did after hours the Monday after the marathon in 2023!

Not everyone feels the same as me obviously, but as a frequent visitor (a few times a year) I didn't find after hours all that worth it. I also had been in the parks for a week prior to the event so I had already ridden all the rides a few times that trip, so the novelty wasn't really there for me. I can only eat so much free popcorn/soda/ice cream!

Now, if you don't have an AP, don't go often, don't usually buy Genie+, love re-riding a particular ride, and/or are part of a group or traveling with someone who is new to WDW, I think it is much more worth it. The lines are truly short (aside from 7DMT which can still be 15-30+ minutes) and you'll spend more time walking through the queues than riding the ride. The event itself is so short that it does feel a bit frantic, and the time flies by.

The late time wasn't a big deal for me as I'm a night owl and slept in on Monday, so I was perfectly fine to stay up late. I also recover pretty quickly from runDisney races as I don't run for time, of course YMMV and if you are the type to be hurting a lot after a marathon, after hours can be a lot of walking. I saw quite a few runners at the event. I did it solo and I think I would have had a lot more fun doing it with someone else.

I wrote about my experience in my 2023 Dopey TR here:

 

[marty3d]

I did after hours the Monday after the marathon in 2023!

Not everyone feels the same as me obviously, but as a frequent visitor (a few times a year) I didn't find after hours all that worth it. I also had been in the parks for a week prior to the event so I had already ridden all the rides a few times that trip, so the novelty wasn't really there for me. I can only eat so much free popcorn/soda/ice cream!

Now, if you don't have an AP, don't go often, don't usually buy Genie+, love re-riding a particular ride, and/or are part of a group or traveling with someone who is new to WDW, I think it is much more worth it. The lines are truly short (aside from 7DMT which can still be 15-30+ minutes) and you'll spend more time walking through the queues than riding the ride. The event itself is so short that it does feel a bit frantic, and the time flies by.

The late time wasn't a big deal for me as I'm a night owl and slept in on Monday, so I was perfectly fine to stay up late. I also recover pretty quickly from runDisney races as I don't run for time, of course YMMV and if you are the type to be hurting a lot after a marathon, after hours can be a lot of walking. I saw quite a few runners at the event. I did it solo and I think I would have had a lot more fun doing it with someone else.

I completely see how it can not be worthwhile if you have an AP / go often. We don't (well - not as often as someone with an AP!). We also did the AH at MK in 2023 and since it was going to be our last chance to ride Splash, I think we did it 6 or 7 times including 3 times in a row without getting off our log!

If you are like us and don't splurge on a Park Hopper, you can also do 2 parks that day. I'll be getting the AH again because I plan to do DATW at Epcot on Monday and then I'll be able to get my medal pictures at MK during the after hours party.

 

[kristenabelle]

There is an after hours at Magic Kingdom on the 13th after the marathon. But the ticket price is pretty high 175-185. Has anyone done this? What was it like?

I have an AP/DVC, so I'm there a couple of times a year. But honestly, I love AH events. Post-marathon was my favorite - got to see Mickey with my medals and no wait, ride Dumbo twice at night, peoplemover 3 times in a row. I love being in the parks when they're practically empty, so I'm thrilled it fits the MW schedule again!

 

[Herding_Cats]

Shoooooooot. We land at mco at 6pm on the 6th. (It’s probably too tight of a timeline to be “worth it.”) And we don’t come home until the 14th. I’m totally a “do all the things” person so AH kind of suits my park style. I’m gonna have to look at my ticket price spreadsheets.

 

[Barca33Runner]

As a non-AP, non-local who makes one or two trips a year, the AH events had become my favorite way to do Disney. I can ride more, wait in fewer lines and not have to worry about messing with my phone all night. Previously, the price was always cheaper than a day ticket as well.

We did the AH in MK the day after the marathon in 2023, as a few others have mentioned, and it was one of the best times I’ve ever had in the parks. We arrived right at 7:00 and used the time before the AH officially started to stake out a place for fireworks; it was the best view I’ve ever had. We didn’t make it on every ride in the park, but we hit all of our favorites at least once (somewhere in the 20 attraction range). I did an Epcot event later that year in August and was able to get dinner at the Food and Wine booths, ride everything in the park at least once, and we made it on Guardians four times.

I was kind of bummed that the AH events didn’t start until just after MW in 2024 and was unable to fit any trips to go to any of them this year. The MK AH in 2024 featured double fireworks, HEA as regularly scheduled and Enchantment during the AH event. I was bummed to miss the opportunity to see a fireworks show with AH crowds, hopefully that comes back for 2025.

Unfortunately, it also feels like a pretty sizable jump in price on the After Hours. Previously, part of the charm was that it was less expensive than a park day even before factoring in any skip the line extras on a regular park ticket. I’m still pretty stoked at the prospect of going to the Jan. 13 event but, as with so many things Disney, that price is feeling really exploitative.

ETA: My early impressions of Lightning Lane Multi Pass as a way to plan a day and value for price are that it’s much better than Genie+. I’ll be much less averse to day trips with that change but I will always prefer events like After Hours and Holiday Parties where there is only one line.

 

[Naomeri]

I’m an AP and I enjoy the AH events. I did 2 (HS and MK) during my Princess 2023 trip and it was just under $260 for both. I’m just not sure I’m going to be physically up for an MK AH event after doing Dopey, plus starting Monday with DatW with some of you fine folks.

Also irritating that there’s AP (and DVC) discounts for HS and EP, but not MK. That $30 is significant.

 

[Herding_Cats]

I have AH questions (mechanics of how they manage the lines, etc) but I don't want to clog up this thread. Should I ask them here or in the TPAS?

 

[Barca33Runner]

I have AH questions (mechanics of how they manage the lines, etc) but I don't want to clog up this thread. Should I ask them here or in the TPAS?

I only read this thread and am happy to answer anything I have insight about here. Personally, I enjoy the expansive nature of the thread. We’re 207 pages in, any hope of a concise, focused, easy to search thread have probably already gone.

 

[Herding_Cats]

I only read this thread and am happy to answer anything I have insight about here. Personally, I enjoy the expansive nature of the thread. We’re 207 pages in, any hope of a concise, focused, easy to search thread have probably already gone.

OK. So I'll just ask it here, because I feel like TPAS gets a little rabid sometimes.

I'm assuming disney does *something* with the lines so that standby isn't 70min when the AH even starts, right?! We've done a HS pre-park-opening event, so totally different. And we've done MNSSHP, which was more about DD and "trick or treating" and getting on rides she was big enough to do than anything.

Landing at MCO at 6pm on the 6th. Is that too short of a turnaround time to be "worth the price?" We are staying at SSR and planning to uber/lyft to the resort. Drop luggage in the room and then a 20min bus ride to MK. In the past, we've been able to land, get our luggage, our VTP hang-tag from the other terminal, pick up our rental car, and be on the road in 30min. So best-case-scenario we would be tapping into MK at 7:30ish. Is getting an uber/lyft at MCO pretty quick, or are there lags (I remember there being something about cell service issues??)

The other option is to DATW on the 13th, and then stagger (just kidding, I don't drink very much) head into MK at 7pm the day after finishing Dopey. The most important question there is: Do nighttime medal pics "come out" in MK? We have always been in MK during the early morning hours for hub pics, character pics, a ride or 2, a snack, and then heading elsewhere.

Price-wise, doing AH would mean eliminating park hoppers from our tickets. We love AK, but are "done" with it by lunchtime. HS is also not a full-day park for me, and we like to spend a morning doing rides and the evening snacking around Epcot before I need to go cry in MK during HEA. But a 2-day ticket + AH comes out to about the same as a 3-day ticket with a hopper.

 

[Naomeri]

The other option is to DATW on the 13th, and then stagger (just kidding, I don't drink very much) head into MK at 7pm the day after finishing Dopey. The most important question there is: Do nighttime medal pics "come out" in MK? We have always been in MK during the early morning hours for hub pics, character pics, a ride or 2, a snack, and then heading elsewhere.

Here are my medal pics from Springtime 2022

 

[Herding_Cats]

Here are my medal pics from Springtime 2022

View attachment 889852View attachment 889853View attachment 889854

we usually do a lot of our own pics (even though we get MM) because I like to hang them on a certain spot on the fence, on the tree in the hub, etc. Not having a calibrated flash makes me nervous. I suppose it would still be light out at 7pm though...just a LOT more people.

 

[kristenabelle]

OK. So I'll just ask it here, because I feel like TPAS gets a little rabid sometimes.

I'm assuming disney does *something* with the lines so that standby isn't 70min when the AH even starts, right?! We've done a HS pre-park-opening event, so totally different. And we've done MNSSHP, which was more about DD and "trick or treating" and getting on rides she was big enough to do than anything.

Landing at MCO at 6pm on the 6th. Is that too short of a turnaround time to be "worth the price?" We are staying at SSR and planning to uber/lyft to the resort. Drop luggage in the room and then a 20min bus ride to MK. In the past, we've been able to land, get our luggage, our VTP hang-tag from the other terminal, pick up our rental car, and be on the road in 30min. So best-case-scenario we would be tapping into MK at 7:30ish. Is getting an uber/lyft at MCO pretty quick, or are there lags (I remember there being something about cell service issues??)

The other option is to DATW on the 13th, and then stagger (just kidding, I don't drink very much) head into MK at 7pm the day after finishing Dopey. The most important question there is: Do nighttime medal pics "come out" in MK? We have always been in MK during the early morning hours for hub pics, character pics, a ride or 2, a snack, and then heading elsewhere.

Price-wise, doing AH would mean eliminating park hoppers from our tickets. We love AK, but are "done" with it by lunchtime. HS is also not a full-day park for me, and we like to spend a morning doing rides and the evening snacking around Epcot before I need to go cry in MK during HEA. But a 2-day ticket + AH comes out to about the same as a 3-day ticket with a hopper.

I can't remember exactly, but since AH events don't have FP the standby line eventually "flushes itself out" and gets better throughout the event. That is, they'll continue to let day guests without wristbands get in line up until official close time. So if you jump into 7DMT at the start of AH, you may have a longer wait. But after park close, wristbands are checked at every ride, and the line generally gets shorter as the event continues. Rides like POTC HM, anything omnimover or continuous are better for doing right after the event begins. Though to be honest the only lines I avoided at the start of the event were for popcorn and soda lol.

 

[Herding_Cats]

I may drive myself insane with trying for the 6th because any flight delays would probably blow up the plan.

 

[The Expert]

we usually do a lot of our own pics (even though we get MM) because I like to hang them on a certain spot on the fence, on the tree in the hub, etc. Not having a calibrated flash makes me nervous. I suppose it would still be light out at 7pm though...just a LOT more people.
View attachment 889856View attachment 889857

Easy photographer fix -- have someone hold their cell phone light to the side and a bit away to put a spotlight on the medals. You may need to play with the angle so you don't get glare, but I think it could make for great photos with the castle lit up in the background with its own light sources!

 

[Barca33Runner]

I'm assuming disney does *something* with the lines so that standby isn't 70min when the AH even starts, right?! We've done a HS pre-park-opening event, so totally different. And we've done MNSSHP, which was more about DD and "trick or treating" and getting on rides she was big enough to do than anything.

This is mainly achieved by having the park close to day guests either 30 minutes or an hour before the After Hours officially starts. We can arrive at 7:00, but the AH doesn’t officially start (and the free popcorn, ice cream and drinks don’t start) until 10:00. At park close, wrist bands will begin to be checked everywhere in the park but, specifically, at the beginning of every queue. Day guests should not be able to enter attraction queues after park close. That will leave some lines to be cleaned out, but each of the parties I attended they were short by the time the 3 hours officially started. Most things will be complete walk-ons and the most popular rides should be in the ~15 minute realm (provided they haven’t increased ticket sales/capacity for the event).

Landing at MCO at 6pm on the 6th. Is that too short of a turnaround time to be "worth the price?" We are staying at SSR and planning to uber/lyft to the resort. Drop luggage in the room and then a 20min bus ride to MK. In the past, we've been able to land, get our luggage, our VTP hang-tag from the other terminal, pick up our rental car, and be on the road in 30min. So best-case-scenario we would be tapping into MK at 7:30ish.

At the couple of AH that I’ve attended, I’ve used the time when the park was still open (7:00-9:00) to do things that wouldn’t be available during the AH. At MK we got some food and staked out a place for fireworks a lot earlier than we would have on a normal day to get a great spot. At Epcot, we used it as a chance to get dinner at the Food and Wine Festival booths and go through the areas of World Showcase that would shut down during the AH (similar to mornings they close off Norway to France during the AH). After the park closes to day guests we start hitting attractions. Even at Epcot, with relatively few attractions, the lines were pretty short already when park close hit. I think it’s a pretty small percentage of people that utilize the “hop in a line right before park close” strategy.

I’ve found being there at 7:00 and getting that extra value of some day guest activities was important to my experience and feeling it was “worth it.” I would not pay the price just to ride for 3 hours. I’m also a person who is ready to be done by about 3 pm when I rope drop, so 6 hours (3 of which features incredibly short lines) is just about an ideal trip to the parks for me. I know mileage may vary for the way others want to experience the parks.

 

[Naomeri]

we usually do a lot of our own pics (even though we get MM) because I like to hang them on a certain spot on the fence, on the tree in the hub, etc. Not having a calibrated flash makes me nervous. I suppose it would still be light out at 7pm though...just a LOT more people.
View attachment 889856View attachment 889857

Maybe your DH could use his phone to light the medals while you use your phone for the picture? A little more hassle, but it could be cool. Plus, castle lights!

 

[ukplymshaun]

Bit of a random question, I "plan" on grabbing a beer to finish with upon entering Epcot towards the end. Any suggestions for the best place to pick one up and also, the final official photo op in front of Spaceship Earth, would I be able to have my photo with my beer? I didn't know if Disney had any rules around official photos with alcohol? Might be a silly question, but as my first RunDisney event, I'm actually full of little questions, but trying to research as much as possible without asking in here.

 

[RuntheMouse]

Bit of a random question, I "plan" on grabbing a beer to finish with upon entering Epcot towards the end. Any suggestions for the best place to pick one up and also, the final official photo op in front of Spaceship Earth, would I be able to have my photo with my beer? I didn't know if Disney had any rules around official photos with alcohol? Might be a silly question, but as my first RunDisney event, I'm actually full of little questions, but trying to research as much as possible without asking in here.

DH has a photo pass pic from EPCOT (in Mexico) with him and his Shofferhoffer. In the background is a woman with her margarita. Totally fine!

 

[disneyrunnergrl]

Bit of a random question, I "plan" on grabbing a beer to finish with upon entering Epcot towards the end. Any suggestions for the best place to pick one up and also, the final official photo op in front of Spaceship Earth, would I be able to have my photo with my beer? I didn't know if Disney had any rules around official photos with alcohol? Might be a silly question, but as my first RunDisney event, I'm actually full of little questions, but trying to research as much as possible without asking in here.

I got a margarita in Mexico and I have photopass photos running in Epcot + finish line with it in my hand. I stopped for a photo backstage with Starlord and I had to sit it down out of the photo. Maybe because it was a character? I didn’t stop for any of the non charachter photo stops, but if you can’t have it in the picture they’ll just have you sit it on the ground.

 

[Kerry1957]

Bit of a random question, I "plan" on grabbing a beer to finish with upon entering Epcot towards the end. Any suggestions for the best place to pick one up and also, the final official photo op in front of Spaceship Earth, would I be able to have my photo with my beer? I didn't know if Disney had any rules around official photos with alcohol? Might be a silly question, but as my first RunDisney event, I'm actually full of little questions, but trying to research as much as possible without asking in here.

Germany is my favorite with the souvenir mug. Epcot was open when I finished, but on both occasions, the 5-10 person line at the Germany beer cart let me cut to the front and cheered as I returned to the race. The hardest part was not drinking or spilling it all before the finish line.

I've posted these before but here goes...