Marathon Weekend 2025

[StarGirl11]

Also just realizing thanks to a friends post we’re hitting the Contemporary later. Which means I’m probably going to end up dropping the Contemporary or just mentality. Or I won’t get photos at all in MK besides the already set up ones.

Which no.

Ironically this might make the opening miles more relaxed for me…I’m going to be in the pack no matter what might as well embrace it.

Edit: Actually considering I want to drop pace to see if they’ll let me go up the single rider line at Everest or something. Stopping more actually works even more to my advantage I’m realizing.

TOT is a non go because I have to back door in that one even when I’m in the parks. And backdooring that one can take a significant amount of time. RnR is possible because their back door is a short walk.

 

[EPCOT-O.G.]

At this point, I am reluctant to defend Disney because of all of the changes that they have made to nickel and dime the customers (formerly guests), but I am giving them the benefit of the doubt regarding the start time change. There is certainly the reasonable expectation that runDisney is starting the marathon earlier to minimize the impact on Epcot. However, how much will 30 minutes really change things? Rather, I believe that the death of the runner at the Disneyland Halloween Half Marathon has them spooked (pun truly not intended) into trying to minimize runners being out in the sun and potentially the heat depending upon race day.

I don't know. It seems anyone adjacent to, or friendly with, runDisney has gone out of their way to not directly mention this issue on various podcasts or social media.

"We're changing the course and start time as an improvement to you" is gaslighting on the order of "We're doing away with plastic straws and towel / bedding refresh to help create a more sustainable environment." No, you're looking for ways to save money, or, in the race changes, to not inconvenience Park Ops.

 

[GuinnessRunner]

This would mean that they would also be changing the HM course because we have exited there for the last 4 years. Where is that announcement?

Good point. Although they might consider the change minor enough for that course that they don’t feel the need to announce it this early. While I do think they did the announcement now to get the emotion of the course change out, I honestly think it was the time change that made them say something now as that’s been up since before registration.

Who really knows though. Hoping we find out about the HM course though before the guide comes out in late December.

 

[lookingforsunshine]

I’m not super excited about starting earlier because I will just be tired although I do appreciate that it will extend time before the sun. I’ll be tired anyway, I suppose!

My main concern is not knowing how to get the best castle shot— I’ve practiced it enough that I have it down but now the photographer placement will be a little more unpredictable. Hopefully the half follows the same MK pattern so I can get a sense of it then.

I am also grateful that the ramp at mile 21 or so last year is gone, even if that means weird parking lot miles. BB wasn’t THAT bad last year— although I did add a loop around the parking lot there on my run this past Saturday, and it was much worse in the heat and sun (I had clouds during the marathon).

I think that moving world showcase to the start will allow for better pictures but I am sad about the change because it was helpful when finishing last year to have all the hype.

 

[Zutroy]

Seeing some commentary on the BB run in 2020 and apparently the path wasn’t exactly conducive to running. Would make sense that they haven’t done it since.

I ran the marathon in 2020. Even in corral A running through BB was a tight squeeze because the path went through the park along a small river (?) with no room on either side of the path. It was pretty cool to experience because they had Olaf out with fake snow falling everywhere. I felt bad for the group I came with with—they were stopping for each character and starting from a later corral, and I texted them about how cool BB was, and they cut the course short right when they got there.

 

[Naomeri]

Haha! Yeah, this would be typical winter running for me too. But I would preferably have the temps in the 40s and 50s with not much wind.

This is me. My unofficial half PR was from a day when it was 0°F, but starting in the 40s and ending in the 50s would be pretty nice

 

[Naomeri]

C’mon Disney - park those Electrical Water Pageant barges out on the Seven Seas Lagoon facing the shore and run the show as we pass. Easy win there.

Genius!

 

[Naomeri]

You know, if Disney was smart (and wanted to make even more money off us runners) they'd set up a margarita cart on the bridge from World Showcase to the front of the park

 

[DisneyMountainWoman]

You know, if Disney was smart (and wanted to make even more money off us runners) they'd set up a margarita cart on the bridge from World Showcase to the front of the park

View attachment 897892

I am mean honestly disney should just set up food and drink carts through out the whole race... they would make soo much money. I would be waving my magic band at all the snack and drink options.

 

[The Expert]

I am mean honestly disney should just set up food and drink carts through out the whole race... they would make soo much money. I would be waving my magic band at all the snack and drink options.

Brilliant! They could do buskers like at baseball games.

 

[fatmanatee]

BB wasn’t THAT bad last year— although I did add a loop around the parking lot there on my run this past Saturday, and it was much worse in the heat and sun (I had clouds during the marathon).

It's definitely way worse if it's hot that day. That stretch from AK to HS can be rough. Not a lot of shade and they actually started removing character stops when I did it because I think it was just getting too hot for them. The only reprieve is this parking lot with a DJ, who was solid but I wonder if it would have made more sense to park him in the median around where it loops so you get more of the music. In 2022 he was sorta tucked in a corner of that parking lot.

 

[marty3d]

You know, if Disney was smart (and wanted to make even more money off us runners) they'd set up a margarita cart on the bridge from World Showcase to the front of the park

View attachment 897892

Here - I fixed the course

 

[Naomeri]

I am mean honestly disney should just set up food and drink carts through out the whole race... they would make soo much money. I would be waving my magic band at all the snack and drink options.

Just let some food trucks park along the highway miles

 

[nancipants]

i saw a joking comment that eventually the marathon will start at 12 or 1 am. And honestly, I might be down for that if it meant we could do the entire race before the parks open and can therefore run through all of every park.

 

[pluto377]

I'm not doing the marathon this year, but I'll be watching the course feedback closely as I'm hoping to do Dopey 2026. I think the changes in MK will be really nice, except for that turnaround in Frontierland. That seems very tight. But I'm not in love with the other changes. I guess we'll see....

Also very curious if the other courses will be changing, particularly the half.

I do like the earlier start time. As others have said, that much less sun to deal with. And hopefully they won't rush the corrals out so much like they did in 2022 because of heat. Losing that buffer was the final straw in my DNF.

 

[GollyGadget]

Did everyone get the email about the new course and start time for the marathon? 4:30 start

View attachment 897776

I really thought this was some kind of delayed April Fools since I hadn't seen the email, but there it was hiding in my junk mail.

I haven't caught up with the rest of the thread or general online commentary yet but wanted to share my initial unbiased reactions. I'm looking forward to more time in the Magic Kingdom and assuming that's the primary driver for the earlier start. Looks like we're exiting a mile later in the course and they'll still want us out before park opening. While I'm disappointed about waking up earlier, it was already a crazy wake up time so I doubt that I actually notice the difference.

I'm also choosing to believe they eliminated that late on ramp based on guest feedback from last year. So maybe these changes aren't perfect, but I'm glad they're trying something new. It's better than not listening or adapting to the feedback at all. And maybe this means next year we'll get an even better course (more HS please ).

 

[Guidman]

Disney showing a good sense of humor (or something) on the RunDisney homepage lol:

 

[PrincessV]

I’ve never been so glad that I abandoned the marathon. Really; that’s not hyperbole. I’m massively sad for all the new marathoners who won’t have the incredible experience of the WS victory lap. Knowing that was there waiting for me got me through the toughest spots. I hate this change for everyone.

Note, too, that you’ll be entering the castle from the front - no more photos with the front of the castle as the backdrop. I imagine they’ll still have the area to pull off for a static photo in front, but gone will be the ones coming down from the gate.

I swear to Mickey, it’s as if whoever’s running rD lately hasn’t ever spoken to an actual rD runner.

 

[garneska]

i have run the marathon when it went around WS first. It is tight and congested. That was also when the half and full were run at the same time but that was a welcome change when you had some highway miles in the beginning when everyone is still tightly packed together.

 

[SheHulk]

Note, too, that you’ll be entering the castle from the front - no more photos with the front of the castle as the backdrop. I imagine they’ll still have the area to pull off for a static photo in front, but gone will be the ones coming down from the gate.

You still come out the front of the castle, you just turn left and not right when you exit.