Marathon Weekend 2025

[Barca33Runner]

SAFD:

I am in the early stages of planning. Getting off my busy season at work and, as we are staying off-site, our window for each day opens at 60 days out for each day of the trip so it hasn’t been top priority. I’m also only going to the parks for the Monday After Hours at MK and possibly Epcot on 5k Thursday, so we will be eating at our rental or other places outside of Disney more than on the Disney property.

Our big target is a Saturday 4pm Hoop-Dee-Doo reservation. We have a few running the Half Marathon for the first time and it will be their longest distance ever raced; that is the big celebration they’ve requested. We also have a few Dopey runners so the early showtime is the best option.

Other than that, if we go to Epcot I’ll probably book a lunch somewhere. Might look for a monorail resort dinner before heading to MK After Hours on Monday as well but nothing outside of Hoop Dee Doo is imperative.

As for my favorite, gotta-have-it meal? I’m not really sure I have one, and I don’t book any place every single time I go to Disney. I’m not picky, I like almost everything and I’m not pretentious about food (I can appreciate the effort, ingredients and flavors of fine dining; but I’m also happy with a bowl of Cinnamon Toast Crunch or some chicken tenders). I think this makes it more difficult for one thing to stand head and shoulders above other things. I have had great meals at many Disney establishments but the ones I think about going back to most often are Sanaa, Polite Pig, Le Cellier, and Boatwright’s (this is linked to nostalgia as much as the food). I think I still get more excited about trying new places though. The one place I’ve never been that I’d really like to is Jiko, but it doesn’t seem in the cards this time.

 

[superchime]

SAFD: I'm staying at Old Key West for marathon weekend and I am ridiculously excited to have a kitchen so I can cook my own boring pre-race safe foods. For reservations I am going to try to get Storybook Dining at Artist Point since this is my first (only) Dopey. Other than that.... I need to ask my family if they have any must-dos but I can probably already guess what those would be.

Hmm. My favorite entree right now is a tough one. For me Disney restaurants are all about the entire experience, the food is just part of it because I already live where there are a lot of pretty great restaurants. I love Garden Grill. Is the vegetarian meal the best thing I have ever eaten? Definitely not. But the restaurant has characters, and it spins, and it spins through Living with the Land! I can't get that at home. The same goes for Tusker House, Crystal Palace, even Hollywood & Vine. So I guess my favorite entree is one that comes with characters?

 

[camaker]

SAFD: I tend to fall much more into the "go with the flow" category. I have a hard enough time deciding what I want to eat on any given day, you've got to be kidding asking me to decide where I want to eat 3 months out! That being said, I know I want to get a reservation early in the trip for Via Napoli. Quattro formaggi pizza for the win! In addition, DW and I went to Raglan Road during W&D this weekend and tried their new seafood chowder. It was great and I'm considering making that and Ger's bread pudding my post-marathon dinner.

 

[FFigawi]

SAFD: Thanks for the reminder that I need to start thinking about dining options. Haven’t given it much thought yet except for V&A on Tuesday.

 

[nancipants]

SAFD: I want to try to book Trattoria Al Forno or Il Mulino on Friday. Saturday I will probably snack at Disney during the day (planning to spectate the half) and then eat leftovers or pasta at home. I’m not planning to make any reservations for Sunday because I have no idea how I’ll feel after the marathon, so will probably eat hibachi or pizza at restaurants closer to me. Monday I might splurge for Garden Grill or Rose and Crown before/during DATW.

 

[Naomeri]

SAFD: I like to plan the trip about halfway—enough that I have some kind of schedule, but not so much that I feel locked in all the time. Also, I’m pretty picky and not adventurous about food, so I don’t do a lot of sit down meals, and I’ve discovered that my ADHD meds cut back on my appetite, so I don’t eat enough to make TS worth it.

That being said, I’m still doing Beaches & Cream after the marathon. But after my experience today, I’m pushing it later in the day than I thought. I barely had time to bathe and sit in a dark room for 45 minutes before I had to leave. At least staying at Saratoga for MW, I can just use the DS bus to get to Beach Club, instead of transferring at a park.

 

[DisneyParrothead]

SAFD: I’m doing Princess and still in the planning phase. I’ve noticed I feel quite strong on long runs on the mornings after I’ve had red meat, so I’m going to change my dinner plans the night before the half. I’m staying at CS and I know Toledo has a dam good steak.

 

[BigEeyore]

SAFD: I can't believe ADR time is already here! Eeeek!
Biergarten has become a new post-marathon tradition for us so that will be a priority for Sunday evening.
Hoping to get Skipper Canteen on our MK day as I love that place.
Will probably try for Mama Melrose for Saturday early dinner but need to check with my group!
Still working on our park plans and what-not - this snuck up on me!

 

[GADisneyDad14]

SAFD: No specific ADR planning here, we’ll wing it on our meals. Somewhat intrigued by that (silly) Cake Bake place for a post-run chow down and fancy adult beverages, but they're not taking ADRs that far out so will have to see.

 

[garneska]

@FFigawi Takumi Tei has a new menu. Ate there last night after the half, but mostly to celebrate Bert’s milestone birthday. It was nice to have it changed up and still incredible.

 

[GuinnessRunner]

SAFD: Plans are more in flux this year as I am either going to be solo again, or my brother may join me. If he does, that will likely change the park plans for the trip so not exactly sure what to book. Will try and get Flying Fish Friday night as that has become a tradition. Still planning steak for celebratory dinner after the marathon but thinking of changing it up a bit this year and might try for La Cellier or give Yachtsman a shot again. One of the downsides of not doing Dopey is that arriving later in the week can mean fewer ADRs available when my window opens. Forntunately nothing is a "must do" so can be flexible if plans change or an ADR isn't available.

 

[jrsharp21]

I haven't been following dining reservation rules since last years MW. Is it still 60 days out from your first day of your hotel reservation or something like that?

Also, when can you book LL Multi Pass reservations? I really need to get caught up on all the new stuff.

 

[Herding_Cats]

I haven't been following dining reservation rules since last years MW. Is it still 60 days out from your first day of your hotel reservation or something like that?

Yes. It's 60 days for *everyone* regardless of where you stay, but if you are on-site, you get 60 days PLUS the length of your stay up to +10 I think? So as an example, we arrive on the 6th, so I can make reservations this Thursday morning (60 days out) as far out as Jan 14th (which is the day we leave.)

Also, when can you book LL Multi Pass reservations? I really need to get caught up on all the new stuff.

I need to know this as well. And when can you do the $ILL? Do I need to build in pulling over during the 10k to buy these???

 

[jrsharp21]

Yes. It's 60 days for *everyone* regardless of where you stay, but if you are on-site, you get 60 days PLUS the length of your stay up to +10 I think? So as an example, we arrive on the 6th, so I can make reservations this Thursday morning (60 days out) as far out as Jan 14th (which is the day we leave.)


I need to know this as well. And when can you do the $ILL? Do I need to build in pulling over during the 10k to buy these???

Thanks! We arrive on the 7th. So I guess tomorrow is our day to try to book reservations.

 

[Mr_Incr3dible]

>>. since this is my first (only) Dopey.
Uh huh. Show of hands, please, on how many said this about the marathon, Goofy, or Dopey?

SAFD dining: I usually try to find someplace new to eat one or two nights when I'm there, but otherwise don't do a bunch of food reservations. And when I'm down there solo, I've found that I can usually walk up and get a spot with a short (if any) wait, especially if I'm wearing a medal or otherwise look like I've been running.

Oh, and as for wearing the medals in the park: I do. So my reference to clanking was in regards to walking around wearing the medal from the most recent race or challenge. For travel, I wrap them in clothes and leave them in the suitcase.

In other new developments: I have a friend who has a child interning at DW, so they are now down there several times per year, and they've been pulled into the MW vortex. I was really looking forward to having him and his family there in Jan (4 members of his fam will be running) along with my son. Anyway, on their most recent trip they brought me back a nice rD moisture-wicking golf shirt.

Fast forward a couple of weeks and I start listening to Rise & Run podcasts and one of the guys is talking about a golf shirt they've been considering. After hearing the description, I realized that it was the very shirt now hanging in my closet, waiting to be worn!
So for anyone else who heard that and it wondering, I wore it to work today.

 

[Naomeri]

Lightning lane multi-pass and individual lightning lanes are done at 7am eastern 7 days before check-in for the length of your stay for on-site, 3 days for off-site. Each day will be a separate transaction. You pick 3 LLMP for the same park, and any ILL you want (up to 2), and then you pay for that day and move onto the next. Once you use one LLMP (or it expires), you can pick a new one. Your LLMP selections and your ILL do not have to be for the same park--I bought a Guardians ILL for Oct 31, but bought LLMP for MK for the pre-MNSSHP time.

You can fiddle with the times to get them to overlap more than the system initially allows. VQs are still 7am on the day of, so you may need to do this during a race, but it's the only thing, so it's an improvement over the old system from that persepective.

 

[Herding_Cats]

Lightning lane multi-pass and individual lightning lanes are done at 7am eastern 7 days before check-in for the length of your stay for on-site, 3 days for off-site. Each day will be a separate transaction. You pick 3 LLMP for the same park, and any ILL you want (up to 2), and then you pay for that day and move onto the next. Once you use one LLMP (or it expires), you can pick a new one. Your LLMP selections and your ILL do not have to be for the same park--I bought a Guardians ILL for Oct 31, but bought LLMP for MK for the pre-MNSSHP time.

You can fiddle with the times to get them to overlap more than the system initially allows. VQs are still 7am on the day of, so you may need to do this during a race, but it's the only thing, so it's an improvement over the old system from that persepective.

OK. To clarify this, if I'm *not* purchasing LLMP, and ONLY want to buy a LL for Guardians, I can do this 7 days before my check-in date?

 

[Naomeri]

OK. To clarify this, if I'm *not* purchasing LLMP, and ONLY want to buy a LL for Guardians, I can do this 7 days before my check-in date?

Yes

 

[DisneyMountainWoman]

SAFD:
Staying at wilderness lodge for the first time so I want to take advantage of the restaurants there. I get to try on friday. Biggest goal story book dining for dopey, my first and probably only Dopey. Prefer sunday... but will take any time. Then I want try whispering canyon.... always looked fun and lots of food but not worth the effort to get over here from AKL where we normally stay. One other reservation I am interested in trying 1900 Park Fare and I think that will be it. We have a full kitchen in our cabin so we can eat there alot too.

 

[DHSsenior007]

SAFD: My parents were visiting this weekend so my mom and I got to sit down and talk Disney spreadsheet planning. I was definitely in my happy place (while also rolling my eyes that we need multiple spreadsheets for a vacation). Anyway, I'm definitely taking y'all's advice and doing Flying Fish for the Saturday dinner pre-marathon. I think we're going to try for Le Cellier post-marathon as I can easily hobble to Canada from BWV. Other meals include Roundup Rodeo BBQ, Tusker House, Skipper Canteen, Crystal Palace, and Trattoria al Forno. I'm especially excited for Skipper Canteen as I've never had a bad meal there. It will be interesting to see how my 20-month-old handles the character meals, but at least we can cancel the 2nd one if she completely hates the 1st!