Marathon Weekend 2025

[kps7795]

At that point in the race though, I would definitely prefer something salty!

Something salty like a Mickey Pretzel perhaps? At that point, it should be easy to jump over to grab a pretzel from one of the carts. That is one of my goals for this marathon. I want to be able to get a Mickey Pretzel and possibly even a cupcake on the boardwalk.

 

[jrsharp21]

I really wish there was a table with Coke out on the course, like they have at some triathlons. But planning on carrying my credit card in my phone case during the marathon and going to try to grab a Coke out of the machines by the Skyliner outside of Hollywood Studios.

 

[nancipants]

I really wish there was a table with Coke out on the course, like they have at some triathlons. But planning on carrying my credit card in my phone case during the marathon and going to try to grab a Coke out of the machines by the Skyliner outside of Hollywood Studios.

I told my husband to have a cold coke for me when I see him at Animal Kingdom and at the finish line! Also, if you have Apple Pay, I think the machines take that. I'll check next time I go to Disney.

 

[Jason Bryer]

I really wish there was a table with Coke out on the course, like they have at some triathlons. But planning on carrying my credit card in my phone case during the marathon and going to try to grab a Coke out of the machines by the Skyliner outside of Hollywood Studios.

This is a great idea. One marathon I did they had coke or Mountain Dew, I opted for the latter, at mile 20 and it was the best thing ever.

 

[Naomeri]

I grabbed a Coke from the popcorn cart in Epcot at just before the end of the W&D half and it was amazing. Since it was Disney fountain coke, it was halfway to flat right off the bat and therefore perfect. I do wish they had lids for the cups though, my hand was pretty sticky by the end of the race.

 

[jenljeffers1989]

This is why I drive to the 5k and 10k - so I can leave before the buses start running and not sit around and get cold. I have also Ubered after a 5k, so I didn’t have to wait around.

Oh I didn't realize the roads would be open. We'll have a car, so I will definitely drive. Thanks for the tip!

 

[Disneyhanna]

Runners who have been doing this longer than I have, in previous years where Marathon weekend has been later in January like it is next year, are the Christmas decorations usually still up in Magic Kingdom? I know the past two years they were since MW was so early but now I’m wondering if they’ll go down before the marathon for 2025.

 

[nancipants]

I went back and looked at a YouTube video from RunArnoRun from 2020, when the marathon was on the same day, and the decorations were up!

 

[fatmanatee]

I went back and looked at a YouTube video from RunArnoRun from 2020, when the marathon was on the same day, and the decorations were up!

That was the video that convinced me to do Dopey the first time! I check in on him on IG every so often and apparently he’s doing Dopey again next year, first time since the restart. Might have to thank/blame him if I see him around.

 

[StarGirl11]

I've used Apple Pay in the parks before when I've been off property and thus no Magic Band charging privilege. So yeah you can use it to buy things in the park.

Oh I didn't realize the roads would be open. We'll have a car, so I will definitely drive. Thanks for the tip!

Should actually be noted that only the 5k has no road closures so you might want to consider whats the better choice for the 10k.

Runners who have been doing this longer than I have, in previous years where Marathon weekend has been later in January like it is next year, are the Christmas decorations usually still up in Magic Kingdom? I know the past two years they were since MW was so early but now I’m wondering if they’ll go down before the marathon for 2025.

Its been a few years so again might be wrong. But usually they are up through MW weekend and then are taken down the day after the full. You can actually see the crane taking down the old dream lights the day after my first Dopey in 2016. You can still see the decorations in some of the rD videos for MW

 

[Jackie Skellington]

Dopey 2019 weekend was a day later than 2025 and decorations were still up!

 

[FFigawi]

I really wish there was a table with Coke out on the course, like they have at some triathlons. But planning on carrying my credit card in my phone case during the marathon and going to try to grab a Coke out of the machines by the Skyliner outside of Hollywood Studios.

Almost every middle and long distance triathlon has Coke during the run. Not sure why more marathons don’t offer it too. It’s what saved my first Ironman. My stomach told me at mile 1 of the run that it didn’t want any of the fuel I had with me. If it wasn’t for the flat Coke, potato chips, and chicken noodle soup at the aid stations, I never would’ve finished.

 

[StarGirl11]

On the coke discussion I also know ultra races in gen will have them. Along with a lot of other snacks (there’s a reason why some people joke about them being more snacking time with a bunch of running then the other way around )

I would say maybe it deals with size of events but that doesn’t explain IronMan. Unless their taking a page out of the ultra runs.

And this is making me miss doing ultras

 

[Herding_Cats]

Resort decorations are a bit less likely to still be up. This past MW DH and I were grabbing our grocery order from bell services on the evening of 1/1 and there were box trucks and contractor trucks with ladders and stuff staging to take all of the Christmas decor down at SSR that night.

 

[PrincessV]

Best WDW marathon Coke I ever had was from Thirsty River - yes, the bar - at AK. Right time, right place, no line, exactly the right Coke to ice ratio. Didn’t even need to request a straw: it was given. I’m just saying, the Thirsty River folks know what runners need!

 

[runwithperseverence7]

What time do you want to arrive is the real question? Arriving at 4am would give you plenty of time to get through security and settled before the race. If you really want to maximize sleeping in, you could aim for 5am which would still give you plenty of time to make it to the start line before it closes but you'd miss all the pre race spectacle and possibly your assigned corral.

There aren't any road closures and there are fewer participants for the 5k so the traffic doesn't get backed up like it can for the half and marathon. The drive should only take 10-15 minutes. The walk to security and the start is approx 15-20 minutes. Once you decide what time you want to arrive, plan for 30-40 minutes from your resort to the start line.

Thanks! @GollyGadget This was great info on helping to plan timing out. me personally I want to be there as early as possible but with my family which includes 2 teens I’m thinking the latest that I can get there so there is less attitude about getting up so early . My plan will be to get there before corral closes.

 

[Baloo in MI]

On the decorations front, I have done a lot of MW’s and it seems decorations at the resorts come down during the race weekend but almost always are still up in the parks. Last year staying at the WL the lobby tree came down either the night before the 10k or the Half, but on Medal Monday the tree in MK was still up on Main Street.

 

[GollyGadget]

Finally got a chance to read over the event guide. Does the underlined portion mean we're doing a decade thing with the weekend characters again? If so, I really hope the marathon gets some older characters and not just those from the last 20 years.

Welcome to the 2025 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend! ​

From the 5K to the Dopey Challenge, each race is reminiscent of a classic Disney era featuring fan-favorite characters. We’re also celebrating the 20th anniversary of Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge, which incorporates the Half Marathon and Marathon for an incredible 39.3 miles!​

 

[fatmanatee]

Finally got a chance to read over the event guide. Does the underlined portion mean we're doing a decade thing with the weekend characters again? If so, I really hope the marathon gets some older characters and not just those from the last 20 years.

What did they do before? I’m guessing you’re talking about 2023 (10th Dopey and 30th Marathon, plus retro theme).

 

[Tall Todd]

Think the included RunDisney shirts go back to having the Park Icons on the sleeve?