Marathon Weekend 2026

[Herding_Cats]

SAFD: I really like Flower and Garden. So probably spring? I like that the weather is nice for park days, and it's warm enough that if you can hit up the pool for a day off or for a midday break from the crowds. (I know you can do that pretty much year-round, but we can all agree that warm, but not scorching, weather is nice for lounging in or around the pool.)

 

[princesspirateandrunner]

SAFD: There’s not really a bad time to go, unless it’s scorching hot. When our kids were young, we mostly went around Thanksgiving and Christmas. MW is wonderful, as is PW. We did W&D a couple of times when it was a night race, and that’s a great time to go. For the last couple of years, we’ve gone in September for MNSSHP, and had a blast. We’ve also been in May, which is a great time to be there. I guess my answer is pretty much anytime is good!

 

[Barca33Runner]

SAFD: I just like going to WDW. I am pretty okay with any weather provided the attractions are open and the crowds are tolerable.

The only time I don’t like WDW is when the crowds are out of control. That’s why I generally don’t hit the parks too heavily when Marathon Weekend is during the first week of January and heavily overlaps with school holiday vacation.

I always do an early September trip because the crowds tend to be the most predictably low in that time of year. Gives an opportunity for MNSSHP and Halloween Horror Nights at Universal. I’m okay with the heat because it’s predictable and can be managed.

 

[RuntheMouse]

When I think of W&D, I'm reminded of the coldest I've ever been at a runDisney race, the 2021 W&D 10K. My activity record says it was 53º F, but there were sustained 15 mph winds from the NW, and 90% humidity, and I remember drizzle. Also, I wasn't properly prepared for that much chill, something remedied before the next morning for the Half!

(As a long-time ELO fan, got to call out that reference. Seems like all of those would have been fun concerts!)

YES! That was my first runDisney race and the weather was awful!!! I remember the drizzle and huddling up trying to stay warm.

 

[marty3d]

SAFD: Can I say any season other than summer?

My favourite time is spring - either March or April which is surprising given I've never done Spring Surprise. Also love Food & Wine.

 

[Naomeri]

SAFD: my favorite season for WDW is early spring/late winter (whatever season Disney considers mid-February to mid-March) It's generally warm enough not to be cold (for me, at least, I know some of you southerners may disagree ) but not so warm that it's actually hot.

Runner up would be fall, because Halloween is the best

 

[BigEeyore]

SAFD: Since we are DVC and live nearby-ish in GA, we are fortunate to go to WDW 3-4 times a year - typically early/mid fall, sometime in the Christmas season, MW, and the spring.
I love that each season is a little different, so that each trip during the year is special in it's own way - but my favorite is the spring. I absolutely LOVE Flower and Garden at Epcot! Key is timing the trip to avoid the biggest spring break crowds, but the weather is usually fantastic - warm but not oppressive, and less rain than the fall.

 

[accm]

SAFD: My favourite season at Disney is Christmas. When I was younger, my family would only go around Christmas time, so it has a lot of nostalgia built it.
We're pretty consistent with the times of years we go, but after hearing so many Spring/F&G votes, I might need to plan an April/May trip for next year.

 

[KCO5988]

SAFD: Anytime but July and August!!

 

[nancipants]

SAFD: Anytime but July and August!!

I live here, and I agree.

 

[The Expert]

SAFD: We have APs and family in the area, so we come down a lot. I try to avoid mid-May through September due to heat/humidity, but if there's a good reason for a trip, we'll always take it. If I'm picking an ideal time, it's probably early December.

 

[jrsharp21]

SAFD: Like some have said, anytime is my favorite time for WDW! We usually go twice a year, MW and for my annual work conference in May. It looks like we may also be headed to WDW this September for my daughter's birthday and for their wedding open house event (daughter and her fiancé are thinking a Disney World wedding). Even though I love all the hustle and bustle of MW, I really like the time we go in May. F&G is in full swing at Epcot, and usually the weather is not too bad (better than Houston).

 

[smileyanna]

SAFD: My (potentially) unpopular favorite is anytime other than the fall. I love the weather, but as someone who doesn’t pay for hard ticket parties, I don’t like losing access to the Magic Kingdom at night so many times a week.

We used to visit between New Years and Marathon Weekend, but it seems like winter break patterns have changed and folks are still on Christmas vacation then!

All told, between the heat of the summer and the holiday parties between August and New Years, my date preference is January through April.

 

[Mr_Incr3dible]

The ex and I discovered that the week after Thanksgiving was a great low-attendance week to go; it's after all the Thanksgiving visitors and before the Christmas season starts.

That said, I've come to really enjoy MW, especially if it is not the first weekend in Jan, i.e. meaning the Christmas crowd has gone home.
What I enjoy is seeing WDW decked out for Christmas, but without being packed with people. The other thing I like is being able to enjoy the parks without necessarily dripping in sweat. Some years I'm good in shorts and a t-shirt, other years a sweatshirt is needed, but it's usually (I said usually...). not too hot or too cold.

 

[RuntheMouse]

The ex and I discovered that the week after Thanksgiving was a great low-attendance week to go; it's after all the Thanksgiving visitors and before the Christmas season starts.

That is our go to week for the holidays. We call it Thanksmas! Doing it again this year.

 

[JediKnightXan]

SAFD: I have been four times in the last 10 years, three in the fall (September/October) and once in early May. I think I give a slight edge to the early May.

In May I really liked the flower and garden festival, made EPCOT really fun without the huge crowds that the food and wine festival bring. Humidity was a little worse than fall, but the slightly higher temps made the pool feel that much better.

The fall was really nice, but did have to leave Magic Kingdom early on two of the trips for the Halloween party (first time was 2017 didn't know any better, last time was last year, that day was the only day we could get a Bibbity Bobbity reservation so went in knowing). The weather when we were there was great, but we also got lucky and missed hurricanes by less than a week (twice now).

I have never been in December or January, so this trip will be a bit different. Biggest concern is flight delays due to weather. I have a small hope the castle is still all lit up from Christmas, but guessing will miss it by a week or two. Also hope its not so cold we can't enjoy the pool.

 

[Disney at Heart]

It looks like we may also be headed to WDW this September for my daughter's birthday and for their wedding open house event (daughter and her fiancé are thinking a Disney World wedding).

My DS and DIL had their wedding at the GF wedding pavilion. it was a small wedding and on a Friday just before noon. We had a cake cutting afterwards at GF on the “Admiral’s Terrace” and then a reception lunch at Narcoosees. Glad we were parents of the groom, since our part, the rehearsal dinner at the Napa Room next to Cali Grill, was expensive enough!
It’s said you get what you pay for, and yes, we did. The whole day was perfect and provided marvelous memories for all of us.
Two weeks later we had a reception at home to invite all those people we couldn’t afford to have at a Disney wedding. The bride got to wear her dress again!

 

[RuntheMouse]

It looks like we may also be headed to WDW this September for my daughter's birthday and for their wedding open house event (daughter and her fiancé are thinking a Disney World wedding).

My DS and DIL had their wedding at the GF wedding pavilion. it was a small wedding and on a Friday just before noon. We had a cake cutting afterwards at GF on the “Admiral’s Terrace” and then a reception lunch at Narcoosees. Glad we were parents of the groom, since our part, the rehearsal dinner at the Napa Room next to Cali Grill, was expensive enough!
It’s said you get what you pay for, and yes, we did. The whole day was perfect and provided marvelous memories for all of us.
Two weeks later we had a reception at home to invite all those people we couldn’t afford to have at a Disney wedding. The bride got to wear her dress again!

We got married at WDW many years ago (when it was more “affordable” ) They certainly made it magical even for a small intimate wedding. We were married at Seabreeze Point on the boardwalk ,then spent the day at the park with everyone. So much fun! Then we had a reception at home for everyone else like @Disney at Heart did.

Best cake ever FWIW, we still talk about it decades later!

 

[PrincessV]

SAFD: My favorite “season” at WDW are the times when there are the least number of people visiting. Sometimes that’s a weekend, or a day, or a few weeks, or even an entire actual season (hello long, hot summers in recent years). When crowds are low, that’s when I go.

 

[Herding_Cats]

Can any of the Michigan (and adjacent) peeps tell me if 10k miles/person is a "good" price for Southwest in January? (I have concocted a plan to fly down for MW a day sooner out of DTW instead of Traverse City by hitching a ride with DS1 when he goes back downstate for school, which will allow us to fly back into TVC and not have a car sitting in Detroit.) It looks like as long as we book before 5/28 we'd still get the free checked bags.