Marathon Weekend 2026

[Herding_Cats]

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[FFigawi]

My dream is a start temp in the 50s for each race. 40s was too cold for MW/Princess this year. I love running in the 40s but turns out I do not like standing around in the 40s for 2 hours before starting to run. 60s would be too warm. And if anything starts in the 70s, well you might as well get the ambulance ready at the finish line for me

That. The bolded part. 100%.

That’s why I’m Team Car, and arrive later than many.

 

[Goofed98]

the 5k is "untimed" although dopey bibs *do* have a timing chip in them, while the 5k-specific bibs do not. I have generally completed it in about 90min or so. According to reports I've read, they will kind of shoo you along if you are taking longer than they would like. There has been no verification step for earning the Dopey/Goofy medals aside from completing the marathon on Sunday (no pic, no one checks your bib number for avg pace or if you even finished the other races) since I've started running there in 2022.

The 10 *is* timed, and there are balloon ladies. Finish before the balloon ladies/without getting swept.

I used to like when they'd give you a bracelet after the half that you had to wear until you completed the full, verifying you had finished in time. Ah, good old days.

 

[apwoodr]

I actually looked at an annual pass, and even with getting a 6-day ticket for MW, and then a couple more days for PW, I was still saving several hundred dollars by NOT getting an AP. There are no other disney trips on my radar for 2026, so I couldn't use potential future savings as a justification.

As a DVC member I really miss the discount that made getting an AP the same price as a 7 day park hopper. Just one of the many ways they've de-valued DVC over the years.

 

[cburnett11]

And if you really don't want a sponge or ice bag any more, see if someone else wants it before you toss it on the ground. I remember at W&D 2024 there was an ice bag that cycled through 4 or 5 people after we came down the hill after the final cloverleaf.

I’m pretty sure I was still carrying my sponge when I crossed the finish line of my first marathon back in 2016.

 

[PrincessV]

Also remember that 40 in Orlando is NOT the same as 40 up north. The humidity here makes hot temperatures feel hotter and cold temperatures feel colder. The worst of both worlds!

Former Western New Yorker reporting in from my FL condo, which is concrete block with 1970s insulation, in the middle of 48 hours of winter… damp cold sucks. Just cannot break the chill when it drops below 60. The only upside to dipping into the 30s tonight is that the heat will kick on regularly and at least it’ll feel better indoors!

 

[1GoldenSun]

I'm sure this has been discussed a lot already, so please forgive me.

I'm not going to be able to run this year but I plan on coming up to watch the marathon. I have an AP so I can get into the parks, and I'd like to watch some of the marathon from as many parks as possible. I'm staying at Riverside on the 10th so I can be there bright and early on the 11th.

I don't want to spend too much time in any one spot, just about 10 minutes of cheering and then on to the next, with maybe a few rides and snacks mixed in. I'd like to end up in Epcot at the very end of the race when the last runners are finishing; those are the ones I want most to support.

Does anyone have a good plan for this?

 

[The Expert]

I'm sure this has been discussed a lot already, so please forgive me.

I'm not going to be able to run this year but I plan on coming up to watch the marathon. I have an AP so I can get into the parks, and I'd like to watch some of the marathon from as many parks as possible. I'm staying at Riverside on the 10th so I can be there bright and early on the 11th.

I don't want to spend too much time in any one spot, just about 10 minutes of cheering and then on to the next, with maybe a few rides and snacks mixed in. I'd like to end up in Epcot at the very end of the race when the last runners are finishing; those are the ones I want most to support.

Does anyone have a good plan for this?

There's a spectator section under each race in the guide on rD's website. We also have tons of spectator info coming in the DIS marathon weekend doc, which we're finalizing now! Keep an eye on this thread for the link.

 

[The Expert]

Exciting news -- the Awesome Amazing DISboard Marathon Weekend doc is just about ready to drop! We're just waiting for pacer information to come out, so if anyone sees that please tag or DM me or Herding_Cats and we'll drop it in and share.

 

[Herding_Cats]

I'm sure this has been discussed a lot already, so please forgive me.

I'm not going to be able to run this year but I plan on coming up to watch the marathon. I have an AP so I can get into the parks, and I'd like to watch some of the marathon from as many parks as possible. I'm staying at Riverside on the 10th so I can be there bright and early on the 11th.

I don't want to spend too much time in any one spot, just about 10 minutes of cheering and then on to the next, with maybe a few rides and snacks mixed in. I'd like to end up in Epcot at the very end of the race when the last runners are finishing; those are the ones I want most to support.

Does anyone have a good plan for this?

For *in* the parks, you can cheer at the start area (Epcot parking lot) and then hop on the monorail to the TTC and/or MK. You will need to be IN the Epcot parking lot before they close the roads for the races to start. AK opens at 7:30am for EEH, and you could probably ride EE with runners if you skipped getting up at the crack of Dark:30 to be at the start line. Take a bus from AK to HS (opens at 8:30am) and at some point skyliner or friendship boat over to Epcot.