Marathon Weekend 2026

[The Expert]

Looks like I won't be joining the crew at OKW. Just heard back from the store and they said studio availability at OKW is sold out for 1/6 - 1/12. Trying for a studio at Boardwalk now.

If standard view BWV is sold out (which it probably is), compare the available BWV studio points to an OKW 1 bedroom. It may not be much more to get significantly more space, a jetted tub, washer/dryer and full kitchen in the room. The 1 bedrooms at OKW are significantly larger than the other DVC resorts, too.

 

[jrsharp21]

If standard view BWV is sold out (which it probably is), compare the available BWV studio points to an OKW 1 bedroom. It may not be much more to get significantly more space, a jetted tub, washer/dryer and full kitchen in the room. The 1 bedrooms at OKW are significantly larger than the other DVC resorts, too.

Thanks for this. I took a look on the stores website and it looks like it was a big price jump between the two. The difference between the BWV studio resort view pricing and the OKW 1 bedroom was about $1,300.

Saratoga Springs had a preferred studio available. I put in the request for that.

 

[Blue Caterpillar]

I rented points for a stay at AKV for this marathon, quite a while ago. I almost booked OKW but since I have stayed there before, I decided to try somewhere new. Kinda sad about it now that it seems so people are staying there!

 

[Naomeri]

Thanks for this. I took a look on the stores website and it looks like it was a big price jump between the two. The difference between the BWV studio resort view pricing and the OKW 1 bedroom was about $1,300.

Saratoga Springs had a preferred studio available. I put in the request for that.

I really liked my SSR preferred studio for MW25. I was on top floor, on the waterside end of the middle Springs building, right next to the stairs (which was good for my tried-and-true "only use the stairs (unless you have luggage)" practice) and it was maybe a 2 minute walk to the park and race buses.

 

[jpholic]

I rented points for a stay at AKV for this marathon, quite a while ago. I almost booked OKW but since I have stayed there before, I decided to try somewhere new. Kinda sad about it now that it seems so people are staying there!

Same. I booked BWV months ago for MW and now I see so many folks doing the OKW. FOMO!

 

[Novatrix]

Possibly? It's just odd as we've owned at AK since it was announced and I can't ever recall January dates being sold out this far in advance. Last year I had an AK res and switched it to another resort at the 7 month window. A lot of folks do that, so things may free up when that time hits.

The major refurb is set to kick off October 2025 for AKV and will be responsible for removing a lot of rooms (as well as the lobby and community hall at Kidani.) They're starting at Kidani, then moving on to Jambo. Probably why the rooms are blocked, Disney uusually tries to be conservative with blocking them and release the rooms later if there's a shift.

 

[Novatrix]

Looks like I won't be joining the crew at OKW. Just heard back from the store and they said studio availability at OKW is sold out for 1/6 - 1/12. Trying for a studio at Boardwalk now.

The only studio with full availability for that date range is Saratoga Preferred view for 86 points. You'll need to evaluate whether you'd prefer that or cash. (Alternatively, OKW is only missing the Fri night, if you wanted to break up your stay.)

 

[nekonekoneko]

Looks like I won't be joining the crew at OKW. Just heard back from the store and they said studio availability at OKW is sold out for 1/6 - 1/12. Trying for a studio at Boardwalk now.

For most of the race weekends, studios go very quick at the 11 month mark. I tried to book 2 OKW near Hospitality House studios, and 1 got waitlisted, and never came off.

As @Novatrix said, SSR Preferred is the only studio left, though there are some scattered 1 BRs available. In DVC, those are generally about twice the cost of a studio, but comes with a full kitchen, a washer/dryer in room, and a bathtub (Some with whirlpool functions)

 

[Herding_Cats]

When we stay preferred at SSR we like to stay in congress park because we like to walk to DS, and it feels less busy away from the big pools. We usually request a water view or view of Disney springs and have gotten that 2 out of 3 times. The springs section is closer to the lobby/dining and the race bus, but we have always had a car so that didn’t matter.

 

[The Expert]

Thanks for this. I took a look on the stores website and it looks like it was a big price jump between the two. The difference between the BWV studio resort view pricing and the OKW 1 bedroom was about $1,300.

Saratoga Springs had a preferred studio available. I put in the request for that.

Sometimes it's worth a shot, depending on the season the cost jump can be pretty minimal. I've also stayed in a SSR preferred studio and have nothing but good things to say.

 

[princesspirateandrunner]

I made our reservations today for Pop, Fri-Mon. We will plan to add another night on somewhere else, hopefully the Boardwalk area. I will keep checking prices, and may change if a good deal comes along later. Pop was $262/night, which seemed high to me compared to past race weekends.

I’m just glad to have something on MDE. Like others, we have rented DVC points before, both from David’s and from other Disers. Last year, we made reservations at Pop, then added a night at Beach Club so we could easily join in DATW. None of that worked out. We were upgraded from Pop to POR, so we changed some of our ADRs, then we didn’t make it to DATW because I came down with the flu. It’s good to have Disney plans, one way or the other (but no flu this year!).

 

[Stitch&Co.]

I really liked my SSR preferred studio for MW25. I was on top floor, on the waterside end of the middle Springs building, right next to the stairs (which was good for my tried-and-true "only use the stairs (unless you have luggage)" practice) and it was maybe a 2 minute walk to the park and race buses.

We were also in the Springs in a preferred studio but the end building near the bus stop. Perfect location. We are renting points from the same person as last year. I found him on the Dis boards last year and payment was broken up into two payments. I contacted him again this year to see if they were going to be renting out more points. We even requested the same room as last year. So fingers crossed that will work out. But worse case we should at least get the same building.

 

[camaker]

Good afternoon RunDisney All-Stars! Welcome to this week's edition of Sundays are for Disney (SAFD). We're having some absolutely beautiful spring weather here in NC today, which makes me wonder what's your favorite season or seasons to visit Disney?

SAFD: My favorite season to visit Disney is the fall. I absolutely love seeing the Magic Kingdom decked out in its fall colors with pumpkins and Jack-o-lanterns everywhere. A fall trip also wouldn't be complete without attending Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party to see the Boo To You parade with all its rare characters and classic characters decked out in their Halloween costumes.

Runner up in the seasonal contest is springtime for me, usually early May after the spring break crowds have died down. The Epcot Flower & Garden Show has always been my favorite festival with its topiaries. The Garden Rocks concert series is a big draw, too, as I've seen some classic rock favorites in it like The Orchestra (ELO), Little River Band and the Guess Who.

 

[Kerry1957]

SAFD: Wine& Dine race week and Marathon week are always fun, but my new favorite is February. The last two years we have rented an airbnb for a couple of weeks in late February. I escape the cold and snow of Chicago and since I have an AP can enjoy the parks as little or as much as I want to.

 

[Disney at Heart]

SAFD: I always love W&D weekends. Fall is cool and the festival is great. We come home with 4 medals! We arrive with the pumpkins and leave with Christmas. I guess we won’t see the Christmas decorations this year!
I also love the 1st or 2nd week of May. F&G Festival is going on, crowds are lower in between spring break and summer vacation, and we run (or don’t) whenever we feel like it. The weather is great. I love Garden Rocks concert series and have seen several acts that I enjoy, including remnants of ELO, Starship, Rick Springfield, .38 Secial, The Go Gos, Smashmouth, etc.
I’ve been during all the holidays and love each season: Easter. Christmas. New Year, summer vacation. All seasons have special things, but I really don’t like the crowds.

 

[JackosinDIS]

SAFD: I have only visited in May and August due to school holidays. Both hot of course but I think I preferred August as the parks were much quieter and we got to attend MNSSHP. Looking forward to trying out Jan for MW and April next year.

 

[RuntheMouse]

SAFD: This is a really hard one for me, I love so many seasons at WDW! We are lucky to be a DVC/AP household so we take several trips each year. I guess I’d have to put Halloween week as our #1. We love going to MNSSHP and catching the end of F&W. A very close second would be January. We start off with marathon weekend and then stay 2-4 weeks depending on how many points we have lying around. We get to enjoy FoTA and it sometimes means my birthday is spent down there as well!

***If you give me a third, it is a quick taste of spring for F&G usually in March or April. We don’t get flowers until May around here so a little Florida sunshine and flowers are good for the soul!

 

[Baloo in MI]

SAFD:
My favorite season is Christmas time. The weather (mostly) is cooler so I can wear all my favorite Disney hoodies and runDisney jackets! And I just love all the lights, music and feels of the season. My favorite resort is Wilderness Lodge and they do such a great job of decorating! MW usually catches the end of the season and I love walking into the lobby and seeing the huge tree!

Side note: @camaker I totally agree with how good some of the bands have been at Garden Rocks in Epcot. I was blown away with how good ELO was and 38 Special was also really good! Given it is “free” it is really a great addition to a day in Epcot!

 

[matt and beth]

SAFD: Our seasons are tied to the RunDisney races. Wine and Dine and Epcot is starting to over take MW, but we still love the Christmas decorations during MW. Last year was miserable weather wise. One more of those and we may be WD only.

 

[mmm_texas]

SAFD: I always love W&D weekends. Fall is cool and the festival is great. We come home with 4 medals! We arrive with the pumpkins and leave with Christmas. I guess we won’t see the Christmas decorations this year!
I also love the 1st or 2nd week of May. F&G Festival is going on, crowds are lower in between spring break and summer vacation, and we run (or don’t) whenever we feel like it. The weather is great. I love Garden Rocks concert series and have seen several acts that I enjoy, including remnants of ELO, Starship, Rick Springfield, .38 Secial, The Go Gos, Smashmouth, etc.
I’ve been during all the holidays and love each season: Easter. Christmas. New Year, summer vacation. All seasons have special things, but I really don’t like the crowds.

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!)