Marathon Weekend 2026

[Baloo in MI]

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.

Not going to be helpful here as I have not flown on Southwest in years. But anything to save the outrageous parking fees to simply leave a car at DTW - even in the “discount” Green Lots - seems a good idea to me!

 

[Herding_Cats]

Not going to be helpful here as I have not flown on Southwest in years. But anything to save the outrageous parking fees to simply leave a car at DTW - even in the “discount” Green Lots - seems a good idea to me!

Who do you usually fly through, and what's your "I'll get tickets now" price?

IF we fly out of DTW and have to leave a car, we usually end up booking the park/sleep/fly through the holiday inn express or fairfield that back up to the either quik park or EZ park on Merriman Rd. It's almost the same price as just a hotel stay, we get a free breakfast, and usually there's enough parking days included in the package that the parking is covered. But usually, we can fly out locally for almost the same cost once we factor in gas money, meals during the drive, and parking. Plus it saves us 5hrs in the car each way.

 

[prncssjas]

Who do you usually fly through, and what's your "I'll get tickets now" price?

I live 15 minutes west of DTW and we always fly Delta. I find that purchasing my airfare approximately 5 months out before January weekend and Princess weekend, we get the lowest fares. I think for princess week this year, our base fare for comfort plus $410 per ticket (leaving on Wednesday and coming home the following Wednesday). I realize Delta is not the cheapest carrier but DH travels for work a lot so we have a lot of miles/rewards. DTW is a Delta hub so I appreciate having multiple options in the event of bad weather (it's Michigan, right?) and flight delays.

 

[jrsharp21]

Well, the Goofy sold out before I could register, so I’m doing the half and the full. I guess I had to justify those two new pairs of running shoes I bought last week somehow, lol. But if anyone is looking for an amazing shoe, the Adidas Evo SL is probably one of the best shoes I’ve run in the last couple of years. It’s the new Endorphin Speed for me.

Picked up a pair of the Adidas Evo SL this past weekend based on your post and the other reviews by running shoe channels. Finally got a chance to take them out for a run and absolutely love the ride. The cushioning is fantastic in the shoe and crazy how light they are. Going to pick up a another pair or two to have some new ones for MW.

 

[Baloo in MI]

Who do you usually fly through, and what's your "I'll get tickets now" price?

IF we fly out of DTW and have to leave a car, we usually end up booking the park/sleep/fly through the holiday inn express or fairfield that back up to the either quik park or EZ park on Merriman Rd. It's almost the same price as just a hotel stay, we get a free breakfast, and usually there's enough parking days included in the package that the parking is covered. But usually, we can fly out locally for almost the same cost once we factor in gas money, meals during the drive, and parking. Plus it saves us 5hrs in the car each way.

We use Delta and anything in the 300$ range. Generally around 4-5 months out the best rates show up. Must be much more relaxing to stay right next to the airport though, we have thought about that before. Sort of trade out our parking costs for a hotel stay the night before the flight and I am a sucker for a free hotel breakfast!

Our cheapest method is to take the Michigan Flyer from East Lansing to DTW. But that depends on how many going. If it is a solo trip. I can park on campus in a covered ramp for free, walk to the bus stop and then take it to DTW. For springtime surprise I think that totaled 40$, plus no gas, car is protected and I could nap on the way. For the 7 days to park at the discount lot is like $240. It all adds up so fast!

 

[DianaMB333]

@Herding_Cats @Baloo in MI @prncssjas fellow Michiganders!

I live in Canton, about 20 mins west of DTW then Delta is my go to airline (by default due to flight times), and usually buy in advance the tickets and keep monitoring the price for changes… go to prices are in the $400-$500 range going on Wed night before expo and returning on Sunday afternoon/night.

What is the trick for the $300s? The dates?

 

[jmasgat]

@Herding_Cats @Baloo in MI @prncssjas fellow Michiganders!

I live in Canton, about 20 mins west of DTW then Delta is my go to airline (by default due to flight times), and usually buy in advance the tickets and keep monitoring the price for changes… go to prices are in the $400-$500 range going on Wed night before expo and returning on Sunday afternoon/night.

What is the trick for the $300s? The dates?

Waving from Birmingham.....yes. Sunday is not the time to come back. I generally try to do a Thursday/Tuesday trip--not just for flights, but I like some "calm after the storm". For W&D, I am going down Wed, back Monday night.

These days--and given the good cancellation/rescheduling policies, I just buy a ticket and then set up flight alerts on google flights to track if/when it comes down (although honestly, I go in to Delta so often to stalk changes that I don't really need them). Then I'll re-book if the price is better. One thing I dislike intensively is that Delta's online change system has a quirk that doesn't easily let you get credit back on your original flight--you have to call. But it's still doable (and better than int'l airlines. I just booked Icelandair with flexible tickets because the standard tickets had a $250 change fee! Glad I read the fine print)

 

[DianaMB333]

Waving from Birmingham.....yes. Sunday is not the time to come back. I generally try to do a Thursday/Tuesday trip--not just for flights, but I like some "calm after the storm". For W&D, I am going down Wed, back Monday night.

These days--and given the good cancellation/rescheduling policies, I just buy a ticket and then set up flight alerts on google flights to track if/when it comes down (although honestly, I go in to Delta so often to stalk changes that I don't really need them). Then I'll re-book if the price is better. One thing I dislike intensively is that Delta's online change system has a quirk that doesn't easily let you get credit back on your original flight--you have to call. But it's still doable (and better than int'l airlines. I just booked Icelandair with flexible tickets because the standard tickets had a $250 change fee! Glad I read the fine print)

Yes..using travel credits in Delta rs a pain.. i have to build a spreadsheet to keep track LOL

Thanks for the insights on the dates

 

[Baloo in MI]

@Herding_Cats @Baloo in MI @prncssjas fellow Michiganders!

I live in Canton, about 20 mins west of DTW then Delta is my go to airline (by default due to flight times), and usually buy in advance the tickets and keep monitoring the price for changes… go to prices are in the $400-$500 range going on Wed night before expo and returning on Sunday afternoon/night.

What is the trick for the $300s? The dates?

We stalk the flights for months and play with arrival and departure dates. Sometimes just leaving a day later (and a great excuse to stay in DW longer) is cheaper. And we remain very flexible with flight times. If cheapest leaves at 5am we get to DW early, if it is at 7pm at night we get to sleep in and have leisure packing and travel day.

My wife has a real talent for finding good flights, so I take no credit for any of this!

 

[RuntheMouse]

Yes..using travel credits in Delta rs a pain.. i have to build a spreadsheet to keep track LOL

Thanks for the insights on the dates

I was able to get our MW/Jan tickets for $289 RT and then threw all my Delta credits from chasing fares down this year and got them for $188 out of pocket for 2 people!

Also when searching on Delta, you can check the “my dates are flexible” box and it will show you the lowest fare for a range around your desired dates.

 

[Baloo in MI]

So my youngest, and long time runDisney running partner has flipped her college intentions. No longer going to Michigan, she has accepted a pre-med and honors program at Michigan State that came with a nice scholarship! So why do I share this - besides the opportunity to brag about the genius she is? Her winter break shifts and now she can come to MW!

Originally our plan, as she will be 18, was for her to do her first Dopey with me. We did not register her since she could not go. Now she can. Does anyone know of any charities that still have Dopey bibs? Figure this is a long shot at this point, but gotta try.

Regardless, a big positive in her switch to MSU, her older sister is a Spartan. We have now avoided a house divided; Thanksgiving will be so much more peaceful!

 

[Herding_Cats]

@Herding_Cats @Baloo in MI @prncssjas fellow Michiganders!

I live in Canton, about 20 mins west of DTW then Delta is my go to airline (by default due to flight times), and usually buy in advance the tickets and keep monitoring the price for changes… go to prices are in the $400-$500 range going on Wed night before expo and returning on Sunday afternoon/night.

What is the trick for the $300s? The dates?

We try really hard to NOT fly out of Detroit because of all of the added expenses for us (the drive, the parking, usually needing a hotel on one side or the other, extra meals, etc) but from 4 years of stalking flights....and I'm talking that I am checking them every other day...the cheapest days I've found for MW is Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday. We try to fly down on Tuesday (usually ends up getting changed to Monday because by the time January rolls around we are desperate for a break) and *back* on Tuesday. We have flown back on Monday because of the kids and other commitments, but my body is a lot happier post-marathon if we come back on Tuesday. And we can also participate in the DATW meetup.

We usually book on chase points, but DH did get a United card last summer because united is a travel partner with chase and we can turn our chase points into united miles. We can never fly nonstop because we usually fly out of TVC or GRR, but we usually end up in the $220-$280/person range via point equivalency.

 

[Herding_Cats]

On a different note, for any DVC owners, you can add on the "kids eat free" dining option even if you've booked on points. I know that for the most part it doesn't make sense to purchase the dining plan, but if you're bringing littles with you and planning character meals it might be worth looking at. Especially if you're doing a split stay.




It will come as a shock to exactly 0 people (@camaker you're going to laugh at me) that we are likely looking at a split stay because of adding on the Monday, and I'm pretty sure I've talked DH into a 1-day dining plan to go with it because we will "break even" on costs with 1 character meal with DD, and then still have the QS and snack credits for lunch the next day to get us through until we get our groceries delivered to our 1br.

Any suggestions for a great in-park character lunch or dinner with a busy 6 year old? I'd prefer non-buffet, but would consider it if it's got great interactions. We've done Toppolinos and Chef Mickeys before, so those are off the list.

 

[Erika10021]

Does anyone know of any charities that still have Dopey bibs? Figure this is a long shot at this point, but gotta try.

For this last Dopey, we stalked the site and Telegram and managed to snag two Dopey bibs. It was a constant checking but one Saturday morning in September or October, there were lots of pings on Telegram (for other Disney races) so I started just refreshing the runDisney Marathon Weekend site pretty regularly and then it popped open, earlier than it listed on Telegram and we both got in.

I don't know as much about the charity route but it can't hurt to try both!

Edited: it was July 16, 2024 when we snagged the bibs.

 

[MissLiss279]

So my youngest, and long time runDisney running partner has flipped her college intentions. No longer going to Michigan, she has accepted a pre-med and honors program at Michigan State that came with a nice scholarship! So why do I share this - besides the opportunity to brag about the genius she is? Her winter break shifts and now she can come to MW!

Originally our plan, as she will be 18, was for her to do her first Dopey with me. We did not register her since she could not go. Now she can. Does anyone know of any charities that still have Dopey bibs? Figure this is a long shot at this point, but gotta try.

Regardless, a big positive in her switch to MSU, her older sister is a Spartan. We have now avoided a house divided; Thanksgiving will be so much more peaceful!

Checkout this page for easy links to charities that still have bibs:
https://teamrundis.com/rundisney-charities#google_vignette

 

[Erika10021]

Any suggestions for a great in-park character lunch or dinner with a busy 6 year old? I'd prefer non-buffet, but would consider it if it's got great interactions. We've done Toppolinos and Chef Mickeys before, so those are off the list.

If Topolino's is off the table, then my next favorite character meal is Tusker House, albeit a buffet. I love watching the characters interact with the littles from the other tables (we don't currently have any). One of my favorite magic moments was watching Goofy get swarmed with six littles (probably ranging 2-7 years old) from the table next to us. All the cast members involved handled it so beautifully.

 

[nancipants]

Any suggestions for a great in-park character lunch or dinner with a busy 6 year old? I'd prefer non-buffet, but would consider it if it's got great interactions. We've done Toppolinos and Chef Mickeys before, so those are off the list.

Owen has enjoyed:

Garden Grill (also our fave)
Woody’s Round Up (not my fave and no characters, but he loves the Toy Story theming and it’s AYCE)
Tusker House (a buffet, but I love the ambiance and characters, and the food is good)

 

[matt and beth]

Michigan Peeps . We usually play with dates to get the best fare and can find a $300 each on basic Delta. Don’t always get to sit next to one another though . Then I see this Reel about how your spouse isn’t worth an extra $100 to sit next to . Oopsies

 

[Disneyhanna]

I learned something new a few days ago about Delta ecredits, they do NOT always save to your account. I went to book a flight and felt like I had fewer credits sitting there than I expected (I rebook for even $10 price drops) and low and behold, when I went through my emails, I found some ecredit #s that had not saved to my account, I had to manually enter them in. The interesting thing is these ecredits had my first name and middle name with a space between them. The credits that were saved to my account had first name and middle name as one word. I know with things like this make a difference (ever forgotten a middle name and not gotten precheck? ) but still strange since all of my information is saved to my account, so it's not like I entered anything differently. Now when I rebook I will be including the ecredit #s in my notes so I don't lose them.

Anyways, I have been watching flights and am glad I booked my MW flights as soon as they opened. I always book main cabin for changeable fares and I paid 22.9k miles for my flight out of MSP with ideal times. The same flight is now 37k miles! I also booked princess flights a few weeks ago "just in case" for 24.6k miles and it is now 40k miles!

Disneyland flights are another story...it's like 60k miles to fly into SNA and LAX isn't much better once you factor in the Uber fares

 

[jrsharp21]

Disneyland flights are another story...it's like 60k miles to fly into SNA and LAX isn't much better once you factor in the Uber fares

Yea, DL flights are looking brutal. Trying to fly into SNA so I don't have to get a rental car (I don't like taking Uber LAX, sometimes it's borderline from Burbank or Ontario). But those flight prices from Houston to SNA are not looking to gracious right now.