Marathon Weekend 2026

[matt and beth]

We have stayed:
BWV
CSR
Swan
AKL
CCV
GFV
BCV
OKW
Poly

Honestly… they have all been great and we enjoy them all for their own special reasons

 

[Naomeri]

SAFD: 100% Team Onsite

I've only done MW once, and I rented points for a preferred studio at SSR, and I would absolutely do that again. If I had the opportunity to splurge a little, I might go for a one bedroom to get the soaker tub, but that feels like a lot of space for one person

 

[MinnesotaDisneyFan]

I’ll second what others have said that the race transportation is uniformly the same across all on-property resorts (other than races/resorts where monorail is an option).

For Marathon weekend specifically I’ve stayed at Caribbean Beach (X2), Swan, Fort Wilderness Cabins, Old Key West, and Saratoga Springs.

For those who like quiet and privacy, the cabins are unmatched. Plus having a full kitchen (I dislike that all non-DVC Disney hotels have gone away from having refrigerators and instead have beverage coolers, which is less than ideal for stocking up on food for the race weekend making DVC stays like this preferable), and the ability to have separate sleeping quarters for spectators and runners is great. The remote location is less than ideal having to take a bus to the race transport, but if you have a car/golf cart you can alleviate some of this. We lucked out and were in the first loop and could walk to the race transport.

My favorite for race weekend is Swan/Dolphin. I agree with others that the prices have gone up from previous deals one could find, but when compared to the Disney Crescent Lake resorts, it’s still a lot cheaper. I like the ability to walk into Epcot after the marathon, it’s easier for spectators in my party to have the course right by the hotel, and you can enjoy the restaurants and shopping of Boardwalk/Yacht/Beach.

Honorable mention for Saratoga. I did like being so close to Disney Springs.

 

[FFigawi]

SAFD: Another team on-site member here. We've stayed at all categories of resort and find ourselves going back to 1) Beach/Yacht/Swolphin for walking to MGM and Epcot (the two parks we spend most of our time at) and driving to the races; 2) Poly for the monorail; or 3) CBR for the Skyliner.

 

[dobball23]

SAFD: Team on-site. We've never stayed off site when visiting WDW.

I enjoy the convenience and camaraderie of the race transportation. However, I've driven to the races the last two times I did Dopey and appreciate the consistency of my timing when driving. I'm trying to figure out how to have a car again this January.

 

[Disney at Heart]

SAFD: Always onsite. I love the atmosphere, the comraderie, the excitement, and the convenience. We have stayed in many different resorts in all categories and have had no problems at any of them. We have driven a couple of times in the past for MW when it was extremely cold, but both times we were parked far away, and, of course, after arriving about 2:30-3:00, I suddenly had to use the bathroom. After a looooong walk through security and waiting in line for a bathroom, it was useless to walk all the way back to the car. Besides I was already getting adjusted to the cold by then!
One very cold day, we had taken the bus, and back when they had runners retreat tents for the 1/2 and full, the tent was not being used for the 5k and 10K, so we, and a number of other runners, sneaked in there to stay warm. Now we just huddle around the light pole with all our friends!

 

[PrincessV]

SAFD: I’m neither Team Onsite nor Offsite… or I’m both Team Onsite and Offsite? I book what my budget will allow and what matches my needs: when I was still doing the marathon and Dopey, I wanted a full kitchen and washer/dryer, so I stayed at Wyndham Bonnet Creek, but for shorter distances and fewer races per weekend I’ll do a regular room onsite or offsite. If prices are comparable, I’ll generally go with onsite because everything’s just a little closer and I do enjoy the Disney Bubble. I always have my car and drive to races/parks/food, so transportation is a non-issue.

 

[Erika10021]

SAFD: Team Onsite! We love the Disney bubble and the race atmosphere at the resorts. Actually, we've never tried staying offsite or even tried driving to the races. We are DVC so generally we try to stay on points for as many races as we can. (We don't have enough points to do all the races).

 

[Barca33Runner]

SAFD: Well, I guess it’s up to me to be that one guy. While I will always be team on-site for anything Disney or Universal for all of the reasons stated in previous answers, mainly the perks and the feeling of being more in the action, we have done our last four MW off-site and will likely continue to do so for the foreseeable future.

The primary reason is cost effectiveness. We can basically fully fund a trip to Disney or Universal later in the year with the cost savings of staying off-site during MW. We often have a weird group size that doesn’t fit efficiently into the standard Disney two queen setup; so we are able to get everyone beds and more bathrooms (which is nice cleaning up after races).

We have very much become team car when going to the races each morning and that works out great coming from off-site. With the weather being so unpredictable, it is very nice to be able to stay in the car for comfort until it is necessary to get to the starting line. While this is also achievable on-site, it is worth noting this has become a feature and not a bug for being off-site.

I’m not going to do the hard sell, staying on-site is objectively (imo) better. But MW is not our favorite time of year to enjoy the parks, particularly when MW is early, so staying on-site doesn’t provide the early entry, early planning perks that it does for trips later in the year. It’s a good time to compromise a little to have some extra fun later.

 

[smileyanna]

SAFD: Onsite but if I start doing more weekends I’m going to mix it up to save some $$.
One year I stayed at the Swan and used the walk back through Epcot and Crescent Lake as a cooldown after the marathon, which turned out to be a bit too much.

Last year I stayed at Wilderness Lodge (CCV), which was fantastic except for the traffic back to the resort after the half marathon. Didn't have traffic the rest of Dopey, but that day it took almost an hour to get back to the resort, and we were wet from the rain etc.
Staying at Pop Century this year with a discounted rate through our charity run group.

 

[marty3d]

SAFD: While we have stayed off-site many times for non-rD trips to WDW I am firmly in Team Onsite when it comes to race weekends. For me, a large part of the fun of race weekends is being the the middle of things - seeing all the runners and soaking in the atmosphere. In a way, the way I just experienced my local race weekend just reinforced this- this weekend was our marathon weekend and I was registered for the challenge (5k, 10k, Half) with the first 2 races on Saturday and the Half for Sunday - for the first time we decided to stay at a hotel right on the course within 5 minutes of the start/ finish instead of going home (offsite). It was a completely different experience - it was amazing Saturday night to go to dinner and see half the restaurant wearing medals- reminded me of rD weekends. I think we'll do this every year from now on.

Back to MW - my favourite places to stay are the Crescent Lake resorts - we've stayed at all of them now. Usually we'll stay at Swan/ Dolphin (I have usually been able to get good rates at S/D if I keep checking - I usually find sometime in the fall the prices will drop to rates similar to Pop - but you have to jump on them quickly). I like the Disney properties if we're going to be 3 adults because the rooms are bigger than S/D.

If I'm going solo or can't get a good rate at S/D, Pop is my backup - and it's a great one. The way they treat runners on MW is amazing. And I love being on the Skyliner. If I can't walk to Epcot/ DHS then the Skyliner is the second best option. And it also makes it easy to get to HH for the meetup. For 2026 I'm booked in to Pop but I'm keeping an eye on S/D.

 

[Baloo in MI]

SAFD:
I love the Disney Bubble, so I am absolutely team onsite. We are DVC owners and I have a nostalgic spot for Pop. So when the family is coming with me we generally stay at Wilderness Lodge (my absolute favorite resort) or Animal Kingdom Lodge; hard to go wrong when Boma is in the building! But when I am going solo I often save our points and stay at Pop. It was the first place my family stayed at when our girls were 3 & 7 on that first truly magical trip. Then later when I got into runDisney it was just so fun to be surrounded by other runners! Had we not bought DVC we would likely have stay at Pop over the years. But the girls are young adults now and a Pop room does not work for 4 adults. At least not for the four of us. DVC allows us space, ability to cook some meals and relax in a little more comfort btwn races.

My vote: Pop when solo and Wilderness Lodge the rest of the time. This makes me want to go now, but our “Days until Disney World” counter says 223. Ooof!

 

[rick1zoo2]

SAFD: Team Onsite! We love the Disney bubble and the race atmosphere at the resorts. Actually, we've never tried staying offsite or even tried driving to the races. We are DVC so generally we try to stay on points for as many races as we can. (We don't have enough points to do all the races).

To add: We stayed at WL for a few race weekends, Club Lounge access was great for breakfast after the races and for a light, early dinner each night too. For the Wine and Dine this year we will be staying in a 2 bedroom at Boulder Ridge using DVC points since there will be four of us. For the last Marathon Weekend, we were able to book the Polynesian Tower at a good discount and I think we managed to eat at every restaurant at the Polynesian, plus the monorail meant we could easily get to Steakhouse 71 - steak and eggs after the Half was wonderful. And we really liked being able to use the monorail to get to the Half and Full Marathons. For the Princess Weekend, we stayed at Pop and that worked out great too, as someone else mentioned, the staff really do a lot for the racers and make it fun. I really do enjoy the comradery seeing all the other runners at the resorts, parks, and out to eat.

 

[Fischstick]

I have stayed both onsite and off-site for various rundisney weekends, but for MW, it’s always been OFF SITE! This is mostly due to cost……I’ve only done Dopey for MW, so it’s a minimum of 6 nights and usually 7-8……so those dollars add up quickly! I can stay in a condo with full kitchen (groceries!!) and W/D for all those race nights. There is ample room to just hang out in no-sleeping spaces too, which is great for spectators and non-runners. It makes a world of difference in overall cost. Plus, offsite restaurants are plentiful and cheaper as well. Hello Cheesecake Factory!

But, I also confess to NOT going to the parks at all until AFTER the marathon. I don’t have an annual pass, and cannot imagine spending on tickets for a couple hours each day. If I go to the parks I am going to MAXIMIZE my time there. So it’s safer for me to abstain. . Team car comes with this of course, but we have never had an issue driving ourselves to/from the races.

Now if money was no object, I would for sure be 100% onsite…..but since it IS, this allows me to do more races each season.

 

[accm]

SAFD: We're DVC, so we always stay on site. Specifically for MW we stay at BLT to have monorail access.

To add to what some others have said about transportation being the same regardless of resort, I find that's not entirely true. The Contemporary and BWV are both last on the pick up route, and I've had to wait a while for a bus to pick me up, even being there before the buses start running. It's not a huge deal, but definitely a negative of some resorts.

 

[Disney at Heart]

DVC allows us space, ability to cook some meals and relax in a little more comfort btwn races.

The one thing I NEVER want to do at WDW: cook!!!

 

[JackosinDIS]

SAFD: We're DVC, so we always stay on site. Specifically for MW we stay at BLT to have monorail access.

To add to what some others have said about transportation being the same regardless of resort, I find that's not entirely true. The Contemporary and BWV are both last on the pick up route, and I've had to wait a while for a bus to pick me up, even being there before the buses start running. It's not a huge deal, but definitely a negative of some resorts.

Does the monorail run to get you to the start of the marathon?

 

[accm]

Does the monorail run to get you to the start of the marathon?

Yes, the monorail gets you to the start for the half and full during MW

 

[mmm_texas]

Yes, the monorail gets you to the start for the half and full during MW

I do recall that for me the ramps at the TTC were a bit... challenging, on the journey back to the Contemporary after the full!

 

[BigEeyore]

SAFD: We are DVC so always on site. AKL is our home resort - and still my favorite resort on property - and I book it at the 11 month mark for MW. But at the 7 month mark I try to switch to Poly if I can (typically have to waitlist and most of the time it comes through!).
I love Poly for MW because of the monorail. It's a short walk to the TTC and then a straight shot to Epcot. The Poly is amazing in other ways, of course - theming, atmosphere, restaurants, proximity to MK - but if it isn't a race weekend I prefer AKL.