Marathon Weekend 2026

[FFigawi]

SAFD: I’d like to see them bring back a classic design like the one from 2013. Sure, it has spinners, but it’s also clean, simple, and understated.

 

[Naomeri]

SAFD: I've never experienced the unpainted runDisney medals, but I'd really like to. I don't want them to go back to the days where the medals were basically the same from year to year though! I don't see why they can't have monochrome medals with just accents of enamel, instead of all over enamel paint, and no shiny finish on the metal parts--that gets too many fingerprints.

These are the style I want (but they don't all have to be the same base metal)

 

[fatmanatee]

SAFD: I’m always in favor of simplifying things here. There’s been some chatter that the velcro (??????) they used for one of the DL medals is kinda weak so people are getting warned to treat them carefully so nothing breaks. It doesn’t have to be this way! Don’t mind the color, but a lot of times the “features” are excessive.

 

[DisneyParrothead]

SAFD: I’m always in favor of simplifying things here. There’s been some chatter that the velcro (??????) they used for one of the DL medals is kinda weak so people are getting warned to treat them carefully so nothing breaks. It doesn’t have to be this way! Don’t mind the color, but a lot of times the “features” are excessive.

The 10k part on the Cruella medal is on springs, and the medal at the expo was missing that part. I guess so many people handled it and it broke. I’m being super careful with mine.

 

[fatmanatee]

The 10k part on the Cruella medal is on springs, and the medal at the expo was missing that part. I guess so many people handled it and it broke. I’m being super careful with mine.

That’s crazy, I always thought that they were playing with fire with these springs.

In related news (today’s challenge medal)…

 

[Herding_Cats]

SAFD:
I understand why they keep doing the moving parts on the medals, but I don’t need it in most of them. Once you hang the medal, it almost never gets touched again, and it really only serves as a weak point where things can break. The light up feature is just a waste IMO. The light-up dopey medal never worked for me, and again, once you hang these up it’s never getting touched again.

The exception to the “no moving parts” is the 2022 medals. I really enjoyed that it was less of a front/back spinner.

I’m nervous that they’ll lean too hard into the genre/book idea for the upcoming race weekend, while simultaneously hoping for a medal that doesn’t closely resemble the ones I already have. Clear as mud, eh?

 

[*DisneyDreamer]

SAFD:
I understand why they keep doing the moving parts on the medals, but I don’t need it in most of them. Once you hang the medal, it almost never gets touched again, and it really only serves as a weak point where things can break. The light up feature is just a waste IMO. The light-up dopey medal never worked for me, and again, once you hang these up it’s never getting touched again.

The exception to the “no moving parts” is the 2022 medals. I really enjoyed that it was less of a front/back spinner.

I’m nervous that they’ll lean too hard into the genre/book idea for the upcoming race weekend, while simultaneously hoping for a medal that doesn’t closely resemble the ones I already have. Clear as mud, eh?

I agree. I definitely prefer medals without the moving parts. I was thinking the same thing about hoping they don’t use the book theme too literally for the medals for Marathon Weekend. I’m picturing medals that hinge open like books which I really don’t need or want.

 

[jrsharp21]

SAFD: I agree with most people on here, don't need the gimmicky medals. I like clean one piece medals without moving parts. The medal that FFigawi posted would be ideal, without the spinner. Give me a medal similar to that, and then on the back inscribe the race and the year, and I would be good. It would make it so much easier to pack the medals and also take them out at the park while taking pictures.

 

[marty3d]

SAFD: In terms of moving parts - mostly agree - with the exception of the Tower of Terror medal with the moving elevator - because that made complete sense.

And I agree with @Herding_Cats about the 2022 medals - I liked the movement on those. They are also my favourite runDisney medals because I feel they balance the look of a more traditional medal with a nice splash of color.

What do I never want to see again? The 2023 30th anniversary medal for the marathon and the 10th anniversary Dopey.

 

[Zutroy]

I think this year’s W&D medals represent everything wrong with modern RD medals. Gimmicks for the sake of gimmicks that add nothing. Oh, the challenge medal is a cake! What could be under that cake? Why, another cake! This thing is going to be clapping and chipping all the paint off the inside of the medal. So stupid.



The 2020 Princess medal is my all time favorite design and theming. No paint. No gimmicks. Just great design and use of space. It’s just sad seeing how bad most of the medals have been recently, reusing the same art assets and putting springs, spinners, lights, etc. instead of just making a good looking medal.