Marathon Weekend 2026

[JackosinDIS]

I stay at monorail resorts for MW, usually the Poly but have done BLT, GF, and Contemporary. It’s buses only for the 5k and 10k, monorail only for the half and full.

Thanks! I’m Team Bus in that case! Can’t wait!

 

[AZMermaid]

This is only my second FL race. We stayed at BWV for Princess 2019 and bussed it. This time we are at Poly. I think I’ll like the monorail but didn’t consider the stairs….

 

[The Expert]

SAFD: I've done all three and it depends on the race and where we are staying. When we stay at BWV I am on the bus, since the car isn't usually parked very close. I enjoy getting the energy going from other runners. From BLT or Poly, I drive for the 5K and 10K and monorail for half and full. My car is usually closer than the bus (especially at Poly) and I like the freedom. I typically leave about the same time as the first bus so the timing isn't all that different. I'm not usually worried about getting lost as we know the road system well (including back roads) and anyone out at that time of day is going to the same place. When in doubt, follow the rest of the traffic and you'll get there.

For those worried about stairs/ramps going back to the monorail resorts, you can take the bus back! They just don't run buses TO the half or full from those resorts. I took the monorail back after my first couple of marathons and didn't actually hate the ramp too much, but it took FOREVER to switch at TTC and get back to the room. This last year, I took the bus back and it saved a ton of time. Just remember to go backward down the bus steps!

 

[AZMermaid]

Ooooh good to know! Thanks!

 

[Zutroy]

This is only my second FL race. We stayed at BWV for Princess 2019 and bussed it. This time we are at Poly. I think I’ll like the monorail but didn’t consider the stairs….

I took this photo after the 2024 marathon on the monorail back to my hotel. The marathon traffic is insane, and being able to zip past it all is why I stay at monorail resorts. Also, staying at the Poly you can get off at the TTC and walk back to your room.

 

[sandam1]

SAFD - As the Queen of the Catastrophic Disney Transportation Failure, I will forever be Team Car. I always stay off-site so that is the primary reason. But even if I did stay on-site, I would still want control over my transportation.

This may be an unpopular opinion, but I feel like, in general (i.e. not necessarily for race mornings), Disney does as little as they feel like they can get away with. IMHO, they could do a better job eliminating long bus lines if they wanted to put the money behind it. (For example, having a cast member with a radio at each bus station who is able to monitor the lines and getting buses re-directed if things start going sideways).

One mode of transportation that I haven't seen anyone mention yet is ride share. I used it for the first time at Princess this year because I didn't book my rental car early enough and apparently there were no cars available anywhere in Orlando. I was nervous about it, but it went really well. I booked it the night before and left myself A LOT of extra time in the morning (I think I scheduled my pick-up about a half an hour earlier than I usually leave when I drive, which is already really generous). My driver was a wonderful single mother who was eager to chat and learn more about what I was doing at Disney at o'dark thirty in the morning. Getting a ride afterwards was a little bit more complicated (the rideshares were getting caught in traffic so it took longer than usual to be picked up), but I would definitely do it again if I needed to.

The road closures just seem so daunting, even though we are pretty familiar with the roads in property. I know I will be a nervous wreck, worrying I will be late to the race, or miss it altogether, because of transportation!

Honestly, I would worry more about bus drivers who aren't familiar with the roads (the race bus drivers aren't usual Disney drivers and are often from out of town) getting lost. The road closures actually show up on Google maps and I've always been automatically routed around them. And as another person mentioned, almost everyone is going to the same place and once you get close to Epcot, it's pretty much follow the cars. Although maybe not too closely - the only time that I got "lost" (really, misdirected) was when I was following one of the electronic Disney boards and it wasn't quite clear where to go (note: Google maps was clear, but I figured Disney knew better) so I followed the cars in front of me. At least five of us took at loop around the Epcot hotel parking lots before coming back to the same road. It was a less than 5 minute detour.

 

[FFigawi]

SAFD: I'm Team Car all the way. I like being able to sleep in as long as possible, and that's a lot easier to do when you're driving yourself than being dependent on a bus. Plus, having a car in the lot gives you someplace comfortable to relax before the race as opposed to having to go sit in the corral for too long.

 

[nekonekoneko]

Before the pandemic, we were team bus. The first trip after reopening, rental cars were crazy cheap, so we rented one, and now we can't go back. We love being able to go on our own time and be able to have the temp and the radio where we want it.

At 3:30, once we're in line for the Epcot tollbooth, it takes maybe 10 minutes to finally land into a parking spot. The CMs are really good at directing people into a spot.

If we're going to MK, we'll just take the monorail up. If we're heading to HS or AK, then we'll just move the car to the other lot.

 

[PrincessV]

SAFD: 100% Team Drive My Own Car. Not just for races - for anywhere I need to go whilst at WDW. I drive to WDW in the first place, and I hate being on buses under any circumstances, so taking one for a race I can easily drive to has no plus side. Sometimes I stay onsite, sometimes off: it’s never taken me more than 15 minutes to get to a race. One of the few times I took a bus, the driver had no idea where he was going, we left WDW entirely and somehow wound up on I4 eastbound, and it took 45 minutes to get to the race after I politely intervened and got him back on track. Never again.

 

[Herding_Cats]

So. Are we assuming we get an announcement about MW today? With their teaser post last week....

 

[*DisneyDreamer]

So. Are we assuming we get an announcement about MW today? With their teaser post last week....

Yes, absolutely. If today is not Medal Monday, then that post was just downright mean.

 

[KellyKateri]

It’s fine just 46 minutes until the usual 10am scheduled post is live…I’m not counting…it’s fine…

 

[The Expert]

If not, WE RIDE AT DAWN!!!

 

[KCO5988]

I’m team car for the 5k because I can be back at my hotel after the race before the buses even start leaving. 10k is a toss up since I’ll probably still beat the buses back to my hotel but not by much and I can always just stretch in the parking lot waiting for the bus, so depends on if I have somewhere I want to be after the race. Half I take the bus for convenience. Marathon plan on bussing as well.

 

[MissLiss279]

I’m team car for the 5k because I can be back at my hotel after the race before the buses even start leaving. 10k is a toss up since I’ll probably still beat the buses back to my hotel but not by much and I can always just stretch in the parking lot waiting for the bus, so depends on if I have somewhere I want to be after the race. Half I take the bus for convenience. Marathon plan on bussing as well.

Same. If I had rented a car, then I will drive for the 5k (well I guess it might depend on what corral I end up in) since I am usually finished way before the buses start. 10k maybe, but I am Team bus for the half and full since the buses are closer at the finish and I can eat my snacks while we go.

 

[Barca33Runner]

If not, WE RIDE AT DAWN!!!

 

[Baloo in MI]

SAFD:
Went to breakfast with my family yesterday and we were talking about this very topic. We have a larger running group for MW this year, normally it is just me and maybe me and my daughter. This year (at least for the 10k) it will be five folks and three for the other three races. I am a big fan of escaping into the Disney bubble when on vacation at Disney World so we don't rent a car and just take Disney transportation everywhere. It is a small thing but makes my Disney heart happy! So I have to confess I have never driven to a race and even after many very good points were explored in our conversation (and here in the thread) ultimately comes down to this for me.

The first time I did a Disney race I will never forget how inspired I was to walk out of my resort room and see all the other runners walking towards the front. I felt part of something and the positivity and energy was palatable. I remember going through the lobby and turning right towards where I thought the line for the busses would be and was confronted by 100's of runners and family in line. Tons of excitement, fun costumes, staff cheering people on; it felt wonderful. Yes it was a long line and took a few minutes, and over the years I have been on buses that got lost, I have waited a looong time for a bus to show. But I have also had incredible conversations with complete strangers, talked down a first timer, gleaned good info from others and simply popped on music and snoozed my way to Epcot. I stubbornly remain team Bus.

 

[GuinnessRunner]

If not, WE RIDE AT DAWN!!!

I'll start looking for my pitchfork in the garage...

 

[fatmanatee]

Not even doing these races and refreshing Instagram every minute, geez.

 

[marty3d]

Here they are!

https://www.rundisney.com/blog/2026-walt-disney-world-marathon-medal-reveal/