Marathon Weekend 2026

[scrowl]

If you have your own transportation or are willing to take a rideshare, the campground isn't too far and the loops would make a nice running route. There really isn't much around the MK area if that MK path isn't open. (Also I've heard security will stop you from crossing the bus loop at MK, so you'd have to do an out and back.)

Thanks! I considered taking a rideshare to Crescent Lake, but didn't think about the campground!

 

[The Expert]

Thanks! I considered taking a rideshare to Crescent Lake, but didn't think about the campground!

There's a boat too but it doesn't run that early.

 

[Naomeri]

At W&D last weekend, I saw a new way of keeping up with each other. Two people had little “squeakers” of some kind. I’d hear “squeak, squeak” and immediately in front or behind me, I’d hear the answering, “squeak, squeak.”
Two advantages of lighted bracelets over squeakers are 1) in the wee dark hours, people behind us can clearly see when we raise a hand for a walk break, and 2) it’s wearable and doesn’t have to be carried or pressed.

Also, lights are probably less annoying to people that are at your same pace, and therefore stuck listening to your squeakers for 13.1 miles

 

[AZMermaid]

I’m “only” running the marathon and planning out park days- Sat and Mon. I’m thinking DHS or AK on Sat. We are staying at Poly. If we did AK…. How are the buses early in the morning? It looks like last year Poly was at the 4 mile mark with the TTC at 7.5ish. I’m thinking the back will be past the 4 mile around 7 or so? Are the buses running before that? If we do DHS it seems less of an impact?

 

[jmasgat]

Saturday is a bad day to navigate since World Drive is closed til 9:30-10. You will be most likely be routed Vista Blvd to Bonnet Creek to Buena Vista to Victory Way to get to AK or HS. Not sure with those 2 parks it will make a difference.

Here’s a link to a website that has last years road closure maps, Even if there are course changes, they’re going to be close.

https://disneydiary.com/2025/01/road-closures-due-to-the-disney-world-marathon-weekend-2025/

 

[WDW 4 ME]

Does anyone do medal Tuesday? Since this is my first marathon, not sure how I will feel afterwards. I do know the more movement I get in after running, the better I feel. Just not sure if I will be up for a park on Monday. We leave on Wednesday so was debating on skipping the park on Monday and going on Tuesday instead.

 

[nancipants]

Does anyone do medal Tuesday? Since this is my first marathon, not sure how I will feel afterwards. I do know the more movement I get in after running, the better I feel. Just not sure if I will be up for a park on Monday. We leave on Wednesday so was debating on skipping the park on Monday and going on Tuesday instead.

Monday is DATW at Epcot. We walk and sit. It’s great for recovery.

 

[The Expert]

I’m “only” running the marathon and planning out park days- Sat and Mon. I’m thinking DHS or AK on Sat. We are staying at Poly. If we did AK…. How are the buses early in the morning? It looks like last year Poly was at the 4 mile mark with the TTC at 7.5ish. I’m thinking the back will be past the 4 mile around 7 or so? Are the buses running before that? If we do DHS it seems less of an impact?

Seconding that Saturday is a bad day to try and get out of the MK area before about 10am via roads. The nice thing about that is that MK tends to be empty in the morning! I have stayed at Bay Lake for MW and it's kind of awesome to just walk (or monorail) over with nobody there (until about 10:30-11). Bonus, you could get up a little early and cheer on the not-so-fast runners going by at Poly, in front of MK or at TTC!

If you really have your heart set on another park and want to avoid the roads, you could monorail to Epcot and, if you have a park hopper and the park is open, cut through Epcot and take the Skyliner to DHS. Buses from Epcot would also be rerouted due to road closures, and probably for longer than Poly since that's where the race ends, but if you really want the full planes/trains/automobiles experience you could then grab a bus from DHS to AK!