Marathon Weekend 2026

[WDW 4 ME]

SAFD: I do have Summerhouse and Sanaa booked already. 100% will be at boathouse at some point. Am planning on trattoria al forno on the boardwalk night before marathon…while not overly exciting, the bread is great as is their pizza and I’ve had it many times with no stomach issues. Should be a safe and carby bet! Going to try for beak and barrel but am a bit meh about it (we don’t like oga’s so feel this might be in the same ballpark). While not an ADR, we will find ourselves at the new restaurant at the poly…their burgers and mac salad is soooo good!!! I have no clue what I’m doing marathon day. I typically have to force food down after my long runs, so am winging it and whatever looks good as I’m walking by, I’ll grab! Maybe that will be dole whips all day!

 

[matt and beth]

SAFD: So many solid choices already listed. We are going for two weeks so we have a few ADRs starting the 31st. Biergarten, SciFi, Yak and Yeti, Beaches and Cream, Beak and Barrel, Hoop De Doo, Summerhouse, Planet Hollywood (DD Fave), Kona, Citricos (Sat), Artist Point (Sun for Dopey pics). Try and in sneak in HH for a couple of rounds

Should be a blast!

 

[princesspirateandrunner]

SAFD: We’re doing a Pop/Poly/Yacht Club stay, so we have three ADR days, starting tomorrow. We’re planning a food court dinner at Pop on Friday, so we don’t actually need anything tomorrow. After I run on Saturday, we’ve got our eye on brunch at Olivia’s (Papa’s Hash is perfect for me after running, and DH can fuel for Sunday). After he runs the marathon, we have in mind an ‘Ohana celebration dinner. On Monday, we are considering our options at Epcot during DATW. Maybe Spice Road Table, maybe Via Napoli, maybe Coral Reef.

We like to add new places each trip, as well as go back to old favorites. ‘Ohana would be new for us, as would Via Napoli.

 

[The Expert]

SAFD: We always stay in a DVC 1 bedroom so we have the kitchen. We have a standing grocery list for race weekends and I like to keep breakfast, Liquid IV and fruit/healthy snacks in the room. For ADRs, I overbook and I lean to lunches and early dinners. We often cancel things as we end up with leftovers or just don't feel like another meal out. I almost always end up with a Brown Derby Cobb salad at some point too, even if I take it back to the room for later.

This MW, I fly in Tuesday and DH gets in Friday, but my mom and stepdad live local, so it's a bit of a hodge podge.
I booked Tutto Italia for a late lunch on Expo day with the local fam, and Cake Bake on 5K day for early lunch with mom. I grabbed a Flying Fish early dinner with DH on Friday, and 50s Prime Time lunch for after the half (DH loves their fried chicken). I'm just spectating the marathon so felt confident booking Jiko on Sunday night for dinner (this is the most likely res to get canceled at this point). New to us this trip are Geo-82 (after DATW on Monday), and Beak & Barrel (early lunch Tuesday). We'll wrap the whole thing up with a celebratory dinner at V&A on our last night.

 

[Naomeri]

SAFD: pretty much the only ADR I do for a race weekend is Beaches & Cream the day of the final race as a celebration meal.

 

[FFigawi]

SAFD: I try to book one ADR each day and will add more or drop some depending on how I’m feeling. This year's reservations include Beak and Barrel, Chef Mickey's carb loading festival, Jiko, Via Napoli during DATW, Geo-82, Takumi-Tei, Wine Bar George, V&A, and a mid-race hydration stop at Oga's.

 

[marty3d]

SAFD: I try to book one ADR each day and will add more or drop some depending on how I’m feeling. This year's reservations include Beak and Barrel, Chef Mickey's carb loading festival, Jiko, Via Napoli during DATW, Geo-82, Takumi-Tei, Wine Bar George, V&A, and a mid-race hydration stop at Oga's.

I need to know more about the mid-race hydration stop at Oga's.

 

[marty3d]

Am planning on trattoria al forno on the boardwalk night before marathon…while not overly exciting, the bread is great as is their pizza

We love Trattoria al Forno to start off MW. Going solo this year so likely won't be going, but my DS and I like to start with a nice Tuscan Sour followed by the Pizza. It's my second favourite pizza on property after Via Napoli.

 

[radiodome21]

SAFD: I dont really take advantage of ADR for race weekends. SS we did reserve a spot for Tony’s the night before our race and we repeated it that move again this year before the HF at Wine & Dine. Not because we think the food is any good but because it’s the closest Italian place near our hotels. We have decided that going forward we will not eat there again race weekend or not. We did book a breakfast at Tusker House the morning after W&D 5K this year as a treat for our kids. It was amazing but we probably could’ve just walked up. Other than that we play it by ear unless we really want to eat somewhere special.

 

[DisneyParrothead]

SAFD- my ADR day is tomorrow so we’ll see! We are hoping to book something carby for the day before the marathon and something delicious for afterwards. My friend really wants to get massages Sunday afternoon. I’m not sure we’ll get in, but if so we’ll be looking for dinner at Poly or Grand Floridian.

If you can’t get in at GF, there’s a spa at the Dolphin.

 

[The Expert]

If you can’t get in at GF, there’s a spa at the Dolphin.

Also the JW Marriott at Bonnet Creek and the Four Seasons up near the campground both have spas.

 

[radiodome21]

I did book a massage for my wife at GF the day it opened. Booked a few hours after we crossed the HF finish line last month. She loved it. Great idea and best of luck.

 

[FFigawi]

I need to know more about the mid-race hydration stop at Oga's.

Got the idea from friend of mine. If I pace myself properly between photo stops, drink stops, and riding rides, I’ll be able to make it to Oga's for a cocktail before the last few miles.

 

[dobball23]

SAFD: We would LOVE to do a bunch of table service restaurants for MW, but the cost is just ridiculous. We'll stick mostly to quick service. I did make a reservation for both Boma and Sebastian's Bistro (I will cancel one as we decide which one we want to do) for dinner on the day of the marathon. I typically like an all you care to enjoy meal after running 26.2 miles (and 48.6 overall).

We will be driving to WDW, so we can bring some other food to supplement our quick service meals and make sure I'm appropriately fueled for running.

 

[KCO5988]

SAFD: Since I'm going solo for MW, no ADRs for me. I'm planning QS breakfast at my resort (Pop) and QS lunch at whatever park I'm at that day. I plan to utilize the skyliner to get QS from Riviera the night before the half and full since they have amazing GF carb load options. But those meals will be brought back to my room where I eat them lounging in bed and watching a movie!

 

[pluto377]

SAFD: I'm going solo so I don't like to do a lot of TS alone. I didn't book anything for this year. I'm planning to eat in my room a lot. I did book the Mosaic class at Coronado for Saturday afternoon. I've never done it before so I wanted to try something new. I was hoping to get either the elephant or rhino tour on Thursday at AK, but both were full by the time I looked.

 

[jrsharp21]

SAFD: We don't go too heavy on ADR's for MW. Especially after the food poisoning incident two years ago. My thought now is to do minimal ADR's. We have one for Beak and Barrell early dinner on Wednesday that week. But nothing else. My strategy now is to try not to eat new stuff during that week. Stick with the plane and boring during the week. Lots of Uncrustables too. LOL.

 

[jrsharp21]

Question for those also doing Disneyland Half, do you repeat a costume/outfit from MW at Disneyland? Getting my running gear all lined up for MW and then it dawned on me we have DL HM a few weeks later.

 

[WDW 4 ME]

Got the idea from friend of mine. If I pace myself properly between photo stops, drink stops, and riding rides, I’ll be able to make it to Oga's for a cocktail before the last few miles.

Amazing

 

[The Expert]

Question for those also doing Disneyland Half, do you repeat a costume/outfit from MW at Disneyland? Getting my running gear all lined up for MW and then it dawned on me we have DL HM a few weeks later.

The year I did (almost) Dopey to Dumbo, I did just that. But I was also traveling directly from Orlando to Anaheim. I just chose character themes that I could use across the different races -- Pluto for both 5Ks, Minnie for WDW 10K and DL Half, and Daisy for WDW Half and DL 10K. Thankfully it was cool enough in both locations that I could wear a layer underneath and keep the costumes from getting stinky or sweaty in between the two. But I did pack dryer sheets to fold into them to help keep them fresh.