Marathon Weekend 2026

[Poohverine]

SAFD: First Dopey and I’m just hoping to survive to the end. Next main goal is to make it to Everest during the marathon

Otherwise, priorities are just to have fun, stop for characters, and enjoy the atmosphere of the weekend! I haven’t run too much since running the Chicago Marathon in October, so just hoping all that training carries over. They say the race is a celebration of all the training, so I’m basically viewing Marathon Weekend as the afterparty!

 

[Herding_Cats]

For any runners who are worried about struggling during the marathon - feel free to grab my mobile # at a meetup - if I'm nearby I'm happy to slowdown or speedup to run with you for a bit or any kind of support. My pace for the marathon tends to be all over the place and I've had the opportunity to run with some DIS folks for part of the marathon in the past. I have no time goals other than finishing and riding an attraction or two. When I wiped out in MK during the full in 2022 (my first Dopey) and was worried about finishing, running with someone I had met at the morning meetup for the last part of the race really helped so I am happy to return the favour.

I was planning on getting a few numbers at the morning meetups or HH as well. (Seeeeee? This is more reasons to come to the meetups!)

 

[Baloo in MI]

SAFD:
Just finish, and have fun while doing it! Those are my goals. My wife and older daughter are doing their first 10k’s so we are all going to do them together and my younger daughter and future SIL will be running the other three races for their first Dopey’s and my tenth. That is honestly mind boggling to me - how has so much time gone by!! Oh, yeah, I’m old…

 

[DisneyGamer11]

First WDW Marathon but I've done 4x W&D Half's - are there any notorious bottlenecks I should mentally prepare for on the Marathon course? I imagine I'll be in Corral C or D with a submitted 2:18 HM POT.

 

[fatmanatee]

First WDW Marathon but I've done 4x W&D Half's - are there any notorious bottlenecks I should mentally prepare for on the Marathon course? I imagine I'll be in Corral C or D with a submitted 2:18 HM POT.

2:18 should be C, latest known cutoff is 2:22.

Not sure it’ll impact you but toughest bottleneck is probably the little pedestrian bridge at one of the resorts not too far off from MK. I didn’t get backed up from B but as I was passing over I thought “oh this could be a problem”, and I think it was for later corrals. You’ll prob be ok but something to keep in mind.

 

[smileyanna]

First WDW Marathon but I've done 4x W&D Half's - are there any notorious bottlenecks I should mentally prepare for on the Marathon course? I imagine I'll be in Corral C or D with a submitted 2:18 HM POT.

I started in C last year (towards the back). The pathway at Grand Floridian was pretty dense but we could still run. I may have skipped a walk break there. That’s an area with a lot of anticipation for Main Street so I think there was a lot of variation in speed as folks saw the electric light parade, fixed costumes etc.

Once we were off of Main Street I really did not hit any more congestion (that I can remember). Things open up a lot in the MK parking lot.

 

[WDW 4 ME]

For any runners who are worried about struggling during the marathon - feel free to grab my mobile # at a meetup - if I'm nearby I'm happy to slowdown or speedup to run with you for a bit or any kind of support. My pace for the marathon tends to be all over the place and I've had the opportunity to run with some DIS folks for part of the marathon in the past. I have no time goals other than finishing and riding an attraction or two. When I wiped out in MK during the full in 2022 (my first Dopey) and was worried about finishing, running with someone I had met at the morning meetup for the last part of the race really helped so I am happy to return the favour.

I love this! Might take you up on it!!!

 

[WDW 4 ME]

Is it a really bad idea to stop running at this point and just keep up with my walking and strength training? I have my ever present itband issue and the last couple of weeks my calves are bothering me. Would I benefit from letting everything rest and calm down or will this backfire on me?

 

[Erika10021]

SAFD: I am hoping to complete my first Dopey. Last year when we started the Dopey, we knew we were "undertrained" for the marathon but thought we'd see how far we'd go. By mile 18 or 19, I was thinking we would actually make it through (I guess we were better trained than I thought). But then I had my accident and had to take a DNF. My new race goals are always, in order of priority: (1) don't get hurt; (2) finish; and (3) have fun.

Marathon Weekend last year was the most amazing experience, none of the other race weekends can compare. Like what Mr. Incr3dible said: this is the Superbowl of RunDisney!

 

[Disney at Heart]

SAFD: Goals are 1. Have fun, 2. See friends, 3. Finish Goofy. Oh, and also, 4. stay healthy with no injuries and without catching the plague.

 

[GuinnessRunner]

First WDW Marathon but I've done 4x W&D Half's - are there any notorious bottlenecks I should mentally prepare for on the Marathon course? I imagine I'll be in Corral C or D with a submitted 2:18 HM POT.

In addition to the walkway by the Grand Flo, there are a few spots that I recall can also back up especially the further back in the pack you are.

- There's an onramp in the first couple miles outside of Epcot that can get tight even in early corrals.

- Sometimes it gets pretty crowded going through the castle, again mostly toward back end of the pack, although this one varies quite a bit nd is better in recent years since they changed how they do castle pictures (at least that's my opinion).

- The path from HS to Epcot is knicknamed the "international squeezeway" for a reason.

If you are in Corral C and are running at or around the pace used to qualify for that corral you will probably not get caught in any of these. But even if you do, remember you're running at Disney! Take the break and know the bottleneck is only temporary.

 

[jillinastoria]

SAFD: The Marathon will be my first RunDisney race ever! I think I’ll want to run with a pace group for the first half, which I’m pretty well trained for at this point, and then see how the second half goes. Overall, my only real goal is to learn how it all works and have fun!

 

[3princesandaprincess]

Is it a really bad idea to stop running at this point and just keep up with my walking and strength training? I have my ever present itband issue and the last couple of weeks my calves are bothering me. Would I benefit from letting everything rest and calm down or will this backfire on me?

I think it’s a great idea! Taper is real.
I had an injury last year and couldn’t run more than 3 miles so from the beginning of Dec on. I had hit some high mileage by then but really stressed bc it was my first marathon. I felt great (minus injury) though the race. Truly raced the first half, until my injury made me slow, and finished feeling super strong.
You are so close! The training is done. Let your body rest and heal. Hopefully race day will feel great.

 

[Dopey 2020]

SAFD Weekend goals are to finish, have fun, and make all the pre race meetups. Specifically I always try to PR the marathon as well as the 5K, while not officially timed it is chipped and it’s generally the only 5K I run that is timed. The 10 and half are my fun days with all the character stops. Of course all plans are subject to change as currently I’m skipping another run due to both weather and feeling something very wrong with my right shin, hoping all my aches and pains are just taper madness. Going to get in what I can this week, pack up the car with DDs return to college stuff, our Disney stuff, and all my race stuff, and start the 1200 miles Sunday AM. Can’t believe it’s time…

 

[WDW 4 ME]

Has anyone tried to join the virtual queue using southwest free WiFi? I will be on a plane when it opens up, landing around 9:30. Wondering if I can just use the free WiFi or if it’s too limited and I need to purchase the full WiFi. I typically read on planes so zero idea how good that “free” WiFi is!

 

[KellyKateri]

SAFD: Finish my first Dopey strong is really the only goal, but riding Everest during the marathon is also a close second. I am planning on buying a lightning lane MP for Everest tomorrow morning for my marathon group. We all really want to ride, and hoping it will ease some of our nerves on actually getting off in time.

Q: Has anyone else had experience in getting Lightning Lanes during the marathon? We all have APs so we made AK park reservations for marathon day, but obviously won’t be tapping in at the front of the park.

SAFD Continued: Plans for the other races are just to enjoy it and PR in fun. Planning to do a walk for the 5K with my Uncle for his first 5K. Then 10K day is a PR-for time race for some in my group, but also a first ever distance for others in my group. I’ll probably hang with them to encourage them to the finish and treat it like a shakeout run. Half marathon is just me and fiancé, we told everyone to stay asleep or go to the parks and we will meet up with them later LOL. Thinking it will be a big park day with lightning lanes for our group which isn’t ideal for the marathon, but still planning to get into bed by 6:30PM. Marathon day is just for fun and whatever I have left. It’s my sisters first marathon and hoping to ride Everest and finish with a beer from Rose and Crown (or as we refer to it, our local pub).

Also looking forward to the in-room massage I booked for Tuesday before my checkout. I think I’m gonna need it! Can’t wait to be headed down next week!

 

[KellyKateri]

Has anyone tried to join the virtual queue using southwest free WiFi? I will be on a plane when it opens up, landing around 9:30. Wondering if I can just use the free WiFi or if it’s too limited and I need to purchase the full WiFi. I typically read on planes so zero idea how good that “free” WiFi is!

You’ll need to be 45 miles from property to join the queue, so you’ll just join when you land! (Maybe you could in the air depending on your decent approach but YMMV LOL)

 

[Herding_Cats]

Has anyone tried to join the virtual queue using southwest free WiFi? I will be on a plane when it opens up, landing around 9:30. Wondering if I can just use the free WiFi or if it’s too limited and I need to purchase the full WiFi. I typically read on planes so zero idea how good that “free” WiFi is!

There's a certain radius you have to be within WDW to join the VQ for the expo, so you will not be able to join from the plane. The good news is that it looks like they've adjusted things a bit and there's a morning "drop" and and afternoon drop for VQs instead of just one.

 

[The Expert]

SAFD: with DD having surgery tomorrow and my injuries my plans have definitely shifted from what I was hoping for when I signed up. So goal now is to finish all 4 but take what my body can give me (even if it means a DNS or DNF for the marathon), be ok with it and enjoy being able to run through the parks even if not what I was originally hoping for.

I hope the surgery is successful and recovery is quick and easy. LMK if you want to adjust any of your timing in the spreadsheet -- there's still time.

@Mr_Incr3dible oh duh - you reminded me I can get a pic of SSE during the 5k and it’ll still be dark.

The last few 5Ks they've had a great photopass spot set up as you loop back in from the Guardians side of the course. It's on the left side and the line is a bit hidden from the course so it's easy to miss, but the backdrop is really good. This was W&D:

I was planning on getting a few numbers at the morning meetups or HH as well.

SAME!

 

[WDW 4 ME]

You’ll need to be 45 miles from property to join the queue, so you’ll just join when you land! (Maybe you could in the air depending on your decent approach but YMMV LOL)

Oh boo!!! I didn’t think of that. Ugh.