Marathon Weekend 2026

[Herding_Cats]

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[FFigawi]

My dream is a start temp in the 50s for each race. 40s was too cold for MW/Princess this year. I love running in the 40s but turns out I do not like standing around in the 40s for 2 hours before starting to run. 60s would be too warm. And if anything starts in the 70s, well you might as well get the ambulance ready at the finish line for me

That. The bolded part. 100%.

That’s why I’m Team Car, and arrive later than many.

 

[Goofed98]

the 5k is "untimed" although dopey bibs *do* have a timing chip in them, while the 5k-specific bibs do not. I have generally completed it in about 90min or so. According to reports I've read, they will kind of shoo you along if you are taking longer than they would like. There has been no verification step for earning the Dopey/Goofy medals aside from completing the marathon on Sunday (no pic, no one checks your bib number for avg pace or if you even finished the other races) since I've started running there in 2022.

The 10 *is* timed, and there are balloon ladies. Finish before the balloon ladies/without getting swept.

I used to like when they'd give you a bracelet after the half that you had to wear until you completed the full, verifying you had finished in time. Ah, good old days.

 

[apwoodr]

I actually looked at an annual pass, and even with getting a 6-day ticket for MW, and then a couple more days for PW, I was still saving several hundred dollars by NOT getting an AP. There are no other disney trips on my radar for 2026, so I couldn't use potential future savings as a justification.

As a DVC member I really miss the discount that made getting an AP the same price as a 7 day park hopper. Just one of the many ways they've de-valued DVC over the years.

 

[cburnett11]

And if you really don't want a sponge or ice bag any more, see if someone else wants it before you toss it on the ground. I remember at W&D 2024 there was an ice bag that cycled through 4 or 5 people after we came down the hill after the final cloverleaf.

I’m pretty sure I was still carrying my sponge when I crossed the finish line of my first marathon back in 2016.

 

[PrincessV]

Also remember that 40 in Orlando is NOT the same as 40 up north. The humidity here makes hot temperatures feel hotter and cold temperatures feel colder. The worst of both worlds!

Former Western New Yorker reporting in from my FL condo, which is concrete block with 1970s insulation, in the middle of 48 hours of winter… damp cold sucks. Just cannot break the chill when it drops below 60. The only upside to dipping into the 30s tonight is that the heat will kick on regularly and at least it’ll feel better indoors!

 

[1GoldenSun]

I'm sure this has been discussed a lot already, so please forgive me.

I'm not going to be able to run this year but I plan on coming up to watch the marathon. I have an AP so I can get into the parks, and I'd like to watch some of the marathon from as many parks as possible. I'm staying at Riverside on the 10th so I can be there bright and early on the 11th.

I don't want to spend too much time in any one spot, just about 10 minutes of cheering and then on to the next, with maybe a few rides and snacks mixed in. I'd like to end up in Epcot at the very end of the race when the last runners are finishing; those are the ones I want most to support.

Does anyone have a good plan for this?

 

[The Expert]

I'm sure this has been discussed a lot already, so please forgive me.

I'm not going to be able to run this year but I plan on coming up to watch the marathon. I have an AP so I can get into the parks, and I'd like to watch some of the marathon from as many parks as possible. I'm staying at Riverside on the 10th so I can be there bright and early on the 11th.

I don't want to spend too much time in any one spot, just about 10 minutes of cheering and then on to the next, with maybe a few rides and snacks mixed in. I'd like to end up in Epcot at the very end of the race when the last runners are finishing; those are the ones I want most to support.

Does anyone have a good plan for this?

There's a spectator section under each race in the guide on rD's website. We also have tons of spectator info coming in the DIS marathon weekend doc, which we're finalizing now! Keep an eye on this thread for the link.

 

[The Expert]

Exciting news -- the Awesome Amazing DISboard Marathon Weekend doc is just about ready to drop! We're just waiting for pacer information to come out, so if anyone sees that please tag or DM me or Herding_Cats and we'll drop it in and share.

 

[Herding_Cats]

I'm sure this has been discussed a lot already, so please forgive me.

I'm not going to be able to run this year but I plan on coming up to watch the marathon. I have an AP so I can get into the parks, and I'd like to watch some of the marathon from as many parks as possible. I'm staying at Riverside on the 10th so I can be there bright and early on the 11th.

I don't want to spend too much time in any one spot, just about 10 minutes of cheering and then on to the next, with maybe a few rides and snacks mixed in. I'd like to end up in Epcot at the very end of the race when the last runners are finishing; those are the ones I want most to support.

Does anyone have a good plan for this?

For *in* the parks, you can cheer at the start area (Epcot parking lot) and then hop on the monorail to the TTC and/or MK. You will need to be IN the Epcot parking lot before they close the roads for the races to start. AK opens at 7:30am for EEH, and you could probably ride EE with runners if you skipped getting up at the crack of Dark:30 to be at the start line. Take a bus from AK to HS (opens at 8:30am) and at some point skyliner or friendship boat over to Epcot.

 

[Grabnar]

Is there any hint to what the Brooks are going to be? Figured they'd have been announced by now or delayed.

 

[fatmanatee]

Is there any hint to what the Brooks are going to be? Figured they'd have been announced by now or delayed.

They did actually drop a sneaky hint of what it *might* be, but we won't know for sure until race week most likely. They posted a merch reveal vid on social media and for some peculiar reason, at one point they open a cabinet to show the Stitch sneaker, right behind it you could catch a glimpse of a Chip n Dale plush. Does it mean anything? Who knows!

W&D shoes were posted on the day before the usual race shirt reveal, expecting the same this time. So... Monday for shoes, Tuesday for shirts?

 

[Mr_Incr3dible]

Brief soapbox moment considering the current (but probably inaccurate) forecast for marathon day:

KEEP YOUR SPONGE. If it gets as warm as they are guessing, there is a good chance that they will be handing out wet sponges as we exit AK and turn onto Western Way. My first year of running at Disney (2022) it was like a scene from a zombie movie with people walking down the highway, yellow sponges littering the road. You can RE-WET your sponge at water stops. Stick it in your hat, in your sports bra (monitor your skin as this could cause new or unexpected chafing), in your vest, your shorts. They also had ice bags between Blizzard Beach and HS. YYMV with these, but on the off-chance that it does get hot these are some things to keep an eye out for.

This is the way. They were running out of the bags of ice about the time @Herding_Cats and I hit the BB parking lot, so I was picking up discarded bags and applying them.

 

[WDW 4 ME]

Thinking of bringing my massage gun with me. Anyone have any issues packing these on their carry-ons?

 

[Herding_Cats]

Thinking of bringing my massage gun with me. Anyone have any issues packing these on their carry-ons?

never had an issue. have brought one every year.

 

[nancipants]

Note: they will not let you bring massage guns into the parks. My husband said he saw a lot of people being turned away at security last year who were trying to bring in massage guns for their runners.

 

[accm]

Rain in winter is something else entirely. This is our dry season: rain almost always only comes when connected to a front. It can be a weak front that barely drops temps at all, or a strong front that crashes us into freezing weather, or anything in between. And fronts can come with a little rain, a ton of rain, or no rain at all. Seeing the potential for a front to dip into FL is relatively easy - but just how much it might impact weather (i.e. temps and rain) is the really tricky part and is why forecasts more than a few days out are SO unreliable.

First hand experience with this from my December trip. It rained so hard that they refunded our MVMCP tickets.
My moto for winter Disney trips is pack for anything and everything. No such thing as traveling light.

For APs, you gotta do that math on the sweet, sweet renewal price. 15% off such a great discount, and $99 for photopass is amazing with all the race photos. Not sure that I am saving anything with how many more trips I take, though.

My AP savings have definitely been counteracted by the additional trips AND DVC points I’ve ended up having to buy… so much for “saving” money…

Also remember that 40 in Orlando is NOT the same as 40 up north. The humidity here makes hot temperatures feel hotter and cold temperatures feel colder. The worst of both worlds!

THIS! I’ve lived in Winnipeg and currently live in Northern Ontario, so I’m used to cold. Orlando cold hits different.

 

[accm]

I’m currently stuck at work, but want to be home to pack!! We drive down to Toronto tomorrow and the fly out Friday morning!!

I also have a last minute costume to finish, because why wouldn’t I leave it to the last second?

 

[WDW 4 ME]

never had an issue. have brought one every year.

Do you have pull it out and put it in the bin?

 

[fatmanatee]

Note: they will not let you bring massage guns into the parks. My husband said he saw a lot of people being turned away at security last year who were trying to bring in massage guns for their runners.

Was curious about this and looked up why this was the case and although the rules don't mention anything about massagers, they do mention guns or things that look like guns. Fair enough!