Marathon Weekend 2026

[FlyingDonut]

Fueling question for the marathon:
I have a running belt and 750mL worth of bottles I plan to put Skratch drink into. Has anyone filled up a water bottle during a Disney race? Unless there's a special spot to do it that I've missed, I can't imagine doing it at a water stop with the cups would be very effective. Maybe a water fountain in AK, or late MK?

I only need to refill my 500mL bottle once, though filling my 250mL bottle twice might be easier (it has a better top.)

 

[Herding_Cats]

Fueling question for the marathon:
I have a running belt and 750mL worth of bottles I plan to put Skratch drink into. Has anyone filled up a water bottle during a Disney race? Unless there's a special spot to do it that I've missed, I can't imagine doing it at a water stop with the cups would be very effective. Maybe a water fountain in AK, or late MK?

I only need to refill my 500mL bottle once, though filling my 250mL bottle twice might be easier (it has a better top.)

There have typically been a few people with gallon jugs either at the beginning or end of the water tables specifically to refill handhelds or vest reservoirs.

 

[Grabnar]

Fueling question for the marathon:
I have a running belt and 750mL worth of bottles I plan to put Skratch drink into. Has anyone filled up a water bottle during a Disney race? Unless there's a special spot to do it that I've missed, I can't imagine doing it at a water stop with the cups would be very effective. Maybe a water fountain in AK, or late MK?

I only need to refill my 500mL bottle once, though filling my 250mL bottle twice might be easier (it has a better top.)

Usually they have people at the end with either larger bottles or dedicated pallets of bottles to fill up vests and personal bottles.

If you look at the bathroom map on the guide and see the "real bathrooms" section all of those have water stations attached, of varying quality.

 

[nancipants]

I’ve filled up my handheld both with the tiny cups and someone pouring out with jugs. Both were fine. The cups obviously took longer but I didn’t mind the break.

 

[nancipants]

Is anyone else planning to spectate the half marathon? I’m thinking of going to Main Street and then the turn near the finish line.

 

[DisneyGamer11]

I would love to arrive one day earlier but cannot find any value resort with the AP Discount. Closest is Pop preferred and almost ~$200 which is quite steep for just a bonus day.

 

[The Expert]

Is anyone else planning to spectate the half marathon? I’m thinking of going to Main Street and then the turn near the finish line.

Ahem... (from the shared doc). Pink stars are locations.

 

[sandam1]

There have typically been a few people with gallon jugs either at the beginning or end of the water tables specifically to refill handhelds or vest reservoirs.

I don't know if there was a fundamental runDisney policy change, but for Marathon and Princess weekends last year they did NOT have these available. The first couple of times, I thought that I missed them (I was looking for bottle refill so I could mix more Tailwind), but then realized that they simply were not there. I even mentioned it to runDisney info tent because it seemed so odd (and wasteful) for them not to have the bottle re-fillers available. The person I talked to thought that it might be a hygiene issue, but I suspect that it also might have something to do with Disney not using volunteers anymore.

As others have mentioned, the restrooms in the parks often have bottle fillers outside of them so that is a good Plan B.

 

[Herding_Cats]

I don't know if there was a fundamental runDisney policy change, but for Marathon and Princess weekends last year they did NOT have these available. The first couple of times, I thought that I missed them (I was looking for bottle refill so I could mix more Tailwind), but then realized that they simply were not there. I even mentioned it to runDisney info tent because it seemed so odd (and wasteful) for them not to have the bottle re-fillers available. The person I talked to thought that it might be a hygiene issue, but I suspect that it also might have something to do with Disney not using volunteers anymore.

As others have mentioned, the restrooms in the parks often have bottle fillers outside of them so that is a good Plan B.

Yeah, I was trying to remember if they'd had them last MW and I couldn't remember for sure although I know they absolutely did have them in years prior.

 

[nancipants]

Ahem... (from the shared doc). Pink stars are locations.

View attachment 1034853

@princesspirateandrunner do you want to head to Main Street together?

 

[Disneyhanna]

I don't know if there was a fundamental runDisney policy change, but for Marathon and Princess weekends last year they did NOT have these available. The first couple of times, I thought that I missed them (I was looking for bottle refill so I could mix more Tailwind), but then realized that they simply were not there. I even mentioned it to runDisney info tent because it seemed so odd (and wasteful) for them not to have the bottle re-fillers available. The person I talked to thought that it might be a hygiene issue, but I suspect that it also might have something to do with Disney not using volunteers anymore.

As others have mentioned, the restrooms in the parks often have bottle fillers outside of them so that is a good Plan B.

I'm 99.999% positive I had my handheld filled at a water station at W&D this year! I don't remember if every station had them, but I pretty distinctly remember at the end of the station there were a few people with bottles (after the tables) ready to fill runners' bottles.

 

[sandam1]

I'm 99.999% positive I had my handheld filled at a water station at W&D this year! I don't remember if every station had them, but I pretty distinctly remember at the end of the station there were a few people with bottles (after the tables) ready to fill runners' bottles.

Fingers crossed that they have fixed the issue. The hard part with them being at the end is that if they aren't there for some reason, you are SOL. I remember during the marathon last year being panicky, trying to figure out how long until the next water stop, because I passed up the water cups, thinking that there would be bottles at the end.

 

[AZMermaid]

It’s packing day!!!
View attachment 1034761

I’m wearing basically the same. Maybe. I have a Varsity Letter raw threads MNE shirt. But I just ordered a couple tank tops to try on. Or I may buy a Raw Threads tank at the expo. I know no new on race day…. But I’ve worn them before so I think it’ll be okay. Maybe. Haha.

 

[FFigawi]

Fueling question for the marathon:
I have a running belt and 750mL worth of bottles I plan to put Skratch drink into. Has anyone filled up a water bottle during a Disney race? Unless there's a special spot to do it that I've missed, I can't imagine doing it at a water stop with the cups would be very effective. Maybe a water fountain in AK, or late MK?

I only need to refill my 500mL bottle once, though filling my 250mL bottle twice might be easier (it has a better top.)

As others have said, there’s a high probability of being able to fill bottles at the aid stations. If you’re not willing to take the chance, I recommend making a super concentrated bottle that you don’t need to refill.

 

[WDW 4 ME]

I’m wearing basically the same. Maybe. I have a Varsity Letter raw threads MNE shirt. But I just ordered a couple tank tops to try on. Or I may buy a Raw Threads tank at the expo. I know no new on race day…. But I’ve worn them before so I think it’ll be okay. Maybe. Haha.

I will look for you!!!

 

[princesspirateandrunner]

Ahem... (from the shared doc). Pink stars are locations.

View attachment 1034853

Actually, I’m running, not spectating, the half. DH is the one spectating the half. Sorry if that wasn’t clear in the form!

 

[princesspirateandrunner]

@princesspirateandrunner do you want to head to Main Street together?

I’m running, not spectating, for the half. DH is the one spectating. I’m sorry! We’re each running one race and spectating for the other.

 

[JeffW]

Apologies if this has been answered (I searched the thread, but didn't find the information). We've done many marathon weekends, but this will be our first one since 2023, so we haven't experienced the clockwise path for the half marathon.

We're staying at BLT, and used to monorail to TTC, watch a runner there, then walk to Poly and see our runner again heading back to EPCOT. But the challenge was always that the runner was on the opposite side of the road from the Poly. With all of the new construction that has occurred on the roadway and the new clockwise path, are there any new challenges or problems with spectating at Poly? Is Poly and then TTC still viable?

My parents are in their late 70's, and while they are mobile, we're trying to make sure we have a solid plan because it will be harder for them to react to a change of plans and "hustle" anywhere if we're wrong.

 

[Herding_Cats]

Apologies if this has been answered (I searched the thread, but didn't find the information). We've done many marathon weekends, but this will be our first one since 2023, so we haven't experienced the clockwise path for the half marathon.

We're staying at BLT, and used to monorail to TTC, watch a runner there, then walk to Poly and see our runner again heading back to EPCOT. But the challenge was always that the runner was on the opposite side of the road from the Poly. With all of the new construction that has occurred on the roadway and the new clockwise path, are there any new challenges or problems with spectating at Poly? Is Poly and then TTC still viable?

You will want to be at the Poly first. As in the past, the runners were put in the far lane from the resort, separated by the impenetrable line of cones. The difference is that they will be running toward GF instead of from it. The Poly is around mile 7.5 and the TTC is about mile 11.5. With this, you could potentially monorail to the Poly, spectate, walk to the TTC, spectate, and then monorail back to BLT. Of course it's always an option to just get off at the TTC and walk to Poly and then walk back to spectate again, depending on how mobile your parents are and how much walking you want to do. (This is assuming I'm not mis-remembering how that whole monorail loop works. *sigh* )

 

[clbielick]

Ok. Couldn't find much on the RunDisney site. First time Runner (half marathon), and dragging my non-disney loving husband with (blasphemy, I know). He is not a fan of crowds. Confirming, I realize it's a pain, but we can drive from Boardwalk to the Epcot parking lot in the AM, right? There will be road closures, but it's totally feasible, and he can stay in the car and avoid crowds til we need to get into the corral, right? (submitted POT so should be in B) I don't think the atmosphere on the bus is his thing, and im hoping to convince him to do more of these races