Marathon Weekend 2026

[jrsharp21]

SAFD: We are flying from Houston to Orlando on first flight out on Tuesday morning. It is me, my wife, and my son. We will get there around 10:30ish. Grab the rental car and off to WDW! We have a one night stay at AS Sports before we move over to Saratoga Springs on Wednesday. Unfortunately I will have to plug in and work when we get there. My wife and son are ditching me and heading over to Epcot.

Usually we stack a bunch of ADR's, but we only grabbed one this year, Beak and Barrell. It was originally only going to be me and my wife this year and we were going to just take the parks slowly this year since my wife now has an AP also. But my son's college baseball coach said they didn't have to report back until the 10th. So of course as soon as he found that out he asked if he could come to WDW. He is someone who will be there for early entry and be in line for a ride when the park closes. So for the first couple of days, outside of the expo, we will be at the parks all day long. We take him to the airport after the 10k on Friday. That day is going to be a rest and explore day around the resort and a Disney Springs day. Saturday and Sunday will be slow park days after the races.

I am actually sitting at work right now (came in on the weekend to get ahead of things) and can't wait for Tuesday to come.

 

[rick1zoo2]

SAFD: we fly out of Philadelphia on Tuesday, arriving around 11. We're dropping bags at the Poly and then heading to the Magic Kingdom for a couple of hours. Then dinner at Wailulu the first day. We'll head to the expo early on Wednesday. We're doing the Dopey and have a crazy amount of dining reservations. This trip is all about the running and eating. We didn't even book any lightning lanes. Looking forward to seeing everyone at the light pole!!

We're doing what?!?!

 

[Naomeri]

SAFD: I'm only going to be there in spirit, so no travel involved

 

[FFigawi]

THIS IS SO USEFUL!!!

I do need an extra battery though.

Note that if spectators are trying to track you via phone, you’ll probably want to keep wi-fi on.

One of the biggest battery hogs is bluetooth. Turning that off will make a huge difference in how long your phone will last. I know that's not exactly helpful for people using headphones with their phones. In that case, loading your Garmin or Apple Watch with music instead of your phone is a good option. If you do need a power bank, one like this is what my friends and I use during our cycling trips. Small, lightweight, and no cable required.

Good morning RunDisney All-Stars! Welcome to this week's edition of Sundays are for Disney (SAFD). It's here! I can't believe we've made it all the way to race week! It doesn't seem that long ago that we parted company after MW 2025. When and how are you heading to Disney and what are your plans when you get there?

SAFD: I'm basically already there. Flew in from overseas last week, hanging out at the Florida house right now, and driving over to Disney on Wednesday. No real plans that afternoon except bib, beer, and shopping for discounted shoes. I doubt the Endorphin Speed 5 will be on sale, but the Pro 4 should be.

 

[jrsharp21]

Also turning off bluetooth guarantees that I am not going to get any annoying notifications on my watch during the race. Last year I thought I had turned off all my text and social media notifications before the race. Well I forgot a couple. I got so many Amazon deals during the marathon last year. SMH.

 

[Herding_Cats]

Also turning off bluetooth guarantees that I am not going to get any annoying notifications on my watch during the race. Last year I thought I had turned off all my text and social media notifications before the race. Well I forgot a couple. I got so many Amazon deals during the marathon last year. SMH.

I did this during my trail run. Because they would *always* pop up when I got to a mile and wanted to put my splits into a spreadsheet. I also turned off all the extra garmin alerts like steps, intensity minutes, flights of stairs, etc.

 

[The Expert]

SAFD: I fly out at 6am on Tuesday, connecting through LGA and landing at MCO at 12:40. My mom is picking me up and I'm staying with her in Celebration that night. I'll drive over to the expo for my early access on Wednesday and probably hang out to check out the rest of the expo. After that I'll do a grocery pick-up and move in at BWV for the rest of the trip. DH arrives on Friday at 12:30, so I'll go pick him up before the HH meetup. Looking forward to seeing everyone!

 

[DisneyParrothead]

I use headphones, so I won’t turn off Bluetooth. I tend to put my phone into airplane mode during races because I’ve gotten spam calls during races before. Can we talk about rage? If anyone texts me, I get those at the end when I turn airplane mode off.

 

[SheHulk]

SAFD: Flying out of Philly on Wednesday. I'm running "just" the marathon but my friend is running Dopey so we will get to the expo Weds afternoon or evening. Doing a bit too much commando park time on Thurs/Fri/Sat, LLs, the works, then race Sunday, fly home, and start my semester on Monday. Someday maybe MW will be the week before spring semester starts and I can consider Dopey.

 

[GuinnessRunner]

SAFD: Driving down on Tuesday. Hope to get to OKW around 4:00 and then will pop over to HS for dinner and a ride or two. Planning on MK and some grocery/essentials shopping Wednesday before going to the expo in the late afternoon. My return on Monday has got more interesting. Have to be in NYC Tuesday morning now for a mediation so will fly there Monday night and then back to Orlando Tuesday night and drive home Wednesday. On plus side I will be able to stay for more of DATW. My DW asked why I didn't just fly down to Orlando since it's just me now, but the thought of having to haul all my running stuff through NYC for a day made that a hard no.

 

[GuinnessRunner]

Dropping bags and heading to the Yachtsman for dinner (side note: any opinions on the Yachtsman? We used to eat at Shula’s, but branching out since that’s gone).

We ate there last year after the marathon instead of Shula's. I thought the food was good. Ambiance is much different than Shula's - more open and more families (not a bad thing, just different). Service was good, but not on same level as Shula's. While I think Shula's was better for a celebratory, non-kids dinner, I would certainly go back again. But of course YMMV.

 

[StarGirl11]

SAFD: already here! Room was ready in a pleasant surprise. Currently waiting to have lunch at Roundup Rodeo. Then kind of just winging it until later. Planning to see the new parade tonight. Since that will work best until post Dopey to see it

 

[RuntheMouse]

SAFD: We’re flying down from MSP on the 7:00a flight tomorrow! Having lunch at Bar Riva when we arrive and then who knows?

I just finished my 10 mile run in 18F weather and I am so ready to get on that plane!

 

[WDW 4 ME]

SAFD: We will be flying out of SDF 7:35, landing at 9:55. Will pick up our rental car and head straight to expo. After expo, check in at the Hilton at flamingos crossing (using up some old points), and then to DS for dinner and shopping. Planning on mecum auto auction on Thursday and maybe Friday morning before we do the meetup at HH. We move to our second home, the Swan, on Friday. Saturday, no true plans other than carb loading! Run the marathon on Sunday, and spend rest of day at Epcot. We will do MK either Monday or Tuesday.

 

[WDW 4 ME]

I’m jealous of everyone already there or arriving today! I’m cleaning today. Ugh!

 

[DianaMB333]

SAFD: at the airport in Bogota (Col), flying to MCO via Panama should land around 10pm …

I just expend two weeks at home, which translates into 10extra pounds LOL but happy!!

I don't know why I thought split stays are fun with 2 bags and 2 owners lockers hahaha… but here I go, first at Boulder Ridge, then Poly tower, Poly not tower and BLT… will stay at the happy place until Jan 20th

 

[lookingforsunshine]

SAFD: Flying from Columbus on Wednesday morning. Going to hotel (Sports- we can pretend it’s because it makes me feel like an athlete but really it’s because of $) to drop off luggage (and hopefully check in!), and then to the expo for Dopey bibs! After the expo I’m not sure. I’m sure my partner knows . Last year I was at the expo for over 6 hours, and I would prefer to not repeat that experience.
This is my first MW where I am flying in Weds instead of Tues, and I’m a little anxious about it.

 

[Mr_Incr3dible]

>>"Doing a bit too much commando park time on Thurs/Fri/Sat,"
Um, that is either TMI or means something different from the definition I heard on Friends....

SAFD: I'm about to go on an easy run during halftime today, and maybe some more packing this evening (meaning moving the piles to the suitcases)
I'll drive partway down on Wed evening just to get well south of Atlanta, and get the rest of the way on Thur morning. I'll likely go straight to the expo, spend more time than usual there, and then to Pop. No real plans Thur evening. Saturday, I'll join some friends in HS after the half and do dinner there Sat night. Sunday is post-marathon recovery and nap and then to Disney Springs for food and walking around Sun evening. Fri and Sat were going to be park days, but now I want to also do DATW on Monday, so what to do about Friday? Buy another ticket and spend some time in a park before meeting you guys at HH? If not, what to do with a non-park day down there? I'll do a LL in Epcot on Mon morning, and likely for HS on Sat, so where to go on Friday? Rope drop for Tron and do some belated medal photos from SS? Or over to AK to scout it out? Unclear.
If anyone wants to do some light park time (any park) on Friday, my schedule is open.

 

[pluto377]

SAFD- Leaving Tues morning on a 9am flight. Check into ASMu and plan to just chill near the pool and maybe do a short run around the resort. Wednesday I check out and head to the expo, then check in at OKW where I'll be until Monday. Will do a grocery run at some point on Wed too. No parks until Thurs for me.

 

[FFigawi]

SAFD: Flying from Columbus on Wednesday morning. Going to hotel (Sports- we can pretend it’s because it makes me feel like an athlete but really it’s because of $) to drop off luggage (and hopefully check in!), and then to the expo for Dopey bibs! After the expo I’m not sure. I’m sure my partner knows . Last year I was at the expo for over 6 hours, and I would prefer to not repeat that experience.
This is my first MW where I am flying in Weds instead of Tues, and I’m a little anxious about it.

I hope there's a good story behind this. I can't imagine spending that much time at any expo, Disney or otherwise,