Marathon Weekend 2026

[jrsharp21]

Got my bib and shirts. Now waiting around for merch. The VQ has really slowed down. Maybe time for a nap in the shade.

 

[Disneyhanna]

Looks like Dopeys will have the same corral on both bibs

 

[nancipants]

I completely agree - every influencer now talks about how you need to get here early. I think rD is having to deal with more people first morning of the expo. I like the way NYC does it where you have to pre-book your day/ time for pickup. I suspect rD will eventually need to do this. Keep Day 1 of Expo to 5k and Dopey runners exclusively.

They could also MAKE MORE MERCH so people are guaranteed to still get what they want on Saturday.

 

[nancipants]

I’ve heard that Disney charges quite a bit for space at the Expo. My guess is that they justify the prices with the vendors by guaranteeing them a certain amount of foot traffic to the Expo.

Oh, no doubt.

 

[lookingforsunshine]

Someone help me not be sad about the lack of ears. I get them for every race weekend

 

[Poohverine]

Looks like Dopeys will have the same corral on both bibs

Can validate this. Got B on both bibs (210xx)

 

[FFigawi]

I can’t recall ANY MW year I’ve gone on Day 1 and it wasn’t crazy. I have a strong memory of the Dopey pick-up line going through the soccer fields and it took easily an hour to get through. A large part of why I’ll probably never do a MW 5K again is my overriding desire to avoid expo Day 1 insanity! Ditto for PHM.

Dopey pickup in the afternoon and evening has never been very busy. The mornings are always nuts, but by 3pm or later, it’s almost walk-right-up empty.

 

[Z-Knight]

haha...i have group 90...so another 2 hours of waiting. but i also have pre order pin and the entrance to that is on the side.



well, that just lets you in to general merchandise line...so i basically bypassed the queue.

sheesh.

 

[Z-Knight]

oh and the general looping line inside smells like feet... no reason, oh yeah thats also the brooks shoe try on area.

 

[DisneyParrothead]

I can’t recall ANY MW year I’ve gone on Day 1 and it wasn’t crazy. I have a strong memory of the Dopey pick-up line going through the soccer fields and it took easily an hour to get through. A large part of why I’ll probably never do a MW 5K again is my overriding desire to avoid expo Day 1 insanity! Ditto for PHM.

I’ll be doing the 10k next year with a charity and I’m already planning for that trip. I’ll fly in Wednesday and avoid the expo until Day 2. It’s definitely more chaotic because of the influencers and merch hype, and I don’t need to be there. I get cranky easily and it’s too many people.

 

[StarGirl11]

Also feel like mentioning idk if they still are but they are allowing size exchanges at pre commerative when I picked up the fleece. (The large I was swimming in after 90 pounds of weight loss to say the least.) might change later but it was allowed earlier

 

[smileyanna]

I signed up for Goofy instead of dopey this year because I didn’t want to take so much time off… and I’m sitting here refreshing your expo updates instead.

 

[marty3d]

What's the beer cup situation? It's not the refillable ones right?

 

[The Expert]

What's the beer cup situation? It's not the refillable ones right?

Nope

 

[Z-Knight]

holy crap...there is a queue after the queue just for Dopey merch. oh for crying out loud

 

[jrsharp21]

haha...i have group 90...so another 2 hours of waiting. but i also have pre order pin and the entrance to that is on the side.

View attachment 1036567

well, that just lets you in to general merchandise line...so i basically bypassed the queue.

sheesh.

Pre-orders have a seperate entrance?

 

[Z-Knight]

45 min wait apparently

 

[jrsharp21]

Thank you Z-Knight! That is a great hack. Just got in like an hour early.

 

[Z-Knight]

Pre-orders have a seperate entrance?

yup...right at the beginning if you can see in my pic. and then you are out i general merchandise queue...but only person with preorder can go in

 

[Stitch&Co.]

Is the pre-order stuff returnable? I didn’t order anything because I didn’t think you could return it.