Princess Half Marathon Weekend 2026 (Feb 26-Mar 2, 2026)

[The Expert]

New to all this - are the courses the same each year? Does anyone know the routes for the 10k and half?

Usually they are, with slight changes for construction or other temporary issues. Courses won't be released until well after registration and much closer to the races.

 

[TarynM]

I guess I'm just going to run all of them

I only need the half for Coast to Coast and Rapunzel is my favorite but I love Moana, so at that point I should just sign up for the challenge. And I know my friends will do the 5k since they're big Merida fans, so I obviously don't want to miss out on something with the group. So, let's go!

 

[nancipants]

I was only going to sign up for the half but I don't have a Belle medal...so this means what?

I did the challenge last year and thought it was going to be so hard, but it really wasn't! Obviously getting up early two days in a row isn't fun, but it was a lot more manageable than I thought it would be. Especially after having done the marathon.

 

[The Expert]

I feel DESTINED to do this. The Princess 5K was my first runDisney race in 2016, so this will be my 10th anniversary of rD AND Merida is my favorite Princess. It is meant to be!

TBD if I do the whole weekend, but I'm leaning that way. It is sounding like some of my local family may join in for a few of the runs.

 

[The Expert]

Hmmmm the site also lists Yoga on Monday?? But no theme shown.

 

[prncssjas]

I feel DESTINED to do this. The Princess 5K was my first runDisney race in 2016, so this will be my 10th anniversary of rD AND Merida is my favorite Princess. It is meant to be!

I am SO happy for you to do this! It's so joyful!!!! I just hope registration for the challenge is not to be AWFUL but I am guessing it will be....yikes.

 

[Herding_Cats]

I'm gonna go feed my chickens and do the adjusting to our drip irrigation in the garden before I end up with a full-blown spreadsheet of costs and potential flights for the 5k.

I may or may not have already found flights that land at 12:30am on Friday morning that I could *theoretically* hang out at the airport for 45min, and then uber directly to Epcot, do "emergency" bib pick-up, gearcheck a backpack, and not have to book at resort stay. And then fly back Friday afternoon.

 

[azrivest]

So happy for Merida but so unhappy it's the 5k. Registration is going to be bonkers

 

[azrivest]

I may or may not have already found flights that land at 12:30am on Friday morning that I could *theoretically* hang out at the airport for 45min, and then uber directly to Epcot, do "emergency" bib pick-up, gearcheck a backpack, and not have to book at resort stay. And then fly back Friday afternoon.

That is next level runDisney

 

[Naomeri]

Well, dang! I don’t have any of those Princesses, except Moana. I guess I’m going to have to beg the universe for good job news so I can go

 

[The Expert]

I am SO happy for you to do this! It's so joyful!!!! I just hope registration for the challenge is not to be AWFUL but I am guessing it will be....yikes.

I'm thankful for Platinum CrD right now for sure! Though I'll likely be joining the fray to get at least one family member in. ::gulp::

I MAY have already gone and booked my flights, since I found a great deal with miles on Delta. And I won't fly out until Monday afternoon, so maybe this will be my first rD Yoga??

No room deals yet, but Pop is roughly $300/night. I might book and stalk AP rates, or DH is checking Marriott. I could stay with mom, but I think my aunt is coming over to do at least one race and that means the guest room is occupado.

 

[DisneyParrothead]

Dangit! After being at Disney for a week with Princess this year, I was planning to skip this season entirely for WDW races. Now the wheels are turning for a 5k/10k trip. I don’t have a Merida or Moana medal. I have credits to use with Southwest and want to use those and be done with them. Pop is nice when I’m a solo runner, and maybe skip the parks? There’s enough to keep me occupied elsewhere on property.

 

[LilyJC]

Love all these so much!! We usually skip the 5k during Princess weekend, but not this time! Thankfully I booked our DVC to include the 5k just in case… Platinum club rD will come in clutch for sure

 

[prncssjas]

Thankfully I booked our DVC to include the 5k just in case

I don't have Club Run Disney but thankfully, I do have DVC so I am gratefully booked to be able to run the challenge if needed. I am just worried about the registration....especially for the challenge. I have done charity in the past and seriously considering it again if needed.

 

[LilyJC]

I don't have Club Run Disney but thankfully, I do have DVC so I am gratefully booked to be able to run the challenge if needed. I am just worried about the registration....especially for the challenge. I have done charity in the past and seriously considering it again if needed.

Charity is not a bad idea! I ran with Kelsie’s Hope several years ago - they’re so sweet and it’s for such a great cause

 

[prncssjas]

Charity is not a bad idea!

Oh yes, I agree! It's wonderful--I have run for charity last year for the princess challenge and for the 5k in 2023 -- it's really awesome. So I need to see if it makes sense again for me. I really like the belle theme.

Question for the group: for those of you that fly in from colder climates, like the midwest and northern parts (read: SNOW), would you fly in two days early? Or does the day before usually work? I am super paranoid about snow (coming from MI) and I am scheduled to fly in early Friday AM but now that I am considering the challenge for that darned Belle medal, I am wondering if I should fly in on Thursday....

 

[The Expert]

Question for the group: for those of you that fly in from colder climates, like the midwest and northern parts (read: SNOW), would you fly in two days early? Or does the day before usually work? I am super paranoid about snow (coming from MI) and I am scheduled to fly in early Friday AM but now that I am considering the challenge for that darned Belle medal, I am wondering if I should fly in on Thursday....

I fly from northern Vermont and come in on a morning flight the day before the expo. I've been lucky so far, but early morning flights mean more options if there are issues. Though I'd be disappointed to miss my early Expo access, it realistically gives me almost 48 hours to get there, worst case scenario.

 

[Herding_Cats]

The urge was too strong, and DH hasn't immediately replied with an "I mean it" NO response yet. (To be fair, he's at work and I'm obsessive about planning.)

So just looking at things I can estimate that for a 1 night stay, at ASMo I could be around $550 plus the cost of flights. That includes the registration, money for the expo, food allowance, and Mears shuttle.

Flights currently are:
$477 locally (no parking fees or additional hotel needed)
$377 2.5 drive away (plus around $20 in parking fees and cost of gas)
$240 4hr drive away (could probably have DS1 drop me off at the airport and avoid parking fees, may need a hotel though)

Flying on points is outrageously priced right now.

So I'm looking at $800-1000 for a 1.5-day trip. For a race distance/course experience I don't care for. *sigh*

 

[radiodome21]

I too booked a DVC room a few months ago just in case we do it. My wife and I want to do a runDisney half marathon at some point. Though TBH I love the Springtime Surprise races and that time of the year so we’ll see. On the other hand I absolutely treasure Tangled.

We fly in from Chicago. I’m a United CC holder. For the Springtime Surprise we flew in Friday morning. The 10k was Saturday. United actually let me change both our arrival and departure flights without a penalty and even gave us credit because of the price difference. We drove our rental car directly to the Expo before going to Boulder Ridge. I’d like to come earlier but it just wasn’t an option. We left Monday morning.

 

[prncssjas]

I fly from northern Vermont and come in on a morning flight the day before the expo. I've been lucky so far, but early morning flights mean more options if there are issues. Though I'd be disappointed to miss my early Expo access, it realistically gives me almost 48 hours to get there, worst case scenario.

Thanks yes, this makes sense--super helpful and how I am leaning at this point. If I do end up getting into the challenge, I think I will adjust my dates to fly in Thursday. You just never know with Michigan winters and I'd prefer not to miss the expo....

I am already starting to think about what the Brooks shoe line up will look like....belle? rapunzel? merida? I just hope at least one pair is PINK.