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Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend: Fantasy in Florida!
- Feb 25
- 6 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
As soon as you step into a Disney park you know you're going to have a pretty special day. Add in the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend and it will be even better. It all happens early, but that's what makes it even better. Fireworks to get you going and parks free of visitors as you run from one to another. This is one of those bucket list events. The Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend is a must do.
The Destination
Opened in October 1971, Walt Disney World Resort is 25,000 acres of entertainment near Orlando in Florida. There are four theme parks within this giant complex. Here a significant amount of land remains undeveloped, unlike its sister park in California, where there is absolutely no room to grow.
There's the Magic Kingdom which was the first to open, EPCOT, which opened in 1982, Hollywood Studios, which opened seven years later and then in 1998 they were joined by Animal Kingdom. Each of the theme parks regularly feature in the fifty most visited global tourist attractions in their own right and are enjoyed by 50-60 million people annually. There are also the Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon water parks, nearly 40 hotels (Disney-owned and partner properties), golf courses and Disney Springs, a huge outdoor shopping centre. Initially the Park was to include an Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow (this is what EPCOT stands for) but Walt Disney himself died five years before the Park opened and this planned community never eventuated.
Development at the resort never stops. In the last few years there have been major changes, including Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind, Remy's Ratatouille Adventure, Space 220 Restaurant / 2021 and Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway. A new Moana area within EPCOT is now open and the list goes on. Old favourites are replaced with new concepts and the crowds keep coming. The Marathon weekend gives runners chance to see it all up close, especially the 26.2 mile distance which goes to all four Parks and more.
History
It all began in 1994 with the running of the first marathon when just over five and a half thousand took part. Five years later the first half took place, on the same day as the marathon. There was also a corporate relay marathon added that year. In 2006 the half and the full were on different days for the first time and the Goofy Challenge introduced (39.3 miles over 2 days). In 2010 a record field of 55,000 was welcomed across all events (as the weekend expanded to include multiple race distances). By 2014 all four distances were in place and the Dopey Challenge added (48.6 miles over 4 days). January 2018 saw the 25th anniversary with a field of 26,000 runners, with the 30th anniversary held in 2023.
The course has remained consistent through the years with changes made to reflect new developments. The last change was in 2020 when the unpopular Wide World of Sports segment was removed and replaced with a segment passing through the eastern portion of the Blizzard Beach water park.
Race Organiser
runDisney, part of Disney Sports Enterprises, a Walt Disney Company.
When?
Race weekend is held annually in early January
Distances
Marathon, half marathon,10k and 5k.
Over the weekend there are two multi event challenges:
Goofy’s Race Challenge: run the half marathon on Saturday and the marathon on Sunday.
Dopey Challenge: run the 5k on Thursday, 10k on Friday, the half marathon on Saturday and the marathon on Sunday.
If you complete the Dopey Challenge you'll also be recognised as a Goofy finisher. Lots of medals!
Is there an Expo?
Held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex the entire Marathon weekend, the Expo is where runners must pick up their race packets. There's also the usual event merchandise, the latest in fitness gear and technology and speakers and presentations on all things running. It's held over 4 days, from Wednesday to Saturday.
How many runners?
About 30,000 runners take part across the weekend. In 2025 there were 12,500 finishers in the marathon and 13,500 in the half.
Course
All of the events, including the marathon start at 5am so if you're planning to do all 4 there will need to be lots of early nights!
There are clearly signed corrals, and for the half and full you will need to show proof of time to start in the forward corrals. As you'd expect with a quality event like this access to EPCOT is tightly managed and you'll need to make sure you're there in plenty of time. The half takes runners around EPCOT and the Magic Kingdom and the full takes in all 4 parks.
When the gun goes off full marathon runners head past the Land pavilion and Spaceship Earth before heading north to the Magic Kingdom. From the very start the Disney crew are loud and supporting runners exactly as you'd expect. Even though it's still really early and there are very few spectators, the Disney team do their best to keep runners motivated. Runners start near EPCOT, then head out onto the surrounding highways before reaching the Magic Kingdom about five miles later. From the start you'll see the many Disney characters that give such a unique element to these events.
Before entering Magic Kingdom it's past the Contemporary Resort, home of the iconic A-frame Contemporary tower. Inside there is a 90-foot-tall mural by Disney Legend Mary Blair, responsible for the distinct look and feel of the “it’s a small world” attraction. Once inside the Magic Kingdom, runners head down Main Street, U.S.A, one of the most memorable parts of the whole Marathon (and half). This stretch is full of noise and plenty of crowd support and from here it's on toward Tomorrowland, home of Space Mountain and on to Fantasyland, past Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and through the 183 ft tall Cinderella Castle. Probably the most photographed attraction in any of the Parks, this is a moment to savour. It's then on to Liberty Square and Adventureland before a five mile run south to Animal Kingdom
First up is the Africa section of Animal Kingdom, home of the famous Kilimanjaro Safaris before heading toward Expedition Everest. Opened in 2006 the ride is themed around the Yeti protecting the Forbidden Mountain next to Mount Everest It is the only roller coaster in Animal Kingdom, and the tallest roller coaster at any Disney theme park, reaching speeds of 50mph and costing a cool $100 million. From here it's then through Dinoland at mile 17 when runners leave this, the third of the four parks.
It's then east through the Disney Coronado Springs Resort and Blizzard Beach to Hollywood Studios at the 23 mile mark. Runners are only in this Park for a mile or so, passing the Hollywood Tower Hotel down Sunset Boulevard and back out where at mile 24 it's back into EPCOT. The last two miles of the course is around the World Showcase, the Creations Shop Mission Space and Test Track into the parking area and the finish.
There are plenty of aid stations, with plentiful water and Powerade. There are also energy beans, bananas and chocolate. As well as portable toilets you have the use of real bathrooms as you go through the Parks. A definite bonus.
What's unique?
Where to start! There is so much unique about these events. The destination itself and the Disney characters really do make this a very special running festival.
Do charities benefit?
There are a number of charities that have entries in all 4 events and see more about those below. rundisney also makes an independent donation to The Leukaemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), which isn't linked to the amounts raised by runners fundraising for their own preferred charity.
Our verdict
Unmissable. Not cheap, but one you have to do.
How to register
Online via the website. It is very hard to get a spot so get in as early as you can when entries open. If you are a Club member you have a better chance, but these memberships also sell out quickly. There are tour operator entries available outside the US and there are charity spots but you'll need to raise big bucks, although nowhere near as much as for the likes of Boston or New York. If you want to run all 4 events these are a good option.
Race website
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