This race weekend happens the weekend before the US’s Dr. MLK Jr. Weekend or the weekend before the second Monday in January. It is the oldest runDisney weekend and is the only race weekend to include a full marathon. The weekend includes a 5k, 10k, Half Marathon, and Full Marathon. You can sign up for the Goofy Challenge, which consists of the Half Marathon and Marathon (39.3 miles), or the Dopey Challenge, which consists of running all 4 races (48.6 miles).
Each race is dedicated to a classic Disney character, currently the 5k is Pluto’s race, the 10k is Chip and Dale’s race, the Half Marathon is Donald and Daisy’s race, and the Marathon is Mickey and Minnie’s race.
Depending on how close to New Year’s Eve/Day the weekend happens will determine the crowd levels at the park. Historically, New Year’s Eve is one of the busiest days at the theme parks so you may still experience higher crowds the earlier in January the race weekend occurs.
2027: Jan 6-10, 2027, Registration: Club runDisney – March 10, 2026 | Regular – March 17, 2026 10am ET
2026 Race Weekend Information
- Race Weekend Dates: Jan 7-11, 2026
- Registration Dates: Club runDisney – March 4, 2025 | Regular – March 11, 2025 10am ET
- Location: Epcot, Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, FL
Events
- Expo: Jan 7-10, 2026 | Wide World of Sports | Wed 10a-8p, Thur 12p-7p, Fri 12p-7p, Sat 11a-3p
- 5k: Thurs, Jan 8, 2026 | $119.99 | Epcot | Time: 5am
- 10k: Fri, Jan 9, 2026 | $166 | Epcot | Time: 5am
- Half Marathon: Sat, Jan 10, 2026 | $240 | Epcot | Time: 5am
- Marathon: Sun, Jan 11, 2026 | $242 | Epcot | Time: 4:30am
- Goofy Challenge: Jan 10-11, 2026 | $473.00 | Epcot
- Dopey Challenge: Jan 8-11, 2026 | $736.00 | Epcot
Important Links:
- RunDisney Race Webpage: https://www.rundisney.com/events/disneyworld/disneyworld-marathon-weekend/
- Magical Medals Unveiled for the 2026 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend Presented by State Farm!: https://www.rundisney.com/blog/2026-walt-disney-world-marathon-medal-reveal/
- Storybook Styles: First Look at 2026 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend presented by State Farm Merchandise: https://www.rundisney.com/blog/2026-disneyworld-marathon-weekend-merchandise-preview/
- Brooks Running Shoe Reveal for 2026 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend presented by State Farm: https://www.rundisney.com/blog/2026-disneyworld-marathon-weekend-brooks-running-shoes/
- Race Shirts revealed: https://www.instagram.com/p/DTLNzoaiQMb/
runDisney Training Plans:
- Beginner WDW 5k Running Plan
- Beginner WDW 10k Running Plan
- Beginner WDW Half Marathon Running Plan
- Experienced WDW Half Marathon Running Plan
- Beginner WDW Marathon Running Plan
- Experienced WDW Marathon Running Plan
- Goofy Challenge Running Plan
- Dopey Challenge Running Plan
2026 WDW Marathon Weekend Event Information
Jump to:
- 2026 Expo Information
- 2026 General Race Information
- 2026 WDW 5k
- 2026 WDW 10k
- 2026 WDW Half Marathon
- 2025 WDW Marathon
2026 WDW Marathon Weekend Expo
Virtual queue will be used on Wednesday for the Official Merchandise and the Brooks shoe booth. The virtual queue opens at 8:30am and 1pm in the My Disney Experience app. You can have up to 6 people when you sign up for the virtual queue. You can get more information about how to sign up for a virtual queue here: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/virtual-queue/#drawer-card-Step1
The expo is spread among 3 buildings at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex, A) Advent Health Arena with the official merchandise and Club runDisney lounge, B) Athletic Center with the vendors, and C) State Farm Field House with bib pickup and runner relations.
runDisney also introduced a way for more Dopey runners to get merchandise. This year, to get Dopey merchandise on the first day of the expo, racers had to enter a different line and show proof that they are running the Dopey Challenge and then they were able to get one of each of the Dopey merchandise items.
2026 WDW General Race Information
2026 WDW 5k
- 3:00 AM – Event Open
- 5:00 AM – Official Race Start
- 7:45 AM – Estimated Final Finisher
- 8:30 AM – Event Close
2026 WDW 10k
- Race Start/Finish: EPCOT Parking Lot
- Event Open: 3:00 AM
- Official Race Start: 5:00 AM
- Estimated Final Finisher: 8:00 AM
- Event Close: 9:00 AM
2026 WDW Half Marathon
- 2:30 AM – Event Open
- 5:00 AM – Official Race Start
- 9:45 AM – Estimated Final Finisher
- 10:00 AM – Event Close
2026 WDW Marathon
- 2:30 AM – Event Open
- 4:30 AM – Official Race Start
- 12:30 PM – Estimated Final Finisher
- 1:00 PM – Event Close
2027 Race Weekend Information
- Race Weekend Dates: Jan 6-10, 2027
- Registration Dates: Club runDisney – March 10, 2026 | Regular – March 17, 2026 10am ET
- Location: Epcot, Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, FL
RACE WEEKEND DESCRIPTION
WDW 5K
The Walt Disney World 5k (3.1 miles) occurs on the Thursday morning of the race weekend and is an untimed, family race. It starts and ends in the Epcot parking lot at 5am and runs backstage past the cast parking lot, then around World Showcase, and into Future World. There are usually 4-6 characters along the course and at the finish you will get a medal, a water, a Powerade, a snack box, and a banana.
WDW 10K
The Walt Disney World 10k (6.2 miles) is run on the Friday morning of the race weekend and is a timed race with a course that usually runs around Epcot and the Epcot resort area or Hollywood Studios. The race starts and ends in the Epcot parking lot and runs on the roads outside of Epcot before either running around World Showcase, the Crescent Lake resorts, and Future World or runs to Hollywood Studios, then through the Crescent Lake resorts, and then through Epcot. There are usually 6-8 characters on the course and at the finish you will get a medal, a water, a Powerade, a snack box, and a banana.
WDW Half MARATHON
The Walt Disney World Half Marathon (13.1 miles/21.1 km) is run on Saturday morning at 5am. The race starts and ends in the Epcot parking lot and runs to Magic Kingdom then back to Epcot. There are usually 10-15 characters on the course and at the finish you will get a medal, a water, a Powerade, a snack box, and a banana.
WDW MARATHON
The Walt Disney World Marathon (26.2 miles/42.2 km) is run on Sunday morning at 5am. The race starts and ends in the Epcot parking lot and runs all over property. The most recent course runs through Epcot, then to Magic Kingdom, then to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, runs in the Blizzard Beach parking lot, then through Disney’s Hollywood Studios, around Crescent Lake, then through Epcot, and finishes in the Epcot parking lot. In past years the course has included the Wide World of Sports. There are usually 10-15 characters on the course and at the finish you will get a medal, a water, a Powerade, a challenge medal (if applicable), a snack box, and a banana.
WDW Marathon Weekend Maps
Past Race Weekend Info and History
Inaugural Race Weekend: Jan 15-16, 1994
This is the original runDisney event. The inaugural weekend hosted a family fun run around Epcot on Jan 15th and then the marathon on Jan 16th that ran through Epcot, the Crescent Lake Area, MGM Studios (now Disney’s Hollywood Studios), and through the Magic Kingdom (the castle was the half way point. Watch the video below for all the action!
Then in 1998, Donald’s Half Marathon was run for the first time on the same day as the marathon. In 1999, the marathon course was changed to include the newest theme park, Disney’s Animal Kingdom!
In 2006, the Marathon and Half Marathon ran on separate days and created the Goofy Challenge.
In 2014, Minnie’s 10k was added to the weekend to turn it into a four days of running events and also created the Dopey Challenge where you ran all 4 races. In 2020, runDisney changed the 10k character to Oswald the Lucky Rabbit and then in 2023 it changed to Chip and Dale.
In 2015, runDisney introduced the Castaway Cay Challenge where WDW Marathon Weekend runners could then board a Disney cruise, run the Castaway Cay 5k, and earn a bonus medal.
In 2019, the 5k character changed from Pluto to Oswald the Lucky Rabbit but the race returned to Pluto the next year when Oswald took over the 10k.
Learn more:
https://touringplans.com/blog/history-of-the-walt-disney-world-marathon/
https://www.rundisney.com/blog/rundisney-throwback-celebrating-25-years-of-the-walt/
Disney Blog Posts:
- Perfectly runDisney: Running 30 Years of the Walt Disney World Marathon!
- A Totally RAD First Look at runDisney Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend Merchandise!
- ChEARs to 30 Years of the runDisney Walt Disney World Marathon!
- runDisney Unveils ‘90s Retro-Themed Medals for Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend
- ChEARS to New Event Gear With a Sneak Peek at 2022 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend Merchandise!
More WDW marathon Info
2023 WDW Marathon Data
Let’s take a look at the 2023 WDW Marathon finisher data!
2023 Dopey Runner Data
I love data, I love Dopey, let’s put it together!
2023 WDW Marathon Weekend Marathon Map Review
Let’s take a look at the 2023 WDW Marathon race route together!
2023 WDW Marathon Weekend Half Marathon Map Review
Let’s take a look at the 2023 WDW half marathon race route together!
2023 WDW Marathon Weekend 10k Map Review
Let’s take a look at the 2023 WDW 10k race route together!
2023 WDW Marathon Weekend 5k Map Review
Let’s take a look at the 2023 WDW 5k race route together!