Walt Disney World Marathon Reviews

  Would not repeat if running for time

By GC about 2024

Review

For context, I ran WDWM as a straight-up race, not a Disney "experience" -- i.e. no stopping for character photos that many people like to do at this race. I was in the 3rd starting wave of Corral A using a 3:41 as proof-of-time. This review is meant for people who would also be looking to race this for time.

As a pure race, the early morning start time (3 AM bus from on-site resort to Epcot start area) is not ideal, but my main concern was my 5:04 AM start meant significant time was run pre-dawn. I reached Magic Kingdom while it was still dark (Main Street at 6:15 AM), and the pavement inside the parks can be somewhat uneven or lumpy in spots. They had portable lighting at Epcot (backstage areas) at the start, but little lighting inside MK. While I never tripped, I was uncomfortably aware of my footwork inside the parks, while I was at ease out on the dark-but-smooth highways.

Aid stations were very easy to navigate and well crewed. But, I was on the faster-than-average side, so I don't know if it gets crowded when the middle-of-the-pack surge comes through. The race transportation from on-site resorts to the expo and to the race were easy, though race-day shuttles apparently get lost (mine got lost on the way back!) not infrequently. Bag drop and pickup were also easy. Plenty of portos.

Although the course is very flat, it does have a lot of turns to slow you down. Also, expect little crowd support if you're < 4 hrs and in an early corral. Huge chunks of the course are along the highways connecting the parks, and then, if you get to the parks before they open to the public, there won't be a lot of people there. For runners more in the 5 hr range, trying to run for time might be harder due to crowding/walkers and course bottlenecks.

Race Tips

Prepare for any weather. The half marathon was pre-emptively modified the night before due to forecast heavy rain. Then the marathon also experienced a cold, soaking rain.

  Great race but depends what you're looking for

By RK about 2019

Review

I have run this marathon 4 times. Two of those years featured cold, PERFECT (for me) marathon weather (in the 40s). On the other hand, two of those years were very hot, including last year where a heat advisory was issued for high heat & humidity. So it is really a roll of the dice in terms of what conditions you'll get. On a lucky year, you can get ideal conditions and my PR was run at here (it is FLAT!). However, it probably isn't the best place to set your heart on a PR or BQ for several reasons, including: logistics...it requires you to get up and take a bus very, very early and then stand around until the 5:30 AM start, travel (if you aren't local, you are probably traveling there and may or may not indulge in walking around the Parks and eating Disney snacks resulting in tired legs and upset tummy); and it's at Disney (why speed through all of the entertainment and character stops? You're paying for it, so enjoy it!). I plan to keep coming back every year and know that on a good day I can run a good time here, but more likely than not it is going to be a run for fun rather than for time.

Race Tips

Definitely plan to stay on site for convenient monorail or bus transportation to/from the expo and race.

  Great race for fun but not for PRs

By ajf about 2019

Review

I love this race! I have done it 5 times in a row including a Dopey Challenge thrown in there. This is a great venue, and as is the case with all things Disney, they rock it! The course takes you through all the parks and there is no greater feeling than when you turn onto Main Street USA and the crowd is 4 deep cheering crazy loud with the lit up castle in front of you. You have the opportunity to take pictures with characters every mile (ish). Great support and design. There are a few negatives but they won't deter me from going back year after year. All that being said, this is not a race I go to to BQ. Yes, it is flat but the weather can be precarious at this time of year. I have had it hot and humid, rainy, freezing cold, windy, etc. And usually the weather report has been incorrect even 2 days before the event.

The other negative is that it is early. you are in corrals at about 4:30am which means transport - if onsite - is around 3:30-4am.

Additionally, because it is a destination type event, who isn't going to go to the park and walk around alot and eat a bunch of junk. I have tried for 5 years to improve that part but the fact is it is hard to impossible to rest the feet the days before and to eat relatively healthy if staying on site.

So I will continue to go to this awesome race but use it for fun not to BQ.

Race Tips

Pacing: Try to get in an early corral. You must submit your time generally by October to get your placement. This is a big marathon and the further back you are the longer you wait. If the sun comes up you will the Christmas lights that are still on and bright when you run through the castle. It is a flat course so manage your pace accordingly why dodging other runners as the course can get narrow at points in the park and crowded if in a further back corral. Course description: flat but with a lot of turns especially in the second half. The piece through the ESPN zone around miles 17-21 or so is tough to keep pacing. So many turns. There is also one weird little out and back just before you get into Animal Kingdom that is a hard 180 turn and slows you up.

Race day: Expect an early morning. That is an understatement - a really freakin early morning. Watch the weather closely. Do your best to monitor weather day before and be prepared to sit cold in corrals for a long time .

Logistical Tips (Hotels, Restaurants, Parking, Discounts, etc.)

Stay on site if possible. Traffic in the morning is brutal! I have done both onsite and off and it was definitely better when I stayed on site.Try with all your might to limit time on the feet the days before the race. My garmin showed I walked 8-10 miles in the days before while visiting the park. Be smarter and more disciplined than me and try to do the parks after your run not before. Watch the diet. Disney serves awesome food but most of it is junk. That is another one of those be smarter than me things. I try every year to do better. maybe next will be :D Lastly, enjoy it and take it all in. This is truly one of the best marathon venues I have experienced and it has captured me year after year. So my advice is to go somewhere else to BQ but go to this one for fun.

  

By Carolyn Renick about 2018

  Course length is off

By jay about 2018

Review

Liked that it was well fueled with water, nanners, electrolites etc. didn't like that it gets so narrow at many points, AND, as i see others say this same thing; the course is actually longer than 26.2. my gps watch had me finishing the marathon distance 3 minutes sooner which would have got me in to boston, but i had to run 26.7 at disney, just bumping me out of boston. if you just want to take pics with disney characters and see the parks early morning, enjoy...but if you're looking to get a good time, even though it's flat, there's a lot of people to move around, narrowness / single file at espn wide world of sports, and extra distance to overcome here.

Race Tips

if you want a good time, get in the front corral. i had to run from the last corral and spent 2/3 of the race running on the curb, grass, anything to get around the crowds, walkers, those stopping for pics.

Logistical Tips (Hotels, Restaurants, Parking, Discounts, etc.)

Go to bed early the night before.

  Flat, Fast, Fun Marathon..but Be Prepared for Crowds and Wait Times

By Aaron Riddle about 2017

Review

I ran the Disney World Marathon in January 2017. My family and I stayed in a resort in Disney World, so as far as logistics go, everything was a breeze in regards to that (free shuttle service all over the park, including to the packet pickup area, race start area, and then back to our room). That said I cannot imagine trying to participate in this marathon without staying in the park. With close to 20,000 people, there are crowds, crowds, and more crowds. Plan to wait in line to pick up your race day packet the day before there race. Also with a race start time of 5:30 a.m., you will have to wake up VERY early in order to get a shuttle over to the race area, walk to your corral position, and then wait for the race to start. Unfortunately the year I ran it, it was abnormally cold in Florida with temps in the 30s that morning with wind chills. It was COLD…so standing around for 2 hours huddled in a masses of people for 2 hours waiting for the race to start was not fun. However once the race began, it was a great experience. You get to run through all 4 of the Disney Parks, and there is constant crowd support and entertainment along the way. For those not running for time, there are Disney characters at every mile marker that you can have your photo taken with. Upon finishing the race you get a really nice medal and other goodies (I distinctly remember a nice pre-race food box full of goodies to replenish your energy). While this is not a marathon I would plan on running for a PR, I would recommend running it for the experience especially if you parlay it into a family trip down to Disney, as my family had a wonderful time at the parks for the few days after the race.

Logistical Tips (Hotels, Restaurants, Parking, Discounts, etc.)

I highly recommend staying at a Disney World Resort. While costly, it will save you tons of headache and stress in regards to getting to the various race pickup, start, and finish locations.

  Half marathon cancelled full good

By DG about 2017

Review

This was my first half marathon mixed with 24 hour rest to run the full marathon, the weather on Saturday was heavy rain and thunder and lightening, Walt Disney did a great job keeping the runners aware of a possible cancellation of the half marathon, it was cancelled. I ran the 13 miles on my own around the boardwalk where I was staying. There were hundreds of runners wearing their race bib for the half marathon, high fives and spectators passing out their own drinks and candy, that was amazing. I wanted to have the full feeling in my legs to run the Goofy Challenge that I signed up for and I was pleased I ran/walked the marathon on Sunday. No Disney staff was out on the 26.2 course it was so windy and 34 degrees to start the race out, ouch it was really cold waiting in the corrals for a long time till I ran. Water and sports drink was plenty, the staff had smiles and words of encouragement every mile I ran. Yes the main miles are run on the long roads between the parks, but in the parks you can see the rides animals, monkeys, that was incredible, because of the colder weather not a lot of pictures were taken since high winds stopped the famous Disney cast along the half and full marathon. This was a relaxed and very enjoyable experience, loved the ice bag wrap at the end of the marathon, boy did that feel good on my sore quads.

Race Tips

Slower runners and walkers did stay to the right of the road for the most part, remember the roads are slanted for water run off so your inner leg is really stretched when you stride forward. Running in the parks, take it slow and soak up all the energy, lights, sparkle, and hundreds of people waiting to go into the parks, as a runner you may have 7 feet to run wide till you are out of the crowds inside the parks. Finishing at Epcot was amazing, wow that is a long run around the lake to the finish line.

Logistical Tips (Hotels, Restaurants, Parking, Discounts, etc.)

Spend the extra money to stay in the parks hotels, this really adds to a magical experience.

  

By CP about 2017

Review

The course is fast and flat with plenty of entertainment. Fuel and water stations are plentiful (with extra treats like banana, pretzel sticks and candy along the way). If you're pacing yourself right, you can also take pictures with characters, ride some rides, and make a stop at the petting zoo. However, the miles through the ESPN Wide World of Sports are some of the most boring I've ever run.

Logistical Tips (Hotels, Restaurants, Parking, Discounts, etc.)

It's worth staying at a Disney hotel for the transportation. You get to the start so long before the race starts that it can be pretty exhausting, especially since you have to be on a bus no later than 4am. Ouch!

  

By RF about 2017

Review

Was in half cancelled weather. I was given a marathon bib. Training for Boston so was a workout race. Ran a 339 a BQ as need 340. I found the course awful. Concrete, million turns in and out of parks, 530 am start in dark. Course long as 26.7! GPS and by mile 50 yards off already. I'm on the button most times in 3 miles out too soon tangents. It's a good beginner race. 1 percent BQ should show you not a popular race for good runner.

Race Tips

Don't run the full to BQ do the half

Logistical Tips (Hotels, Restaurants, Parking, Discounts, etc.)

Not a BQ race and I've run 6 bostons 235 best and BQ 12 X out of 15 Mara total

  

By T.R. Ramsdell about 2017

Review

Pancake flat with only a few overpasses to add any "hills". You absolutely need to submit proof of time if you want to run a decent race. Even then, you'll have traffic around you. I was on the line in corral B, and even though there were only about 300 runners in corral A, and they started 1 minute ahead of me, I caught them within a half mile, and some were walking already! The traffic was thin enough to get through without much bobbing and weaving, but still a little frustrating nonetheless. Plenty of support with water and Powerade along the course, and tons of characters and music to keep you entertained. The weather was nice and cool at the start (38 degrees) but we could've done without the 15 mph winds. A quick trip to Walmart the night before got us some $5 sweatshirts and sweatpants to toss at the start. After about a mile in, I had warmed up so except the the occasional wind blast, it was perfect running temp.

Race Tips

The course runs mostly on roads, long boring roads with the occasional detour into a park. The area around Wide World of Sports is the worst. LOTS of turns around all the playing fields. Difficult to keep up speed around all those 90 degree turns. I've run this race 7 times since 2008 when we didn't do this section. Better back then. Also this year, because of the demolition of the backlot area at Studios, the course was radically changed to divert us around this area. Someone really should've done a better job measuring the new course. I had 26.60 miles. Again, I was up front (315th finisher overall) without excessive traffic, so I wasn't running around people, and I took every tangent and clipped every corner that I was allowed. At the finish, I asked everyone around me what they had, and all were at least 26.59. I continued to ask others for the next 2 hours as I waited for my girlfriend to finish. EVERYONE was long. This much extra distance is ridiculous. It added 3 minutes to my time and although I qualified, it hurts my under for actually getting into Boston. My advice to you? Plan on running faster than you thought if you're hoping to hit your goal. Do the math at every mile marker because they get exponentially longer every mile.

Logistical Tips (Hotels, Restaurants, Parking, Discounts, etc.)

You absolutely must stay on property the night before the race. Vehicle traffic is insane morning of the race. Stay the night, take the bus to the start. Running 4 races in 4 days isn't the hardest part, it's getting up at 3am to catch the bus that's the hard part. Disney wants you in and out of the parks early so we don't upset the "regular" guests or get in their way. This is a great marathon for first timers, but it can also be good for the faster crowd if you run smart and account for the distractions and obstacles on the course.

  

By Monica about 2017

Review

Entertainment, Lots of water/Gatorade, restrooms, and first aid stations.

  

By MN about 2017

Review

Fun first marathon, lots of support on course although there have been a few relatively long stretches that were a bit lonely. Weather was very cold and windy. Lots of fluid and fuel stations on course, bathrooms, as well. Race starts very early and the wait in the morning is tough.

  

By Kelsey about 2017

Review

Perfect for first time marathoners like myself! Clearly marked and flat course. Water stations and medical stations every mile and some form of entertainment every mile, even when not actually running through one of the parks. Makes the miles fly by! Would definitely recommend it and would definitely do it again!

Logistical Tips (Hotels, Restaurants, Parking, Discounts, etc.)

Arrive early! As with anything related to Disney world, traffic is awful!

  

By KW about 2016

Review

This is a perfect marathon for first-timers, as long as people are aware it's not all about the running. There are a lot of distractions on the course, with rides and characters, etc. For some, that might be an awesome and needed distraction while running. For those that are serious (or too serious) about running, it might get in the way of a "perfect run" but I can't imagine anybody not enjoying this marathon. The course is pretty flat, which is also nice.

Race Tips

The course is flat, a couple of small hills to look out for, and the journey through the Wide World of Sports gets a little tedious, but all in all it's a very runnable course, perfect for newbies. Be aware that it is VERY crowded at the beginning, no matter what corral you are in, so you likely will have a tough time running the pace you want right out of the gate as you are packed in so much.

The weather could be somewhat of a factor too. We had nearly 100% humidity the day of our race in 2016 (Dew Point of 70) and coming from training in Minnesota, made for a very tough day. But the very next day, the weather didn't get above 50 degrees, and it wasn't humid. So weather could be hit or miss!

Logistical Tips (Hotels, Restaurants, Parking, Discounts, etc.)

Traffic getting to the start line is atrocious. We stayed at the Pop Resort which (like all Disney properties) have shuttles to the start line which are really nice.

  

By APH about 2016

  

By Anonymous about 2016

  

By sd about 2016

Review

I loved everything about this race. I was in corral D and crowds were not really an issue except when running thru the magic kingdom when certain spots were tight. Crowd support was amazing and love the fact it started early to avoid the heat later in the morning. Lots of characters and lots of entertainment.

Race Tips

If you have a chance to purchase the race retreat I highly recommend it. It was well worth the money to have a place to relax that was comfortable and private portapotties. They provided a light breakfast as well, plus brunch after the race and place to change clothes.

Logistical Tips (Hotels, Restaurants, Parking, Discounts, etc.)

I highly recommend staying at a host hotel if you can. They provide transportation to the race and even though it was not the greatest thing having to get up at 2 a.m., I didn't mind getting up that early and getting to Epcot without having to worry about traffic jams closer to race time.

  

By SCS about 2016

Review

WDW Marathon Weekend is magical if you love Disney, Characters, music etc. Don't expect to set a PR here...the courses for all of the events are crowded and walkers tend to spread out, blocking faster participants. The entertainment is the best bar none...Disney goes all out in this regard.

Race Tips

If your finishing time is important to you, you need to submit a Proof of Time to runDisney by the date indicated to get into an early corral. If you do not, you will be in the back of pack and you'll be frustrated trying to pass thousands in front of you. You need to arrive early on race day either via car or shuttle bus since there is a fairly long walk to the corrals.

Logistical Tips (Hotels, Restaurants, Parking, Discounts, etc.)

To savor the full experience, one should stay at a Disney Hotel, but if saving money is higher on the list, there are many hotel/condo options nearby. If you review all the race instructions regarding race logistics you'll set up to have a wonderful weekend.

  

By cm about 2016

Review

Well organized but too many people. First 5-6 miles were slow because people were walking & stopping. I did not get into a groove until mile 7-8. Very hot & humid too. Lots of bathrooms though! The start is too early in my opinion.

Race Tips

Arrive early.

Logistical Tips (Hotels, Restaurants, Parking, Discounts, etc.)

Stay at a host hotel

  

By GD about 2015

Review

A must for any Runners and especially if you like Disney. Goes thru most of the parks. As much Fun as you can get from a marathon experience!!!

  

By Rj about 2015

Review

Expo was a amazing. Swag, race support and medal are all top notch!

Race Tips

It's disney but it is still a marathon. Train train and train. Don't let the relaxed vibe of this race fool you.

Logistical Tips (Hotels, Restaurants, Parking, Discounts, etc.)

Stay on property! Easy transportation to and from expo and race!

  

By HJS about 2015

Review

Unless you're a Disney fan, you can skip this marathon. Not really worth the price, otherwise.

  

By KB about 2014

Review

Disney runs a well organized race with plenty of on course entertainment and water stops. Flat course and great for first timers.

Race Tips

Run a qualifying time to get in a fast corral. The slower corrals have too many walkers.

  

By KG about 2012

Review

Course, entertainment, course support, Disney parks.

  

By bwj about 2012

Review

Great on course entertainment.

Race Tips

Long wait before the marathon starts. Keep stretching or running in place,

Logistical Tips (Hotels, Restaurants, Parking, Discounts, etc.)

Stay on the property and take the property transportation buses.