Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend Official Website

The "Nitty Gritty" Details (User Opinions)

Brett C.
Raleigh, NC

  (07-12-2010)

"This was my first marathon. What an amazing experience. I always wanted to make Disney the place for my first marathon. The course is extremely flat and where else would you get the opportunity to run through all 4 parks.

The crowd support was amazing. What really made it so amazing was how many people were out in the frigid temps. When we headed from the hotel to Epcot, the wind chill was in the teens. Definitely did not expect that, but it was still a blast.

I highly recommend anyone to run Disney."

Reviewed by a: First Time Participant for 2010

Derek d.
Corinth, TX

  (04-06-2010)

"This was my first marathon. Despite the cold weather, it was an amazing experience all the way from registration to race. The crowd was amazing and there when I needed them most.

Looking forward to Goofy 2011!"

Reviewed by a: First Time Participant for 2010

Kathy D.
San Francisco, CA

  (04-02-2010)

"Expo:
Free shuttle buses take you from your hotel to the expo at Wide World of Sports. Packet pick-up was confusing and the volunteers kept misdirecting runners. After finally getting the packet, it was a maze trying to get into the expo, which was in the Milk House. The expo was huge and did not disappoint. I did the Goofy challenge, so I got 2 disposable cameras in my goody bag -- one for each race. We got 3 long sleeve tech shirts, one for the Half, the Full, and the Goofy Challenge. Unfortunately, they were unisex (boo!). At least the goody bag was a nice mesh bag, and not some cheap plastic bag like they give you at the Rock 'n' Roll events.

Half Marathon:
Freezing cold weather for Florida. The race booklet says the last shuttle bus to the Start Line at Epcot is at 4am. I get on the 4am bus and when I get off at Epcot, it so teeth-shattering cold that I jumped on another bus leaving to pick up runners at the hotels just to stay warm. The garbage bag I was wearing was pretty useless, and I didn't want to check anything at gear check, so I'm barely wearing enough clothes to keep me warm. The bus driver was so nice. She let me stay on her shuttle, and we made a couple more roundtrips before I had to leave the warmth of the shuttle for the bitter cold. The walk to the start line was extremely long that I was expecting someone to give me a medal once I got to the corrals. There were several waves, and it was pretty efficient. My wave got to the start line about 20 minutes after gun time, and I was in one of the last waves. It was sprinkling and there was sleet on the ground. Originally, I was going to take it easy and take pictures with all the Disney characters, but the weather forced me to go a lot quicker. Despite the weather, it was nice to run through the parks. After the race, I took the shuttle right back to my hotel because I got sick from not wearing enough clothes. The good thing about the very early start is you get to finish earlier in the morning. I got back to the hotel at 9am ET (still too early to call my family in CA), and if I were healthier, I would have spent a few hours on the rides.

Marathon:
I love that they have the Half and Full on different days. It helps me run better mentally when I know everybody around me is running the same distance. I learned my lesson the day before and wore more clothes for the marathon. Instead of getting on the shuttle at 4am, I waited for the very last bus to come pick us up at 5am. Don't believe the race book when it tells you to get on by 4am. Though it didn't rain, it was still cold. The wave start times went off like clockwork, with my corral getting to the start line 10 minutes after gun time. Again, my attempts to take pictures with Disney characters were thwarted. My shuttle to the airport had to pick me up 3 hours prior to my flight time, so I couldn't take my time running. The cold also kept me moving fast. True, a lot of the course is on roads and through parking lots, but the parts that ran through the parks were worth it. Despite being sick, I had a lot of fun. I love all 3 of my medals, and it was worth the very expensive entry fee. If you do the Walt Disney World Half or Full and do the Walt Disneyland Half in the same calendar year, then you get an additional Coast-to-Coast medal. Yes, I am one of those "medal-mongers" who paid the expensive $120 entry fee to do a half at Disneyland this coming September just to get this medal. I wouldn't even pay $120 to do a full. $120 can cover the cost of 2 fulls (depending on where they are). With that fee, the medal better be coated in gold."

Reviewed by a: First Time Participant for 2010

Michelle d.
Corinth, TX

  (03-31-2010)

"This was my first race, EVER! I had a blast and loved running "Around the World".

Before the race they had an announcer to get everyone hyped up and to help everyone stay warm. The 2010 5K was sponsored by the movie Up, so they had characters from the movie there to take photos with. The route was great and they had lots of employees and volunteers cheering everyone on as we ran along.

The weather was much, much colder than normal. Don't think that just because its in Florida that it will be nice weather. The half-marathoners the next day had to run in the snow! Bring lots of layers and be prepared for the ever changing Florida weather."

Reviewed by a: First Time Participant for 2010

Sandra .
San Francisco, CA

  (03-29-2010)

"I am a huge Disney race fan. This was my third running of the Disney Marathon (my second Goofy Challenge).

This year it was very, very cold. Florida is sadly not equipped well to handle sub-freezing temps. Water was freezing at aid stations (both in cups and on the ground). I saw a couple of people slip and fall on the ice. I didn't check a bag, but the lines to pick up checked stuff was SO long and I am sure many people were frozen solid by the time they got their gear.

But, all of that aside, Disney races are very well organized. They are such fun races to run with a camera since the characters come out for photo-ops. After running the races I went to the theme park and was amazed at how long it takes to get a photo with a character. You have to stand in line, wait for kids to get autographs, talk to the characters, and then they pose for about 10 photos. During the race it is quick, quick, quick and awesome.

The 5K this year was sort of disappointing. There were NO characters on the course. The 5K is also a fun run with no chip timing so I thought it was a huge rip-off.

The expo is always really great. Lots of interesting vendors and speakers. If you are in the market for official race merchandise, get there very early. I went very close to opening the first day and some things were already selling out within the first couple of hours.

My major gripe with Disney races are the unisex shirt sizing. Get gender specific shirts!

I will definitely do the half/full again but will skip the 5K in the future."

Reviewed by a: Repeat Participant for 2010

Andrea T.
Playa Del Rey, CA

  (03-14-2010)

"I did this part of the Goofy Challenge and also decided to add on the 5K on Friday for fun. I was feeling pretty good after the half on Saturday and loved this super FLAT and entertaining course. There were TONS of spectators out and running through the parks was amazing. They had the rides going, music playing and all the Disney characters were out. The only downfall of this race was that it was around 35 degrees and freezing! However, I realized after this race, I run better in cold weather. I have been wanting to qualify for Boston for a very long time, but I knew the Goofy challenge probably wasn't the best place to qualify.
I started with the 3:40 pace group which was great because they did a good job of starting off slow and letting our legs warm up the first couple of miles. That is also a problem I have, going out too fast because of the adrenaline rush. I was a little scared at first because we were going to have to make up for the time in the end, but once I hit the halfway point, I was feeling so good and my legs were still fresh I ran a little ahead of the pace group. Throughout the race, I hovered in between the 3:30 and 3:40 pace group.
At mile 20, I knew I was going to make it to Boston even if I slowed my pace down to 10 min/miles. I couldn't believe I was going to qualify after running a 5K and half marathon the day before. Finish in 3:36, a new PR and boston bound for 2011!
I loved this course because I never got bored and they had a lot of volunteers and the medals are pretty bling. Would do it again/"

Reviewed by a: First Time Participant for 2010

Marlene S.
Toronto, OH

  (03-10-2010)

"A+ for the marathon - ran as part of the Goofy Challenge. Loved running through all the parks, great memorable finish! Amazing bling!"

Reviewed by a: First Time Participant for 2010

Pete D.
Grovetown, GA

  (11-09-2009)

"Without a doubt, the Disney marathon is the best, most fun, marathon I have ever run. I would definitely recommend this race for the first time marathoner. Time doesn't matter because there are so many distractions: you are running through the parks, Disney characters are available for photos, and people are just having a good time. Well organized, lots of volunteers, and typical Disney over-the-top start with a rock band and fireworks."

Reviewed by a: First Time Participant for 2009

Sandra .
San Francisco, CA

  (08-24-2009)

"I LOVE Disney races. In 2005 I did the marathon as my first. In 2008 I did the Goofy Challenge (you run the half marathon Saturday and the full marathon Sunday).

Yes, the races start early. YES you have to wake up REALLY early to catch the shuttle busses to get to the start (last bus leaves the hotel at 4 am). But it is all worth it. And the staging area at the start has entertainment and the time goes by very quickly.

The big X factor in WDW is the weather. Both years I participated it was hot and sunny. Like 80 degrees hot. Other years it has been in the 40\'s or 50\'s. So you never really know what you\'ll get.

Disney races are awesome organized. The aid stations are plentiful and the volunteers rock. There are also more porta potties on this course than any other race (plus the restrooms inside the parks).

People gripe that you run most of the race on the roads in between the parks. This is true, but look at the course map and you\'ll know what to expect. I find the parks come at nice intervals to pick up your mood. There is a dastardly out-and-back at mile 21 that sucks, but they have entertainment to keep you going.

Carry a camera... There are tons of photo-ops with characters out on the course. All of the characters have handlers who will gladly take your photo for you. I have rarely waited for more than one or two people in front of me to take a photo so it goes by very quickly.

The course bottle-necks at certain points so if you\'re running it for time, get as far up as you can in the corral system. The course is fast. A few hills here and there which are freeway on-ramps, overpasses.

Re: the Goofy challenge... Very doable with proper training. I did runs the day before my long runs which were half the distance. So I did three weeks with a 10/20, 10/21, and 11/22 miler. I felt very prepared. You cannot beat Disney swag. The medals are awesome.

If you are a Disney fan I highly recommend the races. They are magical. The Disney marathon is also an awesome choice for a first marathon."

Reviewed by a: Repeat Participant for 2008

J S.
Boca Raton, FL

  (08-16-2009)

"Fantastic race. The change of scenery through the parks helps break it up and the crowds and entertainment are good throughout the race. Minor nits: there's a tough stretch around mile 22 on the access roads between parks and you have to be in the staging area around 4am. I have done this race 4 times and signed up for the 2010 race the day after the 2009 race. "

Reviewed by a: Repeat Participant for 2009

l d.
,

  (08-06-2009)

"The Disney marathon was a great race. Flat course (with a few "inclines" on overpasses) and great support from race officials and crowds/characters. I did the marathon as part of the Goofy challenge, so I thoroughly took in the experience of the marathon on Sunday (raced hard Saturday). It was easy to get pictures with all of the characters (though I got a little tired of stopping later on in the race) and fun to tour the parks without all the typical park-crowds. Both the marathon and half-marathon start WAYYY early but you know that when you sign up - just have to deal with it on race morning when you get up at 3-330 am!"

Reviewed by a: First Time Participant for 2009

Marathon C.
Oviedo, FL

  (07-14-2009)

"This is a great race - nice and flat, excellent race support - and it gets better every year (have done it 3 years in a row). Only course complaint is the long stretches between parks, but the entertainment there is getting better. Issues with crowding occurred when the course would shrink from 3 lanes to a single road lane and the merge when you exit Epcot is a bit crowded. But not unmanageable. I would love to see more areas inbetween the parks available for spectators to help break it up!

I am running again in 2010!"

Reviewed by a: Repeat Participant for 2009

Heather G.
Myrtle Beach, SC

  (06-10-2009)

"Disney always does a fabulous job with races! This was a fun, fun race. Characters along the route to cheer you on, and great aid stations. The course itself left much to be desired, most of it was back roads and entracne/exit ramps. Only a very small part of it is actually through the parks. And there aren't many spectators on those long boring stretches But the part through the parks is in itself the reason to run the race! How fun to run through cinderella's castle, or the back lots of MGM and the magic kingdom. You see some sights you would never see as a regular park go-er! The medal is fantastic, and a hug from chip & dale (the chipmunks!) at the finish line can't be beat! It is well worth the (very expensive!) race entry fee. "

Reviewed by a: First Time Participant for 2008

Tim W.
Bluffton, SC

  (06-10-2009)

"The overall weekend and event is fantastic! The course is wonderful and lets you run through all the Disney Theme parks and even some behind the scenes looks too! The course is very well marked and water stations evenly spaced! Fun for the whole family!"

Reviewed by a: Repeat Participant for 2009

Jason E.
Sun Prairie, WI

  (05-11-2009)

"After several months of reflection…

Course: The only complaint I have about the course is that the entrance to Magic Kingdom, which I believe is an employee’s entrance, was quite narrow, which I believe came at right around the 10-mile mark. Apparently a lot of people like to stop and walk at this point. This caused for some massive congestion. I had no choice but to walk for several minutes. Otherwise the course was as you might expect it, full of Disney wonder. I particularly enjoyed, and even had chills up and down my spine on several occasions, including the first time you enter Epcot’s World Showcase, early in the morning, in the dark, with everything lit up, fires burning, and music playing loudly.

Crowd: Being at Walt Disney World, there aren’t going to be a lot of casual/walk-up spectators. Everyone who was there was probably there for a specific reason, to cheer for someone they knew. Or they were waiting for the race to get out of the way so they could invade the parks. That said; crowds were large, and supportive, this of course in between some long desolate stretches in between the parks. I especially credit Disney cast members who seemed to make a special point of calling out names (on the bibs) with their support and well wishes.

Organization: Transportation to the expo and the race for those staying on-property was convenient and easily understood. The expo was very well done. No complaints at all regarding packet or chip pickup. I’ve never seen so many port-a-potties in my entire life. Pre and post race entertainment was well done. I however wasn’t too thrilled with the very long walk from staging to the actual starting line. Plenty of water stations, I just don’t care for Powerade (even thought I trained with it). I didn’t partake in much post-race nourishment, except for some water and a cola.

Overall: The WDW Marathon was a very magical experience. Never before have I actually been comfortable walking around with a medal on my neck, even after a post-race shower. I even wore it the whole next day while being touristy. It just seemed to fit the Disney experience, and very few of the cast members that day failed to acknowledge the accomplishment either. I recommend the race, especially for the Disney fan like myself. I however likely won’t do this particular race again, solely because I go to WDW every year and found the entire process a little too distracting from my very valued family experience."

Reviewed by a: First Time Participant for 2009