The Early Years
2008Established in 2008, the Walt Disney World Marathon is now 18 years old. From its first edition in Orlando, it has evolved into a race that reflects the character of its host region in United States.
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Course & Elevation
The Walt Disney World Marathon is a unique point-to-point course that winds through all four Disney parks—Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom—plus resort areas and ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. The course is predominantly flat with magical scenery changes at nearly every mile, featuring character appearances, live entertainment, and the most whimsical marathon experience in America. The finish line is located at Epcot's front entrance.
Surface: road Profile: Flat
Weather
Temperature 19°C
Humidity 65%
Rain Chance 25%
Early January brings mild Florida weather with cool mornings and pleasant afternoons. Conditions are ideal for running with lower humidity compared to summer months, though occasional rain showers are possible.
Related Guides
Orlando
Race Lore
The Fast Lane
Runners come to the Walt Disney World Marathon for one reason: personal bests. The flat, fast course through Orlando has a reputation as a PB factory, with the roads seemingly designed to keep your pace honest and your splits consistent from start to finish.
The Crowd Energy
With 21,500 finishers and spectators lining the course deep, the Walt Disney World Marathon generates an atmosphere that carries runners through the hard miles. The crowd support in Orlando is not polite applause — it's visceral, personal, and often the difference between hitting the wall and breaking through it.
Where It Begins
For thousands of runners each year, the Walt Disney World Marathon is their first marathon. The combination of a forgiving course, generous time limits, and supportive crowds has earned this race a reputation as the place where marathon journeys begin. The first-timer energy on race morning is palpable.
Running Through the Magic
The course passes through all four Disney theme parks, and characters line the route in full costume for photos. The race starts at 5:30 AM with fireworks, and runners pass through Cinderella's Castle around mile 5. It's simultaneously the most commercially engineered and most genuinely joyful marathon experience on the circuit.
Famous Runners
JF
Joey Fatone
NSYNC singer
5:23:22 2012
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Registration
Registration Opens August
Registration Closes December
Entry Cost $189-$289
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Fun Facts
- ▸ Runners pass through all four Walt Disney World theme parks in a single marathon, making it the only major marathon to feature this unique park-to-park experience.
- ▸ The course includes over 25 character meet-and-greet opportunities, with Mickey, Cinderella, and other Disney favorites positioned throughout the race.
- ▸ First-time marathoners make up approximately 45% of the field, making it one of the most popular debut marathons in North America.
- ▸ The race generates over $100 million in direct spending for the Orlando economy annually, making it one of the largest sporting events in central Florida.
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