The Walt Disney World Marathon course is very flat. and travels through four Walt Disney World Theme Parks (Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios and then back to Epcot). However, the majority of the course consists of the roads connecting the parks. The course has quite a few turns, but is very flat with just a few overpasses serving as gentle "hills."
The Walt Disney World Marathon was the 7th largest marathon in the U.S. last year and was the 6th largest in 2022.
This year 1.2% of finishers qualified for the Boston Marathon and 0.8% of runners qualified for Boston in 2023.
This gives the Walt Disney World Marathon the 437th highest percentage of Boston Marathon qualifiers in the U.S. last year and the 368th highest percentage so far in 2024.
Its Course Score of 99.74 ranks it as the 58th fastest marathon course in the U.S. and the 4th fastest course in Florida.
The typical race time temperature and humidity levels are slightly above the ideal range for optimal marathon performance. This, coupled with the Course Score, gives the Walt Disney World Marathon a PR Score of 99.59. This PR Score ranks it as the 59th fastest marathon in the U.S. and the 2nd fastest in Florida.
Learn more about PR Scores and Course Scores on the FAQ page.
Walt Disney World Marathon Elevation Chart
Max Elevation: 105 feet (32m) Min Elevation: 75 feet (22m)
Hotel & VRBO Accommodations for the Walt Disney World Marathon
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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.
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 .
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.
RK's review of 2019 Walt Disney World Marathon.
5 /
5 Stars
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.
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.
4.4 Stars from 25 Reviews
