Hi there, Eric!
I'm so glad you stopped by planDisney en route to the finish line of
the most magical miles on earth!
Although I've participated in nearly all of
runDisney's race weekends, the races that make up the
Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend will always hold a very special place in my heart because it's the race series in which I completed my very first marathon. Few things in my life have compared to the joy of running through all four of Walt Disney World Resort's theme parks. Of course, the incredible scenery, character sightings, jovial crowds, and magical medals make
runDisney races wildly popular, so the registration can often be as competitive and adrenaline-inducing as the races themselves.
If you're hoping to register for the 2026 Dopey Challenge, Eric, you'll want to first add the registration date to your calendar. Although we don't yet have the race or registration dates for the 2025-2026 race season, the
announcement of the 2024-2025 season on the Disney Parks Blog in October of 2023 leads me to believe that pixie-dusted information could be arriving soon! Keep an eye on the
Disney Parks Blog and
runDisney social media accounts for the most up-to-date information!
Once the registration date arrives, you'll want to open the event page no less than 15 minutes before registration officially opens and log into your account. You'll then want to select the 'Dopey Challenge' registration link as soon as it is available. This will direct you to a virtual waiting room that will randomly assign Guests a place in line to register once the registration is open. It's important to log in early because everyone who enters after registration officially begins will be placed in line in the order they logged in, and every precious moment matters in these popular events!
Because your registration is not guaranteed until you have checked out and received a confirmation email,
my pal Jana recommends not spending time selecting a shirt size or submitting a proof of time as these can be added later. She also suggests having your method of payment readily accessible for ease of entry. You might even consider entering the information into a word processor so that you can copy it directly into the payment prompt.
As you prepare for registration, Eric, I also encourage you to check out the
planDisney Podcast episode in which my pals Melissa, Betsy, and Amiyrah chat all things
runDisney! It's such a fun episode filled with great tips and relatable personal anecdotes that will absolutely inspire you to
go the distance!
Thinking Happy Thoughts,
Lizzie