Hi Elizabeth,
Welcome to planDisney!
Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend is such a magical time to visit Disney World. The sheer excitement of the races, the camaraderie with all of the other runners, and the fun merchandise make for a weekend that is truly like no other.
I have several friends who have completed this race and I have completed the
Disney Princess Half Marathon myself. When you cross the finish line you will get tons of cheers, a fabulous medal, and the pride of a race well run. For the past few years, finishers have also received ear hats! I have not seen any news about whether or not they will be guaranteed for the 2025 Walt Disney World Marathon but they have been given out for the past three years. Once you exit the race there is also typically a tent full of fabulous merchandise you can purchase to memorialize your run.
When I finish running, I like to head straight to a fabulous brunch location. As a result, I like to do my shopping ahead of time at the
runDisney Health & Fitness Expo when I pick up my race bib and participant shirt. There is always so much fun merchandise there that it is hard to pick! Based on the
fun theming that has already been teased, there is going to be some really great merchandise. Since this is your first full marathon, I am sure you want to leave some room in your luggage for a decent-sized haul to commemorate your accomplishment.
I also highly recommend making reservations for a fabulous brunch at Disney World after you finish running. You are going to be starving and want to grab something hearty! I like to choose a restaurant location back at my Disney Resort hotel so I can change really quickly before I grab brunch!
Happy Planning,
Jenna