Hi there, Rodrigo! Welcome to planDisney!
First off, congrats on securing your race registration for the
Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend. That’s a race in and of itself! Now, onto the next big decision: choosing your home base for the weekend. I’m happy to help!
As a self-proclaimed runDisney junkie, I always reflect on my favorite resort qualities after each race weekend. Since you’re specifically asking about the closest Disney Resort hotels to the Marathon start line, let’s start there. Because all runDisney races begin in the EPCOT parking lot, the closest resorts are the ones around Crescent Lake:
Disney’s Beach Club Resort,
Disney’s Yacht Club Resort,
Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, and the Walt Disney World
Swan and
Dolphin.
That said, while these resorts are near EPCOT’s International Gateway, that entrance is closed at that hour of the day. So, like all runners, you’ll still need to take the complimentary race transportation, which will let you off at the front of the park. While staying here might give you a slight logistical advantage, the real benefit is for spectators in your group, and these resorts are perfect for easy access to cheer zones!
Some runners also love staying at the monorail resorts: Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, and Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. While they aren’t as close as the Crescent Lake resorts, they offer monorail transportation to EPCOT (for the longer race distances like the half and full Marathon), which can make for a smoother trip to the start line. The only drawback? The fireworks from Magic Kingdom and the Electrical Water Pageant can make it a little tricky to get an early night’s sleep.
Personally, I love
Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa (with
Disney’s Old Key West Resort just behind) because they’re peaceful, have great access to dining at Disney Springs, and I’ve never had any major issues with race transportation. They’re the next closest options after the Crescent Lake resorts. If you’re looking for another quiet spot that’s still relatively close, Disney’s Port Orleans Resorts—
French Quarter and
Riverside—are also great options with just a short bus ride to the start.
I hope this helps, Rodrigo! If you have any other runDisney questions, don’t hesitate to ask. And if you’re looking for a great training plan, I highly recommend
Jeff Galloway’s Marathon Training Plan on the runDisney website. I’ve used it myself, and it’s a game-changer!
Happy training!
Eean