Hi Jim!
Thanks for dashing over to see us at planDisney! I'm always happy to help a fellow runDisney fan plan an upcoming "racecation." The Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend is the only race weekend I haven't personally participated in at Walt Disney World Resort, but I have had so much fun cheering on friends and look forward to one day earning my ears by completing 26.2 magical miles through the four theme parks!
You're wise to start planning ahead as all
runDisney races are very popular and tend to sell out quickly. Typically, the
Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend consists of 5K, 10K, half marathon, and marathon options. In addition, participants can choose to be "Goofy" by completing both the half marathon and the marathon, or "Dopey" by running all 4 races for a combined total of 48.6 miles over four days. runDisney has already released the dates for the 2024 - 2025 race season and I can see the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend is scheduled for January 8 - January 12, 2025.
General registration for all events is scheduled to open on April 9, 2024. Since registration fills very quickly, I recommend being ready to register as soon as it opens. In my experience, I've seen some races fill up in just a matter of a few hours! Details haven't been released on
Club runDisney for 2024 - 2025 just yet, but you can view information on this program for the current year and see if it's something you may be interested in learning more about. Club runDisney is an extra membership available for purchase that allows perks for members which may include things like the guaranteed race entry that you were hoping for in your question. I would recommend following
runDisney on Instagram or your preferred social media platform to see if this club will be coming back for 2024 - 2025 and what each level may include.
Jim, I can also share with you a few details about planning your Walt Disney World Resort vacation that may help. Vacation package reservations have not yet opened for 2025, but you can check the
Walt Disney World Resort website and the
Disney Parks Blog for updates in the months ahead. If those reservations become available before securing your registration for the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend, you can book a vacation package that includes a stay at a
Disney Resorts Collection hotel and theme park tickets with, at this time, just a $200 deposit. In the event that you are not able to register for your desired race or your plans change, you can cancel for a full refund of any monies paid (minus certain non-refundable travel fees) as long as the cancellation happens more than 30 days before your arrival, according to
current package terms and conditions. Staying at a Disney Resorts Collection hotel will make your race days a breeze with complimentary transportation to and from the expo and race locations. I also love visiting the parks after my races to grab some great photos with my shiny new medals!
I'm sending lots of pixie dust your way as you plan your runDisney vacation for 2025! Please feel free to stop by and see me or any of my fellow panelists here at planDisney with any other questions you have in the future!
Cheers,
Kristi