Welcome to planDisney, Mireille! We're glad you're here!
2023 marks the 30th Anniversary of the
Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend, and it brings in an estimated 30,000 athletes from around the world! Four races will be held during the long weekend, starting with the 5K on January 5 and ending with the marathon on January 8. While the race courses have not been announced yet, typically, the signature Walt Disney World Marathon event will take runners through all four theme parks and past the entrance to Blizzard Beach Water Park.
Most participants pack up their running shoes and medals and head home by Monday or Tuesday after the races have concluded. As you arrive, you'll be crossing paths with many of them at the airport! The plus side is that the parks clear out, and crowd levels decline until the official Martin Luther King holiday the following weekend.
Some of the fun things you'll have to look forward to during your trip are the end of the
50th Anniversary celebrations and the anticipated arrival of the new rollercoaster,
TRON Lightcycle Run (hopefully, we'll hear an official opening date at the upcoming D23 next weekend)!
The
EPCOT Festival of the Arts takes place annually for a few weeks beginning in mid-January. It features various forms of arts, including performing arts, culinary arts, painting, drawing, and more. Perhaps you'll be able to experience it during your stay!
I hope you have a magical time, Mireille! If there's anything else we can help you with, remember we're all ears!
Eean