Hiya Pauline - welcome to
planDisney!
It's great to hEAR that you'll be starting the new year off right with a magical visit to the Walt Disney World Resort! The upcoming runDisney
Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend takes place January 4-8, 2023, so it does sound like your trip will overlap with this event.
Don't fret, Pauline - I'm checking and noticed that
Theme Park hours don't look like they will be impacted by the races. This could be altered as plans are finalized, and Theme Park hours are always subject to change. That being said, I wouldn't expect any substantial adjustments.
The major consideration for you during this time will be transportation. Dates with a runDisney event are a great time to stay at a
Disney Resorts Collection Hotel to make getting to the parks a bit easier in the morning. While the parks tend to open at "normal" times, there may still be road closures as runners finish up the race. This is especially true on Saturday and Sunday, which are the longer races.
While the courses do weave through all four Theme Parks, a good chunk of the run takes place on the surrounding roadways and this can impact morning traffic. Staying at a
Monorail Resort or a Resort with access to the
Disney Skyliner to avoid the roads in the morning can make things a bit easier on these mornings. Even the complimentary
Walt Disney World Bus Service will be better than using a personal vehicle or ride-share service as buses do sometimes have some special access.
Pauline, these can be busier weekends in the Theme Parks, but one thing I've noticed is that Guests change their plans quite a bit. So, even if you're not seeing great availability for dining or experience reservations now, be sure to keep checking your
My Disney Experience Mobile App just before and during your trip - you never know what amazing reservation you'll find! As other Guests modify and cancel their plans, those can then be booked by others like you.
I hope this information is helpful -
please stop by again with any additional questions!
Ryan J.