Hi there, Heather!
Welcome back to planDisney and a big thank you for bringing me your question about your upcoming
Walt Disney World Resort vacation. I'm always excited when I have the opportunity to assist a fellow Michigander with their vacation planning process! Heather, your departure to The Most Magical Place on Earth is just days away, so let's chat about optimizing your theme park time this weekend.
You'll be visiting during
Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend (and as a matter of fact, I will too!). While the theme parks will be operating normally this weekend, you may notice some slight changes due to the races taking place February 23-25, 2024. The
Disney Princess Half Marathon is scheduled to take place on the morning of February 25, 2024, routing runners (including myself) through Magic Kingdom Park and EPCOT early that day. According to the
Hours & Events Calendar for that day, the early theme park entry period for Guests of Disney Resort hotels begins at 9:30 a.m. at EPCOT. The
half marathon race course ends just outside EPCOT, with participants traversing that final mile inside the theme park near
Spaceship Earth. I'd expect some minor operational changes near the theme park entrance that morning as Cast Members route Guests safely across the race course between runners. By mid-afternoon, I expect the course to be cleared and things to return to normal!
Heather, the other point to keep in mind during any runDisney race day is transportation. If possible, try to rely on complimentary
Resort transportation. This way, you won't have to deal with navigating road closures or detours in your personal vehicle! Since the Disney Princess Half Marathon course routes runners across World Drive (both North and South), you'll be more likely to notice these changes on your way to Magic Kingdom Park or EPCOT. However, all road closures should be cleared no later than 10:00 a.m.
I hope this information helps you to prepare for an enchanting day at EPCOT, Heather. While a
runDisney race weekend might not be the typical Walt Disney World Resort vacation experience you're used to, I encourage you to embrace and enjoy it. Simply congratulating a runner wearing a recently-earned medal is enough to spread a bit of pixie dust on another Guest's day! If you have any other questions before or during your trip, you're always welcome to pop back over to
see me here at planDisney. You've got a friend in me!
See ya real soon,
Lauren