Hi Cathy and welcome back to planDisney! From a fellow runner, it’s great to hear that you don’t take a break from running even when you’re at
Walt Disney World! I’m the same way when I go on Disney vacations, you’ll often find me running on the various resort trails before rope drop. Now, let’s race to your answer! On your mark, get set, GO!!
I see that you’re thinking about a long run between
Disney’s Old Key West Resort,
Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, and
Disney Springs. You should have no problems running around the two Resort hotels at all hours of the day. However, when it comes to Disney Springs you may be limited to its operating hours. I suggest
checking the calendar as it gets closer to your arrival date for the operating hours, but it looks like they generally open at 10:00AM. Similar to the theme parks, you may find that the security checkpoints may open before the scheduled operating hours, but that’s not a guarantee and they may turn you away until Disney Springs officially opens.
But don’t fret! The two Resort hotels have miles of endless trails for you to run on. I myself have ran several 10+ mile long runs within Saratoga Springs alone. In fact, one of my favorite trails is the one connecting Saratoga Springs and Old Key West, using the Saratoga Springs Nature Path that passes by the Golf Driving Range. You can find that path just outside the Saratoga Springs boat launch. You’ll end up at the South Point Road section of Old Key West.
Cathy, did you know that your visit will also be coinciding with the
runDisney
2026 Wine and Dine Half Marathon Weekend? If you’re running 13.1 miles anyway, might as well get a medal for it and have the opportunity to run in the theme parks! This event consists of a series of races including a 5K, 10K, and half marathon over three days, with each race themed to a certain movie or set of characters. These races will be themed to
The Aristocats,
The Three Caballeros, and
Mary Poppins, respectively. And what’s more, half marathon finishers are treated with a special
post-race party at EPCOT to celebrate! I love participating in
runDisney events for the exclusive characters you see along the races, running through iconic spots such as Main Street, dressing up in themed costumes, and most importantly, the supportive community of runners
runDisney attracts. While each of the races are sold out, I highly recommend visiting the
runDisney website if registration re-opens or perhaps look into
participating charities offering bibs through fundraising.
I hope this information is helpful for you as you get your miles in! Don’t forget to wear sunblock and stay hydrated. If you have any further questions about running at Walt Disney World or
runDisney events, feel free to
contact me and my fellow panelists here at planDisney!
Your pal,
Sean