Hi Mary!
Thanks for stopping by with your question. I am the type of person who likes to plan for every possibility, so I love that you are thinking ahead to the little details! That weekend is indeed
Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend, and the Walt Disney World Half Marathon will be run on January 11, 2020. This race has one of my favorite courses as you run through
Cinderella Castle on your way to completing 13.1 magical miles!
I agree that the famous runDisney “Balloon Ladies” that represent the pacing requirement for the race should be through Cinderella Castle and on their way to exit the Magic Kingdom right around 7:45 am. However, there may still be runners a bit behind those ladies who are finishing photos and plan on catching up to that pace requirement. Because of this, there may still be spectators lining Main Street, U.S.A.
I would anticipate small crowds inside the park before your dining reservation, and not expect to find the usual empty streets. But
Disney PhotoPass Photographers are pretty amazing, and you never know what kind of photo magic they may be able to create. I would let them know what you are looking for and see what they can manage, but I would be prepared that empty streets may not be possible. If you love photos as much as I do, I highly recommend considering Disney's
Memory Maker for your trip! Memory Maker gives you unlimited digital downloads of all your PhotoPass Photos from your visit. Be sure to purchase in advance for extra savings!
Even with a few extra Guests in the background, it should still be quite a bit less busy than in the middle of the afternoon, and I think the morning light on Main Street, U.S.A. is beautiful for photographs. Sending you pixie dust for that magical family photo, Mary! And I hope you have a delightfully delicious breakfast at
Cinderella’s Royal Table!
- Kate