Welcome back to planDisney, Daniel! I'm so glad to be able to answer your question today.
Walt Disney World Marathon weekend is one of my favorite times to be at the Most Magical Place on Earth. The parks and resorts are filled with the most exciting energy, and it will be such a fun place to celebrate your retirement! Since this weekend is a bit different than other times you may have experienced Walt Disney World, I'm happy to give you some insight into what to expect and how to plan your days around races and runners.
For your dates, here's how Marathon Weekend will likely feel on the ground. On Thursday, January 8th (the day of the 5K) and Friday, January 9th (the day of the 10K), the courses run through
EPCOT, and the races start
very early. By the time most guests are park-ready, runners are pretty much finished, and roads are reopening. In short, you'll see that upbeat runner energy and maybe a few lingering traffic cones, but there will be minimal disruption to your plans that day.
The final day of your trip, Saturday, January 10th, is the day of the Half Marathon, which does create a few noticeable morning impacts. That course goes through
Magic Kingdom and EPCOT, and it brings temporary road closures around Magic Kingdom, plus rolling traffic holds as runners pass through.
Disney transportation keeps moving once the parks open, but it can be slower than usual while roads reopen after the race.
If you're planning on visiting a park that day, I recommend that you skip Magic Kingdom and EPCOT and aim for
Hollywood Studios or
Animal Kingdom for the smoothest start. Both typically see fewer course-related delays, so you'll spend more time at attractions and less time in transit. If you do want Magic Kingdom or EPCOT that day, consider arriving late morning or early afternoon once the course has been fully cleared and everything is back to normal.
Happy retirement, Daniel, and I hope you have a magical trip!
Jessica