Hi Carolyn! Congratulations on committing to run the marathon in January. I am sure you have heard that it is the 20th anniversary of the Walt Disney World marathon! It is going to be so much fun!
That is a great question! I know that the runner's discount on rooms is a good one, but there are sometimes
special offers by Disney that are even better deals. If I were you, since it is probably going to be a popular race and some of the preferred resorts may book up, I would go ahead and book my room with the runner's discount. You should ask when booking what the cancellation policy is, but you can usually cancel your reservation up to a short window before your trip. Then, if there is a better "special offer" by Disney, you could see which one would make more financial sense for you.
I will say that the runner's discount on theme park tickets are probably the best deals I have ever seen, so if you plan to visit any parks you definitely want to take advantage of that.
Also, you can add the Dining plan to your package when you book with the runner's discount. Here is what the official word is on the
Disney World Marathon website, "travel details" section:
* Each Guest who books through
407-WDW-IRUN and registers for a four (4) or more night stay at a select
Walt Disney World® Resort hotel during Marathon Weekend
will receive one souvenir runDisney keepsake gift. You can also purchase your race registration and add the
Disney Dining Plan to your package when you book.
I hope this helps! Please let me know if I can answer any other questions!