Welcome to the Disney Parks Moms Panel, Amanda!
I'm currently preparing to participate in my 7th
Walt Disney World® Marathon Weekend, so I am happy to be helping you with tips and advice for navigating your way around the "world" during runDisney's premier race weekend.
Of the races that will be taking place during your vacation dates, the only one that will affect your ability to get around is the full marathon on Sunday, January 7th. With runners covering 26.2 miles of the most magical place on earth, you'll most likely experience transportation delays Sunday morning as the race course travels through all four theme parks and the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Amanda, I'd love to know where you are staying so I may help you select the best theme park to visit and the best transportation route for you that morning; I hope to hear from you again!
My top suggestion for Sunday would be Magic Kingdom as it's the first theme park participants run through and will be clear by park opening. Epcot should be avoided, at least for the first half of the day; the finish line, race staging area, and the last mile and a half of the race are located in/around Epcot.
Crowd levels are expected to drop significantly on Sunday, so your enjoyment and experience will still be magical, despite the influx of extra guests on-propety for the race. I hope this information is helpful in your planning, Amanda! Please let me know if you should have any additional questions.
Faith