It’s Springtime Surprise Weekend 2026! Thousands of runners have descended upon Walt Disney World. These runners will be taking on race distances including a 5K, 10K, and 10-Miler, or even the challenge of completing both the 10K and 10-Miler! Upon finishing their races, they’ll be awarded some fantastic new medals to celebrate their efforts. Do you dream of signing up to earn your own runDisney medal? Don’t be shy! runDisney races really are fun for runners of any ability!
Whether you are training for upcoming runDisney events, a casual runner who wants to keep up your routine, or someone who wants to enjoy a scenic walk, you have multiple trails to choose from on Disney World property. In honor of all of the runners who will be in The Most Magical Place On Earth this weekend (and beyond), we thought it would be fun to highlight some of our favorite running/jogging/walking paths.
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort and Disney’s Pop Century Resort
The 1.38 mile trail that circles around Hourglass Lake is a hidden gem. You’ll pass numerous colorful characters on the Art of Animation side, bringing a bit of Disney flair to your run. Over at Pop Century, larger than life icons will have you “remembering when…”. It’s a relatively quiet loop, although you may hit some congestion near the Skyliner station depending on time of day.
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort & Riviera Resort
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort is one of my favorite Disney Resorts Collection Hotels for a number of reasons. Let’s add the picturesque 1.2 mile trail around Barefoot Bay to the list! Slight variations you can take in this area allow for the difference in distance. One of the reasons why I highly recommend this path is the view along the way. There’s nothing more relaxing than the gorgeous, sparkling water.
After you finish your run, why not stop at Riviera’s quick service, Primo Piatto, for a delicious breakfast or lunch/dinner? You could also relax in one of the many hammocks on the Caribbean Beach side after your cool down. You’ve earned it!
Disney’s Contemporary Resort
The Garden Wing section of Disney’s Contemporary Resort is one of the best keep secrets on property. In contrast to the hustle and bustle of the Contemporary’s Main Tower, the Garden Wing is peaceful and a lot less crowded. This makes the 0.9 mile jogging path near Bay Lake easy to navigate, while still keeping you close to the action. The jogging path at the Contemporary loops around the Garden Wing section and Bay Lake Tower. One of my favorite parts (besides the waterfront views and monorail sightings) are the Mickey-shaped trail markers. Oh boy!
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
At Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, you can lace up your running shoes for a 0.75-mile long loop around Lago Dorado. There are also additional trail options leading to the Ranchos and Cabanas sections. Either way, you’ll get peaceful views of area wetlands. You may even spot some local wildlife while you’re on your morning run!
EPCOT Area Resorts
Disney’s BoardWalk Inn & Villas, Beach Club Resort & Villas, and Yacht Club have several different loops you can complete. It’s like a choose your own distance adventure, depending on which route you pick. The basic lap around Crescent Lake is about 0.8 miles, but you can increase distance by adding in additional paths.
You can also take the path that goes from this area to Disney’s Hollywood Studios if you would like a longer distance. Heading to Hollywood Studios will add 0.75 miles in each direction (so, 1.5 miles if you go there and back). This makes it an easy way to increase your training session. Keep in mind that this path is popular with walkers and joggers alike, so it can get busy at times.
Concluding Thoughts
It’s important to point out that this is not an all-inclusive list of every running trail you can find across Disney property. Almost every resort area has some kind of jogging trail available. You should check with your resort’s front desk Cast Members for a map of designated jogging trails. No matter which trail you choose, you may want to schedule your run for earlier in the morning if possible. This will give you cooler temperatures and a better chance to avoid crowds.
A couple of final safety reminders:
- Avoid running on public roads.
- Be sure to stay hydrated before, during, and after your run.
- Remember that running in the theme parks is prohibited (unless you’re participating in an official runDisney event).
One thing you may have noticed throughout my list is that I really like to run along bodies of water. There’s something special about having serene scenery that makes a workout more enjoyable. Disney’s running trails are well marked, usually pretty flat, and provide plenty of interesting things to look at along the routes.
If you’re in Disney World for the 2026 Springtime Surprise Weekend, I hope you’re having a magical time! Congratulations to everyone who has trained hard for this event. Enjoy those shiny new finisher medals. Stay tuned to MouseHouseNews.net for more tips you can use to plan your next Disney Adult vacation. We’ll see you real soon!
