Running through Walt Disney World is against the rules. Can you imagine the chaos if it were allowed? Actually, there are some very specific events where running through the parks is actually encouraged! No, this is not the competitive sport of running to be first in line at Test Track. What I am referring to is the runDisney events!
What Is runDisney?
runDisney is the road race division of the Disney Experiences group. They are the team that organizes events such as the Walt Disney World® Marathon. Each year, runDisney puts together a number of events to encourage Disney fans to get active by running (and walking). At Walt Disney World, they organize four in-person events per season, which generally occur between Autumn and Spring. Those events are the Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend, Walt Disney World® Marathon Weekend, Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend, and the runDisney® Springtime Surprise Weekend. The virtual events this year will occur between June and December. They include the runDisney® Virtual Series, runDisney® Virtual Spooktacular, and runDisney® Virtual 12Ks of Christmas.
What Do The In-Person Races Look Like?
The in-person events occur at Walt Disney World Resort and are a lot of fun! There is a runDisney Health and Fitness Expo at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. This is where you go to pick up your bib, commemorative shirt, and other merchandise.
There are fun character meet and greets (you can oftentimes find rare characters at runDisney events)! There is also food, music, and camaraderie with fellow runDisney participants. If you are staying at a Disney resort, bus transportation to runDisney events is free. Race options vary based on the event, but some options include 5K, 10K, 10-miler, half marathon (13.1 miles), and Marathon (26.2 miles).
During these races, you will run a route that takes you through one or more Disney World parks before the parks open to the general public. It’s a great way to see the parks from a different perspective and, again, there are rare characters to meet! The races are in high demand, so expect crowds.
How Do I Participate?
If you want to participate in a runDisney event, specifically an in-person event at Walt Disney World, you will need to make your decision well in advance. Registration for the events occur months ahead of the event date. Gold and Platinum Club runDisney members get access one week before the general public but, once general sales open, the events sell out within minutes! Even if you log onto the runDisney website minutes before the sales window for the general public opens, you will be placed into a virtual waiting room and randomly assigned a place in line.
Once your turn comes, assuming the race you are looking for isn’t already sold out, you need to act fast. It is the MouseHouseNews.net team‘s experience that the shorter races like the 5Ks sell out the quickest, so you need to have your mind made up (and EVERYONE you want to participate with you needs to be in agreement) so you can confidently make your purchase and sign everyone up. The registration is non-refundable so, again, be sure you have made up your mind ahead of time.
Just know that you may not be able to register for the race you want (because everyone else is trying to do so at the same time), so have a backup plan in place. In other words, if the 5K is sold out by the time you can register, would you and your team want to consider the 10K? Have those discussions ahead of time because you will need to make a decision!
What Are The Event/Registration Dates?
Here are the 2026 – 2027 runDisney events, their dates, and the dates when registration for the general public starts:
In-Person
- 2026 Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend: October 22 – 25, 2026
Registration Begins February 10, 2026 - 2027 Walt Disney World® Marathon Weekend: January 6 – 10, 2027
Registration Begins March 17, 2026 - 2027 Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend: February 25 – March 1, 2027
Registration Begins June 2, 2026 - 2027 runDisney® Springtime Surprise Weekend: April 15 – 18, 2027
Registration Begins July 7, 2026
Virtual
- 2026 runDisney® Virtual Series: June 1 – August 31, 2026
Registration Begins April 7, 2026 - 2026 runDisney® Virtual Spooktacular: October 1 – 31, 2026
Registration Begins August 11, 2026 - 2026 runDisney® Virtual 12Ks of Christmas: December 1 – 31, 2026
Registration Begins October 6, 2026
Now that you have information for the 2026 – 2027 runDisney season, start thinking about those plans! These events are for people of all abilities, from the casual/curious runners to those who are all about that running lifestyle. If you have never participated in a race before, think about starting with a 5K! Or, if you have done races and just never raced through Walt Disney World before, this might be up your alley. My best advice is to think about it ahead of time. If you wait until the day registration opens and then figure you will mosey over to the runDisney website after lunch, you’ll probably see most of the races sold out. So have a plan ahead of time and be logged in prior to 10:00 AM Eastern Time for your best chance of a successful registration. We will keep you informed at MouseHouseNews.net with any new developments.
