What are the RunDisney Race weekends?
RunDisney features multiple race weekends throughout the year- typically at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida and Disneyland in Anaheim, California. Walt Disney World hosts 4 race weekends and Disneyland has been hosting 2 race weekends- however, Disneyland races will go on hiatus after the January 2026 Disneyland Half Marathon weekend due to upcoming construction.
So let’s focus on the 4 Walt Disney World race weekends to help you decide which weekend might be best for you:
Wine and Dine race weekend (typically end of October/early November)- This is the start to the RunDisney race calendar each year because Disney’s “year” starts on October 1. This race weekend includes a 5k, 10k, and a half marathon as well as the chance to register for a challenge which signs you up for both the 10k AND half marathon (plus you get a challenge medal if you complete both races). One of the cool features for this race weekend is that participates who sign up for the half marathon or the challenge, receive a complimentary ticket to the Post-Race Party at EPCOT on that Sunday night after the race (half marathon is Sunday morning, party is Sunday evening). This is because of the EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival (hence the theme). This is a fun race weekend if you are a foodie or traveling with other foodies and want to enjoy the festival as well. Because of the timing of this race, the weather can be hit or miss at the tail end of hurricane season. It can be very warm and often rains. The themes for this race weekend will typically feature food in some way and there is a vast variety of characters that can be featured.
Marathon weekend (early January)- This is the big runDisney race weekend because it is the ONLY race weekend to feature a full marathon. In addition to the marathon, athletes can do the 5k, 10k, or half marathon and there are 2 challenges options: the Goofy Challenge which is the half and full marathon and the Dopey Challenge which includes all 4 races! Because this includes a full marathon, it is more common to see “serious” runners during this race weekend but there is still a very fun atmosphere. The weather can be much cooler during this race weekend but word of warning that it can still get very hot (I’ve run twice with heat advisories and they even cut the marathon course short at one point due to heat-related issues). This race weekend will always feature the classic characters like Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Daisy.
Princess Weekend (late February)- This is my personal favorite weekend and no you do not have to be a girl or dress up as a Princess to attend. This weekend features a 5k, 10k, and half marathon plus the challenge which includes the 10k and half marathon. They have also in recent years added a yoga event to this race weekend. For the yoga, it is designed for beginners and while I enjoyed the experience, I found the actual yoga a bit simple for my preferred taste. The weather during this race weekend is often similar temperatures to Wine and Dine but usually less wet. The theming of Princesses is always so fun and you may even see Princesses with their Princes and even some villains during this race weekend.
Springtime Surprise (April)- This race weekend moves around in April depending on where Easter falls. This race weekend can technically offer a variety of distances but so far the pattern has been 5k, 10k, and a 10 miler with a challenge that includes all 3 race distances! They also tend to offer yoga during this weekend as well over at Hollywood Studios which creates some fun theming. Springtime surprise theming can be all over the place and it’s often a chance to find medals with rare characters for a race like Simba, Hercules, Judy Hopps and more. The biggest downside to this race weekend in the weather- April is HOT in Florida and humidity is building so it can create physical challenges.
Registration for RunDisney events typically open 9-10 months in advance and will often sell out. Rooms at many resorts will also sell out during race weekends so if you are thinking about a future RunDisney event, I always recommend we book your package with the $200 refundable deposit as soon as possible.
Questions about which RunDisney race weekend is best for your RunDisney experience? Reach out to me today!
