The Walt Disney World Marathon offers a unique 26.2-mile journey through four beloved theme parks, creating an unforgettable racing experience. This loop course brings together contrasting environments—from the vibrant, character-filled pathways inside the parks to the long, quiet stretches along resort highways. As you move through the course, you'll need to adjust your rhythm frequently, transitioning from narrow, winding park paths (often shared with costumed characters and cheering spectators) to wide-open roads that call for steady, focused pacing.

Starting at 4:30 AM means running in darkness for nearly three hours until sunrise at 7:19 AM. Mid-January race mornings typically begin cool and humid, with temperatures in the 50s or low 60s Fahrenheit. As the sun comes up, expect warming conditions that make a smart layering strategy essential. Humidity generally stays high throughout the morning, so building proactive hydration into your race plan becomes crucial for maintaining performance.

Though the course remains relatively flat—with 91% of the route featuring grades between -1% and 1%—the real challenge comes from its intricate layout and logistics. You'll encounter numerous sharp turns, particularly within the theme parks, that can interrupt your rhythm. Brief inclines and declines mark highway on-ramps and overpasses throughout the route.

Runners starting in mid-to-back corrals should prepare for congestion at bottleneck points like the Cinderella Castle passage, backstage transitions, and aid stations. Successfully navigating these areas requires both patience and strategic positioning to maintain your desired pace.

• Event Date: January 11, 2026
• Event Type: Road Marathon
• GPX Course Length: 26.32 mi
• Course Type: Loop
• TrailScore: 59.85
• Total Ascent: 363.29 ft
• Total Descent: 383.89 ft
• Longest Uphill:
  • Starting at Mile 4.09, 0.21 mi at an average grade of 1.85%
• Longest Downhill:
  • Starting at Mile 20.23, 0.51 mi at an average grade of -0.44%
• Steepest Uphill:
  • Starting at Mile 13.28, 0.1 mi at an average grade of 4.33%
• Steepest Downhill:
  • Starting at Mile 10.93, 0.1 mi at an average grade of -4.91%
• Significant Climbs:
  • There are a total of 4 significant climbs on the course.
• Significant Descents:
  • There are a total of 3 significant descents on the course.
• Grade Distribution:
  • Flat: 91.1%
  • Minor Decline: 3.9%
  • Minor Incline: 2.3%
  • Moderate Incline: 1.6%
  • Moderate Decline: 1.2%

With a 4:30 AM start, your race begins in complete darkness. The initial miles unfold on the wide, flat Epcot Center Drive, but expect significant crowding as thousands of runners find their rhythm. This is a time for patience, not speed.

Around Mile 1.5, you'll enter Epcot for a loop around the World Showcase. This segment features frequent turns, narrow pathways between pavilions, and the unique distractions of in-park entertainment. The atmosphere is electric but can easily disrupt your pacing with its stop-and-go nature.

After completing the Epcot loop around Mile 3.5, the course heads back onto the resort's highway system. This stretch on Epcot Center Drive and North World Drive is a long, dark, and relatively straight shot toward the Magic Kingdom area. It offers the first real opportunity to settle into a consistent marathon pace away from the twists of the park.

The terrain remains almost entirely flat, with only minor grade changes that are barely perceptible. Focus on establishing a conservative rhythm and fueling early while you have this steady stretch to work with.

• Navigating in Darkness: The early start means running for over two hours in the dark. Focus on the path immediately ahead and stay aware of other runners.
• Managing Early Congestion: The start and in-park sections are crowded. Avoid wasting energy by weaving; maintain a steady, patient effort until the course opens up.
• Resist the Urge to Speed: The excitement of the start can lead to an overly fast pace. Adhere strictly to your race plan to conserve critical energy for later miles.

• None.

• None.

• Epcot Center Drive (outbound) (Mile 1.1)
  • Offerings: Hydration
• EPCOT — Avenue of the Stars (east side) (Mile 3.1)
  • Offerings: Hydration

• Epcot World Showcase (~Mile 2.2) (Spectator Zone): Runners loop around the World Showcase lagoon, passing the international pavilions.

This section marks the approach to the race's most iconic landmark. The route continues on North World Drive, where you'll encounter the first notable overpass—a short but moderately graded climb and descent around Mile 5.3. As you get closer to the Magic Kingdom, the energy builds with more entertainment and spectators lining the course.

The highlight arrives around Mile 9 as you enter the park, run down a spectator-lined Main Street, U.S.A., and pass directly through Cinderella Castle. This is a magical moment but also a technically challenging one, as the path narrows significantly and creates a major bottleneck where runners must adjust their pace and positioning.

After the castle, the route winds through Frontierland and Fantasyland before exiting the park around Mile 10.5. Be prepared for constant turns and changes in direction throughout this in-park segment, which requires careful attention to maintain your rhythm.

Upon exiting, you immediately face another significant overpass near the Ticket & Transportation Center. This climb, though short, comes right after the excitement and technical demands of the park section and can feel particularly challenging to your legs. The section concludes as you run past the Polynesian Village Resort, transitioning back to the highway for the next phase of the race.

• Cinderella Castle Bottleneck: The passage through the castle is extremely narrow and will slow your pace considerably. Stay calm and walk if necessary to conserve energy.
• Sharp Overpass Climbs: The short, punchy climbs at Mile 5.2 and Mile 11.0 are the first real elevation challenges. Use short, quick steps and maintain an even effort to crest them efficiently.
• Constant In-Park Turns: The twisting path through Magic Kingdom requires continuous focus and can be taxing on your ankles and stabilizing muscles.

• Climb #1: Mile 5.21 to Mile 5.31, 0.1 mi, avg grade 3.99%, total gain 21.52 ft
• Climb #2: Mile 11.03 to Mile 11.14, 0.1 mi, avg grade 4.33%, total gain 23.16 ft

• Descent #1: Mile 5.31 to Mile 5.42, 0.1 mi, avg grade -3.87%, total drop 20.83 ft
• Descent #2: Mile 7.05 to Mile 7.16, 0.1 mi, avg grade -3.48%, total drop 18.93 ft
• Descent #3: Mile 10.93 to Mile 11.03, 0.1 mi, avg grade -4.91%, total drop 26.94 ft

• North World Drive (Mile 5.5)
  • Offerings: Hydration
• Floridian Way (Mile 6.5)
  • Offerings: Hydration; Food
• Grand Floridian walkway (Mile 8.3)
  • Offerings: Hydration
• Magic Kingdom Park (Mile 10.1)
  • Offerings: Hydration

• Main Street, U.S.A. (~Mile 9.2) (Spectator Zone): Run down the iconic Main Street toward Cinderella Castle, typically lined with cheering spectators.
• Cinderella Castle (~Mile 9.8) (Spectator Zone): The course passes directly through the central archway of the castle, a signature moment of the race.

This seven-mile section is often cited as the most mentally challenging portion of the marathon. After passing the halfway point, the course consists almost entirely of long, exposed stretches on resort connector roads like Floridian Way and Bear Island Road. While there are character stops and entertainment scattered throughout, the scenery is far less engaging than in the parks, requiring strong mental focus to maintain pace and effort. The terrain is largely flat, which allows for a steady rhythm but offers little variation to break up the monotony.

The steepest climb of the race occurs here: a highway interchange ramp around Mile 13.3 with a grade exceeding 4.3%. Though only 0.1 miles long, its sudden sharpness can disrupt your rhythm and feel particularly jarring at this stage of the race.

The section culminates with a welcome change of scenery as you enter Animal Kingdom Park around Mile 16.7. The route takes you through a backstage area near the Kilimanjaro Safaris and winds past portions of Discovery Island and Asia before exiting. This brief tour through the park provides a much-needed mental and visual refresh before heading back onto the roads.

• The Mental Grind: The long, monotonous highway sections demand mental toughness. Break the segment into smaller goals, focusing only on reaching the next aid station or landmark.
• Tackle the Steepest Ramp: The highway ramp at mile 13.3 is the steepest on the course. Shorten your stride and use your arms to power over it efficiently without spiking your heart rate.
• Manage Sun Exposure: As the morning progresses, these open roads offer little shade. Be diligent with sun protection and stay ahead of your hydration needs.

• Climb #3: Mile 13.28 to Mile 13.39, 0.1 mi, avg grade 4.33%, total gain 23.62 ft

• None.

• Ticket & Transportation Center area (Mile 11.5)
  • Offerings: Hydration
• Floridian Way (Mile 13.75)
  • Offerings: Hydration; Food (at approx. mile 13.5)
• Bear Island Road (Mile 14.75)
  • Offerings: Hydration
• Animal Kingdom approach (Mile 16.9)
  • Offerings: Hydration
• Animal Kingdom exit roads (Mile 18.1)
  • Offerings: Hydration; Food (at approx. mile 17.9)

• Animal Kingdom Park (~Mile 17.2): The course takes a brief but welcome detour through sections of Animal Kingdom.

Exiting Animal Kingdom, you'll run along Western Way, a long and relatively straight road that leads toward the Epcot resort area. This stretch offers a mental break with its straightforward path, though the distance can feel challenging at this late stage of the race.

As you approach Mile 23, you'll encounter the final significant climb of the day—an overpass with a moderate 3% grade leading toward Hollywood Studios. After cresting this climb, the course enters the park for a quick and energetic loop, taking you past some of the park's main attractions before exiting. The crowd support here provides a welcome boost as you push through these late miles.

The final part of this section is one of the most scenic yet potentially challenging segments. Around Mile 24, the course moves onto the pathways connecting to Disney's BoardWalk. You'll run along the wooden planks of the boardwalk itself, looping around Crescent Lake with views of the Yacht and Beach Club Resorts.

While beautiful, the wooden surface can feel different underfoot after so many miles on asphalt, and the path narrows considerably, which can cause crowding even late in the race. This is a critical point to maintain focus and protect your pace as you prepare for the finish.

• The Final Overpass: The overpass at Mile 23.1 comes when fatigue is high. Focus on maintaining a consistent effort rather than a specific pace to conquer it.
• Mind Your Footing on the BoardWalk: The wooden BoardWalk is a beautiful but tight section. Be aware of other runners and maintain a steady line to avoid tripping or congestion.
• Adapt to Surface Changes: The transition from asphalt to the wooden planks of the BoardWalk can feel unusual on tired legs. Be prepared to adjust your stride slightly.

• Climb #4: Mile 23.09 to Mile 23.19, 0.1 mi, avg grade 3.08%, total gain 16.63 ft

• None.

• Bear Island Road / Western Way (Mile 18.9)
  • Offerings: Hydration
• Western Way (Mile 19.5)
  • Offerings: Hydration
• Western Way continuing (Mile 20.5)
  • Offerings: Hydration
• Blizzard Beach area (Mile 21.9)
  • Offerings: Hydration; Food (at approx. mile 22.25)
• Hollywood Studios (Mile 23.5)
  • Offerings: Hydration; Food

• Disney's Hollywood Studios (~Mile 23.7) (Spectator Zone): A quick, high-energy loop through the third theme park of the day.
• Disney's BoardWalk (~Mile 24.2) (Spectator Zone): A scenic but narrow section on wooden planks around Crescent Lake, connecting to Epcot.

This is the grand finale. After leaving the BoardWalk area, you re-enter Epcot for the last time via the International Gateway. The course takes you back into the World Showcase, where you'll run past the France and United Kingdom pavilions before heading toward the front of the park.

The energy here is immense, with crowds cheering you on as you make the final push. The route circles past the iconic Spaceship Earth, a monumental sight that signals the end is near.

This last section is entirely flat but contains a surprising number of turns as it winds through the park's pathways. The final stretch takes you backstage one last time before emerging into the Epcot parking lot for a straight shot to the finish line.

Use the incredible crowd support to carry you through these last moments. Focus on maintaining your form and finishing strong.

• Stay Focused Through Final Turns: Even though it's flat, the winding path through Epcot requires concentration when you are most fatigued. Keep your eyes up and run the tangents where possible.
• Harness the Finish Line Energy: The roar of the crowd and proximity to the finish can be overwhelming. Channel that energy into a strong, controlled final push, not an all-out sprint.
• Navigate the Finish Chute: Stay aware of your surroundings as you approach the finish line. Watch for slowing runners and keep moving through the chute after you cross the timing mats.

• None.

• None.

• Crescent Lake — BoardWalk corridor (Mile 24.25)
  • Offerings: Hydration
• EPCOT World Showcase — International Gateway area (Mile 25.25)
  • Offerings: Hydration

• Spaceship Earth (~Mile 25.9) (Spectator Zone): Running past the iconic geodesic sphere of Spaceship Earth signals that the finish line is just minutes away.
• Finish Line (~Mile 26.32) (Spectator Zone): The finish line is located in the Epcot parking lot, surrounded by grandstands and cheering spectators.