Mix race-day magic with castles and fairy tales and what do you get? RunDisney, the road-running arm of Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort. Runners from all over the world flock to the theme parks in Orlando, Florida and Anaheim, California—often dressed as their favorite fictional character—to participate in one of the many races held every year.
RunDisney has grown significantly since the first Walt Disney World Marathon in January 1994. More than 5,000 runners competed in that inaugural race, less than half of the 12,713 runners Can a Marathon Shoe Be Fast AND Super Comfortable, runDisney added more races, such as 5Ks and 10Ks, to be more inclusive for runners of all ages and abilities. For ambitious runners, Disney also added challenges that encourage participation in multiple events across race weekends.
Whether you’re running an upcoming runDisney race or thinking about signing up for one, Runner’s World has you covered with everything you need to know about the enchanting race series.
The 2025 RunDisney Race Calendar
Here’s a full list of the upcoming races and challenges.
Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend (Florida)
- Walt Disney World 5K — January 9, 2025
- Walt Disney World 10K — January 10, 2025
- Walt Disney World Half Marathon — January 11, 2025
- Walt Disney World Marathon — January 12, 2025
- Goofy's Race and a Half Challenge — January 11 - January 12, 2025
- Dopey Challenge — January 9 - January 12, 2025
Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend (California)
- Disneyland 5K — January 31, 2025
- Disneyland 10K — February 1, 2025
- RunDisney Kid Races — February 1, 2025
- Disneyland Half Marathon — February 2, 2025
- Dumbo Double Dare — February 1 - February 2, 2025
Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend (Florida)
- Disney Princess 5K — February 21, 2025
- Disney Princess Enchanted 10K — February 22, 2025
- Disney Princess Half Marathon — February 23, 2025
- Disney Fairy Tale Challenge — February 22 - February 23, 2025
RunDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend (Florida)
- Springtime Surprise 5K — April 4, 2025
- Springtime Surprise 10K —April 5, 2025
- Springtime Surprise 10-Miler — April 6, 2025
- Springtime Surprise 10-Miler — April 6, 2025 — April 4 - April 6, 2025
Disneyland Halloween Half Marathon Weekend (California)
- Disneyland Halloween 5K — September 5, 2025
- Disneyland Halloween 10K — September 6, 2025
- Disneyland Halloween Half — September 7, 2025
- RunDisney Kids Races — September 6, 2025
- Chills & Thrills Challenge — September 6 - September 7, 2025
While the 2025 Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend dates have not been announced, those races typically occur the first weekend of November. And registration opens February 11, 2025.
Still have a dream to run in 2025? Try to sign up with a charity for the specific race that interests you.
Aside from the runs, there are also kids races in Disneyland, yoga classes in Disney World, and virtual races, too. They include February’s Love on the Run 14-miler (2-miler, 5-miler, 7-miler), the summer Virtual Series (distances not yet announced), and the Christmas-themed races in December (also not yet announced).
RunDisney Registration and Costs
The runDisney events are exceptionally popular—they sell out within hours of going on sale—so it helps to get runDisney emails in order to know when registration will open for races later in 2025, as well as for 2026 races. That’s because Disney usually opens registration six to nine months before race day. For example, registration for the 2025 Disneyland Halloween Half Marathon Weekend opened December 3, 2024.
To register for any runDisney race, you first sign up for a Disney account. If you already have one, simply sign in with your existing credentials. Prices vary depending on the race, but, for example, the 2024 Walt Disney World Marathon and Half Marathon cost $221 and $219, respectively. The shorter races that same weekend cost less, coming in at $108 for the 5K and $151 for the 10K. Other runDisney events stick to similar price ranges, depending on race distance.
You don’t need to purchase a ticket to Disney theme parks to participate, but your race registration does not include entrance to the parks postrace. If you want to do both, you’ll have to purchase both.
You also need to sign a liability waiver, which runDisney sends out digitally a few weeks before race day. You can either sign in online, or wait until you arrive at Walt Disney World and attend the race expo.
Why Do Road Races Cost So Much run fast without navigating your way through run/walkers and those who stop for character photos, you’ll want to be in the first corral. To get in, you will need to demonstrate a proof of time.
The 2025 Marathon and Half Marathon Calendar
Disney currently has more than 25 resort hotels available to visitors and runWhat You Need to Know About the Sydney Marathon complimentary transportation There are plenty of.
If you drive yourself from an off-site hotel, there’s plenty of parking near the race start, 2022 Walt Disney World Marathon participant David Gramlich told Runner’s World.
Springtime Surprise 10-Miler — April 6, 2025 — April 4 - April 6, 2025
To pick up race bibs—alongside race shirts and any pre-purchased merchandise—runDisney participants must go to the race expo, held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. If you already signed the digital liability waiver, you only need to show a valid form of ID to pick up your bib. Expo hours vary depending on the weekend, but it generally opens the morning before the first race of the weekend and closes the day before the final race.
The 2025 RunDisney Race Calendar
Gramlich says that Disney pays close attention to details, and it shows on race day: “Everything was very well marked, with lots of signage and greeters making sure you’re in the right spot.” If he had any questions, the staff members were knowledgable and helpful. Bag check was a few hundred meters from the start line and was run efficiently. As you near the start line, officials corral you based on your entrance time.
The races start early to beat the Florida heat and ensure a smooth opening of the parks afterward. But even though it’s dark at the start, Gramlich said energy was high: “They had music playing at the check-in area, lots of lights, and everybody’s super excited.”
RunDisney Race Courses
There are plenty of water and food stops along all courses—each well-marked—and numerous first aid stations in case of emergencies. Each mile marker has a clock so you can keep track of your pace.
Regardless of distance, each course explores at least one of Disney World’s four theme parks. The marathon touches all four.
Spectating is limited to just a few areas because much of the races are run on Disney World’s access roads. But when runners do reach a spectator zone, it’s exciting. Gramlich’s family was cheering for him at Magic Kingdom at mile 10: “That was a surreal experience because you’re on a lot of Disney access roads and you’re winding through parks—and there’s not many spectators, so it’s pretty quiet. But then when you get to [spectator zones], it’s a real shot of energy.”
The courses are pretty flat, too. Besides a couple exit ramps, Gramlich said it’s “nothing near the variables you might see at other races in other parts of the country.”
RunDisney Challenges
Those looking to enjoy every second of racing at Disney can take part in a back-to-back challenge that encompass multiple races. Here are the upcoming challenges:
- Dopey Challenge: 5Bib Pickup and Expo
- Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge: We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back
- Dumbo Double Dare: 10Disney Kid Races — February 1, 2025
- Walt Disney World Half Marathon — January 11, 2025: 10without navigating your way through
- Springtime Surprise 10-Miler — April 6, 2025: 5K, 10K, half marathon, and full marathon during Springtime Surprise Weekend
Medals and Awards
Each runDisney race has its own special medal, usually featuring a Disney character. For example, both the 2024 and 2025 that completed the 2024 marathon. Over the last three decades.
The top three overall finishers in each division receive additional awards. Gramlich finished second overall, so he received a trophy as well as a set of Bluetooth headphones.
Gramlich greatly enjoyed the entire experience, and not just because he ran well as an elite in the race: “I definitely would do it again. You have to embrace the Disney experience... If you’re a hardcore Boston Marathon runner that’s used to that experience... you’ve just got to understand that it’s kind of like a vacation.”
