Every runDisney race weekend at Walt Disney World for the 2026-2027 season — dates, registration windows, race distances, and challenge options for Wine & Dine, Marathon Weekend, Princess Half, and Springtime Surprise.
The runDisney 2026-2027 season brings four race weekends to Walt Disney World, from the food-and-wine party vibes of October to the springtime celebration in April. If you are planning your first Disney race or building a full Dopey Challenge training plan, this guide covers every weekend on the calendar — the confirmed dates, how registration works, and what makes each weekend different. All four weekends take place in and around the Walt Disney World parks in Orlando, which means Florida runners have the shortest travel of anyone.
The 2026-2027 runDisney Calendar at a Glance
- Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend — October 22-25, 2026
- Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend — January 6-10, 2027
- Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend — February 25-March 1, 2027
- runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend — April 8-11, 2027
Registration for every weekend opens months in advance — typically seven to nine months before race day — and the popular races sell out fast, sometimes within hours. Club runDisney members get early registration access about a week before the general public window opens.
Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend — October 22-25, 2026
The fall classic pairs racing with the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival. The weekend features a 5K, 10K, and half marathon, plus the Two Course Challenge (10K on Saturday + half marathon on Sunday). The signature perk is the Post-Race Party at EPCOT — a separately ticketed evening event where finishers celebrate around World Showcase with festival food booths open late.
Registration for this weekend opened in February 2026 (Club runDisney on February 3, general public on February 10). If you missed it, check runDisney for availability updates, look at travel-provider bibs, or plan ahead for the next season's window.
Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend — January 6-10, 2027
The flagship. Marathon Weekend is the only runDisney weekend with a full marathon, and 2027 marks the 30th anniversary of the Walt Disney World Half Marathon. The lineup: 5K, 10K, half marathon, marathon, the Goofy Challenge (half + full, 39.3 miles), and the Dopey Challenge (all four races, 48.6 miles over four days).
Registration opened March 10, 2026 for Club runDisney and March 17, 2026 for the general public. The marathon and challenge categories are the ones serious runners plan their year around — if you want a proof of time for corral placement, see our runDisney proof of time guide for the standards and deadlines.
Local angle: the race is in our backyard. Browse the Disney races hub for the full picture of what running at Walt Disney World involves.
Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend — February 25-March 1, 2027
The most in-demand weekend of the season, themed around Disney royalty and famous for its costumes. The lineup mirrors Wine & Dine: 5K, 10K, half marathon, and the Fairy Tale Challenge (10K + half). Princess Half registrations are historically the fastest to sell out — general registration for 2027 opened June 8, 2026 (rescheduled from June 2 after technical issues on the original date), and high-demand categories went quickly.
If you are costume-planning for this one — most runners do — read the runDisney costume rules before you buy anything, because masks and certain props will not make it past security.
runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend — April 8-11, 2027
The season closer, with a lineup all its own: a 5K, a 10K, and a 10-miler (the longest single race of the weekend), plus the Springtime Surprise Challenge for runners who complete all three (19.3 miles total). runDisney shifted the dates a week earlier in June 2026, from the originally announced April 15-18 window to April 8-11, 2027 — worth double-checking your travel dates if you booked before the change. It is generally the easiest weekend to get into: general registration opened July 7, 2026 (Club runDisney on June 30), and it historically takes the longest to sell out. If you want your first runDisney bib with the least registration stress, Springtime Surprise is the smart entry point.
How runDisney Registration Actually Works
- Mark the date, be early. Registration opens at 10:00 a.m. ET through a virtual queue. Log in a few minutes early on a reliable connection.
- Have your account ready. A Disney account with your details saved speeds up checkout — races can sell out while you type.
- Club runDisney gets a head start. The paid membership opens registration about a week early, which matters most for Princess and Marathon Weekend.
- Sold out is not always the end. Charity bibs and travel-package providers hold inventory after general registration closes.
- Fees are per race and rise with distance; challenges cost more than the sum of individual short races. Budget for park tickets and hotels separately — race weekend is a full Disney trip.
Training for a Disney Race in Florida
Florida runners have the home-field advantage: you already train in the heat and humidity that surprises out-of-state visitors every January. Build your long runs early in the morning to mirror runDisney's famously early start times — alarms at 3:00 a.m. are standard. Local races make ideal tune-ups and proof of time opportunities; find upcoming 5Ks through half marathons on our Florida race calendar or grab the printable 90-day race calendar and plan your build-up.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the runDisney race dates for the 2026-2027 season? expand_more
Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend is October 22-25, 2026. Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend is January 6-10, 2027. Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend is February 25-March 1, 2027. runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend is April 8-11, 2027. All four take place at Walt Disney World in Orlando.
When does runDisney registration open? expand_more
Registration typically opens seven to nine months before each race weekend at 10:00 a.m. ET, with Club runDisney members getting access about a week before the general public. For example, 2027 Marathon Weekend general registration opened March 17, 2026, and 2027 Princess Half registration opened June 8, 2026.
Which runDisney race is easiest to register for? expand_more
Springtime Surprise Weekend historically takes the longest to sell out and is the easiest entry point. Princess Half Marathon Weekend is the hardest, with popular categories selling out within hours of registration opening.
What is the Dopey Challenge? expand_more
The Dopey Challenge is the signature event of Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend: running all four races — 5K, 10K, half marathon, and marathon — on four consecutive days, totaling 48.6 miles. Finishers earn six medals: one for each race plus the Goofy and Dopey challenge medals.
Is there a full marathon at every runDisney weekend? expand_more
No. The full marathon only happens at Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend in January. The other weekends top out at the half marathon distance (Wine & Dine, Princess) or a 10-miler (Springtime Surprise).