Thousands of runners from around the world are gathering in Central Florida for the much-anticipated 2024 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend at the Walt Disney World Resort. The event, known to be one of the largest sporting events in Central Florida, officially began with the runDisney Health & Fitness Expo. Here, participants of varying skill levels collected their race bibs and shirts, and took advantage of the opportunity to shop for popular runDisney merchandise and the latest in running and fitness products.
A Race for Every Runner
Walt Disney World
5K
Walt Disney World
10K
Walt Disney World Half Marathon
Walt Disney World
Marathon
Dopey
Challenge
Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge
The marathon weekend includes a variety of races designed to cater to different fitness levels and running preferences. The first race is a 5K scheduled for Thursday, followed by a 10K on Friday. On Saturday, participants will tackle the half marathon, and the full marathon will take place on Sunday. For those seeking an extra challenge, there are special medals up for grabs for completing the Dopey Challenge, which involves finishing all four races, and Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge, which requires completion of the half marathon and marathon.
Celebrating Disney100 in Style
This year’s race weekend holds special significance as it coincides with the Disney100 celebrations, marking Disney’s centennial celebration. The event has been peppered with special entertainment and character meet-and-greets to commemorate this milestone
Inspiring Stories on the Track
What makes the marathon weekend truly special are the heart-warming stories of the runners. Among them are Susan and Laurent Moriceau from Davidson, NC. Despite Susan losing her sight due to retinitis pigmentosa, the couple is taking on their first Dopey Challenge together, with Laurent acting as Susan’s guide during the races.
Josh Yother from Chattanooga, TN is another inspiring participant. Yother is attempting his first Dopey Challenge after a rare reversal of multiple heart complications. He began running following a heart attack in 2022 and a later diagnosis of congestive heart failure. His dedication to running has been instrumental in his journey towards overcoming these health challenges.
2024 Walt Disney World Marathon
As thousands of runners lace up their sneakers and take on the tracks, the 2024 Walt Disney World Marathon promises to be an event filled with determination, inspiration, and a celebration of the human spirit.
As always, stay tuned to the DVC Shop blog for all the latest developments for Disney theme parks and all the information you could ever need about the Disney Vacation Club resorts.
Written by
Rachel Van Norman
Contributing Writer
Rachel fell deeply in love with all things Disney as a little girl. Now as a wife and a mother herself, she shares this Disney obsession with her son and everyone around her. From her love of princesses to eating all the Disney food, Rachel spends her time radiating Disney magic and keeping everyone up to date on Disney news.
