2023 Walt Disney World Marathon Dates, Details & Prices

RunDisney has announced dates, details, and pricing for the 2023 Walt Disney World Marathon, which now coincides with two anniversaries next year! This post shares the announcement, plus a look at the awesome race themes for the 5K, 10K, Half Marathon, Marathon, Goofy Challenge, and Dopey Challenge. (Updated April 20, 2022.)

Here’s the announcement from runDisney: Test your mettle at your chosen skill level—from the 5K to the Marathon—while you trek your way through the Disney theme parks. When you participate in the 2023 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend, you’ll become part of something incredibly special.

Not only is the 50th Walt Disney World Resort Anniversary celebration underway, but 2023 marks the 30th Anniversary of the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend! In celebration of that momentous milestone, runDisney invites runners to come relive decades of healthy competition with a dose of 90’s retro vibes, iconic characters and a glimpse into the runDisney of years of past.

April 20, 2022 Update: Within hours of going on sale and runDisney’s virtual queue opening, all in-person races for the 2023 Walt Disney World Marathon sold out.

Here’s a look at each event, which now shows as sold out on runDisney.com:

We’re holding out hope that more spots will be released in the future, but it’s entirely possible–even probable–that this will not occur. The race themes had a ton of positive buzz among Walt Disney World fans, and more runners might be ready to get back to normal and resume in-person races by 2023.

With that said, here’s an event by event run-through of the races, in sequential order…

Walt Disney World 5K
  • January 5, 2023
  • Start Time: 5:00 AM Eastern Time
  • Location: Walt Disney World Resort, Florida

Ready, set, go! Race through a 3.1-mile adventure at The Most Magical Place on Earth! It’s an exhilarating way to kick-start a weekend brimming with Disney fun.

Registration fee varies based on the date of purchase:

  • April 19 through September 19, 2022: $103.40
  • September 20 through December 29, 2022: $114.06

Walt Disney World 10K
  • January 6, 2023
  • Start Time: 5:00 AM Eastern Time
  • Location: Walt Disney World Resort, Florida

Enjoy maximum fun on a magical 10K run! This 6.2-mile race has an abundance of dazzle and entertainment along the way––and is an ideal choice for runners seeking a good test of their endurance.

Registration fee varies based on the date of purchase:

  • April 19 through September 19, 2022: $146.04
  • September 20 through December 29, 2022: $156.70

Walt Disney World Half Marathon
  • January 7, 2023
  • Start Time: 5:00 AM Eastern Time
  • Location: Walt Disney World Resort, Florida

Join Donald and Daisy Duck as your fine feathered friends host the 13.1-mile adventure through the Disney theme parks! Be surprised along the way by delightful Character sightings and entertaining moments as you join inspired runners from around the world.

Registration fee varies based on the date of purchase:

  • April 19 through September 19, 2022: $213.20
  • September 20 through December 29, 2022: $223.86

Walt Disney World Marathon
  • January 8, 2023
  • Start Time: 5:00 AM Eastern Time
  • Location: Walt Disney World Resort, Florida

Join Mickey, Minnie and friends for an extraordinary 26.2-mile race and encounter delightful surprises as you run the course. It’s our longest distance event––and you’ll earn boasting rights as a Walt Disney World Marathon finisher!

Registration fee varies based on the date of purchase:

  • April 19 through September 19, 2022: $218.53
  • September 20 through December 29, 2022: $229.19

Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge
  • January 7 and 8, 2023
  • Start Time: 5:00 AM Eastern Time
  • Location: Walt Disney World Resort, Florida

Show your Goofy side over 2 racing days spanning 39.3 miles! Get started with the Half Marathon on Saturday, followed by the Marathon on Sunday. Complete both races on pace to earn your Half Marathon and Marathon finisher medals––plus, get the coveted Goofy medal!

You’ll need to register for the Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge, which includes both races, in order to be eligible for the challenge medal.

Registration fee varies based on the date of purchase:

  • April 19 through September 19, 2022: $431.73
  • September 20 through December 29, 2022: $442.39

Dopey Challenge
  • January 5 to 8, 2023
  • Start Time: 5:00 AM Eastern Time
  • Location: Walt Disney World Resort, Florida

Complete all 4 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend races on pace and earn:

  • 4 individual events medals
  • Goofy’s Race and Half Challenge medal
  • Dopey Challenge medal

That’s a grand total of 6 medals in one weekend! You’ll need to register for the Dopey Challenge, which includes all 4 races, to be eligible for the challenge medals.

Registration fee varies based on the date of purchase:

  • April 19 through September 19, 2022: $660.92
  • September 20 through December 29, 2022: $671.58

In addition to the live, in-person races at Walt Disney World, there will once again be virtual races for the 2023 Walt Disney World Marathon. Here’s the official announcement about those from runDisney:

“Be a part of a one-of-a-kind runDisney weekend as we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Walt Disney World Marathon! Be one of thousands of runners and participate virtually on courses of your choosing. So, whether you take to your favorite local trail, jog around your neighborhood or even run on a treadmill, you’ll be part of the magic.”

Above are prices for the virtual races that’ll be part of the 2023 Walt Disney World Marathon.

In the past, I’ve been incredulous of these virtual races (to put it charitably), but I’ve definitely softened on that perspective in the last couple years. For one thing, visiting to Walt Disney World is becoming increasingly expensive and race weekends are busy. If people want to enjoy the events in a different and more convenient locale, I say go for it. Especially if you’re primarily after the medals and merchandise.

Speaking of which, holy cow are the 2023 Walt Disney World Marathon race themes AWESOME! Now, perhaps I’m biased as a child of the 1990s, but I really don’t think so. These combine old and new in a way that works, with fresh retro designs. I could gush over them for several more paragraphs, but instead, I’ll just give you my theme “power rankings” for the 2023 Walt Disney World Marathon (best to worst):

  • Marathon
  • Goofy Challenge
  • 5K
  • Half Marathon
  • [big gap]
  • Dopey Challenge
  • 10K

Part of me (the stupid part) really wants to do the Dopey Challenge again to collect all of these shirt designs and medals. Another part (the slightly less stupid part) realizes I could do Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge plus the 5K and spend “only” ~$535 v. $660 on the Dopey. But then the stupider part retorts, “why not just throw in the 10K for the Dopey bragging rights at that point, numbskull?!”

Then there’s the truly sensible voice (that one is Sarah) who questions whether I need to do any of this in the first place, and suggests it might otherwise be unwise given my perpetual refusal to train. Still not sure how this stupendous battle of stupidity and sensibility will play out. I guess we will all find out come registration day! 😉

Joking aside (most of that wasn’t really a joke, but let’s just pretend it was), I really want to do at least one event during the 2023 Walt Disney World Marathon. A big part of that is because it’s the event’s 30th Anniversary (still regret not doing the 20th or 25th) and also coincides with Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary.

Seeing the effort that was put in for the recent Springtime Surprise Weekend also has renewed my enthusiasm (judging by social media, those events looked fantastic), as have these 90s retro themes. While it’s fair to say there’s going to be no shortage of throwback 90s merchandise in the coming years as Millennials become a prime demo and our nostalgia grows, there’s something to be said for the more meaningful and “earned” attire. Anyway, I’m hyped and hope other runners are as well–these are the best race themes I’ve seen…maybe ever?!

Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!

YOUR THOUGHTS

Excited about the 90s retro race themes? Have your own favorites or rankings of the designs? Planning on doing the 2023 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend? Which race(s)? Planning on doing any of the virtual races? Do you agree or disagree with our commentary? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!

18 Responses to “2023 Walt Disney World Marathon Dates, Details & Prices”
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