Marathon Weekend 2026

[KCO5988]

Random question...I have never done Dopey before, only the marathon. Would it be ok to follow a marathon training plan to run Dopey? I use the Runna app for my current training, but there is no option for Dopey...or should I try to find a separate plan to follow?

I'm planning on using the hanson marathon method training plan since it focuses on cumulative fatigue.

 

[Disneyhanna]

Random question...I have never done Dopey before, only the marathon. Would it be ok to follow a marathon training plan to run Dopey? I use the Runna app for my current training, but there is no option for Dopey...or should I try to find a separate plan to follow?

This is my strategy. I did the back half of Higdon's Dopey plan and found the back to back runs too tough to fit into my schedule (or rather, I had no interest in running long runs on both Saturday AND Sunday )

I just do a regular marathon plan and since I take all 4 races easy (training pace + tons of character photo stops) I don't feel like I have any issues with running 4 days in a row. My legs feel fresher at WDW than at home thanks to all the walking around instead of sitting at a desk all day long. Obviously YMMV and people who are closer to cutoff pace may benefit from more back to back training.

 

[PrincessV]

I have a VERY different view of what rD is capable of, given that the entire operation is something like 10ish employees deep and the constant errors made are amateur by most standards. I do not think there’s anywhere near the data mining some of you are describing! This is the same org that misspelled Inaugural on merch not once, but twice, and in two entirely different ways.

No offense to any rD staff who may be lurking here. Hi!

 

[Fenway1970]

(or rather, I had no interest in running long runs on both Saturday AND Sunday )

Unless you're getting medals for them of course!

 

[Mr_Incr3dible]

I did a half-a**ed job of following a marathon plan for my first Dopey training this year and I did just fine physically. Mentally was a whole different thing due to really poor sleep

The author of the Half-a**ed Running Method (TM) nods....

 

[KSellers88]

This is my strategy. I did the back half of Higdon's Dopey plan and found the back to back runs too tough to fit into my schedule (or rather, I had no interest in running long runs on both Saturday AND Sunday )

I just do a regular marathon plan and since I take all 4 races easy (training pace + tons of character photo stops) I don't feel like I have any issues with running 4 days in a row. My legs feel fresher at WDW than at home thanks to all the walking around instead of sitting at a desk all day long. Obviously YMMV and people who are closer to cutoff pace may benefit from more back to back training.

Yeah, I can get away with one long run per weekend, but my 4 year old will disagree with two.

 

[fatmanatee]

I tried to use a modified marathon plan that would add more miles to mimic Goofy (basically half the distance of the Sunday long run on Saturday), but then life would get in the way and that longer Saturday run wasn't happening. Crunch time happening in the middle of the holidays doesn't help!

 

[Zutroy]

Yeah, I can get away with one long run per weekend, but my 4 year old will disagree with two.

I did the Higdon Dopey plan for 5 Dopeys. Last year I followed the Higdon Intermediate Marathon II for the Goofy and I preferred it much more. Even though it ended up being more miles cumulatively than the Dopey plan, it felt much easier because it got those miles by adding an extra running day into the schedule. Also, the Dopey plan has a half marathon as the first long run, while the Intermediate plan is 8 miles. I found it more convenient because I could get most of the runs in before work by waking up at 5 and hitting the road.

 

[accm]

And NOT have everything in bundles.

Similar to what @PrincessV said above, I think the reason rD doesn't really want preorders is because then they need to sort it all and make the bags they come in. It's much easier for them to just order whatever merch and have it be sold at the expo. My guess is that the hours/$$ for merch sold at the expo is a lot higher than for preorders. I think this is also why they sell everything in bundles. A ~$65 bundle is worth the time to sort/pack, vs a $20 pin isn't.

 

[KCO5988]

Yeah, I can get away with one long run per weekend, but my 4 year old will disagree with two.

Yes my 2-year old and 5-year old disagree with that as well hahaha! My plan is to push the training plan forward by a day so my shorter long run is Friday and the longer one is Saturday, rather than Saturday and Sunday scheduled LRs. Most of my Friday runs will be about 8-10 miles and I can get that in by waking up at 430am or taking a slightly longer lunch.

 

[runwithperseverence7]

Random question...I have never done Dopey before, only the marathon. Would it be ok to follow a marathon training plan to run Dopey? I use the Runna app for my current training, but there is no option for Dopey...or should I try to find a separate plan to follow?

I used the Higdon Dopey plan for dopey this year. I have used his marathon plans for all 3 of my marathons prior to dopey. I started with beginner and moved up to intermediate. I did have to make adjustments to the plan but I did make sure I was doing the simulation weeks so I would be used ti running back to back days. Also prior to each marathon and dopey, I build my runs up make sure that I am able to run the half marathon distance. Good luck with Dopey!

 

[nancipants]

Yeah, I can get away with one long run per weekend, but my 4 year old will disagree with two.

I had 3 weekends during my marathon plan where I did back to back runs for cumulative fatigue, and it was definitely rough pulling myself away both days. Thankfully, the first day was “only” 1.5 hours at the longest, and my son has learned to associate me running on the weekend with him getting whatever he wants from Daddy while I’m gone and then going to the store later on while I rest, where he gets candy.

 

[BradleyCB]

Random question...I have never done Dopey before, only the marathon. Would it be ok to follow a marathon training plan to run Dopey? I use the Runna app for my current training, but there is no option for Dopey...or should I try to find a separate plan to follow?

Given your race history and PRs in your footer, you are going to be fine come race week! The only thing I would recommend doing is building in 3 or 4 weekends where you are running longer runs on both Saturday and Sunday to simulate the half/recovery/full experience. The 4th one I did this past training cycle topped out at 2 hours easy on Saturday followed by 2:30 easy on Sunday. This also helps you test out what your recovery plan will be like on Saturday afternoon after the half (I highly recommend compression boots!). Best of luck!

 

[Disneyhanna]

Also, the Dopey plan has a half marathon as the first long run, while the Intermediate plan is 8 miles. I found it more convenient because I could get most of the runs in before work by waking up at 5 and hitting the road.

This is my reasoning for doing Higdon's Novice 2 marathon plan instead of the Dopey plan as well, it also starts at "only" 8 miles. 18 weeks is a lot of weeks to be doing double digit long runs and I sure appreciate easing into them instead of diving in at 13 via the Dopey plan. Similarly, I did Novice 2 as my very first marathon plan instead of Novice 1 because Novice 2 only goes up to 8 miles on midweek runs, but Novice 1 goes up to 10 miles. Those 2 miles make a difference when you are trying to beat sunset

 

[Jason Bryer]

Similar to what @PrincessV said above, I think the reason rD doesn't really want preorders is because then they need to sort it all and make the bags they come in. It's much easier for them to just order whatever merch and have it be sold at the expo. My guess is that the hours/$$ for merch sold at the expo is a lot higher than for preorders. I think this is also why they sell everything in bundles. A ~$65 bundle is worth the time to sort/pack, vs a $20 pin isn't.

I preordered some stuff and nothing was presorted. The person looked up my order and grabbed stuff from the different boxes and put it in a bag.

 

[KSellers88]

Yes my 2-year old and 5-year old disagree with that as well hahaha! My plan is to push the training plan forward by a day so my shorter long run is Friday and the longer one is Saturday, rather than Saturday and Sunday scheduled LRs. Most of my Friday runs will be about 8-10 miles and I can get that in by waking up at 430am or taking a slightly longer lunch.

That is a good idea! I work from home on Fridays so I could make that work.

I used the Higdon Dopey plan for dopey this year. I have used his marathon plans for all 3 of my marathons prior to dopey. I started with beginner and moved up to intermediate. I did have to make adjustments to the plan but I did make sure I was doing the simulation weeks so I would be used ti running back to back days. Also prior to each marathon and dopey, I build my runs up make sure that I am able to run the half marathon distance. Good luck with Dopey!

Thank you so much!

I had 3 weekends during my marathon plan where I did back to back runs for cumulative fatigue, and it was definitely rough pulling myself away both days. Thankfully, the first day was “only” 1.5 hours at the longest, and my son has learned to associate me running on the weekend with him getting whatever he wants from Daddy while I’m gone and then going to the store later on while I rest, where he gets candy.

LOL my son normally goes to my parents when I run so they spoil him as well!

Given your race history and PRs in your footer, you are going to be fine come race week! The only thing I would recommend doing is building in 3 or 4 weekends where you are running longer runs on both Saturday and Sunday to simulate the half/recovery/full experience. The 4th one I did this past training cycle topped out at 2 hours easy on Saturday followed by 2:30 easy on Sunday. This also helps you test out what your recovery plan will be like on Saturday afternoon after the half (I highly recommend compression boots!). Best of luck!

Thank you! Yes, the half/full combo is the one I am most worried about...and waking up that early four days in a row.

 

[VTDisFam]

Long time lurker, first time poster. I know we are a ways away, but I was lucky enough to secure a bib for Goofy and this will be my second MW after the Marathon in January. We are DVC members and have booked a room at the Boardwalk for MW, but are second guessing if that is best for our situation. My wife, with our two young kids (5 and 2) want to be at the finish line for the Marathon rather than spectate from the BW. I will have a 1:45 HM POT, so I anticipate being in corral A. Assuming RD keeps a 4:30 start time next year, I anticipate finishing prior to their ability to use the International Gateway entrance (will have park ticket for Epcot) and make it through the park to the finish line. What are their options to get to the finish line for a roughly 8:00 arrival to the front of the park? Does boardwalk have a regular park bus? Can/Should they get on a RD bus bringing people back to the resort, or is Mini Van an option? We were at GF last MW and the ease of monorail was great. Trying to decide if we want to keep our Boardwalk reservation or look to switch at the 7 month mark.

 

[KSellers88]

Long time lurker, first time poster. I know we are a ways away, but I was lucky enough to secure a bib for Goofy and this will be my second MW after the Marathon in January. We are DVC members and have booked a room at the Boardwalk for MW, but are second guessing if that is best for our situation. My wife, with our two young kids (5 and 2) want to be at the finish line for the Marathon rather than spectate from the BW. I will have a 1:45 HM POT, so I anticipate being in corral A. Assuming RD keeps a 4:30 start time next year, I anticipate finishing prior to their ability to use the International Gateway entrance (will have park ticket for Epcot) and make it through the park to the finish line. What are their options to get to the finish line for a roughly 8:00 arrival to the front of the park? Does boardwalk have a regular park bus? Can/Should they get on a RD bus bringing people back to the resort, or is Mini Van an option? We were at GF last MW and the ease of monorail was great. Trying to decide if we want to keep our Boardwalk reservation or look to switch at the 7 month mark.

There are runDisney buses, but I am not sure if they will have started back up for spectators that early. I would think they would be running by then, though. The concern I would have with a Minnie Van is the same concern I'd have driving with the potential for closed roads. I booked a room at Bay Lake just for the monorail because my parents are bringing my son and they get confused easily. LOL

 

[marty3d]

Long time lurker, first time poster. I know we are a ways away, but I was lucky enough to secure a bib for Goofy and this will be my second MW after the Marathon in January. We are DVC members and have booked a room at the Boardwalk for MW, but are second guessing if that is best for our situation. My wife, with our two young kids (5 and 2) want to be at the finish line for the Marathon rather than spectate from the BW. I will have a 1:45 HM POT, so I anticipate being in corral A. Assuming RD keeps a 4:30 start time next year, I anticipate finishing prior to their ability to use the International Gateway entrance (will have park ticket for Epcot) and make it through the park to the finish line. What are their options to get to the finish line for a roughly 8:00 arrival to the front of the park? Does boardwalk have a regular park bus? Can/Should they get on a RD bus bringing people back to the resort, or is Mini Van an option? We were at GF last MW and the ease of monorail was great. Trying to decide if we want to keep our Boardwalk reservation or look to switch at the 7 month mark.

Hi - we were in the same situation this year (staying at Yacht Club). We didn't realize that race transportation wasn't running at that time. The easiest and quickest way if you don't have a car is to use an Uber to the front of the park. Then through security to the finish line. I assume the Mini Vans are running too but maybe someone with experience using them can answer.

 

[3princesandaprincess]

I'm planning on using the hanson marathon method training plan since it focuses on cumulative fatigue.

I used Hanson last year. Ran the 10k & marathon. I ended up with an injury in Dec, but finished both races. I feel completely comfortable using it for Dopey (and probably will this year!).