Marathon Weekend 2026

[ghrundis]

Add me to OKW

 

[camaker]

I was able to log in through Safari on my home iPad this morning, so I'm officially booked Tuesday to Tuesday at CBR again. The Skyliner is just too nice an amenity to give up!

 

[jrsharp21]

Thanks all for the responses on the DVC rentals. So it is sounds like the risk isn't the reservation being canceled on the owner/third party service it is if the person renting needs to cancel. I don't see a scenario where we would have to cancel. Even if there was an injury where I couldn't run, we probably would still go on the trip and enjoy the parks, cheer on runners, etc. So I think may try to do this DVC rental thing. Since it is just my wife and I, was looking at a studio at OKW.

 

[marty3d]

Thanks all for the responses on the DVC rentals. So it is sounds like the risk isn't the reservation being canceled on the owner/third party service it is if the person renting needs to cancel. I don't see a scenario where we would have to cancel. Even if there was an injury where I couldn't run, we probably would still go on the trip and enjoy the parks, cheer on runners, etc. So I think may try to do this DVC rental thing. Since it is just my wife and I, was looking at a studio at OKW.

Correct. My comment had to do with the fact that I need to be able to cancel - not that I’m worried about it being cancelled on me. I’ve rented from David’s multiple times and only had good experiences.

 

[KCO5988]

Now you all have me researching renting DVC points

 

[jrsharp21]

Request submitted for the studio at OKW. Now just waiting for the store to find a member and confirm reservation.

 

[pluto377]

Request submitted for the studio at OKW. Now just waiting for the store to find a member and confirm reservation.

Good luck! Hope it comes through. It's so nice to stay deluxe and not pay insane rates. I've rented about 5 times now and never had an issue.

 

[UNCBear24]

For those who are not DVC or renting DVC points for marathon weekend, WDW packages go live tomorrow morning!!! Of course this is taking place on the same day I need to make ADR's for my trip this June! The whole system is going to be slow!!!

If you are booking tomorrow or at some point this week where are yall staying? I plan to book a room at Pop.

I got our room booked at Pop yesterday.

 

[accm]

AKV doesn't have full availability in any studio category

I was just looking, and AKV didn't have full availability in ANY room for a stay Tue-Mon. That's absolutely crazy to me, since it's usually pretty reliably available at the 7 month mark.

 

[The Expert]

I was just looking, and AKV didn't have full availability in ANY room for a stay Tue-Mon. That's absolutely crazy to me, since it's usually pretty reliably available at the 7 month mark.

That is odd. I wonder if there is some major work planned at that time that's taking out a big chunk of rooms? We own there and I seem to recall seeing something about a refurb coming soon.

 

[Herding_Cats]

Now you all have me researching renting DVC points

one of us. one of us.

But for reals. OKW comes out to like $204/nt at $18/pt over the course of a week.

 

[Mr_Incr3dible]

But armadillos can just chill. They’re basically blind, and always wait until you’re right up on them to charge at you. It’s absolutely quiet, and then you’ll hear this loud commotion from the tree line and see this prehistoric looking creature coming your way.

Armadillos charge?!! I was today years old learning this.

Have you tried taking its credit card away?

I'll see myself out.....

 

[nekonekoneko]

So it is sounds like the risk isn't the reservation being canceled on the owner/third party service it is if the person renting needs to cancel.

That's mostly it. There's a small chance that the person with the points is trying to scam you out of money, but for the rental sites, there are protections against that (mostly, that points owner won't be allowed to do business with them again), and places like Facebook groups and the DVC Rent/Trade subforum here would ban/blacklist that user. But that's also why people can't DM you here with an offer to rent; those people are MUCH harder to vet on this site.

But the bigger issue is if you need to cancel for whatever reason, you're usually the one stuck spending all that money and having nothing to show for it. Since you're usually giving money to one person, they don't want to be stuck losing points with nothing to show for it. So the renter's discount is for pretty much having to assume almost all of the financial risk.

 

[rick1zoo2]

I was just looking, and AKV didn't have full availability in ANY room for a stay Tue-Mon. That's absolutely crazy to me, since it's usually pretty reliably available at the 7 month mark.

Has to be because of the Marathon weekend, looks like it's mainly Jan 10th and 11th that is booked solid at most of the DVCs. Glad we went ahead and reserved at Grand Floridian at 11 months, we planned to swap to maybe the Polynesian at 7 months, but that doesn't look likely now.

 

[The Expert]

Has to be because of the Marathon weekend, looks like it's mainly Jan 10th and 11th that is booked solid at most of the DVCs. Glad we went ahead and reserved at Grand Floridian at 11 months, we planned to swap to maybe the Polynesian at 7 months, but that doesn't look likely now.

Possibly? It's just odd as we've owned at AK since it was announced and I can't ever recall January dates being sold out this far in advance. Last year I had an AK res and switched it to another resort at the 7 month window. A lot of folks do that, so things may free up when that time hits.

 

[rick1zoo2]

Possibly? It's just odd as we've owned at AK since it was announced and I can't ever recall January dates being sold out this far in advance. Last year I had an AK res and switched it to another resort at the 7 month window. A lot of folks do that, so things may free up when that time hits.

We own at GF and AK and wanted to be on the monorail for the Marathon weekend. We faced a similar situation when we were booking DVC point stay for the upcoming Wine and Dine - we have my son (24) and my wife's sister coming with us so wanted a 2 bedroom at Boulder Ridge, which we do not own, so booked and tried to walk at 7 months, got stuck with no availability for Oct 24. So we eventually had part of the trip booked as 2 bedroom, part booked as 2 bedroom lock-off, and waitlists for both to try to pick up that day. Luckily they called within a few days and got us the waitlist and all nights in the 2 bedroom. Oct 24 is still not available at most DVC resorts for points. I think it's the combination of Wine and Dine and Halloween parties?

 

[Mr_Incr3dible]

one of us. one of us.

But for reals. OKW comes out to like $204/nt at $18/pt over the course of a week.

$204/night? Totally reasonable compared to Pop's online rate of 248/night. I feel like I'm doing it wrong, and need to be looking more into buying DVC points for race weekends.

But I'm booked at Pop for MW 2026; again splurging on myself just a bit compared to the All-Star rates.

>> We own there [AK] and I seem to recall seeing something about a refurb coming soon.
Likewise, Pop is scheduled for refurb through the end of Q1 2026. I'm hoping they do it in blocks so that the work in the daytime is a bit isolated and not affecting those trying to take a nap on/before race days.

My MBT agent also booked some park tickets, but TBD as to how much time I go spend in the parks. As always, I'm open to joining with another solo traveler(s) to hit some rides and walk around.

 

[Herding_Cats]

$204/night? Totally reasonable compared to Pop's online rate of 248/night. I feel like I'm doing it wrong, and need to be looking more into buying DVC points for race weekends.

Yep. And DVC resorts have hot tubs (and washers and dryers in the pool areas that are free.) And OKW has a sauna (though I'm not sure it's been put back in operation since covid.) And it's like 5min from Epcot. AND it's usually the closest bus in the finish area. (OKW shares return service with SSR for the races, with OKW getting dropped off first.)

The food situation is verrrrry different from the value and even moderate resorts though, IMO. There's not a huge food court area, and I feel like there are fewer quick service options in general at OKW and SSR compared to Art of Animation, as an example. But it's super close to DS and there are a ton of choices there, they just require more walking.

 

[GuinnessRunner]

Thanks all for the responses on the DVC rentals. So it is sounds like the risk isn't the reservation being canceled on the owner/third party service it is if the person renting needs to cancel. I don't see a scenario where we would have to cancel. Even if there was an injury where I couldn't run, we probably would still go on the trip and enjoy the parks, cheer on runners, etc. So I think may try to do this DVC rental thing. Since it is just my wife and I, was looking at a studio at OKW.

You can also buy travel insurance with a "cancel for any reason" adder if it's a big concern. Most will only cover 75% in that instance (as opposed to other covered reasons where you get 100% coverage) and the cost of the insurance adds to the total room cost you're actually paying, but is an option I have done before, especially before the brokers started offering credit to you based on when you cancel.

The other caveat I would throw out is that with some brokers, it is two step process. First they look and tell you if there is general availability for the resort/room type you're looking for on those dates. If there is, they come back and tell you "good news" and all seems well. HOWEVER, some do that before they look and see if they have someone's points for that specific resort to rent you if it's outside the 7-month window. So it's possible you will get a second message back from them saying that while the room is available, they don't have the points right now but will come back to you when either (1) someone who owns points at that resort comes to them to rent their points or (2) you get within the 7-month window and they can use points from any resort. I have had that happen before. If it does, try another broker as they might have the points for that resort to rent.

 

[jrsharp21]

Request submitted for the studio at OKW. Now just waiting for the store to find a member and confirm reservation.

Looks like I won't be joining the crew at OKW. Just heard back from the store and they said studio availability at OKW is sold out for 1/6 - 1/12. Trying for a studio at Boardwalk now.