And, That's Why I'm Breaking Up with You... Disney 1/2 Marathon.

Michele
Jan 15
4 min read

Updated: Jun 29

Have you ever trained for something big - and then realized it wasn’t bringing the joy you hoped?

Yeah… me too. That’s why I’m finally calling it: I’m breaking up with the Disney 1/2 Marathon.

So, here is the story and some tips for you, should you choose to do the Disney 1/2 Marathon.

The race is something I always wanted to do and most of us can handle a 1/2 with a bit of training. And Disney Races are really all about the experience. Throughout the race, there are plenty of water, Gatorade, energy drink station. Medical tents are strung along the way long with emergency personnel on bikes keeping an eye on things. For this race, I made the decision to do an interval run (to save my knees), and it paid off. I had little to no pain during or after the race, which was a huge win.

There are characters along the entire course, it really is kind of magical to see the sunrise over the park, and there is unbelievable entertainment throughout the entire course making it a very special event.

You can stop to line up for photos with the characters or just snap a quick selfie like I did. Sure, my time was a bit slower because of it, but I was never planning on winning this race anyway.

You can stop to line up for photos with the characters or just snap a quick selfie like I did. Sure, my time was a bit slower because of it, but I was never planning on winning this race anyway. For me, the goal is not about my pace - it's about enjoying the moment and crossing the finish line. You guessed it, I want that medal! They really do have the BEST MEDALS. The ones for the fall marathon or the Goofy race is even better.

The day prior to the actual race you must pick up your packet with your ID at Disney's Wide World of Sports. You'll get your swag bag and walk though venders row. Every fitness brand is there with their merch. But for you, it is time to eat responsibly and get to bed early because the wake-up call is coming at 3 a.m.

Disney shuts down the roads at 4 a.m., so if you're driving yourself, you need to be prepared to leave seriously early. For me, as an Orlando local, I had to decide whether to drive over through all the crazy morning traffic or stay at a hotel nearby. I opted for the nearby hotel both times. The first time I stayed at the All-Star Hotel, and while it was a bit on the pricey side, the convenience of the shuttle service was very nice. This time I stayed at the Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort, it was a gorgeous hotel and I was told the restaurant on premises was exceptional. It was more affordable, and the convenience was still there - we felt like VIPs with door-to-door service! The Uber was about $15 each way. I still have to get back there to try their burger.

As the 4 a.m. sky opened up and poured down on all of us, I kept telling myself I was doing it for the fun, the fitness, the family memories, and of course, the Medal as thousands of us we drenched and freezing. People packed into every crevice for shelter. Ponchos everywhere! By the time the race started, the weather had cleared up, and we were wet and cold but good to go.

This year, I ran the race with my two adult children (18 and 21) and my daughter's bestie. It was something I wanted to do with them while we were all physically capable and had time on the calendar.

The rain stopped just in time for pic before heading to the starting line.

At the finish line, I treated myself to a glass of champagne (along with my free bananas) and followed it up with a huge pancake breakfast at a favorite breakfast spot. More to come on that later.

If it's so great, why I'm breaking up with the Disney 1/2 Marathon?

1. Super difficult to sign-up, literally sitting on a computer stressing out about my place in the que. And, you have to be on before the race even opens online or you are out of luck. The will be sold out.

2. Super Pricey and I didn't feel like I got enough for my money. In 2025, it cost us $225 each.

3. Disney changed the race course and made us run through extremely narrow pathways during the early part of the race. Meaning people were bottle necked in a lot of places. This created slow to dangerous crowding conditions. I and everyone around me hated it!

4. They keep selling you. Except during the actual running, everywhere you went there was someone trying to sell you something.

5. The logistics are really tough. You can plan and plan but trying to get out of the parking lot was an absolute nightmare.

Many racers told me that their favorite Disney race is the Wine and Dine, which is in October/November. They say it's great because of the food and drinks available in the park after the race. If I do another Disney race, that might be the one I try.