The runDisney community is a funny one. They return yearly to chase their dreams of character stops and photo ops through the Disney Marathon course. runDisney sent out a surprising Marathon course map this week that has some runners questioning what exactly runDisney was thinking. We’re breaking down the 2025 Walt Disney World Marathon course map to point out some changes runners can expect this year.
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2025 Walt Disney World Marathon Time Change
Changes are literally underfoot- under your feet, anyway- if you are running the 2025 Disney Marathon at Disney World.
First, the race will start at 4:30 a.m. instead of the usual 5 a.m. No official reason was given for this change, but along with the course map changes, I think we can make some business-related assumptions.
Essentially, runDisney and the Disney Parks have decided that runners need to clear the roads and theme parks earlier. While it’s an assumption, I’ve seen plenty of guest feedback and discourse online about the races and think this is to help the non-runner guests have a more enjoyable experience at Disney World.
The early start is most beneficial for runners if you are a mid or back-of-the-packer.
Running longer in the dark should help if a warmer-than-average Marathon Sunday is in the cards, as has been the case frequently in recent years.
It isn’t ideal for the faster folks who also want to enjoy the perks of being faster and running through Disney Parks. Those perks include hopping on a roller coaster mid-race or stopping at a kiosk or bar for a drink to carry through the finish.
With the early start, unless a runner significantly slows themselves down, they may miss these opportunities.
And honestly, things like riding Everest or crossing the finish line with a margarita make running a Disney race special.
And that’s just talking about some of the issues with an early start. Let’s take a look at the course map and point out a few other changes that runners should be aware of.
2024 runDisney Marathon Course Map
Here’s a look at the previous course map, which hasn’t drastically changed too much over the years.
Minor changes due to road or park construction happen, but the general flow of things through the parks has stayed the same over the years.
2025 Walt Disney World Marathon Course Map Changes
The main flow of runners remains the same.
Start with a trip through Epcot, head to Magic Kingdom, spin through Animal Kingdom, hit up the Blizzard Beach parking lot, and then make your way through Hollywood Studios and back to exit through Epcot.
However, there are some significant changes to how this will all happen that might cause some course confusion for runners.
Changes to the course include:
- Miles 2-3 appear to be a full loop around World Showcase. This was usually your “victory lap” saved for miles 24-25. You will not go through World Showcase at the end of the race as you did in years past.
- Mile 7 and again at Mile 13 appears to have some course crossing. This could potentially be an issue with faster runners coming up on slower runners at this point. It happens in the Magic Kingdom parking lot, so the assumption here is that runDisney will be able to re-route people slightly but it looks like it could be messy.
- Mile 8 you’ll run by The Grand Floridian toward Magic Kingdom. In years past, you entered MK from the direction of The Contemporary Resort. This has you entering MK from a different side but you’ll still run down Main Street USA.
- Mile 9-10, you’ll take a left-hand turn and enter Adventureland. In previous years, you would turn right and enter Tomorrowland.
- You will still run through the castle, but you’ll come toward it from the part of Fantasyland that houses Peter Pan and its a small world.
- After the castle, you’ll make a sharp left and head back toward New Fantasyland and loop out of Magic Kingdom through Tomorrowland.
- Mile 11-12 looks to be the reverse Contemporary/TTC miles. You head back toward the MK parking lot and potentially cross runner traffic at mile 13.
- Miles 14-21 look to be the same as previous years. The route through Animal Kingdom and the parking lot appear to be the same.
- Miles 21-22 are in Blizzard Beach parking lot. And it appears you might run it in the reverse fashion as before- so, yay?
- Miles 23-25 look similar to last year. You’ll head to Hollywood Studios and back toward Epcot through the Boardwalk path.
- Miles 25-26 when you enter Epcot, you will not go toward World Showcase. You will stay left and visit Canada on your way out of Epcot. Your exit path will be toward Dreamer’s Point where you will turn right and exit the park behind Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind and Test Track.
Getting margaritas to finish your race will require a major departure from the course, or you’ll need a sherpa standing by between miles 25 and 26.
Again, I assume the changes are being made to get runners off the roads and out of the parks faster. The new course and the new limitations it will place on the on course shenanigans should do just that.
But isn’t that part of the Disney Magic?
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Patty Holliday has been running Disney since 2011. She knows just about every tip, trick, and hack there is to cover the runDisney Magical Miles at Disney World and Disneyland. She knows every mile isn’t *always* magical- but with training, tips, and a little bit of pixie dust, they can be a lot of fun! You can also find her at noguiltlife.com and noguiltfangirl.com