RunDisney has introduced dates for the 2024 Walt Disney World Marathon and Disneyland Half Marathon, in addition to different occasions which have been added to the schedule between Fall 2023 and Spring 2024. This put up shares the announcement, plus ideas in regards to the timing of the flagship Florida and California races.
Here’s the announcement from runDisney: Mark your calendars as at present we’re excited to share occasion and registration dates for the 2023-2024 runDisney race season, together with info on the much-anticipated return of the Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend in January 2024!
From thrilling races by way of Disney parks to digital occasions you possibly can run nearly wherever, a runDisney race is something however extraordinary. As we glance in the direction of the brand new 12 months, runners can gear up for much more miles and magic to return throughout subsequent race season – have a look under on the dates and calendar:
2023 runDisney Virtual Series
- Event: June to August 2023
- General Registration: April 25, 2023
2023 Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend
- Event: November 2-5, 2023
- Club runDisney Registration: March 14, 2023
- General Registration: March 21, 2023
- Virtual Event Registration: March 24, 2023
2024 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend
- Event: January 3-7, 2024
- Club runDisney Registration: April 4, 2023
- General Registration: April 11, 2023
- Virtual Event Registration
2024 Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend
- Event: February 22-25, 2024
- Club runDisney Registration: June 13, 2023
- General Registration: June 20, 2023
- Virtual Event Registration: June 23, 2023
2024 runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend
- Event: April 18-21, 2024
- Club runDisney Registration: August 15, 2023
- General Registration: August 22, 2023
- Virtual Event Registration: August 25, 2023
Along with this schedule, runDisney additionally revealed particulars in regards to the return of races on the West Coast in 2024, and the fan-favorite Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend happening January 11-14, 2024. The Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend will provide up a number of race distances together with a 5K, 10K, Half Marathon, and Challenge in 2024.
Registration opens February 7, 2023 for Club runDisney Gold & Platinum Members, February 14, 2023 for most people, and February 17, 2023 for all digital occasions. With the return of the 2024 Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend, runDisney may even be reintroducing the Coast to Coast Race Challenge in 2024! More details about the Challenge and the way to qualify shall be obtainable later this month.
The most fascinating and shocking a part of the 2023-2024 runDisney race calendar is indubitably the timing of the Walt Disney World Marathon and the Disneyland Half Marathon, which are actually just one week aside. While the previous is happening as regular, the latter is shifting to the other facet of the calendar, having beforehand been held within the early fall low season.
This is undoubtedly going to be met with disappointment by runDisney diehards, a lot of whom beforehand deliberate on operating each races. That’ll now be tough to perform with solely every week separating the occasions, aside from these with essentially the most relaxed winter breaks.
While I’ve but to listen to runDisney provide an official clarification for this, my guess is that they’re attempt to spin this as being deliberate–even perhaps making a mixed ‘Land & World’ package deal that immerses runners in additional magical miles from coast-to-coast or different such nonsense. There’s no method that’s true.
There are a variety of different potential (actual) explanations for why each the Walt Disney World Marathon and Disneyland Half Marathon are scheduled for the primary half of January 2024. The finest clarification is that custom dictates the timing of the WDW occasion, and attendance projections decided the scheduling of the 2024 Disneyland Half Marathon.
Walt Disney World’s Marathon has lengthy been scheduled for the primary two weeks of January in an effort to attract crowds to what was as soon as the sleepy low season. Crowds used to plummet in early January, as vacationers headed house from vacation journeys. It was a pointy distinction to the times between Christmas and New Year’s Eve, with attendance and wait occasions greater than minimize in half within the span of some days.
That’s previous tense not simply due to the Walt Disney World Marathon, which has been buoying attendance for years, but in addition due to Annual Pass blockouts plus Osceola and Orange County winter breaks. Honestly, I’ve been stunned that Disney hasn’t moved the Walt Disney World Marathon to later in January due to that.
It’s attainable that’s exactly the state of affairs that led to Disney shifting the 2024 Disneyland Half Marathon from early September to mid-January. For one factor, the early fall low season will not be as pronounced because it as soon as was. Halloween Time has exploded in reputation, and Oogie Boogie Bash is a giant draw. By distinction, mid-January remains to be comparatively uncrowded at Disneyland Resort.
On prime of that, it’s attainable that the 2024 D23 Expo shall be held in early September. That’s its personal large draw, and each occasions can not happen concurrently. (There isn’t sufficient whole lodge capability in Anaheim.)
My guess can be that scheduling the race weekends throughout the least busy time of 12 months and never coinciding with different main occasions is why the 2024 Walt Disney World Marathon and Disneyland Half Marathon are basically occurring back-to-back. In the previous, runDisney would possibly’ve hesitated to do that, particularly because the Disneyland races had been waning in reputation.
However, their calculation for the 2024 Disneyland Half Marathon is probably going that there’s greater than sufficient pent-up demand to simply fill this race even with out the runDisney diehards who can not or won’t do each. If the final couple of years are any indication, they’re in all probability appropriate.
I’d be extra stunned if the 2024 Disneyland Half Marathon does not promote out on its first day of normal public availability than if it does. If latest precedent with all issues runDisney or Disneyland is any indication, there’ll probably be a multi-hour digital queue, and a few runners will get shut out.
Another clarification that’s believable is that the City of Anaheim solely gave them a handful of choices, and this one was essentially the most viable. This shall be a sexy clarification for individuals who are sympathetic to Disney, and is one which passes the scent take a look at as a result of standoffs with the Anaheim City Council had been one huge motive why runDisney occasions stopped being held at Disneyland. (Construction of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge was merely a face-saving excuse.)
The distinction now could be that the City of Anaheim is far more “sympathetic” to Disney’s pursuits than the one in place again then. After a sequence of standoffs, Disney “remembered” the significance of native politics, and invested closely in getting its most popular candidates elected. Disney has had zero points with the town since, and it’s very tough to imagine they’d with race scheduling. (Even past politicians, Anaheim discovered how dependent it was upon Disney in 2020-2021.) So, whereas attainable, I’m extremely skeptical of this (potential) rationale.
Ultimately, we are going to probably by no means know the actual motive for scheduling the 2 flagship runDisney occasions one week aside. If Disney does provide a proof, it’ll probably be marketingspeak and never grounded in actuality. The actual motive(s) could possibly be a combination of the above explanations, or one thing totally different fully that I didn’t think about.
Regardless, it’ll be fascinating to see the race themes for the 2024 Walt Disney World Marathon, Disneyland Half Marathon, and the remainder of the occasions. RunDisney has been crushing it with these currently, and if they will proceed that run, it’s probably that these occasions will proceed promoting out in file time. As a really informal “runner” who dislikes the act of operating however very a lot enjoys “themed things,” I’m hoping for one thing that compels me to lace up my sneakers at Walt Disney World or Disneyland as soon as once more!
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Learn about accommodations on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To lower your expenses on tickets or decide which sort to purchase, learn our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets put up. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips put up takes a novel take a look at intelligent gadgets to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, one of the best place to start out is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for the whole lot you’ll want to know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Excited in regards to the 2023-2024 runDisney schedule of races? Planning on doing the 2024 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend or Disneyland Half Marathon? Disappointed that the 2 flagship occasions are one week aside? Which race(s) will you run? Planning on doing any of the digital races? Do you agree or disagree with our commentary? Any questions we may also help you reply? Hearing your suggestions–even if you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!